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第67节

andreas hofer-第67节

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since the insurrection broke out; it was always the name of their
Emperor Francis with which they went into battle; the name of the
Emperor Francis with which they exulted triumphantly when God and
their intrepidity made them victorious。〃

〃No; archduke; I know better!〃 exclaimed the Emperor; vehemently。
〃They did not confine themselves to rendering homage to me; but when
the peasants had taken Innspruck; they placed the Archduke John's
picture on the triumphal arch by the side of my own portrait;
surrounded it with candles; and rendered the same homage to it as to
that of the emperor。〃

〃It is true; the honest peasants know nothing of etiquette;〃 said
John; sadly。〃 They believed in their simplicity that they might love
a little their emperor's brother; who had been sent to their
assistance by his majesty; and that they might place his picture
without further ceremony by the side of that of the emperor。 But
that they nevertheless knew very well how to distinguish the emperor
from the archduke; and that they granted to the emperor the first
place in their hearts; and deemed him the sole object of their
loyalty; is proved by the song which the Tyrolese sang with
enthusiastic unanimity on fastening the Austrian eagle to the
imperial palace at Innspruck。 As such full particulars of the events
in the Tyrol were sent to your majesty; I am sure this beautiful
song was likewise communicated to you。〃

〃No; it was not;〃 said the emperor; carelessly。 〃What song is it?〃

〃Your majesty; it is a hymn of joy and triumph which; ever since
that day; is sung by all Tyrolese; not only by the men; but also by
the women and children; and which resounds now as the spring…hymn of
the new era both in the valleys and on the summits of the mountains。
I am sorry that I do not know the words by hearts; but I shall have
the honor of sending them to your majesty。 I remember only the
refrain of every verse; which is as follows:〃

〃'Ueberall lebt'st seh treu und bieder; Wo der Adler uns angeschaut;
Und nu' haben wir unsern Franzel wieder; Weil wir halt auf Gott and
ihn vertraut。'〃 'Footnote: 〃Far reaching as the eagle's view; Are
beating loyal hearts and true; Once more our Francis can we claim;
Because we trust in God's great name!〃'

〃That is quite pretty;〃 said the emperor; smiling。 〃And is that the
song they are singing now in the Tyrol?〃

〃Your majesty; they not only sing it; but they believe in it too。
Yes; the Tyrolese confide in your majesty; they believe implicitly
in the promises which your majesty has made to them; and they would
punish as a traitor any one who should dare to tell them that these
promises would not be fulfilled。〃

〃And who asserts that they will not be fulfilled?〃 asked the
emperor。

〃Your majesty; the facts will unfortunately soon convince the
Tyrolese that they must not look for the fulfilment of these
promises;〃 said the archduke; sighing。 〃At the very moment when the
Tyrol is being threatened by two hostile armies; those of the
Viceroy of Italy and the Duke of Dantzic; and when the Tyrol;
therefore; if it is not to succumb again to such enormous odds;
urgently needs assistance and succor; I receive orders to leave the
Tyrol and march to Hungary。 That is to say; I am to give up
Salzburg; which is occupied by the French; I am not to succor
Innspruck; which is menaced by Baraguay d'Hilliers。 Not only am I
not to lend any assistance to the Tyrolese; but I am to break their
moral courage and paralyze their energy; by showing to them by my
retreat that the emperor's promises will not be fulfilled; and that
the army of Upper Austria abandons the Tyrol to succor Hungary。〃

〃Well; the Tyrol is not yet abandoned; even though the Archduke John
is no longer there;〃 said the emperor; shrugging his shoulders。 〃We
have two generals with corps there; have we not? Are not the Marquis
of Chasteler and Count Buol there?〃

〃They are; your majesty; but the Marquis of Chasteler is morally
paralyzed by the sentence of outlawry which Napoleon has issued
against him; and Count Buol has too few troops to oppose the enemy's
operations; which are not checked by any corps outside the Tyrol。〃

〃Ah; you wish to give me another proof of the fraternal love
reigning between you and the Archduke Charles?〃 asked the emperor
sarcastically。 〃You wish to oppose the orders of your
generalissimo?〃

〃I wish to ask the emperor; my sovereign; whether I am to give up
the Tyrol or not; I wish to ask him if he orders me to march my army
to Presburg; unite with the insurgent forces; and operate there
against the enemy。〃

