You know for what? I will not make the trial, To take him to his mother in my arms, 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. Father Tell. Speak not to me: Let me not hear thy voice- Thou must be dumb; My bow and quiver ! — SCENE II. PERSONS. - Enter, slowly, People in evident distress· Officers, Sarnem, Gesler, Tell, Albert, and soldiersone bearing Tell's bow and quiver, another with a basket of apples. 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? Tell. What is 't to me? A little thing, A very little thing- a yard or two Is nothing here or there I shot at! Never mind. Ges. Be thankful, slave, were it a wolf Our grace accords thee life on any terms. You measure to the sun! Ges. And what of that? Villain, stop! 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! Ges. Give him his way! Thou hast cause to bless my mercy. 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. O! do you?The color on 't is dark To see it better. Ges. Take it as it is: But you see I'd have it light, Thy skill will be the greater if thou hit'st it. Tell. True-true! I did not think of that- I wonder I did not think of that To save my boy! force.] Give me some chance [Throws away the apple with all his I will not murder him, If I can help it — for the honor of The form thou wearest, if all the heart is gone. Tell. Have I a friend among the lookers on? Verner. [Rushing forward.] Tell. I thank thee, Verner! Here, Tell! He is a friend runs out into a storm To shake a hand with us. I must be brief: To stand it. the boy! Thinkest thou he hath the courage No-no- my friend: To hear it is enough. Ver. He bears himself so much above his years Ver. And looks with such relying love And reverence upon you Tell. Man! Man! Man! No more! Already I'm too much the father Verner, no more, my friend! I would be flint-flint-flint. Don't make me feel Do not mind me! - Take the boy I'm not 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? 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 I'm sure of thee. I know thy honesty. No, Thou art stanch― stanch. — Let me see my quiver. Ges. Give him a single arrow. Tell. Do you shoot? Sol. 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 't is 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 — 't is heavy in the shaft: [Breaks it.] 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.— 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, |