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第94章

andreas hofer-第94章

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Christian as our Andreas Hofer。〃

〃No; no; brother Joachim; we will not wait until then to show to the
world that we are good Christians;〃 exclaimed Andreas。 〃God stood by
us in the battle of Mount Isel and made us victorious over our
enemies。 Let us thank Him; therefore; for His surpassing goodness
and mercy; let us pray Him to bless our victory and grant a glorious
resurrection to those who had to sacrifice their lives for it。〃

He drew his large rosary from his bosom; and; lifting his eyes
devoutly to heaven; sank down on his knees。

〃Yes; let us pray God to bless our victory;〃 said Father Haspinger;
bending his knees like Andreas Hofer; and Joseph Speckbacher
followed his example。

And the pious Tyrolese; seeing their leaders kneeling on the height
above; were filled with devout emotion; they knelt likewise; their
cheers and Jodlers; their shouts and laughter died away; only
prayers were heard from their lips; and; as an accompaniment to
them; the melodious peals of the bells; with which the people of
Innspruck were celebrating the departure of the French marshals; and
the approach of the defenders of the country。

At this moment the sun burst forth from the clouds; and shed a
radiant lustre on this whole sublime scenethe three kneeling
heroes on the height above; and all around the Tyrolese; clad in
their picturesque national costume; kneeling and thanking God; with
tears in their eyes; for the victory He had vouchsafed to them。

The Bavarian and Saxon prisoners; carried away by this spectacle;
knelt down like the Tyrolese; and prayed to God; like their enemies…
…not thanking Him; as the latter did; for the victory; but for
having made them prisoners; of good and pious victors。 'Footnote:
Mayer's 〃Joseph Speckbacher;〃 p。 196。'

All at once this pious scene was interrupted by loud cheers; shouts;
and Jodlers; and a long; imposing procession of singing; jubilant
men ascended the mountain。 The new…comers were the students of
Innspruck; who came to congratulate Andreas Hofer on his brilliant
victory; and accompany him on his triumphal entry into the city。
Many persons followed them; and all shouted exultingly; 〃Where is
Andreas Hofer; the savior of the country? Where is Andreas Hofer;
the liberator?〃

The band heading the procession of the students; struck up a ringing
flourish on beholding Andrews; who had risen from his knees at their
approach。 But he raised his arm imperatively; the band ceased
playing immediately; and the cheers died away on the lips of the
students; who bowed respectfully to the tall; imposing form of the
Barbone。

〃Hush; hush;〃 said Andreas; gravely; 〃pray! No cheers; no music!
Neither I nor any of us did it; all the glory is due to Him above!〃
'Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own words; Ibid。; p。 197。'

〃But you helped the good God a little;〃 said the speaker of the
students; 〃and therefore you must submit to accept the thanks of the
whole Tyrol; and to being called the savior and liberator of the
country。 We come to you as messengers of the capital of the Tyrol;
and are instructed to request you to tarry no longer; but make your
triumphal entry into the city。〃

〃Yes; I will come;〃 exclaimed Andreas; joyfully; 〃what I implored of
the Lord as the highest boon has been realized now: we shall make
our triumphal entry into the city; where the mean enemy behaved so
shamefully。 Return to Innspruck; my friends; and say to the
inhabitants that we shall be in the city in the course of an hour
old Red…beard; Speckbacher; and Iand that we shall be glad to meet
all our excellent friends there again。〃

And an hour afterward Andreas Hofer and his friends made their entry
into Innspruck。 He sat in a gorgeous carriage; drawn by four
splendid white horses; which he himself had taken from a French
colonel during his flight across the Brenner。 By the side of the
Sandwirth sat Joachim Haspinger; the Capuchin; and beside the
carriage rode Joseph Speckbacher; with a radiant face; and his dark;
fiery eyes beaming with triumphant joy; he was mounted on the proud
magnificently…caparisoned charger that had borne the haughty Duke of
Dantsic two days ago。

