Switzerland: William Tell

by M.-Christine Haller Aellig, Switzerland Brutus erat nobis, Uro in arvo, Assertor patriae, vindex ultorque tyrannum.
Henricus Glareanus, Helvetiae Descriptio (1514) Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden the Waldstaetten are the cradle of the Swiss Confederation. At the end of the 13th century indeed citizens of these regions are supposed to have pronounced the Rtli1 Oath. Their alliance was formulated in the Federal Pact, traditionally dated August 1st, 1291. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the ensuing disorders, the territories which would later form German Swiss cantons went through many vicissitudes before being subordinated to the Habsburgs, a house native from Aargau (northern part of modern Switzerland) incorporated at the time in the Holy Roman Empire. In the last quarter of the 13th century the Habsburgs extended their influence to the south-eastern part of the Empire: Austria. The Rtli Meadow (photo: F. Rytz) When the Duke of Austria acceded to emperorship, the relations between the alpine regions of the Waldstaetten and the Holy Empire were deeply transformed. Up to that time the Swiss who depended directly on the Emperor had enjoyed special privileges that the Habsburgs then suppressed because they were interested in taking advantage and making profits of the opening of the alpine passes to traffic. More particularly in that case, the military and trade route over St. Gotthard. Governors (Vgte) representing the Austrian power were imposed on those regions. Some of them soon handled the population tyrannically. Autochthones that claimed their rights and liberties rose up 2. In this context appears William3 Tell, the national hero that the Swiss humanist Glareanus compares with Brutus, the liberator and avenger of the tyrants. If William Tell is regarded as the liberator of his homeland, usually he is not counted among the founders of the Old Confederation. No document of that time mentions his name or existence. Doubtless he never existed as such, but his character crystallized because of the successful independence struggles of the Waldstaetten against the Duke of Austria. Transmitted orally at the beginning, the legend of William Tell appears first in popular literature in the Ballad of Tell (Tellenlied) in the middle of the 15th century and in a theatre adaptation of the story some years later (first known performance in 1512). Around the same period (1470) the White Book of Sarnen (das Weisse Buch von Sarnen) mentions William Tell; his name also appears in the Chronicon Helveticum by Aegidius Tschudi seventy years later. All those texts are written in the vernacular language of this part of the country (German). Other humanists refer to the heroic actions of William Tell in Latin; either they write immediately in Latin, or they translate German texts into Latin. The traditional actions of William Tell are set at three moments in time. The central part the shooting of the apple off Tells sons head sounds more like a legend than like an authentic fact. Actually several Nordic sagas and other legends tell about a famous marksman compelled to prove his skill in dramatic conditions. The episode that probably is the most akin to the shooting of the apple by William Tell is to be found in the Gesta Danorum, a chronicle written around 1200 by Saxo Grammaticus. Very seemingly travellers from the North, resting for a while at the bottom of the St. Gotthard before crossing the Alps to Italy told their legends that found there a fertile ground and prospered. So much for the myth. The two other parts of the text and the story itself, William Tell personifying the struggles for liberty and the murder of the tyrant, have been successful for a long time. After the fights and the enlargement of the Confederation in the 16 th century, William Tell was again up to date in the 18 th
1 2

Name of a meadow above Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstaettersee in German). Lucerne joined the alliance in 1332. Around 1420 the Bernese chronicle writer Konrad Justinger refers to the despotism and abuses of power of the Austrian governors without mentioning William Tell. 3 Wilhelm in German, Guillaume in French, Guglielmo in Italian, and Guglielm in Romansh, our four languages.

century4. He and the other heroes of the Old Confederation were celebrated as ideal historical figures, fighters for human rights, representatives of republican virtues not only in Switzerland but also in France, where at the time of the Revolution Tell joined again Brutus and other Roman tyrannicides and heroes of liberty in the revolutionary pantheon. At the very end of the 18 th century, during the struggles for independence in America, a play about William Tell was performed in Philadelphia! Soon after, in 1804 the German poet Friedrich Schiller made William Tell the hero of the eponymous drama: a man close to nature, active, loving liberty but bound with his compatriots in their fight against tyranny 5. That inspired Gioacchino Rossinis opera Guillaume Tell created in Paris in 1829. In Switzerland the Tell iconography from the Middle Ages up to now is very rich. Let us mention only two among the most famous Tells: the Tell monument by Richard Kissling (1895) in Altdorf, the capital of canton Uri and Tells homeland, and the painting by Ferdinand Hodler (1897) which is very popular and represented everywhere in every context. In the 21st century the 5 franc Swiss coin is still adorned with the effigy of William Tell!

The Tell Monument by R. Kissling (photo: F. Rytz)

Josias Simler6 (Simlerus, 1530 1576), De Republica Helvetiorum, 58 sqq.

