第7章

类别:其他 作者:Lousia Muhlbach字数:12487更新时间:18/12/18 08:33:45
Theemperorreceivedwithaforcedsmiletheflatteringhomagewhichwasrenderedtohim,butmoreradiantwasthesmileofhisconsort; inherdarkandglowingeyesglistenedtearsofjoyfulemotion,whensheglancedatthisjubilantmassofspectatorsandtheenthusiasticregimentsofthemilitia。Shewasalsofullofexultation;shedidnot,however,giveventtoherfeelings,butpentthemupinherheart,owingtothemorosenessofherimperialhusband。 Inthemidstofafreshoutburstofpopularenthusiasm,Francisbentovertheempress。\"Isupposeyouarewellsatisfiednow,empress?\" heasked。\"Youhaveattainedyourobject;allofyouhavefannedtheflameuntilwarisreadytobreakout,andeverythingwillgoagaintopsy—turvy。ButItellyou,empress,weshallfailagain;Idonotbelievethatweshallconquer。\" \"Well,yourmajesty,thenweshallsuccumbanddie,butitwillbeanhonorabledefeat。Itisbettertoperishinajustandhonorablestrugglethansubmitpatientlytoforeignusurpation。\" \"Averynicephrase,butthepracticalexecutionofsuchideasissometimesbyfarmoreunpleasantthanthetheorywhichtheyexpress。 Iamafraidyouwillhavegoodreasontoregretthisday,and——butwhatfearfulnoiseisthisagain?ThepeoplearecheeringasthoughtheywerewelcomingGodAlmightyHimself。Whatisit?\" \"Yourmajesty,\"saidLudovica,gazingtimidlyintoherhusband\'sface,\"IbelievethepeoplearecheeringtheArchdukesCharlesandJohn,fortheyarejustwalkingalongtheranksofthemilitia。\" \"Ah,mybrothers!\"murmuredtheemperor,withanangryexpression,which,however,disappearedagainimmediately;\"thepeoplearecheeringmybrothersasthoughtheyweretwodivinitiesfromwhomalonetheyexpectsalvationandprosperity。\" \"Yourmajesty,thepeoplecheerthearchdukesbecausetheyarethebrothersoftheemperor,andbecausetheconfidenceofyourmajestyhasplacedthemattheheadoftheAustrianarmiestoleadthemtobattle,and,ifitpleaseGod,tovictory。ItisyourmajestyalonethatappointedtheArchdukeCharlesgeneralissimoofallyourforces,andtheArchdukeJohncommanderofthearmyofLowerAustria。\" \"Yes,Ididso,for,blessedasIamwithbrotherssoheroicandspirited,Imustofcoursedistinguishandemploytheminaccordancewiththeirmerits;otherwisetheymightbelieveIwasjealousoftheirgloryandsplendor。Thiswouldbeentirelyfalse,for,sofarfrombeingjealousofthem,Ilovethemdearly,andgivethemnowagainanotheropportunitytogainlaurels,astheydidin1805。Itistrue,mybrotherthegeneralissimo,wasnotvictoriousatAusterlitz,andmybrotherJohnhaslikewisesustainedmanyadefeat;butthatdoesnotpreventthemfrombeingheroesandgreatmen。Justlistentotheroarswithwhichthepeoplegreetthem! JesusMaria!Ihopethegeneralissimowillnothavehisfitsfromexcessivejoy。\" Ludovicacastaquick,mournfulglanceonthemaliciouslysmilingfaceofherhusband。\"Yourmajestyneednotbealarmed,\"shesaid; \"yourtenderapprehensionswillfortunatelynotbefulfilled。Youseethatthearchdukeisquitewell;heisjustaddressinghistroops。\" \"Yes,yes,Iknowhisspeech。M。vonGentzwroteitforhimandI permittedhimtodeliverit。Ah,itaboundswithfinephrases,andmydearAustrianswillbeastonishedonhearingwhatliberalmenwehavebecomeallofasudden,andwhatgrandideasofliberty,equality,andpopularsovereigntywehaveadopted。Justlistentohim!theconclusionisveryfine,andsoundsjustasthoughtheMarseillaisehadbeentranslatedintothelanguageoftheAustrians。