第9章

类别:其他 作者:Lousia Muhlbach字数:11754更新时间:18/12/18 08:33:45
IhavetodeliversomethingtoAnthonyWallner—Aichberger;Imustspeakwithhim。\" Themenwillinglystoodaside。NowbewasclosebehindWallner,and,interruptinghiminhisspeech,hewhisperedtohim:\"IcomefromAndreasHofer;hesendsyouhisgreetingsandthispaper。Ihaverunallnighttobringittoyou。\" HehandedafoldedpapertoWallner,whoopeneditwithhandstremblingwithimpatience。 ItwasAndreasHofer\'s\"openorder。\" Wallner\'sfacebrightenedup,hecastafieryglancearoundtheplacefilledwithhisfriends,andfixedhisflashingeyesthenonthehatofthebailiffwhohadrebukedtheyoungTyroleseinsooverbearingamanner。Ataboundhewasbyhisside,drovethebailiff\'sroundofficialhatwithoneblowofhisfistoverhishead,sothathiswholefacedisappearedinthecrown,andexclaimedinaloud,ringingvoice: \"Villain!doyounotseetheTyrolese?\" AloudoutburstofexultationgreetedWallner\'sbolddeed,andallthemencrowdedaroundhim,readytoprotectAnthonyWallner,andlookingatthetax—collectorwithflashing,threateningeyes。 ThelatterseemedasifstunnedbythesuddenchangeinWallner\'sdemeanor,andhelookedindismayattheaudaciousinnkeeperwhowasstandingcloseinfrontofhimandstaringathimwithalaughingface。 \"Whatdoesthismean?\"heaskedatlength,inatremulousvoice。 \"ItmeansthatwewanttobeTyroleseagain,\"shoutedAnthonyWallner,exultingly。\"ItmeansthatwewillnolongersubmittobrutaltreatmentatthehandsofyourBavarianbailiffs,andthatwewilltreatyounowasyouBoafokshavetreatedusforfiveyearspast。\"[Footnote:Boafok,thenicknamewhichtheTyrolesegavetotheBavariansatthattime。Itsignifies\"Bavarianpigs。\"] \"ForGod\'ssake,howhavewetreatedyou,then?\"askedthetax— collector,drawingbackfromthethreateningfaceofAnthonyWallnertowardhisbailiffs。 \"Listentome,Tyrolese,\"shoutedAnthonyWallner,scornfully,\"heasksmehowtheBavarianshavetreatedus!ShallItellittohimoncemore!\" \"Yes,yes,Tony,doso,\"repliedtheTyroleseonallsides。 \"Tellittohim,andifherefusestolisten,wewilltiehimhandandfoot,andcompelhimtohearwhatyousay。\" \"Well,Mr。Tax—collector,\"saidWallner,withmockpoliteness,\"I willtellyou,then,howyouBavarianshavetreatedusforfouryearspast,andonlywhenyouknowallourgrievanceswillwesettleouraccounts。Listen,then,towhatyouhavedonetous,andwhatwecomplainof。Youhavebehavedtowardusasperjuredliarsandscoundrels,andIwillproveittoyou。Inthefirstplace,then,in1805,when,toourintensegriefandregret,ouremperorwasobligedtocedetheTyroltoBavaria,theKingofBavaria,inaletterwhichhewrotetous,solemnlyguaranteedourconstitutionandourancientprivilegesandliberties。Thatiswhatyourkingpromisedin1805。 Tobesure,wedidnotputmuchconfidenceinwhathesaid,forwewellknewthatwhenthebigcatwantstodevourthelittlemouse,ittreatsthevictimatfirstwithgreatkindnessandthrowsasmallbitofbacontoit;butnosoonerdoesthemousetakeitthanthecatpouncesuponitsunsuspectingvictimanddevoursit。Andsuchwasourfatetoo;thecatBavariawantedtoswallowthelittlemouseTyrol;notevenournamewastobelefttous,andweweretobecalledSouthernBavariansinsteadofTyrolese。Besides,ourancientCastleofTyrol,thesacredsymbolofourcountry,wasdismantledanddestroyed。