andreas hofer-第96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！


to　me；　and　I　will　thank　you；　and　bless　you；　and　love　you　as　a
brother。〃

〃As　a　brother！〃　he　cried　mournfully。　〃But　I　do　not　want　you　to　love
me　as　a　brother。　I　want　your　heart；　your　whole　heart；　Eliza；　and　it
is　mine　in　spite　of　youmine！　But　you　are　vindictive；　and　cannot
forget　and　forgive；　and　because　I　denied　and　misunderstood　you　once
in　my　blind　stubbornness；　you　wish　to　wreak　vengeance　on　me；　drive
me　to　despair；　and　make　me　unhappy　for　my　whole　life！〃

〃I！〃　she　exclaimed；　mournfully；　〃I　wish　to　make　you　unhappy？〃

〃Yes；　you；〃　he　said　bitterly；　〃you　see　my　sufferings；　and　gloat　over
them；　you　feel　that　I　love　you　boundlessly；　and　with　cold；　sneering
pride　you　try　to　resent　my　former　contemptible　haughtiness。　You
oppose　your　peasant　pride　to　my　insensate　aristocratic　pride；　you
want　to　make　me　go　mad　or　die　heart…broken；　and　your　coolness　never
leaves　you　for　a　moment；　and　my　grief　makes　no　impression　on　you；
for；　when　I　am　dead；　you　will　be　able　to　exclaim：　'I　fought　for　my
country　as　a　brave　daughter　of　the　Tyrol！　I　killed　a　Bavarian；　I
broke　his　heart　laughingly！'〃

〃You　lie；　I　shall　never　say　so！〃　cried　Eliza；　in　an　outburst　of
generous　indignation；　〃you　lie　if　you　think　me　capable　of　so
miserable　a　revenge；　you　lie　if　you　believe　that　I　have　a　cold　and
cruel　heart。　I　wish　I　had；　for　then　I　should　not　suffer　what　I　am
suffering　now；　and　I　should　at　least　be　able　to　forget　you。　You
really　charge　me　with　having　a　cold　heart；　with　hating　and　despising
you？　Do　you　not　see；　do　you　not　even　suspect　what　I　am　suffering　for
your　sake？　Look　at　me；　then；　see　how　pale　my　cheeks　are；　see　how　dim
my　eyes　are！　I　do　not　take　any　notice　of　it；　I　do　not　look　at　myself
in　the　mirrorwhy　should　I；　and　for　whom？but　mother　tells　me　so
every　day；　and　weeps　for　me。　And　why　am　I　so　pale　and　thin；　and　why
are　my　eyes　so　dim？　Because　my　heart　is　full　of　grief；　because　I
have　no　rest　day　or　night；　because　there　is　in　my　heart　a　voice
which　I　can　never　silence；　not　even　when　I　am　praying　or　kneeling　in
the　confessional。　Do　you　think　I　am　grieving　for　the　sake　of　the
country　or　the　bloody　war？　What　does　the　country　concern　me？　I　think
no　longer　of　it；　and　yet　every　battle　makes　me　tremble；　and　on
nearing　the　booming　of　artillery；　I　kneel　down　and　pray　with　tears
of　anguish　to　the　Holy　Virgin。　Oh；　may　God　forgive　me！　I　do　not　pray
for　my　father；　nor　for　our　soldiers；　I　pray　for　a　Bavarian；　I　pray
for　you！〃

〃Eliza！〃　exclaimed　Ulrich；　radiant　with　joy；　and　stretching　out　his
arms　toward　her；　〃Eliza！〃

〃Hush！〃　she　said；　stepping　back　proudly；　〃do　not　speak。　I　have　told
you　the　truth；　for　I　do　not　want　you　to　accuse　and　curse　me；　when　I
am　blessing　you　every　day。　But　now　go；　sir；　forget　what　I　have　said；
but　remember　me　always　as　one　who　never　hated　you；　and　never　thought
of　revenging　herself　upon　you。〃