\" \"Soldiers,\"shoutedthearchduke,atthismoment,inaloud,ringingvoice。\"thelibertyofEuropehastakenrefugeundertheflagofAustria;therights,freedom,andhonorofallGermanyexpecttheirsalvationonlyofourarmies。Nevershallthey,instrumentsofoppression,carryoninforeigncountriestheendlesswarsofadestructiveambition,annihilateinnocentnations,andwiththeirowncorpsespaveforforeignconquerorstheroadleadingtousurpedthrones。Soldiers,wetakeuparmsonlyfortheliberty,honor,andrightsofallGermany;itisthesesacredboonsthatwehavetodefend!\"[Footnote:Hormayr,\"AllgemeineGeschichte,\"vol。iii。,p。 219。] Along—continued,deafeningoutburstofapplausebothofthesoldiersandthepeoplewasthereplytothestirringaddressofthegeneralissimo;butsuddenlyeverysoundwashushed,foratthealtar,yonderbythesideofthetallcrucifix,appearednowthearchbishop,accompaniedbythewholebodyofthehighclergy。 Theemperorrosefromhisseatandbowedhumblyanddevoutlytotheprelatewhohadbeentheteacherofhisyouth,andhadafterwardmarriedhimthreetimes,thelasttimeonlyafewmonthsago。 Andnowthearchdukesmarchedthetroopsintothemiddleoftheplace,andtheconsecrationoftheflagscommencedamidthepealsofallthechurch—bellsandtheboomingofartillery。 Theemperorlookedon,standing,bareheaded,andwithhandsclaspedinprayer。Ludovicaturnedhereyesheavenward,andherlipsmovedinalow,ferventprayer。Behindthemstoodtheyoungarchdukesandarchduchesses,mutteringprayers,andyetglancingaroundcuriously; andthecavaliersoftheimperialcouple,lookinggloomy,andplainlyshowingintheirsombrefacestheragethatfilledtheirhearts。 Theceremonybeingfinished,thearchbishoplifteduphishandsandstretchedthemouttowardthesoldiers。\"Adieu,untilwemeetagain,\"heexclaimedwitharadiantair,andinavoiceofjoyfulenthusiasm;\"adieu,untilwemeetagainatthehourofdanger!\" \"Adieu,untilwemeetagainatthehourofdanger!\"echoedthesoldierswithenthusiasm。Seeingthenthatthearchbishopbenthisknees,theykneltlikewiseandbowedtheirheadsinprayer。Hushedwaseverysoundonthevastplace。Onlythechurch—bellswerepealingandtheartillerywasboominginthedistance,andthemurmurofthedevoutprayerswhichrosetoGodfromsomanypiousheartsbrokethesilence。 Inthefervententhusiasmofthishournoonefelttheleasttimidity,noonelookedanxiouslyintothefuture。Eventhemothersdidnotshedtearsfortheirsonswhowereabouttotakethefield; theaffiancedbridesallowedtheirloverstodepartwithoututteringcomplaintsorweepingatthethoughtoftheirimpendingdeparture; wivestookleaveoftheirhusbandswithjoyouscourage,pressingtheirinfantstotheirbreastsandcommendingthemtrustinglytoGod\'sprotection。Thepatrioticenthusiasmhadseizedall,andcarriedawayeventhecoldestandmostselfishhearts。Therichcontributedtheirmoneywithunwontedliberality;thosewhowereinlessfavorablecircumstanceslaiddowntheirplateandvaluablesonthealtarofthecountry;themechanicsofferedtoworkgratuitouslyforthearmy;thewomenscrapedlintandorganizedassociationsforthereliefofthewounded;theyoungmenofferedtheirlife—bloodtothefatherland,andconsidereditasafavorthattheirserviceswerenotrejected。 Thelong—concealedhatredagainstFranceburstforthinbrightflamesthroughoutAustriaandGermany;thewarwashailedwithrapturousenthusiasm,andeveryheartlongedtotakepartinthisstruggle,whichseemedtoallawarofholyvengeanceandretribution。