andreas hofer-第21节

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rolled；　the　cannon　boomed；　the　bugles　sounded　merry　notes；　and　the
emperor；　leading　his　consort　by　the　hand；　entered　the　tribune。　He
looked　pale；　his　form　was　bent；　and　trembling　as　if　shaken　by　an
inward　fever；　and　even　more　singular　appeared　his　down…hanging
under…lip　and　the　gloomy；　morose　expression　of　his　lustreless　blue
eyes。　But　the　people　did　not　see　this；　they　saw　only　that　their
emperor　had　arrivedtheir　emperor；　who　had　resolved　to　deliver
Austria　from　the　ignominious　foreign　yoke；　who　would　die　with　his
subjects　rather　than　longer　bear　the　arrogance　of　France；　and　who
boldly　and　courageously　staked　all　in　order　to　win　all；　to　restore
at　length　a　lasting　peace　to　Austria　and　Germany；　and　vindicate
their　honor　and　independence。　For　this　reason　all　hearts　greeted　the
Emperor　Francis　with　love　and　exultation；　and　he　was　received　with
deafening　and　constantly…renewed　cheers。

The　emperor　received　with　a　forced　smile　the　flattering　homage　which
was　rendered　to　him；　but　more　radiant　was　the　smile　of　his　consort；
in　her　dark　and　glowing　eyes　glistened　tears　of　joyful　emotion；　when
she　glanced　at　this　jubilant　mass　of　spectators　and　the　enthusiastic
regiments　of　the　militia。　She　was　also　full　of　exultation；　she　did
not；　however；　give　vent　to　her　feelings；　but　pent　them　up　in　her
heart；　owing　to　the　moroseness　of　her　imperial　husband。

In　the　midst　of　a　fresh　outburst　of　popular　enthusiasm；　Francis　bent
over　the　empress。　〃I　suppose　you　are　well　satisfied　now；　empress？〃
he　asked。　〃You　have　attained　your　object；　all　of　you　have　fanned　the
flame　until　war　is　ready　to　break　out；　and　every　thing　will　go　again
topsy…turvy。　But　I　tell　you；　empress；　we　shall　fail　again；　I　do　not
believe　that　we　shall　conquer。〃

〃Well；　your　majesty；　then　we　shall　succumb　and　die；　but　it　will　be
an　honorable　defeat。　It　is　better　to　perish　in　a　just　and　honorable
struggle　than　submit　patiently　to　foreign　usurpation。〃

〃A　very　nice　phrase；　but　the　practical　execution　of　such　ideas　is
sometimes　by　far　more　unpleasant　than　the　theory　which　they　express。
I　am　afraid　you　will　have　good　reason　to　regret　this　day；　andbut
what　fearful　noise　is　this　again？　The　people　are　cheering　as　though
they　were　welcoming　God　Almighty　Himself。　What　is　it？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　Ludovica；　gazing　timidly　into　her　husband's
face；　〃I　believe　the　people　are　cheering　the　Archdukes　Charles　and
John；　for　they　are　just　walking　along　the　ranks　of　the　militia。〃

〃Ah；　my　brothers！〃　murmured　the　emperor；　with　an　angry　expression；
which；　however；　disappeared　again　immediately；　〃the　people　are
cheering　my　brothers　as　though　they　were　two　divinities　from　whom
alone　they　expect　salvation　and　prosperity。〃

〃Your　majesty；　the　people　cheer　the　archdukes　because　they　are　the
brothers　of　the　emperor；　and　because　the　confidence　of　your　majesty
has　placed　them　at　the　head　of　the　Austrian　armies　to　lead　them　to
battle；　and；　if　it　please　God；　to　victory。　It　is　your　majesty　alone
that　appointed　the　Archduke　Charles　generalissimo　of　all　your
forces；　and　the　Archduke　John　commander　of　the　army　of　Lower
Austria。〃

〃Yes；　I　did　so；　for；　blessed　as　I　am　with　brothers　so　heroic　and
spirited；　I　must　of　course　distinguish　and　employ　them　in　accordance
with　their　merits；　otherwise　they　might　believe　I　was　jealous　of
their　glory　and　splendor。　This　would　be　entirely　false；　for；　so　far
from　being　jealous　of　them；　I　love　them　dearly；　and　give　them　now
again　another　opportunity　to　gain　laurels；　as　they　did　in　1805。　It
is　true；　my　brother　the　generalissimo；　was　not　victorious　at
Austerlitz；　and　my　brother　John　has　likewise　sustained　many　a
defeat；　but　that　does　not　prevent　them　from　being　heroes　and　great
men。　Just　listen　to　the　roars　with　which　the　people　greet　them！
Jesus　Maria！　I　hope　the　generalissimo　will　not　have　his　fits　from
excessive　joy。〃

Ludovica　cast　a　quick；　mournful　glance　on　the　maliciously　smiling
face　of　her　husband。　〃Your　majesty　need　not　be　alarmed；〃　she　said；
〃your　tender　apprehensions　will　fortunately　not　be　fulfilled。　You
see　that　the　archduke　is　quite　well；　he　is　just　addressing　his
troops。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　his　speech。　M。　von　Gentz　wrote　it　for　him　and　I
permitted　him　to　deliver　it。　Ah；　it　abounds　with　fine　phrases；　and
my　dear　Austrians　will　be　astonished　on　hearing　what　liberal　men　we
have　become　all　of　a　sudden；　and　what　grand　ideas　of　liberty；
equality；　and　popular　sovereignty　we　have　adopted。　Just　listen　to
him！　the　conclusion　is　very　fine；　and　sounds　just　as　though　the
Marseillaise　had　been　translated　into　the　language　of　the
Austrians。〃

