andreas hofer-第33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！


wish　to　kill　him；　you　must　kill　me　first；　for　we　have　sworn　to　live
and　die　together。　He　is　my　bridegroom；　father；　and　shall　become　my
husband；　so　help　me　God！〃

〃No；　never！〃　cried　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg；　trying　to　disengage　himself
from　Eliza。　〃Never　can　the　peasant…girl　become　my　wife！　Begone；
Eliza；　I　have　nothing　further　to　do　with　you。〃

〃And　still　you　swore　a　few　minutes　ago　that　you　loved　nothing　on
earth　more　dearly　than　me　alone；〃　said　Eliza；　in　a　loud　voice；　〃and
you　implored　me　to　go　with　you　and　remain　always　by　your　side？〃

〃But　never　did　I　say　that　I　would　marry　you；〃　exclaimed　Ulrich；　pale
with　rage；　and　still　trying　to　disengage　himself　from　Eliza's　arm。

〃You　would　not　marry　her！〃　cried　Anthony　Wallner；　〃you　intended　only
to　dishonor　her；　my　proud　Bavarian　gentleman？　You　thought　a　Tyrolese
peasant…girl's　honor　an　excellent　pastime；　but　you　would　not　marry
her？〃

〃Father；　father；〃　cried　Eliza；　beseechingly；　clinging　firmly　to
Ulrich's　side；　〃father；　I　love　him　and　cannot　live　without　him。　He
is　my　bridegroom！〃

〃No；　no！〃　shouted　Ulrich；　and　a　wild　imprecation　against　Eliza　burst
from　his　lips。

The　Tyrolese　in　the　mean　time　had　long　since　overpowered　the　few
soldiers；　and；　attracted　by　the　strange　scene；　crowded　around　the
curious　group；　only　the　twenty　sharpshooters　were　still　standing
with　rifles　raised　in　front　of　the　windows　of　the　imprisoned
soldiers；　and　watching　them　with　threatening　eyes。

Anthony　Wallner　had　dropped　his　arm　and　looked　down　musingly；　on
hearing　the　captain's　insulting　words；　he　gave　a　shout　and　lifted　up
his　face　flushed　with　pride　and　indignation。

〃Just　listen　to　the　traitor；　brethren！〃　he　said　in　the　cold；　quiet
tone　which　only　the　most　profound　exasperation　imparts　to　the　human
voice。　〃First　he　turned　the　girl's　head　and　heart　by　the
protestations　of　his　love；　causing　her　even　to　forget　her　father　and
her　Tyrol；　and　now　he　insults　her　and　refuses　to　marry　her！〃

〃He　said　it　only　in　his　rage；　father；　but　he　loves　me　after　all；〃
exclaimed　Eliza；　clinging　to　the　captain　notwithstanding　his
resistance；　and　trying　to　wrest　his　sword　from　him。

〃Begone；　Eliza！〃　cried　Ulrich；　〃or〃　He　pushed　her　violently　from
him；　and　quickly　raised　his　sword　against　her。　But　two　Tyrolese
prevented　him　from　carrying　out　his　fell　design　by　rushing　upon　him；
seizing　his　arm　with　Herculean　strength；　wresting　the　sword　from　his
hand；　throwing　the　weapon　tar　away；　and　exclaiming　triumphantly：
〃Now　surrender；　Bavarian！　You　are　our　prisoner。〃

〃　Then　shoot　me　at　least；〃　shouted　Ulrich；　beside　himself　with　rage；
〃shoot　me；　I　say；　death　is　preferable　to　the　disgrace　of　being　a
prisoner　of　such　miserable　rabble。〃

〃Hush；　beloved；　for　God's　sake；　hush！〃　said　Eliza；　clinging　to　him
tenderly。

He　pushed　her　violently　from　his　side。　〃Begone；　hypocritical　wench！〃
he　shouted　in　a　paroxysm　of　fury；　〃I　do　not　want　to　have　any　thing
to　do　with　you！〃

