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<ins class="caption">TELL</ins> <div class="figright"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_024.jpg" height-obs="640" width-obs="243" alt="William Tell with his bow." /></div> <div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> The tale of Tell is simply told; He would not heed the tyrant, But, big and brave and bluffly bold He spurned the cold aspirant— He simply came out plain and flat And his own rights defended; He would not bow to Gessler's hat Upon the pole suspended. </div> <div class="stanza"> Then Gessler came upon the scene And ordered Tell to knuckle; Tell fixed him with his glances keen And gave a scornful chuckle. Then Gessler frowned and knit his brows (A most portentous omen); "Risk your boy's life or make those bows!" (We've lost the boy's cognomen.) </div> <div class="stanza"> Tell smiled, and got his trusty bow, Likewise his trusty arrow (Now, William Tell, as you should know, Could wing the fleeting sparrow Or he could truly shoot the chutes)— So Gessler said: "Now grapple With this one fact—for you the boots Unless you cleave the apple." </div> <div class="stanza"> Did Tell succeed? In your school books The tale is very well told, And Gessler looked some haughty looks When he heard what Bill Tell told. "What did you hide this arrow for?" Asked Gessler of the wizard. "I meant to split that apple, or I'd have to harm your gizzard!" </div> <div class="stanza"> That's all, except it shall endure As acted by Salvini. (But was it?) And the overture Composed by one Rossini Shall prove that Tell is not a myth Concocted to deceive us. We've seen the bow he did it with; We hope you will believe us. </div> </div> <div style="clear: both;"></div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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