YouthoughtprobablywewouldforgetthepastandthehistoryoftheTyrol,andallthatweare,ifwenolongersawtheCastleofTyrol,wherethedearMargaretMaultaschsolemnlyguaranteedtoherTyrolesetheirliberties,greatprivileges,andindependence,foralltimetocome。Butallwaswritteninourhearts,andyourinfamousconductengraveditonlythemorelastinglythereon。Youtookfromusnotonlyourname,butalsoourconstitution,whichallTyroleseloveastheirmostprecioustreasure。Therepresentativeestatesweresuppressed,andtheprovincialfundsseized。Nolessthaneightnewandoppressivetaxeswereimposed,andleviedwiththeutmostrigor;theverynameofthecountry,asIsaidbefore,wasabolished;and,afterthemodelofrevolutionaryFrance,theTyrolwasdividedintothedepartmentsoftheInn,theAdige,andtheEisach;thepassionplays,whichformedsolargeapartoftheamusementsofourpeople,wereprohibited; allpilgrimagestochapelsorplacesofextraordinarysanctitywereforbidden。Theconventsandmonasterieswereconfiscated,andtheirestatessold;thechurchplateandholyvesselsweremelteddownanddisposedof;theroyalpropertywasallbroughtintothemarket。Newimpostsweredailyexactedwithoutanyconsultationwiththeestatesofourpeople;speciebecamescarcefromthequantityofitwhichwasdrawnofftotheroyaltreasury;theAustriannoteswerereducedtohalftheirvalue,andthefeelingsofourpeopleirritatedalmosttomadnessbythecompulsorylevyofouryoungmentoserveintheranksofyourarmy。Inthismanneryoutriedtocrushustoearth。 ButItellyou,weshallriseagain,thewholeTyrolwillriseandnolongerallowitselftobetrampledunderfoot。YousaythekingdoesnotwantanyTyroleseassubjects。Heshallnothaveany,fortheTyrolesewanttobecomeagainsubjectsoftheirdearEmperorFrancisofAustria。MenoftheTyrol,fromPusterthal,Teffereck,andVirgenthal,youwishtobecomeagainsubjectsoftheEmperorFrancis,doyounot?\" \"Wedo,wedo!\"shoutedthemen,utteringdeafeningcheers。\"OurdearFrancisistobecomeagainourlordandemperor!LonglivetheEmperorFrancis!\" \"Silence!\"criedthetax—collector,palewithrageanddismay; \"silence,orIshallsendforthesoldiersandhaveeveryoneofyouarrested,and——\" \"Besilentyourself!\"saidAnthonyWallner,seizinghimviolentlybythearm。\"Sir,youareourprisoner,andsoarethetwobailiffsyonder。Seizethem,myfriends,andiftheyshoutorresist,shootthemdown。Andifyouutteracryoraword,Mr。Tax—collector,sohelpmeGodifIdonotkillyouforaBoafok,asyouare!Keepquiet,therefore,beasensibleman,anddeliveryourfundstous。 Come,men,wewillaccompanythisgentlemantothetax—collector\'soffice;andnowletussingagoodTyrolesesong:\" \"D\'Schoergenandd\'Schreiberandd\'Richterallsammt,Sind\'nTeufelauskomma,druck\'nueberallauf\'sLand,UndschindenBauern,esiskamzumsog\'n,EswaerjakoanWunder,wirthaeten\'sallsammterschlog\'n。\" [Footnote:SongoftheTyrolesein1809。——SeeMayr,\"JosephSpechbacher,\"p。22。 \"Thepushing——thewriters,andmagistratesall,Possessedbythedevil,ourcountryenthrall,Andgrindthepoorpeasants;alas,\'tisashame! Nowonderifwetooshareruinthesame。\"] HeconcludedwithalongandjoyousJodler,andshoutedtriumphantly:\"Dearbrethren,AndreasHofersendsyouhisgreetings,andinformsyouthattheAustrianshaveinvadedtheTyrol。