第6章

类别:其他 作者:Lousia Muhlbach字数:11945更新时间:18/12/18 08:33:45
\"AndI,too,amreadytoconquerordiefortheTyrolandtheemperor,andsoisthecorpswhosecommanderIam,\"exclaimedthearchdukeenthusiastically。\"Theemperor,mygraciousmaster,intendstointrustmewiththecommandofthearmywhichistofightwithandfortheTyrol,whichwillchecktheadvanceoftheenemyapproachingtheTyrolfromtheItalianfrontier,andwillsecondandstrengthentheinsurrectionoftheTyrolese。Now,then,myfriendsandcomradesletuspreparethegreatworkbravely,prudently,andcarefully。Collectyourforces,asIshallcollectmine;makeallyourdispositions,andexhortalltobehaveastruesonsoftheTyrol。Aboveallthings,becautious。Keepinchecknotonlyyourtonguesbutyourfaces,especiallyhereinVienna。ForiftheBavarianspieshereferretoutthatAndreasHofer,Speckbacher,andWallnerareinVienna,andthatIhavehadaninterviewwiththem,theirkeennoseswillscentatoncewhatisgoingon,andtheywillsend,evenbeforewereachtheTyrol,somanyBavarianandFrenchsoldiersintoyourcountry,thatyouwillbetiedhandandfoot,andcannotraiseyourarmsonthe9thofApriltoseizeyourrifles。 Therefore,Irepeatit,keepyourfacesincheck,anddonotallowyourselvestobeseeninthestreetsofViennainthedaytime。Yourbeard,Andy,especiallyisatreacherousthing,anditwouldreallybebestfortheBarbonetoshaveoffhislongmourning—flag。\" AndreasHoferseizedhisbeardwithbothhishands,almostinterror,anddrewitcaressinglythroughhisfingers。 \"No,\"hesaid,\"myfriendsandcountrymenknowmebymybeard,andtheBarboneisawelcomeguestintheItalianTyrol。TheywouldnotrecognizemeifIshouldappearamongthemwithasmoothchin;andtheywoulddoubtifitwasAndreasHoferwhotalkedwiththemaboutthegreatconspiracyandinsurrectionincasetheydidnotseehisblackbeard。\" \"No,archduke,\"saidSpeckbacher,smilingandwinking,\"youmustnotobjecttoourAndy\'sbeard,foritistheflagroundwhichtheTyrolesewillrally,andwithwhichtheTyrolwilladornitselfonthedayofinsurrection,astheyputontheirbestclothesonthedayofAssumption。Moreover,AndreasHofermustnotbeungrateful; andhewouldbeungratefulifheshouldcutoffhisbeardandthrowitaway,forhisbeardgainedhimonedayacoupleoffatoxen。\" \"Isthattrue,Andy?\"askedJohn,laughing。 \"Itis,\"saidAndreasHofer,gravely。\"Mybearddidgainmetwooxen。Ithappenedasfollows;archduke:Iwasquiteayoungmanyet,andhadmarriedmywife,AnnaGertrudeLadurner,onlyayearbefore。 Iwasveryfondofmylittlewife,anddidnotliketositforhoursinthetavern,asIhaddoneheretofore。Istayedathomeoftenenoughinsteadofattendingtomybusiness,andgoingdowntoItalyorGermanytocarryonmytrafficincorn,wine,horses,andoxen,bywhichIhadmadeagreatdealofmoney。Myfriendssneeredatmystayingsomuchathome,andsaid:\'AndyHofer,theSandwirth,isahenpeckedhusband,andhiswifeismasterofthehouse。\'Thiswasverydisagreeabletome,for,althoughIlovemyAnnaGertrudefromthebottomofmyheart,Ihavealwaysbeenthemaster;andshehasbeenobedienttome,astheBiblesaysitshouldbebetweenhusbandandwife。Well,onedayIsatathomewithafewfriends;weweredrinkingwineinthebar—room。Suddenlythereenteredtheroomanoldbeggarwithatremendousbeardreachingdowntohisgirdle。I laughatthebeardandrejoiceoveritsenormouslength。