andreas hofer-第52部分

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would　not　allow　you　to　walk　behind　me。　But　grant　me　one　request；
will　you？　〃

〃Speak；　Eliza；　and　whatever　it　may　be；　I　will　comply　with　it。〃

〃Well；　then；　sir；　be　so　kind　as　not　to　speak　with　me。　Speaking
exhausts　us　and　makes　us　absent…minded。　We　have　a　long　march　before
us；　and　must　save　our　breath；　and　devote　our　whole　attention　to　the
route；　for　it　will　lead　us　over　the　narrow　paths　of　the　chamois…
hunters；　and　a　single　false　step　may　hurl　us　into　an　abyss。
Therefore；　sir；　pray　do　not　address　me　until　I　speak　to　you。〃

〃I　will　obey；〃　said　Ulrich；　humbly。　〃Lead　the　way；　I　will　follow。〃

She　nodded　to　him；　and　advanced　through　the　narrow　valley。　The　road
soon　became　steeper；　and　led　them　past　precipices；　from　one　rock　to
another；　all　of　which　were　spanned　by　narrow　planks；　under　which
unfathomable　chasms　yawned。　Then　it　led　through　thickets　of
shrubbery　and　pine…forests；　or　down　precipitous　slopes；　and　over
small　fragments　of　rock；　which　gave　way　at　every　step；　and　rolled
into　the　depth。　Eliza　suddenly　stood　still　and　broke　the　silence　for
the　first　time。

〃You　must　not　go　behind　me　here；　sir；〃　she　said；　〃for　the　loose
stones　would　not　permit　you　to　advance。　Come　to　me；　and　give　me　your
hand。　We　must　walk　side　by　side。〃

He　was　immediately　by　her　side；　and　took　her　hand。　〃May　I　speak　now；
Eliza？〃　he　asked。

〃No；〃　she　said；　imperatively；　〃we　have　no　time　for　chatting。
Forward！〃

And　they　continued　ascending　the　mountain。　The　valley；　and　even　the
mountain…forest；　lay　already　deep　under　them。　Only　scattered　and
stunted　trees　stood　here　and　there；　and　finally　even　these
disappeared　entirely。　The　moon　commenced　paling　in　the　heavens；　and
yet　it　did　not　become　darker；　for　the　gray　twilight　was　lit　up　at
times　with　a　purple　lustre；　the　small；　scudding　clouds　began　to　turn
red；　the　pale；　foggy　mountain…peaks　colored；　and　a　strange
whispering　passed　through　the　air。

Now　they　had　reached　the　summit；　and　the　peak　on　which　they　were
standing　afforded　them　a　strikingly　beautiful　view。

〃This　is　the　place　where　we　may　rest；〃　said　Eliza；　drawing　a　deep
breath。

〃And　may　I　speak　now；　Eliza？〃　asked　Ulrich。

〃No；〃　she　said；　〃do　you　not　see　that　God　is　speaking　now？〃

And　she　pointed　to　the　part　of　the　horizon　which；　radiant　in　its
crimson　lustre；　lay　at　the　end　of　the　lovely　valley　opening　before
them。　Gazing　at　it；　Eliza　sank　noiselessly　down　on　the　fragment　of　a
rock；　and　clasping　her　hands　on　her　knees；　she　contemplated　the
glorious　spectacle　by　which　God　speaks　to　man　every　morning。

The　valley　was　still　wrapped　in　the　gloom　of　twilight；　but　behind
the　flat　and　gently…rounded　mountains　yonder　rose　the　flaming　glow
of　radiant　crimson；　and　sent　a　few　purple　clouds　as　heralds　of　the
approaching　majesty　into　the　azure　sky。　A　rosy　hue　covered　the
glaciers　of　the　Venediger　and　Gross…Glockner；　which　looked　down　in
proud　majesty　on　the　mountains　bordering　the　valley；　and　which　had
hitherto　wrapped　their　summits　in　veils　of　glistening　silver。　On
beholding　the　divine　majesty　of　the　sun；　they　dropped　their　veils；
their　summits　crimsoned　and　loomed　up　to　the　sky　in　dazzling
splendor。　The　rays　gilding　them　shed　a　lustre　on　the　lower　wooded
mountains；　greeted　the　spires　of　the　churches　rising　amidst　the
villages；　dissipated　the　mist　which　had　hitherto　filled　the　valley；
and　converted　the　waters　of　the　foaming　Isel；　meandering　through　the
valley；　into　liquid　gold。　The　gloom　entirely　disappeared；　and　the
whole　landscape　was　radiant　in　its　morning　beauty。　God　had　willed
that　there　should　be　light；　and　the　earth　lay　smiling　and
surpassingly　beautiful　under　the　first　glowing　rays　of　the　sun。

