Was I to brook the fellow's saucy gibe-- "That if the peasant must have bread to eat, Why, let him go and draw the plough himself?" It cut me to the very soul to see My oxen, noble creatures, when the knave Unyoked them from the plough. As though they felt The wrong, they lowed and butted with their horns. On this I could contain myself no longer, And, overcome by passion, struck him down. FÜRST. O, we old men can scarce command ourselves! And can we wonder youth breaks out of bounds? MELCH. I'm only sorry for my father's sake! To be away from him, that needs so much My fostering care! The governor detests him, Because, whene'er occasion served, he has Stood stoutly up for right and liberty. Therefore they'll bear him hard--the poor old man! And there is none to shield him from their grip. Come what come may, I must go home again. FÜRST. Compose yourself, and wait in patience till We get some tidings o'er from Unterwald. Away I away! I hear a knock! Perhaps A message from the Viceroy! Get thee in! You are not safe from Landenberger's[42] arm In Uri, for these tyrants pull together. MELCH. They teach us Switzers what _we_ ought to do. FÜRST. Away! I'll call you when the coast is clear. [MELCHTHAL _retires_.] Unhappy youth! I dare not tell him all The evil that my boding heart predicts! Who's there? The door ne'er opens, but I look For tidings of mishap. Suspicion lurks With darkling treachery in every nook. Even to our inmost rooms they force their way, These myrmidons of power; and soon we'll need To fasten bolts and bars upon our doors. [_He opens the door, and steps back in surprise as_ WERNER STAUFFACHER _enters_.] What do I see? You, Werner? Now, by Heaven! A valued guest, indeed. No man e'er set His foot across this threshold, more esteem'd, Welcome! thrice welcome, Werner, to my roof! What brings you here? What seek you here in Uri? STAUFFACHER (_shakes_ FÜRST by _the hand_). The olden times and olden Switzerland. FÜRST. You bring them with you. See how glad I am, My heart leaps at the very sight of you. Sit down--sit down, and tell me how you left Your charming wife, fair Gertrude? Iberg's child, And clever as her father. Not a man That wends from Germany, by Meinrad's Cell,[43] To Italy, but praises far and wide Your house's hospitality. But say, Have you come here direct from Flüelen, And have you noticed nothing on your way, Before you halted at my door? STAUFFACHER (_sits down_). I saw A work in progress, as I came along, I little thought to see--that likes me ill. FÜRST. O friend! you've lighted on my thought at once. STAUFF. Such things in Uri ne'er were known before. Never was prison here in man's remembrance, Nor ever any stronghold but the grave. FÜRST. You name it well. It is the grave of freedom. STAUFF.