5 franc coin (source: en.ucoin.net)

Tellii historia Caeterum <Grislerus1> cum animos omnium exasperatos2 et a se alienatos3 esse cerneret, metuens occultam aliquam conspirationem, ut eam investigare4 posset, hoc consilio usus est. Altorffi5 in foro, quo maxima hominum totius regionis frequentia convenire solet, pileum6 praelongae perticae7 imponit ac omnes iubet, nudato capite flexisque genubus, honorem eum pileo exhibere quo se praesentem afficere 8 consuevissent: existimabat autem eos qui prae ceteris 9 sibi infensi essent nequaquam adduci posse ut tantum honorem pileo exhibeant, praesertim si confidant aliorum auxiliis quibuscum convenerint; hac autem occasione posse se honesto titulo10 in eos animadvertere et tormentis ad exploranda consilia aliquos subiicere. () Interea accidit apud Urios11 ut Vuilhelmus Tellius, confoederatorum12 unus, aliquoties pileum illum stipiti13 impositum praeteriret, nullo reverentiae14 et honoris signo
4 5

1. Grislerus, -i, m.: name of the Austrian governor (praefectus, -i, m./ German: Vogt), today known as Gessler 2. exasperare: to irritate 3. alienare: to alienate 4. investigare: to find 5. Altorffum, -i, n.: Altdorf (name of a place in Uri) 6. pileus, -i, m.: hat 7. pertica, -ae, f.: perch, pole 8. aliquem honore afficere: to pay ones respect to, to honour 9. prae ceteris: more than the others

10. titulus, -i, m.: pretext 11. Urii, -orum, m.: people of Uri 12. confoederatus, -i, m.: confederate (some people of the region were joined in a league in order to resist the tyranny of Gessler and to get their independence) 13. stipiti cf. perticae 14. reverentia, -ae, f.: respect 15. praefecto i.e. Gessler

and each time when independence and liberty must be reaffirmed up to now. Tellspiele (the play by Schiller actually) regularly staged either in open air as in Interlaken at the bottom of the Alps and near a lake or inside as in Altdorf in the Tellspielhaus are very popular with Swiss and foreign tourists. 6 Simler (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josias_Simmler) was interested in making known his native country and translated from German into Latin (the language of educated people all over Europa) parts of the Great Chronicle of Johannes Stumpf: Gemeiner loblicher Eydgnoschafft Stetten, Landen und Voelckeren Chronick wirdiger thaaten Beschreybung (1548). Simler had a vast plan of which the De Helvetiorum Republica is a fragment.

exhibito. Ob hanc causam a praefecto 15 accusatus, suam rusticitatem excusabat16, qui non existimasset ullius hoc momenti17 esse. Sed praefectus, qui hominem suspectum haberet18, e liberis eius filiolum unice charum 19 patri deligit et in vertice20 huius pomum21 sagitta petere illum iubet (erat enim Tellius optimus sagittarius), ni illud deiiciat, capite poenas daturum. Tellius vero hanc rem inauditi exempli 22 dicere, seque potius mori paratum quam ut sagitta forte aberrante charissimum filiolum feriat23. Cui praefectus: Ni ieceris, tibi una cum filiolo pereundum erit. Quare cum nullus excusationi aut ullis precibus locus relictus esset, arcu24 sumpto, Tellius, Deo haud dubie iactum gubernante, pomum e vertice filii deiicit. Omnibus autem felici iactui gratulantibus, unus praefectus satiari25 hac poena non potuit; verum cum sagittam alteram thoraci Tellii insertam cerneret, quaerit in quem usum hanc quoque e pharetra deprompserit . Cui ille, id moris esse et in consuetudine sagittariorum positum, ut geminas sagittas depromant. Sed res praefecto suspecta 30 erat, itaque hominem acrius urget et tandem, vitae impunitate31 illi proposita, verum elicit32: eum scilicet hoc consilio sumpsisse alteram sagittam, ut si priore filium feriisset, secunda praefectum peteret. Tum vero praefectus se quidem, uti33 promiserit, vitam illi non erepturum esse inquit, caeterum coniecturum in perpetuos carceres, ubi omni hominum alloquio34 ac lucis usu privatus, miseram in tenebris vitam degat35; simulque vinctum navi imponi iubet, ut eum ex Uriorum regione Cussenacum36 abducat. Iamque medio lacu navigabant, cum subito gravis tempestas navim concutere37 et fluctibus paene obruere38 coepit. Ibi cum in summo vitae discrimine
39 28 29 26 27

16. suam rusticitatem excusare: to plead as an excuse for his peasant habits 17. momentum, -i, n.: importance 18. aliquem suspectum habere: to suspect someone 19. charum = carum 20. vertice = capite 21. pomum, -i, n.: apple 22. <esse> inauditi exempli: to be of unheard severity 23. ferire: to strike

24. Traditionally Tell who was not a soldier but a huntsman used a crossbow. At that time that kind of weapon was extremely precise from a distance of 30 to 80 meters. 25. satiari: to be sated 26. thorax, -cis, m.: waistcoat 27. insero, -is, -ere, -ui, -tum: to put in 28. pharetra, -ae, f.: quiver 29. depromo, -is, -ere, -psi, -ptum: to draw out 30. suspectus, -a, -um: suspicious 31. vitae impunitas, -atis, f.: immunity 32. elicio, -is, -ere: to coax 33. uti = ut

