Are dews that mount to Heaven. Louis. Rise-rise-be happy. (retires) (RICHELIEU comes forward and beckons to DE BERINGHEN.) De Ber. (falteringly). My Lord- Suits not your delicate frame-I long have thought so; Sleep not another night in Paris. GoOr else your precious life may be in danger. Leave France, dear Beringhen! De Ber. St. Denis travelled without his head. I'm luckier than St. Denis. [Exit DE BERINGHEN. Rich. (to ORLEANS). For you re- (to FRANÇOIS.) Never say fail again. Brave boy! (to JOSEPH) He'll be JOHANNES PARRICIDA, Duke of Suabia STUSSI, Overseer The Mayor of Uri A Courier Master Stonemason, Companions, and Work men Taskmaster A Crier Monks of the Order of Charity Horsemen of Gessler and Landenberg Many Peasants; Men and Women from the Waldstetten ACT FIRST SCENE I A high rocky shore of the lake of Lucerne opposite Schwytz. The lake makes a bend into the land; a hut stands at a short distance from the shore; the FISHER BOY is rowing about in his boat. Beyond the lake are seen the green meadows, the hamlets and farms of Schwytz, lying in the clear sunshine. On the left are observed the peaks of the Hacken, surrounded with clouds; to the right, and in the remote distance, appear the Glaciers. The Ranz des Vaches, and the tinkling of cattle bells, continue for some time after the rising of the curtain. FISHER BOY (sings in his boat) The clear smiling lake woo'd to bathe in its deep, A boy on its green shore had laid him to sleep; Then heard he a melody And sweet, as when angels. Are singing aloft. And as thrilling with pleasure he wakes from his rest, The waters are murmuring over his breast; And a voice from the deep cries, I charm the young shepherd, HERDSMAN (on the mountains) Air.-Variation of the Ranz des Vaches. Farewell, ye green meadows, Farewell, sunny shore, The herdsman must leave you, We go to the hills, but you'll see us again, When the cuckoo is calling, and woodnotes are gay, When the flow'rets are blooming in dingle and plain, And the brooks sparkle up in the sunshine of May. Farewell, ye green meadows, Farewell, sunny shore, CHAMOIS HUNTER (appearing on the top of a cliff) Second Variation of the Ranz des Vaches. On the heights peals the thunder, and trembles the bridge, The huntsman bounds on by the dizzying ridge. Undaunted he hies him Where leaf never budded, And beneath him an ocean of mist, where his eye No longer the dwellings of man can espy; Through the parting clouds only Far down 'neath the vapor A change comes over the landscape. A rumbling, cracking noise is heard among the mountains. Shadows of clouds sweep across the scene. RUODI, the Fisherman, comes out of his cottage. WERNI, the Huntsman, descends from the rocks. KUONI, the Shepherd, enters, with a milk pail on his shoulders, followed by SEPPI, his Assistant. Ruodi. Bestir thee, Jenni, haul the boat on shore. The grizzly Vale-King1 comes, the Glaciers moan, The lofty Mytenstein draws on his hood, And from the Stormcleft chilly blows the wind; The storm will burst before we are prepared. Kuoni. Twill rain ere long; my sheep browse eagerly, And Watcher there is scraping up the earth. Werni. The fish are leaping, and the water-hen Dives up and down. A storm is coming on. 1 Vale-King: The German is, Thalvogt, Ruler of the Valley-the name given figuratively to a dense grey mist which the south wind sweeps into the valleys from the mountain tops. It is well known as the precursor of stormy weather. beasts have reason, too,And that we know, we men that hunt the chamois: They never turn to feed-sagacious creatures! Till they have placed a sentinel ahead, Who pricks his ears whenever we approach, And gives alarm with clear and piercing pipe. Ruodi (to the shepherd). Are you for home? Kuoni. The Alp is grazed quite bare. Werni. A safe return, my friend! Kuoni. The same to you! Men come not always back from tracks like yours. Ruodi. But who comes here, running at topmost speed? |