 | William Tell ; or, the Civil War in Switzerland |  |
26
SCENE THE SECOND.
The market place at Altorf—In the centre a new four-and-ninepenny hat (in the original brown paper and string) is elevated on the top of a pole. Citizens cross the stage and bow to it.Policeman A 21, in full uniform, exerts his truncheon and authority to bring the people (several of whom are refractory) to their knees.
CONCERTED—(A 21 and Chorus.)
(Tune—The Row Polka.)
Bow! bow! bow! bow! bow!
Down upon your/our marrow bones.
Now! now! now!
Now! now! you'd/we'd best, I vow.
Ri tol de riddle iddle, bow! wow! wow!
SOLO (A 21).
(To another Air.)
“All round my hat
I would have them bow and kneel, oh!”
(Such was the words which Gesler used to me to day;)
“And if any body axes you,
The reason why I rears it—
You can tell 'em they may go to Bath, or further still away!”
[He loses himself in a cadence, but is recalled to a sense of duty.
Chorus
(resumed).
Bow! Bow! &c.
A 21.(Tune—The Row Polka.)
Bow! bow! bow! bow! bow!
Down upon your/our marrow bones.
27
Now! now! you'd/we'd best, I vow.
Ri tol de riddle iddle, bow! wow! wow!
SOLO (A 21).
(To another Air.)
“All round my hat
I would have them bow and kneel, oh!”
(Such was the words which Gesler used to me to day;)
“And if any body axes you,
The reason why I rears it—
You can tell 'em they may go to Bath, or further still away!”
[He loses himself in a cadence, but is recalled to a sense of duty.
Chorus
(resumed).
Bow! Bow! &c.
Haste to the pole!
[Tell crosses the stage, taking no notice of the hat.
Now, then, where are you off to?
Tell.
Dinner.
28
Quick! yonder hat, your bonnet doff to.
Tell.
Bow to a hat?
A 21.
Yes! need no more reproof!
Remove your tile when under Gesler's roof.
[Points to hat.
Tell.
Gesler's! I see. He'll drive the people mad—
Bow to his hat! it's really shocking bad.
A 21.
(Pointing to the ground.)
Down! with the dust; or else I'll make you, clown!
Tell.
Not e'en Sir Peter's self shall put me down.
A 21.
If in this rudeness you persist, I'll stop it—
So, if you've any court'sy, please to drop it.
Tell.
My cup of anguish over 'gins to swim,
Fill'd by yon hat—yes, to its very brim!
(Firmly)
Kneel to a hat, from Gesler's greasy pole:
No! on my feet I'll stand—aye, on my soul!
29
All Switzerland shall bless this Post Delivery.
[He rushes to the side, and fetches an axe, with which he chops the pole down. Great confusion—which may be taken advantage of, by any wag in the audience, to make a joke about the Pole being one of the Distressed Poles.
Thus would that I could make the Austrian thieves
Cut all their sticks, and never axe their leaves.
A 21.
(Coming forward.)
He's broke the whole on't! let alone the peace.
A voice within me calls “Police!” “Police!”
True as the needle to yon pole, I'll boast—
A—Twenty-one—would not desert his post.
[He springs his rattle. Policemen appear from the neighbouring kitchens, and surround Tell.
30
(resumed).
How! how! here's a row!
Drag him to the station—Now! now! now!
How! how! refuse to bow?
Ri tol di riddle iddle—Bow! wow! wow!
[Tell is vanquished, and dragged off in custody.
| William Tell ; or, the Civil War in Switzerland | |