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Updated: May 14, 2025
"If any mischief befall the child, it will be by thy own hand, traitor. Here," cried he to one of his soldiers, "take this boy, tie him beneath yon linden-tree, in the centre of the market-place, and place an apple on his head " "What means this?" cried Tell. "I am minded to see a specimen of your skill as an archer," replied Gessler.
The enraged soldier then retreated; but old Melchthal, who well knew the character of Gessler, immediately forced Arnold, much against his inclination, to go and conceal himself for some days in the Righi.
A mistake would mean shipwreck. "My lord," said the helmsman, "I have neither strength nor skill to guide the helm. I do not know which way to turn." "What are we to do?" asked Rudolph der Harras, who was standing near. The helmsman hesitated. Then he spoke, eyeing the Governor uneasily. "Tell could steer us through," he said, "if your lordship would but give him the helm." Gessler started.
"I will not allow peasants to build houses without my consent," returned Gessler, angered at this shrewd reply, "or to live in freedom as if they were their own masters. I will teach you better than to resist my authority." So saying, he rode on, leaving Werner greatly disturbed by his threatening words.
In this moment of deadly danger, Gessler commanded them to unbind Tell, who, he knew, was an excellent boatman; and as they passed by the foot of the Axen Mountain, to the right as you come out of the Bay of Uri, Tell grasped his bow and leaped upon a flat rock there, climbed up the mountain while the boat tossed to and fro against the rocks, and fled through the land of the men of Schwyz.
GESSLER. Woman, hence! Give way, I say, or I will ride thee down. ARMGART. Well, do so; there! Here on the ground I lie, I and my children. Let the wretched orphans Be trodden by thy horse into the dust! It will not be the worst that thou hast done. HARRAS. Are you mad, woman? Many a day thou hast Trampled the emperor's lands beneath thy feet. Oh, I am but a woman!
He waited in the woods on the edge of a ravine through which Gessler must pass on the way to his castle at Kussnacht, for no other way led there; and when the Governor's escort finally appeared, Tell aimed his bow, the arrow hissed from the string and imbedded itself squarely in Gessler's heart.
Tell, calm again now, raised his bow and took a steady aim. Everybody craned forward, the front ranks in vain telling those behind that there was nothing to be gained by pushing. Gessler bent over his horse's neck and peered eagerly towards Walter. A great hush fell on all as Tell released the string. "Phut!" went the string, and the arrow rushed through the air.
"Nay," replied Gessler, "I thought I was doing thee a great favour by offering thee an alternative, whereby thou mightest preserve thy forfeited life by a lucky chance." "A lucky chance!" exclaimed Tell: "and dost thou believe that I would stake my child's life on such a desperate chance as the cast of an arrow launched by the agitated hand of an anxious father, at such a mark as that?
And the people came in tens, and fifties, and hundreds, men, women, and children; and they stood waiting in front of the Palace steps till Gessler the Governor should come out and say something very important and special to them. And punctually at eleven o'clock, Gessler, having finished a capital breakfast, came out on to the top step and spoke to them. "Ladies and gentlemen," he began.
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