ForthefirsttimeinlongyearsAustriafeltagainthoroughlyidentifiedwithGermany,whiletheotherGermanswerelookinguponAustriaasaGermanstateandholdingouttheirhandstotheirAustrianbrethren,tellingthemthattheysympathizedmostvividlywiththeendswhichthenweretryingtoattain。 Butwhiletheutmostexultationwasreigningamongthepeopleandthesoldiersonthisjoyfulday,agloomysilenceprevailedintheimperialpalace。Thejoyousmaskwithwhichthegeneralissimo,theArchdukeCharles,hadcoveredhisfacewhileontheglacis,haddisappearedfromitsosoonashehadreturnedtohisrooms。Paleandfaint,herestedinaneasy—chair,and,fixinghissombreeyesanhisquartermaster—general,CountGruenne,hesaid:\"Myfriend,listentothatwhichIamgoingtosaytoyounow,andwhichyouwillrememberoneday。Ihaveobjectedthreetimesinthemostemphaticmannertothisdeclarationofwar,forIknowthatourpreparationsarenotsufficientlymatured,andIknowalsothatI havehereinAustriapowerfulenemieswhoareintentonimpedingallmyefforts,andwhowillshrinkfromnothinginordertoruinme,andwithmeyoutoo,mypoorfriend。Thewholearistocracyishostiletome,andwillneverallowtheemperor\'sbrotherstosetboundstoitsoligarchybytheirmeritsandinfluence;itwillalwaysopposeus,eventhoughitshouldendangertherebythepowerandhonorofthefatherland。Iknowalltheperilsandintriguessurroundingme,andbecauseIknowthemItriedtoavoidthem,opposedthewar,andstrovetogetridatleastofthecommand—in— chief。Buttheemperorwouldnotallowmetodoso;heorderedmetoacceptthearduouspositionofgeneralissimoofhisforces,and,ashissubject,Ihadtoobeyhim。ButIrepeatit,thiswillbeadisastrouswarforAustria,andIlookwithgloomyforebodingsintothefuture。\" Andasgloomyasthegeneralissimo\'sfacewasthatofhisbrother,theEmperorFrancis。Hehadretiredintohiscabinet,andstrodegrowlinglyupanddown,holdingthefly—flapinhishand,andstrikingsavagelyattheflieswhichhissearchingeyesdiscoveredhereandthereonthewall。 Suddenlythedooropened,andthefootmanannouncedtheArchdukeJohn。Theemperor\'sfacebecameevenmoremorose。Hecastthefly— flapaside,andmurmuredtohimself,\"Mybrothersneverleavemeanyrest。\"Hethensaidinaloudvoice,\"Lethimcomein。\" Aminuteafterwardthearchdukeenteredthecabinet。Hisfacewasstilljoyouslylitupbythesoul—stirringsolemnityinwhichhehadparticipatedinthemorning;hiseyewasyetradiantwithnobleenthusiasmandexultation,andaserenesmileplayedaroundhislips。Thusheappearedbeforehisbrother,whosefaceseemeddoublygloomyinthepresenceofhisown。 \"IcometotakeleaveofyourmajestyandbidfarewelltomybrotherFrancis,\"hesaid,inamild,tendervoice。\"Iintendtosetoutto— nightforGratz,andorganizemystaffthere。\" \"Godblessyou,commanderoftheSouthernarmy!\"saidtheemperor,dryly;\"Godblessyou,brother。Youwerealleagerforwar;nowyouhaveit!\" \"AndyourmajestyhaswitnessedtheenthusiasmwithwhichtheAustrianpeoplehailedthedeclarationofwar。AndnotonlythepeopleofAustria,butallGermany,looksnowwithjoy,hope,andpridetowardAustria,andparticipatesmostcordiallyinourwarlikeenthusiasm。\" \"Idonotcareforthat,\"saidtheemperor,dryly。\"ThankGod,I castoffthecrownofGermanythreeyearsago,andamnolongerEmperorofGermany。\" \"Butoneday,whenyourarmieshaveconqueredFranceanddeliveredtheworldfromtheinsatiableusurper,Germanywillgratefullyliedownatyourmajesty\'sfeetandbeseechyoutoaccepttheimperialcrownagainatherhands。