andreas hofer-第13部分

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forgotten。〃

Hushed　now　was　every　sound。　Salieri　had　taken　his　seat　as　conductor
of　the　concert；　and　signed　now　to　the　orchestra。

The　audience　listened　in　breathless　silence　to　the　tumultuous　notes
depicting　in　so　masterly　a　manner　the　struggle　of　light　and
darkness；　the　chaos　of　the　elements。　The　struggle　of　the　elements
becomes　more　and　more　furious；　and　the　music　depicts　it　in　sombre；
violent　notes；　when　suddenly　the　horizon　brightens；　the　clouds　are
rent；　the　dissonant　sounds　pass　into　a　sublime　harmony；　and　in
glorious　notes　of　the　most　blissful　exultation　resound　through　the
struggling　universe　the　grand；　redeeming　words；　〃Let　there　be
light！〃　And　all　join　in　the　rapturous　chorus；　and　repeat　in　blissful
concord；　〃Let　there　be　light！〃

The　audience；　carried　away　by　the　grandeur　and　irresistible　power　of
these　notes；　burst　into　long…continued　applause。

Haydn　took　no　notice　of　it；　he　heard　only　his　music；　his　soul　was
entirely　absorbed　in　it；　and　lifting　both　his　arms　to　heaven；　he
said　devoutly　and　humbly；　〃It　comes　from　above！〃　＇Footnote：
〃Zeitgenossen；〃　ibid。＇

The　audience　had　heard　these　loud　and　enthusiastic　words；　it
applauded　no　longer；　but　looked　in　reverent　silence　toward　the　aged
composer；　who；　in　the　midst　of　his　most　glorious　triumph；　rendered
honor　to　God　alone；　and　bowed　piously　and　modestly　to　the　work　of
his　own　genius。

The　performance　proceeded。　But　Joseph　Haydn　hardly　heard　much　of　the
music。　His　head　leaned　against　the　back　of　the　chair；　his　face；　lit
up　by　a　blissful　smile；　was　deathly　pale；　his　eyes　cast　fervent
glances　of　gratitude　toward　heaven；　and　seemed；　in　their　ecstatic
gaze；　to　see　the　whole　heavens　opened。

〃Maestro；〃　said　the　Princess　Esterhazy；　when　the　first　part　of　the
performance　was　ended；　〃you　must　no　longer　remain　here；　but　return
to　your　quiet　home。〃

〃Yes；　I　shall　return　to　the　quiet　home　which　awaits　us　all；〃　said
Haydn；　mildly；　〃and　I　feel　sensibly　that　I　shall　remain　no　longer
among　men。　A　sweet　dream　seems　to　steal　over　me。　Let　the　performers
commence　the　second　part；　and　my　soul　will　be　wafted　to　heaven　on
the　wings　of　my　music。〃

But　the　Princess　Esterhazy　beckoned　to　his　friends。　〃Take　him　away；〃
she　said；　〃the　excitement　will　kill　him；　if　he　stays　any　longer。〃

They　approached　his　chair　and　begged　permission　to　escort　him　home。
Haydn　nodded　his　assent　silently　and　smilingly；　and　his　eyes　glanced
dreamily　round　the　hall。

Suddenly　he　gave　a　start　as　if　in　great　terror；　and　rose　so
impetuously　that　the　furs　and　Turkish　shawls；　which　had　been　wrapped
round　him；　fell　to　the　floor。　His　face　crimsoned　as　if　in　the　light
of　the　setting　sun；　his　eyes　looked　up　with　a　radiant　expression　to
the　box　yonderto　his　emperor；　whom　he　had　loved　so　long　and
ardently；　for　whom　he　had　wept　in　the　days　of　adversity；　for　whom　he
had　prayed　and　sung　at　all　times。　Now　he　saw　him　who；　in　his　eyes；
represented　fatherland；　home；　and　human　justice；　he　felt　that　it　was
the　last　time　his　eyes　would　behold　him；　and　he　wished　to　bid
farewell　at　this　hour　to　the　world；　his　fatherland；　and　his　emperor。

