andreas hofer-第103部分

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were　in　readiness　for　them；　and　they　were　greeted　everywhere　with
jubilant　acclamations。　Their　journey　to　Vienna　was　an　incessant
triumphal　procession；　a　continued　chain　of　demonstrations　of
enthusiasm　and　manifestations　of　love。

Anthony　Wallner；　however；　remained　silent；　gloomy；　and　downcast；
amid　all　these　triumphs；　and　on　arousing　himself　sometimes　from　his
sombre　broodings；　and　seeing　the　painful　expression　with　which
Eliza's　eyes　rested　on　him；　he　tried　to　smile；　but　the　smile　died
away　on　his　trembling　lips。

〃I　believe　I　shall　be　taken　very　sick；〃　he　said；　faintly。　〃My　head
aches　dreadfully；　and　all　my　limbs　are　trembling。　I　was　too　long　in
the　Alpine　hut；　and　the　numerous　previous　fatigues。　The　excitement；
grief；　cold；　and　hunger；　and　last；　the　long　journey　on　foot；　have
been　too　much　for　me。　Ah；　Lizzie；　Lizzie；　I　shall　be　taken　sick。
Great　God！　it　would　be　dreadful　if　I　should　die　now　and　leave　you
all　alone　in　this　foreign　country！　No；　no；　I　do　not　want　to　be　taken
sick；　I　have　no　time　for　it。　Oh；　listen　to　me；　my　God！　I　do　not　want
to　be　taken　sick；　for　Lizzie　must　not　be　left　an　orphan　here。　No；
no；　no！〃

And　he　lifted　his　clinched　fist　to　heaven；　screamed；　and　wept；　and
uttered　senseless　and　incoherent　words。

〃I　am　afraid　he　has　got　the　nervous　fever；〃　said　Baron　Engenberg；
who　was　conveying　Wallner　and　Eliza　in　his　carriage　from　the　last
station　to　Vienna。　〃It　will　be　necessary　for　us　to　take　him　at　once
to　a　hospital。〃

〃Can　I　stay　with　him　there　and　nurse　him？〃　asked　Eliza；　repressing
her　tears。

〃Of　course　you　can。〃

〃Then　let　us　take　him　to　a　hospital；〃　she　said；　calmly。　〃He　will
die；　but　I　shall　be　there　to　close　his　eyes。〃

And　it　was　Eliza　that　closed　her　father's　eyes。　The　violent　nervous
fever　which　had　seized　Anthony　Wallner　was　too　much　for　his
exhausted　body。　He　died　five　days　after　his　arrival　at　Vienna；　on
the　15th　of　February；　1810；　at　the　city　hospital。

Many　persons　attended　his　funeral；　many　persons　came　to　see　Eliza
Wallner；　the　young　heroine　of　the　Tyrol。　But　Eliza　would　not　see
anybody。　She　remained　in　the　room　which　had　been　assigned　to　her　at
the　hospital；　and　she　spoke　and　prayed　only　with　the　priest　who　had
administered　the　last　unction　to　her　father。

On　the　day　after　the　funeral　the　Emperor　Francis　sent　one　of　his
chamberlains　to　Eliza；　to　induce　her　to　remain　in　Vienna。　He　would
provide　for　her　bountifully；　and　reward　her　for　what　her　father　had
done。　The　chamberlain　was　also　instructed　to　conduct　Eliza　to　the
emperor；　that　he　might　thank　and　console　her　personally。

Eliza　shook　her　head；　gravely。　〃The　emperor　need　not　thank　me；〃　she
said；　〃for　I　did　no　more　for　him　than　he　did　for　the　Tyrol。　He　is
unable　to　console　me；　God　alone　can　do　that；　and　He　will　also
provide　for　me。　I　cannot　see　the　emperor；　for　my　heart　is　too　deeply
afflicted。　But　if　you　will　give　me　money　enough；　sir；　to　return
quickly　to　my　dear　Tyrol　and　my　beloved　mother；　I　shall　accept　it
and　be　grateful　to　you。　I　must　return　to　my　mother　and　weep　with
her；　and　my　dear　home；　my　dear　mountains　will　console　me。〃

〃You　can　set　out　as　soon　as　you　please；〃　said　the　chamberlain。　〃The
emperor　has　interceded　in　your　behalf　and　obtained　this　safeguard
for　you　in　case　you　wished　to　return　to　your　native　country。　No　one
will　molest　you；　and　you　and　your　family　can　live　quietly　at　your
home。〃