Hurrah,\'tistime!\" \"Yes,\'tistime,\"murmuredAnnaMaria,AnthonyWallner\'swife,toherself;\"\'tistimeformetogiveLizziethesignal,fortheinsurrectionhasbrokenout。\"Shehastenedintothehouse,tookherhusband\'soldriflefromthechamber,ranwithitoutoftheback— doorofthehouse,andfiredthesignalforherdaughter。 \"There,\"shesaid,returningquietlyintothehouse,\"shewillhaveheardthereport,andthereistimeyettosavehim。IwilldonowwhatTonyaskedmetodo。Whenhesingsthesong,Ishalltakethepaper—ballsfromthetable—drawerintheback—room,giveapackagetoeachofthetwoboysandtwoservant—girls,andtellthemtogowithitintothemountainsandcirculatethepaper—ballseverywhere,thattheinhabitantsofthewholePusterthal,fromoneendtotheother,fromtheGross—GlocknertotheVenedigerandKrimlerTauern,maylearnthisverydaythatitistime,andthattheBoafoksaretobeexpelledfromthecountry。Halloo,boys,comehere!Halloo,girls,yourmistresswantstospeaktoyou!\" CHAPTERXI。 THEDECLARATIONOFLOVE。 ElizaWallner,afterleavinghermother,hadspedwiththeutmostrapiditythroughtheback—door,acrosstheyard,throughthegarden,outofthesmallgateleadingtothemeadow,downthefoot—path,upthemountain—road,jumpingfromstonetostone,courageousandintrepidasatruedaughteroftheTyrol。Nowshestoodattheportalofthecastle,infrontofwhichsomeoftheBavariansoldierswerelyinginidlereposeonabench,whileothersintheside—wingofthecastleallottedtothemwerelookingoutofthewindows,anddreamilyhummingaBavariansong,frequentlyinterruptedbyloudyawns。 Elizawalkedpastthemwithaslightgreetingandenteredthehouse。 Theoldfootmansittinginthehallreceivedherkindly,andtoldher,inreplytoherinquiry,thatthecastellan,oldBaronvonHohenberg,hadsetoutearlyinthemorningforSalzburgtoattendcourt,butthathisdaughterandhercousin,CaptainUlrichvonHohenberg,werelunchinginthesmalldining—roomup—stairs。 ThiswasalltheinformationElizaneeded;shenoddedtothefootman,andascendedthestaircasequickly。Theoldfootmandidnotfollowher;heknewthatitwasunnecessaryforhimtoannouncebeautifulLizzietohismistress,butthatshealwayswaswelcometoher。Hethereforesatdownagainquietly,andtookupthewood—workwithwhichhehadbeenoccupiedbefore。 Elizareachedthedining—roomandthrewopenthedoorwithahastyhand;ablissfulsmilethenoverspreadherflushedface,foronthebalconyyonder,behindtheopenglassdoor,shebeheldthetallslenderformofCaptainUlrichvonHohenberg。Sheheardhimchattingandlaughinggayly;andthroughthedoorshealsosawherfriendElzavonHohenberg,whowaslisteningtohercousin\'swordsinsmilingrepose。Scarcelytouchingthefloorwithherfeet,shehastenedthroughtheroom。 \"Iassureyou,cousin,\"saidElzaatthismoment,inherclear,distinctvoice,\"IbelieveattimesthatsheistheresuscitatedMaidofOrleans,andthatshewillperformheroicdeedsoneday。Oh,IknowmydearbeautifulElizaWallner,and——\" \"Donnotspeakofme,forIamlisteningtoyou,\"exclaimedEliza,enteringthebalcony。 \"Ah,myLizzie,\"exclaimedElza,risingandtenderlyembracingherfriend。\"Haveyoucomeatlength,mymerry,beautifullark?