louisa of prussia and her times-第140节

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them；〃　said　Palm。　〃I　do　not　belong　to　your　church；　my　father；　I　am　a
Protestant。　But　if　you　will　pray　with　me；　do　so；　if　you　will　give　me
your　blessing；　I　shall　thankfully　accept　it；　for　a　dying　man　always
likes　to　feel　a　blessing…hand　on　his　forehead。〃

The　clock　struck　two；　and　now　the　drums　commenced　rolling；　and　the
death…knell　resounded　from　the　church…steeple。　An　awful　silence
reigned　in　the　whole　city　of　Braunau。　All　the　houses　were　closed；
all　the　windows　were　covered。

Nobody　wanted　to　witness　the　dreadful　spectacle　which　the　despotism
of　the　foreign　tyrant　was　preparing　for　the　citizens　of　Braunau。　The
women　and　children　had　returned　to　their　houses；　and　were　kneeling
and　praying　in　their　darkened　rooms。　The　men　concealed　themselves　in
order　not　to　show　their　shame　and　rage。

Nobody　was；　therefore；　on　the　street　when　the　terrible　procession
approached。　A　miserable　cart　rumbled　along　in　the　midst　of　soldiers
and　gens…d'armes；　Palm　was　seated　in　this　cart；　backward；　and　his
hands　tied　on　his　back；　opposite　him　sat　the　priest；　holding　the
crucifix　in　his　hand　and　muttering　prayers。

The　German　inhabitants　of　Braunau　had　done　well　to　close　their　doors
and　cover　their　windows；　for　the　disgrace　and　humiliation　of　Germany
were　at　this　hour　rumbling　through　their　streets。

But　not　all　of　them　had　been　so　happy　as　to　be　permitted　to　stay　at
home。　The　will　of　the　foreign　despot　had　forbidden　it；　and　the
members　of　the　municipality　and　other　authorities；　in　their　full
official　robes；　had　repaired　to　the　place　of　execution。

There　they　stood；　dumb　with　shame；　astonishment；　and　horror；　with
downcast　eyes；　like　slaves　passing　under　the　yoke。

About　a　hundred　spectators　stood　behind　them；　but　not　persons　to
whom　executions　are　merely　a　piquant　spectacle；　a　rare　amusement；
but　men　with　sombre；　angry　eyesmen　who　had　come　to　swear　secretly
in　their　hearts；　on　this　spot　where　the　last　remnant　of　German　honor
was　to　bleed　to　death；　a　terrible　oath　of　vengeance　to　the　foreign
despot。　The　blood　of　the　martyr　was　to　stir　up　their　enthusiasm　for
the　long…deferred；　sacred　deed　of　atonement。

Palm　had　alighted　from　the　cart；　and　walked　with　rapid；　resolute
steps　to　the　spot　which　was　indicated　to　him；　and　behind　which　an
open　grave　was　yawning。

Refusing　the　assistance　of　the　provost；　he　himself　took　off　his　coat
and　threw　it　into　the　open　grave。　He　then　turned　his　eyes　to　the
side　where　the　authorities　of　Braunau　and　his　German　brethren　were
standing。

〃Friends；〃　he　said；　aloud；　〃may　my　death　be　a　blessing　to　you；　may
my　blood　not　be　shed　in　vain；　but　make　you〃

A　loud　roll　of　the　drum　drowned　his　words。

The　general　waved　his　hand；　six　guns　were　discharged。

Palm　sank　to　the　ground；　but　he　rose　again。　Only　one　bullet　had
struck　him；　the　blood　was　gushing　from　his　heart；　but　he　still
lived。

Another　file　of　soldiers　stepped　forward；　and　once　more　six　guns
were　discharged　at　him。

But　the　soldiers；　who　were　accustomed　to　aim　steadily　in　battle；　had
here；　where　they　were　to　be　executioners；　averted　their　eyes；　and
their　hands；　which　never　had　trembled　in　battle；　were　trembling　now。

