andreas hofer-第56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！


〃Do　not　laugh　at　me；〃　he　said；　lifting　his　eyes　to　Iffland；　almost
beseechingly。　〃I　am　fondly　attached　to　these　things；　and　hence　it
delighted　me　to　look　at　them　from　time　to　time　with　my　friends。　You
will　say　they　are　the　playthings　of　an　old　man。　But　they　are　more
than　that　to　me；　on　beholding　them；　I　think　of　my　past　life；　and　my
recollections　render　me　young　again　for　a　few　moments。　After　my
death　all　these　things　will　pass　into　dear　hands；　and　I　hope　that；
when　I　am　slumbering　in　my　grave；　my　souvenirs　will　be　carefully
preserved　and　honored　if　only　for　my　sake。〃　＇Footnote：　Haydn
bequeathed　all　his　trinkets　and　manuscripts　to　the　Esterhazy　family；
who　had　honored　him　so　highly　during　his　whole　life。＇

〃I　hope　the　day　is　distant　when　Germany　will　have　to　lament　the
death　of　her　favorite；　Joseph　Haydn；〃　exclaimed　Iffland。

〃That　day　is　close　at　hand；〃　said　Haydn；　calmly；　〃I　feel　to…day　more
distinctly　than　ever　before　that　my　end　is　drawing　nigh。　My　strength
is　exhausted。〃

〃Let　us　go；〃　whispered　Schmid；　pointing　to　Haydn；　who　had　feebly
sunk　back　into　his　easy…chair；　and　was　leaning　his　pale　head　against
the　cushions。

Iffland　fixed　his　eyes　for　a　long　time　with　an　expression　of　heart…
felt　grief　on　the　groaning；　broken　form　reposing　in　the　easy…chair。

〃And　that　is　all　that　is　left　of　a　great　composer；　of　a　genius　who
delighted　the　whole　world！〃　he　sighed。　〃Ah；　what　a　fragile　shell　our
body　is；　a　miserable　dwelling　for　the　soul　living　in　it！　Come；　my
friend；　let　us　softly　leave　the　room。　Only　I　would　like　to　take　a
souvenir　with　me；　a　flower　from　the　bouquet　which　Haydn　held　in　his
hands。　May　I　venture　to　take　one？〃

At　this　moment　Haydn　opened　his　eyes　again；　and　fixed　them　with　a
gentle　expression　on　Iffland。　〃I　heard　all　you　said；〃　he　remarked；
〃but　I　was　too　feeble　to　speak。　You　wish　to　get　one　of　my　flowers？
No；　you　shall　have　them　all。〃

He　took　the　bouquet；　looked　at　it　tenderly；　and　buried　his　whole
face　for　a　moment　in　the　flowers；　and　then　handed　it　to　Iffland　with
a　gentle　smile。

〃Farewell；〃　he　said；　〃remember　me　on　looking　at　these　flowers。　I
would　I　had　known　you　in　happier　days；　when　I　should　have　been　able
to　enjoy　your　genius　and　admire　your　art。　You　must　be　a　great　actor；
for　you　have　a　wonderfully　sonorous　and　pliable　voice。　I　should　like
to　hear　you　declaim；　even　though　you　should　recite　but　a　few
verses。〃

〃Permit　me；　then；　to　recite　the　lines　in　which　Wieland　celebrated
your　'Creation；'〃　said　Iffland；　and；　advancing　a　few　steps；　holding
the　bouquet　in　his　hand；　and　fixing　his　gleaming　eyes　on　Haydn；　who
gazed　at　him　with　a　gentle　smile；　Iffland　recited　in　his　full
sonorous　voice　Wieland's　beautiful　lines：

　〃Wie　stroem't　dein　wogender　Gesang
　In　uns're　Herzen　ein！　Wir　sehen
　Der　Schoepfung　maecht'gen　Gang；
　Den　Hauch　des　Herrn　auf　dem　Gewaesser　wehen；
　Jetzt　durch　ein　blitzend　Wort　das　erste　Licht　entstehen；
　Und　die　Gestirne　sich　durch　ihre　Bahnen　drehen；
　Wie　Baum　und　Pflanze　wird；　wie　sich　der　Berg　erhebt；
　Und　froh　des　Lebens　sich　die　jungen　Thiere　regen。
　Der　Donner　rollet　uns　entgegen；
　Der　Regen　saeuselt；　jedes　Wesen　strebt
　In's　Dasein；　und　bestimmt；　des　Schoepfers　Werk　zu　kroenen
　Sehn　wir　das　erste　Paar；　gefuehrt　von　Deinen　Toenen。
　Oh；　jedes　Hochgefuehl；　das　in　dem　Herzen　schlief；
　Ist　wach！　Wer　rufet　nicht：　wie　schoen　ist　diese　Erde？
　Und　schoener；　nun　ihr　Herr　anch　dich　in's　Dasein　rief；
　Auf　dass　sein　Werk　vollendet　werde！〃


