'Neighbor Fairweather, you need n't trouble yourself about sending Pink away. It's natural you should like the little creature, seeing he belongs to your son. Tab in doors, and perhaps after a while better." 66 I'll try to keep they will agree 13. "I hope they will," replied the friendly matron; we will try them a while longer, and if they persist in quarrelling, I will send the dog into the country." Pink, who was sleeping in a chair, stretched himself and gaped. His kind mistress patted him on the head. Ah, you foolish little beast," said she, "what's the use of plaguing poor Tab?" 66 Well, I do say," observed Sally, smiling, "you are a master woman for stopping a quarrel.” CHAPTER XLVIII. SCENE FROM WILLIAM TELL. Gesler, Tell and Albert, Verner, Sarnem and Soldiers. Sarnem. Down, slave! Behold the governor. Down! down! and beg Ges. What! he so famed 'bove all his countrymen For guiding o'er the stormy lake the boat! And such a master of his bow, 't is said His arrows never miss! (Aside.) Indeed! -- I'll take Exquisite vengeance! - Mark! I'll spare thy life, Ges. I would see you make A trial of your skill with that same bow You shoot so well with. Tell. Name the trial you Would have me make. (Tell looks on Albert.) As though, instinctively, you guessed it. Upon my boy! - What mean you? Look upon My boy, as though I guessed it! Guessed the trial You'd have me make! Guessed it Instinctively! You do not mean nono →→→ Tell. No!-I'll send the arrow through the core ! Ges. It is to rest upon his head. Tell. Great Heaven, Thou hear'st him! Ges. Thou dost hear the choice I give Such trial of the skill thou 'rt master of, Or death to both of you, not otherwise (Gesler signs to his officers, who proceed to take off Tell's chains, Tell all the while unconscious of what they do.) Tell. With his own hand! Murder his child with his own hand! The hand I've led him, when an infant, by! Are free from blood, and have no gust for it, To save me! - You'll be sure to hit the apple. Will you not save me, father? Tell. Lead me forth, I'll make the trial! Alb. Thank you! Tell. Thank me! You know for what? - Do I will not make the trial, To take him to his mother in my arms, And lay him down a corse before her! Ges. Then He dies this moment; and you certainly Do murder him, whose life you have a chance To save, and will not use it. Tell. Well- I'll do it! I'll make the trial. Let me not hear thy voice-thou must be dumb; unless its thunders muttered at The deed, and sent a bolt to stop it! Give me Our grace accords thee life on any terms. Tell. I will be thankful, Gesler! — Villain, stop! You measure to the sun. Ges. And what of that? (To the attendant.) What matter, whether to or from the sun? Tel. I'd have it at my back. The sun should shine Upon the mark, and not on him that shoots. I cannot see to shoot against the sun : I will not shoot against the sun! 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 about to shoot at. The basket. There! (Gives a very small apple.) Tell. You've picked the smallest one. Ges. I know I have. Thy skill will be the greater if thou hitt'st it. Tell. True-true-I did n't think of that: -I wonder I did not think of that. Give me some chance To save my boy! (Throws away the apple.) I will not murder him, If I can help it,- for the honor of The form thou wear'st, if all the heart is gone. Ges. Well! choose thyself. (Hands a basket of apples. Tell takes one) Tell. Have I a friend among The lookers on? Verner. Here, Tell! Tell. I thank thee, Verner! -Take the boy Upon his head, so that the stem may front me— Thus, Verner; charge him to keep steady, tell him More briefly than I tell it thee. Ver. Come, Albert! (Leading him out.) No Alb. I must!-I cannot go from him without! Alb. His will, is it? I am content, then, Tell. My boy. come. (Holding out his arms to him.) Alb. My father! (Running 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! (Sarnem gives the bow.) Thou wilt not fail thy master, wilt thou? - Thou Hast never failed him yet, old servant. I'm sure of thee-I know thy honesty ; No, Thou 'rt stanch - stanch: I'd deserve to find thee treacherous, Could I suspect thee so. Come, I will stake My all upon thee! Let me see my quiver. (Retires.) Ges. Give him a single arrow. (To an attendant.) Tell. Is 't 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 examines it.) Tell. Why, 't is better than the first, |