LESSON 63

THE RAINBOW

彩 虹

John Keble (b. 1792. d. 1866) was born near Fairfax, Gloucestershire, England. He graduated at Oxford with remarkably high honors, and afterwards was appointed to the professorship of poetry in that university. Since his death, Keble College, at Oxford, has been erected to his memory. In 1835, he became vicar of Hursley and rector of Otterbourne, and held these livings until his death. His most famous work is “The Christian Year,” a collection of sacred poems.

1. A fragment of a rainbow bright
Through the moist air I see,
All dark and damp on yonder height,
All bright and clear to me.
2. An hour ago the storm was here,
The gleam was far behind;
So will our joys and grief appear,
When earth has ceased to blind.
3. Grief will be joy if on its edge
Fall soft that holiest ray,
Joy will be grief if no faint pledge
Be there of heavenly day.

【中文阅读】

约翰 · 凯布勒( 1792～1866)出生于英国格洛斯特郡费尔法克斯周边地区。他以优异成绩从牛津大学毕业，后被任命该校诗歌教授。凯布勒先生去世后，牛津凯布勒大学一直保留该职以示纪念。1835年，他成为赫斯利教区牧师以及奥特伯恩学院院长，他坚持任职直到最后离世。凯布勒先生最著名作品《基督徒的岁月》，是一部描写宗教题材的诗歌选集。

1． 天地晦暗，风急雨骤，
望遥远边陲云霁天初，
一道七彩虹飞跨山颠，
澄光尽万里恍惚如梦。
2．暴风雨刚才离开这里，
微光如熙蹒跚已很久，
大地撕开无助的黑暗，
快乐与哀伤清晰再现。
3．悲恸与欢欣转瞬之间，
融进弥散曲静穆庄严，
星光下没有微弱承诺，
不会有上帝大爱无边。

LESSON 64

SUPPOSED SPEECH OF JOHN ADAMS

约翰·亚当斯的假设演讲

Daniel Webster (b. 1782, d. 1852) was born in Salisbury, N.H. He spent a few months of his boyhood at Phillips Academy, Exeter, but fitted for college under Rev. Samuel Wood, of Boscawen, N.H. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1801. He taught school several terms, during and after his college course. In 1805, he was admitted to the bar in Boston, and practiced law in New Hampshire for the succeeding eleven years. In 1812, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. In 1816, he removed to Boston, and in 1827 was elected to the United States Senate, which position he held for twelve years. In 1841, he was appointed Secretary of State. He returned to the Senate in 1845. In 1850, he was reappointed Secretary of State and continued in office until his death. He died at his residence, in Marshfield, Mass. Mr. Webster’s fame rests chiefly on his state papers and speeches. As a speaker he was dignified and stately, using clear, pure English. During all his life he took great interest in agriculture, and was very fond of outdoor sports.

  1. Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is true, indeed, that, in the beginning, we aimed not at independence. But

“There’s a divinity that shapes our ends.”

The injustice of England has driven us to arms; and blinded to her own interest, she has obstinately persisted, till independence is now within our grasp. We have but to reach forth to it, and it is ours. Why then should we defer the declaration? Is any man so weak as now to hope for a reconciliation[1] with England, which shall leave either safety to the country and its liberties, or security to his own life and his own honor! Are not you, sir, who sit in that chair, is not he, our venerable colleague[2], near you, are you not both already the proscribed[3] and predestined[4] objects of punishment and of vengeance? Cut off from all hope of royal clemency[5], what are you, what can you be, while the power of England remains, but outlaws?

  1. If we postpone independence, do we mean to carry on, or to give up, the war? Do we mean to submit, and consent that we shall be ground to powder, and our country and its rights trodden down in the dust? I know we do not mean to submit. We NEVER shall submit! Do we intend to violate that most solemn obligation ever entered into by men, that plighting, before God, of our sacred honor to Washington, when, putting him forth to incur the dangers of war, as well as the political hazards of the times, we promised to adhere to him in every extremity with our fortunes and our lives? I know there is not a man here, who would not rather see a general conflagration sweep over the land, or an earthquake sink it, than one jot or tittle[6] of that plighted faith fall to the ground. For myself, having twelve months ago, in this place, moved you that George Washington be appointed commander of the forces raised, or to be raised, for the defense of American liberty; may my right hand forget her cunning, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I hesitate or waver in the support I give him.

  2. The war, then, must go on. We must fight it through. And if the war must go on, why put off the Declaration of Independence? That measure will strengthen us. It will give us character abroad. Nations will then treat with us, which they never can do while we acknowledge ourselves subjects in arms against our sovereign. Nay, I maintain that England herself will sooner treat for peace with us on the footing of independence, than consent, by repealing her acts, to acknowledge that her whole conduct toward us has been a course of injustice and oppression. Her pride will be less wounded by submitting to that course of things, which now predestinates our independence, than by yielding the points in controversy[7] to her rebellious subjects. The former, she would regard as the result of fortune; the latter, she would feel as her own deep disgrace. Why, then, do we not change this from a civil to a national war? And since we must fight it through, why not put ourselves in a state to enjoy all the benefits of victory, if we gain the victory.

  3. If we fail, it can be no worse for us. But we shall not fail. The cause will raise up armies; the cause will create navies. The people—the people, if we are true to them, will carry us, and will carry themselves, gloriously through this struggle. I care not how fickle other people have been found. I know the people of these colonies; and I know that resistance to British aggression is deep and settled in their hearts, and can not be eradicated[8]. Sir, the Declaration of Independence will inspire the people with increased courage. Instead of a long and bloody war for the restoration of privileges, for redress[9] of grievances, for chartered[10] immunities[11], held under a British king, set before them the glorious object of entire independence, and it will breathe into them anew the spirit of life.

  4. Read this declaration at the head of the army; every sword will be drawn, and the solemn vow uttered to maintain it, or perish on the bed of honor. Publish it from the pulpit; religion will approve it, and the love of religious liberty will cling around it, resolved to stand with it or fall with it. Send it to the public halls; proclaim it there; let them see it who saw their brothers and their sons fall on the field of Bunker Hill and in the streets of Lexington and Concord, and the very walls will cry out in its support.

  5. Sir, I know the uncertainty of human affairs, but I see—I see clearly through this day’s business. You and I, indeed, may rue it. We may not live to see the time this declaration shall be made good. We may die; die colonists; die slaves; die, it may be, ignominiously and on the scaffold. Be it so: be it so. If it be the pleasure of Heaven that my country shall require the poor offering of my life, the victim shall be ready at the appointed hour of sacrifice, come when that hour may. But while I do live, let me have a country, or at least the hope of a country, and that a FREE country.

  6. But whatever may be our fate, be assured—be assured that this Declaration will stand. It may cost treasure, and it may cost blood; but it will stand, and it will richly compensate[12] for both. Through the thick gloom of the present I see the brightness of the future as the sun in heaven. We shall make this a glorious, an immortal day. When we are in our graves, our children will honor it. They will celebrate it with thanksgiving, with festivity, with bonfires, and illuminations. On its annual return they will shed tears,—copious, gushing tears; not of subjection and slavery, not of agony and distress, but of exultation, of gratitude, and of joy.

