louisa of prussia and her times-第116节

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Joseph　Haydn；　the　old　man；　was　pale　and　trembling；　but　Joseph　Haydn；
the　genius；　was　courageous；　joyful；　and　defiant；　and　he　was　filled
with　noble　anger　when　he　heard　that　the　trumpeters　of　the　French
conqueror　dared　to　play　his　German　music。

This　anger　of　the　eternally…young　and　eternally…bold　genius　now
burst　forth　from　Haydn's　eyes；　and　restored　to　his　whole　bearing　the
vigor　and　elasticity　of　youth。

Leaning　far　out　of　the　window；　he　beckoned　the　people　with　both
arms；　while　they　were　looking　up　to　him　and　waving　their　hats　to
salute　him。

〃Sing；　people　of　Vienna！〃　he　shouted；　〃oh；　sing　our　favorite　hymn！〃

The　music　had　just　ceased；　and　Joseph　Haydn　now　commenced　singing　in
a　loud；　ringing　voice；　〃GOTT　ERHALTE　FRANZ　DEN　KAISER；　UNSERN　GUTEN
KAISER　FRANZ！〃

And　thousands　of　voices　sang　and　shouted　all　at　once；　〃GOTT　ERHALTE
FRAN　DEN　KAISER；　UNSERN　GUTEN　KAISER　FRANZ！〃

Joseph　Haydn　stood　at　the　window；　and　moved　his　arm　as　though　he
were　standing　before　his　orchestra　and　leading　his　choir。

The　people　sang　their　favorite　hymn　louder　and　more　jubilantly；　and
to　the　notes　of　this　prayer　of　a　whole　people；　of　this　jubilant
hymn；　by　which　the　Viennese　honored　their　unfortunate；　vanquished
emperor　in　the　face　of　the　conquering　army；　the　French　marched　up
the　road　toward　the　interior　of　the　city。

Joseph　Haydn　was　still　at　the　window；　he　led　the　choir　no　longer；　he
sang　no　more。　He　had　folded　his　hands　and　listened　to　the　majestic
anthem　of　the　people；　and　the　tears；　filling　his　eyes；　glistened
like　diamonds。

The　people　continued　shouting　and　singing；　in　spite　of　the　French；
the　hymn　of　〃GOTT　ERHALTE　FRANZ　DEN　KAISER；　UNSERN　GUTEN　KAISER
FRANZ！〃

And　the　victorious　French　marched　silently　through　the　opened　ranks
of　the　people。




CHAPTER　L。

PATRIOTISM。


Princess　Marianne　von　Eibenberg　had　just　returned　from　a　party　which
the　British　ambassador；　Lord　Paget；　had　given　in　her　honor；　and
which　was　to　celebrate　at　the　same　time　the　victory　which　the　two
emperors；　the　allies　of　England；　were　firmly　believed　to　have
achieved　over　the　usurper。

Marianne　Eibenberg；　therefore；　wore　a　brilliant　toilet。　She　was
adorned　with　diamonds　and　costly　jewelry；　and　looked　as　beautiful
and　proud　as　a　queen。　She　had　now　reached　the　acme　of　her　career。
She　was　still　lovely；　and　besides　she　had　become；　as　it　were；　the
protectress　of　the　most　refined　society　of　Vienna　and　the　centre　of
the　intellectual　as　well　as　aristocratic　circles。　She　had
accomplished　her　purpose。　Marianne　Meier；　the　Jewess；　was　now　a
noble　lady；　to　whom　everybody　was　paying　deference；　and　Marianne；
princess　von　Eibenberg；　felt　so　much　at　home　in　her　new　position；
that　she　had　herself　almost　forgotten　who　and　what　she　had　been　in
former　times。　Only　sometimes　she　remembered　it；　only　when　such
recollections　secured　a　triumph　to　her；　and　when　she　met　with
persons　who　had　formerly；　at　the　best；　tolerated　her　with　proud
disdain　in　good　society；　and　who　did　not　deem　it　now　beneath　their
dignity　to　solicit　an　invitation　to　her　reception…room　as　a　favor。