〃Soldiers；〃　shouted　the　archduke；　at　this　moment；　in　a　loud；　ringing
voice。　〃the　liberty　of　Europe　has　taken　refuge　under　the　flag　of
Austria；　the　rights；　freedom；　and　honor　of　all　Germany　expect　their
salvation　only　of　our　armies。　Never　shall　they；　instruments　of
oppression；　carry　on　in　foreign　countries　the　endless　wars　of　a
destructive　ambition；　annihilate　innocent　nations；　and　with　their
own　corpses　pave　for　foreign　conquerors　the　road　leading　to　usurped
thrones。　Soldiers；　we　take　up　arms　only　for　the　liberty；　honor；　and
rights　of　all　Germany；　it　is　these　sacred　boons　that　we　have　to
defend！〃　＇Footnote：　Hormayr；　〃Allgemeine　Geschichte；〃　vol。　iii。；　p。
219。＇

A　long…continued；　deafening　outburst　of　applause　both　of　the
soldiers　and　the　people　was　the　reply　to　the　stirring　address　of　the
generalissimo；　but　suddenly　every　sound　was　hushed；　for　at　the
altar；　yonder　by　the　side　of　the　tall　crucifix；　appeared　now　the
archbishop；　accompanied　by　the　whole　body　of　the　high　clergy。

The　emperor　rose　from　his　seat　and　bowed　humbly　and　devoutly　to　the
prelate　who　had　been　the　teacher　of　his　youth；　and　had　afterward
married　him　three　times；　the　last　time　only　a　few　months　ago。

And　now　the　archdukes　marched　the　troops　into　the　middle　of　the
place；　and　the　consecration　of　the　flags　commenced　amid　the　peals　of
all　the　church…bells　and　the　booming　of　artillery。

The　emperor　looked　on；　standing；　bareheaded；　and　with　hands　clasped
in　prayer。　Ludovica　turned　her　eyes　heavenward；　and　her　lips　moved
in　a　low；　fervent　prayer。　Behind　them　stood　the　young　archdukes　and
archduchesses；　muttering　prayers；　and　yet　glancing　around　curiously；
and　the　cavaliers　of　the　imperial　couple；　looking　gloomy；　and
plainly　showing　in　their　sombre　faces　the　rage　that　filled　their
hearts。

The　ceremony　being　finished；　the　archbishop　lifted　up　his　hands　and
stretched　them　out　toward　the　soldiers。　〃Adieu；　until　we　meet
again；〃　he　exclaimed　with　a　radiant　air；　and　in　a　voice　of　joyful
enthusiasm；　〃adieu；　until　we　meet　again　at　the　hour　of　danger！〃

〃Adieu；　until　we　meet　again　at　the　hour　of　danger！〃　echoed　the
soldiers　with　enthusiasm。　Seeing　then　that　the　archbishop　bent　his
knees；　they　knelt　likewise　and　bowed　their　heads　in　prayer。　Hushed
was　every　sound　on　the　vast　place。　Only　the　church…bells　were
pealing　and　the　artillery　was　booming　in　the　distance；　and　the
murmur　of　the　devout　prayers　which　rose　to　God　from　so　many　pious
hearts　broke　the　silence。

In　the　fervent　enthusiasm　of　this　hour　no　one　felt　the　least
timidity；　no　one　looked　anxiously　into　the　future。　Even　the　mothers
did　not　shed　tears　for　their　sons　who　were　about　to　take　the　field；
the　affianced　brides　allowed　their　lovers　to　depart　without　uttering
complaints　or　weeping　at　the　thought　of　their　impending　departure；
wives　took　leave　of　their　husbands　with　joyous　courage；　pressing
their　infants　to　their　breasts　and　commending　them　trustingly　to
God's　protection。　The　patriotic　enthusiasm　had　seized　all；　and
carried　away　even　the　coldest　and　most　selfish　hearts。　The　rich
contributed　their　money　with　unwonted　liberality；　those　who　were　in
less　favorable　circumstances　laid　down　their　plate　and　valuables　on
the　altar　of　the　country；　the　mechanics　offered　to　work　gratuitously
for　the　army；　the　women　scraped　lint　and　organized　associations　for
the　relief　of　the　wounded；　the　young　men　offered　their　life…blood　to
the　fatherland；　and　considered　it　as　a　favor　that　their　services
were　not　rejected。

The　long…concealed　hatred　against　France　burst　forth　in　bright
flames　throughout　Austria　and　Germany；　the　war　was　hailed　with
rapturous　enthusiasm；　and　every　heart　longed　to　take　part　in　this
struggle；　which　seemed　to　all　a　war　of　holy　vengeance　and
retribution。　For　the　first　time　in　long　years　Austria　felt　again
thoroughly　identified　with　Germany；　while　the　other　Germans　were
looking　upon　Austria　as　a　German　state　and　holding　out　their　hands
to　their　Austrian　brethren；　telling　them　that　they　sympathized　most
vividly　with　the　ends　which　then　were　trying　to　attain。

But　while　the　utmost　exultation　was　reigning　among　the　people　and
the　soldiers　on　this　joyful　day；　a　gloomy　silence　prevailed　in　the
imperial　palace。　The　joyous　mask　with　which　the　generalissimo；　the
Archduke　Charles；　had　covered　his　face　while　on　the　glacis；　had
disappeared　from　it　so　soon　as　he　had　returned　to　his　rooms。　Pale
and　faint；　he　rested　in　an　easy…chair；　and；　fixing　his　sombre　eyes
an　his　quartermaster…general；　Count　Gruenne；　he　said：　〃My　friend；
listen　to　that　which　I　am　going　to　say　to　you　now；　and　which　you
will　remem