Oneofmyfriends,AnthonyWaidlinger,therichAmselwirth,asksme:\'Well,Andy,wouldyouliketowearaslongabeardasthat?\'\'Whynot?\'I replymerrily。\'Ah,\'exclaimsAnthony,laughing,\'youmustnottalksosaucily。Youmustnotwearsolongabeard。Yourwifewillnotpermitit,Andy!\'Thismakesmeveryangry;Istartup,andhardlyknowwhatIamdoing。\'What!\'Icry,\'mywife?Shemustobeymewhethershelikesitornot。WhatwillyoubetIwillnotshavemybeardforawholeyear?\'\'Iwillbetyoutwooxen,\'saysAnthony; \'butletmewarnyou,Andy,youwilllosetheoxen;forIsticktoit,yourwifewillneverpermityoutobecomethelaughing—stockofthechildrenbyappearinginthestreetswithsuchalion\'smane。 Thereforeconsiderthematterwell,Andy,forthereistimeyet。 Admitthatyouwillnotwinthebet,fortwooxenareatstake!\'\'I havealreadyconsideredeverything,\'Isay:\'andasforthetwooxen,theywillbejustwhatIwant。Ayearhenceyouwillbringthemtome,AnthonyWaidlinger。\'Andthispredictionwasfulfilled。 Ididnotshavemybeard,andAnnaGertrude,mywife,rejoicedatherAndy\'sbeardinsteadofbeingangryatit,andthoughtitmadeherhusbandlookagreatdealbetter。Whentheyearwasup,AnthonyWaidlingerdrovehistwooxenwithasullenairintomystable,andsaid:\'Nowyoumaycutoffyourfurandhaveapillowmadefromitforyourwife。\'\'Ineednotcutoffmybeardforthatpurpose,\'I replied;\'itmaybemywife\'spillowevenwhileithangsdownonmybreast。Forsheisagoodanddutifulwife,andIamfondlyattachedtoher。\'That,archduke,isthestoryofmybeard,whichIhaveworneversince,andwhichhasoftenbeenapillowwhenmylittleboyandthreegirlsfellasleeponmylap,andunderwhichtheyhaveoftenconcealedtheirlittleheadswhentheirmotherwaslookingforthem。 Youwillaskmenomoretocutoffmybeard——thepillowandplaythingofmychildren。\" \"No,Andreas,\"saidthearchduke,kindly,\"Iwillnot。Wearyourfinebeardasyouhavedonehitherto;mayitbe,notwithstandingitsblackcolor,thevictoriousflagroundwhichtheroyalTyroleseshallrallyonrisingfortheirlordandemperor!Andnow,farewell,myfriends;itisdawning,anditistimeforustoreposealittle。 Gohome,therefore,andwhatremainstobesettledyoumaytalkoverto—morrowwithBaronvonHormayr,whowillgiveyoumoneyfortravellingexpenses,andfordistributionamongtheinnkeepers。Dayafterto—morrowyouwillsetoutforhome,andbringtoallloyalTyrolesethejoyfulnewsthatwarwillbreakout。\" \"Yes,yes,warwillbreakout!\"exclaimedthethreeTyrolese,exultingly。 \"Hush,forGod\'ssake,hush!\"saidJohn,laughing。\"Youmustkeepquiet,and,insteadofdoingso,youshoutasjubilantlyasthoughyouwerestandingonacrestoftheBrenner,andhadjustdiscoveredthehiding—placeofachamois。LetmethereforetellyouoncemoreitisnecessarythatthepeopleofViennashouldnotfindoutthatyouareinthecity。Pledgemeyourword,then,thatyouwillnotgointothestreettomorrowinthedaytime,norallowanyonetoseeyou。\" \"Wepledgeyouourword!\"exclaimedtheTyrolese,withoneaccord; \"wewillnotappearinthestreetto—morrowinthedaytime,anddayafterto—morrowweshallsetout。\" \"Yes,weshallsetoutthen,\"repeatedAndreasHofer,\"andreturntoourmountainsandfriends,andwaitpatientlyandfaithfullyuntilthedaywhenweshallseetherisingtotheskythesignalwhichistotellusthatourdearArchdukeJohnsendsushissoldierstoassistusindeliveringourcountryfromtheenemy,andrestoringit,withourmountains,ourlove,andourloyalty,toourdearEmperorFrancis。