andreas hofer-第104部分

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rest；　settle　with　my　debtors　and　creditors　as　honestly　as　you　can；
lest　I　should　have　to　atone　for　it　also。　Farewell；　all　of　you；　for
this　world；　until　we　shall　meet　in　heaven　and　praise　God　for
evermore。　Dearest　brother…in…law；　repair　to　the　Passeyr　valley；　and
inform　the　landlord　of　the　lower　inn　of　my　instructions。　He　will
make　all　necessary　dispositions。　Let　all　the　inhabitants　of　Passeyr；
and　all　my　acquaintances　remember　me　in　their　prayers。　Dearest
brother…in…law；　tell　my　wife；　Anna　Gertrude；　not　to　grieve　for　me。　I
shall　pray　to　God　for　her　and　for　all。　Adieu；　beautiful　world！　Dying
seems　to　me　so　easy　that　there　are　not　even　tears　in　my　eyes。〃

〃Written　at　nine　o'clock；　at　ten　I　shall　ascend　to　God　with　the　aid
of　all　the　saints。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Your。〃

　〃Mantua；　February　20；　1810。〃
＇Footnote：　〃Gallery　of　heroes：　Andreas　Hofer；〃　p。　197。＇

〃I　will　write　the　signature　as　I　always　did；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；
and；　taking　up　the　pen　quickly；　he　wrote：

〃Your　Andreas　Hofer；　from　Sand　in　Passeyr；　whom　you　loved　in　this
life。　I　will　set　out　on　my　last　journey　in　the　Lord's　name。〃
＇Footnote：　〃Gallery　of　Heroes。〃＇

〃I　thank　you；　Cajetan；　for　rendering　me　this　last　service；〃　said
Andreas；　kindly。　〃And　now；　my　dear　friend；　let　us　take　leave　of　each
other。　The　confessor　will　be　here　soon；　and　then　I　must　no　longer
speak　to　any　one　but　God。〃

Cajetan　came　to　him　with　a　tottering　step；　and　leaned　his　head
silently　on　Hofer's　shoulder。　He　did　not　speak；　he　wanted　to　be
firm；　but　he　was　unable　to　restrain　the　sobs　and　sighs　which　issued
from　his　breast。

〃My　dear　Cajetan；　why　do　you　weep？〃　asked　Hofer；　pressing
Doeninger's　head　gently　to　his　heart。　〃Did　you　weep　when　I　went　into
battle；　where　the　enemy's　bullets　might　have　hit　me　at　any　second？
You　did　not　weep　then。　Think；　therefore；　that　I　am　going　into　battle
to…day　too；　and　that　it　is　better　for　me　to　be　hit　by　the　bullets
than　suffer　any　longer　in　this　manner。〃

At　this　moment　the　door　opened；　and　the　priest；　Giovanni　Giacomo
Manifesti；　dressed　in　full　vestments；　came　in。　The　guards　who
followed　him　led　away　Doeninger；　who　obeyed　them　in　silence；　as　if
stunned　by　his　terrible　grief。　＇Footnote：　Cajetan　Doeninger　was
taken　immediately　after　Hofer's　execution；　from　his　prison；　and　sent
to　the　Island　of　Corsica；　as　a　private　in　a　regiment　of　light
infantry。　He　succeeded；　some　time　afterward；　in　escaping　from
thence；　and　returning　to　his　native　country。＇

Andreas　Hofer　remained　alone　with　his　confessor。

At　eleven　o'clock　the　doors　of　the　prison　were　thrown　open；　and
Andreas　Hofer　was　led　out　to　execution。　His　face　was　serene；　and　in
his　hands　he　held　the　small　crucifix　which　he　had　always　worn　on　his
breast。　His　confessor；　Manifesti；　walked　by　his　side；　and　a
battalion　of　grenadiers　followed　him。

