STUSSI. See there! how pale he grows! Death's gathering now About his heart--his eyes grow dim and glazed. ARMGART (_holds up a child_). Look, children, how a tyrant dies! HARRAS. Mad hag! Have you no touch of feeling, that your eyes Gloat on a sight so horrible as this? Help me--take hold. What, will not one assist To pull the torturing arrow from his breast? WOMEN. What! touch the man whom God's own hand has struck! HARRAS. All curses light on you! [_Draws his sword_.] STUSSI (_seizes his arm_). Gently, sir knight! Your power is at end. 'Twere best forbear. Our country's foe has fallen. We will brook No further violence. We are free men. ALL. The country's free. HARRAS. And is it come to this? Fear and obedience at an end so soon? [_To the soldiers of the guard who are thronging in_.] You see, my friends, the bloody piece of work Has here been done. 'Tis now too late for help, And to pursue the murderer were vain. We've other things to think of. On to Küssnacht, And let us save that fortress for the king! For in a moment such as this, all ties Of order, fealty and faith are rent, And we can trust to no man's loyalty. [_As he is going out with the soldiers, six_ FRATRES MISERICORDIÆ _appear_.] ARMGART. Here comes the brotherhood of mercy. Room! STUSSI. The victim's slain, and now the ravens stoop. BROTHERS OF MERCY (_form a semicircle round the body, and sing in solemn tones)._ Death hurries on with hasty stride, No respite man from him may gain, He cuts him down, when life's full tide Is throbbing strong in every vein. Prepared or not the call to hear, He must before his Judge appear. [_While they are repeating the two last lines, the curtain falls_.] ACT V SCENE I _A common near Altdorf. In the background to the right the Keep of Uri, with the scaffold still standing, as in the Third Scene of the first Act. To the left, the view opens upon numerous mountains, on all of which signal fires are burning. Day is breaking, and distant bells are heard ringing in several directions._ RUODI, KUONI, WERNI, MASTER MASON, _and many other country people, also women and children_. RUODI. See there! The beacons on the mountain heights! MASON. Hark how the bells above the forest toll! RUODI. The enemy's routed. MASON. And the forts are storm'd. RUODI. And we of Uri, do we still endure Upon our native soil the tyrant's keep? Are we the last to strike for liberty? MASON. Shall the yoke stand, that was to curb our necks? Up! Tear it to the ground! ALL. Down, down with it! RUODI. Where is the Stier of Uri? URI. Here. What would ye? RUODI. Up to your tower, and wind us such a blast As shall resound afar, from peak to peak; Rousing the echoes of each glen and hill, To rally swiftly all the mountain men! [_Exit_ STIER OF URI--_Enter_ WALTER FÜRST.] FÜRST.