louisa of prussia and her times-第131节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


privy　seal；　said　in　a　loud　and　solemn　voice：　〃In　the　name　of　the
emperor！〃

And　the　members　of　the　Diet　rose　from　their　seats　to　listen
reverentially　to　the　imperial　message　which　his　majesty　had
addressed　to　the　German　Diet　in　an　autograph　letter。　He　had
commissioned　his　envoy　to　read　the　letter　to　the　Diet；　and　the
minister　read　as　follows：

〃Feeling　convinced　that　it　is　impossible　for　us　to　exercise　our
imperial　rights　any　longer；　we　deem　it　our　duty　to　renounce　a　crown
which　was　of　value　to　us　only　so　long　as　we　enjoyed　the　confidence
of　the　electors；　princes；　noblemen；　and　states　of　the　German　empire；
and　so　long　as　we　were　able　to　fulfil　the　duties　they　imposed　upon
us。　Hence　we　are　obliged　to　declare　by　these　presents　in　the　most
solemn　manner；　that；　considering　the　ties　which　united　us　with　the
German　empire　as　broken　by　the　Confederation　of　the　Rhine；　we　hereby
give　up　the　imperial　crown　of　Germany；　at　the　same　time　we　release
by　these　presents　the　electors；　princes；　and　states；　as　well　as　the
members　of　the　supreme　court　and　other　magistrates　from　the　duties
which　they　owed　to　us　as　legal　head　of　the　German　empire。　Given
under　our　own　hand　and　seal。　Francis　the　Second；　Emperor　of　Austria；
and　ruler　of　the　hereditary　states　of　Austria。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Memoires
d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　ix。；　p。　160。＇

A　long　and　awful　silence　greeted　the　reading　of　this　letter；　which
put　an　end　to　the　ancient　German　empire　after　an　existence　of　one
thousand　and　six　years；　from　Charlemagne；　crowned　in　800；　to　Francis
II。；　dispossessed　in　1806。

The　members　of　the　German　Diet　then　rose　in　their　seats；　they　were
as　silent　and　shy　as　night…owls　startled　from　their　dark　hiding…
places　by　a　stray　sunbeam。　They　left　the　old　session…hall　at
Ratisbon　in　gloomy　silence；　and　when　the　door　closed　behind　them；
the　German　Diet　had　been　buried；　and　the　lid　on　its　coffin　had　been
closed。

The　last　night…owls　of　the　deceased　German　empire　hurried　in
mournful　silence　from　the　session…hall　at　Ratisbon；　where　the　old
portraits　henceforth　watched　alone　over　the　grave　of　the　German
empire。

When　they　stepped　out　into　the　market…place；　a　carriage　just　rolled
past　the　city…hall；　and　the　gentleman　seated　in　it　leaned　smilingly
out　of　the　coach…door；　and　saluted　kindly　and　affably　the　pale；
grave；　and　sad　men　who　came　from　the　city…hall。

This　gentleman　was　Count　Clement　Metternich；　who　was　going　to　Paris
as　special　envoy　of　the　Emperor　of　Austria　for　the　purpose　of
offering　to　the　Emperor　of　France　on　his　birthday　the
congratulations　of　the　Emperor　of　Austria。　＇Footnote：　Ibid。；　p。
168。＇

On　the　6th　of　August　the　German　empire　had　died　and　was　buried！

On　the　15th　of　August　the　Emperor　of　the　French　celebrated　his
birthday；　and　the　princes　of　the　Confederation　of　the　Rhine；　the
Emperor　of　Austria；　the　King　of　Prussia；　and　all　the　sovereigns　who
had　been　members　of　the　late　German　empire；　celebrated　the　great　day
in　the　most　solemn　manner。

Napoleon　had　a　new　victorya　victory　which　laid　the　whole　of
Germany　at　his　feet。　He　had　buried　the　German　empire；　but　stood　on
the　grave　of　the　august　corpse　as　its　lord　and　master。