Godgrantthatwemaysucceedinsodoing,andmaytheHolyVirginprayforusall,andrestoretheTyroltotheemperor!\" CHAPTERVII。 ANDREASHOFERATTHETHEATRE。 CountStadion,theministerofforeignaffairs,waspacinghiscabinetwithaquickstepandananxiousexpressionofcountenance。 Attimeshestoodstill,and,bendinghisheadtowardthedoor,seemedtolistenintentlyforsomesound;allremainingsilentoutside,hecommencedagainstridingupanddown,andwheneverheapproachedtheclockonthemantelpiecehecastananxiousglanceonit。 \"IamafraidHormayrwasnotathome,\"hemurmuredmoodilytohimself;\"hisservantsdidnotknowwherehewas,andthereforethemischiefcannotbestopped。\" Hedrewagoldensnuff—boxfromhispocketandtookalargepinchfromit。\"Isaidattheveryoutset,\"hemurmured,\"thatweoughttokeepalooffromthesestupidpeasants,whowillonlyinvolveusintroubleandmischief。Butthosegentlemenwouldnotlistentome,and——Really,IbelieveIhearfootstepsintheanteroom。Yes,yes,somebodyiscoming!\" CountStadionwasnotmistaken。Thedooropened,andafootmanannounced,inaloudvoice,\"BaronvonHormayr!\" \"Lethimcomein,lethimcomein,quick!\"saidCountStadion,wavinghishandimpatiently;andwhenHormayrappearedonthethresholdofthedoor,hehastilywenttomeethim。 \"Intruth;ittookmyservantsagoodwhiletofindyou!\"exclaimedtheminister,angrily。\"Ihavebeenwaitingforyouhalfanhour。\" \"IwasattheArchdukeJohn\'srooms,withwhomIhadbusinessofimportance,yourexcellency,\"saidHormayr,emphasizinghislastwords。\"Moreover,Icouldnotguessthatyourexcellencywouldwishtograntmeanaudienceatsounusualanhour,andwithoutmyaskingforit。\" \"Atsounusualanhour!\"criedCountStadion,puttingonepinchofsnuffafteranotherintohisnose。\"Yes,yes,atsounusualanhour! Itwouldhavebeenmoreagreeabletome,too,ifithadbeenunnecessaryformetotroubleyouandmyself。Butitisyourownfault。Youdonotkeepyourword。\" \"Yourexcellency!\"criedHormayr,indignantly。 \"Bah!itistrue。Youdonotkeepyourword。YoupromisedmethatyourTyroleseshouldnotshowthemselves,lestwemightbechargedwithfomentinganinsurrection;anditwasnecessary,also,topreventtheBavariansfromlearningprematurelyourplans。Canyoudenythatyoupromisedthistome?\" \"No,yourexcellency,Idonotdenyitatall。\" \"Well,yourTyrolesearerunningaroundeverywhere。\" \"Pardonme,yourexcellency,thatcannotbetrue。Youmusthavebeenmisinformed。\" \"What!misinformed?Howdareyousaysotomyface,sir?Yourbeardman,orbushman,orSandwirthHoferisattheKarnthnerthorTheatre,andistheobservedofallobservers。Isawhimwithmyowneyes;andthatwasthereasonwhyIleftthetheatreandsentforyou。\"[Footnote:CountStadion\'sownwords。——SeeHormayr\'s\"AndreasHofer,\"voli。,p。209] \"Yourexcellencysawhimwithyourowneyes!Then,ofcourse,itmustbetrue,andIwouldbegleaveofyourexcellencytogoimmediatelytothetheatreandtakehimtohishotel。\" \"ThatwasjustwhatIwishedtoaskyoutodo,BaronvonHormayr。 MakehasteandinducethisbushmantoleaveViennaimmediately。\" \"Hewillleavethecapitalearlyinthemorning。Yourexcellencywillpermitmenowtowithdraw。