〃Eliza；〃　said　Ulrich；　gravely；　taking　her　hand；　and　gazing　deeply
into　her　eyes；　〃let　us　now　be　honest　and　frank　toward　each　other。
Our　hearts　have　spoken　with　each　other；　and　God　has　heard　them。　You
love　me；　and　I　love　you。　Do　you　remember　what　I　said　to　you；　when
taking　leave　of　you　on　the　mountain？〃

〃I　do　not；　sir；〃　she　whispered；　dropping　her　eyes。

〃But　I　do；〃　he　continued；　gravely　and　firmly。　〃I　said　to　you：　'I
will　go　now；　but　I　shall　return　and　ask　you：　〃Do　you　remember　me？
Will　you　become　my　wife？'〃　Now；　Eliza；　I　have　returned；　and　ask　you
as　I　asked　you　on　the　mountain；　Eliza；　will　you　become　my　wife？〃

〃And　I　reply　as　I　replied　to　you　on　the　mountain；〃　she　said
solemnly。　〃We　can　never　belong　to　each　other　as　husband　and　wife；
but　we　can　remember　each　other　as　good　friends。　And　so；　sir；　I　will
always　remember　you；　and　it　will　always　gladden　my　heart　to　hear
that　you　are　well　and　happy。〃

〃Is　that　your　last　word？〃　asked　Ulrich；　angrily。

〃Yes；　sir；　it　is　my　last　word。〃

〃Then　you　are　intent　on　making　us　unhappy？〃　he　cried；　mournfully。
〃Oh；　you　crystal…heart；　so　transparent　and　clear；　so　hard；　so　hard！
Will　you　never；　then；　allow　yourself　to　be　softened　by　the　sunbeams
of　love？　Will　they　always　only　harden　your　heart？〃

〃I　cannot　act　otherwise；　sir；　I　assure　you　I　cannot；〃　she　said；
beseechingly。

〃Well；　then；　I　cannot　act　otherwise　either；〃　he　cried。　〃I　shall　not
accept　this　mission；　I　shall　not　go　to　Munich；　I　shall　stay　here。〃

〃No；　no；　I　implore　you　to　go！〃　exclaimed　Eliza。　〃Save　my　imprisoned
countrymen；　save；　above　all；　my　Elza　and　her　father！　Oh；　she　is
unhappy；　she　longs　for　her　home；　she　is　weeping　for　me；　for　you；
sir！　Make　haste；　make　haste；　have　mercy　upon　Elza　and　myself！〃

〃Why　should　I　have　mercy　when　you　have　none？〃　he　asked；　quickly。
〃Let　the　prisoners　die　of　grief；　I　am　a　prisoner　too；　and　shall　know
also　how　to　die。　I　shall　not　leave　Innspruck　unless　you　promise　me
that　you　will　become　my　wife　on　my　return；　and　plight　me　your　faith
before　the　altar　of　God。　I　swear　by　all　that　is　sacred　to　me；　I　will
not　leave　this　city　unless　I　take　with　me　your　solemn　pledge　that
you　will　overcome　your　pride　and　become　my　wife。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　she　said；　blushing　deeply；　〃go；　then。　Procure　my
Elza's　release；　bring　her　home；　and　then〃

〃And　then？〃　he　asked；　as　she　hesitated。

〃Then　you　shall　receive　at　the　hands　of　the　priest　a　bride　who　loves
you；　loves　you　with　infinite　tenderness；〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。

He　uttered　a　cry　of　joy；　and　folded　her　to　his　heart。　But　she
disengaged　herself　gently。　〃Make　haste　now；〃　she　said；　〃for　the
sooner　yon　depart；　the　sooner　you　will　return。〃

〃I　will　set　out　immediately；〃　he　cried；　radiant　with　joy。　〃But　swear
to　me；　Eliza；　that　I　shall　receive；　immediately　on　my　return；　even
though　it　should　be　early　in　the　morning；　at　the　hands　of　the
priest；　my　bridethe　bride　who　loves　me　with　infinite　tenderness。〃

〃I　swear　by　the　Holy　Virgin；〃　said　Eliza；　solemnly；　〃that　if　you
bring　my　Elza　to　me　here；　you　shall　receive　your　bride　at　the　hands
of　the　priest　on　the　day　of　your　return；　whether　it　be　early　in　the
morning　or　late　at　night。〃

