nd of my country, which
in the tyrant Gessler's mind is a crime.

_Annette._ But Gessler will never hear of us, humble peasants. He is too
far above us to care what we think.

_William Tell._ Not so, my dear wife. Gessler will not permit us to
hold our thoughts in secret. He has a plan to discover our inmost
thoughts.

_Annette._ What plan can he make to read our minds?

_William Tell._ A clever plan to tell a freeman from a slave. In
Altdorf, our capital city, he has set up a pole. Upon the top of this
pole he has put the cap of the Austrian king and has ordered every man
to take off his hat as he passes by, to show that he yields to the
Austrian rule. Is not this a brave plan? He who obeys the tyrant is a
slave. Wouldst thou have thy husband doff his cap to his country's
tyrant?

_Annette._ Never! I should despise thee, couldst thou do it!

_William Tell._ That is my own brave wife! Thou speakest as a free
woman, the mother of free children, should speak. And our children shall
be free! When I go to Altdorf I shall refuse to obey the order of
Gessler and all Switzerland shall know that William Tell will not bow to
a foreign tyrant.

_Annette._ But why go to Altdorf, my husband? Thou knowest the power of
Gessler and his cruelty!

_William Tell._ Wouldst have me a coward? No, dear wife. When my
business calls me to Altdorf I shall go and in all ways act as a free
man, loyal to my country and afraid of no one.

_Annette._ Thou art a brave man, my husband, and I honor thee.

SCENE II.--_Altdorf: The Market place_

WILLIAM TELL, ALBERT, SOLDIERS, GESSLER

_William Tell._ Come, my son, I have sold the chamois skins, and now I
must buy the things your mother wished me to get for her.

_Albert._ And, father, please buy some toys for little Lewis.

_William Tell._ You are a good boy, Albert, to remember your little
brother. We will go to the shop across the square and look there for
toys.

_Soldier._ Halt, man! Salute yonder cap!

_William Tell._ Why should I salute a cap of cloth?

_Soldier._ It is the cap of our emperor. If you do not honor the cap,
you are a traitor.

_William Tell._ I am no traitor, and yet I will not bow down to an empty
cap. I am a true Swiss and love my country.

_Gessler._ Ha, ha! Then we have a traitor here who will not yield to our
emperor! Arrest him, my men; and we will teach him his manners. Who is
this man?

_Soldier._ His name is William Tell, my lord.

_Gessler._