〃If　the　emperor　had　done　as　much　for　my　father　as　he　does　for　me；　my
father　would　not　have　died；〃　said　Eliza；　gravely；　accepting　the
paper。　〃Now　he　has　no　longer　need　of　an　emperor。　He　is　with　God；　and
I　would　I　were　with　him　above！　But　I　must　not　leave　my　mother。　I
must　console　her　and　stay　with　her　as　long　as　it　pleases　God。〃
＇Footnote：　Eliza　Wallner　returned　to　Windisch…Matrey；　and　lived
there　in　quiet　retirement。　She　never　married。　After　the　death　of　her
mother　she　yielded　to　Joachim　Haspinger's　entreaties　and　went　to
live　at　his　house。　The　Capuchin　was　ordained　and　appointed　pastor　of
Jotelsee；　and　afterward　of　Traunfeld。　Eliza　lived　with　him　as　his
adopted　daughter；　and　was　still　with　him　at　the　time　of　his　death；
which　took　place　in　1856；　at　Salzburg。See　Sehallhammer's　〃Joachim
Haspinger；〃　p。　184。＇




CHAPTER　XLIV。

ANDREAS　HOFER'S　DEATH。


The　court…martial　at　Mantua　had　passed　sentence　of　death　upon
Andreas　Hofer　for　fighting　against　the　French　after　the　last
proclamation　of　Eugene　Beauharnais　offering　a　general　amnesty。　But
the　court…martial　had　not　adopted　this　decision　unanimously；　several
members　had　voted　for　long　confinement；　and　two　had　had　the　courage
to　vote　for　his　entire　deliverance。　By　a　singular　revolution　of
fortune；　the　same　General　Bisson；　who　had　been　taken　prisoner　at
Innspruck　at　the　outbreak　of　the　insurrection；　and　with　whom　Major
Teimer　had　made　his　triumphal　entry　into　Innspruck；　was　now　governor
of　Mantua；　and　president　of　the　court…martial　which　tried　the
commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrolese。　The　general；　in　consideration　of
his　captivity　among　the　Tyrolese；　wished　to　act　mildly　and
impartially；　and　sent　a　telegraphic　dispatch　to　the　viceroy　at　Milan
to　inquire　what　was　to　be　done　with　Andreas　Hofer；　inasmuch　as　the
sentence　of　the　court…martial　had　not　been　passed　unanimously。　An
answer　was　returned　very　soon。　It　contained　the　categorical　order
that　Andreas　Hofer　should　be　shot　within　twenty…four　hours。

Commissioners　of　the　military　authorities；　therefore；　entered
Andreas　Hofer's　cell　on　the　21st　of　February；　and　informed　him　that
he　would　suffer　death　within　two　hours。

He　listened　to　them　standing；　and　with　unshaken　firmness。　〃I　shall
die；　then；　at　least　as　a　soldier；　and　not　as　a　criminal；〃　he　said；
nodding　his　head　gently。　〃I　am　not　afraid　of　bullets；　nor　of　the
good　God　either；　He　was　always　kind　to　me；　and　it　is　even　now　kind
in　Him　to　relieve　me　from　my　sufferings　here。　I　am　ready　to　appear
before　the　judgment…seat　of　God。〃

〃If　you　have　any　special　wishes　to　prefer；　communicate　them　to　us
now；　and　if　it　is　possible；　they　shall　be　granted；〃　said　one　of　the
officers；　profoundly　moved。

〃There　are　some　wishes　which　I　should　like　to　prefer；〃　replied
Hofer；　musingly。　〃In　the　first　place；　I　wish　to　see　once　more　my
dear　Cajetan　Doeninger；　who　was　separated　from　me　and　confined　in
another　cell；　and　then　I　wish　to　dictate　a　letter　and　my　last　will；
and　would　request　that　both　be　sent　to　my　dear　brother…in…law。〃

〃These　wishes　shall　be　complied　with；　I　promise　it　to　you　in　the
name　of　General　Bisson。　Do　you　desire　to　prefer　any　additional
requests？〃

〃I　wish　further　that　a　priest　be　sent　to　me；　that　he　may　receive　my
confession；　and　grant　me　absolution；　and　finally；　I　should　like　to
see　once　more　my　dear　countrymen；　who　are　imprisoned　in　the
casemates　here；　and　take　leave　of　them　in　a　few　words。〃

