The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Tell : Since you have promised not to take my life, I will, without reserve, declare the truth. If that my hand had struck my darling child, This second arrow I had aimed at you, And, be assured, I should not then have missed.

Gessler: Well, Tell, I promised thou shouldst have thy life. Yet, as I know the malice of thy thoughts, I'll have thee carried hence, and safely penned Where neither sun nor moon shall reach thine eyes. Seize on him, guards! Remove him to my ship! At Kussnacht I will see him safely lodged. [Exit.

Furst : All's over now! He is resolved to bring Destruction on myself and all my house.

Country People (surrounding Tell) : Our last remaining comfort goes with you! Leuthold: I'm sorry for you, Tell, but must obey. Telclass="underline" Farewell!

Walter : Oh, father, father, father dear!

Tell : Thy Father is on high—appeal to Him! Stauffacher: Have you no message, Tell, to send

your wife? Tell (clasping the boy to his breast) : The boy's uninjured. God will succour me!

[Tears himself away, and follows the soldiers. 139

Act IV

Scene I.—Stormy day on Lake of Lucerne. Fisherman and boy have been watching Gessler's ship tossed by the storm, until it has disappeared behind a cliff. After a while, enter Tell with his crossbow. He looks round wildly,-then throws himself on his knees and stretches out his hands towards heaven.

Boy: See, father, a man on's knees. Who can it be?

Fisherman: Who is it? God in heaven! What, Wilhelm Tell! How came you hither? Speak!

Telclass="underline" From yonder vessel.

Boy : Where is the viceroy ?

Tell : Drifting on the waves.

I lay on deck, fast bound with cords, disarmed, In utter hopelessness. Then we put forth, The viceroy, Harras, and their suite. My bow And quiver lay astern beside the helm. A storm swept down upon us with such force That every oarsman's heart within him sank. Then heard I one of the attendant train, Turning to Gessler, in this wise accost him: " You see our danger, and your own, my lord? Now, here is Tell, a stout and fearless man; How if we should avail ourselves of him In this emergency ? " The viceroy then Addressed me thus: " If thou wilt undertake To bring us through this tempest safely, Tell, I might consent to free thee from thy bonds." They loosed the cords, and made me take my place Beside the helm. I steered as best I could, But kept a watchful eye upon the shore. And when I had descried a shelving crag I brought the vessel's stern close to the rock; Then snatching up my weapons, with a bound

140

I swung myself upon the flattened shelf, And with my feet thrust off, with all my might, The puny bark into the watery hell. There let it drift about, as Heaven ordain!

Fisherman : But you will be in peril, should perchance The viceroy 'scape this tempest with his life.

Tell : I heard him say, as I lay bound on board, [At Brunnen he proposed to disembark, [And, crossing Schwytz, convey me to his castle. Which is the nearest way to Arth and Kiissnacht ?

Fisherman: My boy can show you the nearest road.

Tell : Then do me this one favour—speed to Biirglen. My wife is anxious at my absence. Tell her That I am free, and in secure concealment. [Exeunt.

Scene II.—A pass near Kiissnacht, with rocks on either side.

Tell (enters with his crossbow) : Through this ravine he needs must come. There is No other way to Kiissnacht. Here I'll do it. From yonder point my shaft is sure to hit. The straitness of the gorge forbids pursuit. Now, Gessler, balance thine account with Heaven 1 My boys, poor innocents, my loyal wife, Must be protected, tyrant, from thy rage!

[Enter Armgart with several children. Armgart : Here he cannot escape me. He must hear

me. Friesshart (coming hastily down the pass) : Make way, make way! My lord, the governor, Is close behind me, riding down the pass. [Exit Tell. Gessler and Harras appear on horseback at the uhpcr end of the pass. Gessler : Great projects are at work and hatching now. Th' imperial house seeks to extend its power. This petty nation is a stumbling block— One way or other it must be put down.

141

Armgart: Mercy, lord governor! Oh, pardon, pardon !

Gessler : Why do you cross me on the public road ? Stand back, I say.

Armgart: My husband lies in prison.

My wretched orphans cry for bread. Have pity! Pity, my lord, upon our sore distress! Justice, my lord! Ay, as thou hop'st for justice From Him who rules above, show it to us!

Gessler: Give way, or else my horse shall ride you down. [Armgart throws her children and herself upon the ground before him.

Gessler: Drag her away, lest I forget myself, And do some deed I may repent me of.

Harras : My lord, the servants cannot force their way; The pass is blocked up by a bridal train.

Gessler : This braggart spirit of freedom I will crush; I will proclaim a new law through the land; I win