andreas hofer-第97章

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He　was　not　mistaken。　Hundreds　of　youthful　voices　were　heard　shouting
Andreas　Hofer's　name；　and　their　cheers　were　followed　by　a　loud；
ringing　flourish　of　violins；　fifes；　bugles；　and　trumpets。

〃They　have　musicians　with　them；〃　exclaimed　Hofer；　anxiously。　〃Holy
Virgin；　just　listen　how　they　are　roaring！　It　seems　as　if　they　were
intent　on　upsetting　the　house。〃

〃They　are　calling　you；　they　want　to　see　you；〃　said　Niederkircher；
who　had　stepped　to　the　window。　〃They　are　the　students　of　the
university；　they　have　come　in　their　holiday　attire　to　serenade　you。〃

〃And　why　do　they　want　to　serenade　ME？〃　asked　Andreas　Hofer；　almost
indignantly。　〃Why　not　Speckbacher；　or　the　Capuchin；　or　Peter　Mayer；
or　Anthony　Wallner？　They　all　did　just　as　much　as　I　did；　and　perhaps
even　more。〃

〃But　you　are　the　people's　favorite；　brother；〃　said　the　Capuchin；
smiling；　〃the　people　believe　in　you；　and　it　would　be　cruel　and
short…sighted　in　us　to　shake　their　faith　in　you。　Every　thing　must
come　from　you；　you　must　have　done　and　accomplished　every　thing。〃

〃And　what　we　others　did；　we　did　only　in　your　name；　Father　Andy！〃
exclaimed　Speckbacher；　〃the　people　and　the　sharpshooters　would　not
have　obeyed　us　so　well；　had　they　not　believed　that　you　had　issued
all　the　orders　and　instructions　which　we　gave　them。　On　hearing　your
name　they　obeyed；　fought　well；　and　were　confident　that　we　should
succeed。　And　for　this　reason　they　are　justified　in　coupling　your
name　with　the　celebration　of　the　victory。　Just　listen　how　they　are
shouting　your　name！　It　is　true；　the　dear　boys　have　tremendous　lungs；
and　if　you　do　not　comply　with　their　wishes；　and　show　yourself　on　the
balcony；　I　am　afraid　they　will　make　us　deaf　and　themselves　quite
hoarse。〃

〃Well；　I　do　not　care；〃　sighed　Andreas；　〃open　the　door　again；
Niederkircher；　I　must　step　out　on　the　balcony。〃

〃And　make　another　fine　speech　as　before；〃　said　the　innkeeper；
throwing　open　the　folding…doors。

Andreas　made　no　reply；　but　went　to　the　balcony　with　a　grave　and
almost　angry　face。　Deafening　cheers　greeted　him；　and　the　dense　crowd
assembled　in　the　street　shouted：　〃Long　live　Andreas　Hofer；　the
commander…in…chief！　Long　live　Andreas　Hofer；　the　liberator！〃

〃My　brave　son；　Joseph　Speckbacher；〃　said　the　Capuchin；　filling　his
glass；　〃you　see　every　one　gets　his　due　in　the　end。　Day　before
yesterday；　while　we　were　fighting　in　the　sweat　of　our　brows　on　Mount
Isel；　my　dear　brother　Andreas　Hofer　sat　up　at　his　friend　Etschmann's
tavern。　A　bottle　of　wine　stood　before　him；　and　his　rosary　lay　on　the
table；　and　while　we　were　fighting；　he　prayed　and　drank；　and　sent　us
from　time　to　time　his　orders；　which　sounded　like　oracles；　which　no
one　understood；　and　which　every　one　interpreted　as　he　deemed
prudent。　Now　he　must　toil　in　his　turn　and　fight　with　his　tongue；
while　we　are　sitting　here　snugly　and　drinking　our　wine。　There　is
another　flourish　outside！　Trara！　trara！〃

And　the　Capuchin　waved　his　glass　and　emptied　it　at　one　draught。

Suddenly　the　crowd　in　the　street　became　silent；　a　student　came
forward　and　advanced　several　steps　toward　the　balcony。

〃Andreas　Hofer；　beloved　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrol；〃　he　said；
in　a　loud；　solemn　voice；　〃our　hearts　are　full　of　love　for　you　and
praise　of　your　heroic　deeds；　and　our　lips；　too；　would　like　to
overflow。　Permit　us；　therefore；　noble；　hero；　beloved　liberator；　to
sing　before　you　a　song　glorifying　your　exploits；　a　song　praising
your　struggles　and　victories；　a　song　which　will　henceforth　be　sung
by　every　man；　woman；　and　child；　throughout　the　Tyrol。　We　students
wrote　the　song；　for　your　heroic　deeds　filled　our　hearts　with
enthusiasm；　and　our　attachment　to　you　taught　us　the　finest　music　for
it；　Permit　us；　therefore；　to　sing　before　you　the　song　of　the
victorious　hero　Andreas　Hofer。〃

