andreas hofer-第72部分

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perished　in　the　conflagration。　Did　you　see　me　trembledid　you　hear
me　complain　at　that　time？　Did　I　not　stand　up　cheerfully　in　the
battle　on　Mount　Isel；　without　weeping　or　murmuring；　and　bearing　in
mind　only　that　I　was　fighting　for　liberty；　the　fatherland；　and　the
emperor？　It　was　not　until　we　had　gained　the　victory；　and　obtained
our　freedom；　that　I　went　home　to　mourn　and　weep　on　the　smoking　ruins
of　my　houses。　But　I　found　my　wife　and　my　children　alive　and　well；　a
friend　had　concealed　them　and　taken　care　of　them；　and　after　thanking
God　for　our　victory；　I　thanked　Him　for　preserving　my　wife　and
children；　and　only　now；　when　we　were　happy　and　free；　did　I　shed
tears。　But　since　the　enemy　is　re…entering　the　country；　and　fresh
misfortunes　are　to　befall　us；　my　tears　are　dried　again；　my　heart　is
full　of　courage　and　constancy；　and　I　believe　we　must　risk　all；
because　otherwise　every　thing　that　we　have　done　hitherto　will　be　in
vain。　I　love　my　wife　dearly；　but；　if　she　came　now　to　dissuade　me
from　taking　part　in　the　struggle；　and　if　I　felt　that　my　heart　was
giving　way　to　her　persuasion；　I　would　strangle　her　with　my　own
hands；　lest　she　should　prevent　me　from　serving　the　great　cause　of
the　fatherland。　It　is　true；　our　task　is　difficult；　but　it　is　not
impossible；　and　that　which　is　not　impossible　should　be　tried　for　the
fatherland！　I　have　given　you　my　opinion；　it　is　your　turn　now；　my
young　friends。　Peter　Kemnater；　speak！　Tell　Father　Red…beard　whether
your　heart　is　trembling　and　flinching；　and　whether　you　think　we　had
better　keep　quiet；　because　the　enemy　is　so　powerful　and　superior　to
us。〃

〃I　have　an　affianced　bride　of　whom　I　am　very　fond；〃　said　Peter
Kemnater；　with　flushed　cheeks　and　flashing　eyes；　〃a　girl　whom　I　love
better　than　my　parents；　than　anything　in　the　world；　and　whom　I
intended　to　marry　a　fortnight　hence；　but　I　swear　to　God　and　the　Holy
Virgin　that　my　wedding　shall　not　take　place　until　the　Tyrol　is　free
again；　and　we　have　expelled　the　enemy　once　more　from　the　country。
And　if　my　bride　should　be　angry　at　this；　and　demand　that　I　should
think　more　of　her　than　of　the　fatherland；　and　prefer　living　for　her
alone　to　dying　perhaps　for　the　fatherland；　I　should　break　with　her；
and　never　look　at　her　again；　never　speak　another　word　with　her。　I
have　many　houses　and　lands；　but　even　though　I　knew　that　my　fields
and　meadows　were　to　be　devastated；　and　my　houses　burned　down；　like
those　of　Peter　Mayer；　I　should　say；　nevertheless；　we　will　fight　for
the　fatherland！　We　will　defeat　the　enemy；　even　though　we　should　all
become　beggars；　and　even　though　I　knew　that　I　should　die　before
seeing　my　affianced　bride　again；　and　that　she　would　curse　me　in　my
grave。　That　is　what　I　have　got　to　say。　Now　you　may　speak；　Martin
Schenk；　tell　the　father　whether　your　heart　is　flinching　and
trembling。〃

