andreas hofer-第15节

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series；　vol　iv。；　p。　33＇

A　low　rustling　and　sobbing　passed　through　the　hall；　no　one　was
courageous　enough　to　clap　his　hands；　all　hearts　were　profoundly
moved；　all　eyes　filled　with　tears。

But　now　he　disappeared；　and　the　door　closed　behind　Joseph　Haydn。　The
German　maestro　had　to…day　celebrated　his　apotheosis　amidst　the
enthusiastic　people　of　Vienna。　Life　had　dedicated　to　him　the　laurel…
wreath　which　usually　only　death　grants　to　poets　and　artists。

The　Audience　was　still　silent；　when　all　at　once　a　powerful　voice
exclaimed：　〃Let　us　sing　the　second　verse　of　Haydn's　favorite　hymn
the　second　verse　of　'Gott　erhalte　Franz　den　Kaiser！'〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　shouted　all；　enthusiastically；　〃the　second　verse！　the
second　verse！〃

And　hundreds　of　voices　shouted　to　the　orchestra　beseechingly；
imperiously；　thunderingly；　that　it　should　play　the　accompaniment；
and　the　musicians　complied　with　this　tumultuous　request。

The　audience　expressed　their　gratitude　by　an　outburst　of　applause；
and　sang　thereupon　the　second　verse：

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　and　Furchtbarkeit
　Lass　in　seinem　Rathe　sitzen
　Weisheit；　Klugheit；　Redlichkeit；
　Und　mit　seiner　Hoheit　Blitzen
　Schalten　our　Gerechtigkeit。
　Gott　erhalte　Franz　den　Kaiser；
　Unsern　guten　Kaiser　Franz！〃



　＇Footnote：
　〃Before　his　banner　floating　high
　Let　victory　shout　and　foemen　fly！
　In　his　connsels　let　preside
　Wisdom；　prudence；　noble　pride！
　Homely　justice　delling　find！
　God　preserve　the　emperor；
　Francis；　our　good　emperor！〃＇



The　emperor　bowed　his　thanks　to　the　audience；　the　orchestra
commenced　again　playing　the　air；　and　the　audience　sang　anew：

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　und　Furchtbarkeit！〃


And　arms　and　hands　were　lifted　here　and　there　beseechingly　toward
the　emperor；　in　vain　the　orchestra　tried　to　play　on；　the　audience；
with　rare　unanimity；　as　if　seized　with　one　sentiment　and　one　wish；
sang　again　and　again：

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　und　Furchtbarkeit！〃


And　then　all　shouted　loudly；　beseechingly；　and　withal　angrily　and
courageously；

　〃War！　war！　Lass　von　seiner　Fahne
　Spitzen　strahlen　Sieg　and　Furchtbarkeit！〃


The　excitement　of　the　audience　grew　constantly　bolder　and　more
impetuous。　The　men　left　their　seats　and　crowded　around　the　imperial
bog；　repeating　again　and　again　the　words

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　and　Furchtbarkeit！〃


The　emperor　withdrew　in　confusion　into　the　background　of　his　box；
and　whispered　quickly　a　few　words　to　the　Archduke　John。　The　archduke
advanced　to　the　railing　of　the　box；　and　commanded　silence　by　waving
his　hand　to　the　audience。

The　singers　paused　immediately；　and　amidst　the　breathless　silence
which　ensued；　the　Archduke　John　shouted　in　a　loud　and　powerful
voice：　〃The　emperor　announces　to　his　dear　Viennese　that　he　is
determined　to　submit　no　longer　to　the　arrogance　of　France；　and　that
war　is　irrevocably　resolved　on。〃

A　cry　of　rapture　burst　from　all　lips；　all　shouted　exultingly；　〃War！
war！　We　shall　at　length　bid　defiance　to　the　arrogance　of　the　French
emperor！　We　shall　have　war　with　France；　we　shall　avenge　the　wrongs
which　we　have　suffered　so　long；　and　set　bounds　to　the　encroachments
of　France！〃

And　friends　and　acquaintances　greeted　each　other　with　radiant　eyes
and　glowing　cheeks；　neighbors；　entirely　unknown　to　each　other；　shook
hands　and　said；　smilingly：　〃Now　at　length　we　shall　have　war！　At
length　we　shall　remove　from　our　German　honor　the　stains　with　which
France　has　sullied　it。　At　length　we　shall　have　war；　and　God　will
grant　us〃

The　ringing　notes　of　the　orchestra　interrupted　the　animated
conversation　of　the　excited　audience。　Salieri　had　taken　his　seat
again；　he　raised　his　baton；　and　the　second　part　of　〃The　Creation〃
commenced。




CHAPTER　VI。

ANDREAS　HOFER。


The　streets　of　Vienna　were　silent　and　deserted；　all　houses　were
dark；　everywhere　the　note　of　life　had　died　away；　and　only　here　and
there　a　hackney…coach　was　heard　to　drive　slowly　through　the　lonely
streets；　or　a　belated　wanderer　was　seen　to　return　home　with　a　weary
step。

Vienna　slept　and　dreamed　of　the　welcome　news　which；　despite　the　late
hour；　had　spread　like　wild…fire　from　the　concert…hall　through　the
cityof　the　joyful　intelligence　that　war　against　France　was
resolved　on；　and　that　the　time　was　at　length　at　hand　when　the　wrongs
perpetrated　by　Napoleon　were　to　be　avenged。

Vienna　slept　and　dreamed；　only　in　the　wing　of　the　imperial　palace
where　lay　the　rooms　occupied　by　the　Archduke　John；　the　lights　had
not　yet　been　extinguished；　and　at　times　dark　figures　were　seen
moving　to　and　fro　behind　the　windows。