\" BaronvonHormayrhasteneddownstairs,leftthechanceryofstate,andcrossedtheJoseph\'sPlace。OnreachingtheKarnthnerthorTheatre,heboughtaticketattheofficeandenteredthepit。 \"TheMarriageofFigaro,\"byMozart,wasperformedattheKarnthnerthorTheatreto—night,andthisfavoriteoperaoftheViennesehadattractedsolargeanaudiencethatnotaseatwasvacant,andthebaronhadtoelbowhiswaywithnolittledifficultythroughthecrowdfillingthepit,inordertoreachapointwherehemightbeabletoseeeverypartofthehouse,anddiscoverhimforwhosesakehehadcome。 Atlengthhehadsucceededinadvancingsofarthat,leaningagainstoneofthepillarssupportingtheuppertiersofboxes,hewasabletosurveythelowerpartofthehouse。Butallfaceswereavertedfromit,alleyeswerefixedonthestage。TheoperahadjustreachedthescenewhereCountAlmavivaliftsthecarpetfromthechairandfindsCherubinounderit。Aloudoutburstoflaughterresoundedfromthepittotheuppergallery。Butinthemidstofthedin,aloudandangryvoiceexclaimed:\"Ah,youyounggood—for— nothing,ifIhadyouhereIwouldshowyouhowtobehave!\"Andathreateningfistandvigorousarmwasraisedinthemidstoftheorchestra—stalls。 \"Goodheavens!thatisreallyAndreasHofer,\"murmuredBaronvonHormayr,concealinghimselfanxiouslybehindthepillar。ArenewedshoutoflaughtergreetedHofer\'swords,andalleyesturnedtowardthesidewheretheyhadbeenuttered。AndtheresatthegoodAndreasHofer,inhishandsomenationalcostume,withhislongblackbeard,andhisflorid,kind—heartedface。Therehesat,quiteregardlessofthegazewhichtheaudiencefixeduponhim,utterlyunawareofthefactthathewastheobservedofallobservers,andquiteengrossedinlookingatthestage,whereproceededthewell—knownscenebetweenCherubino,thecount,andFigaro。Hefollowedtheprogressoftheactionwithraptattention,andwhenCherubinotriedtoprovehisinnocencebyallsortsofplausibleandimprobablefalsehoods,Hofer\'sbrowbecameclouded。Heavertedhiseyesfromthestage,andturnedtohisneighbor。\"Why,\"hesaid,loudlyandindignantly,\"thatboyisasgreataliarasthoughhewereBonapartehimself!\" Nowthemerrimentoftheaudienceknewnolongeranybounds。Theyapplauded,theyshouted,\"Bravo!bravo!\"Theyforgotthesceneonthestageentirely,anddevotedtheirexclusiveattentiontothequeer,beardedstrangerintheorchestra—stall,onwhomalleyesandopera—glasseswerefixed。 BaronvonHormayrbehindhispillarwipedtheperspirationfromhisforehead,andcastfuriousglancesonAndreasHofer,who,however,wasutterlyunawareofhispresence,andfromwhosebreast,protectedasitwasbyhisbeardandcrucifix,reboundedallsuchglanceslikebluntedarrows。 Theactors,who,interruptedbytheunexpectedcheers,andtheincidentintheaudience,hadpausedafewminutes,andhadthemselveshardlybeenabletorefrainfromburstingintolaughter,nowcontinuedtheirscene,andthecharmsofthemusicandtheinterestingcharacteroftheactionsoonsucceededagaininrivetingtheattentionoftheaudience。 AndreasHofer,whohadinthemeantimerelapsedintohissilentastonishment,gazedfixedlyuponthestage。BaronvonHormayrlefthisplacequietlyandwalkedtotheentrance。Heslippedaflorinintothehandofthedoorkeeper,whowasleaningagainstthewall。 \"Say,\"hewhisperedtohimhastily,\"assoonasthecurtaindrops,gotothegiantwiththelongbeard,whositsintheorchestra—stallyonder,andwhosewordsamusedtheaudiencejustnow。Heisacattle—dealerfromHungary,andImustseehimatonce。Justwhisperinhisearthathiscountrymanwiththewineandhorseshasarrived,anditisnecessaryheshouldcomeandseehimrightaway。——ThankGod,thecurtainfalls!Nowmakehaste。Ifyoubringthecattle— dealerwithyouintothecorridor,Iwillgiveyouanotherflorin。\" Thedoorkeeper\'sfacebeamedwithsatisfaction;heelbowedhimselfcourageouslythroughthecrowd,andsucceeded。inreachingthe\"cattle—dealerfromHungary,\"whosatabsorbedinhisreflections,withhisheadbentonhisbreast。Hetouchedhisshouldersoftlyandwhisperedhismessageintohisear。 AndreasHofergaveastartandstaredatthedoorkeeper。\"Whatcountrymen?\"heasked;\"andhowcanhebringtomewineandhorseshereas——\" \"Idonotknowanythingaboutit,\"whisperedthedoor—keeper;\"I knowonlythatyourcountrymanwiththewineandthehorsesiswaitingforyou,andthathesayshemustseeyourightaway。\" \"Well,then,come,conductmetohim,\"saidAndreas,risingfromhischair,anddrawinguphiscolossalformtoitsfullheight。\"I shouldliketoknowwhothiscountrymanis。Leadtheway,sir;I willfollowyou。\" Thedoorkeeperretracedhisstepsthroughthecrowd;AndreasHoferfollowedhim,greetingkindlyandpleasantlyinalldirections,andpushingasidethemenlikeflieswhenevertheystoodinhisway。 Atlengththeyreachedthedoor,andsteppedintothecorridor。 BaronvonHormayr,likeatigerpouncinguponhisprey,rusheduponAndreasHofer,seizedhisarm,anddrewhimdownthecorridorintotheouterhall,whichwassodesertedandsilentthattherewasnodangeroftheirconversationbeingoverheardbyaneavesdropper。 HereatlengthHormayrstoodstillanddroppedthearmofAndreasHofer,whohadfollowedhim,dumfoundedwithastonishment,andglancingaroundasiflookingforsomebodyelse。 \"Andy,\"exclaimedHormayr,vehemently,\"whatamItothinkofyou? TheTyrolesealwayskeeptheirpromises,andtothinkthatourhonestSandwirthaloneshouldnotdoso!YoupledgedmeyourwordthatyouwouldconcealyourpresencehereinViennaasmuchaspossible,andnowyouarerunningaboutthecityinyournationalcostumeandwithyourbeardedfacetoheartheopera—trillsandseehowtheballet—dancersstretchtheirlegs!\"[Footnote:Hormayr\'sownwords。——SeeHormayr\'s\"AndreasHofer,\"vol。i。,p。209。] \"AndreasHoferneverbreakshisword,\"saidHofer,gravely。\"I promisednottoappearinthestreetsintheday—time,andIhavefaithfullykeptmyword。Istayedathomeallday,anditwasonlyafternightfallthatwethreewenttogetherintothestreet。 SpeckbacherandWallnerwenttotheArchdukeJohn\'sgunsmith,AnthonySteger,totakeleaveofhim,andIintendedtogotoSt。 Stephen\'sCathedraltoattendvespers。ButIamastrangerinthecity,andhappenedtolosemyway。AllatonceIgotintoadensecrowd,andthoughtIhadarrivedatSt。Stephen\'sCathedral,andthatthecrowdconsistedofpiousChristiansgoingtovespers; hence,Iallowedmyselftobedrawnalongintothedoor,becauseI thoughtitwasthechurch。\" \"Andonbuyingaticket。Andy,yousupposedyoupurchasedindulgence,didyounot?\" \"No,Ididnot,\"saidAndreasinatoneofembarrassment。