Beauvalle, Countess, Dejm, Tomeš, Jírak, Vrána, Kořinek, later Count Václav with Bubna.

Beauvalle (Surprised).—Why are you coming here? (To Tomeš) What are you leading them to?

Tomeš (With emphasis, but courteously).—You commanded me, noble count, to stop at the castle. I have come.

The Crowd.—We with him, we are with him!

Beauvalle.—What is the meaning of all this?

Jírak (Stepping out).—Your Grace, we are working in bondage many more hours than we need to do. We are willing to be your serfs even longer, but Tomeš we will not give up.

The Crowd.—We will not, we shall not.

Beauvalle.—What has gotten into these people? Who started this?

Tomeš.—They have heard that something terrible threatens me, because I stood by Vrána. So they came to give me their support.

Jírak.—And we are willing to give good service and be as much alive as before, but (with threats and the following words) we beg of you, most earnestly do we beseech you, that we should no longer be oppressed, neither that violence should be done to any one of us. (Dejm steps up to Beauvalle and talks earnestly with him and the Countess.)

Kořinek (Half aloud to the people).—Do not give up! The French and Bavarians everywhere are protecting the enslaved people, and it is reported they have come to bring us freedom. Serfdom and bondage must go with the old order!

Beauvalle (Will not relent to Dejm who is trying to persuade him to something. To the people) To this act of yours, the magistrate and the people from the castle will answer.

The crowd.—Not now, not now.

Beauvalle (To Tomeš),—You will stay here to await the penalty.

The crowd (Surging forward).—He shall not stay. We will not let him stay!

The Countess (Aside to the Count).—Forgive them! It is an insignificant thing.

Dejm.—This is an inopportune time for violence. You have no protection here anywhere, and we are now in need of them.