FRIESSHARDT.
He is an enemy of the king—a traitor!
TELL (seizing him with violence).
A traitor, I!
ROSSELMANN.
Friend, thou art wrong. 'Tis Tell,
An honest man, and worthy citizen.
WALTER (descries FURST, and runs up to him).
Grandfather, help! they want to seize my father!
FRIESSHARDT.
Away to prison!
FURST (running in).
Stay! I offer bail.
For God's sake, Tell, what is the matter here?
[MELCHTHAL and STAUFFACHER enter.
LEUTHOLD.
He has contemned the viceroy's sovereign power,
Refusing flatly to acknowledge it.
STAUFFACHER.
Has Tell done this?
MELCHTHAL.
Villain, thou knowest 'tis false!