〃Captain　Ulrich；〃　shouted　Cajetan　Doeninger；　opening　the　door；　〃it
is　high　time　for　you　to　set　out。　The　carriage　has　been　at　the　door
for　upward　of　an　hour。〃

〃I　am　ready；〃　said　Ulrich；　holding　out　his　hand　to　Eliza　with　a
happy　smile。　〃Farewell；　Eliza；　I　shall　return　with　your　Elza　in　two
weeks。〃




CHAPTER　XXXVII。

ELZA's　RETURN。


A　splendid　festival　was　being　celebrated　at　Innspruck　on　the　3d　of
October；　and　there　were　great　rejoicings　in　the　city。　A　message　of
love　and　joy　had　reached　Innspruck　from　the　headquarters　of　the
Emperor　Francis　at　Totis。　Three　of　the　former　leaders　of　the
Tyrolese　insurrection；　who　had　escaped　to　Austria　at　the　time　of　the
second　invasion　of　the　BavariansSieberer；　Frischmann；　and
Eisensteckenhad　arrived　at　Innspruck　as　couriers　of　the　emperor。
They　had　succeeded　in　passing　through　Styria　and　Carinthia；　although
both　these　provinces　were　occupied　by　French　troops；　and　had　safely
arrived　at　Innspruck　amid　the　jubilant　acclamations　of　the
population。　They　brought　cheering　news　from　the　Emperor　Francis。　He
sent　to　the　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrol；　his　beloved　and
faithful　Andreas　Hofer；　a　large　gold　chain　and　medal　containing　the
emperor's　portrait；　and　he　sent　also　three　thousand　florins　as　a
gift　to　the　brave　sharpshooters。　But　better　than　all　this　was　an
autograph　letter　from　the　emperor；　who　extolled　in　it　the　bravery　of
the　Tyrolese；　called　upon　them　to　persevere　in　their　resistance；　and
promised　that　Austria　would　succor　them　vigorously　with　money　and
troops。　The　letter　stated　that　the　emperor　would　soon　dispatch　Baron
von　Reschmann　with　funds　and　full　instructions　to　the　Tyrol；　where
he　would　act　as　commissioner　and　intendant　of　the　army；　and　that　the
Tyrolese　might　confidently　look　for　the　speedy　resumption　of
hostilities。

These　joyful　tidings　were　received　with　unbounded　enthusiasm；　and
Andreas　Hofer's　face　beamed　with　delight　when　he　was　formally
invested　with　the　gold　medal　and　chain　in　the　great　church　of
Innspruck；　at　the　foot　of　the　tomb　of　Maximilian；　by　the　Abbot　of
Wiltau；　amid　the　tears　and　acclamations　of　a　vast　concourse　of
spectators；　who　afterward；　preceded　by　the　municipal　authorities；
accompanied　him　in　solemn　procession　to　the　imperial　palace。　Andreas
presented　a　splendid　appearance　in　the　fine　gold…embroidered　uniform
which　he　wore　to…day　in　honor　of　the　celebration；　in　place　of　his
Tyrolese　costume；　his　heavy　gold　chain　and　the　medal　with　the
emperor's　portrait；　glittered　under　his　fine　black　beard　on　his
breast；　and　he　wore　a　black　hat　with　a　plume　and　inscription　to　him
as　the　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrol；　the　gift　of　the　holy
sisterhood　of　Innspruck。

Andreas　Hofer's　face　shone　with　happiness　as　he　walked　along　in　this
manner　amid　the　acclamations　of　the　whole　population　and　the　ringing
of　all　the　bells；　but　his　heart　was　nevertheless　full　of　humility；
and　lifting　his　beaming　eyes　to　heaven；　he　murmured　to　himself；　〃O
my　Lord　and　God；　Thou　hast　accomplished　every　thing；　Thou　hast
protected　us　and　vouchsafed　us　victory！　Glory　to　Thee　alone！
Preserve　me。　O　Lord；　from　pride　and　arrogance；　and　let　me　recognize
always　that　I　am　nothing　but　Thy　unwor