〃Are these the generalissimo's orders?〃

〃They are; your majesty。〃

〃And what else does he command?〃

〃He commands me; further; to make myself master of the two islands
of Schutt in front of Presburg; take Altenburg by a coup de main;
and garrison; supply; and provision the two fortresses of Raab and
Comorn for six months。〃

A sarcastic expression overspread the emperor's face。

〃Well; these are excellent and most energetic orders;〃 he said。
〃Carry them out; therefore。〃

〃But; your majesty; it is not in my power to do so。 These orders
look very fine on paper; but they cannot be carried into effect。 I
have neither troops nor supplies enough to garrison; supply; and
provision Raab and Comorn; and hold Presburg; even after effecting a
junction with the troops of the Archduke Palatine and the Hungarian
volunteers。 And the generalissimo is well aware of it; for I have
always acquainted him with what occurred in my army; he knows that
my forces and those of the Archduke Palatine together are scarcely
twenty…five thousand strong; and that one…half of these troops
consists of undisciplined recruits。 He knows that the enemy is
threatening us on all sides with forty thousand veteran troops。 The
generalissimo is so well aware of this; that he spoke of the
weakness of the remnants of my army in the dispatches which he
addressed to me only a few days ago。 But the victory of Aspern seems
suddenly to have made the generalissimo believe that; inasmuch as he
himself has performed extraordinary things; he may demand of me what
is impossible。〃

〃What is impossible?〃 said the emperor; with mischievous joy。 〃So
brave and heroic a soldier as you; archduke; will not deem
impossible what his chief orders him to do。 The Archduke Charles is
your chief; and you have to obey him。 He orders you to hold Raab and
Presburg。 Go; then; and carry out the orders of your commander…in…
chief。〃

〃As your majesty commands me to do so; I shall obey;〃 said John;
calmly; 〃only I call your majesty's attention to the fact that; if
the enemy accelerates his operations and compels me soon to give
battle; I shall be unable to hold Raab; for which so little hag been
done hitherto; and that I shall lose the battle unless the
generalissimo sends a strong corps to my assistance。〃

〃It is your business to come to an understanding with the
generalissimo as to that point。 He possesses my full confidence; for
he showed excellent generalship at Aspern。 There is no reason why I
should distrust him。〃

〃And God forbid that I should wish to render you distrustful of
him!〃 exclaimed John; vehemently。 〃I hope my brother Charles will
remain yet a long while at the head of the army; and give many
successors to the victory of Aspern。〃

〃But you doubt if he will; do you not?〃 asked the emperor; fixing
his small light…blue eyes with a searching expression on John's
face。 〃You do not rejoice much at the brilliant victory of Aspern?
You do not think that Bonaparte is entirely crushed and will hasten
to offer us peace?〃

〃Your majesty; you yourself do not believe it;〃 said John; with a
smile。 〃Napoleon is not the man to be deterred by a defeat from
following up his plans; he will pursue them only the more
energetically; and he will attain his ends; though; perhaps;
somewhat less rapidly; unless we adopt more decisive measures。〃

〃Look; Stadion;〃 exclaimed the emperor; smiling; 〃I am glad that the
Archduke John agrees with me。 He repeats only what I said to you
about Bonaparte。〃

〃But; your majesty; the archduke added something to it;〃 said Count
Stadion; quickly; 〃he said Austria ought to adopt more decisive
measures。〃

〃Ah; and now you hope that the archduke will say to me what you have
already said so often; and that he will make the same proposals in
regard to more decisive measures as you did; minister?〃

〃Yes; I do hope it; your majesty。〃

〃Well; let us see;〃 exclaimed the emperor; with great vivacity。
〃Tell me; therefore; archduke; what more decisive measures you
referred to。〃

〃Your majesty;〃 replied John; quickly; 〃I meant that we should
strive to get rid of our isolated position; and look around for
allies who will aid us not only with money; as England does; but
also with troops。〃

〃And what allies would be most desirable for Austria; according to
your opinion; archduke?〃

The archduke cast a rapid; searching glance on the face of the
minister; who responded to it by a scarcely perceptible nod of his
head。

〃Your majesty;〃 said Archduke John; quickly; 〃Prussia would be the
most desirable ally for Austria。〃

The emperor started back; and the

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