I. <br />Mark this holy chapel well! <br />The birth-place, this, of William Tell. <br />Here, where stands God's altar dread, <br />Stood his parent's marriage-bed. <br /> <br />II. <br />Here, first, an infant to her breast, <br />Him his loving mother prest; <br />And kissed the babe, and blessed the day, <br />And prayed as mothers used to pray. <br /> <br />III. <br />'Vouchsafe him health, O God! and give <br />The child thy servant still to live!' <br />But God had destined to do more <br />Through him than through an armed power. <br /> <br />IV. <br />God gave him reverence of laws, <br />Yet stirring blood in Freedom's cause-- <br />A spirit to his rocks akin, <br />The eye of the hawk and the fire therein! <br /> <br />V. <br />To Nature and to Holy Writ <br />Alone did God the boy commit: <br />Where flashed and roared the torrent, oft <br />His soul found wings, and soared aloft! <br /> <br />VI. <br />The straining oar and chamois chase <br />Had formed his limbs to strength and grace: <br />On wave and wind the boy would toss, <br />Was great, nor knew how great he was! <br /> <br />VII. <br />He knew not that his chosen hand, <br />Made strong by God, his native land <br />Would rescue from the shameful yoke <br />Of Slavery -- the which he broke!<br /><br />Samuel Taylor Coleridge<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/tell-s-birth-place-imitated-from-stolberg/
