Act I. A beautiful May morning has dawned over the Lake of Lucerne, on

which _Tell's_ house is situated. It is the day of the Shepherd Festival. According to ancient custom the grey-haired _Melcthal_ blesses the loving couples among them. But his own son, _Arnold_, does not ask a blessing of the old man. Yet, although he loves _Matilda_, his heart also belongs to his native land. The festival is interrupted by the sound of horns. It is the train of _Gessler_, the hated tyrant. _Leuthold_ rushes in, breathless. In order to protect his daughter from dishonour, he has been obliged to kill one of _Gessler's_ soldiers. He is pursued. To cross the lake is his only means of escape. But who will take him in the face of the storm that is coming up? _Tell_ wastes no time in thinking. He acts. It is the last possible moment. _Gessler's_ guards already are seen, _Rudolph_ at their head. With _Tell's_ aid the fugitive escapes them, but they turn to the country folk, and seize and carry off old _Melcthal_.