Eliza　gazed　with　a　rapt　smile　upon　the　sublime　scene；　the　clouds　had
disappeared　from　her　brow　also；　and　the　gloom　had　vanished　from　her
eyes。

〃Oh；　how　beautiful　is　the　world！　how　beautiful　is　my　dear　Tyrol！〃
she　exclaimed；　fervently。　〃I　greet　you；　beloved　mountains　guarding
our　frontiers！　I　greet　you；　Gross…Glockner　and　Venediger！　Yes；　gaze
upon　the　Tyrol；　for　now　you　may　rejoice　over　it！　The　enemy　is　no
longer　in　the　country；　and　I　am　bringing　you　the　last　Bavarian　who
is　still　here；　that　you　may　send　him　across　the　border。　Sir；〃　she
added；　turning　her　face；　illuminated　by　the　sun；　slowly　to　the　young
man；　who　had　not　contemplated　the　sun；　but　only　her　face；　〃we　must
part　here。　I　only　intended　to　conduct　you　hither；　to　the　Kalser
Thoerl。　You　will　now　descend　to　the　village　of　Kals；　which　you　see
in　the　valley　yonder。　Look；　back　there；　its　red　roofs　are　rising　out
of　the　green　shrubbery。　You　will　go　to　the　inn　there；　and　give　this
letter　to　Lebrecht　Panzl；　the　innkeeper。　He　is　my　mother's　brother；
and　she　writes　him　in　this　letter　to　give　you　a　reliable　guide；　who
is　to　conduct　you　over　the　Pruschler　Thoerl　and　the　Katzenstein　to
Heiligenblut。　You　will　reach　Heiligenblut　in　seven　hours。　Its
inhabitants　speak　Bavarian　German；　your　Bavarian　dialect　will　not　be
suspicious　to　them；　and　you　will　easily　find　there　a　guide　to
conduct　you　wherever　you　wish　to　go。　You　will　find　some　food　for　to…
day　in　the　haversack　here；　and　also　some　money；　and　powder　and　lead。
Take　it；　sir；　here　is　the　rifle；　and　here　the　haversack。　Unless　you
have　them　with　you；　no　one　will　take　you　for　a　genuine　Tyrolese。
There。　Put　your　clothes　into　the　sack；　you　can　carry　them　better
that　way；　hang　the　rifle　round　your　shoulder；　and　then　adieu？〃

〃And　you　think；　Eliza；　I　can　accept　all　this　kindness　and
magnanimity？〃　cried　Ulrich；　vehemently；　〃you　think　I　can　accept　at
your　hands　food；　moneynay；　more；　my　life；　my　honor；　and　leave　you
with　a　cold　'thank　you；'　after　denying　and　insulting　you　in　the
despair　of　my　wounded　military　honor？　No；　Eliza；　you　have　mistaken
my　character。　I　will　not　go；　I　will　not　leave　you。　I　followed　you
here　to　see　how　far　your　magnanimity　and　noble　self…abnegation　would
go；　but　now　I　shall　return　with　you　to　Windisch…Matrey。　Your　father
invited　to　the　wedding　the　men　who　wished　to　kill　me　yesterday；　they
will　await　us　at　the　church　at　nine　this　morning；　and　they　shall　not
wait　in　vain。　Come；　Eliza；　let　us　return　to　Windisch…Matrey；　for　all
your　kindness　and　magnanimity　I　shall　give　you　the　only　thing　I　have
to　give；　my　name。　You　will；　you　shall　become　my　wife！　Come；　your
father　and　your　friends　await　us　at　the　church；　I　will　conduct　you
thither　and　to　the　altar。〃

〃I　will　not　do　it；〃　she　exclaimed　proudly；　〃for；　as　sure　as　there　is
a　God　in　heaven；　I　should　say　'no'　before　the　altar；　and　reject　your
hand。〃

〃Well；　then；　do　that；〃　he　said；　gently；　〃I　have　deserved　this
humiliation；　I　owe　you　an　opportunity　to　wreak　your　vengeance　on
me。〃

〃I　do　not　want　to　avenge　myself。　I　have　sworn　to　myself　and　to　my
dear　Elza　to　save　you；　and　I　will。　Go；　sir；　time　is　fleeting；　and
you　have　a　march　of　seven　hours　before　you。〃