\" \"Yes,Ihave,andIamgladthatIamhere,\"saidElizaandherlargehazeleyesturnedforamomentsmilinglytotheyoungofficer,who,likehiscousin,hadrisenonbeholdingElizaWallner。Hedidnotutterawordofsalutation;nevertheless,Elizablushedonmeetinghisglance,andavertedhereyestimidlyfromhim,turningthemtowardthedistantsummitsoftheglacierswhichwereglitteringaroundthehorizonyonderinwonderfulmajesty。 \"Youaregladthatyouarehere,mysweetchild?Whydidyounotcomeatanearlierhour?\"askedElza。\"Youarealwaysexpected。Mydearsilentcousin,sheisalwaysexpected,isshenot?\" \"Mostassuredlysheis,\"saidtheyoungcaptain,withasmile;\"andsheisaswelcomeasthefirstroseofMay。\" \"Howimpudentyouare!\"exclaimedMissElza,laughing;\"youbidmyLizziewelcomeasthefirstroseofMay,andyetIwasherebeforeher!\" \"Hemeansonlythewildhedge—rose,Elza,\"saidEliza,smilingarchly,\"foryouknowverywellthatthebeautifulandaristocraticrosesdonotyetbloominMay。\" \"Well,tellme,cousin,didyoureallyintendtocomparemydarlingherewithawildhedge—rose?\"askedElza。 \"Donotanswer,sir,\"exclaimedEliza,eagerly。\"Youhaveblunderedintryingtoflatterme,andthatisgood。Youwillseeatlengththatfinephrasesamounttonothing,andthattheyarecolorsthatfadeinthesunshine。Youhadbetterspeakfranklyandhonestlytome,forIhaveoftentoldyouIamastupiddaughteroftheTyrol,anddonotknowwhattoreplytosuchfinecityphrases。\" \"Butforallthatyouarenotstupid,mybeautifulEliza,\"saidUlrichvonHohenberg。\"Intruth,Iwhocompareyouwitharoseamnotaliar,buthewouldbewhoshouldchargeyouwithstupidity。\" \"ButifIshould,nevertheless,assertthatIamstupid,whomwoulditconcern?\"askedEliza,defiantly。 \"Ah,theretheyarequarrellingagain,\"exclaimedElza,laughing。 \"Cometome,sweetLizzie;sitdownbymysideonthisbenchandgivemeyourhand。Iamsogladthatyouarehere,foritalwaysseemstomeasthoughIwerealonelyorphanwhenmydearestLizzie,withherprettyfaceandhermerrylaughter,isabsentfromme。Buthere,Lizzie,youmustlookuponmewithdueaweto—day,forto—dayIamnotonlyyourfriendandsister,butIamthecastellan!Myfatherwillbeabsentfourdays,andIrepresenthimhere。Hedelegatedhiswholepowertome,andintrustedmewithallthekeys。 Treatme,therefore,withgreatrespect,Lizzie。\" \"ThatiswhatIalwaysdo,Elza,\"saidLizzie,tenderly,pressingtheslenderwhitehandofherfriendtoherlips。\"Youarealwaysmybetterself,andIobeyyoubecauseIloveyou,andIloveyoubecauseIobeyyousogladly!\" \"Well,then,Icommandyou,Lizzie,tobeourguestalldayandstaywithusuntilnightfall。Oh,noobjections,Lizzie;ifyouloveme,youmustobey!\" \"AndIobeyyouwillingly,Elza;onlywhenmyfathersendsforme,I mustgo,foryouknowwemustnotviolatethefourthcommandment; ourworthypriestwouldneverforgiveus。\" \"Whenyourfathersendsforyou,Eliza,Ishallmyselfgodowntohimandbeghimtoleaveyouhere。Well,then,youbelongtousforthewholeday,andwewillconsidernowhowweshallspendthisday。 Cousin,donotstandthereinsilenceallthetime,staringattheglaciers,butlookatusandproposequicklysomeexcursionforustomaketo—day。\" \"WhatcouldIpropose?\"askedtheyoungofficer,shrugginghisshoulders。 \"Isubmitrathersilentlyandobedientlytoyourproposals,forMissElizawouldcertainlyrejectallmyproposalsmerelybecauseImakethem。