Wilhelm Tell Part 26

The emperor is my lord, not you! I'm free As you by birth, and I can cope with you In every virtue that beseems a knight.

And if you stood not here in that king's name, Which I respect e'en where 'tis most abused, I'd throw my gauntlet down, and you should give An answer to my gage in knightly fas.h.i.+on.

Ay, beckon to your troopers! Here I stand; But not like these-- [Pointing to the people.

unarmed. I have a sword, And he that stirs one step----

STAUFFACHER (exclaims).

The apple's down!

[While the attention of the crowd has been directed to the spot where BERTHA had cast herself between RUDENZ and GESSLER, TELL has shot.

ROSSELMANN.

The boy's alive!

MANY VOICES.

The apple has been struck!

[WALTER FURST staggers, and is about to fall. BERTHA supports him.

GESSLER (astonished).

How? Has he shot? The madman!

BERTHA.

Worthy father!

Pray you compose yourself. The boy's alive!

WALTER (runs in with the apple).

Here is the apple, father! Well I knew You would not harm your boy.

[TELL stands with his body bent forwards, as though he would follow the arrow. His bow drops from his hand. When he sees the boy advancing, he hastens to meet him with open arms, and embracing him pa.s.sionately sinks down with him quite exhausted.

All crowd round them deeply affected.

BERTHA.

Oh, ye kind heavens!

FURST (to father and son).

My children, my dear children!

STAUFFACHER.

G.o.d be praised!

LEUTHOLD.

Almighty powers! That was a shot indeed!

It will be talked of to the end of time.

HARRAS.

This feat of Tell, the archer, will be told While yonder mountains stand upon their base.

[Hands the apple to GESSLER.

GESSLER.

By heaven! the apple's cleft right through the core.

It was a master shot I must allow.

ROSSELMANN.

The shot was good. But woe to him who drove The man to tempt his G.o.d by such a feat!

STAUFFACHER.

Cheer up, Tell, rise! You've n.o.bly freed yourself, And now may go in quiet to your home.

ROSSELMANN.

Come, to the mother let us bear her son!

GESSLER.

A word, Tell.

[They are about to lead him off.

TELL.

Sir, your pleasure?

GESSLER.

Thou didst place A second arrow in thy belt--nay, nay!

I saw it well--what was thy purpose with it?

TELL (confused).

It is the custom with all archers, sir.

GESSLER.

No, Tell, I cannot let that answer pa.s.s.

There was some other motive, well I know.

Frankly and cheerfully confess the truth;-- Whate'er it be I promise thee thy life, Wherefore the second arrow?

TELL.

Well, my lord, Since you have promised not to take my life, I will, without reserve, declare the truth.

[He draws the arrow from his belt, and fixes his eyes sternly upon the governor.

If that my hand had struck my darling child, This second arrow I had aimed at you, And, be a.s.sured, I should not then have missed.

GESSLER.

Well, Tell, I promised thou shouldst have thy life; I gave my knightly word, and I will keep it.

Yet, as I know the malice of thy thoughts, I will remove thee hence to sure confinement, Where neither sun nor moon shall reach thine eyes, Thus from thy arrows I shall be secure.

Seize on him, guards, and bind him.

[They bind him.

STAUFFACHER.

How, my lord-- How can you treat in such a way a man On whom G.o.d's hand has plainly been revealed?

GESSLER.