andreas hofer-第24章

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！


see　that　the　archduke　is　quite　well；　he　is　just　addressing　his
troops。〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know　his　speech。　M。　von　Gentz　wrote　it　for　him　and　I
permitted　him　to　deliver　it。　Ah；　it　abounds　with　fine　phrases；　and
my　dear　Austrians　will　be　astonished　on　hearing　what　liberal　men　we
have　become　all　of　a　sudden；　and　what　grand　ideas　of　liberty；
equality；　and　popular　sovereignty　we　have　adopted。　Just　listen　to
him！　the　conclusion　is　very　fine；　and　sounds　just　as　though　the
Marseillaise　had　been　translated　into　the　language　of　the
Austrians。〃

〃Soldiers；〃　shouted　the　archduke；　at　this　moment；　in　a　loud；　ringing
voice。　〃the　liberty　of　Europe　has　taken　refuge　under　the　flag　of
Austria；　the　rights；　freedom；　and　honor　of　all　Germany　expect　their
salvation　only　of　our　armies。　Never　shall　they；　instruments　of
oppression；　carry　on　in　foreign　countries　the　endless　wars　of　a
destructive　ambition；　annihilate　innocent　nations；　and　with　their
own　corpses　pave　for　foreign　conquerors　the　road　leading　to　usurped
thrones。　Soldiers；　we　take　up　arms　only　for　the　liberty；　honor；　and
rights　of　all　Germany；　it　is　these　sacred　boons　that　we　have　to
defend！〃　＇Footnote：　Hormayr；　〃Allgemeine　Geschichte；〃　vol。　iii。；　p。
219。＇

A　long…continued；　deafening　outburst　of　applause　both　of　the
soldiers　and　the　people　was　the　reply　to　the　stirring　address　of　the
generalissimo；　but　suddenly　every　sound　was　hushed；　for　at　the
altar；　yonder　by　the　side　of　the　tall　crucifix；　appeared　now　the
archbishop；　accompanied　by　the　whole　body　of　the　high　clergy。

The　emperor　rose　from　his　seat　and　bowed　humbly　and　devoutly　to　the
prelate　who　had　been　the　teacher　of　his　youth；　and　had　afterward
married　him　three　times；　the　last　time　only　a　few　months　ago。

And　now　the　archdukes　marched　the　troops　into　the　middle　of　the
place；　and　the　consecration　of　the　flags　commenced　amid　the　peals　of
all　the　church…bells　and　the　booming　of　artillery。

The　emperor　looked　on；　standing；　bareheaded；　and　with　hands　clasped
in　prayer。　Ludovica　turned　her　eyes　heavenward；　and　her　lips　moved
in　a　low；　fervent　prayer。　Behind　them　stood　the　young　archdukes　and
archduchesses；　muttering　prayers；　and　yet　glancing　around　curiously；
and　the　cavaliers　of　the　imperial　couple；　looking　gloomy；　and
plainly　showing　in　their　sombre　faces　the　rage　that　filled　their
hearts。

The　ceremony　being　finished；　the　archbishop　lifted　up　his　hands　and
stretched　them　out　toward　the　soldiers。　〃Adieu；　until　we　meet
again；〃　he　exclaimed　with　a　radiant　air；　and　in　a　voice　of　joyful
enthusiasm；　〃adieu；　until　we　meet　again　at　the　hour　of　danger！〃

〃Adieu；　until　we　meet　again　at　the　hour　of　danger！〃　echoed　the
soldiers　with　enthusiasm。　Seeing　then　that　the　archbishop　bent　his
knees；　they　knelt　likewise　and　bowed　their　heads　in　prayer。　Hushed
was　every　sound　on　the　vast　place。　Only　the　church…bells　were
pealing　and　the　artillery　was　booming　in　the　distance；　and　the
murmur　of　the　devout　prayers　which　rose　to　God　from　so　many　pious
hearts　broke　the　silence。

In　the　fervent　enthusiasm　of　this　hour　no　one　felt　the　least
timidity；　no　one　looked　anxiously　into　the　future。　Even　the　mothers
did　not　shed　tears　for　their　sons　who　were　about　to　take　the　field；
the　affianced　brides　allowed　their　lovers　to　depart　without　uttering
complaints　or　weeping　at　the　thought　of　their　impending　departure；
wives　took　leave　of　their　husbands　with　joyous　courage；　pressing
their　infants　to　their　breasts　and　commending　them　trustingly　to
God's　protection。　The　patriotic　enthusiasm　had　seized　all；　and
carried　away　even　the　coldest　and　most　selfish　hearts。　The　rich
contributed　their　money　with　unwonted　liberality；　those　who　were　in
less　favorable　circumstances　laid　down　their　plate　and　valuables　on
the　altar　of　the　country；　the　mechanics　offered　to　work　gratuitously
for　the　army；　the　women　scraped　lint　and　organized　associations　for
the　relief　of　the　wounded；　the　young　men　offered　their　life…blood　to
the　fatherland；　and　considered　it　as　a　favor　that　their　services
were　not　rejected。

