5 XCIX. SAME SUBJECT, CONCLUDED. PERSONS. Enter, slowly, People in evident distress— Officers, Sarnem, Gesler, Tell, Albert, and Soldiers one bearing Tell's bow and quiver, another with a basket of apples. GES. That is your ground. Now shall they measure thence TELL. Is the line a true one? GES. True or not, what is 't to thee? TELL. What is 't to me? A little thing, I shot at! Never mind. GES. Be thankful, slave, 10 Our grace accords thee life on any terms. 15 20 25 TELL. I will be thankful, Gesler! Villain, stop! You measure to the sun. GES. And what of that? What matter whether to or from the sun? TELL. I'd have it at 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 to shoot at. GES. Stay! show me the basket! - there The color on 't 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 hit'st it. TELL. True - true! wonder I did not think of that. I I did not think of that Give me some chance 5 To save my boy! [Throws away the apple with all his force.] 10 I will not murder him, If I can help it—for the honor of The form thou wearest, if all the heart is gone. TELL. Have I a friend among the lookers on? He is a friend runs out into a storm To shake a hand with us. I must be brief: 15 When once the bow is bent, we cannot 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! 20 The boy! To stand it? the boy! Thinkest thou he hath the courage 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 5 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 10 Upon his head, so that the stem front me, Thus, Verner; charge him to keep steady — tell him Verner, do all this I'll hit the apple! · More briefly than I tell it thee. VER. Come, Albert! 15 [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 cannot go from him without. VER. It is his will you should. ALB. His will, is it? 20 I am content then TELL. My boy! come. [Holding out his arms to him.] [Rushing into Tell's arms.] TELL. If thou canst bear it, should not I? - Go, now, and keep in mind that I can shoot — Go, boy — be thou but steady, I will hit The apple Go! God bless thee-go. [The bow is handed to him.] Thou wilt not fail thy master, wilt thou? - Thou 30 Hast never failed him yet, old servant—No, I'm sure of thee Thou art stanch I know thy honesty. stanch. Let me see my quiver. GES. Give him a single arrow. TELL. Do you shoot? SOL. I do. 5 TELL. Is it so you pick an arrow, friend? The point, you see, is bent; the feather jagged: [Breaks it.] GES. Let him have another. TELL. Why, 't is better than the first, 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 10 I'd take to shoot with at a dove, much less [Tell here hides an arrow under his vest.] 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, 20 'T is only for the chance of saving it. 25 GES. Go on. TELL. I will. O friends, for mercy's sake, keep motionless [Tell shoots [To the people.] a shout of exultation bursts from the Tell's head drops on his bosom; he with difficulty supports himself upon 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. 5 ALB. And we are free? GES. You are. . [Crossing angrily behind.] ALB. Thank Heaven! thank Heaven! VER. Open his vest, And give him air. [Albert opens his father's vest, and the arrow drops. Tell starts, fixes his eye on Albert, and clasps him to his breast.] TELL. My boy!— My boy! GES. For what Hid that arrow in your breast? you TELL. To kill thee, tyrant, had I slain my boy! C. - LOSS OF UNION IRREPARABLE. WEBSTER. [From a eulogy on Washington, delivered at a public dinner in the city of Washington, in honor of his centennial birthday, February 22, 1832.] WASHINGTON, therefore, could regard, and did regard, nothing as of paramount political interest, but the integrity of the Union itself. With a united government, well administered, he saw we had nothing to fear; and without 5 it, nothing to hope. The sentiment is just, and its momentous truth should solemnly impress the whole country. If we might regard our country as personated in the spirit of Washington, if we might consider him as representing her, in her past renown, her present prosperity, and her 10 future career, and as in that character demanding of us all to account for our conduct, as political men or as private citizens, how should he answer him who has ventured to talk of disunion and dismemberment? Or how should he answer him who dwells perpetually on local interests, and fans every kindling flame of local prejudice? How should |