louisa of prussia and her times-第104部分

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they　raised　menacingly　toward　the　windows　of　the　French　minister。

And　while　thousands　had　gathered　around　the　embassy　building；　other
thousands　strolled　out　toward　Mohringen；　and　stared　breathlessly
down　the　road；　hoping　to　behold　the　longed…for　messenger　who　would
announce　to　them　at　length　the　great　victory　that　had　been　won。

All　at　once　something　in　the　distance　commenced　stirring　on　the
road；　at　times　glittering　objects；　resembling　twinkling　stars；　were
to　be　seen；　and　then　motley　colors　were　discerned；　it　came　nearer
and　nearer。　No　doubt　it　must　be　a　column　of　soldiers；　perhaps　some
of　the　heroic　regiments　which　had　defeated　the　French　army　were
already　on　their　homeward　march。

Ah；　the　proud　and　sanguine　people　of　Vienna　regretted　now
exceedingly　that　there　were　no　longer　any　French　regiments　in　the
capital；　and　that　they　had　left　their　city　only　a　week　ago　and
rejoined　Napoleon's　army。　Now　there　would　have　been　an　opportunity
for　them　to　take　revenge　for　the　hospitality　which　they　had　been
compelled　for　the　last　two　weeks　to　extend　to　the　French。　Now　they
would　have　chased　the　French　soldiers　in　the　most　ignominious　manner
through　the　same　streets　which　they　had　marched　hitherto　with　so
proud　and　confident　a　step。

The　soldiers　drew　nearer　and　nearer；　the　people　hastened　to　meet
them　like　a　huge　boa　constrictor　with　thousands　and　thousands　of
movable　rings；　and　thousands　and　thousands　of　flashing　eyes。

But　all　at　once　these　eyes　became　fixed　and　dismayed；　the　joyful
hum；　which　hitherto　had　filled　the　air　as　though　it　were　a　vast
multitude　of　gnats　playing　in　the　sun；　died　away。

Those　were　not　the　uniforms　of　the　Austrians；　nor　of　the　Russians
either！　Those　were　the　odious　colors　of　France。　The　soldiers
marching　toward　Vienna　were　French　regiments。

And　couriers　appeared　too；　the　longed…for　couriers！　But　they　were　no
Austrian　couriers；　the　tri…colored　sash　was　wrapped　around　their
waists；　they　did　not　greet　the　people　with　German　words　and　with
fraternal　German　salutations。　They　galloped　past　them　and　shouted
〃VICTOIRE！　VICTOIRE！　VIVE　L'EMPEREUR　NAPOLEON！〃

The　people　were　thunderstruck；　they　did　not　stir；　but　stared　wildly
and　pale　with　horror　at　the　regiments　that　now　approached　to　the
jubilant　music　of　their　bands；　and　treated　the　Viennese　to　the　notes
of　the　Marseillaise　and　the　air　of　Va…t…en…guerrier；　they　stared　at
the　sullen；　ragged　men　who　marched　in　the　midst　of　the　soldiers；
like　the　Roman　slaves　before　the　car　of　the　Triumphator。　These　poor；
pale　men　wore　no　French　uniforms；　and　the　tri…colored　sash　was　not
wrapped　around　their　waists；　nor　did　they　bear　arms；　their　hands
were　empty；　and　their　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　ground。　They　were
prisoners；　prisoners　of　the　French；　and　they　wore　Russian　uniforms。

The　people　saw　it　with　dismay。　The　good　Viennese　had　suddenly　been
hurled　from　their　proud　hopes　of　victory　into　an　abyss　of　despair；
and　they　were　stunned　by　the　sudden　fall；　and　unable　to　speak　and　to
collect　their　thoughts。　They　stood　on　the　road；　pale　and　breathless；
and　witnessed　the　spectacle　of　the　return　of　the　victorious　columns
with　silent　despondency。

All　at　once　the　brilliant　column；　which　had　filed　through　the　ranks
of　the　people；　halted；　and　the　band　ceased　playing。　An　officer
galloped　up　and　exchanged　a　few　words　with　the　colonel　in　command。
The　colonel　made　a　sign　and　uttered　a　few　hurried　words；　whereupon
four　soldiers　stepped　from　the　ranks；　and　forcing　a　passage　through
the　staring　crowd；　walked　directly　toward　a　small　house　situated
solitary　and　alone　on　the　road；　in　the　middle　of　a　garden。