The　long…concealed　hatred　against　France　burst　forth　in　bright
flames　throughout　Austria　and　Germany；　the　war　was　hailed　with
rapturous　enthusiasm；　and　every　heart　longed　to　take　part　in　this
struggle；　which　seemed　to　all　a　war　of　holy　vengeance　and
retribution。　For　the　first　time　in　long　years　Austria　felt　again
thoroughly　identified　with　Germany；　while　the　other　Germans　were
looking　upon　Austria　as　a　German　state　and　holding　out　their　hands
to　their　Austrian　brethren；　telling　them　that　they　sympathized　most
vividly　with　the　ends　which　then　were　trying　to　attain。

But　while　the　utmost　exultation　was　reigning　among　the　people　and
the　soldiers　on　this　joyful　day；　a　gloomy　silence　prevailed　in　the
imperial　palace。　The　joyous　mask　with　which　the　generalissimo；　the
Archduke　Charles；　had　covered　his　face　while　on　the　glacis；　had
disappeared　from　it　so　soon　as　he　had　returned　to　his　rooms。　Pale
and　faint；　he　rested　in　an　easy…chair；　and；　fixing　his　sombre　eyes
an　his　quartermaster…general；　Count　Gruenne；　he　said：　〃My　friend；
listen　to　that　which　I　am　going　to　say　to　you　now；　and　which　you
will　remember　one　day。　I　have　objected　three　times　in　the　most
emphatic　manner　to　this　declaration　of　war；　for　I　know　that　our
preparations　are　not　sufficiently　matured；　and　I　know　also　that　I
have　here　in　Austria　powerful　enemies　who　are　intent　on　impeding　all
my　efforts；　and　who　will　shrink　from　nothing　in　order　to　ruin　me；
and　with　me　you　too；　my　poor　friend。　The　whole　aristocracy　is
hostile　to　me；　and　will　never　allow　the　emperor's　brothers　to　set
bounds　to　its　oligarchy　by　their　merits　and　influence；　it　will
always　oppose　us；　even　though　it　should　endanger　thereby　the　power
and　honor　of　the　fatherland。　I　know　all　the　perils　and　intrigues
surrounding　me；　and　because　I　know　them　I　tried　to　avoid　them；
opposed　the　war；　and　strove　to　get　rid　at　least　of　the　command…in…
chief。　But　the　emperor　would　not　allow　me　to　do　so；　he　ordered　me　to
accept　the　arduous　position　of　generalissimo　of　his　forces；　and；　as
his　subject；　I　had　to　obey　him。　But　I　repeat　it；　this　will　be　a
disastrous　war　for　Austria；　and　I　look　with　gloomy　forebodings　into
the　future。〃

And　as　gloomy　as　the　generalissimo's　face　was　that　of　his　brother；
the　Emperor　Francis。　He　had　retired　into　his　cabinet；　and　strode
growlingly　up　and　down；　holding　the　fly…flap　in　his　hand；　and
striking　savagely　at　the　flies　which　his　searching　eyes　discovered
here　and　there　on　the　wall。

Suddenly　the　door　opened；　and　the　footman　announced　the　Archduke
John。　The　emperor's　face　became　even　more　morose。　He　cast　the　fly…
flap　aside；　and　murmured　to　himself；　〃My　brothers　never　leave　me　any
rest。〃　He　then　said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Let　him　come　in。〃

A　minute　afterward　the　archduke　entered　the　cabinet。　His　face　was
still　joyously　lit　up　by　the　soul…stirring　solemnity　in　which　he　had
participated　in　the　morning；　his　eye　was　yet　radiant　with　noble
enthusiasm　and　exultation；　and　a　serene　smile　played　around　his
lips。　Thus　he　appeared　before　his　brother；　whose　face　seemed　doubly
gloomy　in　the　presence　of　his　own。

〃I　come　to　take　leave　of　your　majesty　and　bid　farewell　to　my　brother
Francis；〃　he　said；　in　a　mild；　tender　voice。　〃I　intend　to　set　out　to…
night　for　Gratz；　and　organize　my　staff　there。〃

〃God　bless　you；　commander　of　the　Southern　army！〃　said　the　emperor；
dryly；　〃God　bless　you；　brother。　You　were　all　eager　for　war；　now　you
have　it！〃

〃And　your　majesty　has　witnessed　the　enthusiasm　with　which　the
Austrian　people　hailed　the　declaration　of　war。　And　not　only　the
people　of　Austria；　but　all　Germany；　looks　now　with　joy；　hope；　and
pride　toward　Austria；　and　participates　most　cordially　in　our　warlike
enthusiasm。〃

〃I　do　not　care　for　that；〃　said　the　emperor；　dryly。　〃Thank　God；　I
cast　off　the　crown　of　Germany　three　years　ago；　and　am　no　longer
Emperor　of　Germany。〃

〃But　one　day；　when　your　armies　have　conquered　France　and　delivered
the　world　from　the　insatiable　usurper；　Germany　will　gratefully　lie
down　at　your　majesty's　feet　and　beseech　you　to　accept　the　imperial
crown　again　at　her　hands。〃

〃Much　obliged；　sir；　but　I　would　not　take　it；〃　exclaimed　the　emp