The whole valley before TELL's house, the heights which enclose
it occupied by peasants, grouped into tableaux. Some are
seen crossing a lofty bridge, which crosses the Shechen.
WALTER FURST with the two boys. WERNER and STAUF-
FACHER come forward. Others throng after them. When
TELL appears, all receive him with loud cheers.
ALL.
Long live brave Tell, our shield, our liberator.
[While those in front are crowding round TELL,
and embracing him, RUDENZ and BERTHA ap-
pear. The former salutes the peasantry, the
latter embraces HEDWIG. The music from the
mountains continues to play. When it has
stopped, BERTHA steps into the centre of the
crowd.
BERTH Peasants! Confederates! Into your league
Receive me here, that happily am the first
To find protection in the land of freedom.
To your brave hands I now entrust my rights.
Will you protect me as your citizen?
Ay, that we will, with life and fortune both!
BERTH. 'Tis well! And to this youth I give my hand.
A free Swiss maiden to a free Swiss man!
RUD... And from this moment all my serfs are free!
[Music and the curtain falls
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