Every　inhabitant　of　Vienna　knew　this　house　and　the　man　living　in　it；
for　it　was　the　residence　of　Joseph　Haydn。

When　the　four　soldiers　approached　the　door　of　the　popular　and　well…
known　maestro；　the　people　seemed　to　awake　from　their　stupefaction；　a
unanimous　cry　of　rage　and　horror　resounded；　and　thousands　and
thousands　of　voices　shouted　and　screamed；　〃Father　Haydn！　They　want
to　arrest　Father　Haydn！〃

But；　no。　The　four　soldiers　stopped　at　the　door；　and　remained　there
as　a　guard　of　honor。

And　the　band　of　the　next　regiment；　which　had　just　come　up；　halted　on
the　road　too；　and；　in　stirring　notes；　the　French　musicians　began　to
play　a　melody　which　was　well　known　to　everybody；　the　melody　of　the
great　hymn　from　the　〃Creation；〃　〃In　verdure　clad。〃　＇Footnote：
Historical。＇

It　sounded　to　the　poor　Viennese　like　a　cruel　mockery　to　hear　a　band
of　the　victorious　French　army　play　this　melody　composed　by　a　German
maestro；　and　tears　of　heart…felt　shame；　of　inward　rage；　filled　many
an　eye　which　had　never　wept　before；　and　a　bitter　pang　seized　every
breast。

The　French　musicians　had　not　yet　finished　the　tune；　when　a　window　in
the　upper　story　of　the　house　was　opened；　and　Joseph　Haydn's
venerable　white…haired　head　appeared。　His　cheeks　were　pale；　and　his
lips　trembled；　for　his　footman；　who　had　just　returned　home；　had
brought　him　the　news　that　the　French　had　been　victorious　again；　and
that　Napoleon　had　defeated　the　two　emperors　at　Austerlitz。

Joseph　Haydn；　the　old　man；　was　pale　and　trembling；　but　Joseph　Haydn；
the　genius；　was　courageous；　joyful；　and　defiant；　and　he　was　filled
with　noble　anger　when　he　heard　that　the　trumpeters　of　the　French
conqueror　dared　to　play　his　German　music。

This　anger　of　the　eternally…young　and　eternally…bold　genius　now
burst　forth　from　Haydn's　eyes；　and　restored　to　his　whole　bearing　the
vigor　and　elasticity　of　youth。

Leaning　far　out　of　the　window；　he　beckoned　the　people　with　both
arms；　while　they　were　looking　up　to　him　and　waving　their　hats　to
salute　him。

〃Sing；　people　of　Vienna！〃　he　shouted；　〃oh；　sing　our　favorite　hymn！〃

The　music　had　just　ceased；　and　Joseph　Haydn　now　commenced　singing　in
a　loud；　ringing　voice；　〃GOTT　ERHALTE　FRANZ　DEN　KAISER；　UNSERN　GUTEN
KAISER　FRANZ！〃

And　thousands　of　voices　sang　and　shouted　all　at　once；　〃GOTT　ERHALTE
FRAN　DEN　KAISER；　UNSERN　GUTEN　KAISER　FRANZ！〃

Joseph　Haydn　stood　at　the　window；　and　moved　his　arm　as　though　he
were　standing　before　his　orchestra　and　leading　his　choir。

The　people　sang　their　favorite　hymn　louder　and　more　jubilantly；　and
to　the　notes　of　this　prayer　of　a　whole　people；　of　this　jubilant
hymn；　by　which　the　Viennese　honored　their　unfortunate；　vanquished
emperor　in　the　face　of　the　conquering　army；　the　French　marched　up
the　road　toward　the　interior　of　the　city。

Joseph　Haydn　was　still　at　the　window；　he　led　the　choir　no　longer；　he
sang　no　more。　He　had　folded　his　hands　and　listened　to　the　majestic
anthem　of　the　people；　and　the　tears；　filling　his　eyes；　glistened
like　diamonds。

The　people　continued　shouting　and　singing；　in　spite　of　the　French；
the　hymn　of　〃GOTT　ERHALTE　FRANZ　DEN　KAISER；　UNSERN　GUTEN　KAISER
FRANZ！〃

