Ges.  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.

Ges.  Stay! show me the basket! there!

Tell.  You’ve picked the smallest one.

Ges.  I know I have.

Tell.  Oh, do you?  But you see
      The color of it is dark:  I’d have it light,
      To see it better.

Ges.  Take it as it is;
     Thy skill will be the greater if thou hitt’st it. 
     Tell.  True! true!  I did not think of that; I wonder
     I did not think of that.  Give me some chance
     To save my boy!—­
     I will not murder him,
     If I can help it—­for the honor of
     The form thou wearest, if all the heart is gone. 
           (Throws away the apple with all his force.)

Ges.  Well:  choose thyself.

Tell.  Have I a friend among the lookers-on?

Verner. (Rushing forward.) Here, Tell.

Tell.  I thank thee, Verner! 
      He is a friend runs out into a storm
      To shake a hand with us.  I must be brief. 
      When once the bow is bent, we can not take
      The shot too soon.  Verner, whatever be
      The issue of this hour, the common cause
      Must not stand still.  Let not to-morrow’s sun
      Set on the tyrant’s banner!  Verner!  Verner! 
      The boy! the boy!  Thinkest thou he hath the courage
      To stand it?

Ver.  Yes.

Tell.  Does he tremble?

Ver.  No.

Tell.  Art sure?

Ver.  I am.

Tell.  How looks he?

Ver.  Clear and smilingly. 
     If you doubt it, look 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 can not go from him without.

Ver.  It is his will you should.

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