andreas hofer-第68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！


most　desirable　ally　for　Austria。〃

The　emperor　started　back；　and　then　turned　almost　angrily　to　Stadion。
〃In　truth；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　just　as　I　thought；　the　archduke　repeats
your　own　proposals。　It　seems；　then；　that　the　formerly　so　courageous
war…party　at　my　court　suddenly　droops　its　wings；　and　thinks　no
longer　that　we　are　able　to　cope　single…handed　with　Bonaparte。　Hence；
its　members　have　agreed　to　urge　me　to　conclude　an　alliance　with
Prussia；　and　now　come　the　besieging　forces　which　are　to　overcome　my
repugnance。　The　minister　himself　was　the　first　to　break　the　subject
to　me；　now　he　calls　the　Archduke　John　to　his　assistance；　and　takes
pains　to　be　present　at　the　very　hour　when　the　archduke　arrives　here
to　second　his　efforts　in　attacking　me。　Half　an　hour　later；　and　the
empress　will　make　her　appearance　to　assist　you；　and　convince　me　that
we　ought　to　secure；　above　all　things；　the　alliance　of　Prussia。〃

〃Pardon　me；　your　majesty；〃　said　Count　Stadion；　earnestly；　〃I　have；
unfortunately；　not　the　honor　of　being　one　of　the　archduke's
confidants；　and　I　pledge　you　my　word　of　honor　that　I　did　not　know　at
all　that　his　royal　highness　was　coming　hither。〃

〃And　I　pledge　your　majesty　my　word　of　honor　that　neither　the　empress
nor　Count　Stadion　ever　intimated　to　me；　directly　or　indirectly；　that
they　share　my　views；　and　have　advocated　them　already　before　your
majesty。〃

〃Then　you　have　come　quite　independently；　and　of　your　own　accord；　to
the　conclusion　that　we　ought　to　form　an　alliance　with　Prussia？〃

〃Yes；　your　majesty；　I　believe　that　this　has　now　become　a　necessity
for　us。〃

〃But　Prussia　is　a　humiliated　and　exhausted　state；　which　exists　only
by　Bonaparte's　grace　and　the　intercession　of　the　Emperor　of　Russia。〃

〃Your　majesty　speaks　of　Prussia　as　it　was　in　1807；〃　said　Count
Stadion；　〃after　the　defeats　of　Jena；　Eylau；　and　Friedland。　But　since
then　two　years　have　elapsed；　and　Prussia　has　risen　again　from　her
prostration；　she　has　armed　secretly；　rendered　her　resources
available；　and　found　sagacious　and　energetic　men；　who　are　at　work
silently；　but　with　unflagging　zeal；　upon　the　reorganization　of　the
army；　and　preparing　every　thing　for　the　day　of　vengeance。〃

〃Let　us　ally　ourselves　with　regenerated　Prussia；　which　is　longing
for　vengeance！〃　cried　John；　ardently；　〃let　us　unite　with　her　in　the
struggle　against　our　common　foe。　Prussia　and　Austria　should　be
harmonious；　and　jointly　protect　Germany。〃

〃No；〃　said　the　emperor；　almost　angrily；　〃Prussia　and　Austria　are
natural　enemies；　they　have　been　enemies　ever　since　Prussia　existed；
for　Prussia；　instead　of　contenting　herself　with　her　inferior
position；　dared　to　be　Austria's　rival；　and；　moreover；　Austria　can
never　forgive　her　the　rapacious　conquest　of　Silesia。〃

〃Oh；　your　majesty；〃　exclaimed　John；　impetuously；　〃let　us　forget　the
past；　and　fix　our　eyes　on　the　present　and　future　France　is　the
common　enemy　of　all　Europe；　all　Europe　ought　to　unite　in　subduing
her；　and　we　will　not　even　solicit　the　cooperation　of　our　neighbor！
But　an　alliance　between　Austria　and　Prussia　will　render　all　Germany
united；　and　Germany　will　then　be；　as　it　were；　a　threatening　rock；
and　France　will　shrink　from　her　impregnable　bulwarks；　and　retire
within　her　natural　borders。〃

