Ges. [To Tell] Why speakest thou not? Ges. Wonder? Tell. Yes, that thou shouldst seem a man. Tell. A monster. Ges. Ha! Beware!-think on thy chains. Tell. Though they were doubled, and did weigh me down Prostrate to earth, methinks I could rise up Erect, with nothing but the honest pride Ges. Darest thou question me? Ges. Beware my vengeance. It cannot take away the grace of life- Its fair report that's rife on good men's tongues :— Than it can pluck his brightness from the sun, Ges. But it can make thee writhe. Tell. It may, and I may say, Go on, though it should make me groan again. Tell. From the mountains. Ges. Canst tell me any news from them? Tell. Ay;-they watch no more the avalanche.* wishing to ascertain the spirit of the people, ordered his hat to be raised on a pole, and homage to be paid to it as to himself. Tell refused to do homage to the hat, and was immediately seized and carried before the governor. Gesler ordered him to shoot an arrow at an apple placed on the head of his own son, or else be dragged with his child to immediate death. He shot the apple off his son's head,-and soon after shot Gesler. The Swiss, roused to arms by the conduct of Tell, drove away their Austrian masters, and established the independence of their country, A. D. 1307. * Pronounced av-a-lanch ́, a vast body of snow sliding down a mountain. Tell. Because they look for thee. The hurricane The torrent breaks, and finds them in its track. Tell. They thank kind Providence it is not thou. As something they must lose, and had far better Ges. 'Tis well. I'd have them as their hills That never smile, though wanton summer tempt Tell. But they do sometimes smile. Tell. When they do pray for vengeance. Ges. Dare they pray for that? Tell. They dare, and they expect it, too. Ges. From whence? Tell. From Heaven, and their true hearts. Ges. [To Sarnem.] Lead in his son. Now will I take Exquisite vengeance. [To Tell, as the boy enters.] I have destined him To die along with thee. Tell. To die! for what? he's but a child. Ges. He's thine, however. Tell. He is an only child. Ges. So much the easier to crush the race. Tell. He may have a mother. Ges. So the viper hath And yet who spares it for the mother's sake? Tell. I talk to stone. I'll talk to it no more. Come, my boy, I taught thee how to live,- Ges. But first, I'd see thee make A trial of thy skill with that same bow. Tell. What is the trial? Ges. Thou look'st upon thy boy as though thou guessest it Tell. Look upon my boy! what mean you? Look upon my boy as though I guessed it!— Tell. Great Heaven! Ges. On this condition only will I spare His life and thine. Tell. Ferocious monster! make a father Murder his own child! Ges. Dost thou consent? Tell. With his own hand! The hand I've led him when an infant by ! Boy. You will not hit me, father. You'll be sure Tell. Speak not to me;— Let me not hear thy voice-Thou must be dumb; The deed, and sent a bolt to stop it. Give me my bow and quiver. Ges. When all is ready. Sarnem, measure hence The distance three hundred paces. Ges. What is't to thee, fairly or not. Tell. [sarcastically.] O, nothing, a little thing, A very little thing; I only shoot At my child! [Sarnem prepares to measure.] Villain, stop! you measure against the sun. Ges. And what of that? What matter whether to or from the sun? Tell. I'd have it at my back. The sun should shine Upon the mark, and not on him that shoots I will not shoot against the sun. Ges. Give him his way. [Sarnem paces and goes out.] Tell. I should like to see the apple I must hit. Ges. [Picks out the smallest one] There, take that. Ges. I know I have. Thy skill will be The greater if thou hittest it. Tell. [sarcastically.] True-true! I did not think of that I wonder I did not think of that. A larger one Had given me a chance to save my boy. Give me my bow. Let me see my quiver. Ges. Give him a single arrow. [To an attendant.] [Tell looks at it and breaks it.] Tell. Let me see my quiver. It is not One arrow in a dozen I would use To shoot with at a dove, much less a dove Like that. Ges. Show him the quiver. [Sarnem returns and takes the apple and the boy to While this is doing, Tell conceals an place them. arrow under his garment. arrow, and says,] He then selects another Tell. Is the boy ready? Keep silence now For Heaven's sake, and be my witnesses, 'Tis only for the chance of saving it. For mercy's sake keep motionless and silent. [He aims and shoots in the direction of the boy. In a moment Sarnem enters with the apple on the arrow's point. Sar. The boy is safe. Tell. [Raising his arms.] Thank Heaven! [As he raises his arms the concealed arrow falls. Ges. [Picking it up.] Unequalled archer! why was this concealed? Tell. To kill thee, tyrant, had I slain my boy. LESSON CIV. The Philosopher's Scales.-JANE TAYLOR. 1. A MONK* when his rites sacerdotal were o'er, * Monk, a member of the Roman Catholic church, who has taken a vow of poverty and celibacy. Resigning to thought his chimerical brain, Once formed the contrivance we now shall explain: 2. Perhaps it was only by patience and care, 3. "What were they?" you ask; you shall presently see: From mountains or planets, to atoms of sense; 4. Nought was there so bulky, but there it could lay, 5. The first thing he weighed was the head of Voltaire,* 6. One time he put in Alexander the Great,† With a garment, that Dorcas‡ had made, for a weight, * Voltaire, a celebrated French historian, philosopher, dramatic writer, and epic poet, was born at Paris, 1694, and died 1778. He possessed uncommon powers of mind, but was inconstant and unstable; and it is to be regretted that he employed his talents in advancing the cause of infidelity. A king of Macedon, born at Pella, B. C. 355. After extending his power over Greece, he invaded Asia. He defeated the Persians at the three celebrated battles of the Granicus, of Issus, and of Arbela, which rendered him the master of the country. He afterwards returned to Babylon, where he died of intemperance, B. C. 323, in the 33d year of his age, and 13th of his reign. See Acts, chap ix. 39 |