　＇Footnote：
　〃Thy　wondrous　song　in　melting　strains
　To　our　mute　hearts　swift　entrance　gains；
　By　magical　yet　unfelt　force；
　We　see　creation's　mighty　course：
　The　firmament　appears　in　space
　God　breathes　upon　the　water's　face。
　One　flashing　word　bids　primal　light　appear；
　Revolving　stars　begin　their　vast　career；
　Upheaving　mountains　now　are　seen；
　Tall　trees　and　tender　herbage　green；
　Young　animals　to　being　rise；
　And　animate　by　living　cries；
　We　hear　the　mighty　thunder　roar；
　And　rains　in　gushing　torrents　pour。
　All　creatures　struggle　into　life；　and　stand
　Before　our　eyes；　fresh　from　their　Maker's　hand；
　The　first　pair；　led　by　thy　sweet　tones。
　Now　waked　by　inspiration's　art；
　Enthusiasm　stirs　our　heart。
　Who　cries　not；　'Earth　is　passing　fair！'
　Yet　far　more　fair　her　Maker　is；
　How　perfect　every　work　of　his！〃

After　concluding　his　recitation；　Iffland　approached　the　old　man
quickly；　knelt　down　before　him　and　imprinted　a　kiss　on　his　clasped
hands。　Then；　without　adding　another　word；　he　rose；　and；　walking
backward　as　if　before　a　king；　approached　the　door；　opened　it　softly；
and　went　out；　followed　by　Schmid。　＇Footnote：　The　whole　account　of
this　interview　between　Joseph　Haydn　and　Iffland　is　in　strict
accordance　with　Iffland's　own　report　of　it　in　his　〃Theatre…Almanac；〃
pp。　181…207。＇

〃Farewell！〃　exclaimed　Haydn；　in　a　deeply…moved　voice；　and　sank　back
in　the　easy…chair。　Profound　silence　now　reigned　around　him；　but　all
at　once　this　silence　was　broken　by　a　thundering　crash；　which　caused
the　windows　to　rattle　and　shook　the　walls。　The　deafening　noise　was
repeated　again　and　again；　and　rolled　through　the　air　like　the　angry
voice　of　God。

And　now　the　door　opened；　and　Conrad　and　Kate；　the　aged　servant…
woman；　rushed　into　the　room。　〃Ah；　master；　master；　it　is　all　up　now；
and　we　are　all　lost！　The　Austrians　and　the　French　are　in　force　close
to　Vienna；　and　the　battle　has　already　commenced。〃

〃The　battle　has　commenced！〃　exclaimed　Joseph　Haydn；　rising　from　his
easy…chair；　and　lifting　his　hand　to　heaven。　〃The　battle　has
commenced！　Good　and　great　God　in　heaven；　protect　our　fatherland；　and
grant　Austria　a　glorious　victory　over　her　arrogant　foe！　Do　not　allow
Austria　and　Germany　to　succumb；　help　us　to　defeat　the　proud　enemy
who　has　humiliated　and　oppressed　us　so　long！　O　Lord　my　God；　shield
the　honor　of　Germany　and　Austria！　Protect　the　emperor！〃

And　Joseph　Haydn　walked　through　the　room　with　the　vigor　and　alacrity
of　a　youth；　dropped　his　hands　on　the　keys　of　the　piano；　and　began　to
play　in　full　concords　the　melody　of　his　imperial　hymn；　〃Gott　erhalte
Franz　den　Kaiser！〃　Conrad　and　Kate　stood　behind　him；　singing　in　a
low；　tremulous　tone；　but　outside；　the　booming　of　artillery　continued
incessantly；　and　they　heard　also　the　cries　of　the　people　who　were
hurrying　in　dismay　through　the　streets；　and　the　tolling　of　all　the
church…bells；　which　called　upon　the　Viennese　to　pray　to　God。

All　at　once　Haydn　paused　in　the　middle　of　the　tune；　his　hands
dropped　from　the。　keys；　a　long　sigh　burst　from　his　lips；　and　he　sank
fainting　into　the　arms　of　his　faithful　Conrad。　His　servants　carried
him　to　his　couch；　and　soon　succeeded　in　restoring　him　to
consciousness。　He　opened　his　eyes　slowly；　and　his　first　glance　fell
upon　Conrad；　who　stood　weeping　at　his　bedside。

