Erewhile, my children, were your father out, There was a merriment at his return; For still, on coming home, he brought you somewhat, Might be an Alpine flower, rare bird, or elf-bolt, Such as the wand'rer finds upon the mountains: Now he is gone in quest of other spoil On the wild way he sits with thoughts of murder: 'Tis for his enemy's life he lies in wait And yet on you, dear children, you alone He thinks as then: for your sake is he here; To guard you from the Tyrant's vengeful mood, He bends his peaceful bow for work of blood. [_Rises._ No common game I watch for. Does the hunter Think it nought to roam the livelong day, In winter's cold; to risk the desp'rate leap From crag to crag, to climb the slipp'ry face O' th' dizzy steep, glueing his steps in's blood; And all to catch a pitiful chamois? Here is a richer prize afield: the heart Of my sworn enemy, that would destroy me. [_A sound of gay music is heard in the distance; it approaches._ All my days, the bow has been my comrade, I have trained myself to archery; oft Have I took the bull's-eye, many a prize Brought home from merry shooting; but today I will perform my master-feat, and win me The best prize in the circuit of the hills. [_A wedding company crosses the scene, and mounts up through the Pass. Tell looks at them, leaning on his bow; Stüssi the Forester joins him._ STÜSSI. 'Tis Klostermey'r of Morlischachen holds His bridal feast today: a wealthy man; Has half a score of glens i' th' Alps. They're going To fetch the bride from Imisee; tonight There will be mirth and wassail down at Küssnacht. Come you! All honest people are invited. TELL. A serious guest befits not bridal feasts. STÜSSI. If sorrow press you, dash it from your heart! Seize what you can: the times are hard; one needs To snatch enjoyment nimbly while it passes. Here 'tis a bridal, there 'twill be a burial. TELL. And oftentimes the one leads to the other. STÜSSI. The way o' th' world at present! There is nought But mischief everywhere: an avalanche Has come away in Glarus; and, they tell me, A side o' th' Glarnish has sunk under ground. TELL. Do, then, the very hills give way! On earth Is nothing that endures. STÜSSI. In foreign parts, too, Are strange wonders. I was speaking with a man From Baden: a Knight, it seems, was riding To the King; a swarm of hornets met him By the way, and fell on's horse, and stung it Till it dropt down dead of very torment, And the poor Knight was forced to go afoot. TELL. Weak creatures too have stings. [_Armgart's Wife enters with several children, and places herself at the entrance of the Pass._ STÜSSI. 'Tis thought to bode Some great misfortune to the land; some black Unnatural action. TELL. Ev'ry day such actions Occur in plenty: needs no sign or wonder To foreshow them. STÜSSI. Ay, truly! Well for him That tills his field in peace, and undisturb'd Sits by his own fireside!