\" \"Muchobliged,sir,butIwouldnottakeit,\"exclaimedtheemperor,withashrug。\"Butsay,brother,areyoureallyconvincedthatwecanandshallconquerBonaparte?\" \"Iam。Weshallconquer,if——\" \"Well,if——\"askedtheemperor,whenthearchdukehesitated。 \"Ifwearereallydeterminedtodoso,\"saidJohn,lookingtheemperorfullintheface;\"ifweactharmoniously,ifwedonotimpedeeachother,ifnopettyjealousiesfavortheeffortsofoneandfrustratethoseoftheother。Oh,brother,permitmeatthisfarewellhourtoutterafewfrankandtruthfulwords,andIbegyourmajestytoforgivemeifmyheartopenstoyouinunreservedconfidence。Brother,Iconfessfranklyallisnotasitshouldbehere。Whereconcordshouldreign;thereisdiscord;whereallshouldhavetheireyesfixedonlyonthegreatgoal,andavailthemselvesofallmeansandforces,theyaresplitupintofactionsbitterlyhostiletoeachother。Oh,mygraciousemperor,Ibeseechyou,donotlistentothesefactions,donotconfideinthosewhowouldliketoarouseyoursuspicionagainstyourbrothers。Believeme,youhavenomoreloyal,devoted,andobedientsubjectthanIam;therefore,confideinme,whowishonlytocontributetothegreatness,honor,andgloryofmycountryandmyemperor,tothebestofmypower,howeverinsignificantitmaybe。Mybrother,therehaslongbeenagulfbetweenus;GodknowsthatIdidnotdigit。Butletusfillitupforeveratthisfarewellhour。Iimploreyou,believeinmylove,mydevotedloyalty;takemebythehandandsay,`John,Itrustyou! Ibelieveinyou!\'See,Iamwaitingforthesewordsasfortheblessingwhichistoaccompanymeintobattle,andrestonmyheartlikeatalisman。Brother,speakthesewordsofloveandconfidence! Givemeyourhand——openyourarmstoyourbrother!\" \"Whyshouldweenacthereasentimentalscene?\"askedtheemperor,harshly。\"Idonotlikesuchthings,andwanttoseefamilydramasonlyperformedonthestage。ThankGod,Iamnotatheatricalemperor,butarealone,andwillhavenothingtodowithscenesfromplays。NordoIknowofanygulfsexistingbetweenyouandme。 Ineverperceivedthem,andwasneverdisturbedthereby。Butwhydoyouprotestyourloveandloyaltyinsopassionateamannertome? Whotellsyou,then,thatIsuspectthem?Thatwouldbeequivalenttoconsideringmybrotheratraitor,anditwouldbeveryunfortunateforhim;fortowardtraitorsIshallalwaysbeinexorable,whosoevertheymaybe,andwhethertheybepersonsofhighorlowrank。Letusspeaknolongerofit。But,besides,youhaveagainadvisedme,withoutbeingrequestedtodoso,anddemandthatIshouldnotlistentoanyfactions。Ineverdo,brother。I neverlistentoanyfactions,neithertoyours,nortothatoftheothers。Ilistenonlytomyself,andrequiresubmissivenessandobedienceofmyservants。Youareoneofthelatter;go,then,andobeyme。Ihaveresolvedonwar;go,then,toyourcorpsandfight,asyouareindutybound,foryouremperorandforAustria;DefeatNapoleonifyoucan。Youareplayingagamewhichmayeasilybecomedangeroustoourselves。YouhavestirredupaninsurrectionintheTyrol;youwillhavetobeartheresponsibilityifthisinsurrectionshallbeunsuccessful。\" \"Iwillbearit,andGodwillforgivewhatIhavedone!\"saidJohn,solemnly。\"Yourmajesty,youwouldnotlistentothebrotherwhoofferedyouhislovefranklyandhonestly。IhavenothingtoaddtowhatIhavesaid,norshallIeversnakeanotherattempttogainyourconfidence。\" \"Isthatintendedasathreat?\"askedtheemperor,angrily。 \"No,\"saidJohn,mournfully,\"Idonotthreatenyou。