Tell.  My boy! (Holding out his arms to him.)

Alb.  My father! (Rushing into Tell’s arms.)

Tell.  If thou canst bear it, should not I?  Go now,
      My son; and keep in mind that I can shoot;
      Go, boy; be thou but 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,
      I’m sure of thee.  I know thy honesty,
      Thou art stanch, stanch.  Let me see my quiver.

Ges.  Give him a single arrow.

Tell.  Do you shoot?

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 ’t is fit for. (Breaks it.)

Ges.  Let him have another.

Tell.  Why, ’t is better than the first,
      But yet not good enough for such an aim
      As I’m to take.  ’T is heavy in the shaft;
      I’ll not shoot with it! (Throws it away.) Let
      me see my quiver. 
      Bring it!  ’T is not one arrow in a dozen
      I’d take to shoot with at a dove, much less
      A dove like that.

Ges.  It matters not. 
     Show him the quiver.

Tell.  See if the boy is ready. 
      (Tell here hides an arrow under his vest.)

Ver.  He is.

Tell.  I ’m ready too!  Keep silent, for
      Heaven’s sake, and do not stir; and let me have
      Your prayers, your prayers, and be my witnesses
      That if his life’s in peril from my hand,
      ’Tis only for the chance of saving it. (To the people.)

Ges.  Go on.

Tell.  I will. 
      O friends, for mercy’s sake keep motionless
      and silent. (Tell shoots.  A shout of exultation
      bursts from the crowd.  Tell’s head drops on his
      bosom; he with difficulty supports himself on his bow.)

Ver. (Rushing in with Albert.) The boy is safe, no
     hair of him is touched.

Alb.  Father, I’m safe.  Your Albert’s safe, dear father. 
     Speak to me!  Speak to me!

Ver.  He can not, boy!

Alb.  You grant him life?

Ges.  I do.

Alb.  And we are free?

Ges.  You are. (Crossing angrily behind.)

Alb.  Open his vest,
     And give him air. (Albert opens his father’s vest,
     and the arrow drops.  Tell starts, fixes his eyes
     on Albert and clasps him to his breast.)

Tell.  My boy!  My boy!

Ges.  For what
     Hid you that arrow in your breast?  Speak, slave!

Tell.  To kill thee, tyrant, had I slain my boy!

Definitions.—­Ac-cords’, grants, concede.  Is’sue (pro. ish’u), event, consequence.  Stanch, sound, strong.  Jag’ged, notched, uneven.  Shaft, the stem of an arrow upon which the feather and head are inserted.  Quiv’er, a case for arrows.