And　the　victorious　French　marched　silently　through　the　opened　ranks
of　the　people。




CHAPTER　L。

PATRIOTISM。


Princess　Marianne　von　Eibenberg　had　just　returned　from　a　party　which
the　British　ambassador；　Lord　Paget；　had　given　in　her　honor；　and
which　was　to　celebrate　at　the　same　time　the　victory　which　the　two
emperors；　the　allies　of　England；　were　firmly　believed　to　have
achieved　over　the　usurper。

Marianne　Eibenberg；　therefore；　wore　a　brilliant　toilet。　She　was
adorned　with　diamonds　and　costly　jewelry；　and　looked　as　beautiful
and　proud　as　a　queen。　She　had　now　reached　the　acme　of　her　career。
She　was　still　lovely；　and　besides　she　had　become；　as　it　were；　the
protectress　of　the　most　refined　society　of　Vienna　and　the　centre　of
the　intellectual　as　well　as　aristocratic　circles。　She　had
accomplished　her　purpose。　Marianne　Meier；　the　Jewess；　was　now　a
noble　lady；　to　whom　everybody　was　paying　deference；　and　Marianne；
princess　von　Eibenberg；　felt　so　much　at　home　in　her　new　position；
that　she　had　herself　almost　forgotten　who　and　what　she　had　been　in
former　times。　Only　sometimes　she　remembered　it；　only　when　such
recollections　secured　a　triumph　to　her；　and　when　she　met　with
persons　who　had　formerly；　at　the　best；　tolerated　her　with　proud
disdain　in　good　society；　and　who　did　not　deem　it　now　beneath　their
dignity　to　solicit　an　invitation　to　her　reception…room　as　a　favor。

This　reception…room　was　now　the　only　resort　of　good　society　in
Vienna；　the　only　place　where　people　were　sure　to　meet　always　amidst
the　troubles　and　convulsions　of　the　times　with　the　most　refined　and
patriotic　men；　and　where　they　might　rely　on　never　finding　any
persons　of　doubtful　patriotism；　much　less　any　French。

But；　it　is　true；　since　the　imperial　family　had　fled　from　Vienna；　the
reception…room　of　the　Princess　von　Eibenberg　had　gradually　become
deserted；　for　the　members　of　the　aristocracy　had　retired　to　their
estates　and　castles；　and　the　ministers　and　high　functionaries　had
accompanied　the　emperor　and　the　imperial　court　to　Olmutz。

The　ambassadors；　too；　were　about　to　repair　thither；　hence；　the　party
given　by　the　British　minister；　Lord　Paget；　to　his　adored　friend　the
Princess　von　Eibenberg；　was　to　celebrate　not　only　the　supposed
victory；　but　also　his　departure　from　the　capital。

Marianne；　as　we　stated　already；　had　just　returned　from　this　party。
With　rapid　steps；　absorbed　in　profound　reflections；　she　was　pacing
her　boudoir；　muttering；　now　and　then；　inaudible　words；　and　from　time
to　time　heaving　deep　sighs　as　if　feeling　violent　pain。　When　she
walked　past　the　large　Venetian　mirror；　she　stopped　and　contemplated
the　brilliant　and　imposing　form　it　reflected。

〃It　is　true；〃　she　said；　mournfully；　〃the　Princess　von　Eibonberg　is　a
beautiful　and　charming　lady；　she　has　very　fine　diamonds　and　a　very
aristocratic　title；　she　is　living　in　grand　style；　she　has　very　many
admirers；　she　is　adored　and　beloved　on　account　of　her　enthusiastic
patriotism；　she　has　got　whatever　is　able　to　beautify　and　adorn　life；
and　yet　I　see　a　cloud　on　this　forehead　which　artists　compare　with
that　of　the　Ludovisian　Juno；　and　diplomatists　with　that　of　Pallas
Athene。　What　does　this　cloud　mean？　Reply　to　this　question；　you；　whom
I　see　there　in　the　mirror；　reply　to　it；　proud　woman　with　the
precious　diadem；　how　does　it　come　that　you　look　so　sad；　although　the
world　says　that　you　are　happy　and　highly　honored？〃

She　paused；　and　looked　almost　expectantly　at