andreas hofer-第14部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


streets；　or　a　belated　wanderer　was　seen　to　return　home　with　a　weary
step。

Vienna　slept　and　dreamed　of　the　welcome　news　which；　despite　the　late
hour；　had　spread　like　wild…fire　from　the　concert…hall　through　the
cityof　the　joyful　intelligence　that　war　against　France　was
resolved　on；　and　that　the　time　was　at　length　at　hand　when　the　wrongs
perpetrated　by　Napoleon　were　to　be　avenged。

Vienna　slept　and　dreamed；　only　in　the　wing　of　the　imperial　palace
where　lay　the　rooms　occupied　by　the　Archduke　John；　the　lights　had
not　yet　been　extinguished；　and　at　times　dark　figures　were　seen
moving　to　and　fro　behind　the　windows。

The　Archduke　John　did　not　sleep　yet；　but　he　had　already　dismissed
Conrad；　his　valet　de　chambre；　he　had　permitted　the　other　footmen　to
retire　from　the　anteroom　to　their　bedchambers；　and　had　then　himself
locked　the　door　of　the　outer　anteroom。

〃I　do　not　trust　Conrad；　my　valet　de　chambre；〃　he　said　to　Count
Nugent；　who　was　with　him　in　his　cabinet；　〃it　is　he；　doubtless　who
has　been　placed　as　a　'guardian　angel'　by　my　side；　and　is　to　report
regularly　all　I　am　doing。〃

〃Your　highness　ought　to　discharge　the　fellow　forthwith；〃　exclaimed
Count　Nugent；　indignantly。

〃I　shall　take　good　care　not　to　do　so；〃　said　John；　smiling；　〃on　the
contrary；　I　shall　try　to　keep　Conrad　as　long　as　possible　in　my
service；　for　I　know　him；　and　shall　be　able　to　mystify　him。　I　shall
always　have　to　suffer　a　spy　by　my　side；　for　the　love　and　solicitude
of　my　imperial　brother　will　never　leave　me　for　a　single　moment
without　close　surveillance；　and　Conrad　is　less　distasteful　to　me
than　another　spy　probably　would　be。　Still；　I　did　not　want　him　to
report　any　thing　about　the　visitors　who　will　be　here　to…night；　and
therefore　I　dismissed　him　for　the　night。〃

〃But　he　will　probably　stand　in　the　street　to　watch　his　master's
windows；〃　said　Nugent；　with　a　shrug；　〃and　the　shadows　which　he　will
see　he　may　distort　into　all　sorts　of　spectres　which　will　be
mentioned　in　the　emperor's　police　report　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　not　afraid　of　that　at　this　hour；〃　exclaimed　John。　〃The
emperor　knows　that　I　am　to　receive　the　delegates　of　the　Tyrolese；　I
myself　told　him　so　to…day；　and　he　approves　of　it。　But　harm　might
befall　my　Tyrolese　at　their　homes；　if　their　plans　were　discovered
previous　to　their　deliverance　from　the　Bavarian　yoke。　But　hush；　did
you　not　hear　a　rustling　sound　in　the　corridor？〃

〃Yes；　I　did；　it　is　drawing　nearit　is　at　the　door　now；　and
somebody　raps　already。〃

〃Our　friends　are　there；〃　exclaimed　John；　hastening　to　the　door；　and
drawing　back　the　bolt。

The　archduke　was　not　mistaken；　his　friends　were　there；　and　entered
his　cabinet　now　by　the　secret　door。　They　were　headed　by　Baron　von
Hormayr　in　his　brilliant　gold…embroidered　uniform；　which　rendered
doubly　conspicuous　the　beauty　of　his　slender　yet　firmly…knit　form；
and　the　noble　expression　of　his　prepossessing；　youthful　face。　He　was
followed　by　three　Tyrolese；　clad　in　their　national　costume；　and
holding　their　rifles　in　their　arms。

