HARRAS.
All curses light on you!
[Draws his sword.
STUSSI (seizes his arm).
Gently, sir knight!
Your power is at an end. 'Twere best forbear.
Our country's foe is fallen. We will brook
No further violence. We are free men.
ALL.
The country's free!
HARRAS.
And is it come to this?
Fear and obedience at an end so soon?
[To the soldiers of the guard who are thronging in.
You see, my friends, the bloody piece of work
They've acted here. 'Tis now too late for help,
And to pursue the murderer were vain.
New duties claim our care. Set on to Kuessnacht,
And let us save that fortress for the king!
For in an hour like this all ties of order,
Fealty, and faith are scattered to the winds.
No man's fidelity is to be trusted.
[As he is going out with the soldiers six
FRATRES MISERICCRDIAE appear.
ARMGART.
Here come the brotherhood of mercy. Room!
STUSSI.
The victim's slain, and now the ravens stoop.