With　a　vigorous　hand　he　pushed　back　the　friends　who　would　have　held
him　and　replaced　him　in　his　chair。　Now　he　was　no　longer　a　weak　and
decrepit　old　man；　he　felt　strong　and　active；　and　he　hastened　forward
with　a　rapid　step　through　the　orchestra　toward　the　conductor's　seat
and　the　piano　in　front　of　it。　He　laid　his　hands；　which　trembled　no
longer；　on　the　keys；　and　struck　a　full　concord。　He　turned　his　face
toward　the　imperial　box；　his　eyes　beamed　with　love　and　exultation；
and　he　began　to　play　his　favorite　hymn　with　impressive　enthusiasm
the　hymn　which　he　had　composed　ten　years　ago　in　the　days　of
Austria's　adversity；　and　which　he　had　sung　every　day　since　then；
the　hymn；　〃Gott　erhalte　Franz　den　Kaiser；　unsern　guten　Kaiser
Franz！〃　And　the　audience　rose　and　gazed　with　profound　emotion　upon
Joseph　Haydn's　gleaming　face；　and　then　up　to　the　emperor；　who　was
standing　smilingly　in　his　box；　and　the　empress；　from　whose　eyes　two
large　tears　rolled　down　her　pale　cheeks；　and　with　one　accord　the
vast　crowd　commenced　singing：

　〃Gott　erhalte　Franz　den　Kaiser；
　Unsern　guten　Kaiser　Franz！
　Lange　lebe　Franz　der　Kaiser
　In　des　Glueckes　hellem　Kranz！
　Ihm　erbluehen　Lorbeerreiser；
　Wo　er　geht；　zum　Ehrenkranz。
　Gott　erhalte〃



　＇Footnote：
　〃God　preserve　the　emperor
　Francis；　our　good　emperor！
　Long　live　Francis；　brightest　gem
　In　fair　Fortune's　diadem
　O'er　him　see　the　laurel　wave；
　Honoring　the　true；　the　brave！
　God　preserve〃＇



Haydn's　hands　dropped　exhausted　from　the　keys；　his　form　rocked　to
and　fro；　and；　half　fainting；　he　sank　back　into　the　arms　of　Salieri
and　Kreutzer。

The　audience　paused；　all　forgot　the　imperial　hymn；　and　looked　only
at　the　venerable　old　maestro；　whom　Salieri　and　Kreutzer　lowered　now
softly　into　the　easy…chair；　which　had　been　brought　to　them。

〃Take　me　home；　dear　ones；〃　he　said；　faintly；　〃sing　on；　my
'Creation'；　my　soul　will　remain　with　you；　but　my　body　can　no　longer
stay。　Old　age　has　broken　its　strength。　Farewell；　farewell；　all　of
you！　My　soul　will　always　be　among　you　when　you　sing　my　music；　my
body　will　go；　but　the　soul　will　remain。　Farewell！〃

And　the　votaries　of　art　who　had　conveyed　him　to　the　hall　now　placed
the　maestro's　chair　again　on　their　shoulders；　and　carried　it　slowly
through　the　hall　toward　the　entrance。

The　audience　stood　in　silent　reverence　and　looked　up　to　Haydn's
passing　form；　and　durst　not　break　this　profound　stillness　by
uttering　a　sound。　They　bade　farewell　to　the　universally　beloved　and
revered　maestro　only　by　bowing　their　heads　to　him　and　shedding　tears
of　emotionfarewell　for　evermore！

The　solemn　procession　had　now　arrived　at　the　door。　Joseph　Haydn
lifted　his　weary　head　once　more；　his　spirit　gleamed　once　more　in　his
eyes；　an　expression　of　unutterable　love　beamed　from　his　mild　face；
he　stretched　out　his　arms　toward　the　orchestra　as　if　to　bless　it；
and　greeted　it　with　his　smile；　with　the　nodding　of　his　head；　and　the
tears　which　filled　his　eyes。　＇Footnote：　〃Zeitgenossen；〃　third
series；　vol　iv。；　p。　33＇

A　low　rustling　and　sobbing　passed　through　the　hall；　no　one　was
courageous　enough　to　clap　his　hands；　all　hearts　were　profoundly
moved；　all　eyes　filled　with　tears。

But　now　he　disappeared；　and　the　door　closed　behind　Joseph　Haydn。　The
German　maestro　had　to…day　celebrated　his　apotheosis　amidst　the
enthusiastic　people　of　Vienna。　Life　had　dedicated　to　him　the　laurel…
wreath　which　usually　only　death　grants　to　poets　and　artists。

The　Audience　was　still　silent；　when　all　at　once　a　powerful　voice
exclaimed：　〃Let　us　sing　the　second　verse　of　Haydn's　favorite　hymn
the　second　verse　of　'Gott　erhalte　Franz　den　Kaiser！'〃