IshallalwaysbearinmindthatIlovedyou,andthatyouarenotonlymylordandemperor,butalsothesonofmymother。\" \"AndI,\"criedtheemperor,vehemently,\"shallalwaysbearinmindthatyouweretheheadofthefactionwhich,byitsinsensateclamorforwar,firstarousedNapoleon\'sanger,broughtaboutdemonstrationsandarmamentsonourpart,andfinallyobligedmetoresolveonwar,althoughIknowfullwellthatthisresolutionwillinevitablyinvolveAustriaingreatdisaster。Letmelikewisespeakafarewellwordtoyou,brother。Weshallsuccumbagain,althoughmywiseandlearnedbrothersareattheheadofthearmy。Iconsultedthemostexperiencedandsagaciousmen。ImyselfpaidavisittoCountCobenzl,whoislyingatthepointofdeath,andaskedhisopinion。HehatesNapoleonasardentlyasanyone,andyetheisinfavorofpeace。IconsultedthePrincedeLigneandMinisterThugut; oneisanambitiouscaptain,theotheravindictivediplomatist,whowouldliketooverthrowNapoleon;andyetbothwereforpeacewithFrance,andIwilltellyouthereasonwhy:becausetheyknowthatamongallmycaptainsandgeneralsthereisnotonedeterminedandableenoughtocopewithNapoleonandhismarshals:becausetheyknewthatevenmybrotherCharles,thegeneralissimo,isvacillatingandirresolute;andbecausetheydonotknowwhataneminentcaptaintheArchdukeJohnwouldbe,ifheonlyhadachancetoshowhismilitarytalents。If,despiteallthis,Iresolvedonwar,itwasbecausecircumstances,andnotmyconvictions,obligedmetodoit—— circumstanceswhichweremostlybroughtaboutbyyouandyourfriends。\" \"Yourmajesty,\"saidJohn,inagraveanddignifiedmanner,\"permitmetosayafewwordsinreplytowhatyouhavejustsaid。Youalludetomymilitarytalents,whichyousayIhavenothadachancetoshow。Well,givemesuchachance;delivermefromthesurveillancetyingmyhands;letmepursuemypathasyourgeneralfreelyandwithoutrestrictions,andIpledgeyoumywordthatI willreconquertheTyrolandyourItalianprovinces。\" \"See,see,whataniceplan!\"exclaimedtheemperor,laughing。\"Youwishtobeanothergeneralissimo,andindependentofanyothercommander\'swill?\" \"No,yourmajesty;IwishtoobtainonlyequalrightsandauthoritytodeliberateanddecidejointlywithmybrotherCharles。\" \"Itisveryboldinyou,sir,thustoopposeyourgeneralissimo,\" saidtheemperor,sternly。\"To—dayyouwillnolongerobeythegeneralissimo——to—morrowyouwillperhapsrefusetoobeytheemperor。Notanotherwordaboutit!Goanddoyourduty。TheArchdukeCharlesisgeneralissimo,andyouwillsubmittohisordersandinstructions。Farewell,brother;mayGodandtheHolyVirginblessyouandyourarmy!\" \"Farewell,yourmajesty,\"saidthearchduke,bowingceremoniouslytotheemperor。Hethenturnedhastilyandlefttheroom。 Theemperorlookedafterhimwithanangryair。\"Ibelievethetwoarchdukeswillthwarteachotheronalloccasions,\"hesaid,inalowvoice。\"TherewillnotonlybewarwithFrance,butalsowarbetweenthefactionsinAustria,andtheconsequencewillbe,thatmybrotherswillgainbutveryfewlaurels。\" TheArchdukeJohnreturnedslowlytohisrooms。Afterenteringhiscabinet,hesankonthedivan,asifcrushedandheart—broken。Hesatalongtimeinsilence,hisheadbentonhisbreast,andutteringfromtimetotimeheart—rendinggroans。Afteralongpause,heslowlyliftedhistearfuleyestoheaven。 \"Thouknowest,myGod,\"hesaid,inalowvoice,\"thatmyintentionsaregoodandpure,andthatIdesirenothingbuttoservemycountryanddeliveritfromthedisgracewhichithashadtosubmittoforsomanyyearspast。