〃Yes；　it　is；〃　cried　Martin　Schenk；　〃but　only　when　I　think　the　men　of
the　Tyrol　could　be　so　cowardly　and　mean…spirited　as　to　keep　quiet
and　submit　to　their　oppressors；　because　the　latter　are　powerful　and
superior　to　us　in　numbers。　I　have　a　young　wife　whom　I　married　only　a
year　ago；　and　who　gave　birth　to　a　little　boy　a　week　since；　and　I
assure　you　that　I　love　her　and　her　child　with　all　my　heart。　But　if　I
knew　that　their　death　would　be　useful　to　the　fatherland；　and　would
contribute　to　its　salvation；　I　would　shoot　them　with　my　own　rifle；
and　should　not　weep　on　seeing　their　corpses　at　my　feet；　but　I　should
rejoice　and　exclaim；　'I　did　it　for　the　sake　of　the　fatherland；　I
sacrificed　my　most　precious　treasures　for　the　beloved　Tyrol。'　Even
though　the　enemy　is　very　strong　and　numerous；　even　though　the
emperor　has　abandoned　us；　God　stands　by　us。　The　mountains　stand　firm
yet；　they　are　our　fortresses；　and　we　will　fight　in　them　until　we　are
all　dead；　or　until　we　have　defeated　the　enemy；　and　delivered　the
Tyrol　a　third　time。　Now　you　know　my　opinion；　Father　Joachim
Haspinger。〃

The　Capuchin　made　no　reply。　He　stood　with　hands　clasped　in　prayer
and　eyes　lifted　to　heaven；　and　two　large　tears　rolled　down　his
bronzed　cheeks　into　his　red　beard。

〃Great　God　in　heaven；〃　he　murmured　in　a　voice　tremulous　with
emotion；　〃I　thank　Thee　for　letting　me　see　this　hour；　and　hear　the
soul…stirring　words　of　these　patriotic　men。　What　can　I　say　now；　what
have　I　to　sacrifice　to　the　fatherland？　I　have　no　wife；　no　children；
no　property；　I　am　but　a　poor　Capuchin！　I　have　nothing　but　my　blood
and　my　life。　But　I　will　give　it　to　the　country；　even　though　the
bishop　and　the　abbot　should　excommunicate　me　for　it　and　condemn　my
soul　to　burn　in　everlasting　fire。　It　is　better　that　a　poor
Capuchin's　soul　should　burn　in　hell　than　that　the　fatherland　should
groan　with　pain　and　wear　the　brand　of　disgrace　and　slavery　on　its
forehead。　It　is　better　to　be　a　faithless　son　of　the　bishop　and
abbot；　than　a　faithless　son　of　the　fatherland。　It　is　better　to　be　a
bad　Christian　than　a　bad　patriot。　Therefore；　whatever　may　happen；　I
shall　share　every　thing　with　you；　danger　or　victory；　triumph　or
death。　Henceforth　I　am　no　longer　a　Capuchin；　but　old　Red…beard
Joachim　Haspinger；　the　defender　of　his　country；　and　I　swear　that　I
will　no　more　lay　down　my　head　and　repose　before　we　have　delivered
the　country　from　the　enemy　and　concluded　an　honorable　peace。　If　that
is　your　sentiment　also；　swear　here　before　God　that　you　will　fight
henceforth　for　the　country；　devote　your　whole　strength　to　it；　and
perish　rather　than　give　up　the　struggle；　make　peace　with　the　enemy；
and　submit　to　the　Bavarian　yoke。〃

And　the　three　men　lifted　their　hands　and　eyes　to　heaven；　and
exclaimed　with　one　accord；　in　a　loud　and　solemn　tone：　〃We　swear　by
God　Almighty；　and　by　all　that　is　sacred　and　dear　to　us　on　earth；
that　we　will　fight　henceforth　for　the　country；　devote　our　whole
strength　to　it；　and　perish　rather　than　give　up　the　struggle；　make
peace　with　the　enemy；　and　submit　to　the　Bavarian　yoke！〃

〃Benedictus！　benedictus！〃　cried　Father　Haspinger；　laying　his　hands
on　those　which　the　three　men　had　joined　on　taking　the　oath。　〃The
Lord　has　heard　and　accepted　your　oath；　the　Lord　will　bless　you；　the
Holy　Virgin　will　protect　you！　Amen！〃

〃And　now　let　us　concert　measures　for　the　struggle；　and　consider　what
we　ought　to　do；〃　said　the　friar；　after　a　pause。　〃In　the　first　place；
we　will　inform　Andreas　Hofer　that　his　wishes　shall　be　complied　with；
and　that　we　will　call　out　the　Landsturm　and　all　our　forces。　Let　me
write　to　him；　therefore；　and　then　we　will　hold　a　council　of　war。〃