\" Elizaburstintomerrylaughter。\"Elza,dearestElza,\"sheexclaimed,\"hecallsme\'MissEliza!\'Nosir,letmetellyou,apoorTyrolesegirllikemeisno\'miss,\'noaristocraticlady; peoplecallmeLizzie,onlyLizzie;donotforgetthat!\" \"Peopleherecallher\'beautifulLizzie,\'\"saidtheofficerinalowvoice,castinganadmiringglanceontheyounggirl。 \"Thatdoesnotconcernyou,sir,\"shereplied,blushinglikeacrimsonrose;\"youdonotbelongtothepeoplehere,andyoumustnotcallmeanythingbutLizzie,doyouhear?Ithinkthenotionswhichcityfolksentertainaboutbeautyaredifferentfromthoseofpeasantslikeus。WeconsiderthedaisyandtheAlpinerosebeautiful;thoughtheyarebutsmallflowers,yettheysuitus。 However,thecityfolkslaughatourtaste,andsteprecklesslyonourflowers。Theyconsideronlytheproudwhiteliliesandthelargegorgeousrosesbeautifulflowers。Idonotbelongtothem,Iamonlyadaisy;butmyElzalikesthisdaisyandfastensmetoherbosom,andIresttheresosoftandsweetly。\" SheencircledElza\'sneckwithherarms,leanedherheadagainstherbreast,andlookedtenderlyuptoherwithherhazelgazelleeyes。 Elzabentoverherandkissedhereyesandwhiteforehead。UlrichvonHohenberglookedatthembothwithatender,ardentglance;thenheavertedhisheadtoconcealthecrimsonglowsuffusinghischeeks。 Atthismomentthedooropened,andthecastellan\'soverseerenteredwithanairofhurryandself—importance。 \"MissElza,\"hesaid,\"thewood—cuttershavebroughtwoodandarewaitingforareceipt。Besides,theheaddairy—womanwishestoseeyouaboutthebutterwhichsheistosendtotown;andthecattle— dealerhasarrived,and——\" \"Iamcoming,Iamcoming,\"exclaimedtheyounglady,laughing。\"Doyousee,Lizzie,whatanimportantpersonIam?Butformethewholemachinewouldstandstillandsinkinruins。Fortunately,Iamequaltotheoccasion;andsetthewheelsinmotion,andthemachinecangoon。Youmaystayhereandconsiderhowwearetoamuseourselvesto—day。InthemeantimeIshallregulateourdomesticaffairsalittle,andwhenIcomeback,youwillinformmewhatpleasureyouhavedevisedforusto—day。\" \"No,Elza,letmegowithyou,\"beggedEliza,almostanxiously,\"I shallassistyou——\" \"Youcannothelpmeoutside,Lizzie,\"saidElza,laughing;\"buthereyoucantakemyplaceandbemycousinUlrich\'scompanion。Bemerry,mydearchildren,untilIcomeback!\" Shenoddedpleasantlytothem,tookthelargebunchofkeysfromthetable,andswingingitnoisilyinherhand,skippedthroughtheroomandoutofthedoor。 Lizziehadfollowedherafewsteps;then,asifarrestedbyasuddenthought,shepausedandreturnedslowlytothebalcony。Shecastaquickglanceontheofficer,whowasleaningagainstthewallononesideofthebalcony,and,withhisarmsfoldedonhisbreast,didnotaverthiseyesfromher。 Elizagaveastartandwithdrewtotheothersideofthebalcony。 Thereshesatdownonthebenchlikeatimidlittlebird,andallowedhereyestowanderdreamilyandthoughtfullyoverthelandscape。And,indeed,theviewwhichtheyenjoyedfromthe,balconywaswondrouslybeautiful。Ononesideextendedthesplendidvalley,withitsmeadowscladinthefreshestverdureofspring,itsfoamingwhitemountain—torrents,itshousesandhuts,whichdisappearedgraduallyinthevioletmistsborderingthehorizon。