〃Yes；　yes；〃　shouted　all；　enthusiastically；　〃the　second　verse！　the
second　verse！〃

And　hundreds　of　voices　shouted　to　the　orchestra　beseechingly；
imperiously；　thunderingly；　that　it　should　play　the　accompaniment；
and　the　musicians　complied　with　this　tumultuous　request。

The　audience　expressed　their　gratitude　by　an　outburst　of　applause；
and　sang　thereupon　the　second　verse：

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　and　Furchtbarkeit
　Lass　in　seinem　Rathe　sitzen
　Weisheit；　Klugheit；　Redlichkeit；
　Und　mit　seiner　Hoheit　Blitzen
　Schalten　our　Gerechtigkeit。
　Gott　erhalte　Franz　den　Kaiser；
　Unsern　guten　Kaiser　Franz！〃



　＇Footnote：
　〃Before　his　banner　floating　high
　Let　victory　shout　and　foemen　fly！
　In　his　connsels　let　preside
　Wisdom；　prudence；　noble　pride！
　Homely　justice　delling　find！
　God　preserve　the　emperor；
　Francis；　our　good　emperor！〃＇



The　emperor　bowed　his　thanks　to　the　audience；　the　orchestra
commenced　again　playing　the　air；　and　the　audience　sang　anew：

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　und　Furchtbarkeit！〃


And　arms　and　hands　were　lifted　here　and　there　beseechingly　toward
the　emperor；　in　vain　the　orchestra　tried　to　play　on；　the　audience；
with　rare　unanimity；　as　if　seized　with　one　sentiment　and　one　wish；
sang　again　and　again：

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　und　Furchtbarkeit！〃


And　then　all　shouted　loudly；　beseechingly；　and　withal　angrily　and
courageously；

　〃War！　war！　Lass　von　seiner　Fahne
　Spitzen　strahlen　Sieg　and　Furchtbarkeit！〃


The　excitement　of　the　audience　grew　constantly　bolder　and　more
impetuous。　The　men　left　their　seats　and　crowded　around　the　imperial
bog；　repeating　again　and　again　the　words

　〃Lass　von　seiner　Fahne　Spitzen
　Strahlen　Sieg　and　Furchtbarkeit！〃


The　emperor　withdrew　in　confusion　into　the　background　of　his　box；
and　whispered　quickly　a　few　words　to　the　Archduke　John。　The　archduke
advanced　to　the　railing　of　the　box；　and　commanded　silence　by　waving
his　hand　to　the　audience。

The　singers　paused　immediately；　and　amidst　the　breathless　silence
which　ensued；　the　Archduke　John　shouted　in　a　loud　and　powerful
voice：　〃The　emperor　announces　to　his　dear　Viennese　that　he　is
determined　to　submit　no　longer　to　the　arrogance　of　France；　and　that
war　is　irrevocably　resolved　on。〃

A　cry　of　rapture　burst　from　all　lips；　all　shouted　exultingly；　〃War！
war！　We　shall　at　length　bid　defiance　to　the　arrogance　of　the　French
emperor！　We　shall　have　war　with　France；　we　shall　avenge　the　wrongs
which　we　have　suffered　so　long；　and　set　bounds　to　the　encroachments
of　France！〃

And　friends　and　acquaintances　greeted　each　other　with　radiant　eyes
and　glowing　cheeks；　neighbors；　entirely　unknown　to　each　other；　shook
hands　and　said；　smilingly：　〃Now　at　length　we　shall　have　war！　At
length　we　shall　remove　from　our　German　honor　the　stains　with　which
France　has　sullied　it。　At　length　we　shall　have　war；　and　God　will
grant　us〃

The　ringing　notes　of　the　orchestra　interrupted　the　animated
conversation　of　the　excited　audience。　Salieri　had　taken　his　seat
again；　he　raised　his　baton；　and　the　second　part　of　〃The　Creation〃
commenced。




CHAPTER　VI。

ANDREAS　HOFER。


The　streets　of　Vienna　were　silent　and　deserted；　all　houses　were
dark；　everywhere　the　note　of　life　had　died　away；　and　only　here　and
there　a　hackney…coach　was　heard　to　drive　slowly　through　the　lonely
streets；　or　a　belated　wanderer　was　seen　to　return　home　with　a　weary
step。

Vienna　slept　and　dr