Alb. He's by the torrent, too.
Ges. You are but a child.

Alb. He will be with a child.

Ges. You are sure you know the way?

Alb 'Tis but to keep the side of yonder stream.

Ges But guide me safe, I'll give thee gold.

All I'll guide thee safe without.

Ges. Here's earnest for thee. Here - I'll double that

ΣΙ

Yea, triple it

but let me see the gate of Altorf.

Why do you refuse the gold? Take it.

Alb. This is the way to Altorf, sir.

Ges. I would know thy father's name.

Alb. The day is wasting we have far to go.
Ges. Thy father's name, I say!

Alb. I will not tell it thee.

Ges. Not tell it me! Why?

Alb.

You may be an enemy

of his.

Ges. May be a friend.

Alb. May be; but should you be

An enemy - although I would not tell you

My father's name, I would guide you safe to Altorf.
Will you follow me?

Ges. Never mind thy father's name;

What would it profit me to know it? Thy hand;
We are not enemies.

Alb. I never had an enemy.

Ges. Lead on.

All. Advance your staff

As you descend, and fix it well. Come on.

Ges. What! must we take that steep?

Alb. 'Tis nothing! Come,

(The Gate of Altorf.· Enter Gesler and Albert.

Albert. You are at the gate of Altorf.

Gesler. Tarry, boy!

Alb. I would be gone; I am waited for.

Ges. Come back;

Who waits for thee? Come, tell me; I am rich

And powerful, and can reward.

Alb. 'Tis close

Ges. Why fear you, then,

To trust me with your father's name? - Speak.

Alb. Why do you desire to know it?

Gcs. You have served me,

And I would thank him, if I chanced to pass

His dwelling.

Alb. "Twould not please him that a service
So trifling should be made so much of.
Ges. Trifling, You have saved my life
Alb. Then do not question me,

But let me go.

Ges. When I have learned from thee

Thy father's name. What, ho!

Soldier. (Within.) Who's there?

Ges. Gesler.

Alb. Ha, Gesler!

(Knocks.)

Ges. (To soldiers.) Seize him! Wilt thou tell me

Ges. I can bid them strangle thee! Wilt tell it ?

Alb. Never.

Ges. Away with him!

Tell. Yes, that thou shouldst seem a man!

Ges. What should I seem?

Teli. A monster !

Ges. Ha! Beware

think on thy chains!

Tell. Though they were doubled, and did weigh me down

Prostrate to earth, methinks I could rise up,

Erect, with nothing but the honest pride

Of telling thee, usurper to thy teeth,

Thou art a monster! - Think upon my chains?
How came they on me?

Ges. Darest thou question me?

Tell. Darest thou not answer?

Ges. Do I hear?

Tell. Thou dost.

Ges. Beware my vengeance!
Tell. Can it more than kill?
Ges. Enough - it can do that.
Tell. No, not enough:

It cannot take away the grace of life,
Its comeliness of look that virtue gives;
Its port erect with consciousness of truth;
Its rich attire of honorable deeds;

Its fair report that's rife on good men's tongues
It cannot lay its hands on these, no more
Than it can pluck the brightness from the sun,
Or with polluted finger tarnish it!

Ges. But it can make thee writhe!

Tell. It may.

Ges. And groan!

Tell. It may; and I may cry

Go on, though it should make me groan again.

Ges. Whence comest thou?

Tell. From the mountains. Wouldst thou learn

What news from them?

Ges. Canst tell me any?

Tell. Ay! they watch no more the avalanche."

Ges. Why so?

Tell. Because they look for thee. The hurricane

Comes unawares upon them; from its bed

The torrent breaks, and finds them in its track.

Ges. What do they then?

Tell. Thank Heaven it is not thou!

Thou hast perverted nature in them.

There's not a blessing Heaven vouchsafes them, but

The thought of thee doth wither to a curse!

Ges. Toa's right! I'd have them like their hills, That never saile, though wanton summer tempt them Ever so nuch.

Tell. But they do sometimes smile.

Ges. Ay!-- when is that?

Tell. When they do talk of vengeance.

Ges. Vengeance! Dare they talk of that?

Tel. Ay, and expect it too.

Ges. From whence?

Tell. From Heaven!

Ges. From Heaven?

Tell. And their true hands

Are lifted up to it on every hill

For justice on thee!

J. S. KNOWLES.

CII. CONFESSIONS OF A BASHFUL MAN.

PART FIRST.

1. You must know that in my person I am tall and thin with a fair complexion, and light flaxen hair; but of such extreme sensibility to shame, that, on the smallest subject of confusion, my blood all rushes into my cheeks. Having been sent to the university, the consciousness of my unhappy failing made me avoid society, and I became enamored of a college life. But from that peaceful retreat I was called by the deaths of my father and of a rich uncle, who left me a fortune of thirty thousand pounds.

2. I now purchased an estate in the country; and my company was much courted by the surrounding families, especially by such as had marriageable daughters. Though I wished to accept their offered friendship, I was forced repeatedly to excuse myself, under the pretence of not being quite settled. Often, when I have ridden or walked with full intention of returning their visits, my heart has failed me as I approached their gates, and I have returned homeward, resolving to try again the next day. Determined, however, at length to conquer my timidity, I accepted of an invitation to dine with one, whose open, easy nanner left me no room to doubt a cordial welcome.