〃No；　no；　my　dear　friends；　do　not　sing；〃　exclaimed　Hofer；　gravely　and
almost　angrily。　〃Do　not　sing；　and　do　not　play　any　longer　on　your
fifes　and　violins。　We　did　not　take　the　field　to　sing　and　dance；　and
I　did　not　leave　my　wife　and　children　at　home　with　a　light　heart；　but
with　tears　and　anxiety。　But　I　did　it　because　it　was　the　Lord's　will；
and　as　He　accompanied　me　into　battle　we　succeeded　in　defeating　the
enemy。　But　it　was　a　hard　and　mournful　task；　many　brave　and　excellent
men　lost　their　limbs　or　even　their　lives；　and　many　wounded　patriots
are　yet　imploring　God　to　relieve　them　of　their　terrible　agony。　And
while　they　are　groaning　and　wailing；　can　you　wish　to　sing？　While　so
many　fathers　and　mothers　are　lamenting　their　fallen　sons；　can　you
wish　to　exult　here　and　make　music？　No；　my　dear　friends；　that　would
not　be　becoming　for　a　Christian　and　charitable　people。　You　had
better　lay　your　violins　aside　and　take　up　your　rosaries。　Do　not
sing；　but　pray。　Pray　aloud　and　fervently　for　our　beloved　emperor；
and；　if　you　like；　you　may　add　a　low　prayer　for　poor　Andreas　Hofer。
But　you　shall　not　sing　any　songs　in　his　honor；　for　God　alone
accomplished　it　all；　and　homage　should　be　rendered　to　none　but　Him。
Therefore；　do　not　sing；　but　pray。　Pray　in　my　name；　too；　for　I　have
not　much　time　now；　and　cannot　pray　as　much　as　I　should　like　to　do。
Say　to　the　good　God　that　we　toiled　honestly　and　bravely；　say　to　Him
that　we　suffered　privations；　watched；　fought；　and　conquered；　for　the
fatherland；　and　pray　to　Him　for　the　brave　men　who　accompanied　us　to
the　holy　struggle；　and　who　will　never　return；　but　have　succumbed　to
their　mortal　wounds。　Do　not　sing；　but　pray　for　their　poor　souls。
Play　your　merry　melodies　no　longer；　but　go　home　quietly　and　pray　God
to　protect　us　henceforth　as　He　has　heretofore。　That　is　what　I　wish
to　tell　you；　my　dear　friends。　And　now　God　bless　you；　and　accept　my
heart…felt　thanks　for　your　love　and　attachment。〃　＇Footnote：　〃Gallery
of　Heroes：　Andreas　Hofer；〃　p。　130。＇

The　students；　seized　with　profound　emotion；　and　deeply　impressed　by
the　simple　yet　soul…stirring　words　of　Andreas　Hofer；　complied
quietly　and　willingly　with　his　request。　Their　fifes；　violins；　and
bugles　became　silent；　and　the　crowd　dispersed　noiselessly；　without
uttering　any　more　cheers　and　acclamations。

〃They　are　fine；　dear　lads；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；　looking　after　them
with　beaming　eyes；　〃strong　and　hearty　lads；　full　of　spirits　and
impetuosity；　but　on　the　other　hand　so　gentle　and　submissive！Well；
now；〃　he　exclaimed　joyfully；　stepping　back　into　the　room；　〃I　hope　we
shall　have　some　rest；　and　shall　be　able　to　finish　our　dinner　in
peace。〃

This　hope；　however；　was　not　to　be　fulfilled。　The　dinner　was　not　yet
over　by　any　means；　when　cheers　and　loud　noise　resounded　once　more　in
the　street；　and　another　solemn　procession　approached　the　tavern。
This　time；　however；　the　members　of　the　procession　did　not　remain　in
the　street；　but　entered　the　house；　and　the　landlord；　who　had　just
gone　down　stairs　to　fetch　some　more　bottles　of　wine　from　the　cellar；
hastened　back　to　the　balcony…room　and　announced　that　all　the
commanders　of　the　Landsturm；　and　the　municipal　officers　had　arrived
to　pay　their　respects　to　the　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrol　and
communicate　a　request　to　him。

〃Well；　then；〃　sighed　Hofer；　rising；　〃let　them　come　in　here。　I　see
that　our　dinner　is　spoiled　anyhow。　Let　them　come　in　here；
Niederkircher。〃

〃God　forbid！　there　are　so　many　of　them　that　they　would　not　have　room
here；　besides；　it　would　not　be　becoming　for　you　to　receive　all　these
gentlemen　here　where　there　is　a　dinner…table。　I　have　conducted　them
all　to　the　large　ballroom；　they　await　you　there；　Andreas　Hofer。〃

〃I　would　I　knew　what　they　want　of　me；〃　sighed　Hofer；　stroking　his
long　beard。

〃　I　know　what　they　want；　Father　Andy；〃　said　Speckbacher；　smiling。　〃I
myself　suggested　to　the　commanders　of　the　Landsturm　the　plan　of
asking　of　you　what　they　are　going　to　communicate　to　you　now。　And　you
must　not　refuse　to　comply　with　their　request；　Father　Andy；　for　the
good　of　the　country　demands　that　you　should　yield；　and　the　emperor
himself　will　thank　you　for　so　doing。〃

〃I　know　likewise　what　these　gentlemen　want　of　you；　brother　Andy；〃
exclaimed　the　Capuchin；　filling　his　glass。　〃I　was　yesterday　already
in　Innspruck；　where　I　conferred　with　the　mayor　and　the　members　of
the　city　council；　and　they　will　tell　you　now　what　we　resolved　then。
Y