The carriage was preceded by a crowd of rejoicing peasants; and a
band of fifers and fiddlers; carpets and banners hung from all the
windows and balconies; ladies in beautiful attire greeted the
conquering hero with waving handkerchiefs; and the people in the
streets; the ladies on the balconies; and the boys on the roofs and
in the trees; shouted enthusiastically; 〃Long live Andreas Hofer!
Long live the commander…in…chief of the Tyrol!〃 And the bells
pealed; the cannon posted on the market…place thundered; and the
fifers and fiddlers made as much noise as possible。

〃Listen; brother Haspinger;〃 said Andreas Hofer; turning to the
Capuchin; while the carriage was moving on slowly; 〃I should really
dislike to enter the city always amid such fuss and noise; and I
believe it is heavy work for princes always to look well pleased and
cheerful when they are so much molested by the enthusiasm of the
people。 I looked forward with a great deal of joy to the day when we
should make our entry into the city; and I thought it would be much
more beautiful; but now I am greatly tired of the whole thing; I
should be glad if they would cease fiddling; and clear a passage for
the carriage to move on more rapidly。 I am hungry; and I would I
were already at the tavern of my dear friend Niederkircher。〃

〃Well; you must learn to put on a pleasant face when the people
cheer you;〃 said Haspinger; laughing。 〃You have now become a prince
too; and I think your people will love you dearly。〃

〃What nonsense is that; brother?〃 asked Hofer; angrily。

〃It is no nonsense at all; Andy; on the contrary; it is quite true。
Just listen to their acclamations。〃

〃Long live Andreas Hofer!〃 shouted the crowd; which was dancing and
singing around the carriage。 〃Long live the commander…in…chief of
the Tyrol!〃

〃They call me commander…in…chief of the Tyrol;〃 said Andreas;
musingly。 〃Tell me; Joachim; is it necessary for me to assume that
title?〃

〃Yes; it is。 There must be a head of the state; a man to whom the
people may look up as its star; and to whom it may apply as its
comfort; support; and judge。 And as the people have confidence in
you and love you; you must be the man to hold the whole together;
lest it should fall asunder。 You shall be the head; and we others
will be your hands and thoughts; and will work and fight; and think
for you and the Tyrol。 We must have a leader; a commander…in…chief
of the Tyrol; and you are the man; Andy。〃

〃If you say so; it must be so;〃 said Andreas; nodding his head
gently。 〃Well; then; I shall be commander…in…chief of the Tyrol
until order and peace are restored; and until the enemy has been
expelled from the country for evermore。 But see; we have arrived in
front of Niederkircher's tavern; and there is Niederkircher himself
with his dear round face。 God bless you; Niederkircher; why do you
look at me so solemnly; and why have you dressed up so nicely? Why;
you wear your holiday clothes; and yet I think this is neither
Sunday nor a holiday。〃

〃It is a great holiday;〃 exclaimed Niederkircher; 〃the commander…in…
chief of the Tyrol; the great Andreas Hofer; is making his triumphal
entry into the city。 That is why I have put on my Sunday clothes and
look so solemn; for it would not be becoming for me to embrace the
distinguished commander…in…chief of the Tyrol; as I should like to
do under other circumstances。〃

〃You are a fool; old fellow!〃 said Andreas; encircling his friend's
neck with his arm; 〃if I am commander…in…chief before the world; I
am; before my friends; always Andreas Hofer; the Sandwirth and
humble peasant。 Let us go into the house; my dear friend; and you
Joachim; come with us。 There! Take me to the small back room which I
always occupy during my stay in the city。〃

〃God forbid!〃 exclaimed the innkeeper; 〃you never must occupy the
back room again; that would not be becoming for the commander…in…
chief of the Tyrol。 You must take my best room with the balcony
opening on the street; besides; all is there in readiness for your
recepti

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