andreas hofer-第20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！


his　subject；　I　had　to　obey　him。　But　I　repeat　it；　this　will　be　a
disastrous　war　for　Austria；　and　I　look　with　gloomy　forebodings　into
the　future。〃

And　as　gloomy　as　the　generalissimo's　face　was　that　of　his　brother；
the　Emperor　Francis。　He　had　retired　into　his　cabinet；　and　strode
growlingly　up　and　down；　holding　the　fly…flap　in　his　hand；　and
striking　savagely　at　the　flies　which　his　searching　eyes　discovered
here　and　there　on　the　wall。

Suddenly　the　door　opened；　and　the　footman　announced　the　Archduke
John。　The　emperor's　face　became　even　more　morose。　He　cast　the　fly…
flap　aside；　and　murmured　to　himself；　〃My　brothers　never　leave　me　any
rest。〃　He　then　said　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Let　him　come　in。〃

A　minute　afterward　the　archduke　entered　the　cabinet。　His　face　was
still　joyously　lit　up　by　the　soul…stirring　solemnity　in　which　he　had
participated　in　the　morning；　his　eye　was　yet　radiant　with　noble
enthusiasm　and　exultation；　and　a　serene　smile　played　around　his
lips。　Thus　he　appeared　before　his　brother；　whose　face　seemed　doubly
gloomy　in　the　presence　of　his　own。

〃I　come　to　take　leave　of　your　majesty　and　bid　farewell　to　my　brother
Francis；〃　he　said；　in　a　mild；　tender　voice。　〃I　intend　to　set　out　to…
night　for　Gratz；　and　organize　my　staff　there。〃

〃God　bless　you；　commander　of　the　Southern　army！〃　said　the　emperor；
dryly；　〃God　bless　you；　brother。　You　were　all　eager　for　war；　now　you
have　it！〃

〃And　your　majesty　has　witnessed　the　enthusiasm　with　which　the
Austrian　people　hailed　the　declaration　of　war。　And　not　only　the
people　of　Austria；　but　all　Germany；　looks　now　with　joy；　hope；　and
pride　toward　Austria；　and　participates　most　cordially　in　our　warlike
enthusiasm。〃

〃I　do　not　care　for　that；〃　said　the　emperor；　dryly。　〃Thank　God；　I
cast　off　the　crown　of　Germany　three　years　ago；　and　am　no　longer
Emperor　of　Germany。〃

〃But　one　day；　when　your　armies　have　conquered　France　and　delivered
the　world　from　the　insatiable　usurper；　Germany　will　gratefully　lie
down　at　your　majesty's　feet　and　beseech　you　to　accept　the　imperial
crown　again　at　her　hands。〃

〃Much　obliged；　sir；　but　I　would　not　take　it；〃　exclaimed　the　emperor；
with　a　shrug。　〃But　say；　brother；　are　you　really　convinced　that　we
can　and　shall　conquer　Bonaparte？〃

〃I　am。　We　shall　conquer；　if〃

〃Well；　if〃asked　the　emperor；　when　the　archduke　hesitated。

〃If　we　are　really　determined　to　do　so；〃　said　John；　looking　the
emperor　full　in　the　face；　〃if　we　act　harmoniously；　if　we　do　not
impede　each　other；　if　no　petty　jealousies　favor　the　efforts　of　one
and　frustrate　those　of　the　other。　Oh；　brother；　permit　me　at　this
farewell　hour　to　utter　a　few　frank　and　truthful　words；　and　I　beg
your　majesty　to　forgive　me　if　my　heart　opens　to　you　in　unreserved
confidence。　Brother；　I　confess　frankly　all　is　not　as　it　should　be
here。　Where　concord　should　reign；　there　is　discord；　where　all　should
have　their　eyes　fixed　only　on　the　great　goal；　and　avail　themselves
of　all　means　and　forces；　they　are　split　up　into　factions　bitterly
hostile　to　each　other。　Oh；　my　gracious　emperor；　I　beseech　you；　do
not　listen　to　these　factions；　do　not　confide　in　those　who　would　like
to　arouse　your　suspicion　against　your　brothers。　Believe　me；　you　have
no　more　loyal；　devoted；　and　obedient　subject　than　I　am；　therefore；
confide　in　me；　who　wish　only　to　contribute　to　the　greatness；　honor；
and　glory　of　my　country　and　my　emperor；　to　the　best　of　my　power；
however　insignificant　it　may　be。　My　brother；　there　has　long　been　a
gulf　between　us；　God　knows　that　I　did　not　dig　it。　But　let　us　fill　it
up　forever　at　this　farewell　hour。　I　implore　you；　believe　in　my　love；
my　devoted　loyalty；　take　me　by　the　hand　and　say；　‘John；　I　trust　you！
I　believe　in　you！'　See；　I　am　waiting　for　these　words　as　for　the
blessing　which　is　to　accompany　me　into　battle；　and　rest　on　my　heart
like　a　talisman。　Brother；　speak　these　words　of　love　and　confidence！
Give　me　your　handopen　your　arms　to　your　brother！〃

