Friend, Walter Fürst, I will be plain with you. No idle curiosity it is That brings me here, but heavy cares. I left Thraldom at home, and thraldom meets me here. Our wrongs, e'en now, are more than we can bear, And who shall tell us where they are to end? From eldest time the Switzer has been free, Accustom'd only to the mildest rule. Such things as now we suffer ne'er were known, Since herdsman first drove cattle to the hills. FÜRST. Yes, our oppressions are unparallel'd! Why, even our own good lord of Attinghaus, Who lived in olden times, himself declares They are no longer to be tamely borne. STAUFF. In Unterwalden yonder 'tis the same; And bloody has the retribution been. The imperial Seneschal, the Wolfshot, who At Rossberg dwelt, long'd for forbidden fruit-- Baumgarten's wife, that lives at Alzellen, He tried to make a victim to his lust, On which the husband slew him with his age. FÜRST. O, Heaven is just in all its judgments still! Baumgarten, say you? A most worthy man. Has he escaped, and is he safely hid? STAUFF. Your son-in-law conveyed him o'er the lake, And he lies hidden in my house at Steinen. He brought the tidings with him of a thing That has been done at Sarnen, worse than all, A thing to make the very heart run blood! FÜRST (_attentively_). Say on. What is it? STAUFF. There dwells in Melchthal, then, Just as you enter by the road from Kerns, An upright man, named Henry of the Halden, A man of weight and influence in the Diet. FÜRST. Who knows him not? But what of him? Proceed! STAUFF. The Landenberg, to punish some offense Committed by the old man's son, it seems, Had given command to take the youth's best pair Of oxen from his plough; on which the lad Struck down the messenger and took to flight. FÜRST. But the old father--tell me, what of him? STAUFF. The Landenberg sent for him, and required He should produce his son upon the spot; And when the old man protested, and with truth, That he knew nothing of the fugitive, The tyrant call'd his torturers. FÜRST (_springs up and tries to lead him to the other side_). Hush, no more! STAUFFACHER (_with increasing warmth_). "And though thy son," he cried, "has 'scaped me now, I have thee fast, and thou shalt feel my vengeance." With that they flung the old man to the ground, And plunged the pointed steel into his eyes. FÜRST. Merciful Heaven! MELCHTHAL (_rushing out_). Into his eyes, his eyes? STAUFFACHER (_addresses himself in astonishment to_ WALTER FÜRST). Who is this youth? MELCHTHAL (_grasping him convulsively_). Into his eyes? Speak, speak! FÜRST. O, miserable hour! STAUFF. Who is it, tell me! [STAUFFACHER _makes a sign to him_.] It is his son! All-righteous Heaven! MELCH. And I Must be from thence! What! into both his eyes? FÜRST. Be calm, be calm; and bear it like a man! MELCH.