THE　BATTLE　OF　JENA。


CHAPTER　LV。

A　GERMAN　BOOKSELLER　AND　MARTYR。


It　was　long　after　nightfall；　in　the　narrow；　gloomy　streets　of　the
ancient　free　city　of　Nuremberg　all　noise　had　long　since　died　away；
and　all　the　windows　of　the　high　houses　with　the　gable…ends　were
dark。　Only　on　the　ground…floor　of　the　large　house　in　the　rear　of　St。
Sebald's　church　a　lonely　candle　was　burning；　and　the　watchman；　who
was　just　walking　past　with　his　long　horn　and　iron　pike；　looked
inquisitively　into　the　window；　the　shutters　of　which　were　not
entirely　closed。

〃H'm！〃　he　said　to　himself　in　a　low　voice；　〃the　poor　woman　is
kneeling　and　weeping　and　praying；　I　am　sure　it　is　for　her　husband。
In　her　grief　she　did　not　notice；　perhaps；　that　it　is　already
midnight。　I　will　remind　her　of　it；　so　that　she　may　go　to　bed。〃

He　placed　himself　on　the　street　in　front　of　the　house；　blew　his　horn
noisily；　and　then　sang　in　a　ringing　voice：

〃Hort；　Ihr　Herren；　und　lasst　euch　sagen；
Die　Glock　hat　zwolf　geschlagen；
Ein　Jeder　bewahr　sein　Feuer　und　Licht；
Dass　dieser　Stadt　kein　Harm　geschicht！〃

＇Footnote：　The　ancient　song　of　the　German　watchman。〃Listen；
gentlemen；　and　let　me　tell　you：　the　clock　has　struck　twelve；
every　one　must　take　care　of　his　fire　and　light；　that　no　harm
may　befall　this　city！〃＇

〃So；　now　she　knows　it；〃　muttered　the　watchman；　〃now　she　will　go　to
bed。〃

And　he　sauntered　down　the　long　and　tortuous　street；　to　repeat　his
song　on　the　next　corner。

He　had　really　accomplished　his　purpose；　his　song　had　interrupted　the
prayer　of　the　young　wife；　and　she　had　risen　from　her　knees。

〃Midnight　already！〃　she　murmured；　in　a　low　voice。　〃Another　day　of
anguish　is　over；　and　a　new　one　is　beginning。　Oh；　would　to　God　I
could　sleep；　always　sleep；　so　as　to　be　at　least　unconscious　of　the
dangers　that　are　menacing　HIM！　Oh；　my　God；　my　God！　protect　my　poor；
beloved　husband；　preserve　the　father　of　my　children！　And　now　I　will
go　to　bed；〃　she　added；　after　a　pause。　〃God　will　have　mercy　on　me；
perhaps；　and　grant　me　a　few　hours　of　rest！〃

She　took　the　brass　candlestick；　on　which　a　taper　was　burning；　and
went　slowly　and　with　bowed　head　to　the　adjoining　room。　When　she　had
entered　it；　her　face　became　calmer　and　more　joyful；　and　a　gentle
smile　lighted　up　her　charming　features　when　she　now　approached　the
small　bed；　in　which　her　two　little　girls　lay　arm…in…arm；　sweetly
slumbering　with　rosy　cheeks　and　half…opened　crimson　lips。

〃God　preserve　to　you　your　peace　and　innocence；〃　whispered　the　young
mother；　after　contemplating　her　children　long　and　tenderly。　〃God；　I
fondly　trust；　will　cause　this　cloud　to　glide　past　without　your
hearing　the　thunder　roll；　and　being　shattered　by　the　lightning。
Good…night；　my　children！〃

She　nodded　smilingly　to　the　slumbering　girls；　and　then　glided
noiselessly　to　her　couch。　She　commenced　undressingslowly　and
sighing；　but　when　she　was　just　about　to　open　the　silver　buckle　of
her　sash；　she　paused　and　looked　anxiously　toward　the　window。

