TELL. The peacefulest Dwells not in peace, if wicked neighbours hinder. [_Tell looks often, with restless expectation, towards the top of the Pass._ STÜSSI. Too true.—Good b'ye!—You're waiting here for some one? TELL. That am I. STÜSSI. Glad meeting with your friends! You are from Uri? His Grace the Landvogt Is expected thence today. TRAVELLER [_enters_]. Expect not The Landvogt now. The waters, from the rain, Are flooded, and have swept down all the bridges. [_Tell stands up._ ARMGART [_coming forward_]. The Vogt not come! STÜSSI. Did you want aught with him? ARMGART. Ah! yes, indeed! STÜSSI. Why have you placed yourself In this strait pass to meet him? ARMGART. In the pass He cannot turn aside from me, must hear me. FRIESSHARDT [_comes hastily down the Pass, and calls into the Scene_]. Make way! make way! My lord the Landvogt Is riding close at hand. ARMGART. The Landvogt coming! [_She goes with her children to the front of the Scene. Gessler and Rudolph der Harras appear on horseback at the top of the Pass._ STÜSSI [_to Friesshardt_]. How got you through the water, when the flood Had carried down the bridges? FRIESS. We have battled With the billows, friend; we heed no Alp-flood. STÜSSI. Were you o' board i' th' storm? FRIESS. That were we; While I live, I shall remember 't. STÜSSI. Stay, stay! O, tell me! FRIESS. Cannot; must run on t' announce His lordship in the Castle. [_Exit._ STÜSSI. Had these fellows I' th' boat been honest people, 't would have sunk With ev'ry soul of them. But for such rakehells, Neither fire nor flood will kill them. [_He looks round._] Whither Went the Mountain-man was talking with me? [_Exit._ GESSLER _and_ RUDOLPH DER HARRAS _on horseback_. GESSLER. Say what you like, I am the Kaiser's servant, And must think of pleasing him. He sent me Not to caress these hinds, to soothe or nurse them: Obedience is the word! The point at issue is Shall Boor or Kaiser here be lord o' th' land. ARMGART. Now is the moment! Now for my petition! [_Approaches timidly._ GESSLER. This Hat at Aldorf, mark you, I set up Not for the joke's sake, or to try the hearts O' th' people; these I know of old: but that They might be taught to bend their necks to me, Which are too straight and stiff: and in the way Where they are hourly passing, I have planted This offence, that so their eyes may fall on't, And remind them of their lord, whom they forget. RUDOLPH. But yet the people have some rights—