andreas hofer-第61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！


hesitated　a　second　time；　and　was　silent。

Haydn　dropped　his　clasped　hands　slowly；　and　turned　his　eyes　from
heaven　to　earth。　〃I　knew　it　full　well；〃　he　murmured；　〃the　oracle　has
decided　my　fate；　and　Joseph　Haydn's　'Creation'　is　silenced　by　God's
creation。　Come　into　the　house；　Conrad；　I　am　cold　and　tired。　But
first　give　me　a　few　of　my　fragrant　friends；　my　dear　flowers。　They
shall　speak　to　me　in　my　room　of　the　splendor　and　beauty　of　the
world。〃

Conrad　gathered　hastily　a　full　bouquet　of　roses；　pinks；　and　elder…
flowers；　dried　the　tears　filling　his　eyes；　and　conducted　his　master
carefully　back　into　the　house。

He　had　just　seated　him　in　his　easy…chair；　and　placed　the　embroidered
cushion　under　his　feet；　when　the　shrill　street…bell　resounded　in　the
hall。

〃Go　and　see　who　is　there；〃　said　Haydn；　holding　the　bouquet　in　both
his　hands；　and　contemplating　it　with　loving　eyes。

Conrad　slipped　out　of　the　room　and　returned　in　a　few　minutes。

〃There　is　a　stranger　from　Berlin；〃　he　said；　〃who　begged　me　urgently
to　admit　hint　to　Dr。　Haydn；　Mr。　Schmid；　the　manager　of　the　theatre；
is　with　him；　and　requests　you　to　see　the　stranger；　who；　he　says；　is
a　celebrated　poet。〃

〃If　Schmid　is　with　him；　let　them　come　in；〃　said　Haydn；　mildly；　〃it
will　doubtless　be　the　last　time　I　shall　see　my　dear　old…friend　on
earth。〃

Conrad　threw　open　the　door；　and　beckoned　the　gentlemen；　who　were
standing　outside；　to　come　in。　The　two　crossed　the　threshold　softly
on　tiptoe；　and　with　faces　expressive　of　profound　reverence；　as　if
seized　with　compassion　or　pious　awe；　they　stood　still　at　the　door；
and　gazed　with　eyes　full　of　tenderness　upon　Haydn；　who；　at　this
moment；　overcome　perhaps　by　the　spring　air；　had　closed　his　eyes；　and
not　heard　the　entrance　of　the　visitors。

〃That　is　he；〃　whispered　one　of　the　two；　a　man　of　a　tall；　erect　form；
with　a　face　radiant　with　understanding　and　sagacity。　〃That　is　he！〃
he　repeated；　fixing　his　ardent　eyes　on　the　composer。

〃Yes；　that　is　Joseph　Haydn；〃　said　the　other；　in　a　low　voice；　and　an
expression　of　profound　grief　overspread　his　broad；　good…natured
face。　〃But　hush！　he　opens　his　eyes。〃

And　he　approached　Haydn；　who　held　out　both　his　hands　to　him；　and
greeted　him　with　a　gentle　smile。

〃Do　you　come　to　bid　farewell　to　your　old　friend　once　more　previous
to　his　death？〃　he　asked；　mildly。　〃Do　you　wish　to　take　leave　of　me；
my　dear　friend　Schmid？〃

〃No；　I　do　not　come　to　bid　you　farewell；　but　wish　you　good…day；〃　said
Schmid；　warmly；　〃and　pray　you　to　receive　this　gentleman　here　kindly。
It　is　Iffland；　the　celebrated　actor　and　poet　from　Berlin。　He　had
come　to　Vienna　before　the　French　took　the　city；　and　after　its
capture　he　could　no　longer　get　out：　they　detained　him；　and　it　was
not　until　now　that；　by　dint　of　the　most　pressing　solicitations；　he
received　permission　to　return　to　Berlin。〃

〃But　I　could　not　leave　Vienna　without　seeing　the　great　Haydn；〃
exclaimed　Iffland；　in　his　fine；　sonorous　voice。　〃What　would　the
people　of　Berlin　think　of　me　if　I　had　not　seen　the　most　illustrious
genius　of　our　time？〃