  7. Sir, before God I believe the hour is come. My judgment approves the measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that, live or die, survive or perish, I am for the Declaration. It is my living sentiment, and, by the blessing of God, it shall by my dying sentiment; independence now, and INDEPENDENCE FOREVER.

【中文阅读】

丹尼尔 · 韦伯斯特(1782～1852)出生于美国新罕布什尔州索尔兹伯里。少年时期，他曾在埃克塞特菲利普斯学院学习数月，然后转学到新罕布什尔州博斯考恩牧师塞缪尔 · 伍德门下学习。1801年，他毕业于达特茅斯学院。在校期间以及毕业后，他曾在学院任教长达数学期。1805年，韦伯斯特先生获取波士顿律师资格，接着在新罕布什尔州从事律师职业长达11年。1812年，他被选为美国众议院议员；1816年迁到波士顿；1827年，他被选为美国参议院议员，随后任职长达12年。1841年，韦伯斯特先生被任命为美国国务卿；1845年他返回参议院。1850年，他再度任职美国国务卿，继续驰骋美国政坛，直到在马萨诸塞州马什菲尔德他的住所离世。韦伯斯特先生的声誉主要为他的国情咨文与演讲。他的演讲意蕴高贵，气势宏伟，语言清晰，优雅纯正。他一生极为钟爱农业，酷爱户外运动。

1．沉沦抑或求生，活着抑或死亡，幸免抑或毁灭？我完全支持这一投票表决。诚然，最初我们并非旨在谋取独立，然而，“神灵预设了我们的终局”。英国非道义行为驱使我们拿起武器，英国盲目失去了对自身利益的判断，然而它仍在执拗坚持，直到我们最终将独立掌控在自己手中。我们只不过向前伸出手，独立就在那里，它属于我们。那么，我们为什么拖延自己宣言？目前，难道还有人如此软弱地希望与英国和解？难道和解可给这一国家带来安全或自由，抑或给他个人生活带来保障甚至个人荣誉？先生，不会是现在坐在椅子上的你，亦不是紧挨你而坐的他，我们受人尊敬的同僚，我们难道不都是已被剥夺公权，命中注定沦为惩罚与复仇的对象？摒弃那些高尚以及仁厚宽容的所有希望！一旦英国统治权威得以保留，法律之外，你是什么？你又可能是什么？

2．如果我们推迟独立，那么我们打算继续还是放弃这场战争，开始和解且恢复我们与英国的友谊？我们将要服从甚至完全臣服于武力，目睹我们国家以及它的权利将被践踏成灰？我知道，我们不会屈服，我们永远不会屈服！难道我们准备亵渎人类始终遵从的庄严法则，面对上帝，亵渎我们面对华盛顿总统发出自己神圣荣誉的誓言？从而使他蒙受战争危险以及深陷当下的政治困局，我们难道不是曾经许诺，不管任何危难当头，我们将倾尽所有财富甚至身家性命去追随拥戴他？我清楚，在场任何人哪怕宁愿看到战争急遽爆发，战火迅速席卷北美大地，或突如其来的地震使美国坍陷，亦不愿意抛弃曾经的誓约，哪怕微小的背离反叛。对我来说，一年前假设同样在这样的场合，假设我力劝你们，为保护美国自由，乔治·华盛顿应该被任命为崛起的或有待崛起的美国抵抗力量的统帅；万一现在，我对是否支持他仍然踌躇不定，但愿我的右手受到诅咒，但愿我从此闭嘴不再说话！

3．因此，战争必须继续。我们必须打下去。如果战争必须打下去，我们为什么拖延宣布《独立宣言》？昭示天下只会使我们强大，同时赋予我们面向外界的能力。如果我们本身认可屈从侵犯我们主权的武力，怎能指望其他国家与我们正常交往？不仅如此，我认为，在承认独立的前提下，与其说英国本身愿意与我们协商和平会谈，不如说它更为赞同废除其法案，承认它对我们施加的所有行为始终缺乏公平正义且残忍暴虐。倘若英国顺其自然，美国独立在所难免，大英帝国颜面多少得以保留；倘若英国在双方论战中屈从它的反叛者论点，情况将有所不同。前者，英国认为原本会有幸运的结局；后者，它将为此深感羞辱。既然如此，我们为何不将这场内战改为民族之战？既然必须打下去，如果我们获取胜利，为什么不愿享受胜利将给我们带来全身心的喜悦？

4．如果我们遭受失败，对我们来说，境况绝不会更糟，然而我们不应该失败。我们将兴建自己的军队，建立自己的海军。假如我们真心对待民众，民众将支持我们，其实质就是支持他们自己，并通过战斗取得荣耀。我不介意有些人总是善变无常，我了解殖民地民众；我清楚民众对英国入侵的刻骨仇恨与反抗源自他们内心，况且仇恨不可能消弭。先生们，《独立宣言》将鼓舞民众获得勇气。这场长期流血的战争并非旨在恢复某些特权，并非为社会不公抱怨或改错纠偏，并非为获取大英国王属下控制的特许豁免权，这是一项彻底独立的宏图大业，铺展在美国民众面前，并将为其生命注入崭新灵魂的明天。

5．请在起义前朗读这篇宣言，每一把刀剑应该出鞘，发出的神圣誓言应该兑现，否则不如畏缩于恐惧角落干脆消失。在讲坛发出誓言，教会给予认可，宗教自由的爱将与其同在，决心与誓言同存亡。在公众场合发出誓言，宣布自己决心信念，让那些民众见证，他们曾经目睹自家兄弟和孩子们倒在邦克山周围田野，倒在列克星敦市和康科德大街上，倒在众多英雄为国捐躯的众多地方。

6．先生们，我知道人类事物的不确定因素，但是通过今天事件，我看见，不！我清楚地看见，真的，你和我，或许为此后悔，我们可能活不到《独立宣言》将给民众带来福音的那一天。我们可能死去，作为殖民地平民而死，作为奴隶而亡。绞刑架上的死亡，恐怕难以抹去可耻，天命难违，听其自然。假如归于天堂极乐，我的国家将从我的卑微生命消逝中有所受益，牺牲者已做好准备随时祭祀自己宝贵生命，不妨让我坦然面对那一时刻的降临。然而，如果我能幸存于世，那么，让我拥抱一个国家，或者至少是一个国家的希望，甚至一个自由的国度。

7．无论我们命运如何，我敢担保，请放心，这份独立宣言将会生效，或许为此耗费巨大，或许会有众多流血牺牲；但它一定会生效，并势必极大地弥补以下两点：透过眼前的血腥晦暗，我看见未来光明，如同天堂的明媚阳光；今天将留存于史，光荣不朽的一天。一旦我们走进坟墓，子孙后代将以此荣耀，他们将以感恩心情、节日欢腾、以篝火与斑斓灯饰庆贺这一伟大神圣时刻的到来。每逢周年纪念日，孩子们将泪如雨下；他们并非为专制或奴隶制伤悲，并非为极端痛苦或窘迫贫穷哭泣，而是难以抑制的狂喜，难以言谢的感恩，还有难以表述的满腔畅快淋漓。