Andreas　Hofer　walked　along　the　ramparts　of　the　fortress　with　a　firm
step。　As　he　passed　by　the　barracks　of　the　Porta　Molina；　where　the
Tyrolese　prisoners　were　confined；　they　fell　on　their　knees　and　wept
aloud。　Andreas　turned　quickly　to　Manifesti　the；　priest。　〃Your
reverence；〃　he　said；　〃you　will　distribute　among　my　poor　countrymen
the　five　hundred　florins；　my　last　property；　which　I　gave　to　you；
will　you　not？〃

〃I　will；　my　son。〃

〃And　take　my　greetings　to　all；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；　in　a　grave；　loud
voice；　〃and　tell　them　not　to　be　disheartened；　nor　to　think　that　all
is　lost；　and　that　we　have　fought　and　bled　in　vain。　Better　times　will
dawn　upon　my　beloved　Tyrol；　and　one　day　it　will　be　again　a　free
German　country。　Tell　them　to　hope　and　believe　in　this　prediction。〃

On　the　broad　bastion；　a　little　distance　from　the　Porta　Ceresa；　the
grenadiers　formed　a　square；　open　in　the　rear。　Andreas　Hofer　entered
this　open　space　with　the　priest；　bowed　kindly　to　all　sides；　and
prayed　aloud　with　the　priest。

〃Now；　farewell；　dear　reverend　father；〃　he　then　said；　〃and　accept
this　crucifix　as　a　souvenir　from　me。　I　have　worn　it　on　my　breast　for
twenty　years　past；　and　it　will　remind　you　of　Andreas　Hofer。　Inform
my　wife　that　I　suffered　death　joyously；　and　that　I　know　we　shall
meet　again　above。　You　promised　me　to　do　so；　and　you　will　redeem　your
promise；　reverend　father；　will　you　not？〃

〃Certainly　I　will；　my　beloved；　pious　son；〃　said　Manifesti；　and　with
tears　in　his　eyes　he　embraced　and　blessed　Andreas　Hofer　for　the　last
time。　＇Footnote：　Manifesti　redeemed　his　promise。　He　sent　to　the
Tyrol　the　following　letter　regarding　Hofer's　death：

MANTOVA；　li　21；　Febrajo；　1810。　〃Ieri　poco　primo　del　mezzo　giorno　e
stato　fueillato　il　Signore　Andreas　Hofer；　gia　commandante　del
Tirolo。　Dalla　commissione　militare；　che　l'ha　sententiato；　fu
invitato　ad　assisterio；　e　sebbene　fossi　convalescente　per　una
maladia　pocchi　giorno　avanti　sofferta；　ho　volonteri　assento
l'impegno；　e　con　somma　mia　consolazione　ed　edificatione　ho　ammirato
un　uomo；　che　e　andato　alla　morte　d'un　eroe　Christiano　a　l'ha
sostenuto　di　martire　intrepido。　Egli　con　tutta　segretezza　mi　ha
consegnata　una　carta　di　somma　importanza　per　l'orfona　sua　famiglia
incaricando　mi　dirigerla　a　V。　Sig。　Rio　M。Sono　con　perfetta　stima；
〃Di　V。　S。　Rio　M。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Divotissimo；〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃GIOV。　BATT。　（AROIPRETE）　MANIFESTI〃

〃MANTUA；　Feb。　21；　1810。Yesterday；　a　few　minutes　before　twelve；　Mr。
Andreas　Hofer；　late　commander　of　the　Tyrol；　was　shot　here。　The
military　commission　which　tried　him　requested　me　to　attend　him；　and
although　I　had　recovered　but　a　few　days　since　from　sickness；　I
gladly　complied　with　the　request；　and　admired；　to　my　consolation　and
edification；　a　man　who　went　to　death　as　a　Christian　hero；　and
suffered　it　as　an　intrepid　martyr。　Under　the　seal　of　profound
silence　he　intrusted　to　me　a　paper　of　the　highest　importance　to　his
family；〃　&c。See　Hormayr's　〃Lebensbilder；〃　vol。　i。　p。　224。＇

The　priest　thereupon　left　the　square；　while　twelve　men　and　a
corporal　stood　forth　with　loaded　muskets。　The　corporal　offered　Hofer
a　white　handkerchief　to　bandage　his　eyes。