Onbothsidesofthevalleyrosethegreenwoodedheights,interspersedhereandtherewithsmallverdantpasturesandclearings,onwhichhandsomeredcowsweregrazingorlyinginmajesticrepose。Behindtheclearingsblackpinesandfirsdottedtheslopes,which,however,intheirmoreelevatedportionsbecamemoreandmorebare; wherethetreesceased,appearedhereandthereagaingreenpastures,andonthem,grayandsmall,likebirds\'nests,thehutsofthemountaincow—keepers,who,themostadvancedsentinels,asitwere,wereguardingthefrontierswherethewarbetweennatureandmancommences,thefrontiersofthesnowyregionandtheworldofglaciers。Behindthecow—keepers\'hutsflashedalreadymassesofsnowfromseveralmountain—gorges;fartherabove,thesnowhadspreaditswhitesilverveilsfarandwideoverallthemountain— peaks,sothattheyglitteredandsparkledwithindescribablebeautyinthebrightmorningsun,andloomedlikeswans\'necksuptotheazuresky。 Below,intheforegroundofthevalley,atthefootofCastleWeissenstein,laythevillageofWindisch—Matrey,withitsscatteringgroupsofhandsomehouses,fromwhosemidstarosethechurch,withitstall,pointedsteeple。Fromthestandpointwhichsheoccupied,Elizawasabletodistinctlysurveythemarket—placeanditscrowdsofmen,which,inthedistance,resembledbusyblackant—hills。Shegazeduponthemfixedly,andthesmallspecksseemedtoherpractisedeyelikehumanforms;shethoughtshecoulddistinguishseveralofthem,and,amongothers,thetallandpowerfulformofherfather;shethought—— \"Eliza,\"saidallatoncealowvoicebyherside——\"Eliza,youdonotwanttoseeme,then?Youarestillangrywithme?\" Shegaveastart,andcrimsoned,when,onlookingup,shesawyoungUlrichvonHohenbergstandingcloseinfrontofher,andgazingatherwithardentandbeseechingeyes。 \"No,sir,\"shesaid,\"Ireallydidnotseeyou。\" \"Thatistosay,Eliza,youarestillangrywithme?\"heasked,eagerly。\"Youaresilent,youavertyourhead。MyGod!Eliza,whatdidIdo,then,toincuryouranger?\" \"Notmuch,perhaps,forcityfolks,butbyfartoomuchforapoorpeasant—girl,\"shesaid,witheyesflashingproudly。\"Youtoldmeyoulovedme,youtriedforciblytoembraceandkissme,andbeggedmetogoupearlyinthemorningtotheyellowgrotto,whereyouwouldwaitforme。Youtoldmefurthernottosayawordaboutittoanybody;itshouldremainasecretbetweenyouandme,andIshouldnotevenmentionittothepriestattheconfessional。Thatwasnothonestofyou,sir;nay,itwasbadofyoutotryandpersuademetosuchmeanthings。Itshowedmethatyoucannotbeagoodman,andthatyourfriendshipformeispromptedbyevilintentions。\" \"Idonotfeelanyfriendshipforyou,nonewhatever,\"saidtheyoungmanardently,seatinghimselfbyherside,seizingherhandinspiteofherresistance,andpressingittohisheart。\"Idonotwanttobeyourfriend,mysweet,beautiful,wildAlpinerose;no,notyourfriend,butyourlover。AndIcommencebylovingyouwithintenseardor,bydesiringandlongingfornothing,andthinkingofnothingbutyoualone。Oh,Eliza,believeme,Iloveyouintensely—— byfarmorethanElza,morethanyourparents,morethanallyourfriendstogether。\" \"More,perhaps,butnotbetter,\"shesaid,shakingherhead,andgentlywithdrawingherhandfromhim。 \"No,letmekeepyourhand!