TELL. Oh! do you? But you see 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! I did not 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 wearest, if all the heart is gone. GES. Well, choose thyself. TELL. Have I a friend among the lookers-on? VERNER. (_Rushing forward._) Here, Tell! TELL. I thank thee, Verner! He is a friend runs out into a storm To shake a hand with us. I must be brief: 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! The boy! the boy! Thinkest thou he hath the courage To stand it? VER. Yes. TELL. How looks he? VER. Clear and smilingly; If you doubt it, look yourself. TELL. No--no--my friend; To hear it is enough. 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 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 Upon his head, so that the stem may front me,-- Thus, Verner; charge him to keep steady--tell him I’ll hit the apple. Verner, do all this More briefly than I tell it thee. VER. Come, Albert. (_Leading him out._) ALB. May I not speak with him before I go? 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? I am content, then--come. TELL. My boy! (_Holding out his arms to him._) ALB. My father! (_Rushing 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!-- (_The bow is handed to him._) Thou wilt not fail thy master, wilt thou? Thou Hast never failed him yet, old servant. No, I’m sure of thee. I know thy honesty. Thou art stanch--stanch. Let me see my quiver. GES. Give him a single arrow. TELL. Do you shoot? SOL. I do. TELL. Is it so you pick an arrow, friend? The point, you see, is bent; the feather jagged. (_Breaks it._) That’s all the use ’tis fit for. GES. Let him have another.