〃Sir；〃　said　Haydn；　with　a　sigh；　〃look　at　me；　and　learn　from　my
weakness　how　fragile　man　is　with　all　his　glory。〃

〃Man　alone　is　fragile；　but　genius　is　immortal；〃　exclaimed　Iffland；
〃and　Joseph　Haydn　is　a　genius　whose　glory　will　never　die。〃

〃Let　my　footman　tell　you　the　glory　of　the　nightingale　and　the
parrot；〃　said　Haydn；　with　a　faint　smile。　〃The　works　of　man　are
perishable；　but　the　works　of　God　last　forever。〃

〃But　the　works　of　man　come　likewise　from　God；　for　it　was　He　who　gave
him　the　strength　to　create　them；〃　replied　Iffland；　warmly。　〃Did　not
the　great　and　glorious　creations　of　your　genius　come　just　as　much
from　God　as　the　flowers　which　you　hold　in　your　hand；　and　the
perfumes　of　which　delight　you　so　visibly？〃

〃Yes；　these　flowers　are　beautiful；〃　said　Haydn；　musingly。

〃The　bouquet　is　doubtless　a　gift　from　one　of　the　many　fair　admirers
of　our　maestro？〃　asked　Schmid；　laughing。

Haydn　looked　up　to　him　smilingly　and　shook　his　head　gently。　〃No；〃　he
said；　〃it　is　the　last　souvenir　of　Nature；　to　which　I　have　bidden
farewell。　I　worshipped　to…day　in　the　open　air；　and　this　is　the
rosary　with　which　I　will　pray。　Ah；　I　love　Nature　so　passionately！〃

〃And　you　have　taught　those　whose　eyes　and　ears　were　closed　against
the　holy　charms　of　Nature；　how　to　see　and　hear；〃　said　Iffland。　〃Your
‘Seasons'　is　the　most　glorious　hymn　on　God's　splendid　world。〃

〃Yes；　the　'Seasons；'〃　cried　Haydn；　almost　vehemently；　〃gave　me　the
death…blow。　It　was　so　difficult　for　me　to　derive　enthusiasm　from　the
words　of　the　text。　The　words　said　so　little；　really　so　very　little！
Frequently　a　single　passage　caused　me　a　great　deal　of　trouble　for
several　days；　and　I　did　not　succeed　after　all　in　expressing　the　idea
I　wished　to　convey　to　the　hearers。　The　words　were　a　dead　weight　on
my　music。　Well；　it　is　all　over　now。　Yes；　you　see；　it　is　all　over
now。　The　‘Seasons'　is　to　blame　for　it；　for　it　exhausted　my　last
strength。　I　have　had　to　work　hard　all　my　lifetime；　I　had　to　suffer
hunger；　thirst；　and　cold　in　my　wretched　attic；　whence　I　had　to
descend　a　hundred　and　thirty　steps　before　reaching　the　street。
Privations；　hard　work；　hunger；　in　short；　all　that　I　suffered　in　my
youth；　are　now　exerting　their　effects　on　me　and　prostrating　me。　But
it　is　an　honorable　defeatit　is　hard　work　to　which　I　am　succumbing。
However；　God　assisted　me。　I　never　felt　it　more　strikingly　than　this
very　day；　and　therefore　I　am　so　happy；　oh！　so　happy；　that　I　must
shed　tears　of　blissful　emotion。　Do　not　laugh　at　me　on　this　account。
I　am　a　weak　old　man；　and　when　any　thing　affects　me　profoundly；　I
must　weep。　It　was　otherwise　in　former　years。　Ah；　in　former　years！〃
He　turned　his　tearful　eyes　toward　the　window；　and　gazed　into
vacancy。　〃In　former　years　my　mind　was　strong　and　vigorous；〃　he
sighed；　〃and　when　I　wrote　my　'Creation；'　a　manly　fire　filled　my
heart。〃

〃Your　enthusiasm　is　imprinted　on　your　great　work；　and　it　will　never
disappear　from　it；〃　said　Iffland。　〃Joseph　Haydn's　'Creation'　is
immortal　and　full　of　eternal　youth。　The　Viennese　proved　it　to　you　on
hearing　your　sublime　music　the　other　day。〃

