andreas hofer-第23章

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Hormayr；　vol。　i。；　p。　191。＇




CHAPTER　VIII。

CONSECRATION　OF　THE　FLAGS；　AND　FAREWELL。


The　die　was　cast；　then。　The　war　with　France　was　to　break　out　again。
There　was　to　be　no　more　procrastination　and　hesitation。　The　time　for
action　was　at　hand。

　Already　the　French　ambassador；　Andreossi；　had　left　Vienna；　and　all
the　members　of　the　legation　had　followed　him。　Already　Clement　Count
Metternich　had　arrived　at　Vienna　but　he　had　not　left　Paris　as　Count
Andreossi　had　left　Vienna；　quietly　and　unmolested；　but　Napoleon　had
caused　him　to　be　escorted　to　the　French　frontier　by　a　detachment　of
gens　d'armes。

And　to…day；　on　the　9th　of　March；　Austria　was　to　proclaim　to　all
Germany；　by　means　of　a　public　festival；　that　she　was　resolved　to
renew　the　struggle　with　France　and　risk　once　more　the　blood　of　her
people　and　the　existence　of　her　imperial　dynasty　in　order　to　deliver
Germany　from　the　usurper　who　was　intent　on　crushing　in　his　iron
hands　the　liberty　and　independance　of　the　German　nation。

A　solemn　ceremony　was　to　take　place　to…day　on　the　Glacis　of　Vienna。
The　flags　of　the　militia　were　to　be　consecrated　by　the　Archbishop　of
Vienna；　and　the　whole　imperial　family　was　to　be　present　at　the
solemnity。　Hence；　all　Vienna　presented　a　festive　appearance；　all
stores　were　closed；　and　no　one　was　seen　following　his　every…day
avocations。　The　Viennese　had　made　a　holiday；　no　one　would　toil　for
his　daily　bread；　all　wished　to　refresh　themselves　only　with　mental
food；　and　greet　with　their　glances　and　acclamations　the　noble　men
who　were　to　take　the　field　for　the　salvation　of　the　fatherland。

The　people　were　surging　in　dense　masses　toward　the　glacis；　rushing
with　irresistible　impetuosity　into　the　empty　ditches；　and　climbing
the　trees　on　their　edges；　or　gaining　some　other　standpoint　whence
they　could　survey　the　solemnity　which　was　to　take　place　on　the　broad
promenade　of　the　glacis。　On　the　large　rondel　of　the　glacis　had　been
erected　a　tribune　whose　golden…broidered　velvet　canopy　was
surmounted　by　a　very　large　imperial　crown；　four　golden　double…headed
eagles　adorned　the　four　corners　of　the　canopy；　and　held　in　their
beaks　the　colors　of　Austria　and　Hungary。　Under　the　canopy　stood　gilt
arm…chairs；　with　cushions　of　purple　velvet。　This　was　the　tribune
destined　for　the　emperor　and　his　family；　all　eyes　were　riveted　upon
it；　and　all　hearts　longed　to　greet　the　sovereign；　and　thank　him　for
the　proud　happiness　of　this　hour。

Further　on　rose　other　and　no　less　splendidly　decorated　tribunes；　the
seats　of　which　had　been　sold　at　enormous　rates　to　the　aristocracy
and　wealthy　citizens　of　Vienna　for　the　benefit　of　the　militia；　and
thousands　had　found　seats　on　the　trees　surrounding　the　broad
promenade　and　the　rondel；　and　paid　for　their　airy　perches　only　with
some　pains　and　bruises。

Since　early　dawn　this　pilgrimage　to　the　glacis　had　been　going　on；　by
ten　o'clock　all　seats；　roads；　tribunes；　trees；　ditches；　and　bridges；
were　occupied　by　a　dense　crowd；　and；　in　order　to　prevent　accidents；
the　authorities　had　already　ordered　all　approaches　to　the　glacis　to
be　closed。

On　the　broad　promenade；　too；　matters　assumed　a　very　lively　aspect。
The　militia　marched　up　with　banners　unfurled　and　drums　beating。　They
drew　up　in　line　on　both　sides　of　the　road；　and　their　officers　and
standard…bearers　repaired　to　the　large　rondel　where　another　had　been
constructed　in　face　of　the　imperial　tribune。　They　ranged　themselves
around　the　altar；　on　whose　steps　priests　in　full　vestments　were
kneeling；　and　which　was　surmounted　by　a　gigantic　crucifix；　visible
to　all　spectators　far　and　near；　and　waving　to　all　its　blessings　and
love…greetings。