8．先生们，在上帝面前，我相信这一时刻即将到来。我的判断为权衡时事提供依据，与此同时，我也全身心为此奋斗，包括我的所有财富，我的所有存在，我生活中的所有希冀，我已做好准备为此赌注；一旦开始，万劫不归，或者说，生存抑或死亡？苟存抑或毁灭？皆为系此一念。我将为《独立宣言》存活于世，它构成我生命的感喟悲伤，面对上帝祝福，它亦将成为我死亡的唏嘘，现在独立，意味独立永远。

LESSON 65

THE RISING

呐喊震天

Thomas Buchanan Read (b. 1822, d. 1872) was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1839 he entered a sculptor’s studio in Cincinnati, where he gained reputation as a portrait painter. He afterwards went to New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, and, in 1850, to Italy. He divided his time between Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and Rome, in the latter years of his life. Some or his poems are marked by vigor and strength, while others are distinguished by smoothness and delicacy. The following selection is abridged from “The Wagoner of the Alleghanies.”

1. Out of the North the wild news came,
Far flashing on its wings of flame,
Swift as the boreal[13] light which flies
At midnight through the startled skies.
2. And there was tumult in the air,
The fife’s shrill note, the drum’s loud beat,
And through the wide land everywhere
The answering tread of hurrying feet,
While the first oath of Freedom’s gun
Came on the blast from Lexington.
And Concord, roused, no longer tame,
Forgot her old baptismal name,
Made bare her patriot arm of power,
And swelled the discord of the hour.
3. The yeoman[14] and the yeoman’s son,
With knitted brows and sturdy dint[15],
Renewed the polish of each gun,
Recoiled the lock, reset the flint;
And oft the maid and matron there,
While kneeling in the firelight glare,
Long poured, with half-suspended breath,
The lead into the molds of death.
4. The hands by Heaven made silken soft
To soothe the brow of love or pain,
Alas! are dulled and soiled too oft
By some unhallowed earthly stain;
But under the celestial bound
No nobler picture can be found
Than woman, brave in word and deed,
Thus serving in her nation’s need:
Her love is with her country now,
Her hand is on its aching brow.
5. Within its shade of elm and oak
The church of Berkley Manor[16] stood:
There Sunday found the rural folk,
And some esteemed of gentle[17] blood,
In vain their feet with loitering tread
Passed ’mid the graves where rank is naught:
All could not read the lesson taught
In that republic of the dead.
6. The pastor rose: the prayer was strong;
The psalm was warrior David’s song;
The text, a few short words of might,—
“The Lord of hosts shall arm the right!”
7. He spoke of wrongs too long endured,
Of sacred rights to be secured;
Then from his patriot tongue of flame
The startling words for Freedom came.
The stirring sentences he spake
Compelled the heart to glow or quake,
And, rising on his theme’s[18] broad wing,
And grasping in his nervous hand
The imaginary battle brand,
In face of death he dared to fling
Defiance to a tyrant king.
8. Even as he spoke, his frame, renewed
In eloquence of attitude,
Rose, as it seemed, a shoulder higher;
Then swept his kindling glance of fire
From startled pew to breathless choir;
When suddenly his mantle wide
His hands impatient flung aside,
And, lo! he met their wondering eyes
Complete in all a warrior’s guise[19].
9.A moment there was awful pause,—
When Berkley cried, “Cease, traitor! cease!
God’s temple is the house of peace!”
The other shouted, “Nay, not so,
When God is with our righteous cause:
His holiest places then are ours,
His temples are our forts and towers
That frown upon the tyrant foe:
In this the dawn of Freedom’s day
There is a time to fight and pray!”
10. And now before the open door—
The warrior priest had ordered so—
The enlisting trumpet’s sudden soar[20]
Rang through the chapel, o’er and o’er,
Its long reverberating blow,
So loud and clear, it seemed the ear
Of dusty death must wake and hear.
And there the startling drum and fife
Fired the living with fiercer life;
While overhead with wild increase,
Forgetting its ancient toll of peace,
The great bell swung as ne’er before:
It seemed as it would never cease;
And every word its ardor flung
From off its jubilant iron tongue
Was, “WAR! WAR! WAR!”
11. “Who dares”—this was the patriot’s cry,
As striding from the desk he came—
“Come out with me, in Freedom’s name,
For her to live, for her to die?”
A hundred hands flung up reply,
A hundred voices answered “I!”

【中文阅读】

托马斯 · 布坎南 · 瑞德(1822～1872)出生于美国宾夕法尼亚州切斯特县。1839年，他进入辛辛那提市一家雕塑工作室，随后作为肖像画家声名鹊起，然后辗转纽约、波士顿和费城。1850年，瑞德前去意大利。他将自己生活分为两段，前半段在辛辛那提与费城，后半生在罗马度过。他的诗歌有些以激情有力见长，亦有些以流畅精美闻名遐迩，下面段落节选自他的诗歌《阿勒格尼斯的瓦格纳》。

