TELL (William,) an illustrious Swiss patriot, chief in-
Teller, instrument of the revolution which delivered the Swiss
Cantons from the German yoke in 1307. Grifler,
the governor of these provinces for the emperor Al-
bert, having ordered him, under pain of death, to
shoot at an apple placed on the head of one his chil-
dren, he had the dexterity, though the distance was
very considerable, to strike it off without hitting the
child. The tyrant, perceiving he had another arrow
concealed under his cloak, asked him for what pur-
pose? To which he boldly replied, "To have shot
you thro' the heart, if I had had the misfortune to
kill my son." The enraged governor now ordered
him to be hanged: but his fellow-citizens, animated
by his fortitude and patriotism, flew to arms; attack-
ed and vanquished Grifler, who was shot to death by
Tell; and the association for the independency took
place that instant.