ThouknowestthatIwishnothingformyself,butallforthefatherland。Helpme,myGod,helpourpoor,unfortunateAustria!Letusnotsuccumbandperish!Grantvictorytoourarms!O Austria,OGermany,whycanInotpurchaselibertyandindependenceforyouwithmyblood?But。IcanatleastIshallwelcomethisifmydyingeyescanbeholdlibertydawninguponGermany!\" CHAPTERIX。 \'TISTIME Itwaslateintheafternoonofthe8thofApril。Thesettingsunwassheddinghislastredraysonthedistantmountain—crestsoftheJanfenandtheTimblerToch,whoseblood—redsummitscontrastedwonderfullywiththedeepazureoftheclearsky。Onthelowerslopesofthemountainstwilighthadsetin;thepines,thedaringchamoisofthevegetablekingdom,whichhadclimbeduptothehighestpartsofthemountains,castthegrayveilofduskovertheselowerslopes。Below,inthePasseyrvalley,however,nightalreadyprevailed,forthemountainsloominguponbothsidesofthevalleyfilleditwithdarknessevenbeforesundown;andonlythewild,roaringPasseyr,whichrushesfromthemountainthroughthevalley,glistenedlikeasilverbeltinthegloom。Thechurch—bellsofthevillagesofSt。LeonardandSt。Martin,lyingonbothsidesofthevalley,tolledasolemncurfew,awakeninghereandtherealow,sleepyecho;andfromtimetotimewasheardfromamountain— peakaloud,joyousJodler,bywhichaTyrolesehunter,perhaps,announcedhisspeedyreturntohisfamilyinthevalley。ThegloominthenarrowPasseyrthalbecamedeeperanddeeper,and,likebrightglow—worms,thelightsinthehousesofSt。LeonardandSt。Martinglistenednowinthedarkness。 Lightsappearednotonlyinthevalleybelow,butalsohereandthereonthemountain—slopes;andespeciallyinthesolitaryhouseontheknollsituatedhalf—waybetweenthetwovillages,wasseenthebrightglareofmanycandles,andthepersonspassingontheroadinthevalleylookedupandwhisperedtoeachother:\"AndreasHoferisathome,and,itseems,hasagreatmanyguestsathishouse,forallthewindowsofhishandsomeinnareilluminated。\" Thesolitaryhouseontheknoll,then,belongedtoAndreasHofer。ItwastheGasthauszumSand,farfamedthroughouttheTyrol。Andthepassers—bywerenotmistaken。AndreasHoferwasathome,andhadagreatmanyguestsathishouse。Onthebenchesofthelargebar—roomsathisguests,handsomeTyrolese,withflashingeyesandanimatedfaces,whichwereallturnedtowardtheSandwirth,[Footnote:ThenameusuallygiventoHofer——\"Sandwirth,landlordoftheinnZumSand。\"]whowassittingonthesmalltableyonder,andconversinginalowtonewithhisfriendsEisensteckenandSieberer。Alltheguestsseemedexcitedandanxious;nooneopenedhismouthtouttermerryjests;noneofthegaysongssopopularamongtheTyroleseresounded;andtheguestsdidnotevenventuretoaddressplayfulremarkstoHofer\'sprettydaughters,whowereglidingnoiselesslythroughtheroomtofilltheemptybeer—glasses。 \"Itseems,\"murmuredAnthonySieberer,\"thattheAustriangovernmenthasagainpostponedthematter,andweshallvainlylookfarthearrivalofthemessage。Thisnewdelayputsanendtothewholemovement。\" \"Idonotthinkso,\"saidHofer,gravely,andloudenoughtobeheardbyall。\"Donotdespond,mydearfriends!TheAustriangovernmentwillassuredlykeepitsword,forthedearbraveArchdukeJohnpromisedmeintheemperor\'snamethatAustriawouldsuccortheTyrolese,andsendtroopsintoourcountry,ifwewouldbeinreadinessonthe9thofApriltoriseagainsttheBavarians。