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She stands at present greatly in need of a new triad to restore the ancient harmony. We passed this glorious scene, almost the only green spot on the bleak mountain-side, and swept around the base of the Axenberg, at whose foot, in a rocky cave, stands the chapel of William Tell. This is built on the spot where he leaped from Gessler's boat during the storm.
No one noticed when Gessler's boat pushed off from the shore how dark the sky had grown nor how keenly the wind was blowing. But before the boat had gone very far the waves began to rise, and the wind to blow fiercer and fiercer. Soon the little boat was tossing wildly on great white-crested waves. The rowers bent to the oars and rowed with all their might.
They grow too proud. But I will break their pride. Let them prate of freedom, indeed. I will crush " The sentence was never finished. An arrow whizzed through the air, and with a groan Gessler fell, dead. Tell's second arrow had found its mark. Immediately everything was in confusion. Gessler's soldiers crowded round, trying to do something for their master. But it was useless. He was dead.
She stopped and spoke to Tell, and the story she told of Gessler's cruelty made Tell's heart burn with anger, and made him more sure than ever that the deed he meant to do was just and right. The day went on, and still Gessler did not come, and still Tell waited. At last he heard the distant tramp of feet and the sound of voices. Surely he had come at last.
Now, the King of Babylon's idol, the prophet tells us, was of solid gold, a metal which the world is, I grieve to say, too prone to worship; but Gessler's paltry Baal is but the empty ducal bonnet of Austria, which he hath exalted on a pole; and he commands the men of Uri to bow down before it, under penalty of death.
At length Tell nerves himself for the ordeal, raises his bow, and takes aim at the target on his son's head. Before firing, however, he concealed a second arrow under his vest. His movement did not escape Gessler's notice. The marksman fires. The apple falls from his boy's head, cleft in twain by the arrow. Even Gessler is loud in his admiration of Tell's skill.
PFEIFFER OF LUCERNE. KUNZ OF GERSAU. JENNI, Fisherman's Son. SEPPI, Herdsman's Son. GERTRUDE, Stauffacher's Wife. HEDWIG, Wife of Tell, daughter of Furst. BERTHA OF BRUNECK, a rich heiress. ARMGART, | MECHTHILD, | Peasant women. WALTER, | Tell's sons. FRIESSHARDT, | Soldiers. RUDOLPH DER HARRAS, Gessler's master of the horse. JOHANNES PARRICIDA, Duke of Suabia. STUSSI, Overseer.
I've seen it Hanging above the throne in Gessler's hall. MASTER MASON. The cap of Austria! Mark that! A snare To get us into Austria's power, by heaven! WORKMEN. No freeborn man will stoop to such disgrace. MASTER MASON. Come to our comrades, and advise with them! You see how matters stand: Farewell, my friend! STAUFFACHER. Whither away? Oh, leave us not so soon. TELL. They look for me at home.
This he successfully accomplishes, but the presence of a second arrow in his quiver arouses Gessler's suspicions. Tell confesses that had he killed his son, the second arrow would have despatched the tyrant, and is at once thrown into prison.
In the first act Tell saves the life of Leuthold, who is being pursued by Gessler's soldiers; and Melchthal, the patriarch of the village, is put to death on a charge of insubordination. His son Arnold loves Matilda, the sister of Gessler, and hesitates between love and duty.
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