andreas hofer-第88节

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the　Emperor　Francis　was　at　the　fortress　of　Comorn。　Only　a　few　of　his
faithful　adherents　had　followed　him　thither；　only　his　servants　and
officers　surrounded　him　at　his　mournful　court　there。　The　Empress
Ludovica　and　the　archduchesses　had　already　repaired　to　Totis；　a
country…seat　of　Prince　Lichtenstein；　in　Hungary；　whither　the　emperor
intended　to　follow　her　in　the　course　of　a　few　days。

〃I　should　set　out　this　very　day；〃　he　said；　pacing　his　cabinet；　to
his　confidential　agent　Hudelist；　the　Aulic　councillor；　〃but　I　should
like　to　see　previously　Count　Bubna；　whom　I　have　sent　to　Bonaparte。〃

〃I　hope；　your　majesty；　that　the　count　will　yet　return　today；〃
replied　Hudelist；　in　his　humble　bland　voice。

〃God　grant　it！〃　sighed　the　emperor。　〃It　is　very　tedious　here；　and　I
hope　our　sojourn　at　Totis　will　not　be　so　mournful　and　wearisome。
Prince　Lichtenstein　told　me　there　were　excellent　fishing…ponds
there；　and　he　added　that　he　had　caused　to　be　built　a　laboratory
where　I　might　manufacture　sealing…wax。　I　think；　Hudelist；　we　shall
be　very　industrious　there；　and　manufacture　new　and　beautiful
styles。〃

〃I　received　to…day　a　new　receipt　for　making　carmine　sealing…wax；
perfumed　a　la　rose；〃　said　Hudelist；　smiling。

〃Ah；　that　is　nice；〃　exclaimed　the　emperor；　〃give　it　to　melet　me
read　it。〃

The　Aulic　councillor　drew　a　paper　from　his　bosom　and　handed　it　with
a　low　bow　to　the　emperor。　Francis　took　it　quickly；　and　fixed　his
eyes　smilingly　on　it。

His　features；　however；　suddenly　became　very　gloomy；　and　he　threw　the
paper　indignantly　on　the　table。　〃What　do　you　give　me　this　for？〃　he
asked；　angrily。　〃In　speaking　of　the　receipt；　I　had　forgotten　the
abominable　political　situation　for　a　moment；　but　you　must　at　once
remind　me　of　it。〃

〃My　God！〃　faltered　out　Hudelist；　〃what　did　I　do；　then；　to　excite
your　majesty's　indignation？〃

The　emperor　took　the　paper　from　the　table　and　handed　it　to　him。
〃See；〃　he　said；　already　half　pacified；　〃is　that　a　receipt　for　making
sealing…wax？〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　groaned　Hudelist；　in　dismay；　〃I　made　a　mistake。　In
place　of　the　receipt；　I　handed　to　your　majesty　the　draft　of　the
proclamation　to　your　subjects；　which　your　majesty　ordered　me　to
write。　Oh；　I　humbly　beg　your　majesty's　pardon　for　having　made　so
lamentable　a　blunder；　I〃

〃Well；　never　mind；〃　interrupted　the　emperor；　〃there　is　no　harm　done。
You　handed　me　one　receipt；　in　place　of　another；　and　it　is　true；　the
sealing…wax　receipt　may　remain　in　your　pocket　until　we　arrive　at
Totis；　but　the　other　receipt　is　needed　immediately；　for　it　is
destined　to　reduce　the　people　to　submissiveness　and　tranquillity。
Well；　read　the　proclamation　you　have　drawn　up。〃

〃Your　majesty；　I　have　carried　out　carefully　the　orders　of　your
majesty；　and　the　instructions　of　your　minister；　Count　Metternich；
and　written　only　what　your　majesty　had　agreed　upon　with　the
minister。〃

〃Read　it；〃　said　the　emperor；　taking　the　fly…flap　from　the　table；
and；　while　he　was　slowly　gliding　along　the　walls；　and　killing　now
and　then　a　fly；　Hudelist　read　as　follows：〃

