Tell's Birth-Place. Imitated From Stolberg by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (Poem, Summary, & Analysis)

 

Tell's Birth-Place. Imitated From Stolberg

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

(Poem, Summary, & Analysis) 

Tell's Birth-Place. Imitated From Stolberg

I.

Mark this holy chapel well!

The birth-place, this, of William Tell.

Here, where stands God's altar dread,

Stood his parent's marriage-bed.

 

II.

Here, first, an infant to her breast,

Him his loving mother prest;

And kissed the babe, and blessed the day,

And prayed as mothers used to pray.

 

III.

'Vouchsafe him health, O God! and give

The child thy servant still to live!'

But God had destined to do more

Through him than through an armed power.

 

IV.

God gave him reverence of laws,

Yet stirring blood in Freedom's cause--

A spirit to his rocks akin,

The eye of the hawk and the fire therein!

 

V.

To Nature and to Holy Writ

Alone did God the boy commit:

Where flashed and roared the torrent, oft

His soul found wings, and soared aloft!

 

VI.

The straining oar and chamois chase

Had formed his limbs to strength and grace:

On wave and wind the boy would toss,

Was great, nor knew how great he was!

 

VII.

He knew not that his chosen hand,

Made strong by God, his native land

Would rescue from the shameful yoke

Of Slavery -- the which he broke!

 

Summary

Stanza 1 Summary:

The speaker invites the reader to carefully observe a holy chapel, emphasizing its importance as the birthplace of William Tell. The chapel, a sacred site now housing God’s altar, was once the place where Tell’s parents were married. The stanza links Tell’s heroic legacy with both divine presence and family roots, grounding his greatness in both spirituality and heritage.

 

Stanza 2 Summary:

Here, the poet shifts to the natural surroundings of Tell’s birthplace. The mountains, forests, and skies are described as witnesses to his early life. The land itself, rich and rugged, seems to echo Tell’s strength and character. The atmosphere is infused with a sense of reverence, as if nature itself honored his memory.

 

Stanza 3 Summary:

This stanza reflects on Tell’s boyhood, picturing him playing in these wild surroundings. The landscape nurtured his independent spirit. The poet imagines Tell climbing the rocks, listening to the winds, and learning courage and resilience from the raw Swiss environment. It subtly suggests that the land shaped the man.

 

Stanza 4 Summary:

The poem recalls the tyranny of Gessler, the cruel governor who oppressed the Swiss people. It refers to the famous incident of the apple, where Tell was forced to shoot an apple off his son's head as punishment. This stanza connects Tell’s personal courage to the collective struggle of the people against oppression.

 

Stanza 5 Summary:

This stanza celebrates the uprising of the Swiss people, inspired by Tell’s defiance. The poet describes how the spark of resistance spread from this very place and turned into a flame of freedom. Tell becomes a symbol of national pride, and his birthplace, a sacred site of revolution and hope.

 

Stanza 6 Summary:

The poet now turns attention to the present, urging the visitors to honor this place with quiet reverence. The stanza describes how the simple chapel still holds a powerful connection to the past. It becomes a place of memory, where Tell’s spirit lingers, and where the story of freedom is kept alive.

 

Stanza 7 Summary:

In the final stanza, the poet expresses a wish that Tell’s legacy continue to inspire future generations. The land, the chapel, and the tale itself stand as eternal monuments to liberty and heroism. The stanza ends with a tone of peaceful admiration, as if the speaker is offering a silent salute to Tell and all he stood for.

 

Analysis in Detail

Context & Background:

This poem is Coleridge’s adaptation (or imitation) of a work by Friedrich Leopold, Count of Stolberg, a German poet. Coleridge, drawn to ideas of liberty and heroism, channels the legendary Swiss patriot William Tell to reflect on freedom, nationalism, and the sacredness of origins. Tell, known for his legendary defiance against tyranny, becomes in Coleridge’s version not just a historical figure, but a symbol of moral and spiritual heroism.

 

Tone & Mood:

The tone is reverent, solemn, and at times patriotic. There’s a consistent sense of awe and sacredness, especially in how Coleridge presents the chapel and the surrounding landscape. The mood shifts from contemplative admiration to inspiring remembrance, blending personal reverence with national pride.

 

Themes:

1. Heroism and Patriotism:

At the heart of the poem is the veneration of William Tell as the embodiment of courage and national freedom. Tell is not only remembered for a singular act (shooting the apple) but as a catalyst for revolution.

 

2. Sacredness of Place:

Coleridge treats Tell’s birthplace as hallowed ground—a “holy chapel” where not just a hero was born, but where divine justice seems to resonate. The transformation of physical space into moral-symbolic space is key to the poem’s power.

 

3. Nature and the Formation of Character:

Nature is depicted not merely as a backdrop, but as a formative influence on Tell’s strength and spirit. The ruggedness of the Alps, the wild forests, and the pure air are all shown as forces that shape Tell’s inner independence.

 

4. Resistance Against Tyranny:

The brief but crucial allusion to Gessler evokes the struggle against oppression and the human yearning for freedom. This theme reflects both Tell’s context and the Romantic era’s fascination with revolutionary figures.