The　first　of　them　was　a　man　about　forty　years　old。　His　frame　was
Herculean；　his　shoulders　broad；　his　strength　immense；　his　head　was
covered　with　dense　black　hair；　his　bronzed　face　was　radiant　with
kind…heartedness　and　good…humor。　His　dress　was　the　common　habit　of
the　country；　with　some　trifling　variations：　a　large　black　hat；　with
a　broad　brim；　black　ribbons；　and　a　dark　curling　feather；　a　green
jacket；　red　waistcoat；　broad　green　braces　crossed　on　the　breast；　a
black　leathern　girdle；　adorned；　according　to　the　Tyrolese　custom；
with　all　sorts　of　ivory　and　other　ornaments；　black　breeches；　red
stockings；　and　black　shoes　with　buckles。　About　his　neck　was　always
to　be　seen　a　silver　crucifix　fastened　to　a　heavy　gold　chain；　and
over　it；　down　to　the　girdle；　flowed　his　large　black　beard；　which
imparted　a　strange；　fantastic　air　to　his　whole　appearance。　This　man
was　Andreas　Hofer；　the　innkeeper　of　Passeyr；　to　whom　the　Italian
Tyrolese；　on　account　of　his　long　beard；　had　given　the　name　of
〃Barbone。〃

The　second　of　the　Tyrolese　who　entered　the　archduke's　cabinet　was　a
man　of　no　less　imposing　appearance；　dressed　entirely　like　Andreas
Hofer；　only　the　long　beard　was　wanting　to　him；　and；　instead　of　a
black　hat；　he　wore　the　pointed　green　Tyrolese　hat；　adorned　with
hunting　ornaments。　His　face；　less　good…natured　and　serene　than　that
of　his　friend；　was　expressive　of　energy　and　resolution；　courage　and
shrewdness　beamed　from　his　black　eyes；　and　a　peculiar　expression　of
defiance　and　scorn　played　around　his　full　lips。　This　was　Joseph
Speckbacher；　known　by　every　inhabitant　of　the　northern　Tyrol　as　〃the
bold　chamois…hunter。〃

He　was　followed　by　a　third　Tyrolese；　as　proud　and　strong；　as　robust
and　fine…looking；　as　his　two　companions。　It　was　Anthony　Wallner；　the
innkeeper　of　Windisch…Matrey；　and；　like　Speckbacher；　Hofer's
intimate　friend。

The　archduke　advanced　to　meet　the　Tyrolese；　and　shook　hands　with
each　of　them。

〃Welcome；　my　Tyrolese；　welcome！〃　he　said；　in　a　deeply…moved　voice；
〃may　God　and　the　Holy　Virgin　grant　that　no　harm　result；　from　your
visit　to　me！　You　know　that　I　have　never　ceased　to　love　you；　and　that
when；　in　the　year　1805；I　had　to　bid　farewell　to　Andreas　Hofer　and
the　dear　Tyrol；　my　heart　almost　broke　with　grief　and　despair。〃

〃Look；　look！〃　exclaimed　Andreas　Hofer；　turning　with　a　radiant　smile
to　his　two　friends；　〃he　is　indeed　the　same　man　who　bade　us　farewell
at　that　time　in　Brunecken；　and　was　not　ashamed　of　embracing　Andreas
Hofer　and　shedding　tears　on　his　shoulder　for　the　poor　sacrificed
Tyrol。〃

〃And　who　is　glad　to…day　to　be　able　to　embrace　Andreas　Hofer　again；〃
said　the　archduke；　encircling　the　Herculean　form　of　the　Tyrolese
innkeeper　with　his　arms。　〃But　I　will　shed　no　tears　to…day；　Andreas；
for　I　hope　the　time　of　tears　is　over；　and　you　have　come　to　tell　me
so；　to　bring　me　love…greetings　from　the　Tyrolese；　and　the　hope　of
better　times。　Say；　you　three　brave　men　from　the　Tyrol；　Andreas
Hofer；　Joseph　Speckbacher；　Anthony　Wallner；　is　it　not　so？　Have　you
not　come　to　tell　me　that　the　Tyrol　is　longing　for　her　emperor　and
desirous　of　getting　rid　of　the　Bavarians？〃

〃Yes；　we　have　come　to　say　this　to　our　dear　John；〃　exclaimed　Andreas
Hofer。

〃We　have　come　to　ask　if　Austria　does　not　intend　to　call　upon　her
Tyrol　to　rise　and　fight　under　her　banners；〃　said　Joseph　Speckbacher。

〃We　have　come　to　ask　our　Archduke　John　if　he　will　help　us　with　his
troops　and　cannon　in　case　we　Tyrolese　should　rise　now　to　expel　the
Bavarians　from　the　country；〃　said　Anthony　Wallner；　with　flashing
eyes。