〃To　my　people　and　my　army！My　beloved　subjects；　and　even　my　enemies
know　that；　in　entering　upon　the　present　war；　I　was　induced　to　take
up　arms　neither　by　thirst　for　conquest　nor　by　mortified　personal
feelings。〃

〃Self…preservation　and　independence；　a　peace　which　would　be
compatible　with　the　honor　of　my　crown；　and　which　would　give　security
and　tranquillity　to　my　people；　were　the　lofty　and　only　objects　which
I　strove　to　attain。〃

〃The　fickle　fortunes　of　war　have　not　fulfilled　my　expectations；　the
enemy　penetrated　into　the　heart　of　my　states；　and　exposed　them　to
the　devastations　of　a　war　carried　on　with　the　most　relentless
exasperation　and　barbarity；　but；　at　the　same　time；　he　became
acquainted　with　the　patriotic　spirit　of　my　people　and　the　bravery　of
my　army。〃

〃This　experience；　which　he　purchased　after　fearful　bloodshed；　and　my
unvarying　solicitude　for　the　happiness　of　my　subjects；　brought　about
mutual　advances　for　peace　negotiations。　My　plenipotentiaries　met
with　those　of　the　French　emperor。〃

〃I　am　desirous　of　concluding　an　honorable　peace；　the　terms　of　which
offer　the　possibility　and　prospect　of　its　duration。　The　bravery　of
my　army；　its　unwavering　courage；　its　ardent　patriotism；　its　emphatic
wish　not　to　lay　down　its　arms　prior　to　the　conclusion　of　an
honorable　peace；　prevent　me　from　submitting　to　terms　which　would
shake　the　foundations　of　the　empire；　and　dishonor　us　after　such
great　and　generous　sacrifices　and　so　much　bloodshed。〃

〃The　noble　spirit　animating　the　army　is　a　sufficient　guaranty　that；
if　the　enemy　should　after　all　mistake　our　intentions　and　strength；
we　shall　certainly　obtain　the　reward　of　constancy　in　the　end。〃
＇Footnote：　See　Hormayr's　〃Andreas　Hofer；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　440。＇

〃There；〃　cried　the　emperor　at　this　moment；　striking　with　the　fly…
flap　at　the　wall；　〃that　will　at　length　put　an　end　to　your　humming；
with　which　you　have　dinned　my　ears　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour。　Come
here；　Hudelist；　and　look　at　this　bluebottle　fly。　The　whole　time
while　you　were　reading　I　was　chasing　it；　and　have　only　just　got　it。
Did　you　ever　see　so　large　a　fly？〃

〃It　is　a　very　large　fly　indeed；〃　said　Hudelist；　with　a　grin。

〃I　do　not　believe　that　it　is　a　bluebottle　fly；〃　exclaimed　the
emperor。　〃It　is　Bonaparte；　who　has　transformed　himself　into　a
bluebottle　fly；　as　Jove　once　transformed　himself　into　an　ox；　and　he
came　hither　to　annoy　me　and　din　my　ears　until　I　am　quite　sick。　Yes；
yes；　Hudelist；　believe　me；　Bonaparte　is　a　huge　bluebottle　fly；　which
drives　all　Europe　mad。　Ah；　would　I　could　treat　him　as　I　treat　this
abominable　bluebottle　fly　now；　and　crush　him　under　my　foot！〃

And　the　emperor　crushed　the　writhing　insect　under　his　heel。

〃Your　majesty　will　surely　enjoy　one　day　the　pleasure　of　crushing
Bonaparte；　the　huge　bluebottle　fly；　under　your　heel；〃　said　Hudelist。
〃Only　your　majesty　must　be　gracious　enough　to　have　patience；　and　not
now　try　to　attain　what　you　will　surely　accomplish　at　a　later　time。
At　this　juncture　Bonaparte　is　strong　and　superior　to　us；　but　let　us
wait　until　there　is　a　moment　when　he　is　weak；　your　majesty　will
profit　by　this　moment；　and　crush　him。〃