〃A　confessor　will　be　sent　to　you；　but　your　last　request　can　not　be
complied　with；〃　was　the　reply。　〃An　exciting　and　perhaps　disorderly
scene　would　ensue；　and　such　things　must　be　avoided。〃

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Andreas；　sighing；　〃send　me　my　dear　secretary；　and
afterward　the　priest。〃

A　few　minutes　after　the　officers　had　withdrawn；　the　door　opened；　and
Cajetan　Doeninger　came　in。　He　burst　into　tears；　rushed　toward
Andreas　Hofer；　and　folding　him　to　his　heart；　exclaimed　mournfully：
〃Is　it　true；　then；　that　they　intend　to　kill　you？　Is　it　true　that
they　are　going　to　assassinate　the　noblest　and　best　man　like　a
criminal？〃

〃Hush；　hush；　Cajetan；〃　said　Andreas；　gently；　pressing　Doeninger
tenderly　to　his　heart；　〃do　not　scold；　but　submit　as　I　do。　I　die
gladly；　for　it　is　better　that　I　should　sacrifice　myself　for　my
native　country　than　that　others　should　die　for　my　sake；　or　for　the
fatherland。〃　＇Footnote：　Hofer's　own　wordsSee　〃Gallery　of　Heroes：
Andreas　Hofer；〃　p。　195。＇

〃Oh；　would　that　I　could　die　for　you！〃　sobbed　Doeninger；　〃my　life　is
worthless　without　you。　Is　it　possible　that　you　must　suffer　now　so
ignominious　a　punishment　for　all　your　noble　deeds　and　aspirations？〃

〃God　alone　knows　what　is　good；〃　said　Andreas；　mildly；　〃and　I　have
doubtless　committed　many　errors；　for　which　I　have　to　suffer　now。
But；　Cajetan；　will　you　fulfil　my　last　request？〃

〃Name　it；　and　I　will　comply　with　it。〃

〃Then　weep　no　more；　my　dear　friend；　for　your　tears　give　me　pain。　Be；
as　formerly；　manful　and　firm。〃

〃I　will；〃　said　Doeninger；　and　he　dried　his　tears　and　forced　himself
to　be　calm　and　composed。

〃And　now；　Cajetan；　be　my　secretary　for　the　last　time；〃　said　Andreas；
gently。　〃I　will　dictate　to　you　a　letter　to　my　brother…in…law　Pohler；
at　Neustadt。　The　jailer　has　already　laid　paper；　pen；　and　ink　on　the
table。　Sit　down；　therefore；　and　write。〃

Cajetan　went　to　the　table　and　seated　himself。　〃I　am　ready；
commander…in…chief；〃　he　said；　〃dictate　to　me　now。〃

Andreas　walked　up　and　down　several　times　musingly；　he　then　stood
still　near　the　table；　a　wondrous　expression　of　serene　calmness　and
peace　beamed　from　his　face；　and　he　dictated　in　a　clear；　quiet　voice
which　did　not　once　tremble　with　emotion。

〃Dearest　brother…in…law：　It　was　God's　will　that　I　should　exchange
here　at　Mantua　my　earthly　life　for　a　better　one。　ButGod　be　praised
for　his　divine　mercy！it　seems　to　me　as　little　painful　as　if　I　were
to　be　led　out　for　another　purpose。　God　in　His　mercy　will　doubtless
be　with　me　to　the　last　moment；　when　I　shall　ascend　to　that　eternal
dwelling…place　where　my　soul　will　rejoice　for　evermore　with　all　the
chosen　spirit！　and　where　I　shall　pray　for　all；　and　particularly　for
those　to　whom　I　owe　my　intercession；　above　all；　for　you；　too；　and
your　dear　wife；　on　account　of　the　book　which　you　presented　to　me。
and　of　other　kind　acts。　Let　all　my　dear　friends　and　acquaintances
pray　for　me　too；　and　help　me　to　rise　from　the　devouring　flames；　when
I　have　to　expiate　my　sins　in　purgatory。　My　beloved　wife；　Anna
Gertrude；　is　to　have　masses　read　for　me　at　St。　Martin's　Zum
rosenfarbnen　Blut。　She　shall　have　prayers　read　in　both　of　the
parish…churches；　and　treat　my　friends　at　the　lower　inn　to　soup　and
meat；　and　give　every　one　half　a　bottle　of　wine。　The　money　I　had
about　me　will　be　distributed　among　the　poor　of　this　city；　for　the
rest；　settle　with　my　debtors　and　creditors　as　honestly　as　you　can；
lest　I　should　have