Palm　rose　again　from　the　ground；　a　panting；　bleeding　victim；　and
seemed；　with　his　uplifted　and　blood…stained　hands；　to　implore　Heaven
to　avenge　him　on　his　murderers。

A　third　volley　resounded。

This　time　Palm　did　not　rise　again。　He　was　dead！　God　had　received　his
soul。　His　bleeding　remains　lay　on　the　German　soil；　as　if　to
fertilize　it　for　the　day　of　retribution。




CHAPTER　LX。

PRUSSIA'S　DECLARATION　OF　WAR。


King　Frederick　William　III。　had　not　yet　left　his　cabinet　to…day。　He
had　retired　thither　early　in　the　morning　in　order　to　work。　Maps；
plans　of　battles；　and　open　books　lay　on　the　tables；　and　the　king　sat
in　their　midst　with　a　musing；　careworn　air。

A　gentle　rap　at　the　door　aroused　him　from　his　meditations。　The　king
raised　his　head　and　listened。　The　rap　was　repeated。

〃It　is　Louisa；〃　he　said　to　himself；　and　a　smile　overspread　his
features　as　he　hastened　to　the　door　and　opened　it。

He　had　not　been　mistaken。　It　was　the　queen　who　stood　before　the
door。　Smiling；　graceful；　and　merry　as　ever；　she　entered　the　cabinet
and　gave　her　hand　to　her　husband。

〃Are　you　angry　with　me；　my　dear　friend；　because　I　have　disturbed
you？〃　she　asked；　tenderly。　〃But；　it　seemed　to　me；　you　had　worked
enough　for　the　state　to…day　and　might　devote　a　quarter　of　an　hour　to
your　Louisa。　You　know　whenever　I　do　not　see　you　in　the　morning；　my
day　lacks　its　genuine　sunshine；　and　is　gray　and　gloomy。　For　this
reason；　as　you　have　not　yet　come　to　me　to…day；　I　come　to　you。　Good…
morning；　my　king　and　husband！〃

〃Good…morning；　my　queen！〃　said　the　king；　imprinting　a　kiss　on　the
white；　transparent　forehead　of　the　queen。　〃Add　to　it；　good…day；　my
dear　Louisa；　for　a　wish　from　so　beautiful　and　noble　lips　I　hope　will
exorcise　all　evil　spirits；　and　cause　this　day　to　become　a　really
good　one。　I　hope　much　from　it。〃

The　king's　forehead；　which　the　queen's　appearance　had　smoothed　a
little；　became　clouded　again；　and　he　assumed　a　grave　and　sombre　air。

The　queen　saw　it；　and　gently　placed　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。

〃You　are　downcast；　my　friend；〃　she　said；　affectionately。　〃Will　you
not　let　me　have　my　share　of　your　grief？　Is　not　your　wife　entitled　to
it？　Or　will　you　cruelly　deprive　me　of　what　is　my　right？　Speak　to　me；
my　husband。　Let　me　share　your　grief。　Confide　to　me　what　is　the
meaning　of　those　clouds　on　your　noble　brow；　and　what　absorbs　your
soul　to　such　an　extent　that　you　even　forgot　me　and　your　children；
and　deprived　us　of　your　kind　morning　greeting。〃

But　even　these　tender　words　of　the　queen　were　unable　to　light　up　the
king's　forehead；　he　avoided　meeting　her　beautiful；　lustrous　eyes；
which　were　fixed　on　him　inquiringly；　and　averted　his　head。

〃Government　affairs；〃　he　said；　gravely。　〃Nothing　interesting　and
worthy　of　being　communicated　to　my　queen。　Let　us　not　embitter
thereby　the　happy　minutes　of　your　presence。　Let　us　sit　down。〃

The　queen　knew　her　husband's　peculiarities　to　perfection。　She　knew
that　no　one　was　allowed　to　contradict　him　whenever　he　assumed　this
forbidding　tone；　and　that　it　was　best　then　not　to　take　any　notice　of
his　moroseness；　or；　if　possible；　to　dispel　it。

