Tell. To shoot my boy!

Alb. No, father, no!
To save me!

You'll be sure to hit the apple.

Will you not save me, father?

Tell. Lead me forth;

I'll make the trial!

Alb. Thank you!

Tell. Thank me? Do

You know for what? I will not make the trial.

To take him to his mother in my arms!

And lay him down a corse before her!

Ges. Then he dies this moment, and you certainly
Do murder him whose life you have a chance
To save, and will not use it.

Tell. Well, I'll do it; I'll make the trial.

Alb. Father!

Tell. Speak not to me:

Let me not hear thy voice: thou must be dumb;
And so should all things be. Earth should be dumb;
And heaven-unless its thunders muttered at
The deed, and sent a bolt to stop it! Give me
My bow and quiver!

Ges. When all's ready.
Tell. Ready!-

I must be calm, with such a mark to hit!

Don't touch me, child!-Don't speak to me!-Lead on!

DEFINITIONS.-Come'li-ness, that which is becoming or graceful. Port, manner of movement or walk. At-tire', dress, clothes. Tärnish, to soil, to sully. Av-a-lănçhe', a vast body of snow, earth, and ice, sliding down from a mountain. Vouch-safes', yields, condescends, gives. Wan'ton, luxuriant. Nět'ted, caught in a net. Fledge ling, a young bird. Rec-og-ni'tion, acknowledgment of acquaintance. Pre-con-çert'ed, planned beforehand. Cai'tiff (pro. kā'tif), a mean villain. Thrall'dom, bondage, slavery. Seăn, to examine closely. Něth'er, lower, lying beneath. Blanch, to turn white. Gust, taste, relish.

NOTE.-William Tell is a legendary hero of Switzerland. The events of this drama are represented as occurring in 1307 A. D., when Austria held Switzerland under her control. Gesler, also a purely mythical personage, is one of the Austrian bailiffs. The legend relates that Gesler had his cap placed on a pole in the market-place, and all the Swiss were required to salute it in passing in recognition of his authority. Tell refusing to do this was arrested, and condemned to death. This and the following lesson narrate how the sentence was changed, and the result.

LXVIII. WILLIAM TELL.

(Concluded.)

SCENE 2.-Enter slowly, people in evident distress-Officers, Sarnem, Gesler, Tell, Albert, and soldiers-one bearing Tell's bow and quiver—another with a basket of apples.

Ges. THAT is your ground.

thence

Now shall they measure

A hundred paces. Take the distance.

Tell. Is the line a true one?

Ges. True or not, what is 't to thee?

Tell. What is't to me? A little thing,

A very little thing; a yard or two

Is nothing here or there were it a wolf
I shot at! Never mind.

Ges. Be thankful, slave,

Our grace accords thee life on any terms. Tell. I will be thankful, Gesler! Villain, stop! You measure to the sun.

Ges. And what of that?

What matter whether to or from the sun?

Tell. I'd have it at my back. The sun should shine
Upon the mark, and not on him that shoots.

I can not see to shoot against the sun:
I will not shoot against the sun!

Ges. Give him his way!

mercy.

Thou hast cause to bless my

Tell. I shall remember it. I'd like to see

The apple I'm to shoot at.

Ges. Stay! show me the basket! there!

Tell. You've picked the smallest one.
Ges. I know I have.

Tell. Oh, do you? But you see

The color of it is dark: I'd have it light,
To see it better.

Ges. Take it as it is;

Thy skill will be the greater if thou hitt'st it. Tell. True! true! I did not think of that; I wonder I did not think of that. Give me some chance To save my boy!—

I will not murder him,

If I can help it for the honor of

The form thou wearest, if all the heart is gone.
(Throws away the apple with all his force.)

Ges. Well: choose thyself.

Tell. Have I a friend among the lookers-on?
Verner. (Rushing forward.) Here, Tell.

Tell. I thank thee, Verner!

He is a friend runs out into a storm

To shake a hand with us. I must be brief.
When once the bow is bent, we can not take
The shot too soon. Verner, whatever be
The issue of this hour, the common cause
Must not stand still. Let not to-morrow's sun
Set on the tyrant's banner! Verner! Verner!

The boy the boy! Thinkest thou he hath the

courage

To stand it?

Ver. Yes.

Tell. Does he tremble?

Ver. No.

Tell. Art sure?

Ver. I am.

Tell. How looks he?

Ver. Clear and smilingly.

If you doubt it, look yourself.

Tell. No, no, my friend:

To hear it is enough.

Ver. He bears himself so much above his years-
Tell. I know! I know!

Ver. With constancy 'so modest―

Tell. I was sure he would

Ver. And looks with such relying love

And reverence upon you—

Tell. Man! Man! Man!

No more! Already I'm too much the father
To act the man! Verner, no more, my friend!
I would be flint-flint-flint. Don't make me feel
I'm not do not mind me! Take the boy
And set him, Verner, with his back to me.
Set him upon his knees, and place this apple
Upon his head, so that the stem may front me.
Thus, Verner; charge him to keep steady; tell him
I'll hit the apple! Verner, do all this

More briefly than I tell it thee.

Ver. Come, Albert! (Leading him out.)

Alb. May I not speak with him before I go?
Ver. No.

Alb. I would only kiss his hand.

Ver. You must not.

Alb. I must; I can not go from him without.

Ver. It is his will you should.

Alb. His will, is it?

I am content, then; come.

Tell. My boy! (Holding out his arms to him.)

Alb. My father!

(Rushing into Tell's arms.)

Tell. If thou canst

bear it, should not I? Go now,
My son; and keep in mind that I can shoot;
Go, boy; be thou but steady, I will hit
The apple. Go! God bless thee; go. My bow!
(The bow is handed to him.)

Thou wilt not fail thy master, wilt thou? Thou
Hast never failed him yet, old servant. No,
I'm sure of thee. I know thy honesty,

Thou art stanch, stanch. Let me see my quiver.
Ges. Give him a single arrow.

Tell. Do you shoot?

Soldier. I do.

Tell. Is it so you pick an arrow, friend?

The point, you see, is bent; the feather, jagged.
That's all the use 'tis fit for.

Ges. Let him have another.

Tell. Why, 't is better than the first,

But yet not good enough for such an aim

As I'm to take. "Tis heavy in the shaft;

(Breaks it.)

I'll not shoot with it! (Throws it away.) Let me

see my quiver.

Bring it! 'Tis not one arrow in a dozen

I'd take to shoot with at a dove, much less

A dove like that.

Ges. It matters not.

Show him the quiver.

Tell. See if the boy is ready.

Ver. He is.

(Tell here hides an arrow under his vest.)

Tell. I'm ready too! Keep silent, for

Heaven's sake, and do not stir; and let me have
Your prayers, your prayers, and be my witnesses
That if his life's in peril from my hand,

'Tis only for the chance of saving it. (To the people.) Ges. Go on.