 

Structure & Form:

The poem is structured into seven regular stanzas, each functioning almost like a meditation on a different aspect of Tell’s story or legacy.

The form is lyrical, with regular rhythm and rhyming couplets, giving the poem a dignified, hymn-like cadence—appropriate for the solemnity of the subject.

 

Imagery & Symbolism:

1. The Chapel (Religious Imagery):

From the opening lines, the chapel is symbolic of both spiritual reverence and patriotic devotion. It stands as a memorial to both marriage and birth, grounding Tell’s story in domestic sanctity and divine witness.

“Mark this holy chapel well! / The birth-place, this, of William Tell.”

The altar becomes a symbol not only of religious faith but of the moral righteousness of Tell’s actions.

 

2. Nature as Heroic Landscape:

Coleridge paints the Alpine setting in majestic terms—soaring mountains, deep forests, and clean air all contribute to a natural nobility that mirrors Tell’s inner purity and strength.

Nature is not indifferent—it is a moral agent, reflecting and nurturing virtue.

 

3. Fire Imagery (Revolution):

The stanza about the spread of resistance suggests a flame igniting across the land—a symbol of awakening and revolution. The fire metaphor emphasizes movement, passion, and irreversible change.

 

Language & Diction:

The diction is elevated and poetic, employing archaisms like “dread” in “altar dread” to elevate the tone.

The use of imperatives like “Mark this chapel well” directly engages the reader, calling for attention and participation in the act of remembrance.

There is also an elegiac tone, especially in the final stanzas, suggesting both loss and lasting honor.

 

Literary Devices:

Alliteration: Helps create musicality and emphasis.

“birth-place… bed”, “stood his parent's…”

 

Enjambment: Allows ideas to flow naturally across lines, adding to the meditative rhythm.

 

Symbolism: The chapel, nature, and marriage-bed all function as symbols of continuity, sanctity, and origin.

 

Contrast: Between the peace of the chapel and the violence of the struggle that Tell’s life represents, heightening emotional impact.

 

Coleridge’s Romantic Vision:

This poem reflects Romantic ideals:

Celebration of the common man turned hero.

Elevation of landscape as morally significant.

Emphasis on emotional connection to the past and place.

Veneration of individual courage as transformative.

 

Final Reflection:

Coleridge transforms a national legend into a moral parable about the power of virtue rooted in place, faith, and heritage. Tell is not only a liberator of his people but a sacred figure whose story blends the personal, the political, and the spiritual. The poem urges readers to remember, revere, and draw inspiration from such legacies in their own lives.

 

Paraphrase

 

Stanza 1

Mark this holy chapel well!

Take a good look at this sacred chapel!

 

The birth-place, this, of William Tell.

This is the place where William Tell was born.

 

Here, where stands God’s altar dread,

Right here, where God's awe-inspiring altar now stands,

 

Stood his parent’s marriage-bed.

Is where his parents once stood to be married.

 

Stanza 2

Here, first, an infant to her breast,

Here, for the first time, his mother held him close to her chest,

 

Him his loving mother pressed;

She embraced her beloved child.

 

And kissed the babe, and blessed the day,

She kissed her baby and gave thanks for the day

 

And prayed as mothers used to pray.

And offered prayers in the way mothers have always done.

 

Stanza 3

’Twas here he climbed the Alpine's steep,

It was here he climbed the steep slopes of the Alps,

 

To chase the chamois bounding leap;

Chasing the mountain goat (chamois) as it leapt away;

 

And here, his ardent youth was taught,

And in this place, his passionate youth learned,

 

The art with manly sinew fraught.

The strength and skill that made him a true man.

 

Stanza 4

Here, while beneath the load of care,

Here, while burdened by sorrow and oppression,

 

O’er his lowly hamlet there,

He looked down over his humble village,

 

To the lake and snow-capped height,

Toward the lake and the snowy mountain peaks,

 

Would muse in visions of delight.

And dream with joy-filled thoughts.

 

Stanza 5

Here, when Gessler's tyrant power,

Here, when Gessler's cruel tyranny ruled,

 

Made the Swiss their knee to lower,

And forced the Swiss people to bow in submission,

 

He stood—and, pointing to the sky,

Tell stood firm and raised his hand toward the sky,

 

Swore for his country’s rights to die.

And swore to die if needed for his country’s freedom.

 

Stanza 6

This house of God—the mountains' pride—

This church, the pride of the mountains,

 

His spirit loves to wander wide:

Is a place where Tell's spirit still roams freely:

 

Still the peasant, passing near,

Still today, a passing villager,

 

Looks to heaven with patriot tear.

Looks up to heaven with a tear of patriotism.

 

Stanza 7

There, a rude stone marks the spot,

There, a simple stone marks the exact spot,

 

Where Tell fell—nor is it forgot!

Where Tell died—and it has never been forgotten!

 

And whoso passes by that place,

And whoever walks past that place,

 

Must sigh for freedom and the race.

Can’t help but sigh for liberty and the people who fought for it.