〃But　you　shall　have　something　to　do　with　her；〃　said　Anthony　Wallner；
with　proud　calmness。　〃The　girl　says　that　she　loves　you；　and　that　you
promised　to　marry　her。　It　was　bad　in　you　to　persuade　her　behind　the
backs　of　her　parents　and　infatuate　her　poor　heart；　and　you　shall　be
punished　now　for　your　infamy。　You　shall　marry　Lizzie。　The　proud　and
wealthy　baron　who　despises　the　Tyrolese　peasants　so　much　shall　now
marry　the　Tyrolese　peasant…girl。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　that　is　right；〃　exclaimed　the　Tyrolese　exultingly；　〃the
proud　baron　shall　marry　the　Tyrolese　peasant…girl。〃

〃Let　us　go　down　to　the　village；　then；〃　said　Anthony　Wallner；　〃our
curate　shall　marry　them　immediately　at　the　church；　and　then　let　the
two　leave　the　place　as　quickly　as　possible；　and　beware　of　ever
returning　to　Windisch…Matrey；　for　never　shall　the　wife　of　the
Bavarian　Captain　Ulrich　von　Hohenberg　dare　to　say　that　she　is　Eliza
Wallner；　daughter　of　the　Tyrolese　Anthony　Wallner…Aichberger；　the
innkeeper　of　Windisch…Matrey。　I　have　no　longer　a　daughterI　tear
her　from　my　heart；　as　she　tore　honor；　righteousness；　and　faith　from
hers。〃

Eliza　called　two　Tyrolese　with　an　impetuous　wave　of　her　hand　to　her
side。　〃Hold　him；〃　she　said；　pointing　to　Ulrich；　who；　pale　and
tottering；　exhausted　from　his　superhuman　efforts　and　loss　of　blood；
was　scarcely　able　to　stand　on　his　feet；　〃hold　him；　I　must　speak　to
my　father。〃

She　hastened　to　him；　seized　both　his　hands　despite　his　resistance；
and　drew　his　face　so　close　to　hers　that　his　hot；　panting　breath
touched　her　cheek；　but　he　averted　his　eyes　with　a　gloomy　expression
and　avoided　meeting　her　fiery　glances。

〃You　do　not　want　to　know　me；　father！〃　she　asked　mournfully。　〃You
avert　your　eyes　from　your　Lizzie；　whom　you　called　only　yesterday
your　dear；　brave　Tyrolese　girl？〃

〃You　are　no　child　of　mine；　you　are　no　Tyrolese　girl；〃　exclaimed　her
father；　angrily　and　mournfully。　〃You　want　to　marry　the　Bavarian；　and
become　an　aristocratic　lady。〃

〃It　is　all　the　same　to　me　whether　Ulrich　yonder　is　an　aristocratic
gentleman　or　not；〃　said　Eliza；　shaking　her　head　proudly；　〃I　love　him
only　because　he　pleases　me　so　well；　and　because　he　loves　me　so
fondly　and　ardently。　But；　father；　you　must　not　say　that　I　am　no　true
daughter　of　the　Tyrol；　and　do　not　love　the　fatherland。　I　will　prove
to　all　of　you　that　I　do　love　it；　and　to　Ulrich　yonder；　who　wished　to
persuade　me　to　run　away　with　him　secretly；　and　who　must　marry　me　now
to　atone　for　it；　I　will　prove　likewise　that　I　am　no　baroness
although　I　love　him；　and　that　I　do　not　love　his　king　and　his
brilliant　uniform；　but　that　I　will　remain　loyal　to　my　emperor　alone。
Listen　to　me；　therefore；　father；　and　all　of　you：　Ulrich　von
Hohenberg　is　my　bridegroom；　and　therefore　you　shall　not　kill　him；
nor　do　him　any　harm；　but　convey　him　as　a　prisoner　to　my　father's
house；　not　for　the　purpose　of　being　married　to　me；　but　to　be　kept
and　nursed　as　a　wounded　prisoner。　I　swear　by　the　Lord　God　and　the
Holy　Virgin；　I　will　not　marry　him　till　we　have　conquered；　till　all
Bavarians　have　been　driven　from　the　country；　and　the　Emperor　Francis
is　once　more　sovereign　of　the　Tyrol。　Nor　shall　I　stay　at　home　to
nurse　my　bridegroom　and　speak　with　him　of　love　and　marriage；　but　I
will　go　and　fight　with　you　for　our　Tyrol　and　our　emperor。　I　will
fight　with　my　father　and　my　countrymen；　and　prove　that　I　am　a　true
daughter　of　the　Tyrol。　When　you　have　nothing　to　eat；　I　will　cook　for
you；　and　when　you　go　to　fight　the　Bavarians；　I　will　fight　with　you。
My　father's　lame　porter；　our　faithful　Schroepfel；　shall　have　my
bridegroom　in　his　custody；　and　protect　him　until　we　return　to　our
homes。　But　we　shall　not　return　before　our　dear　Tyrol　is　free　and
restored　to　the　Emperor　Francis；　and　then；　father；　when　your　Lizzie
has　bravely　fought　for　our　dear　Tyrol；　you　will　permit　her　to　marry
the　man　whom　she　loves；　and　you　will　no　longer　say　that　she　is　not
your　daughter；　will　you？〃　〃No；　Lizzie；　then　I　shall　no　longer　say　or
think　so；〃　cried　Wallner；　folding　his　daughter　to　his　heart；
overcome　by　his　emotion。　〃Yes；　you　are　a　brave　child　of　the　Tyrol；
you　shall　march　to　the　field　with　us；　and　when　we　return　to　our
homes；　you　shall　marry　your　Bavarian。　Say；　my　dear　friends；　shall　it
be　so？〃