This　reception…room　was　now　the　only　resort　of　good　society　in
Vienna；　the　only　place　where　people　were　sure　to　meet　always　amidst
the　troubles　and　convulsions　of　the　times　with　the　most　refined　and
patriotic　men；　and　where　they　might　rely　on　never　finding　any
persons　of　doubtful　patriotism；　much　less　any　French。

But；　it　is　true；　since　the　imperial　family　had　fled　from　Vienna；　the
reception…room　of　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg　had　gradually　become
deserted；　for　the　members　of　the　aristocracy　had　retired　to　their
estates　and　castles；　and　the　ministers　and　high　functionaries　had
accompanied　the　emperor　and　the　imperial　court　to　Olmutz。

The　ambassadors；　too；　were　about　to　repair　thither；　hence；　the　party
given　by　the　British　minister；　Lord　Paget；　to　his　adored　friend　the
Princess　von　Eibenberg；　was　to　celebrate　not　only　the　supposed
victory；　but　also　his　departure　from　the　capital。

Marianne；　as　we　stated　already；　had　just　returned　from　this　party。
With　rapid　steps；　absorbed　in　profound　reflections；　she　was　pacing
her　boudoir；　muttering；　now　and　then；　inaudible　words；　and　from　time
to　time　heaving　deep　sighs　as　if　feeling　violent　pain。　When　she
walked　past　the　large　Venetian　mirror；　she　stopped　and　contemplated
the　brilliant　and　imposing　form　it　reflected。

〃It　is　true；〃　she　said；　mournfully；　〃the　Princess　von　Eibonberg　is　a
beautiful　and　charming　lady；　she　has　very　fine　diamonds　and　a　very
aristocratic　title；　she　is　living　in　grand　style；　she　has　very　many
admirers；　she　is　adored　and　beloved　on　account　of　her　enthusiastic
patriotism；　she　has　got　whatever　is　able　to　beautify　and　adorn　life；
and　yet　I　see　a　cloud　on　this　forehead　which　artists　compare　with
that　of　the　Ludovisian　Juno；　and　diplomatists　with　that　of　Pallas
Athene。　What　does　this　cloud　mean？　Reply　to　this　question；　you；　whom
I　see　there　in　the　mirror；　reply　to　it；　proud　woman　with　the
precious　diadem；　how　does　it　come　that　you　look　so　sad；　although　the
world　says　that　you　are　happy　and　highly　honored？〃

She　paused；　and　looked　almost　expectantly　at　her　own　image　in　the
looking…glass。　The　clock　commenced　all　at　once　striking　twelve。
〃Midnight！〃　whispered　Marianne；　〃midnight；　the　hour　in　which　ghosts
walk！　I　will　also　call　up　a　ghost；〃　she　said；　after　a　short　pause；
〃I　will　call　it　up　and　compel　it　to　reply　to　me。〃

