5 Gessler. When all's ready. Tell. Well! lead on! SHERIDAN KNOWLES: William Tell. in stinct'ive ly, without stopping to think, by instinct; fe ro'cious, fierce; gust, an old word for. "liking"; man'gle, tear; cleave, split; bolt, thunderbolt, a bolt was originally an arrow. 1. Read in dialogue form, one pupil taking Tell's part; one, Albert's; another, Gessler's. Study your parts so that you can read with expression, and make your classmates feel as if they were really watching the scene. 2. Who was Tell? Gessler? 3. Why does Tell at first repeat Gessler's words, sentence by sentence? 4. Why does he allow his chains to be taken off, and then order them put on again? 5. Why is Albert so much more confident of the result than his father? 6. Why does Tell say to his boy, "Speak not to me"? 7. Explain "Earth should be dumb and Heaven." 69 WILLIAM TELL (Concluded) SCENE II Enter, slowly, Citizens and Women, GESSLER, TELL, ALBERT, and Soldiers—one bearing TELL's bow and quiver, another with a basket of apples. Gessler. That is your ground. Now shall they measure thence A hundred paces. Take the distance. Tell. Is the line a true one? Gessler. 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 were it a wolf I shot at! Never mind. Our Gessler. Be thankful, slave, grace accords thee life on any terms. Tell. I will be thankful, Gessler! — Villain, stop! You measure to the sun! Gessler. And what of that? What matter whether to or from the sun? 5 Tell. I'd have it at my back. The sun should shine 10 Upon the mark, and not on him that shoots. I cannot see to shoot against the sun I will not shoot against the sun! Gessler. 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. Gessler. Stay! show me the basket! There- Gessler. I know I have. Tell. O! do you?-But you see The color on't is dark- I'd have it light, Gessler. Take it as it is: Thy skill will be the greater if thou hit'st it. Tell. True true! I did not think of that—I wonder 10 I did think not of that. Give me some chance To save my boy! [Throws away the apple with all his force I will not murder him, 5 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? He is a friend runs out into a storm To shake a hand with us. I must be brief, 20 The boy!the boy! Think'st thou he hath the courage To stand it? Tell. No-no- my friend. 25 To hear it is enough. Verner. He bears himself so much above his years Tell. I know! - I know. Verner. With constancy so modest! Tell. I was sure he would Verner. 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 And set him, Verner, with his back to me. Verner. Come, Albert! tell him 5 10 15 [Leading him out. ? Albert. May I not speak with him before I go Verner. No. Albert. I would only kiss his hand. Verner. You must not. Albert. I must! I cannot go from him without. 20 Tell. If thou canst bear it, should not I?— Go, now, 25 My son and keep in mind that I can shoot — Go, boy — be thou 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, 5 I'm sure of thee-I know thy honesty. 10 15 Thou art stanch - stanch. Let me see my quiver. Soldier. 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 'tis fit for. Gessler. 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: [Breaks it. I'll not shoot with it! [Throws it away.] Let me see my quiver. 20 Bring it!'Tis not one arrow in a dozen 25 I'd take to shoot with at a dove, much less A dove like that.— Gessler. It matters not. Show him the quiver. Tell. See if the boy is ready. Verner. He is. Tell. I'm ready, too! Keep silence for |