Mydearfriends,doyouputnoconfidence,then,inthewordofourexcellentemperorandthegoodarchduke,whohasalwayslovedussodearly?\" \"No,no,weputimplicitconfidenceintheirword!\"shoutedtheTyrolese,withoneaccord。 \"Themessengerwillsurelycome,justhavealittlepatience,\"addedHofer,withapleasantnod;\"thedayisnotyetatanend,anduntilmidnightwemaysmokeyetmanyapipeanddrinkmanyaglassofbeer。——AnnaGertrudeseetoitthattheglassesoftheguestsarealwayswellfilled。\" AnnaGertrude,afine—lookingmatronofthirty—six,withfloridcheeksandflashinghazeleyes,hadjustplacedbeforeherhusbandanotherjug,filledwithfoamingbeer,andshenoddednowtoherAndywithasmile,showingtworowsoffaultlesswhiteteeth。 \"Iandthegirlswillattendtotheguests,\"shesaid,\"butthemendonotdrinkanything。Theglassesandjugsareallfilled,buttheydonotemptythem,and——Look!whocomesthere?\" AndreasHoferturnedhisheadtowardthedoor;thensuddenlyheutteredacryofsurpriseandjumpedup。 \"Halloo!\"heexclaimed,\"Ibelievethisisthemessengerwhomwearelookingfor。\"Andhepointedhisoutstretchedarmatthesmall,darkformenteringtheroomatthismoment。 \"ItisMajorTeimer,\"hecontinued,joyfully;\"Isupposeyouknowyetourdearmajorof1805?\" \"Hurrah!MartinTeimeristhere,\"shoutedtheTyrolese,risingfromtheirseats,andhasteningtothenew—comertoshakehandswithhimandbidhimheartilywelcome。 MartinTeimerthankedthemwarmlyforthiskindreception,andaflashofsinceregratificationburstfromhisshrewdblueeyes。 \"IthoughtIshouldmeetallthebravemenofthePasseyrvalleyatAndy\'shouseto—night,\"hesaid,\"andIthereforegreetyouallatonce,mydearcomradesof1805。Thatyearwasdisastroustous。butIthinktheyear1809willbeabetterone,andweshallregainto— daywhatwelostatthattime。\" \"Yes,weshall,assureasthereisaGod,\"shoutedtheTyrolese; andAndreasHoferlaidhisarmonTeimer\'sshoulderandgazeddeeplyintohiseyes。 \"Say,MartinTeimer,areallthingsinreadiness,anddoyoubringuswordtorise?\" \"Ido,allthingsareinreadiness,\"saidTeimer,solemnly。\"Ourcountryman,BaronvonHormayr,whomtheAustriangovernmentappointedgovernorandintendantoftheAustrianforceswhicharetoco—operatewithus,sendsmetoAndreasHofer,whomIamtoinformthattheAustriantroops,commandedbyMarquisvonChastelerandGeneralHiller,willcrosstheTyrolesefrontierto—night。\" \"Hurrah,hurrah!theAustriansarecoming!\"shoutedtheTyrolese,jubilantly,swingingtheirpointedhatsintheair。\"Thewarhasbrokenout,theAustriansarecoming,andwewillexpeltheBavariansfromthecountry!\" AndreasHofer\'sface,too,wasradiantwithjoy;but,insteadofsingingandshouting,hewassilent,liftedhiseyesslowlytoheaven,andseizedwithbothhishandsthecrucifixrestingonhisbreast。 \"Letuspray,myfriends,\"hesaidinaloudandsolemnvoice;\"letusthankourLordGodandourpatronsaintinthestillnessofourhearts。\" Themenpaused;likeAndreasHofer,theyclaspedtheirhands,benttheirheads,andmutteredferventprayers。 AfteralongpauseHoferraisedhisheadagain。\"Andnow,men,listentowhatIhavetosaytoyou,\"heexclaimed,cheerfully。\"I haveinvitedyouallbecauseyouarethemostinfluentialandrespectablemeninthispartofthecountry,andbecausethefatherlandhasneedofyouandcountsuponyouandme。ThesharpshootersofthePasseyrthaltoldme,ifwarshouldbreakout,I mustbetheircaptain;andIacceptedthepositionbecauseIthinkthateveryoneisindutyboundtoriskhislimbsandlifeforthesakeofthefatherland,andplacehimselfjustwherehecanserveitbest。