ACT FOUR
Scene One
Old Melchthal's dwelling
ARNOLD (alone)
Do not forsake me, hope of revenge!
William is in chains and my impatience
urges on the moment for battle.
How silent it is in this place!
I listen - and I hear only the sound of my own footsteps.
I must drive out a secret terror!
I must go in!
In spite of myself I halt upon the threshold;
my father is dead, I shall not go back in there.
Ancestral home
where my eyes opened to the light of day,
only yesterday your protective shelter
offered a father to my love.
I call in vain, o bitter grief!
I call in vain, o bitter grief!
I call, he no longer hears my voice!
I call, he no longer hears my voice!
Beloved walls within which my father dwelt,
I come to see you for the last time!
I come to see you, etc.
Ancestral home
where my eyes opened to the light of day,
beloved walls within which my father dwelt,
I come to see you for the last time!
I come to see you, etc.
CHORUS OF SWISS CONFEDERATES (without)
Vengeance! Vengeance!
ARNOLD
What hope...I hear alarm-cries.
CONFEDERATES
Vengeance! Vengeance!
ARNOLD
These are my companions, I see them hurrying
this way.
CONFEDERATES
William is a prisoner and we are without weapons!
We all want to help him.
Arms, give us arms, and we shall know how to die.
Give us arms!
ARNOLD
William and my father long since
foresaw the hour for battle:
under the rock, at the back of the lonely chalet,
run and arm yourselves, run and arm yourselves!
CONFEDERATES
Let's run and arm ourselves!
Let's run and arm ourselves! Hurry!
ARNOLD
No more needless fear,
no more sterile alarm;
Gessler, you shall perish!
For you, who deprive my love
of my father and my mistress,
is death enough,
is death enough?
CONFEDERATES (returning)
Melchthal, let your hope revive,
Melchthal, let your hope revive!
At last we have swords to arm us, etc.
Melchthal, Melchthal -
ARNOLD
Friends, friends, assist my vengeance.
If our leader is in fetters
it is to us his defence belongs;
the roads to Altdorf are open,
the roads to Altdorf are open.
Follow me! Follow me!
Let us cheat the murderous hope
of a treacherous monster,
let us cheat his murderous hope;
let us wrest William from his blows!
Let us wrest William from his blows!
CONFEDERATES
Let us cheat the murderous hope
of a cruel and treacherous tyrant!
ARNOLD
Into battle!
CONFEDERATES
This task is worthy of us!
This task is worthy of us!
ARNOLD
Into battle!
CONFEDERATES
Let us cheat the murderous hope,
this task is worthy of us.
Let us follow him, into battle.
Let us follow him, into battle.
ARNOLD
Follow me, after me,
into battle, either victory or death!
CONFEDERATES
Melchthal! Melchthal!
ARNOLD
Friends, friends, assist my vengeance,
if our leader is in fetters
it is to us his defence belongs!
The roads to Altdorf are open,
the roads to Altdorf are open,
follow me.
CONFEDERATES
The roads to Altdorf are open,
let us follow him...
ARNOLD
Follow me!
CONFEDERATES.
Let's follow him!
ARNOLD
Let us cheat the murderous hope
of a treacherous monster,
let us wrest William from his blows! etc.
CONFEDERATES
Let us cheat the murderous hope
of a cruel and treacherous tyrant,
this task is worthy of us! etc.
ARNOLD
After me...
CONFEDERATES
After him...
ARNOLD
...into battle...
CONFEDERATES
...into battle...
ARNOLD
...either victory...
CONFEDERATES
...either victory...
ARNOLD
...or death!
CONFEDERATES
...or death!
ARNOLD
Let us cheat the murderous hope,
let us wrest William from his blows! etc.
CONFEDERATES
Yes, this task is worthy of us!
Yes, let us cheat the murderous hope
of a cruel and treacherous tyrant,
this task is worthy of us! etc.
ARNOLD
After me...
CONFEDERATES
After him...
ARNOLD
...into battle...
CONFEDERATES
...into battle...
ARNOLD
...either victory...
CONFEDERATES
...either victory...
ARNOLD
...or death!
CONFEDERATES
...or death!
ARNOLD
Let us cheat the murderous hope,
let us wrest William from his blows!
To arms! To arms! To arms!
CONFEDERATES
Yes, this task is worthy of us,
this task is worthy of us! etc.
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