Theodore Martin - Wilhelm Tell (Act 5 Scene 3) lyrics

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 to the Sechen. WALTER FURST with the two boys. WERNER and STAUFFACHER 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 appear. 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. BERTHA. 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 intrust my rights. Will you protect me as your citizen? PEASANTS. Ay, that we will, with life and fortune both! BERTHA. 'Tis well! And to this youth I give my hand. A free Swiss maiden to a free Swiss man! RUDENZ. And from this moment all my serfs are free! [Music and the curtain falls.