1．疯狂消息自北方传来，
遥远天际见火光翻飞，
迅捷犹如扑面的灯火，
掠过惊悚的星空夜半。
2．风中席卷起狂热骚动，
笛声乍裂，鼓号雷鸣，
消息传遍每一处角落，
人影绰绰中步履凌乱，
自由枪声第一声誓言，
在列克星敦康科德上空乍响，
唤醒不再驯服的奴隶，
忘却曾经洗礼的教名，
危机中果敢拿起武器，
彰显爱国者反抗勇气。
3．自由民及其子孙后代，
眉头舒展而肩臂有力，
将每一杆枪擦得铮亮，
扳动枪栓再放好燧石，
各户妇孺老人默默地，
跪立火堆沉重地注视。
长久赋税的艰难呼吸，
将躯体浇铸死亡模具。
4．耶和华柔软无形双手，
抚慰痛苦纠结的众生，
肮脏自私的世俗恶念，
使人呆滞亦玷污心灵。
然苍穹在上规则有序，
无人能超过圣母光辉，
坚毅勇敢且言行如一，
甘心为臣民鞠躬尽瘁，
她的爱眷念广袤土地，
她的手抚摸疼痛眉宇。
5．榆树橡树浓密荫凉下，
伯克莱庄园教堂肃穆，
周末欢快的乡村舞曲，
达贵名媛们打发虚空，
杯筹交错中骄奢纵欲。
坟墓中等级化为乌有，
生而平等法则无法授予，
写在共和国血泊土地。
6．牧师站起祷告声粗犷，
赞美诗讴歌勇士大卫。
简短诗文却铿锵有力，
万民之神耶和华授权正义！
7．谈起难以忍受多年苦楚，
牧师主张神圣权利获取，
从他的炽烈爱国语言里，
自由女神飘曳迷人美丽。
振奋人心话语燃烧心底，
心在震颤不再蒙受冤屈。
自由独立成为嘹亮号角，
呼唤起义牧师扬起双臂，
无所畏惧战争即将到来，
面对死亡应该勇敢奋起，
朝着暴戾君主拿起武器。
8．他激情演讲，体态多变，
他口若悬河，滔滔不绝，
他愤怒而起，形象高大，
他目光如炬，震惊全场。
唱诗班吟唱，实难喘息。
他突然抖开，宽大斗篷，
他双手挥舞，激情难抑，
看！台下目光，纷纷啧奇，
他早已全身，战士装备。
9．恰好那时光，空气瞬间已凝固，
伯克莱高叫，“住口！你这个叛徒！
上帝的殿堂，和平安宁之地！”
另一声音叫喊，“不！绝非如此，
耶和华将会，与公正站在一起，
上帝的住所，乃人间美梦天堂，
神圣的琼楼，为人间权利堡垒，
它不会同意，被暴君抢夺盘踞。
难忘时刻中，反抗和祷告同在。
黎明星光里，自由与正义降临。”
10．祷告结束后，会场的大门打开，
那军队祭司，开始向民众游说，
高声喇叭里，招募征兵的火爆，
经久不停地，在会场上空起荡，
激昂的话语，乍响在民众心头，
震撼并催醒，尘封濒死的耳朵，
万民之惊悚，鼓乐齐鸣的浪潮，
激励着生者，投入残酷的战争，
看头顶上空，烈火在蔓延燃烧，
全然不再是，古老平和的钟响，
风声中炸开，声音已走调变样，
听起来好像，狂飙绝不会停息，
每一声钟声，发泄着激情热烈，
铁质的音质，不再有满心喜悦，
异口同声呼喊，“开战！开战！开战！”
11．“谁敢参军？” 那爱国者高叫，
他离开桌子，大踏步来到面前，
“以自由名义，请与我奔向前线，
为祖国生存，或者看着她灭亡？”
森林般大手，刹那间挥舞天空，
雷鸣海啸，吼声震天“我去！”“我去！”

LESSON 66

CONTROL[21] YOUR TEMPER

请君制怒

John Todd, D.D. (b. 1800, d. 1873), was born in Rutland, Vt. In 1842 he was settled as a pastor of a Congregational Church, in Pittsfield, Mass, In 1834, he published “Lectures to Children”; in 1835, “The Student’s Manual,” a valuable and popular work, which has been translated into several European languages; in 1836, “The Sabbath-School Teacher”; and in 1841, “The Lost Sister of Wyoming.” He was one of the founders of the Mount Holyoke Female Seminary.

  1. No one has a temper naturally so good, that it does not need attention and cultivation[22], and no one has a temper so bad, but that, by proper culture, it may become pleasant. One of the best disciplined[23] tempers ever seen, was that of a gentleman who was naturally quick, irritable, rash, and violent; but, by having the care of the sick, and especially of deranged people, he so completely mastered himself that he was never known to be thrown off his guard.

  2. The difference in the happiness which is received or bestowed by the man who governs his temper, and that by the man who does not, is immense. There is no misery so constant, so distressing, and so intolerable[24] to others, as that of having a disposition which is your master, and which is continually fretting itself. There are corners enough, at every turn in life, against which we may run, and at which we may break out in impatience, if we choose.

  3. Look at Roger Sherman, who rose from a humble occupation to a seat in the first Congress of the United States, and whose judgment was received with great deference by[25] that body of distinguished men. He made himself master of his temper, and cultivated it as a great business in life. There are one or two instances which show this part of his character in a light that is beautiful.

  4. One day, after having received his highest honors, he was sitting and reading in his parlor. A roguish student, in a room close by, held a looking-glass in such a position as to pour the reflected rays of the sun directly in Mr. Sherman’s face. He moved his chair, and the thing was repeated. A third time the chair was moved, but the looking-glass still reflected the sun in his eyes. He laid aside his book, went to the window, and many witnesses of the impudence expected to hear the ungentlemanly student severely reprimanded[26]. He raised the window gently, and then—shut the window blind!

  5. I can not forbear adducing another instance of the power he had acquired over himself. He was naturally possessed of strong passions; but over these he at length obtained an extraordinary control. He became habitually calm, sedate, and self-possessed. Mr. Sherman was one of those men who are not ashamed to maintain the forms of religion in their families. One morning he called them all together, as usual, to lead them in prayer to God; the “old family Bible” was brought out, and laid on the table.

  1. Mr. Sherman took his seat, and placed beside him one of his children, a child of his old age; the rest of the family were seated around the room; several of these were now grown up. Besides these, some of the tutors of the college were boarders in the family, and were present at the time alluded to. His aged and superannuated[27] mother occupied a corner of the room, opposite the place where the distinguished judge sat.

  2. At length, he opened the Bible, and began to read. The child who was seated beside him made some little disturbance, upon which Mr. Sherman paused and told it to be still. Again he proceeded; but again he paused to reprimand the little offender, whose playful disposition would scarcely permit it to be still. And this time he gently tapped its ear. The blow, if blow it might be called, caught the attention of his aged mother, who now, with some effort, rose from the seat, and tottered across the room. At length she reached the chair of Mr. Sherman, and, in a moment, most unexpectedly to him, she gave him a blow on the ear with all the force she could summon. “There,” said she, “you strike your child, and I will strike mine.”

  3. For a moment, the blood was seen mounting to the face of Mr. Sherman; but it was only for a moment, when all was calm and mild as usual. He paused; he raised his spectacles; he cast his eye upon his mother; again it fell upon the book from which he had been reading. Not a word escaped him; but again he calmly pursued the service, and soon after sought in prayer an ability to set an example before his household which would be worthy of their imitation. Such a victory was worth more than the proudest one ever achieved[28] on the field of battle.

【中文阅读】

约翰 · 托德神学博士(1800～1873)出生于美国佛蒙特州拉特兰。1842年，他在美国马萨诸塞州皮茨菲尔德市一家公理教教学做牧师。1834年，托德《对孩子们的演讲》一书出版。1835年他的《学生手册》一书问世，该书极有价值，流行甚广，曾被翻译为多种欧洲语言。1836年，他的《安息日学校教师》一书发行。1841年，他的《怀俄明丢失的妹妹》出版。约翰 · 托德神学博士是圣约克山女子神学院创始人之一。

1．没有人天生就有好脾气，好脾气无需关注与培养；没有人天生就有坏脾气，但合适的教育环境下，坏脾气可以变好。有这样一个事例，与最为训练有素的好脾气有关。一位先生生来性情急躁易怒、轻率暴虐，但是通过照看病人，特别那些患有精神病症的患者，他最终能够控制自身情绪，因此别人对他坦诚而无需设防，至于他的坏脾气，甚至不为人知。

2．接受幸福抑或馈赠幸福的人，究竟能否掌控还是无法掌控自己的脾气，由此构成不同幸福感的巨大差异。人，不会永远面对不幸，不会总是悲观沮丧，或始终无法容忍别人，因此，拥有好性情乃做人之道，甚至不时为如何拥有好性情而忧心忡忡。我们很可能在生活转折中陷入诸多逆境，一旦受阻，倘若可以选择，我们或许急于逃避，或许失去耐心急于摆脱。