\"But,onseeingallthosepersonssteptotheofficeandgettickets,I thoughttherewereChristianpassion—playsperformedthere,asatInnspruckinLent;andonhearingthemanstandingbeforemeshouting,\'Ticketforanorchestra—stall,\'Ishouted,also,\'Ticketforanorchestra—stall,\'andthrewaflorinonthetable。Thereupontheyhandedmeaticket,andIfollowedtheothersintothehall。 Theperformancecommencedalmostatthesamemoment,thecurtainrose,andtheactorsbegantosing。Itistrue,itisnotapassion— play,andthereisnothingfromtheBibleinit;butthenitisaniceplay。Ibelievethecurtainwillriseagainimmediately,anditistimeformetoreturntomyseat。ButIshouldliketoknowwheremycountrymanwiththehorsesandwineis。Heinsistedonseeingme,sentforme,anddoesnotcomenow。\" \"But,Andy,doyounotyetknowthatitwasIwhosentforyou?\" askedHormayr。\"Why,itwasonlyastratagemofminetogettheBarboneoutofthetheatreandtakehimawayfromhere。\" \"Butwhydoyouwanttotakemeawayfromhere?ItellyouIliketheplayverywell,andhaveneverseenanythinglikeit。Itistrue,Cherubino,theboy,isanarrantliar,butheisajollyfellow,andIdonotwanthimtocometogrief。AndFigaroisaslyfox,andwithalabraveman。IshouldliketomakehisacquaintanceandaskhimifhereallypromisedoldMarielletomarryher;foritwouldbewrongifhedidnotkeephiswordnow,andrefusedtomakeherhiswifebecausehelikestheyoungwomanbetterthanher。IfI knewwherehelives,Iwouldgotohimthisverynightandtellhimwhatheoughttodo。\" \"Oh,youfoolisholdchildofNature!whatyousawonthestagewasnothingbutaplay。Figaroneverexisted;andeventhoughhedid,youwouldnotgotohim,butaccompanymeandtakesupperwithme。\" \"Iamsorry。\"saidAndreas,gravely,\"Icannotdoso;for,inthefirstplace,Imuststayhereandwaitforthecountrymanwhohasarrivedherewiththehorsesandwine。\" \"JesusMaria!whatdoyousay?Thecountryman?DidInottellyouthatitisI,Andy?\" \"Oh,yes,Ihadalreadyforgottenit。But,second,IcannotgobecauseImustseetheremainderoftheplay。Letme,therefore,returntomyseat,forIpaidforthewholeperformance;IbelieveI havealreadymissedagreatdeal;buttheywillassuredlynotreturntomeattheofficeapennyforwhatIdidnothear。\"[Footnote: Hofer\'sownwords。——SeeHormayr,\"AndreasHofer,\"vol。i。,p。810。] \"Theywillnot,andshallnoteither,\"criedHormayr,angrily。\"Youwillnotreturntoyourseat,Andy,butgoandtakesupperwithme。 Foryouknow,mydearfellow,thatyouhavecometoVienna,nottogotothetheatre,buttoaskthedearArchdukeJohn\'sassistanceandsuccorforthebelovedTyrol,andinquireoftheemperorifhewillnotaidhisloyalTyroleseintheirattempttobecomehissubjectsoncemore。Andtheemperorandthearchdukewillhelpyou; theypromisetosendsoldiersandgunsintimetotheTyrol。But,inreturn,youmustdowhatthearchdukeaskedyoutodo;youmustcarefullyconcealyourself,Andy,inordertopreventtheBavariansfromlearningofyourtriptoVienna;otherwisetheywouldarrestyouandyourfriendsafteryourreturntotheTyrol。Henceyoumustnotreturntoyourseat,wheresomanypersonswouldseeyou,andunfortunatelyhaveseenyoualready。\" \"Well,ifitmustbeso,letusgo,sir,\"sighedAndreas。\"Butjustlistenhowtheyaresinging,shouting,andcheeringinside!JesusMaria!Figaro,Ibelieve,willhavetomarryoldMarielleafterall,andgiveupprettylittleSusanne。Ah,myGod!shewilldieheart— broken,forsheloveshimsodearly。Pray,sir,letmegoinoncemore,thatImayseewhetherornothemustmarryoldMarielle。