34. alloquium, -i, n.: talk 35. degat = agat 36. Cussenacum, -i, n.: Kssnacht, a place where Gessler had his castle 37. concutere: to agitate violently 38. obruere: to overwhelm, to ruin 39. discrimen, -inis, n.: danger 40. versarentur = essent 41. servus, -i, m.: servant, assistant 42. gubernaculum, -i, n.: helm

omnes versarentur , quidam e

40

servis41 Grisleri monet dominum unicam salutis spem superesse, si vinctus Tellius solvatur et gubernaculo42 adhibeatur : hunc enim navigandi peritissimum esse et simul quoque robore corporis multum pollere43. Necessitate urgente omnes id consilium probant ac Tellium solvunt. Ille vero,

43. pollere: to be strong

gubernaculo sumpto, vix multa vi e fluctibus navem eripit et eam adversus Suitiorum44 terram dirigit, quo loco non multum a litore ingens saxum supra undas eminet45 (Tellii saxum hodie nuncupant46). Huic cum appropinquasset, arrepto arcu suo (forte pone47 ipsum in puppi iacebat), in saxum hoc desilit48 et simul, quanto maximo potest nisu49, navim pedibus in fluctus repellit atque inde se fuga in proximos montes proripit50. Navis vero diu fluctuans51 tandem a servis praefecti portui quem Brunnam52 a fontibus nominant appellitur53. Inde cum praefectus Cussenacum peteret et illi inter Artam 54 et Cussenacum via quadam profunda55 iter faciendum esset, Tellius locorum peritus, ea commoditate56 captata, illuc se abdidit inter fruteta57 et praetereuntem praefectum sagitta conficit. Extat58 nostra aetate sacellum59 eo loco quo praefectus caesus est et alterum in saxo in quod Tellius e navi desilit, perpetua rei gestae monumenta.
Questions and Tasks : 1. Search for and locate the following places on Google Earth: a. Switzerland and Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstaettersee) b. Cantons Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (= Obwalden + Nidwalden) c. The St. Gotthard Pass (search for the main road from the end of the lake, and follow over the Alps as far as Airolo. d. Altdorf and Tells Monument e. Brglen and Tells House f. Tells Rock and Chapel near Sisikon g. The Rtli Meadow on the opposite side of the lake h. The port of Brunnen i. Kssnacht and Gesslers castle j. Die Hohle Gasse and the Chapel between Kssnacht and Arth. 2. Download and copy the Apple Episode in Saxo Grammaticus Gesta Danorum (10, 7, 2-3) from http://www2.kb.dk/elib/lit//dan/saxo/lat/or.dsr/10/7/index.htm. The bold archer Toko, hero of the story, was compelled by his lord, King Harald, to shoot an apple off his sons head (10, 7, 1). Then answer the following questions: a. Saxo writes the history of the Danes, and Simler that of the Swiss. Is their manner the same in this passage? b. Compare how Toko and Tell prepare their sons for the ordeal. Who is more careful? Explain. c. Is there any difference in the archers material? d. Compare both boys and both fathers. How old do you think they are? Justify your answer. e. What do we know precisely of the boys sentiments and qualities at the moment? f. Now consider Saxos opinion, expressed in a very balanced way, and find out the qualities that Saxo attributes to the father and to the son. Which term sums up the boys attitude? What is the consequence of this attitude for father and son? 3. Grammar: a. Explain the use of the subjunctive in the following clauses: 1. sed praefectus, qui hominem suspectum haberet, e liberis eius filiolum unice charum patri deligit. 2. praefectus quaerit in quem usum hanc quoque e pharetra deprompserit b. Explain the use of the infinitive in the following cases: 1. Omnes iubet honorem eum pileo exhibere quo se praesentem afficere consuevissent. 2. Tellius vero hanc rem inauditi exempli dicere. 3. Quidam e servis Grisleri monet dominum unicam salutis spem superesse, si vinctus Tellius solvatur et gubernaculo adhibeatur : hunc enim navigandi peritissimum esse. c. Explain the use of the Gerundive and Gerund in the following cases: 1. et tormentis ad exploranda consilia aliquos subiicere. 2. hunc enim navigandi peritissimum esse. 3. Illi inter Artam et Cussenacum via quadam profunda iter faciendum esset.
50. se proripere: to rush forth 51. fluctuans, -tis: being agitated in the waves 52. Brunna, -ae, f.: Brunnen, a lakeside place (in German Brunnen means fons) 53. appello, -is, -ere: to put ashore 54. Arta, -ae, f.: Arth, a place at the southern end of Lake Zug 55. via quadam profunda: this very deep and narrow path where they had to pass was and is still called die Hohle Gasse in German 56. commoditas, -atis, f.: advantage 57. frutetum, -i, n.: bush 58. extare: to exist 59. sacellum, -i, n.: chapel 44. Suitii, -orum, m.: people of Schwyz 45. emineo, -es, -ere: to stand out 46. nuncupant = vocant 47. pone + acc.: behind 48. desilire: to jump 49. nisus, -us, m.: effort