3．以罗杰 · 谢尔曼为例来说，他从底层社会做起，直到在美国第一届国会拥有席位，他的大法官地位备受国会精英名流的仰慕推崇。谢尔曼先生对自己性情掌控从容，并在生活中作为至关重要的素养精心培育，以下一两个事例即可展示他光彩照人的性格魅力。

4．有一天，当荣获最高荣誉后，他坐在客厅读书。他住处附近有一位恶作剧的淘气学生，他手拿一块镜片晃动，将光线径直反射在谢尔曼先生的脸上，他只是挪动一下自己椅子，不过还是未能逃过刺眼的光线。如此再三，光线仍然追逐他的脸。最后，他索性丢下书本，走到窗前，周围目睹此事的学生原以为他会严厉斥责那位粗鲁冒失的学生，他不过轻轻地放下窗帘，然后一声不吭地将窗户遮严！

5．这里，不得不再提一例，看看谢尔曼先生如何控制自己的性情。他天生激情四射，凡事却冷静稳重，自我克制，最终达到心性调节的完美境界。就维系家庭的宗教形式来说，谢尔曼先生从不耻于主持。一天早晨，他像往常一样召集家人，带着他们向上帝祷告；他取出《圣经》，然后放置桌上。

6．谢尔曼先生坐下，将他晚年所生的最小孩子放在身边座位上。全家人围圈坐好，其中有些孩子已经成人，也有孩子在学院做教师同时寄宿家中，大家都在约定时间到场。谢尔曼先生耄耋之年的母亲依偎角落，坐在这位声名显赫的法官对面。

7．待大家安顿坐好，他打开《圣经》开始朗读。坐在他身边的孩子闹出些许响动，谢尔曼先生停下来，告诉孩子保持安静，然后继续诵读经文。那孩子仍然坐立不安，父亲只得再度停下，责备这位不懂事的小家伙，但生性爱动的孩子很难保持安静。做父亲的他，只是轻轻地拍打一下孩子的耳朵，如果不妨称为“拍打”的话。法官的老母亲看到这些，她费力地从座位上站起，蹒跚地走到桌子对面，来到谢尔曼先生身边，站立片刻；他万万没有想到的是，母亲用尽全身力气，狠狠地给了他一记响亮的耳光。“既然，”她说，“你可以打你的孩子，我也可以打我的孩子。”

8．片刻工夫，血从谢尔曼先生脸上渗出，他只是略作停息，再度戴好眼镜，看了看母亲，然后拿起书从先前暂停地方，一字不漏地开始重新朗读。全家人很快恢复了往常的宁静平和，谢尔曼先生再度冷静地完成了职责，在祷告中寻求一种为家庭竖立榜样的能力，一种值得孩子们模仿的能力。的确，就战场上自豪胜利者而言，这种内在美德实在超过军人的威武尊严。

LESSON 67

WILLIAM TELL

威廉·泰尔

James Sheridan Knowles (b. 1784, d. 1862), a dramatist and actor, was born in Cork, Ireland. In 1792 his father removed to London with his family. At the age of fourteen, Sheridan wrote an opera called “The Chevalier de Grillon.” In 1798 he removed to Dublin, and soon after began his career as an actor and author. In 1835 he visited America. In 1839 an annual pension of ￡200 was granted him by the British government. Several years before his death he left the stage and became a Baptist minister. The best known of his plays are “Caius Gracchus,” “Virginius,” “Leo, the Gypsy,” “The Hunchback,” and “William Tell,” from the last of which the following two lessons are abridged.

SCENE 1. —A Chamber in the Castle. Enter Gesler, Officers, and Sarnem, with Tell in chains and guarded.

Sar. Down, slave! Behold the governor. 

  1.    Down! down! and beg for mercy.

Ges. (Seated.) Does he hear?

Sar. He does, but braves thy power.

Officer. Why don’t you smite him for that look?

Ges. Can I believe 

  1.     My eyes? He smiles! Nay, grasps 
  3.     His chains as he would make a weapon of them 
  5.     To lay the smiter dead. (To Tell.) 
  7.     Why speakest thou not?

Tell. For wonder.

Ges. Wonder?

Tell. Yes, that thou shouldst seem a man.

Ges. What should I seem?

Tell. A monster.

Ges. Ha! Beware! Think on thy chains.

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

  1.     Prostrate to the earth, methinks I could rise up 
  3.     Erect, with nothing but the honest pride 
  5.     Of telling thee, usurper, to thy teeth, 
  7.     Thou art a monster! Think upon my chains? 
  9.     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: 

  1.     It can not take away the grace of life;
  3.     Its comeliness<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos3995508" class="calibre7">[[29]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4186624)</small></sup> of look that virtue gives;
  5.     Its port<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos3995681" class="calibre7">[[30]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4186855)</small></sup> erect with consciousness of truth; 
  7.     Its rich attire<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos3995870" class="calibre7">[[31]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4187073)</small></sup> of honorable deeds; 
  9.     Its fair report that’s rife on good men’s tongues;
  11.     It can not lay its hands on these, no more 
  13.     Than it can pluck the brightness from the sun, 
  15.     Or with polluted finger tarnish<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos3996384" class="calibre7">[[32]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4187281)</small></sup> it.

Ges. But it can make thee writhe.

Tell. It may.

Ges. And groan.

Tell. It may; and I may cry 

  1.     Go on, though it should make me groan again.

Ges. Whence comest thou?

Tell. From the mountains. Wouldst thou learn 

  1.     What news from thence?

Ges. Canst tell me any?

Tell. Ay: they watch no more the avalanche[33].

Ges. Why so?

Tell. Because they look for thee. The hurricane 

  1.     Comes unawares upon them; from its bed 
  3.     The torrent breaks, and finds them in its track.

Ges. What do they then?

Tell. Thank heaven it is not thou! 

  1.     Thou hast perverted nature in them. 
  3.     There’s not a blessing heaven vouchsafes<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos3998412" class="calibre7">[[34]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4187755)</small></sup> them, but 
  5.     The thought of thee—doth wither to a curse.

Ges. That’s right! I’d have them like their hills, 

  1.     That never smile, though wanton<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos3998830" class="calibre7">[[35]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4187979)</small></sup> summer tempt 
  3.     Them e’er so much.

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?

Tell. Ay, and expect it too.

Ges. From whence?

Tell. From heaven!

Ges. From heaven?

Tell. And their true hands 

  1.     Are lifted up to it on every hill 
  3.     For justice on thee.

Ges. Where’s thy abode?

Tell. I told thee, on the mountains.

Ges. Art married?

Tell. Yes.

Ges. And hast a family?

Tell. A son.

Ges. A son? Sarnem!

Sar. My lord, the boy—(Gesler signs to Sarnem to keep silence, and, 

  1.     whispering, sends him off.)

Tell. The boy? What boy? 

