but, kind or not, I have no power to choose. When he comes he shall not find me mad. Eliz. Let me entreat!. [Attempting to restore her disguise.] Cath. No, Elizabeth; I will appear as my royal father's daughter should appear. I will have no protection but innocence and truth. [Enter Simon, in haste.] Sim. This land is free! the tyrant has just now, in his haste, fallen, with his horse, off the westland crag, and a mangled corse is all that remains of our sons' murderer, and this lady's foe. [Catharine shrieks, and, fainting, is supported by Simon and Rachel.] Rach. So much for joy! Eliz. It was not joy. She loved him once, But soon far other thoughts be hers I ween; For know you now, your daughter is your queen! WILLIAM TELL. TELL, a Swiss patriot. EMMA, his wife. ALBERT, their son. J. S. KNOWLES. GESLER, a tyrannical governor. VERNER, a friend of Tell. SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS. SCENE 1. Cottage—mountains and lake. Emma. [Entering.] O, the fresh morning! Albert. My mother! Praise be to him it constant run Praise be to him! [Enter Albert.] Em. Albert! Bless thee! How early were you up? Alb. Before the sun. Em. Ay, strive with him. He never lies abed When it is time to rise. Be like the sun. Alb. What you would have me like, I'll be like, As far as wiil to labor joined can make me. Em. Well said, my boy! Knelt you when you got up, To-day? Alb. I did; and do every day. Em. I know you do! And think you, when To whom you kneel? you kneel, Alb. To him who made me, mother. Alb. In the name of him, who died Em. That's right! Remember that, my son: To live, when these art gone, where they are nought— Alb. I will! Em. I'm glad you husband what you're taught. He who finds which, has all-who misses, nothing. Ah! my father. Em. [Advancing towards her husband.] William! Welcome, William! welcome! How long 't would be ere noon would come. You're come That comes before the time. Tell. [To Albert.] Dear child, I well may love thee. Em. O, William! think How little is that all to him- too little For Gesler, sure, to take! Bethink thee, William, We have no treasure. Tell. Have we not? No treasure? How! Have we No treasure? What! Have we not liberty? that precious ore, And best it is we know how much. Then, Emma, But go now and tell our people to guard Gesler, that he throw not around these free limbs SCENE II. Before a castle. [Enter Gesler, Albert, Verner, Sarnem, Officers, Soldiers, with Tell chained, and people.] Sar. Down, slave! Behold the governor. Down! down! and beg For mercy! Ges. Does he hear? - Thy name? Tell. My name? It matters not to keep it from thee now: My name is Tell. Ges. Tell!-William Tell? Tell. The same. Ges. What! he so famed, 'bove all his countrymen, For guiding o'er the stormy lake the boat? And such a master of his bow, 't is said His arrows never miss! [Aside.] Indeed! - I'll take Exquisite vengeance! - Mark! [To Tell.] I'll spare thy life, Thy boy's too. Both of you are free, Condition. Tell. Name it. Ges. I would see you make -on one A trial of your skill with that same bow Tell. Name the trial you Would have me make. [Tell looks on Albert.] As though instinctively you guessed it. Upon my boy! What mean you? Look upon Instinctively! You do not mean-no-no You would not have me make a trial of Ges. I would see Thee hit an apple at the distance of A hundred paces. Tell. Is my boy to hold it? Ges. It is to rest upon his head. Ges. Thou dost hear the choice I give,- Tell. Ferocious monster! Make A father murder his own child! Ges. Dost thou consent? Alb. He does. [Gesler makes signs to his officers, who proceed to take off Tell's chains, Tell, the meanwhile, unconscious of what they are doing.] Tell. With his own hand! Murder his child with his own hand! The hand I've led him, when an infant, by! [His chains fall off.] What's that you Have done to me? [To the guard.] Villains! put on my chains again. My hands Alb. Father-father! You will not hit me, father! Ges. Dost thou consent? - Tell. Speak not to me: Let me not hear thy voice, - -thou must be dumb; And heaven, — unless its thunders muttered at Ges. That is your ground. Now shall they measure thence A hundred paces. Take the distance. Tell. Is The line a true one? Ges. True or not, what is 't To thee? A Tell. What is 't to me? A little thing, very little thing:- a yard or two Is nothing here or there were it a wolf I shot at ! [Sarnem begins to measure.] 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 cannot see to shoot against the sun! I will not shoot against the sun! [mercy. Ges. Give him his way! - Thou hast cause to bless my Tell. I shall remember it. [Sarnem pacing goes out.] I'd like to see The apple I'm about to shoot at. Ges. Show me The basket. There! - [Gives a very small apple.] Thy skill will be the greater if thou hit'st it. To save my boy! [Throws away the apple,] I will not murder him, If I can help it,- for the honor of The form thou wear'st, if all the heart is gone! Ges. Well! choose thyself. [Hands a basket. Tell takes an apple.] Tell. Have I a friend among The lookers on? Verner. Here, Tell! Tell. I thank thee, Verner!- Take the boy And place this apple upon his head. Then, Verner, charge him to keep steady, - tell him More briefly than I tell it thee. Ver. Come, Albert! [Leading out the boy.] Alb. My father! [Running into Tell's arms.] Tell. If thou canst bear it, should not I?-Go now, |