\"heexclaimedhastily,seizingitagain; \"letmekeepit,Eliza,forItellyouIloveyoubettertoothanalltheothers;Iloveyouwithmysoul,withmyheart,withmyblood,withmylife!Oh,believeme,sweet,lovelychild;believemeandgivemeyourheart;followme,andbemine——mineforevermore!I willgiveyouahappy,brilliant,andbeautifulexistence;Iwilllayatyourfeetallthepleasures,enjoyments,andcharmsofthisworld——\" \"Sir,\"interruptedEliza,hastily,jumpingup,andfixinghereyesuponhimwithastrange,ardentexpression,\"IhopeIunderstandyouright,andmyearsdonotdeceiveme?Youoffermeyourhand?Youwanttomarrymeandmakemeyourwife?\" Theyoungmangaveaslightstartanddroppedhiseyes。Elizasawit,andasarcasticsmileplayedroundherlips。\"Whydoyounotspeak?\"shesaid。\"Replytome。DidIunderstandyou?Didyoumakeseriousproposalsofmarriagetome?Willyougodowntomyfatherthisverydayandsaytohim:\'Listen,sir。I,thearistocraticgentleman,I,CaptainUlrichvonHohenberg,wanttomarryyourdaughterLizzie。Ithinkthiscountrygirl,withhermanners,herlanguageandbearing,iswellfittedtoassociatewithmyaristocraticanddistinguishedfamily,andmyparentsinMunichwouldbeoverjoyedifIshouldbringtothemthisTyrolesegirlastheirdaughter—in—law,andabrowncowandawhitegoatasherdower。\'Tellme,sir,willyougodowntomydearfather,theinnkeeperofWindisch—Matrey,andsaythattohim?\" \"But,Eliza,\"sighedtheyoungman,mournfully,\"ifyoulovedmeonlyalittle,youwouldnotimmediatelythinkofmarriage,butwouldforgeteverythingelse,allowyourwholepasttosinkintooblivionbehindyou,andthinkofnothingbutthefactthatIloveyouintensely,andthatyoureturnmylove。\" \"ButIdonotadmitatallthatIloveyou,\"saidEliza,proudly; \"onthecontrary,youalonesayandswearthatyouloveme,andI replythatIdonotbelieveyou。\" \"Andwhydoyounotbelieveme,cruel,beautifulgirl?\" \"Becauseyouuttersomanyfinephraseswhichamounttonothingatall。Youtellmethatyouareveryfondofme,butIthinkifyouloveanybodywithallyourheart,youmustbeanxioustopreservehimfrommisfortune,anddoallyoucantomakehimhappy,eventhoughitwereattheexpenseofyourownhappiness。Butyou,sir,donotintendtomakemehappy;onthecontrary,youarebentonplungingmeintomiseryanddisgrace,andthatisthereasonwhyI contendthatyoudonotloveme。\" \"Thenyouhaveaheartofstone,\"criedUlrichvonHohenberg,despairingly;\"youwillnotseewhatIamsuffering,norhowintenselyIloveyou。\" \"Sir,\"saidshe,smiling,\"ifIcannotcomprehendit,prayexplaintomehowyouloveme。\" \"Iloveyouasthemostbeautiful,lovely,andcharmingcreatureI haveeverknownandadmired。Iloveyouasagirlwhoseinnocence,naturalness,andgoodness,fillmyheartwithecstasyandprofoundemotion;bywhosesideIshouldliketospendmywholelife,andunitedwithwhomIshouldwishtoseekforalonelyislandofhappinesstodreamthere——remotefromtheworld,itsprejudicesandfollies——asweet,blissfullove—life,fromwhichonlydeathwouldarouseus。\" \"Sir,ifyoureallylovemeinthismanner,youneednotrunawaywithmetoseekelsewhereinforeignlandsthe\'lonelyislandofhappiness,\'asyoucallit,forinthatcaseyouwouldhaveitroundyouwhereverwemightbe,and,aboveallthings,hereinourmountains。