〃Why　should　we　enact　here　a　sentimental　scene？〃　asked　the　emperor；
harshly。　〃I　do　not　like　such　things；　and　want　to　see　family　dramas
only　performed　on　the　stage。　Thank　God；　I　am　not　a　theatrical
emperor；　but　a　real　one；　and　will　have　nothing　to　do　with　scenes
from　plays。　Nor　do　I　know　of　any　gulfs　existing　between　you　and　me。
I　never　perceived　them；　and　was　never　disturbed　thereby。　But　why　do
you　protest　your　love　and　loyalty　in　so　passionate　a　manner　to　me？
Who　tells　you；　then；　that　I　suspect　them？　That　would　be　equivalent
to　considering　my　brother　a　traitor；　and　it　would　be　very
unfortunate　for　him；　for　toward　traitors　I　shall　always　be
inexorable；　whosoever　they　may　be；　and　whether　they　be　persons　of
high　or　low　rank。　Let　us　speak　no　longer　of　it。　But；　besides；　you
have　again　advised　me；　without　being　requested　to　do　so；　and　demand
that　I　should　not　listen　to　any　factions。　I　never　do；　brother。　I
never　listen　to　any　factions；　neither　to　yours；　nor　to　that　of　the
others。　I　listen　only　to　myself；　and　require　submissiveness　and
obedience　of　my　servants。　You　are　one　of　the　latter；　go；　then；　and
obey　me。　I　have　resolved　on　war；　go；　then；　to　your　corps　and　fight；
as　you　are　in　duty　bound；　for　your　emperor　and　for　Austria；　Defeat
Napoleon　if　you　can。　You　are　playing　a　game　which　may　easily　become
dangerous　to　ourselves。　You　have　stirred　up　an　insurrection　in　the
Tyrol；　you　will　have　to　bear　the　responsibility　if　this　insurrection
shall　be　unsuccessful。〃

〃I　will　bear　it；　and　God　will　forgive　what　I　have　done！〃　said　John；
solemnly。　〃Your　majesty；　you　would　not　listen　to　the　brother　who
offered　you　his　love　frankly　and　honestly。　I　have　nothing　to　add　to
what　I　have　said；　nor　shall　I　ever　snake　another　attempt　to　gain
your　confidence。〃

〃Is　that　intended　as　a　threat？〃　asked　the　emperor；　angrily。

〃No；〃　said　John；　mournfully；　〃I　do　not　threaten　you。　I　shall　always
bear　in　mind　that　I　loved　you；　and　that　you　are　not　only　my　lord　and
emperor；　but　also　the　son　of　my　mother。〃

〃And　I；〃　cried　the　emperor；　vehemently；　〃shall　always　bear　in　mind
that　you　were　the　head　of　the　faction　which；　by　its　insensate　clamor
for　war；　first　aroused　Napoleon's　anger；　brought　about
demonstrations　and　armaments　on　our　part；　and　finally　obliged　me　to
resolve　on　war；　although　I　know　full　well　that　this　resolution　will
inevitably　involve　Austria　in　great　disaster。　Let　me　likewise　speak
a　farewell　word　to　you；　brother。　We　shall　succumb　again；　although　my
wise　and　learned　brothers　are　at　the　head　of　the　army。　I　consulted
the　most　experienced　and　sagacious　men。　I　myself　paid　a　visit　to
Count　Cobenzl；　who　is　lying　at　the　point　of　death；　and　asked　his
opinion。　He　hates　Napoleon　as　ardently　as　any　one；　and　yet　he　is　in
favor　of　peace。　I　consulted　the　Prince　de　Ligne　and　Minister　Thugut；
one　is　an　ambitious　captain；　the　other　a　vindictive　diplomatist；　who
would　like　to　overthrow　Napoleon；　and　yet　both　were　for　peace　with
France；　and　I　will　tell　you　the　reason　why：　because　they　know　that
among　all　my　captains　and　generals　there　is　not　one　determined　and
able　enough　to　cope　with　Napoleon　and　his　marshals：　because　they
knew　that　even　my　brother　Charles；　the　generalissimo；　is　vacillating
and　irresolute；　and　because　they　do　not　know　what　an　eminent　captain
the　Archduke　John　would　be；　if　he　only　had　a　chance　to　show　his
military　talents。　If；　despite　all　this；　I　resolved　on　war；　it　was
because　circumstances；　and　not　my　convictions；　obliged　me　to　do　it
circumstances　which　were　mostly　brought　about　by　you　and　your
friends。〃