It　seemed　to　her　as　though　she　had　heard　a　soft　rapping　at　this
window；　which　opened　upon　the　garden　in　the　rear　of　the　house；　and
as　though　a　low　voice　has　uttered　her　name。

Sure　enough；　the　sound　was　repeated；　and　she　now　heard　the　voice　say
quite　distinctly：　〃Open　the　window；　Anna。〃

She　rushed　toward　the　window　and　opened　it；　pale；　breathless；　and
almost　out　of　her　wits。

〃Is　it　you；　Palm？〃　she　cried。

〃It　is　I；〃　said　a　low；　male　voice；　and　now　an　arm　became　visible；　it
encircled　the　crosswork　of　the　window；　in　the　next　second　the　whole
form　of　a　gentleman　appeared；　and　vaulted　cautiously　into　the　room。

〃God　be　praised；　I　am　with　you　again！〃　he　said；　drawing　a　deep
breath；　〃it　seems　to　me　as　if　all　danger　were　past　when　I　am　again
in　our　quiet　house　with　you　and　the　children。〃

〃No；　my　beloved　husband；　it　is　just　here　that　dangers　are
threatening　you；〃　said　the　young　wife；　sinking　into　the　open　arms　of
her　husband；　and　reposing　her　head　on　his　breast。　〃My　God；　why　did
you　return？〃

〃Because　I　was　afraid　when　I　was　far　from　you；　while　I　feel　here
with　you　courageous　enough　to　brave　the　whole　world；〃　said　her
husband；　almost　cheerfully；　imprinting　a　glowing　kiss　on　the
forehead　of　his　young　wife。　〃Believe　me；　Anna；　a　husband　always
lacks　the　right　kind　of　courage　when　he　believes　his　wife　and
children　to　be　in　danger。　For　six　days　I　have　been　separated　from
you；　well；　in　these　six　days；　which　I　have　spent　in　perfect　security
at　Erlangen；　I　have　not　passed　a　minute　without　feeling　the　painful
palpitation　of　my　heart；　nor　have　I　slept　a　minute。　I　always　thought
of　and　trembled　for　you。〃

〃But　we　are　in　no　danger；　while　YOU　are；　my　beloved；〃　said　the　young
wife；　sighing。　〃Our　house　is　closely　watched；　you　may　depend　upon
it。　I　have　seen　French　gens…d'armes　hidden　behind　the　pillars　of　the
church；　and　staring　for　hours　at　our　street…door。　Oh；　if　they　knew
that　you　were　here；　they　would　arrest　you　this　very　night！〃

〃They　would　not　dare　to　arrest　me！〃　exclaimed　Palm；　loudly。　〃We　do
not　yet　belong　to　France；　although　the　Emperor　of　France　has　assumed
the　right　of　giving　the　ancient　free　city　of　Nuremberg　to　Bavaria；
as　though　she　were　nothing　but　a　toy　got　up　in　our　factories。　We　are
still　Germans；　and　no　French　gens…d'armes　have　any　right　to
penetrate　into　our　German　houses。　But　look；　the　children　are　moving；
little　Sophy　is　opening　her　eyes。　What　a　barbarian　I　am　to　speak　so
loudly；　and　not　even　to　respect　the　slumber　of　our　little　ones！〃

He　hastened　to　the　small　bed；　and　bending　over　it；　nodded　smilingly
a　greeting　to　the　little　girl；　who　was　staring　at　him；　still　half
asleep。　The　child　whispered；　in　a　low　voice：　〃Dear；　dear　father！〃
and　fell　quietly　asleep　again。

〃Come；　Anna；〃　whispered　Palm；　〃let　us　go　to　your　room；　in　order　not
to　disturb　the　children。〃

〃But　the　spying　eyes　of　our　enemies　might　see　you　there；〃　said　his
wife；　anxiously。　〃No；　let　us　stay　here；　even　though　we　should　awaken
the　little　girls。　They　will　not　cry；　but　be　happy　to　see　their
beloved　father；　and　wha