\" \"No,Andy,\"saidHormayr,smiling,\"youneednotbeuneasy;FigarowillnotmarryoldMarielle,forsheishisownmother。\" \"What!\"criedAndreas,indismay;\"shehismother,andhehaspromisedtomarryher!Thatismostsinfulandinfamous!NogoodChristianshouldlistentosuchthings。Comealong,sir。Idonotwanttohearanotherwordofit。Goodheavens!whatwillAnnaGertrudesaywhenItellherwhatIhaveseenhere,andthattherearehereinViennameninfamousenoughtopromisetomarrytheirmothers?\" \"Buttheyneverdosoinreality,Andy,butonlyonthestage。 Otherwisethepolicewouldbeafterthematonce。Fortheemperorisaverypiousandvirtuousgentleman,andhedoesnotpermitanyinfractionsofthesacredlawsofGodandtheChurchinhisdominions。\" \"Yes,theemperorisaverypiousandvirtuousgentleman,\"exclaimedAndreasHofer,enthusiastically,\"andthatisthereasonwhytheTyroleselovehimandwishtobeagainhissubjectsandchildren。 Come,Iwillgohomewithyou。Idonotwanttohearanymoreofthetheatricalnonsense。LetusspeakofouremperorandourdearArchdukeJohn。Godgrantthatwemaysoonbeabletosayheisouremperoragain,andthearchdukeisourJohn,andhisTyroleseareagainhissubjects,becausetheyfoughtwellfortheirliberty,andbecauseGodblessedtheireffortsandcrownedthemwithvictory。 Come,wewillgohome,andto—morrowIshallreturntotheTyrol,tomywifeandchildren,andmountainandvalleyshallknowthatthetimehascome,andthatweshallbecomeAustriansagain。MaytheHolyVirginprotectusandgrantusasafereturn;mayshepreventtheBavariansfromwaylayingusandfrustratingourgreatandnoblepurpose!\"[Footnote:ThedelegatesoftheTyroleseleftViennaonthefollowingmorning;theirpresencethere,however,hadbeenreportedtotheBavarianofficers,who,duringtheirhomewardjourney,almostsucceededinarrestingthem。JohnvonGraff,abankerofBotzen,wasapprisedoftheirarrivalinViennabyhiscorrespondentinthatcityandinformedthecommissary—generalatBrixenofwhathehadlearned。Awarrantforthearrestofthethreedelegateswasissued,buttheyescapedintimeintothemountains。—— Hormayr,vol。i。,p。191。] CHAPTERVIII。 CONSECRATIONOFTHEFLAGS,ANDFAREWELL。 Thediewascast,then。ThewarwithFrancewastobreakoutagain。 Therewastobenomoreprocrastinationandhesitation。Thetimeforactionwasathand。 AlreadytheFrenchambassador,Andreossi,hadleftVienna,andallthemembersofthelegationhadfollowedhim。AlreadyClementCountMetternichhadarrivedatViennabuthehadnotleftParisasCountAndreossihadleftVienna,quietlyandunmolested,butNapoleonhadcausedhimtobeescortedtotheFrenchfrontierbyadetachmentofgensd\'armes。 Andto—day,onthe9thofMarch,AustriawastoproclaimtoallGermany,bymeansofapublicfestival,thatshewasresolvedtorenewthestrugglewithFranceandriskoncemorethebloodofherpeopleandtheexistenceofherimperialdynastyinordertodeliverGermanyfromtheusurperwhowasintentoncrushinginhisironhandsthelibertyandindependanceoftheGermannation。 Asolemnceremonywastotakeplaceto—dayontheGlacisofVienna。 TheflagsofthemilitiaweretobeconsecratedbytheArchbishopofVienna,andthewholeimperialfamilywastobepresentatthesolemnity。Hence,allViennapresentedafestiveappearance;allstoreswereclosed,andnoonewasseenfollowinghisevery—dayavocations。