〃No；〃　said　Hofer。　〃I　have　often　already　faced　death；　it　is　a　dear
friend　of　mine；　and　I　want　to　see　it；　therefore；　when　it　comes　to
me。〃

〃Kneel　down；　then；〃　said　the　corporal。

〃I　shall　not；〃　replied　Hofer；　gravely　and　almost　imperiously。　〃I　am
used　to　stand　upright　before　my　Creator；　and　in　that　posture　I　will
deliver　up　my　spirit　to　Him。　But　pray；〃　he　added　in　a　milder　voice；
〃aim　well。　Come；　corporal；　I　will　give　you　yet　a　souvenir；　it　is　my
whole　remaining　property。　Look　at　this　Zwanziger；　I　had　it　coined
when　I　was　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrol；　and　it　reminds　me　now　of
my　beloved　country；　and　it　seems　to　me　as　though　its　snow…clad
mountains　were　looking　down　on　me　and　greeting　me。　There；　keep　it　as
a　remembrancer；　and　aim　well！〃

The　corporal　stepped　back　and　commanded　in　a　voice　tremulous　with
emotion；　〃Fire！〃

〃Fire！〃　shouted　Hofer。　〃Long　live　the　Tyrol！〃

Six　shots　rang　out；　but　Andreas　Hofer　was　not　dead；　he　had　sunk　only
on　one　knee　and　leaned　on　his　right　hand。

Six　shots　crashed　again。　They　struck　him　to　the　ground；　but　did　not
yet　kill　him。　He　raised　his　bleeding　head　once　more。

The　corporal；　filled　with　pity；　stepped　now　close　up　to　him；　put　his
musket　to　Hofer's　forehead；　and　fired。

This　thirteenth　shot　dispatched　him　at　length！

The　grenadiers　raised　the　corpse　and　carried　it　on　a　black　bier　to
St。　Michael's　church；　where　it　lay　in　state　during　the　requiem；　that
the　people　might　convince　themselves　of　the　death　of　the　beloved　and
feared　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrol；　Le　General　Sanvird；　Andreas
Hofer；　the　Barbone；　and　of　the　final　subjugation　of　the　Tyrol。
＇Footnote：　Hofer's　remains　were　buried　in　Manifesti's　garden。　A
simple　slab　on　his　grave　bore　the　following　inscription：　〃Qui　giace
la　apoglia　del　fu　Andrea　Hofer；　detto　il　Generale　Barbone；
commandants　supremo　delle　milicie　del　Tirolo；　fucillato　in　questa
forterezza　nel　giorno　20　Febrajo　1810；　sepolto　in　questo　luogo。〃
（〃Here　rest　the　remains　of　the　late　Andreas　Hofer；　called　General
Barbone；　commander…in…chief　of　the　Tyrolese　militia；　shot　in　this
for　tress　on　the　20th　of　February；　1810；　and　buried　in　this　place。〃）
Fourteen　years　afterward　Hofer's　remains　were　disinterred　by　three
Austrian　officers；　who　had　obtained　Manifesti's　consent；　and
conveyed　to　Botzen。　The　Emperor　Francis　gave　orders　to　transfer　them
to　Innspruck；　where　they　were　buried　in　the　church　of　the
Franciscans　by　the　side　of　the　monument　of　the　Archduke　Ferdinand
and　his　beloved　Philippina　Welser。See　Hormayr's　〃Andreas　Hofer；〃
vol。　ii。；　p。　539。＇

This　occurred　on　the　20th　of　February；　1810；　and　on　the　same　day　on
which　Andreas　Hofer　was　shot　at　Mantua；　because　he　had　loved　his
country　and　his　Emperor　Francis　too　faithfully；　almost　at　the　very
hour　of　his　death；　the　booming　of　artillery　was　to　be　heard　on　the
ramparts　of　Vienna。

It　proclaimed　to　the　Viennese　the　joyful　news　that　the　Archduchess
Maria　Louisa；　the　emperor's　daughter；　was　the　affianced　bride　of　the
Emperor　Napoleon！







End