And　now　all　the　church…steeples　commenced　ringing　their　peals；　the
iron　tongues　of　their　bells　proclaimed　to　the　inhabitants　of　Vienna；
and　to　the　many　thousands　of　strangers　who　had　come　to　witness　the
solemnity；　that　the　emperor　with　his　con…art　and　his　children　had
left　the　Hofburg；　and　was　approaching　the　glacis；　followed　by　his
suite。　The　militia　assumed　a　stiff　military　attitude；　the　drums
rolled；　the　cannon　boomed；　the　bugles　sounded　merry　notes；　and　the
emperor；　leading　his　consort　by　the　hand；　entered　the　tribune。　He
looked　pale；　his　form　was　bent；　and　trembling　as　if　shaken　by　an
inward　fever；　and　even　more　singular　appeared　his　down…hanging
under…lip　and　the　gloomy；　morose　expression　of　his　lustreless　blue
eyes。　But　the　people　did　not　see　this；　they　saw　only　that　their
emperor　had　arrivedtheir　emperor；　who　had　resolved　to　deliver
Austria　from　the　ignominious　foreign　yoke；　who　would　die　with　his
subjects　rather　than　longer　bear　the　arrogance　of　France；　and　who
boldly　and　courageously　staked　all　in　order　to　win　all；　to　restore
at　length　a　lasting　peace　to　Austria　and　Germany；　and　vindicate
their　honor　and　independence。　For　this　reason　all　hearts　greeted　the
Emperor　Francis　with　love　and　exultation；　and　he　was　received　with
deafening　and　constantly…renewed　cheers。

The　emperor　received　with　a　forced　smile　the　flattering　homage　which
was　rendered　to　him；　but　more　radiant　was　the　smile　of　his　consort；
in　her　dark　and　glowing　eyes　glistened　tears　of　joyful　emotion；　when
she　glanced　at　this　jubilant　mass　of　spectators　and　the　enthusiastic
regiments　of　the　militia。　She　was　also　full　of　exultation；　she　did
not；　however；　give　vent　to　her　feelings；　but　pent　them　up　in　her
heart；　owing　to　the　moroseness　of　her　imperial　husband。

In　the　midst　of　a　fresh　outburst　of　popular　enthusiasm；　Francis　bent
over　the　empress。　〃I　suppose　you　are　well　satisfied　now；　empress？〃
he　asked。　〃You　have　attained　your　object；　all　of　you　have　fanned　the
flame　until　war　is　ready　to　break　out；　and　every　thing　will　go　again
topsy…turvy。　But　I　tell　you；　empress；　we　shall　fail　again；　I　do　not
believe　that　we　shall　conquer。〃

〃Well；　your　majesty；　then　we　shall　succumb　and　die；　but　it　will　be
an　honorable　defeat。　It　is　better　to　perish　in　a　just　and　honorable
struggle　than　submit　patiently　to　foreign　usurpation。〃

〃A　very　nice　phrase；　but　the　practical　execution　of　such　ideas　is
sometimes　by　far　more　unpleasant　than　the　theory　which　they　express。
I　am　afraid　you　will　have　good　reason　to　regret　this　day；　andbut
what　fearful　noise　is　this　again？　The　people　are　cheering　as　though
they　were　welcoming　God　Almighty　Himself。　What　is　it？〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　Ludovica；　gazing　timidly　into　her　husband's
face；　〃I　believe　the　people　are　cheering　the　Archdukes　Charles　and
John；　for　they　are　just　walking　along　the　ranks　of　the　militia。〃

〃Ah；　my　brothers！〃　murmured　the　emperor；　with　an　angry　expression；
which；　however；　disappeared　again　immediately；　〃the　people　are
cheering　my　brothers　as　though　they　were　two　divinities　from　whom
alone　they　expect　salvation　and　prosperity。〃

〃Your　majesty；　the　people　cheer　the　archdukes　because　they　are　the
brothers　of　the　emperor；　and　because　the　confidence　of　your　majesty
has　placed　them　at　the　head　of　the　Austrian　armies　to　lead　them　to
battle；　and；　if　it　please　God；　to　victory。　It　is　your　majesty　alone
that　appointed　the　Archduke　Charles　generalissimo　of　all　your
forces；　and　the　Archduke　John　commander　of　the　army　of　Lower
Austria。〃

〃Yes；　I　did　so；　for；　blessed　as　I　am　with　brothers　so　heroic　and
spirited；　I　must　of　course　distinguish　and　employ　them　in　accordance
with　their　merits；　otherwise　they　might　believe　I　was　jealous　of
their　glory　and　splendor。　This　would　be　entirely　false；　for；　so　far
from　being　jealous　of　them；　I　love　them　dearly；　and　give　them　now
again　another　opportunity　to　gain　laurels；　as　they　did　in　1805。　It
is　true；　my　brother　the　generalissimo；　was　not　victorious　at
Austerlitz；　and　my　brother　John　has　likewise　sustained　many　a
defeat；　but　that　does　not　prevent　them　from　being　heroes　and　great
men。　Just　listen　to　the　roars　with　which　the　people　greet　them！
Jesus　Maria！　I　hope　the　generalissimo　will　not　have　his　fits　from
excessive　joy。〃

Ludovica　cast　a　quick；　mournful　glance　on　the　maliciously　smiling
face　of　her　husband。　〃Your　majesty　need　not　be　alarmed；〃　she　said；
〃your　tender　apprehensions　will　fortunately　not　be　fulfilled。　You
see　that　the　archduke　is　quite　well；　he　is　just　addressing　his
troops。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　h