〃Words；　words！〃　said　the　emperor；　shrugging　his　shoulders。　〃You
enthusiasts　always　talk　of　a　united　Germany；　but　in　reality　it　has
never　existed　yet。〃

〃But　it　will　exist　when　Prussia　and　Austria　are　allied；　only　this
alliance　must　be　concluded　soon；　for　we　have　no　time　to　lose。　and
every　delay　is　fraught　with　great　danger。　France　is　intent　on
establishing　a　universal　monarchy；　Napoleon　does　not　conceal　it　any
longer。　If　France　really　succeeds　in　keeping　the　German　powers　at
variance　and　enmity；　and　uniting　with　Russia　against　them；　our　last
hour　will　strike；　for　these　two　powers；　if　united；　will　easily　come
to　an　understanding　as　to　the　division　of　Europe；　and　even　though
Russia　did　not　entertain　such　an　intention；　France　would　communicate
it　to　her。　＇Footnote：　The　archduke's　own　words。See　〃Letters　from
the　Archduke　John　to　Johannes　von　Mueller；〃　p。　81。＇　Hence；　Russia。
should　likewise　be　gained；　and　its　alliance；　by　Russia's
intercession；　be　secured；　so　that　Germany；　in　days　of　adversity；
might　count　upon　her。〃

〃You　believe　then；　archduke；　that　days　of　adversity　are　yet　in　store
for　us？〃　asked　the　emperor。

〃Your　majesty；　I　am　afraid　they　are；　if　we　stand　alone。　All　is　at
stake　now；　and　all　must　be　risked。　We　are　no　longer　fighting　for
provinces；　but　for　our　future　existence。　We　shall　fight　well；　but
even　the　best　strength　is　exhausted　in　the　long　run；　and　he　who
holds　out　longest　remains　victorious。　Which　side　has　better　chances？
Austria；　so　long　as　she　opposes　France　single…handed；　has　not；　but
Austria　and　Prussia；　if　united；　assuredly　have。　If　Austria　falls
now；　the　best　adversary　of　France　falls；　and　with　her　falls　Prussia；
and　Germany　is　lost。〃

〃And　what　would　you　do；　archduke；　if　Austria；　as　you　say；　were
lost？〃

〃Your　majesty；　if　Austria　should　sink　into　ruin；　I　should　know　how
to　die！〃

〃You　would；　like　Brutus　of　old；　throw　yourself　upon　your　sword；
would　you　not？　Well；　I　hope　we　shall　not　fare　so　badly　as　that；　for
you　have　pointed　out　to　me　a　way　of　saving　the　country。　You　have
proved　to　me　that　Austria　can　be　saved　by　an　alliance　with　Prussia。
Fortunately；　I　have　sometimes　ideas　of　my　own；　and　even　a　head　of　my
own。　I　had　this　morning　a　long　interview　with　the　Prince　of　Orange；
who　has　just　arrived　from　Koenigsberg；　where　he　saw　the　King　of
Prussia。　He　laid　before　me　a　detailed　report　of　what　he　had　seen
there；　and　I　made　up　my　mind　before　I　had　heard　your　advice。Count
Stadion；　be　so　kind　as　to　take　the　paper　lying　on　the　desk。　Do　you
know　the　handwriting？〃

〃I　believe　it　is　your　majesty's　handwriting；〃　said　Count　Stadion；
who；　in　accordance　with　the　emperor's　order；　had　taken　the　paper
from　the　desk。

〃Yes；　it　is　my　handwriting；　for；　though　not　as　learned　as　my　brother
John；　I　am　at　least　able；　if　need　be；　to　write　a　letter。　Be　so　kind；
minister；　as　to　read　my　letter　aloud。〃