  1.     Is ’t mine? and have they netted<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4001246" class="calibre7">[[36]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4188182)</small></sup> my young fledgeling<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4001344" class="calibre7">[[37]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4188390)</small></sup>? 
  3.     Now heaven support me, if they have! He’ll own me, 
  5.     And share his father’s ruin! But a look 
  7.     Would put him on his guard—yet how to give it!
  9.     Now heart, thy nerve; forget thou ’rt flesh, be rock. 
  11.     They come, they come! 
  13.     That step—that step—that little step, so light 
  15.     Upon the ground, how heavy does it fall 
  17.     Upon my heart! I feel my child! (Enter Sarnem with Albert, whose eyes 
  19.     are riveted on Tell’s bow,which Sarnem carries.) 
  21.     ’T is he! We can but perish.

Alb. (Aside.) Yes; I was right. It is my father’s bow!

  1.     For there’s my father! I’ll not own him though!

Sar. See!

Alb. What?

Sar. Look there!

Alb. I do, what would you have me see?

Sar. Thy father.

Alb. Who? That—that my father?

Tell. My boy! my boy! my own brave boy! 

  1.     He’s safe! (Aside.)

Sar. (Aside to Gesler.) They’re like each other.

Ges. Yet I see no sign 

  1.     Of recognition<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4003823" class="calibre7">[[38]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4188599)</small></sup> to betray the link 
  3.     Unites a father and his child.

Sar. My lord, I am sure it is his father. Look at them. 

  1.     That boy did spring from him; or never cast 
  3.     Came from the mold it fitted! It may be 
  5.     A preconcerted<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4004423" class="calibre7">[[39]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4188828)</small></sup> thing ’gainst such a chance. 
  7.     That they survey each other coldly thus.

Ges. We shall try. Lead forth the caitiff[40].

Sar. To a dungeon?

Ges. No; into the court.

Sar. The court, my lord?

Ges. And send 

  1.     To tell the headsman to make ready. Quick! 
  3.     The slave shall die! You marked the boy?

Sar. I did. He started; 't is his father.

Ges. We shall see. Away with him!

Tell. Stop! Stop!

Ges. What would you?

Tell. Time,—A little time to call my thoughts together!

Ges. Thou shalt not have a minute.

Tell. Some one, then, to speak with.

Ges. Hence with him!

Tell. A moment! Stop! Let me speak to the boy.

Ges. Is he thy son?

Tell. And if He were, art thou so lost to nature, as 

  1.     To send me forth to die before his face?

Ges. Well! speak with him. Now, Sarnem, mark them well.

Tell. Thou dost not know me, boy; and well for thee 

  1.     Thou dost not. I’m the father of a son 
  3.     About thy age. Thou, I see, wast horn, like him, upon the hills: 
  5.     If thou shouldst ’scape thy present thraldom<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4007355" class="calibre7">[[41]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4189254)</small></sup>, he 
  7.     May chance to cross thee; if he should, I pray thee 
  9.     Relate to him what has been passing here, 
  11.     And say I laid my hand upon thy head, 
  13.     And said to thee, if he were here, as thou art, 
  15.     Thus would I bless him. Mayst thou live, my boy, 
  17.     To see thy country free, or die for her, 
  19.     As I do! (Albert weeps.)

Sar. Mark! he weeps.

Tell. Were he my son, 

  1.     He would not shed a tear! He would remember 
  3.     The cliff where he was bred, and learned to scan<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4008562" class="calibre7">[[42]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4189466)</small></sup> 
  5.     A thousand fathoms’ depth of nether<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4008738" class="calibre7">[[43]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4189675)</small></sup> air; 
  7.     Where he was trained to hear the thunder talk, 
  9.     And meet the lightning, eye to eye; where last 
  11.     We spoke together, when I told him death 
  13.     Bestowed the brightest gem that graces life, 
  15.     Embraced for virtue’s sake. He shed a tear! 
  17.     Now were he by, I’d talk to him, and his cheek
  19.     Should never blanch<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4009535" class="calibre7">[[44]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4189888)</small></sup>, nor moisture dim his eye—
  21.     I’d talk to him—

Sar. He falters!

Tell. ’T is too much!

  1.     And yet it must be done! I’d talk to him—

Ges. Of what?

Tell. The mother, tyrant, thou dost make 

  1.     A widow of! I’d talk to him of her. 
  3.     I’d bid him tell her, next to liberty, 
  5.     Her name was the last word my lips pronounced. 
  7.     And I would charge him never to forget 
  9.     To love and cherish her, as he would have 
  11.     His father’s dying blessing rest upon him!

Sar. You see, as he doth prompt, the other acts.

Tell. So well he bears it, he doth vanquish me. 

  1.     My boy! my boy! Oh, for the hills, the hills, 
  3.     To see him bound along their tops again, With liberty.

Sar. Was there not an the father in that look?

Ges. Yet ’t is ’gainst nature.

Sar. Not if he believes 

  1.     To own the son would be to make him share 
  3.     The father’s death.

Ges. I did not think of that! ’T is well 

  1.     The boy is not thy son. I’ve destined him 
  3.     To die along with thee.

Tell. To die? For what?

Ges. For having braved my power, as thou hast. Lead them forth.

Tell. He’s but a child.

Ges. Away with them!

Tell. Perhaps an only child.

Ges. No matter.

Tell. He may have a mother.

Ges. So the viper hath;

  1.     And yet, who spares it for the mother’s sake?

Tell. I talk to stone! I talk to it as though 

  1.     ’T were flesh; and know ’t is none. I’ll talk to it 
  3.     No more. Come, my boy; 
  5.     I taught thee how to live, I’ll show thee how to die.

Ges. He is thy child?

Tell. He is my child. (Weeps.)

Ges. I’ve wrung a tear from him! Thy name?

Tell. My name? 

  1.     It matters not to keep it from thee now;
  3.     My name is Tell.

Ges. Tell? William Tell?

Tell. The same.

Ges. What! he, so famed ’bove all his countrymen, 

  1.     For guiding o’er the stormy lake the boat? 
  3.     And such a master of his bow, ’t is said 
  5.     His arrows never miss! Indeed! I’ll take 
  7.     Exquisite vengeance! Mark! I’ll spare thy life; 
  9.     Thy boy’s too; both of you are free; on one 
  11.     Condition.

Tell. Name it.

Ges. I would see you make 

  1.     A trial of your skill with that same bow
  3.     You shoot so well with.

Tell. Name the trial you 

  1.     Would have me make.

Ges. You look upon your boy 

  1.     As though instinctively you guessed it.

Tell. Look upon my boy? What mean you? Look upon 

  1.     My boy as though I guessed it? Guessed the trial 
  3.     You’d have me make? Guessed it 
  5.     Instinctively? You do not mean—no—no, 
  7.     You would not have me make a trial of 
  9.     My skill upon my child! Impossible! 
  11.     I do not guess your meaning.

Ges. I would see 

  1.     Thee hit an apple at the distance of 
  3.     A hundred paces.

Tell. Is my boy to hold it?