The　Archduke　John　did　not　sleep　yet；　but　he　had　already　dismissed
Conrad；　his　valet　de　chambre；　he　had　permitted　the　other　footmen　to
retire　from　the　anteroom　to　their　bedchambers；　and　had　then　himself
locked　the　door　of　the　outer　anteroom。

〃I　do　not　trust　Conrad；　my　valet　de　chambre；〃　he　said　to　Count
Nugent；　who　was　with　him　in　his　cabinet；　〃it　is　he；　doubtless　who
has　been　placed　as　a　'guardian　angel'　by　my　side；　and　is　to　report
regularly　all　I　am　doing。〃

〃Your　highness　ought　to　discharge　the　fellow　forthwith；〃　exclaimed
Count　Nugent；　indignantly。

〃I　shall　take　good　care　not　to　do　so；〃　said　John；　smiling；　〃on　the
contrary；　I　shall　try　to　keep　Conrad　as　long　as　possible　in　my
service；　for　I　know　him；　and　shall　be　able　to　mystify　him。　I　shall
always　have　to　suffer　a　spy　by　my　side；　for　the　love　and　solicitude
of　my　imperial　brother　will　never　leave　me　for　a　single　moment
without　close　surveillance；　and　Conrad　is　less　distasteful　to　me
than　another　spy　probably　would　be。　Still；　I　did　not　want　him　to
report　any　thing　about　the　visitors　who　will　be　here　to…night；　and
therefore　I　dismissed　him　for　the　night。〃

〃But　he　will　probably　stand　in　the　street　to　watch　his　master's
windows；〃　said　Nugent；　with　a　shrug；　〃and　the　shadows　which　he　will
see　he　may　distort　into　all　sorts　of　spectres　which　will　be
mentioned　in　the　emperor's　police　report　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　not　afraid　of　that　at　this　hour；〃　exclaimed　John。　〃The
emperor　knows　that　I　am　to　receive　the　delegates　of　the　Tyrolese；　I
myself　told　him　so　to…day；　and　he　approves　of　it。　But　harm　might
befall　my　Tyrolese　at　their　homes；　if　their　plans　were　discovered
previous　to　their　deliverance　from　the　Bavarian　yoke。　But　hush；　did
you　not　hear　a　rustling　sound　in　the　corridor？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；　it　is　drawing　nearit　is　at　the　door　now；　and
somebody　raps　already。〃

〃Our　friends　are　there；〃　exclaimed　John；　hastening　to　the　door；　and
drawing　back　the　bolt。

The　archduke　was　not　mistaken；　his　friends　were　there；　and　entered
his　cabinet　now　by　the　secret　door。　They　were　headed　by　Baron　von
Hormayr　in　his　brilliant　gold…embroidered　uniform；　which　rendered
doubly　conspicuous　the　beauty　of　his　slender　yet　firmly…knit　form；
and　the　noble　expression　of　his　prepossessing；　youthful　face。　He　was
followed　by　three　Tyrolese；　clad　in　their　national　costume；　and
holding　their　rifles　in　their　arms。

The　first　of　them　was　a　man　about　forty　years　old。　His　frame　was
Herculean；　his　shoulders　broad；　his　strength　immense；　his　head　was
covered　with　dense　black　hair；　his　bronzed　face　was　radiant　with
kind…heartedness　and　good…humor。　His　dress　was　the　common　habit　of
the　country；　with　some　trifling　variations：　a　large　black　hat；　with
a　broad　brim；　black　ribbons；　and　a　dark　curling　feather；　a　green
jacket；　red　waistcoat；　broad　green　braces　crossed　on　the　breast；　a
black　leathern　girdle；　adorned；　according　to　the　Tyrolese　custom；
with　all　sorts　of　ivory　and　other　ornaments；　black　breeches；　red
stockings；　and　black　shoes　with　buckles。　About　his　neck　was　always
to　be　seen　a　silver　crucifix　fastened　to　a　heavy　gold　chain；　and
over　it；　down　to　the　girdle；　flowed　his　large　black　beard；　which
imparted　a　strange；　fantastic　air　to　his　whole　appearance。　This　man
was　Andreas　Hofer；　the　innkeeper　of　Passeyr；　to　whom　the　Italian
Tyrolese；　on　account　of　his　long　beard；　had　given　the　name　of
〃Barbone。〃

The　second　of　the　Tyrolese　who　entered　the　archduke's　cabinet　was　a
man　of　no　less　imposing　appearance；　dressed　entirely　like　Andreas
Hofer；　only　the　long　beard　was　wanting　to　him；　and；　instead　of　a
black　hat；　he　wore　the　pointed　green　Tyrolese　hat；　adorned　with
hunting　ornaments。　His　face；　less　good…natured　and　serene　than　that
of　his　friend；　was　expressive　of　energy　and　resolution；　courage　and
shrewdness　beamed　from　his　black　eyes；　and　a　peculiar　expression　of
defiance　and　scorn　played　around　his　full　lips。　This　was　Joseph
Speckbacher；　known　by　every　inhabitant　of　the　northern　Tyrol　as　〃the
bold　chamois…hunter。〃

He　was　followed　by　a　third　Tyrolese；　as　proud　and　strong；　as　robust
and　fine…looking；　as　his　two　companions。　It　was　Anthony　Wallner；　the
innkeeper　of　Windisch…Matrey；　and；　like　Speckbacher；　Hofer's
intimate　friend。

The　archduke　advanced　to　meet　the　Tyrolese；　and　shook　hands　with
each　of　them。

〃Welcome；　my　Tyrolese；　welcome！〃　he　said；　in　a　deeply…moved　voice；
〃may　God　and　the　Holy　Virgin　grant　that　no　harm　result；　from　your
visit　to　me！　You　know　that　I　have　never　ceased　to　love　you；　and　that
when；　in　the　year　180