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less deference observed to his commands; and, in short, that they walked erect,and assumed the bearing of men, when they should have crouched in servileobeisance to his delegated power, and borne themselves as slaves! This, as herightly augured, was alarming evidence against the stability of the existinggovernment, and he resolved to probe the incipient disease, so as to minister withgreater effect to its cure or suppression. The expedient which he adopted forthe full solution of his doubts and suspicions on this head, was an experimentupon the loyalty of the people ; and for this purpose he caused the ducal hat ofAustria to be raised on a pole, with this command, that every one passing near,or within sight of it, should make obeisance, in proof of his homage and fealtyto the prince. By this means it was concluded, that whoever should disobeythe mandate, and pass the royal badge without the mark of honour stipulated,should be charged with disaffection, and treated accordingly—a measure whichfurnished both the means of discovering the disaffected, and the just groundsfor their punishment.

“ Ever suspecting;—worse than he inflictsThe tyrant fears.”

Shortly after this test of loyalty to the house of Austria was attempted to beenforced, it happened that William Tell , the cross-bowman of Biirglen, andone of the above-named heroes of Grutli, passed the symbol of tyranny withoutthe required acknowledgment, and being instantly arrested, was hurried intothe presence of Gessler. “ Wherefore,” demanded the incensed bailiff, “ hastthou disobeyed my orders, and failed in thy respect to the king of the Romans ?why hast thou dared to pass before the sacred badge of thy sovereign withoutthe mark of homage demanded?” “Verily,” answered Tell , “how thishappened, I know not—’tis an accident, and no mark of contempt—suffer me,therefore, in thy clemency, to depart; were I possessed of ordinary sagacity,I should hardly have so long borne the name of Tell.”* Gessler, however,was not to be softened by the defence—as just stated in the words of an oldauthor—but, knowing that Tell had a family of fine children, and at the sametime was the best bowman in the jurisdiction, ordered the children to be broughtbefore him and confronted with their father. “ To which of these children,”inquired Gessler, “ art thou most strongly attached?” “I make no distinc-tions,” replied Tell ; “ my children are all equally dear to me.” “ So,” saidthe governor, “ I hear that thou art an excellent marksman, and shall forthwith

* See the old chronicle.—Tell, in the original, means weak intellect, balourd —but a weakness like thatof Brutus!