Ges. No.

Tell. No? I’ll send the arrow through the core!

Ges. It is to rest upon his head.

Tell. Great heaven, you hear him!

Ges. Thou dost hear the choice I give: 

  1.     Such trial of the skill thou art master of, 
  3.     Or death to both of you, not otherwise 
  5.     To be escaped.

Tell. O, monster!

Ges. Wilt thou do it?

Alb. He will! he will!

Tell. Ferocious monster! Make 

  1.     A father murder his own child!

Ges. Take off his chains if he consent.

Tell. With his own hand!

Ges. Does he consent?

Alb. He does. (Gesler signs to his officers, who proceed to take off Tell’s 

  1.     chains; Tell unconscious what they do.)

Tell. With his own hand! 

  1.     Murder his child with his own hand? This hand? 
  3.     The hand I’ve led him, when an infant, by? 
  5.     ’T is beyond horror! ’T is most horrible! 
  7.     Amazement! (His chains fall off.) What’s that you’ve done to me? 
  9.     Villains! put on my chains again. My hands 
  11.     Are free from blood, and have no gust<sup class="calibre13"><small id="filepos4019565" class="calibre7">[[45]]($index_split_476.html#filepos4190095)</small></sup> for it, 
  13.     That they should drink my child’s! Here! here! I’ll 
  15.     Not murder my boy for Gesler.

Alb. Father! Father!

  1.     You will not hit me, father!

Tell. Hit thee? Send 

  1.     The arrow through thy brain? Or, missing that, 
  3.     Shoot out an eye? Or, if thine eye escape, 
  5.     Mangle the cheek I’ve seen thy mother’s lips 
  7.     Cover with kisses? Hit thee? Hit a hair 
  9.     Of thee, and cleave thy mother’s heart?

Ges. Dost thou consent?

Tell. Give me my bow and quiver.

Ges. For what?

Tell. To shoot my boy!

Alb. No, father, no! 

  1.     To save me! You’ll be sure to hit the apple. 
  3.     Will you not save me, father?

Tell. Lead me forth; 

  1.     I’ll make the trial!

Alb. Thank you!

Tell. Thank me? Do 

  1.     You know for what? I will not make the trial. 
  3.     To take him to his mother in my arms! 
  5.     And lay him down a corse before her!

Ges. Then he dies this moment, and you certainly 

  1.     Do murder him whose life you have a chance 
  3.     To save, and will not use it.

Tell. Well, I’ll do it; I’ll make the trial.

Alb. Father!

Tell. Speak not to me: 

  1.     Let me not hear thy voice: thou must be dumb, 
  3.     And so should all things be. Earth should be dumb; 
  5.     And heaven—unless its thunders muttered at 
  7.     The deed, and sent a bolt to stop! Give me 
  9.     My bow and quiver!

Ges. When all’s ready.

Tell. Ready!—

  1.     I must be calm with such a mark to hit! 
  3.     Don’t touch me, child!—Don’t speak to me!—Lead on!

【中文阅读】

詹姆斯 · 谢里登 · 诺尔斯(1784～1862)，一位出生于爱尔兰科克的戏剧家兼演员。1792年，他的父亲携家重新搬回伦敦。14岁时，谢里登写了一部名为《蟋蟀骑士》的歌剧。1798年，他又再度迁居都柏林，并很快开始从事演员兼剧作者的职业生涯。1835年，他访问美国。1839年，英国政府授予他每年200英镑的年金。在他去世的前几年，谢里登离开舞台，成为浸礼会牧师。他最负盛名的戏剧为《凯厄斯 · 格拉古》、《弗吉尼厄斯》、《吉普赛人利奥》、《驼子》以及《威廉·泰尔》，以下两课节选最后一篇。

第一幕：城堡内一处房间。盖斯勒、众官吏、萨勒姆，以及带着镣铐、并由卫兵押解的泰尔走了进来。

萨勒姆：跪下，你这奴隶！看着长官。跪下！跪下！快请求饶恕。

盖斯勒：（坐好）他听见了吗？

萨勒姆：他听见了，但他无视你的威严。

某官吏：为什么不为他态度倨傲严加惩罚？

盖斯勒：我不敢相信，他居然在笑！天呀， 他握着铁链想还击，好像准备置人死地。（对泰尔）为什么不说话？

泰尔：真是想不到。

盖斯勒：想不到什么？

泰尔：想不到，看起来你不像人。

盖斯勒：像什么？

泰尔：一个残忍的怪物。

盖斯勒：哈哈！当心！ 仔细看你身上的铁镣。

泰尔：看，这么多铁链，拖拽我快要趴在地上，我觉得，我还是能笔直站起来，不凭别的，就是坦诚地告诉你，你这个地道的篡位者，十足的怪兽！仔细看我的铁链？这铁链怎么套到我的身上？

盖斯勒：你竟敢质问我？

泰尔：你为什么不敢回答？

盖斯勒：我要听你的？

泰尔：是的。

盖斯勒：小心我报复！

泰尔：大不了一个死。

盖斯勒：那就足够了，很容易。

泰尔：不，远远不能，死亡不能翦灭生命的高贵；不能消除美德给予的俊朗，死亡不能摧毁睿智者的灵魂高蹈，不能褪去高尚情操者的华美衣裳， 死亡不能剥夺正义者不乏优雅的谈吐；死亡无法触及这些崇高，就像你们这些手上肮脏的家伙，无法从太阳那里攫取一丝阳光。

盖斯勒：但是，我会让你吃苦头的。

泰尔：当然。

盖斯勒：我会让你痛苦不堪。

泰尔：没错。

盖斯勒：你可能还会痛苦呻吟。

泰尔：是的，很可能不停叫唤。

盖斯勒：你从哪里来？

泰尔：我从山里来。你听到那里传来的消息吗？

盖斯勒：你可以告诉我吗？

泰尔：天呀，我们的人再也看不到雪崩了。

盖斯勒：什么意思？

泰尔：他们在抓你，没想到暴风雪来了，山脚发生雪崩，他们陷进去了。

盖斯勒：然后呢？

泰尔：老天有眼无珠，难道不是你的缘故？你使老天加害于他们身上，不是赐予他们的祝福天堂，而恰恰是你内心想要的毒咒。

盖斯勒：不错，我就是想让他们像大山那样，再也不会开口说话，尽管夏天万物繁茂，对他们来说诱惑实在太多。

泰尔：可他们经常还会说笑。

盖斯勒：哦，什么时候？

泰尔：每次谈起复仇的时候。

盖斯勒：什么？他们敢说复仇？

泰尔：哈，不仅谈论，还在指望。

盖斯勒：他们在哪里？

泰尔：他们在天上！

盖斯勒：在天上？

泰尔：每一座山伸向真实的复仇双手，正义要求你血债血偿。

盖斯勒：你住在哪里？

泰尔：我告诉过你，在山上。

盖斯勒：你结婚了吗？

泰尔：是的。

盖斯勒：家里还有别的人吗？

泰尔：一个儿子。

盖斯勒：儿子？萨勒姆！

萨勒姆：老爷，那孩子——（盖斯勒示意萨勒姆示意别声张，对他耳语几句，将他打发出去）

泰尔：孩子？谁的孩子？我的儿子？他们设计陷害我那不懂事的孩子？他们这样做，老天会开眼的！儿子会认同我，和他父亲一起面对灾难！可无论谁看他一眼，他也会立刻惊觉，怎么告诉他呢？我的宝贝！小心点，别害怕，坚强些。他们来了，他们来抓你了！那脚步声，轻轻地一点点走近了，却是重重地踩在我的心上。孩子呀，我能感觉你过来了。

