You help'd him off, And you shall pay for it! Fall on their herds! Down with the cottage! burn it! beat it down! [_They rush off._] SEPPI (_hurrying after them_). Oh my poor lambs! KUONI (_following him_). Unhappy me, my herds! WERNI. The tyrants! RUODI (_wringing his hands_). Righteous Heaven! Oh, when will come Deliverance to this doom-devoted land? [_Exeunt severally_.] SCENE II _A lime tree in front of_ STAUFFACHER's _house at Steinen, in Schwytz, upon the public road, near a bridge_. WERNER STAUFFACHER, _and_ PFEIFFER, _of Lucerne, enter into conversation_. PFEIFF. Ay, ay, friend Stauffacher, as I have said, Swear not to Austria, if you can help it. Hold by the Empire stoutly as of yore, And God preserve you in your ancient freedom! [_Presses his hand warmly and is going_.] STAUFF. Wait till my mistress comes. Now do! You are My guest in Schwytz--I in Lucerne am yours. PFEIFF. Thanks! thanks! But I must reach Gersau today. Whatever grievances your rulers' pride And grasping avarice may yet inflict, Bear them in patience--soon a change may come. Another Emperor may mount the throne. But Austria's once, and you are hers forever. [_Exit_.] [STAUFFACHER _sits down sorrowfully upon a bench under the lime tree. Gertrude, his wife, enters, and finds him in this posture. She places herself near him, and looks at him for some time in silence_.] GERT. So sad, my love! I scarcely know thee now. For many a day in silence I have mark'd A moody sorrow furrowing thy brow. Some silent grief is weighing on thy heart. Trust it to me. I am thy faithful wife, And I demand my half of all thy cares. [STAUFFACHER _gives her his hand and is silent_.] Tell me what can oppress thy spirits thus? Thy toil is blest--the world goes well with thee-- Our barns are full--our cattle, many a score; Our handsome team of well-fed horses, too, Brought from the mountain pastures safely home, To winter in their comfortable stalls. There stands thy house--no nobleman's more fair! 'Tis newly built with timber of the best, All grooved and fitted with the nicest skill; Its many glistening windows tell of comfort! 'Tis quarter'd o'er with scutcheons of all hues, And proverbs sage, which passing travelers Linger to read and ponder o'er their meaning. STAUFF. The house is strongly built, and handsomely, But, ah! the ground on which we built it quakes. GERT. Tell me, dear Werner, what you mean by that? STAUFF.