〃See；　see　how　kind　you　are！〃　exclaimed　the　emperor；　with　a　sardonic
smile；　〃you　are　so　obliging　as　to　give　me　advice　which　I　did　not　ask
for。　I　thank　you；　Mr。　Aulic　Councillor；　but　I　believe　it　will　be
better　for　me　to　follow　my　own　understanding。　As　God　Almighty　has
placed　me　at　the　head　of　Austria　and　made　me　emperor；　He　must
confide　in　my　ability　to　discharge　the　duties　of　my　imperial　office。
Well；　you　need　not　look　so　dismayed；　I　know　that　your　intentions　are
good；　and　I　confide　in　you。〃

〃Your　majesty　knows　that　I　am　ready　to　die　for　you；　and　that　I
should　shed　my　blood　for　you　unhesitatingly　and　joyously；〃　exclaimed
Hudelist；　enthusiastically。　〃It　was；　therefore；　only　my　intense　love
and　veneration　which　made　me　venture　to　communicate　my　views　freely
and　openly　to　your　majesty；　but　I　shall　never　do　so　again；　for　I　was
unfortunate　enough　to　displease　your　majesty　thereby。〃

〃On　the　contrary；　you　shall　always　do　so；　you　shall　always　tell　me
your　opinion　freely　and　openly；〃　cried　the　emperor；　vehemently。　〃You
shall　tell　me　all　that　you　believe；　all　that　you　know；　and　all　that
you　hear　and　learn　from　others。　Your　ears；　eyes；　and　tongue；　shall
belong　to　me。〃

〃And　my　heart；　above　all　things；　belongs　to　my　adored　emperor；　your
majesty。〃

〃Have　you　really　got　a　heart？〃　asked　the　emperor；　smiling。　〃I　do　not
believe　it；　Hudelist；　you　are　a　clever；　sagacious　man；　but　you　had
better　say　nothing　about　your　heart；　for　I　think　you　have　used　it　up
in　your　countless　love…affairs。　Moreover；　I　do　not　care　for　it。　I　do
not　think　a　great　deal　of　men　who　have　too　much　heart；　and　who
always　allow　their　rash　heart　to　influence　their　actions。　My
distinguished　brother；　the　Archduke　John；　for　instance；　has　this
fault　and　weakness；　his　heart　frequently　runs　away　with　his　head；
and　his　legs　finally　run　after　it。〃

〃But　he　is　a　very　brave　general；〃　said　Hudelist；　gently；　〃a
courageous　captain；　and　a　most　defiant　and　foolhardy　enemy　of
France。　How　unwavering　were　the　courage　and　intrepidity　with　which
he　met　the　Viceroy　of　Italy　everywhere；　and　attacked　him；　even
though　he　knew　beforehand　that　he　would　be　unable　to　worst　the
superior　enemy！　How　great　was　the　magnanimity　with　which　he　risked
all；　and　did　not　shrink　from　sacrificing　the　lives　of　thousands　in
attempting　to　carry　out　an　insignificant　coup　against　the　enemy！　And
how　sublime　was　the　heroism　with　which　he　has　often　dared　to　brave
the　orders　of　the　commander…in…chief　and　pursue　his　own　way；　on
finding　that　these　orders　were　dangerous　and　pernicious　to　his
army！〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　the　emperor；　bursting　into　scornful　laughter；　〃it　was
owing　to　this　disobedience　and　stubbornness　that　we　lost　the　battle
of　Wagram。　If　the　Archduke　John　had　been　more　obedient；　and　arrived
with　his　troops　in　time；　we　should　have　gained　the　battle。　I　should
not　be　in　this　miserable　hole　and　it　would　not　be　necessary　for　me
to　sue　Bonaparte　so　humbly　and　contritely　for　generous　terms　of
peace。　The　good　heart　of　my　distinguished　brother　subjected　me　to
this　un