Tell as a Marksman were forgotten — Sabachthani

Tell as a Marksman－were forgotten ¹
Tell－this Day endures
Ruddy as that coeval Apple
The Tradition bears－

Fresh as Mankind that humble story ⁵
Though a statelier Tale
Grown in the Repetition hoary
Scarcely would prevail－

Tell had a son－The ones that knew it ⁹
Need not linger here－
Those who did not to Human Nature
Will subscribe a Tear－

Tell would not bare his Head ¹³
In Presence
Of the Ducal Hat－
Threatened for that with Death－by Gessler－
Tyranny bethought

Make of his only Boy a Target ¹⁸
That surpasses Death－
Stolid to Love's supreme entreaty
Not forsook of Faith－

Mercy of the Almighty begging－²²
Tell his Arrow sent－
God it is said replies in Person
When the cry is meant－

(F.1148/J.1152)

[1–25]:: A tyrant demanded a father to risk his son's life. The father prayed to God and the son lived. The son was never afraid. In Bible, the last word of Jesus Christ the Son of God was "sabachthani," meaning, "why hast thou forsaken me?" The comparing of Tell's son with the Son of God is hinted in line 19 and 21.
[1–17] Tell:: the story of William Tell and Hermann Gessler. Tell did not bow to Gessler's hat on a pole. Gessler demanded Tell to shoot an apple on his son's head. Tell did. His son was never afraid.
[18, 19] his only Boy, surpasses Death:: a hint on Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Crucifixion that surpasses death.
[20, 21] Stolid, forsook:: a hint on sabachthani, why hast thou forsaken me.
[24] it is said:: no such thing in Tell's legend that God replies in person to Tell. God is mentioned here to hint the Son of God.
[25] the Cry is meant:: Tell's begging was serious; he did really mean it from his heart for his son.

"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)