〃Yes；　it　shall；〃　shouted　the　Tyrolese。　〃Her　wedding　shall　take　place
when　we　return　to　our　homes；　and　when　the　Tyrol　is　free。〃

〃No；　no；〃　cried　Ulrich；　raising　himself　up　with　a　last　effort：
〃never　will　my　father's　son　dishonor　himself　so　deeply　as　to　marry　a
peasant…girl〃

He　said　no　more；　a　stream　of　blood　rushed　from　his　mouth；　a　mortal
pallor　overspread　his　cheeks；　his　eyes　closed；　and　he　sank　to　the
ground　with　a　groan　of　pain。

〃He　is　dying！　he　is　dying！〃　cried　Eliza；　despairingly。　She　rushed　to
him；　knelt　down　by　his　side；　and　encircled　him　firmly　with　both　her
arms；　so　that　his　head　reposed　on　her　breast。

A　cry；　a　loud；　painful　cry；　resounded　above　her　in　the　air；　all　eyes
turned　toward　the　balcony；　but　no　one　was　there；　only　for　a　moment
it　seemed　to　them　as　though　a　female　form　glided　through　the　dining…
room。

〃Elza；　it　was　Elza！〃　murmured　Eliza。　〃Why　does　she　not　come　to　me？
why〃　At　this　moment　Ulrich　opened　his　eyes　again；　and　fixed　a　look
of　proud　hatred　full　upon　Eliza's　face；　which　was　tenderly　bent　over
him。

〃I　do　not　love　you；　I　detest　you！〃　he　hissed；　between　his　firmly…
compressed　teeth。

〃He　lives；　thank　God；　he　lives！〃　cried　Eliza；　〃now　all　is　well；　and
I　am　no　longer　afraid　of　anything。　Schroepfel；　come　here；　take　him
on　your　shoulders；　dear　Schroepfel；　or　let　John　help　you　to　carry
him　to　my　chamber；　where　you　will　lay　him　on　my　bed。　You　swear　to　me
by　the　Holy　Virgin　that　you　will　watch　over　him　faithfully？〃

〃I　swear　by　the　Holy　Virgin；〃　said　Schroepfel；　lifting　his　heavy
fists　to　heaven；　and　then　fixing　his　small；　flashing　eyes　on　Ulrich；
as　a　watch…dog　eyes　the　bone　he　fears　may　be　taken　from　him。

〃And　now　let　us　settle　that　affair　with　the　soldiers　yonder；〃　said
Anthony　Wallner；　going　to　the　windows；　in　front　of　which　the
sharpshooters　were　still　drawn　up　in　line。

〃Soldiers　in　the　rooms；〃　he　shouted　in　a　powerful　voice；　〃surrender！
The　fight　is　at　an　end；　your　captain　is　our　prisoner。　Surrender；　or
you　are　lost；　we　will　set　fire　to　the　house；　and　shoot