Across the Brünig. 'Twas not my fault he bore his sight away, He who had robb'd my father of his eyes! He fled--I followed--overtook him soon, And dragg'd him to my father's feet. The sword Already quiver'd o'er the caitiff's head, When from the pity of the blind old man, He wrung the life which, craven-like, he begged. He swore URPHEDE,[59] never to return He'll keep his oath, for he has felt our arm. FÜRST. Oh, well for you, you have not stain'd with blood Our spotless victory! CHILDREN (_running across the stage with fragments of_ _wood_). We're free! we're free! FÜRST. Oh! what a joyous scene! These children will Remember it when all their heads are gray. [_Girls bring in the cap upon a pole. The whole stage is filled with people_.] RUODI. Here is the cap, to which we were to bow! BAUM. What shall we do with it? Do you decide! FÜRST. Heavens! 'Twas beneath this cap my grandson stood! SEVERAL VOICES. Destroy the emblem of the tyrant's power! Let it be burnt! FÜRST. No. Rather be preserved; 'Twas once the instrument of despots--now 'Twill of our freedom be a lasting sign. [_Peasants, men, women, and children, some standing, others sitting upon the beams of the shattered scaffold, all picturesquely grouped, in a large semicircle_.] MELCH. Thus now, my friends, with light and merry hearts, We stand upon the wreck of tyranny; And gloriously the work has been fulfilled Which we at Rootli pledged ourselves to do. FÜRST. No, not fulfilled. The work is but begun: Courage and concord firm, we need them both; For, be assured, the king will make all speed, To avenge his Viceroy's death, and reinstate, By force of arms, the tyrant we've expell'd. MELCH. Why let him come, with all his armaments! The foe's expelled that press'd us from within; The foe without we are prepared to meet? RUODI. The passes to our Cantons are but few; These with our bodies we will block, we will! BAUM. Knit are we by a league will ne'er be rent, And all his armies shall not make us quail. [_Enter_ RÖSSELMANN _and_ STAUFFACHER.] RÖSSELMANN (_speaking as he enters_). These are the awful judgments of the Lord! PEASANT. What is the matter? RÖSSELMANN. In what times we live! FÜRST. Say on, what is't? Ha, Werner, is it you? What tidings? PEASANT. What's the matter? RÖSSELMANN. Hear and wonder! STAUFF. We are released from one great cause of dread. RÖSSEL. The Emperor is murdered. FÜRST. Gracious Heaven! [PEASANTS _rise up and throng round_ STAUFFACHER.] ALL. Murder'd!--the Emp'ror? What! The Emp'ror! Hear! MELCH. Impossible! How came you by the news? STAUFF. 'Tis true! Near Bruck, by the assassin's hand, King Albert fell. A most trustworthy man, John Müller, from Schaffhausen, brought the news. FÜRST. Who dared commit so horrible a deed? STAUFF. The doer makes the deed more dreadful still; It was his nephew, his own brother's son, Duke John of Austria, who struck the blow. MELCH.