Part 22 (2/2)

_William Tell._ Thy father's news is not for young ears.

_Annette._ There is a sadness in thy voice, and trouble in thy face!

Tell me what has happened to thee! Wilt thou not trust me?

_William Tell._ Yes, my Annette! Thou hast ever been a good wife and faithful friend. Why should I conceal my deeds from thee?

_Annette._ What hast thou done, my husband?

_William Tell._ Perhaps thou wilt blame me.

_Annette._ Nay, for thou art a good man, and whatever thou doest is right in my eyes.

_William Tell._ Thou knowest how our foreign rulers oppress the good people of Switzerland?

_Annette._ I do, but why should we poor peasants worry over the affairs of the n.o.bles?

_William Tell._ But they are our troubles, too. So to-night I have met with three and thirty men, brave and loyal hearts, who have sworn to resist our oppressors and free our land from tyranny.

_Annette._ But how can three-and-thirty men think to conquer the armies of foreign tyrants?

_William Tell._ Sometimes great events are brought about by small means.

All the people in their hearts hate the false ruler of our poor country, and many of these will willingly die for her sake.

_Annette._ Thou art brave, my husband, but what can so few do?

_William Tell._ Think of it! The father of one of our band has just been put to a cruel death. No man knows where the tyrant will strike next.

Perhaps Gessler will pick me out for the next victim.

_Annette._ Thee! What charge could he bring against thee?

_William Tell._ He could say that I am the friend of my country, which in the tyrant Gessler's mind is a crime.

_Annette._ But Gessler will never hear of us, humble peasants. He is too far above us to care what we think.

_William Tell._ Not so, my dear wife. Gessler will not permit us to hold our thoughts in secret. He has a plan to discover our inmost thoughts.

_Annette._ What plan can he make to read our minds?

_William Tell._ A clever plan to tell a freeman from a slave. In Altdorf, our capital city, he has set up a pole. Upon the top of this pole he has put the cap of the Austrian king and has ordered every man to take off his hat as he pa.s.ses by, to show that he yields to the Austrian rule. Is not this a brave plan? He who obeys the tyrant is a slave. Wouldst thou have thy husband doff his cap to his country's tyrant?

_Annette._ Never! I should despise thee, couldst thou do it!

_William Tell._ That is my own brave wife! Thou speakest as a free woman, the mother of free children, should speak. And our children shall be free! When I go to Altdorf I shall refuse to obey the order of Gessler and all Switzerland shall know that William Tell will not bow to a foreign tyrant.

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