TheViennesehadmadeaholiday;noonewouldtoilforhisdailybread;allwishedtorefreshthemselvesonlywithmentalfood,andgreetwiththeirglancesandacclamationsthenoblemenwhoweretotakethefieldforthesalvationofthefatherland。 Thepeopleweresurgingindensemassestowardtheglacis,rushingwithirresistibleimpetuosityintotheemptyditches,andclimbingthetreesontheiredges,orgainingsomeotherstandpointwhencetheycouldsurveythesolemnitywhichwastotakeplaceonthebroadpromenadeoftheglacis。Onthelargerondeloftheglacishadbeenerectedatribunewhosegolden—broideredvelvetcanopywassurmountedbyaverylargeimperialcrown;fourgoldendouble—headedeaglesadornedthefourcornersofthecanopy,andheldintheirbeaksthecolorsofAustriaandHungary。Underthecanopystoodgiltarm—chairs,withcushionsofpurplevelvet。Thiswasthetribunedestinedfortheemperorandhisfamily;alleyeswereriveteduponit,andallheartslongedtogreetthesovereign,andthankhimfortheproudhappinessofthishour。 Furtheronroseotherandnolesssplendidlydecoratedtribunes,theseatsofwhichhadbeensoldatenormousratestothearistocracyandwealthycitizensofViennaforthebenefitofthemilitia;andthousandshadfoundseatsonthetreessurroundingthebroadpromenadeandtherondel,andpaidfortheirairyperchesonlywithsomepainsandbruises。 Sinceearlydawnthispilgrimagetotheglacishadbeengoingon;byteno\'clockallseats,roads,tribunes,trees,ditches,andbridges,wereoccupiedbyadensecrowd;and,inordertopreventaccidents,theauthoritieshadalreadyorderedallapproachestotheglacistobeclosed。 Onthebroadpromenade,too,mattersassumedaverylivelyaspect。 Themilitiamarchedupwithbannersunfurledanddrumsbeating。Theydrewupinlineonbothsidesoftheroad,andtheirofficersandstandard—bearersrepairedtothelargerondelwhereanotherhadbeenconstructedinfaceoftheimperialtribune。Theyrangedthemselvesaroundthealtar,onwhosestepspriestsinfullvestmentswerekneeling,andwhichwassurmountedbyagiganticcrucifix,visibletoallspectatorsfarandnear,andwavingtoallitsblessingsandlove—greetings。 Andnowallthechurch—steeplescommencedringingtheirpeals;theirontonguesoftheirbellsproclaimedtotheinhabitantsofVienna,andtothemanythousandsofstrangerswhohadcometowitnessthesolemnity,thattheemperorwithhiscon—artandhischildrenhadlefttheHofburg,andwasapproachingtheglacis,followedbyhissuite。Themilitiaassumedastiffmilitaryattitude,thedrumsrolled,thecannonboomed,thebuglessoundedmerrynotes,andtheemperor,leadinghisconsortbythehand,enteredthetribune。Helookedpale;hisformwasbent,andtremblingasifshakenbyaninwardfever;andevenmoresingularappearedhisdown—hangingunder—lipandthegloomy,moroseexpressionofhislustrelessblueeyes。Butthepeopledidnotseethis;theysawonlythattheiremperorhadarrived——theiremperor,whohadresolvedtodeliverAustriafromtheignominiousforeignyoke;whowoulddiewithhissubjectsratherthanlongerbearthearroganceofFrance;andwhoboldlyandcourageouslystakedallinordertowinall,torestoreatlengthalastingpeacetoAustriaandGermany,andvindicatetheirhonorandindependence。ForthisreasonallheartsgreetedtheEmperorFranciswithloveandexultation,andhewasreceivedwithdeafeningandconstantly—renewedcheers。