〃The　nightingale　was　right；　my　end　is　drawing　nigh；〃　he　said；　with　a
faint　smile。　〃But　I　will　not　die　before　learning　that　the　Austrians
have　defeated　the　enemy；　and　that　my　emperor　has　gained　a　battle。〃

And　in　truth　Joseph　Haydn's　strong　will　once　more　over…powered
death；　which　had　already　touched　him　with　its　finger。　He　raised
himself　upon　his　couch；　he　would　not　die　while　Austria　was
struggling　on　the　reeking；　gory　field　of　battle　for　the　regeneration
or　her　end。

Two　days　followed；　two　dreadful　days　of　uncertainty　and　terror；　they
heard　incessantly　the　booming　of　artillery；　but　although　the
Viennese　gazed　down　from　their　church…steeples　all　day；　they　were
unable　to　discern　any　thing。　Tremendous　clouds　of　smoke　covered　the
country　all　around；　and　wrapped　the　villages　of　Aspern　and　Essling
and　the　island　of　Lobau　in　an　impenetrable　veil　of　mist。

Joseph　Haydn　passed　these　days；　the　21st　and　22d　of　May；　in　silent
grief　and　gentle　resignation；　he　prayed　often；　and　played　his
imperial　hymn　three　times　a　day。

Thus　the　morning　of　the　22d　of　May　had　come。　Conrad　had　gone　into
the　street　to　ask　for　news；　for　the　booming　of　artillery　had　ceased；
and　the　battle　wars　over。　〃Which　side　was　victorious？〃　That　was　the
question　which　caused　all　to　tremble；　and　which　filled　all　hearts
with　intense　anxiety。

Haydn's　heart；　too；　was　full　of　grave　anxiety；　and；　to　overcome　his
impatience　till　Conrad's　return；　he　had　caused　Kate　to　conduct　him
to　his　piano。

〃I　will　play　my　imperial　hymn；〃　he　said；　hastily；　〃I　have　often
derived　comfort　and　relief　from　it　in　the　days　of　uneasiness　and
anxiety；　and　when　I　play；　it　my　heart　is　always　so　much　at　ease。　Its
strength　will　not　fail　me　to…day　either。〃　＇Footnote：　Haydn's　own
words。See　〃Zeitgonosson；〃　vol。　iv。；　third　series；　p。　36。＇

He　commenced　playing；　a　blissful　smile　illuminated　his　features；　he
lifted　his　radiant　eyes　to　heaven；　and　his　music　grew　louder　and
fierier；　and　his　fingers　glided　more　powerfully　over　the　keys　of　the
piano。　Suddenly　the　door　was　thrown　open；　and　Conrad　rushed　in；
panting　from　the　rapid　run；　flushed　with　excitement；　but　with　a
joyful　face。

〃Victory！〃　he　shouted。　〃Victory！〃　And　he　sank　down　at　Haydn's　feet。

〃Which　side　was　victorious？〃　asked　Haydn；　anxiously。

〃The　Austrians　were　victorious；〃　said　Conrad；　pantingly。　〃Our
Archduke　Charles　has　defeated　the　Emperor　Napoleon　at　Aspern；　the
whole　French　army　retreated　to　the　island　of　Lobau；　whence　it　can　no
longer　escape。　Thousands　of　French　corpses　are　floating　down　the
Danube；　and　proclaiming　to　the　world　that　Austria　has　conquered　the
French！　Hurrah！　hurrah！　Our　hero；　the　Archduke　Charles；　has　defeated
the　villainous　Bonaparte！　Hurrah！〃

〃Hurrah！　hurrah！〃　repeated　the　parrot　on　its　pole；　and　the　cat
raised　its　head　from　the　cushion　on　which　it　had　lain；　and　gazed
with　keen；　searching　eyes　at　the　parrot；　as　if　it　had　understood
Paperl's　jubilant　notes。

Joseph　Haydn　said　nothing；　but　clasped　his　hands　and　looked
rapturously　upward。　After　a　pause　he　exclaimed；　in　a　loud　and　joyous
voice：　〃Lord　God；　I　thank　Thee　for　not　disappointing　my　firm　trust；
but　protecting　Austria　and　helping　her　to　vanquish　her　foe。　I　knew
full　well　that　the　just　cause　would　triumph；　and　the　just　cause　is
that　of　Austria；　for　France；　hypocritical　France　alone　provoked　this
war；　and　Austria　drew　the　sword　only　to　defend　her　honor　and　her
frontiers。　The　just　cause　could　not　but　triumph；　and　hence