yourself.

Tell. No—no—my friend:
To hear it is enough.

Ver. He bears himself so much above his years—

Tell. I know!—I know.

Ver. With constancy so modest!—

Tell. I was sure he would—

Ver. And looks with such relying love
And reverence upon you—

Tell. Man! Man! Man!
No more! Already I’m too much the father
To act the man!—Verner, no more, my friend!
I would be flint—flint—flint. Don’t make me feel
I’m not—Do not mind me!—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?

Ver. No.

Alb. I would only kiss his hand.

Ver. You must not.

Alb. I must!—I cannot go from him without.

Ver. It is his will you should.

Alb. His will, is it?
I am content, then—come.

Tell. My boy! [Holding out his arms to him.]

Alb. My father! [Rushing into Tell’s arms.]

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—No,
I’m sure of thee—I know thy honesty.
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:

[Breaks it.]

That’s all the use ’tis fit for.

Ges. Let him have another.

Tell. Why, ’tis 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!—’Tis 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.

[Tell here hides an arrow under his vest.]

Ver. He is.

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,
’Tis only for the chance of saving it. [To the people.]

Ges. Go on.

Tell. I will.
O friends, for mercy sake, keep motionless
And silent.