（萨勒姆带着阿尔伯特走了进来，阿尔伯特眼睛紧紧盯着萨勒姆手上拿着的弓弩。）就是他！大家都愣住了。

阿尔伯特：（闪到一边）是的，我没看错，就是我爸爸的弓箭！虽然我还没看见我爸爸，他一定在这里！

萨勒姆：看那边！

阿尔伯特：哪儿？

萨勒姆：那边！

阿尔伯特：我看了，你让我看谁呀？

萨勒姆：你爸爸呀！

阿尔伯特：谁？那——那是我爸爸？

泰尔：孩子，我的孩子，勇敢的好孩子！他很好。（闪到一边）

萨勒姆：（闪在一边对盖斯勒说）他们俩长得很像。

盖斯勒：我可看不出丝毫破绽，这父亲和孩子长得一点也不像。

萨勒姆：老爷，我相信那家伙就是那孩子父亲，你看他俩，那男孩确实与泰尔很像，否则怎会有同样的模子刻出来？虽然他们不过彼此冷淡地打量一下，或许，那是他们事先想好的对策来应付这样场合。

盖斯勒：我们来查个究竟，带上那个混蛋。

萨勒姆：去地牢？

盖斯勒：不，去法庭。

萨勒姆：法庭吗，老爷?

盖斯勒：派人通知法官做好准备，快去！那奴隶很快将被处死，你注意到那孩子表情吗？

萨勒姆：我确实看到，他感到吃惊；那家伙就是他父亲。

盖斯勒：我们来看看，把孩子给我带走！

泰尔：慢着！慢着！

盖斯勒：你要做什么？

泰尔：给我点时间，让我想一下！

盖斯勒：你没有时间了。

泰尔：我有话要说，

盖斯勒：把他带走！

泰尔：等会，停一下！我想和那孩子说句话。

盖斯勒：他是你儿子？

泰尔：如果他是我儿子，你们难道这么丧尽天良，让我在他的面前被处死？

盖斯勒：好！和那孩子说吧。萨勒姆，你可要把他们看好咯！

泰尔：孩子，你不认识我，即使这样，没关系。我的儿子和你差不多大，我看着你，就像看他一样，你们都是大山的孩子。如果万一你能逃出这里，他或许能遇见你；如果你们能见面，我请求你告诉他这里发生的事情，告诉他，我把手就是这样放到你的头顶，对你这样说话，如果他在这里，也会和你现在一样，因此，我真心地祝福你。你必须活下去，我的孩子，看到你的国家获得自由的那一天，或者像我这样，为国家而死。（阿尔伯特哭泣）

萨勒姆：看！那孩子在哭。

泰尔：如果他是我的儿子，他不会流一滴眼泪，他会记住在山里的悬崖峭壁上，他曾经接受严格训练，学会辨别来自很远的风中声音，学会倾听雷鸣，学会与闪电面对面对话。当我最后一次与他交谈时，我对他说，死亡将珍贵的宝石馈赠有尊严的生命；由于人的高尚美德，死亡将拥抱有尊严的个体，他听后流下了眼泪。如果他现在在这里，我也会对他说，你的脸颊不会苍白，眼泪不会让眼睛黯淡，我想要对他说——

萨勒姆：那孩子在发抖。

泰尔：我说得太多了。不过，这些都是必须要说的，我还想和他谈谈——

盖斯勒：还谈什么？

泰尔：谈谈他的妈妈。暴君，你确实让一个女人成为寡妇。我想和他谈谈那女人。我让他保证转告那位母亲，在自由快要来到时，我最后说出的是她的名字。我要让他发誓别忘记他妈妈，更要疼爱她，珍惜她，这些都是他的儿子获得父亲的临终祝福！

萨勒姆：你看，他快快地说，让孩子快快地记。

泰尔：孩子，你都记下来了，太棒了，太让我感动了，孩子！我的孩子！哦，希望能再看到你自由自在地在山间奔跑玩耍。

萨勒姆：他难道一点不认父亲？

盖斯勒：不错，那有违天性。

萨勒姆：他不会认他的儿子，他才不会让孩子和自己一起去送死。

盖斯勒：我根本不这么想！好哇，哪怕这孩子不是你儿子，可我让他和你一起去死。

泰尔：和我一起死，为什么？

盖斯勒：因为你所作所为冒犯了我的威严，把他们带走！

泰尔：他不过是个孩子。

盖斯勒：把他们带走！

泰尔：这么小的孩子。

盖斯勒：不要再说了。

泰尔：他或许还有母亲。

盖斯勒：你心这么狠，还有谁为那母亲饶恕这孩子？

泰尔：你们真是铁石心肠！丧尽天良！没有用，什么也别再说了。过来，我的孩子！我教你怎样活着，也让你知道怎样去死。

盖斯勒：他真是你的孩子？

泰尔：他是我的儿子。（哭泣）

盖斯勒：我用尽手段，他才流下一滴眼泪。你的名字？

泰尔：我的名字？现在问这些有用吗？我叫泰尔。

盖斯勒：泰尔？威廉 · 泰尔？

泰尔：没错。

盖斯勒：什么！你……你真是那个大名鼎鼎、身经百战的威廉 · 泰尔？你那些同胞的头领？照这么说，你居然就是这把弩弓主人，从来都是箭无虚发！天呀！

我会来次完美的复仇！听好！我将赦免你，还有你的孩子。从现在开始，你们自由了，只是你要答应我的唯一条件。

泰尔：说吧。

盖斯勒：我要看看，让你用那把弓弩露一手，听说你射技相当不错。

泰尔：说吧，你到底要我做什么。

盖斯勒：你看了一眼你的孩子，你的本能反应似乎不错。

泰尔：看我的孩子？什么意思？难道看看孩子，就能猜对？猜测一下你究竟要我做什么？本能反应？你不是指的是——，不，不，你不能让我用自己孩子来证明我的射技！绝不可能！我没有猜到你的意思。

盖斯勒：我想看看你是否能在一百码开外射中一个苹果。

泰尔：我的儿子手拿苹果？

盖斯勒：不！

泰尔：如果他不拿，我会射穿苹果的果核。

盖斯勒：苹果必须放到你儿子的头顶。

泰尔：万能的主！听听他究竟说了什么！

盖斯勒：听好，这是我给你的选择：看看你射技究竟如何，否则你俩都得死，没人能活下来。

泰尔：天呀，你这个畜生！

盖斯勒：你不愿试一下？