 | William Tell ; or, the Civil War in Switzerland |  |
31
SCENE THE THIRD.
The Austrian Camp—Gesler reading the paper. Tell is brought in handcuffed, guarded by A 21 and auxiliaries, the populace following.Ges.
What's this? Another case of beer?—I see:
Fine him five shillings, and don't bother me.
Yet, stay! that haughty form and features bold!
Who art thou, slave?
Tell.
I'm Tell.
Ges.
So I am told.
How old are you?
Tell.
Why, forty! as I'm guessing.
Ges.
(To his Clerk.)
Write “Forty—and of looks unprepossessing.”
Your business?
Tell.
If my trade you would inquire,
I draw the long bow—
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(Aside.)
Now he is a liar.
You've learnt to read? Mind you're before your betters.
Tell.
Read! Well, I'll let you know I know my letters.
SONG (Tell.)
(Tune—Derry down.)
A, was an Archer, who shot at a frog,
B, was a Butcher, who went the whole hog.
C, the Contempt that B brought on his place,
D, the Defiance A hurl'd in his face.
Down, derry down, &c.
A, was an Archer, who shot at a frog,
B, was a Butcher, who went the whole hog.
C, the Contempt that B brought on his place,
D, the Defiance A hurl'd in his face.
Down, derry down, &c.
Ges.
I know you well, and what you're always arter,
Lecturing folks about the People's Charter,
From casks and platforms; thundering and bawling
With all your lungs; a most disgraceful calling.
But what's he charged with? Law I'll soon dispense!
A 21.
Contempt of hat.
Ges.
A capital offence!
Yet stay—those Bluchers! that indignant pose!
That look! that eagle eye! and parrot nose!
He's very like that little vulgar boy,
Whom, dressed in button-over corduroy,
I've had lock'd up for crying “whip behind”
As I rode out. Ho! Justice is n't blind.
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Before us place the juvenile offender!
[Albert is brought in, guarded.
Alb.
(Aside, recognising Tell.)
Dad! I'll not own him, though! the deuce a bit;
Though torn in half, I wo'nt be made to split.
Tell.
(Aside.)
My Albert!
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Let's examine him forthwith.
Your name, boy?
Alb.
Albert.
Ges.
Albert what?
Alb.
(Winking at his father.)
Hem! Smith.
Ges.
Ah! that wo'nt do. Feel in his pockets, quick!
[A 21 searches Albert's pockets.
A 21.
Two tops, an apple, and a half-sucked stick
Of barley-sugar.
Ges.
Stop! give us a bit.
This spoil becomes the conq'ror's perquisite.
[Sucking the barley sugar. A 21 is proceeding to bite the apple; Gesler snatches it from him.
Stop! no, you do n't, my buck; that's ours as well.
We mean to have some fun with it. Here, Tell.
Tell.
I am here.
Ges.
Of your jokes pray have a care,
Your whereabouts is neither here nor there.
You ought to die—but yet I do n't mind giving
You and your son a chance to earn a living.
Tell.
You're very kind; anything I can do—
Ges.
We want to see a little sport; so you
At fifty yards off, with an arrow straight,
Must shoot this apple from young Albert's pate.
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(Agonized.)
That apple! What, is this your mercy's fruit?
No! rather, upon me, your own bolts shoot.
Think you your tyrant powers me can force
To cook his infant goose—with apple sauce?
Alb.
Nay pa; I'm game.
Tell.
Could I make game of thee
I would preserve, not shoot thee.
Alb.
Why shoot me?
You'll hit the apple—
Tell.
(Maudlin.)
He—his mother's joy!
She's always saying, “Tell, do n't hit that boy.
How, with maternal anguish, would she cry out,
To see him homeward going—with his eye out.
(With a sigh of resignation.)
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Though p'rhaps, through my indulgence, I may spoil him.
[Albert is led out by A 21, holding the apple. Tell takes his bow and his aim.
Slay my own son! Our dearest friends to shoot us;
My hair stands straight—I feel a perfect Brutus.
Alb.
(Outside.)
All right, my venerable. Do n't say die.
Ges.
Go it my pippin!
Tell.
Albert, mind your eye!
[He shoots. A shout of triumph. Tell falls into somebody's arms—it is immaterial whose.
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He's sent a hole through it. Come, that's a bore!
Alb.
(Running in with the apple, the arrow sticking in it.)
He's pierced the rosy apple to the core.
Ges.
Rosy! young upstart. Come, that's like your cheek.
Well, for your life you've had an arrow squeak.
(Aside.)
They'll doubtless claim our promise to be hooking.
We can't be off it well.
Alb.
(Aside.)
There's no one looking.
[Commences eating the apple.
Tell.
I've paid my shot, so p'raps you'll let me go.
Ges.
But there's an old score not yet clear'd, you know.
Say, if you'd missed it, what would you have done?
Tell.
I should have punched you, had I drill'd my son.
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Treason again! Off with the traitor bold.
Give him a few bars rest in prison—
Mic.
(Suddenly entering from somewhere)
Hold!
[Everybody expresses astonishment.
SONG (Michael).
Come arouse ye
Arouse ye,
My merry Swiss boys.
Bring your staves and belabour away!
[Enter unlimited numbers of merry Swiss boys from everywhere. They attack the Austrians, and vanquish them in something considerably less than a quarter of a
39
TABLEAU.
Blue Fire. Curtain.
| William Tell ; or, the Civil War in Switzerland | |