〃Your　majesty；〃　said　John；　in　a　grave　and　dignified　manner；　〃permit
me　to　say　a　few　words　in　reply　to　what　you　have　just　said。　You
allude　to　my　military　talents；　which　you　say　I　have　not　had　a　chance
to　show。　Well；　give　me　such　a　chance；　deliver　me　from　the
surveillance　tying　my　hands；　let　me　pursue　my　path　as　your　general
freely　and　without　restrictions；　and　I　pledge　you　my　word　that　I
will　reconquer　the　Tyrol　and　your　Italian　provinces。〃

〃See；　see；　what　a　nice　plan！〃　exclaimed　the　emperor；　laughing。　〃You
wish　to　be　another　generalissimo；　and　independent　of　any　other
commander's　will？〃

〃No；　your　majesty；　I　wish　to　obtain　only　equal　rights　and　authority
to　deliberate　and　decide　jointly　with　my　brother　Charles。〃

〃It　is　very　bold　in　you；　sir；　thus　to　oppose　your　generalissimo；〃
said　the　emperor；　sternly。　〃To…day　you　will　no　longer　obey　the
generalissimoto…morrow　you　will　perhaps　refuse　to　obey　the
emperor。　Not　another　word　about　it！　Go　and　do　your　duty。　The
Archduke　Charles　is　generalissimo；　and　you　will　submit　to　his　orders
and　instructions。　Farewell；　brother；　may　God　and　the　Holy　Virgin
bless　you　and　your　army！〃

〃Farewell；　your　majesty；〃　said　the　archduke；　bowing　ceremoniously　to
the　emperor。　He　then　turned　hastily　and　left　the　room。

The　emperor　looked　after　him　with　an　angry　air。　〃I　believe　the　two
archdukes　will　thwart　each　other　on　all　occasions；〃　he　said；　in　a
low　voice。　〃There　will　not　only　be　war　with　France；　but　also　war
between　the　factions　in　Austria；　and　the　consequence　will　be；　that
my　brothers　will　gain　but　very　few　laurels。〃

The　Archduke　John　returned　slowly　to　his　rooms。　After　entering　his
cabinet；　he　sank　on　the　divan；　as　if　crushed　and　heart…broken。　He
sat　a　long　time　in　silence；　his　head　bent　on　his　breast；　and
uttering　from　time　to　time　heart…rending　groans。　After　a　long　pause；
he　slowly　lifted　his　tearful　eyes　to　heaven。

〃Thou　knowest；　my　God；〃　he　said；　in　a　low　voice；　〃that　my　intentions
are　good　and　pure；　and　that　I　desire　nothing　but　to　serve　my　country
and　deliver　it　from　the　disgrace　which　it　has　had　to　submit　to　for
so　many　years　past。　Thou　knowest　that　I　wish　nothing　for　myself；　but
all　for　the　fatherland。　Help　me；　my　God；　help　our　poor；　unfortunate
Austria！　Let　us　not　succumb　and　perish！　Grant　victory　to　our　arms！　O
Austria；　O　Germany；　why　can　I　not　purchase　liberty　and　independence
for　you　with　my　blood？　But。　I　can　at　least　I　shall　welcome　this　if
my　dying　eyes　can　behold　liberty　dawning　upon　Germany！〃




CHAPTER　IX。

'TIS　TIME


It　was　late　in　the　afternoon　of　the　8th　of　April。　The　setting　sun
was　shedding　his　last　red　rays　on　the　distant　mountain…crests　of　the
Janfen　and　the　Timbler　Toch；　whose　blood…red　summits　contrasted