And　raising　her　arm　toward　the　glittering；　radiant　image　in　the
looking…glass；　she　said　in　a　loud　and　solemn　voice：　〃Marianne　Meier；
rise　from　your　grave　and　come　hither　to　reply　to　my　questions！
Marianne　Meier；　rise　and　walk；　it　is　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg　who
is　calling　you！　Ah；　I　see　youit　is　you；　Marianne；　you　are　looking
at　me　with　the　melancholy　eyes　of　those　days　when　you　had　to　bear　so
much　contumely　and　disgrace；　and　when　you　were　sitting　mournfully　by
the　rivers　of　Babylon　and　weeping。　Yes；　I　recognize　you；　you　still
wear　the　features　of　your　ancestors　of　the　tribe　of　Levi；　men
pretend　not　to　notice　them　any　longer；　but　I　see　them。　Marianne
Meier；　now　listen　to　what　I　am　going　to　tell　you；　and　reply　to　me：
tell　me　what　is　the　matter　with　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg？　What　is
the　reason　she　is　not　happy？　Look　around　in　her　house；　Marianne
Meier；　you　will　behold　there　such　opulence　and　magnificence　as　you
never　knew　in　the　days　of　your　childhood。　Look　at　her　gilt
furniture；　her　carpets　and　lustres；　look　at　the　beautiful　paintings
on　the　walls；　and　at　the　splendid　solid　plate　in　her　chests。　Look　at
her　velvet　and　silk　dresses；　adorned　with　gold　and　silver
embroidery；　look　at　her　diamonds；　her　other　precious　stones　and
jewelry。　Do　you　know　still；　Marianne　Meier；　how　often；　in　the　days
of　your　childhood　and　early　youth；　you　have　longed；　with　scalding
tears；　for　all　those　things？　Do　you　know　still；　Marianne　Meier；　how
often　you　have　wrung　your　hands　and　wailed；　'Would　to　God　I　were
rich！　For　he　who　is　rich　is　happy！'　The　Princess　von　Eibenberg　is
rich；　Marianne　Meier；　why；　then；　is　she　not　happy？　If　it　had　been
predicted　to　you　at　that　time；　when　you　were　only　sighing　for
wealth；　Marianne　Meier；　that　you　would　be　a　princess　one　day；　and
carry　your　Jewish　head　proudly　erect　in　the　most　aristocratic
society；　would　you　not　have　believed　that　this　was　the　acme　of
happiness；　and　that　your　boldest　wishes　had　been　fulfilled？　Ah；
Marianne　Meier；　I　have　reached　this　acme；　and　yet　it　seems　to　me
that　I　am　much　more　remote　from　happiness　than　you　ever　were　at　that
time！　You　had　then　something　to　struggle　for；　you　had　a　great　aim。
But　what　have　I　got？　I　have　reached　my　aim；　and　there　is　nothing　for
me　to　accomplish　and　to　struggle　for！　That　is　the　secret　of　my
melancholy；　I　have　nothing　to　struggle　for。　I　have　reached　the　acme
of　my　prosperity；　and　every　step　I　advance　is　a　step　down…hill
toward　the　grave；　and　when　the　grave　closes　over　me　nothing　will
remain　of　me；　and　my　name　will　be　forgotten；　while　the　name　of　the
hateful　usurper　will　resound　through　all　ages　like　a　golden　harp！
Oh；　a　little　glory；　a　little　immortality　on　earth；　that；　Marianne
Meier；　is　what　the　ambitious　heart　of　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg　is
longing　for；　that　is　the　object　for　which　she　would　willingly
sacrifice　years　of　her　life。　Life　is　now　so　boundlessly　tedious　and
empty；　it　is　nothing　but　a　glittering　phrase；　nothing　but　a　smiling
and　gorgeous　but　dull　repetition　of　the　same　thing！　But；　hark！　What
is　that？〃　She　suddenly　interrupted　herself。　〃It　seemed　to　me　as　if　I
heard　steps　in　the　small　corridor。　Yes；　I　was　not　mistaken。　Somebody
is　at　the　door。　Oh；　it　is　he；　then；　it　is　Gentz。〃

She　rushed　toward　the　door；　and　opening　it　hastily；　she　said；　〃Is　it
you；　my　beloved　friend？〃

〃If　you　apply　this　epithet　to　me；　Marianne；　yes；　it　is　I；〃　replied
Gentz；　entering　the　room。

〃And　to　whom　else　should　I　apply　it；　Frederick？〃　she　asked；
reproachfully。　〃Who　but　you　has　got　a　key　to　my　house　and　to　this
door？　Who　but　you　is　allowed　to　enter　my　house　and　my　room　at　any
hour　of　the　day　or　night？〃

〃Perhaps　Lord　Paget；　my　powerful　and　fine…looking　rival；〃　said
Gentz；　carelessly；　and　without　the　least　shade　of　bitterness；　while
he　sat　down　on　the