ButifIamtobeyourcaptain,youmustallassistmetothebestofyourpower。Wemustactharmoniously,andstraineverynervetodeliverthefatherlandandrestoretheTyroltoourbelovedemperor。\" \"Weareresolvedtodoso,\"shoutedthemen,withoneaccord。 \"Iknowitfullwell,\"saidAndreasHofer,joyously。\"Letusgotowork,then。andcirculatethroughouttheTyrolthemessagethattheAustriansarecoming,andthatitistime。Say,Teimer,didyonnotbringawrittenmessagewithyou?\" \"HereisaletterfromHormayr,\"saidMartinTeimer,drawingalargesealedpaperfromhisbosom。 Andreastookitandopeneditquickly。Butwhilehewasreadingit,aslightcloudoverspreadhiscountenance,andforamomenthecastarapid,searchingglanceonMartinTeimer\'sbright,keenface; however,nosoonerhadhemetTeimer\'sstealthy,inquiringglance,thanhequicklyturnedhiseyesagaintothepaper。 \"Well,\"hesaidthen,strikingthepaperwithhisrighthand,\"thestatementscontainedinthisletterareentirelyinaccordancewithourwishes。Wearetoriseatonce,foralreadytomorrowtheAustrianswillhavecrossedourfrontiers。MarquisvonChastelerwillmarchfromCarinthiaintothePustervalley;GeneralHillerismovingfromSalzburgtowardtheLowerInnvalley;theformerthinkshewillreachBrixeninthecourseoffourdays;thelattersayshewillbeatInnspruckwithinthesametime。IandMartinTeimerhere,whonolongerkeepsatobacco—shopatKlagenfurth,butisagainMajorTeimerashewasfouryearsago——wearetodirectandmanageeverythingintheTyrol,andareintrustedwiththedutyofseeingtoitthattheflamesoftheinsurrectionburstforthnowasspeedilyaspossiblefromoneendoftheTyroltotheother,andthatitshallbecomeaconflagrationthatwillburnupallFrenchmenandBavarians,orcompelthemtoescapefromthecountry。Assistus,then,mymen,inspreadingthenewsoverthemountainsandthroughthevalleys,thatallmayriseandparticipateinthegreatworkofdeliverance。Everyable—bodiedmanistoshoulderhisrifle,andthewomenandchildrenaretocarry,fromhousetohouse,littleballsofpaperonwhicharewrittenthewords:\'\'Tistime!\'aswehaveagreedatourmeetings。Andnow,incompliancewiththepromiseI gaveHormayrinVienna,Iwillissueacirculartoallourfriendsthattheymayknowwhattodounderthesecircumstances。Isthereamongyouanyonewhocanwritewellandcorrectly,andtowhomI maydictate?formyownhandwritingisnoneofthebest,andalthoughwhatIwritemaybethoughtcorrectly,itisnotspelledaslearnedmentellusitshouldbe。IfthereisamongyouonewhocanwritenicelyandcorrectlywhatIwishtodictate,lethimcomeforward。\" \"Icandoit,\"saidayoungman,steppingforward。 \"ItisJosephEnnemoser,sonofJohnEnnemoser,theSeewirth,\"saidAndreasHofer,smiling。\"Yes,Ibelieveyouareagoodscribe;youhavebecomequiteascholarandanaristocraticgentleman,andarestudyingmedicineattheUniversityofInnspruck。\" \"Forallthat,Ihaveremainedanhonestmountaineer;andasformystudies,IwillnotthinkofthemuntilwehavedeliveredtheTyrolfromtheBavarianyoke。Ishallkeeponlymypen,andactasAndreasHofer\'sobedientsecretary。\"[Footnote:JosephEnnemoser,sonofJohnEnnemoser,thetailorandSeewirthofthePasseyrthal,wasashepherdinhisboyhood。HisfathersenthimtothegymnasiumofInnsbruck,andafterwardtotheuniversityofthesamecity,wherehestudiedmedicine。In1809hewasHofer\'ssecretary。AfterwardhebecameacelebratedprofessorofmedicineattheUniversityofBonn。]