〃No；　I　will　not　go；〃　cried　Ulrich；　vehemently；　〃I　cannot　go；　for　I
love　you；　Eliza；　Oh；　I　have　loved　you　a　long　while；　but　my　haughty
heart　revolted　at　this　love；　and　would　not　yield　to　it；　and　yet　I
was　deeply；　passionately　enamoured　of　you。　But　my　heart　did　not　know
itself；　it　believed　at　last　that　it　might　hate　you；　when　all　at　once
your　generosity；　lenity；　and　magnanimity　dissipated　all　mists
concealing　my　heart　from　my　eyes；　and　I　perceived　how　passionately　I
loved　you。　Oh；　Eliza；　beloved　girl；　do　not　turn　from　me！　Give　me
your　hand；　let　us　go　home；　accept　my　hand；　become　my　wife！　Love
beseeches　of　you　now　what　pride　refused　to　you　before　accept　my
hand；　my　name！　Let　us　descend　into　the　valley；　go　to　the　church；　and
be　married。〃

She　shook　her　head　slowly。　〃I　have　already　told　you；〃　she　said；
〃that　I　should　say　'no'　before　the　altar。　We　do　not　belong　together。
You　are　a　nobleman；　and　I；　as　you　have　often　called　me　in　your
anger；　am　a　peasant　girl；　you　are　a　Bavarian；　and　I；　thank　God；　am
again　an　Austrian。　We　do　not　belong　together；　and　I　believe　it　would
not　behoove　you　to　appear　with　me　now　before　the　altar　and　marry　me。
For　every　one　would　think　you　took　me　only　to　save　your　life；　and
your　honor　would　be　lost；　not　only　in　Bavaria；　but　also　here　among
us。　The　brave　men　would　despise　you；　and　the　temptI　felt　it　when
you　looked　at　me　so　disdainfully　yesterdayis　worse　than　death。　Go；
therefore；　my　dear　sir；　your　honor　requires　it。〃

〃Well；　then；　you　are　right：　I　will　go。　I　see　that　I　must　not　apply
for　your　hand　at　this　juncture。　But　I　shall　return　so　soon　as　peace
is　restored　to　the　country；　and　when　all　these　troubles　are　over。
Promise　me；　Eliza；　that　you　will　wait　for　me　and　not　forget　me。　For
I　swear　to　you；　I　shall　return　and　marry　you；　in　spite　of　the　whole
world。〃

〃You　will　not；〃　she　said；　shaking　her　bead；　〃for　I　shall　not　take
you。　I　do　not　love　you。〃

〃Eliza；〃　he　cried；　seizing　her　hand　impetuously；　and　gazing　deep
into　her　eyes；　〃you　are　just　as　much　mistaken　as　I　was　myself。　I
loved　you　a　long　time　without　knowing　it；　and　thus；　sweet　one；　you
love　me　too！〃

〃No；〃　she　exclaimed；　vehemently；　and　turning　very　pale；　〃no；　I　do
not　love　you！〃

〃Yes；　you　do；〃　he　said；　tenderly。　〃I　felt　it；　and　knew　it　by　the
tone　in　which；　stepping　before　me；　and　shielding　me　with　your　body；
you　exclaimed　yesterday；　'If　you　shoot　him；　you　shall　kill　me　too。'
Pity　and　compassion　do　not　speak　thus；　only　love　has　such　tones　of
anguish；　despair；　and　heroism。　I　felt　it　at　that　moment；　and　the
blissful　delight　which　filled　my　heart　on　recognizing　it；　made　me　at
length　conscious　of　my　own　love。　I　confessed　to　myself　that　I　never
should　be　able　to　love　any　other　woman　on　earth；　and　never　would
marry　any　other　woman　than　you。　Ob；　Eliza；　let　us　no　longer　resist
the　happiness　that　is　in　store　for　us。　Let　the　whole　past　be　buried
behind　us。　Let　the　future　be　ours；　and　with　it　love　and　happiness！〃

She　shook　her　head　slowly。　〃You　have　read　badly　in　my　heart；〃　she
said；　〃you　do　not　understand　the　letters　written　in　it；　and　what　you
spell　from　it　is　false。　I　do　not　love　you；　and　would　never　consent
to　become　your　wife。　Let　us　drop　the　subject。　We　two　can　never　be
husband　and　wife；　but　we　may　remember　each　other　as　good　friends。
And　so；　sir；　I　will　always　remember　you；　and　shall　be　glad　to　hear
that　you　are　well　and