But,look,itisjustasIsaid;youaredesiroustofinda\'lonelyislandofhappiness\'——thatistosay,nobodyistofindoutthatthearistocraticgentlemanlovesthepoorTyrolesegirl,andthatisthereasonwhyyouwantustohideinthemountainsorelsewhere,andseeifwecanbehappywithouttheblessingofthepriest,ourdearparents,andallothergoodmen。\" \"Oh,Eliza,havemercyonme。IsweartoyouthatIloveyouintensely;thatIwouldbethehappiestofmenifIcouldmarryyoupubliclyandmakeyoumywifeinthefaceofthewholeworld,that—— \" Elizainterruptedhimbysingingwithasmilingair,andinamerry,ringingvoice: \"UndaBisserleLieb\'undaBisserleTreu\' UndaBisserleFalschheitistall\'zeitdabei!\" [Footnote: \"Andabitoflove,andabitoftruth,Andabitoffalsehood,makelife,forsooth!\"] \"No,nofalsehood,\"criedUlrich,\"onlytheirksome,terriblenecessity,the——\" Theloudcrashofarifle,findinganoft—repeatedechointhemountains,interruptedhim。Elizautteredacryofdismayandjumpedup。 \"JesusMaria!\"shemurmuredinalowvoice,\"itisthesignal。Ithascommenced!\" \"What!Whathascommenced?\"askedtheyoungman,insurprise。 Elizalookedathimwithconfusedandanxiouseyes。\"Nothing,oh,nothingatall,\"shesaid,inatremulousvoice。\"Only——Imean\"——shepausedandlookedwithfixedattentiondownonthelargeplace。Shedistinctlysawthegroupsmovingrapidlytoandfro,andthenpouringwithfurioushastethroughthestreets。 \"Theyarecominguphere,\"shemurmured;andhereyesturnedtowardthewingofthecastleonthesideofthebalcony,wheretheBavariansoldiershadtheirquarters。Thelatter,however,apparentlydidnotsuspecttheimminentdanger。Theyweresittingatthewindowsandsmokingorcleaningtheirmusketsanduniforms。 Elizacouldhearthemchattingandlaughinginperfecttranquillity。 \"Well,Eliza,beautiful,cruelgirl,\"askedUlrichvonHohenberg,\"willyoutellmewhathassuddenlyexcitedyousostrangely?\" \"Nothing,sir,oh,nothing,\"shesaid;butthensheleanedfarovertherailingofthebalconyandstareddown;shebeheldfouryoungTyrolesesharpshootersrunningupthecastle—hillatafuriousrate,andthehostoftheircomradesfollowingthem。Thefourwholedthewaynowenteredthecourt—yard,andreachedwithwildboundsthelargedoorformingtheentranceofthewingofthebuildingoccupiedbythesoldiers。Withthunderingnoisetheyshutit,turnedthelargekeywhichwasinthelock,anddrewitimmediatelyout。 Twosharpshootersnowranupfromtheoppositeside。 \"Wehavelockedtheback—gate,\"theyshoutedexultingly。 \"Thatdoorislockedtoo,\"repliedtheothers,jubilantly。\"Theyareallprisonersinthecastle!\" \"Sir,\"criedEliza,drawingUlrichvonHohenbergbackfromthebalcony,\"youmaycomewithmeintothedining—room;Imusttellyousomething。\" \"No,\"hesaid,\"Ishallstayhereandseewhatisthematter。\" \"Whatdoesthismean?MorethanfiftyTyroleseareenteringthecourt—yard;andwhydidthosemadyoungfellowslockthedooruponmysoldiers?\" \"Isupposeitissomemadfreakoftheirs,thatisall,\"saidEliza,trembling。\"Come,dearsir,leavethebalconyandfollowmeintotheroom。Iwishtotellyousomething——quitesecretly,sir,——oh,come! IdonotwantheavenandGodandthesnow—cladmountainsyondertohearawordofit。\" \"Eliza,\"heexclaimed,transported,\"howyousmile,howyoublush! Oh,myGod,whatdoyouwishtosaytome?\" Sheencircledhisarmwithherhandsanddrewhimintotheroom。