William Tell Told Again Part 11

Some say the tale related here Is amplified and twisted; Some say it isn't very clear That William Tell existed; Some say he freed his country _so_, The Governor demolished.

Perhaps he did. I only know That taxes aren't abolished!

[The Ill.u.s.trations and accompanying descriptive verses]

[PROLOGUE.]

The Swiss, against their Austrian foes, Had ne'er a soul to lead 'em, Till Tell, as you've heard tell, arose And guided them to freedom.

Tell's tale we tell again--an act For which pray no one scold us-- This tale of Tell we tell, in fact, As this Tell tale was told us.

PLATE I.

Beneath a tyrant foreign yoke, How love of freedom waxes!

(Especially when foreign folk Come round collecting taxes.) The Swiss, held down by Gessler's fist, Would fain have used evasion; Yet none there seemed who could resist His methods of persuasion.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GESSLER'S METHODS OF PERSUASION]

PLATE II.

And pride so filled this Gessler's soul (A monarch's pride outcla.s.sing), He stuck his hat up on a pole, That all might bow in pa.s.sing.

Then rose the patriot, William Tell-- "We've groaned 'neath Austria's sway first; Must we be ruled by poles as well?

I've just a word to say first!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: THEY WOULD MARCH ABOUT, BEATING TIN CANS AND SHOUTING]

PLATE III.

The crowd about the pole at morn Used various "persuaders"-- They flung old cans (to prove their scorn Of all tin-pot invaders); And cabbage-stumps were freely dealt, And apples (inexpensive), And rotten eggs (to show they felt A foreign yoke offensive).

[Ill.u.s.tration: AN EGG FLEW ACROSS THE MEADOW, AND BURST OVER LEUTHOLD'S SHOULDER]

PLATE IV.

Said William Tell, "And has this cuss For conquest such a pa.s.sion He needs must set his cap at us In this exalted fashion?"

And then the people gave a cry, 'Twixt joy and apprehension, To see him pa.s.s the symbol by With studied inattention!

[Ill.u.s.tration: "HERE! HI!" SHOUTED THE SOLDIERS, "STOP!"]

PLATE V.

At first the sentinel, aghast, Glared like an angry dumb thing; Then "Hi!" he shouted, "not so fast, You're overlooking something!"

The st.u.r.dy Tell made no response; Then through the hills resounded A mighty thwack upon his sconce-- The people were astounded.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THEY SAW FRIESSHARDT RAISE HIS PIKE, AND BRING IT DOWN WITH ALL HIS FORCE ON TELL'S HEAD]

PLATE VI.

Could Tell an insult such as this Ignore or pa.s.s? I doubt it!

No, no; that patriotic Swiss Was very cross about it.

The people, interested now, Exclaimed, "Here! Stop a minute If there's to be a jolly row, By Jingo! we'll be in it!"

[Ill.u.s.tration: "LOOK HERE!" HE BEGAN. "LOOK THERE!" SAID FRIESSHARDT]

PLATE VII.

Said Tell, "This satrap of the Duke Is sore in need of gumption; With my good bow I will rebuke Such arrow-gant presumption."

"Stand back!" the soldier says, says he; "This roughness is unseemly!"

The people cried, "We _will_ be FREE!"

And so they were--extremely!

[Ill.u.s.tration: FRIESSHARDT RUSHED TO STOP HIM]