WILLIAM TELL.

So one was sent in luckless hour,
To rule in Austria's name;
A haughty man of savage mood,-
In pomp and pride he came.

One day, in wantonness of power,
He set his cap on high ;—

"Bow down, ye slaves," the order ran;
"Who disobeys shall die!"

133

It chanced that WILLIAM TELL, that morn,
Had left his cottage home.
And, with his little son in hand,
To Altorf town had come.

For oft the boy had eyed the spoil,
His father homeward bore,
And prayed to join the hunting crew,
When they should roam for more.

And often on some merry night,
When wondrous feats were told,
He longed his father's bow to take,
And be a hunter bold.

So towards the chamois' haunts they went;

One his childish songs,

sang

The other brooded mournfully

O'er Uri's griefs and wrongs,

I

134

WILLIAM TELL.

TELL saw the crowd, the lifted cap
The tyrant's angry frown,—
And heralds shouted in his ear,

"Bow down, ye slaves, bow down!"

Stern Gesler mark'd the peasant's mien,
And watch'd to see him fall;
But never palm-tree straighter stood
Than TELL before them all.

"My knee shall bend," he calmly said,
"To God, and God alone;
My life is in the Austrian's hand,
My conscience is my own."

"Seize him, ye guards," the ruler cried,

While passion choked his breath; "He mocks my power, he braves my lord, He dies the traitor's death;

"Yet wait. The Swiss are marksmen true,
So all the world doth say:
That fair-haired stripling hither bring;
We'll try their skill to-day."

Hard by a spreading lime-tree stood,
To this the youth was bound;
They placed an apple on his head ;-
He looked in wonder round.

WILLIAM TELL.

"The fault is mine, if fault there be,"
Cried TELL in accents wild;
"On manhood let your vengeance fall,
But spare, oh, spare my child !"

"I will not harm the pretty boy,"
Said Gesler tauntingly;

"If blood of his shall stain the ground, Yours will the murder be.

"Draw tight your bow, my cunning man,
Your straightest arrow take;
For, know, yon apple is your mark,
Your liberty the stake.”

A mingled noise of wrath and grief
Was heard among the crowd;
The men they muttered curses deep,
The women wept aloud.

Full fifty paces from his child,

His cross-bow in his hand,

With lip compressed, and flashing eye,
TELL firmly took his stand.

Sure, full enough of pain and woe

This crowded earth has been ; But never, since the curse began, A sadder sight was seen.

135

136

WILLIAM TELL.

Then spake aloud the gallant boy,

Impatient of delay,—

"Shoot straight and quick, thine aim is sure; Thou canst not miss to-day."

"Heaven bless thee now," the parent said,

66

Thy courage shames my fear;

'Man tramples on his brother man,

But God is ever near.'

The bow was bent; the arrow went,
As by an Angel guided;
In pieces two, beneath the tree,
The apple fell divided.

"'Twas bravely done," the ruler said,
"My plighted word I keep;
'Twas bravely done by sire and son,-
Go home, and feed your sheep."

"No thanks I give thee for thy boon,"

The peasant coldly said;

"To God alone my praise is due,

And duly shall be paid.

"Yet know, proud man, thy fate was near,

Had I but missed my aim;

Not unavenged my child had died,

Thy parting hour the same.

RETROSPECT.

"For see! a second shaft was here,
If harm my boy befel;

Now go and bless the heavenly powers,
My first has sped so well."

God helped the right, God spared the sin;
He brings the proud to shame;

He guards the weak against the strong,--
Praise to His holy name!'

137

REV. J. H. GURNEY.

RETROSPECT.

I WAS walking in an old wood

On the morning of New Year's-day,
In a thoughtful and dreamy mood
Had I walk'd along my way.

The tall trees were grey and sear,

And a red leaf hung on the bramble,
And there did I meet the Old Year
Like myself on a lonely ramble.

He was wondrously tall and thin,
Just like a bare old tree,

His bones look'd white through his skin,-
I was sure that it must be he.