She；　therefore；　followed　him　silently　to　the　sofa　and　sat　down；
inviting　him；　with　a　charming　smile；　to　take　a　seat　by　her　side。

The　king　did　so；　and　Louisa　leaned　her　head　tenderly　against　his
shoulder。　〃How　sweet　it　is　to　lean　one's　weak　head　against　the
breast　of　a　strong　man！〃　she　said。　〃It　seems　to　me；　as　long　as　I　am
near　you；　no　misfortune　can　befall　me；　and　I　cling　to　you　trustingly
and　happily；　like　the　ivy　covering　the　strong　oak。〃

〃The　comparison　is　not　correct；〃　said　the　king。　〃Ivy　does　not　bloom；
nor　is　it　fragrant。　But　you　are　a　peerless　rose；　the　queen　of
flowers！〃

〃What！　my　king　condescends　to　flatter　me？〃　said　the　queen；　laughing
merrily；　while　she　raised　her　head　from　the　king's　shoulder　and
looked　archly　at　him。　〃But；　my　king；　your　comparison　is　not　correct
either。　Roses　have　thorns；　and　wound　whosoever　touches　them。　But　I
would　not　pain　and　wound　you　for　all　the　riches　of　the　world！　Were　I
a　rose；　I　should　shake　off　all　my　fragrant　leaves　to　make　of　them　a
pillow　on　which　your　noble　head　should　repose　from　the　toils　and
vexations　of　the　day；　and　on　which　you　should　find　dreams　of　a　happy
future。〃

〃Only　DREAMS　of　a　happy　future；〃　said　Frederick　William；　musingly。
〃You　may　be　right；　our　hopes　for　a　happy　future　may　be　but　a　dream。〃

〃No；〃　exclaimed　the　queen；　raising　her　radiant　eyes　toward　heaven；
〃I　firmly　believe　in　the　happiness　of　our　future；　I　believe　and　know
that　God　has　selected　you；　the　most　generous　and　guiltless　of
princes；　to　break　the　arrogance　of　that　daring　tyrant；　who　would
like　to　chain　the　whole　world　to　his　despotic　yoke；　and　who；　in　his
ambitious　thirst　after　conquest；　raises　his　hands　against　the　crowns
of　all　the　sovereigns。　YOUR　crown　he　shall　not　touch！　It　is　the　rock
on　which　his　power　will　be　wrecked；　and　at　the　feet　of　which　his
proud　waves　will　be　broken。　Prussia　will　avenge　the　disgrace　of
Germany；　I　am　sure　of　it；　and　for　this　reason　I　am　so　happy　and
confident　since　you；　my　king　and　husband；　have　cast　off　the　mask　of
that　false　friendship　for　the　tyrant；　and　have　shown　him　your　open；
angry；　and　hostile　face。　A　heavy　cloud　weighed　down　my　heart　so　long
as　we　still　continued　mediating；　occupying　neutral　ground；　trying　to
maintain　peace；　and　hoping　to　derive　advantages　from　that　man　so
devoid　of　honesty；　sincerity；　and　fidelity。〃

〃Still；　who　knows　whether　I　was　right；　after　all；　in　taking　such　a
course！〃　sighed　the　king。　〃Peace　is　a　very　precious　thing；　and　the
people　need　it　for　their　prosperity。〃

〃But　your　people　do　not　want　peace！〃　exclaimed　the　queen。　〃They　are
enthusiastic　and　clamorous　for　war；　and　long　for　nothing　so　much　as
to　see　an　end　put　to　this　deplorable　incertitude。　You　have　now
caused　your　army　to　be　placed　on　the　war　footing；　and　all　faces　have
already　brightened　up；　and　all　hearts　feel　encouraged；　announce　to
your　people　that　you　will　declare　war　against　the　usurper；　and　all
Prussia　will　rise　jubila