〃We　have　come　to　ask　our　John；　Is　it　time？〃　exclaimed　Andreas　Hofer。

The　archduke　held　out　his　hand　to　him　with　a　firm　and　resolute
glance。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃yes；　Andreas　Hofer；　it　is　time！　Yes；
Anthony　Wallner；　Austria　will　assist　the　Tyrolese　with　her　troops
and　cannon　in　expelling　the　Bavarians　and　French　from　their　country。
Yes；　Joseph　Speckbacher；　Austria　intends　to　call　upon　her　faithful
Tyrol　to　rise　and　fight　under　her　banners；　she　will　engage　in　a
mortal　contest　for　you　and　with　you！〃

〃God　grant　success　to　our　united　efforts！〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；
folding　his　hands　over　the　crucifix　on　his　breast。　〃During　all　these
years　I　have　prayed　every　day　to　the　Holy　Virgin　to　let　me　live　and
see　the　day　when　the　Austrian　eagle　shall　once　more　adorn　our
boundary…posts；　and　when　we　may　again　fondly　and　faithfully　love　our
Emperor　Francis　as　our　legitimate　sovereign。　The　good　God　in　heaven；
I　hope；　will　forgive　me　for　having　been　a　very　bad　and　obstinate
subject　of　the　King　of　Bavaria。　I　would　never　submit　to　the　new
laws；　and　could　not　discover　in　my　old　Austrian　heart　a　bit　of
loyalty　or　love　for　the　ruler　who　was　forced　upon　us。〃

〃No；　you　were　a　stubborn　disloyalist；　Andy。〃　said　Hormayr；　〃and；　as
spokesman　of　your　whole　district；　you　raised　your　voice　against
every　new　law　which　the　Bavarian　government　promulgated　in　your
country。　But；　it　is　true　the　Tyrolese　love　their　Andy　for　this；　and
say　that　he　is　the　most　honest；　faithful；　and　reliable　man　in　the
whole　valley　of　the　Adige。〃

〃To　be　courageous　is　not　so　difficult　if　the　cause　which　you　fight
for　is　a　good　one；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；　calmly。　〃God　Himself
engraved　on　my　heart　the　commandment　to　be　loyal　to　my　emperor；　my
country；　and　its　laws；　and　if　you　call　me　reliable；　dear　friend；　you
merely　say　that　I　do　my　duty　as　a　Christian；　for　the　Bible　says；
'Let　your　communication　be　Yea；　yea；　nay；　nay；　for　whatsoever　is
more　than　these　cometh　of　sin。'　Therefore；　do　not　praise　me　for　that
which　is　only　my　duty；　and　which　Speckbacher　and　Wallner；　and　all
our　dear　friends　in　the　valley　of　the　Adige；　do　just　as　well　as　I。
For　the　rest；　I　must　tell　you；　gentlemen；　it　is　not　so　strange　that
we　should　be　attached　to　the　emperor；　for　the　Bavarians　are
governing　our　country　in　such　a　manner　as　if　they　were　intent　only
on　making　us　love　our　emperor　every　day　more　and　more；　and　long　for
him　more　intensely。〃

〃It　is　true；　Andy　is　right；〃　exclaimed　Anthony　Wallner；　〃the
Bavarians　oppress　us　fearfully；　and　we　will　not　stand　it　any　longer；
we　will　become　Austrians　again；　as　our　fathers　were；　and　will　fight
for　our　liberty　and　our　old　privileges　which　Bavaria　solemnly
guaranteed；　and　which　her　authorities　basely　intend　to　overthrow。〃

〃Which　they　have　already　overthrown；〃　cried　Joseph　Speckbacher；　his
eyes　flashing　with　anger。　〃The　court　of　Munich　seems　intent　only　on
making　the　utmost　of　their　new　acquisition。　Our　old　constitution　has
been　overthrown　by　a　royal　edict；　the　representative　estates　have
been　suppressed；　and　the　provincial　funds　seized。　No　less　than　eight
new　and　oppressive　taxes　have　been　imposed　and　are　being　levied　with
the　utmost　rigor；　the　very　name　of　our　country　has　been　abolished；
the　royal　property　has　all　been　brought　into　the　market；　new　imports
are　daily　exacted　without　any　consultation　with　the　estates　of　the
people；　specie　has　become　scarce；　from　the　quantity　of　it　which　is
being　drawn　off　to　the　Bavarian　treasury；　the　Austrian　notes　have
been　reduced　to　half　their　value；　and；　to　crown　all　these　wrongs；
compulsory　levies　are　held　among　our　young　men；　who　are　to　serve　in
the　ranks　of　our　oppressors！　No；　we　must