Count　Stadion　bowed；　and　read　as　follows：

〃To　his　majesty；　King　Frederick　William　of　Prussia：　〃Headquarters；
Wolkersdorf；　June　8；　1809。

〃SIR；　MY　BROTHER：　The　Prince　of　Orange；　who　has　arrived　at　my
headquarters　here；　has　told　me　unreservedly；　and　with　full
confidence；　of　the　repeated　conversations　he　had　with　your　majesty
during　his　recent　sojourn　at　Koenigsberg。　You　left　no　doubt　in　his
mind　as　to　your　firm　conviction　that　the　existence　of　our　two
monarchies　can　be　protected　from　the　rapacious　system　of　the　Emperor
Napoleon　only　by　an　active　and　cordial　alliance。　For　a　long　time
past；　aware　of　the　opinions　and　wisdom　of　your　majesty；　I　could
foresee　that　your　majesty　would　not　refuse　to　take　a　step；　justified
not　less　by　the　logic　of　events　than　the　loyalty　of　the　nations
which　Providence　has　confided　to　our　care。〃

〃The　bearer；　Colonel　Baron　Steigentesch；　a　distinguished　staff…
officer　of　my　army；　will　confer　with　your　majesty's　government　as　to
the　questions　which　may　arise　in　regard　to　an　alliance　between　the
two　countries：　he　is　authorized　to　regulate　the　proportions　of　the
forces　to　be　employed　on　both　sides；　and　the　other　arrangements　not
less　salutary　than　indispensable　for　the　security　of　the　two　states。
For　the　same　reasons　I　shall　speedily　send　instructions　to　my
ambassador　at　Berlin　in　conformity　with　the　overtures　made　by　Count
von　der　Goltz。〃

〃Your　majesty　will　permit　me　to　assure　you　that　I　remain　as　ever；
Your　most　obedient；　FRANCIS；　Emperor　of　Austria。〃　＇Footnote：
〃Lebensbilder；〃　vol；　iii。；　p。　266。＇

While　Count　Stadion　was　reading　the　letter；　the　emperor　closely
watched　the　effect　it　produced　upon　the　archduke。　He　saw　that　John
was　at　first　surprised；　that　his　eyes　gradually　brightened；　that　his
face　crimsoned　with　joy；　and　that　a　smile　played　round　his　lips。

When　Count　Stadion　was　through；　the　archduke　stepped　up　to　the
emperor　with　an　expression　of　profound　emotion　and　intense
gratitude。

〃Your　Majesty；〃　he　cried；　〃you　have　filled　me　both　with　shame　and
ecstasy。　Oh；　give　me　your　hand；　let　me　press　it　to　my　lips；　let　me
thank　you　for　this　gracious　punishment！　I　am　grateful；　too；　for　the
gracious　confidence　with　which　you　initiate　me　into　your　plans。〃

〃That　is　unnecessary；〃　said　the　emperor；　without　giving　him　his
hand；　〃you　need　not　thank　me。　Nor　was　it　my　intention　to　give　you　a
special　proof　of　my　confidence。　I　did　not　cause　the　letter　to　be
read　to　you　in　order　to　have　you　participate　in　my　plans；　but　only
to　prove　to　you　that　I　can　make　up　my　mind　without　your　advice；　and
to　request　you　not　to　molest　me　henceforth　with　any　such
suggestions。　Now；　brother；　we　have　nothing　further　to　say　to　each
other。　Return　to　Comorn；　and　carry　out　the　generalissimo's　order；　as
behooves　a　good　officer；　promptly；　carefully；　and　without　grumbling。
Fortify　and　hold　Raab；　defend　Presburg；　take　Altenburg　by　a　coup　de
main；　in　short；　do　all　that　the　generalissimo　wants　you　to　do。　If　I
should　need　your　advice　and　wisdom；　I　shall　send　for　you；　and　when
Baron　Steigentesch　returns　from　his　mission　to　Prussia；　you　shall　be
inf