(Given this situation I dare say, I would be hard pressed to keep a steady hand and take the shot!).... Doug
William Tell, the Famous Bow Hunter!
The people of Switzerland were not always free and happy as they are to-day. Many years ago a proud tyrant, whose name was Gessler, ruled over them, and made their lot a bitter one indeed.
One day this tyrant set up a tall pole in the public square, and put his own cap on the top of it; and then he gave orders that every man who came into the town should bow down before it. But there was one man, named William Tell, who would not do this. He stood up straight with folded arms, and laughed at the swinging cap. He would not bow down to Gessler himself.
When Gessler heard of this, he was very angry so he made up his mind to punish the bold man.
William Tell's home was among the mountains, and he was a famous hunter. No one in all the land could shoot with bow and arrow so well as he. Gessler knew this, and so he thought of a cruel plan to make the hunter's own skill bring him to grief. He ordered that Tell's only Son should be made to stand up in the public square with an apple on his head; and then he bade Tell shoot the apple with one of his arrows.
Tell begged the tyrant not to have him make this test of his skill. What if the boy should move? What if the bowman's hand should tremble? What if the arrow should not carry true?
"Will you make me kill my boy?" he said.
Gessler said, "You must hit the apple with your one arrow. If you fail, my soldiers shall kill the boy before your eyes."
Then, without another word, Tell fitted the arrow to his bow. He took aim, and let it fly. The boy stood firm and still. He was not afraid, for he had all faith in his father's skill.
The arrow whistled through the air. It struck the apple fairly in the center.
As Tell was turning away from the place, an arrow which he had hidden under his coat dropped to the ground.
"Fellow!" cried Gessler, "what mean you with this second arrow?"
"Tyrant!" was Tell's proud answer, "this arrow was for your heart if I had hurt my child."
Emily Dickenson in 1945 said it well.....
Tell as a Marksman - were forgotten
Tell - this day endures
Ruddy as that coeval Apple
The Tradition bears -
Fresh as Mankind that humble story
Though a statelier Tale
Grown in the Repetition hoary
Scarcely would prevail -
Tell had a son - The ones that knew it
Need not linger here-
Those who did not to Human Nature
Will subscribe a Tear -
Tell would not bear his Head
In Presence
Of the Ducal Hat -
Threatened for that with Death - by Gessler -
Tyranny bethought
Make of his only Boy a Target
That surpasses Death
Stolid to Love's supreme entreaty
Not forsook of Faith -
Mercy of the Almighty begging -
Tell his Arrow sent -
God it is said replies in Person
When the cry is meant -
