[Gesler signs to his officers, who proceed to take off Tell's

chains, Tell all the while unconscious of what they do.] 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
Are free from blood, and have no gust for it,
That they should drink my child's! — I'll not
Murder my boy for Gesler.

Alb. Father father!

You will not hit me, father!
Ges. Dost thou consent?

Tell. Give me my bow and quiver!
Ges. For what?

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.

Tell.

Thank you!

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!

EXERCISE CXXXVIII.

THE SAME SUBJECT, CONCLUDED.

Ges. That is your ground. Now shall they measure

thence

A

Tell. What is 't to me? A little thing, little thing:- a yard or two

very

Is nothing here or there

I shot at!

Ges.

Be thankful, slave,

were it a wolf

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?

[To the attendant.

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!
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 about to shoot at.

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

Tell. Oh! do you? - But you see

The color of 't is dark.

To see it better.

Ges. Take it as it is:

I'd have it light,

Thy skill will be the greater if thou hitt❜st it.

I did not think of that. Give me some chance

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 of apples. — Tell takes one.

Tell. Have I a friend among

The lookers on?

Verner. Here, Tell!

Tell. I thank thee, Verner! 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?

Alb. My father!

Tell.

My son

Go, boy

[Holding out his arms to him. [Running into Tell's arms.

If thou canst bear it, should not I?-Go now,
and keep in mind that I can shoot. ·
be thou but steady, I will hit

-

The apple. Go: - God bless thee!-go. My bow!

[Sarnem gives the bow. 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'rt stanch - stanch: - I'd deserve to find thee treach

erous,

Could I suspect thee so.

Come, I will stake

[Retires.

[To an attendant.

My all upon thee! Let me see my quiver.
Ges. Give him a single arrow.

Tell. Is 't so you pick an arrow, friend?
The point, you see, is bent, the feather jagged;
That's all the use 't is fit for.

Ges. Let him have another.

[Breaks it.

[Tell examines it.

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:

I'll not shoot with it. [Throws it away.] Let me see my quiver. Bring it! "T is not one arrow in a dozen

I'd take to shoot with at a dove, much less
A dove like that!
A naked man, a wretched naked man !
Your helpless thrall, alone in the midst of you,
With every one of you a weapon in

- What is 't you fear? I'm but

His hand. What can I do in such a strait
With all the arrows in that quiver? Come,
Will you give it me or not?

Ges. It matters not.

Show him the quiver.

[Tell kneels, and picks out an arrow.

Tell. See if the boy is ready.

Ver. He is.

Tell. I'm ready too! - Keep silence, for [To the people. 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.

Now friends, for mercy's sake, keep motionless

And silent!

[Tell shoots, and a shout of exultation bursts from the crowd.] Ver. [Rushing in with Albert.] Thy boy is safe; no hair of him is touched!

Alb. Father, I'm safe! — your Albert's safe! Dear father, Speak to me! speak to me!

Ver. He cannot, boy!

Open his vest,

And give him air.

[Albert opens his father's vest, and an arrow drops; Tell starts, fixes his eyes on Albert, and clasps him to his breast.] Tell. My boy! my boy!

Ges. For what

Hid

you that arrow in your breast? Speak, slave! Tell. To kill thee, tyrant, had I slain my boy! Liberty

Would at thy downfall shout from every peak!
My country then were free!

EXERCISE CXXXIX.

THERMOPYLE. — G. W. Doane.

T was an hour of fearful issues,
When the bold three hundred stood,
For their love of holy freedom,
By that old Thessalian flood;
When, lifting high each sword of flame,
They called on every sacred name,
And swore, beside those dashing waves,
They never, never would be slaves!

And oh that oath was nobly kept:
From morn to setting sun,
Did desperation urge the fight
Which valor had begun ;

Till, torrent-like, the stream of blood
Ran down and mingled with the flood,
And all, from mountain cliff to wave,
Was Freedom's, Valor's, Glory's grave.

Oh! yes, that oath was nobly kept,
Which nobly had been sworn,
And proudly did each gallant heart
The foeman's fetters spurn;
And firmly was the fight maintained,
And amply was the triumph gained;
They fought, fair Liberty, for thee:
They fell

- TO DIE IS TO BE FREE!

See RULE FOR POETIC DECLAMATION, following ver cise XCI.