〃But　I　proved　to　them　that　I　had　become　so　feeble　that　I　could　no
longer　bear　listening　to　my　own　music。　I　had　to　leave　the　room　long
before　the　performance　was　at　an　end。〃

〃You　ought　not　to　have　gone　to　the　concert　at　all；〃　said　Schmid。
〃The　excitement　might　have　been　injurious　to　your　health。〃

〃It　was　injurious　to　me；〃　said　Haydn；　〃but　considerations　of　health
had　no　right　to　prevent　me　from　being　present。　It　was　not　the　first
time　that　homage　had　been　rendered　to　Haydn；　and　I　wished　to　show
that　I　was　able　to　bear　it　this　time　too。　Ah；　it　was　a　glorious
evening；　and　never　did　I　hear　a　better　performance　of　my
'Creation。'〃

〃It　was　the　great　composer's　apotheosis　which　the　musicians　and
singers　were　celebrating；〃　said　Iffland；　deeply　moved。　。

〃It　is　true　the　Viennese　have　done　a　great　deal　for　me。　They　are　so
good；　and　they　love　me　dearly。〃

〃Oh；　the　Viennese　are　not　ahead　of　the　people　of　Berlin　in　this
respect；〃　exclaimed　Iffland。　〃In　Berlin；　too；　every　one　knows　and
loves　the　great　Joseph　Haydn；　and　his　'Creation'　is　likewise
recognized　there　as　a　masterpiece。　It　was　performed　in　Berlin　quite
recently　at　a　charity　concert；　the　receipts　of　which　amounted　to
over　two　thousand　dollars〃

〃Over　two　thousand　dollars　for　the　poor；〃　said　Joseph　Haydn；　with
beaming　eyes；　〃oh；　my　work；　then　gave　the　poor　a　good　day。　That　is
splendid；　that　is　the　most　beautiful　reward　for　a　life　of　toils　and
privations。　But；〃　he　added；　after　a　brief　pause；　〃it　is　all　over
now。　I　can　no　longer　do　any　thing。　I　am　a　leafless　tree；　which　will
break　down　to…day　or　to…morrow。〃

〃The　fall　of　this　tree　will　move　the　whole　of　Germany　as　a　great
calamity　befalling　every　lover　of　his　country。〃

〃Yes；　it　is　true；　much　love　has　been　manifested　for　me；　much　homage
has　been　rendered　to　me；〃　said　Haydn；　musingly。

〃All　nations　and　all　princes　have　rendered　homage　to　you；〃　exclaimed
Iffland。　〃The　laurel…wreath；　for　which　we　other　poets　and　artists
arc　struggling　all　our　lifetime；　and　which　is　generally　bestowed
upon　us　only　after　we　are　in　the　grave；　was　long　since　granted　to
you　in　the　most　flattering　and　gratifying　manner。　Europe　has
presented　you；　not　with　one；　but　with　many　laurel…wreaths；　and　you
may　look　back　on　your　life　like　a　victorious　hero；　for　each　of　your
exploits　was　a　triumph　for　which　you　received　laurel…wreaths　and
trophies。〃

〃Yes；　I　have　many　souvenirs　of　my　past；〃　said　Haydn；　smilingly。　〃I
will　show。　them　to　you。Conrad；　give　me　my　treasures。〃

Conrad　opened　the　drawer　of　the　large　writing…table　which　was
standing　close　to　Haydn；　and　which　contained　a　great　many　large　and
small　etuis；　caskets　and　boxes。

〃You　shall　see　my　treasures　now；〃　exclaimed　Haydn；　cheerfully。　In
the　first　place；　he　showed　them　a　beautiful　casket　made　of　ebony　and
gold。　It　was　a　gift　with　which　the　young　Princess　Esterhazy　had
presented　the　beloved　and　adored　friend　of　her　house　only　a　few
weeks　ago；　and　on　whose　lid　was　painted　a　splendid　miniature
representing　the　scene　at　the　last　performance　of　〃The　Creation；〃
when　Haydn　received　t