This soil we have created for ourselves,
By the hard labor of our hands; we’ve changed
The giant forest, that was erst the haunt
Of savage bears, into a home for man;
Extirpated the dragon’s brood, that wont
To rise, distent with venom, from the swamps;
Rent the thick misty canopy that hung
Its blighting vapors on the dreary waste;
Blasted the solid rock; across the chasm
Thrown the firm bridge for the wayfaring man. 
By the possession of a thousand years
The soil is ours.  And shall an alien lord,
Himself a vassal, dare to venture here,
Insult us by our own hearth fires—­attempt
To forge the chains of bondage for our hands,
And do us shame on our own proper soil? 
Is there no help against such wrong as this?

    [Great sensation among the people.]

Yes! there’s a limit to the despot’s power! 
When the oppress’d for justice looks in vain,
When his sore burden may no more be borne,
With fearless heart he makes appeal to Heaven,
And thence brings down his everlasting rights,
Which there abide, inalienably his,
And indestructible as are the stars. 
Nature’s primeval state returns again,
Where man stands hostile to his fellow man;
And if all other means shall fail his need,
One last resource remains—­his own good sword. 
Our dearest treasures call to us for aid
Against the oppressor’s violence; we stand
For country, home, for wives, for children here!

ALL (clashing their swords).

Here stand we for our homes, our wives, and
children.

ROeSSELMANN (stepping into the circle).

Bethink ye well, before ye draw the sword. 
Some peaceful compromise may yet be made;
Speak but one word, and at your feet you’ll see
The men who now oppress you.  Take the terms
That have been often tendered you; renounce
The Empire, and to Austria swear allegiance!

MAUER.

What says the priest?  To Austria allegiance?

BUHEL.

Hearken not to him!

WINKELRIED.

’Tis a traitor’s counsel,
His country’s foe!

REDING.

Peace, peace, confederates!

SEWA.

Homage to Austria, after wrongs like these!

FLUE.

Shall Austria extort from us by force
What we denied to kindness and entreaty?

MEYER.

Then should we all be slaves, deservedly.

MAUER.

Yes!  Let him forfeit all a Switzer’s rights,
Who talks of yielding thus to Austria’s yoke! 
I stand on this, Landamman.  Let this be
The foremost of our laws!

MELCHTHAL.

Even so!  Whoe’er
Shall talk of bearing Austria’s yoke, let him
Of all his rights and honors be despoiled,
No man thenceforth receive him at his hearth!

ALL (raising their right hands).

Agreed!  Be this the law!