The　council　of　war　lasted　until　midnight；　and　while　all　Europe　was
truckling　to　the　〃invincible　Emperor　Napoleon；〃　while　all　Germany
was　lying　humbly　prostrate　at　his　feet；　and　while　all　the　princes
were　basking　in　the　sunshine　of　his　favor；　four　poor　men；　neither
learned　nor　even　well　educated；　three　peasants　and　a　monk；　were
concerting　measures　to　bid　defiance　to　〃Bonaparte；　the　robber　of
crowns；〃　and　expel　his　powerful　armies　from　their　mountains！　All
Germany　was　subjugated；　and　had　given　up　all　further　resistance　to
the　all…powerful　conqueror；　only　the　small　Tyrol　would　not　suffer
herself　to　be　subjugated；　only　the　brave　sons　of　the　German
mountains　were　still　intent　on　braving　the　tyrant；　and　upholding
their　liberty　and　independence；　despite　the　formidable　efforts　he
was　making　to　crush　them。

Already　on　the　following　morning　the　tocsin　sounded　in　all　the
valleys　and　on　all　the　heights；　and　called　upon　the　men　to　fight　for
the　fatherland。　After　midnight　the　three　brave　men　had　left　Brixen；
each　had　set　out　in　a　different　direction　to　incite　the　men　to
insurrection；　inform　them　of　Andreas　Hofer's　order；　and　implore　them
in　the　name　of　the　fatherland　to　take　up　their　rifles　again　and　risk
once　more　their　lives　for　the　deliverance　of　the　Tyrol。

Father　Haspinger　had　walked　all　night　to　Latzfons；　and　on　the
following　morning　he　preached　to　the　people　at　the　church　of　that
place　an　enthusiastic　sermon；　in　which　he　called　upon　them　to　make
one　more　effort　in　behalf　of　their　beloved　country；　and　promised
entire　absolution　for　one　year　to　every　one　who　should　kill　a　dozen
French　soldiers；　and　absolution　for　five　years　to　any　who　should
kill　twice　as　many。　＇Footnote：　Mayer's　〃Speckbacher；〃　p。　151。＇

Carried　away　by　the　soul…stirring　words　and　promises　of　the
Capuchin；　full　of　ardor　to　serve　the　fatherland；　and　desirous　of
obtaining　absolution；　the　men　took　up　arms；　and　even　a　company　of
women　was　formed　for　the　holy　service　of　the　fatherland。

At　night　on　the　same　day　three　hundred　sharpshooters　had　rallied
around　the　martial　friar；　and　with　them　he　marched　toward　Unterau；
constantly　receiving　re…enforcements　on　the　road；　for　the
inhabitants　everywhere　rose　again　as　one　man；　and　with　their
redoubted　rifles　on　their　shoulders　descended　every　lateral　glen　and
ravine；　and　joined　his　command　to　conquer　or　die　under　him。

And　joyful　news　arrived　from　all　sides；　announcing　that　the
inhabitants　were　rising　throughout　the　Tyrol。　Already　Peter　Mayer
and　Peter　Kemnater　had　gathered　around　them　all　the　sharpshooters　of
the　neighboring　towns　and　villages；　and　their　four　companies　now
united　with　the　friar's　troops。　News　also　came　from　Andreas　Hofer：
he　had　emerged　again　from　the　cave；　and　at　his　call　all　the
sharpshooters　of　the　Passeyr　valley　had　rallied　around　him；　and
companies　had　flocked　to　him　from　all　parts　of　the　country　to　fight
again　under　their　beloved　commander…in…chief。　Andreas　Hofer　had
marched　with　them　across　the　crest　of　the　precipitous　Janfen；　and
his　army　gathering　strength　like　a　mountain…torrent　from　every
tributary　stream　which　crossed　its　course；　soon　embraced　all　the
able…bodied　men　of　Passeyr；　Meran；　and　Algund。

The　Tyrolese　bad　risen　a　third　time　to　defend　the　independence　of
their　country。




CHAPTER　XXXI。

THE　FIRST　BATTLE。


What　the　four　men　had　sworn　at　the　inn　of　Brixen；　and　what　Andreas
Hofer　had　agreed　upon　with　his　friend　Speckbacher；　had　succeeded。
The　whole　Tyrol　had　risen　and　was　eager　for　the　fray。　A　small　army；
commanded　by　Father　Haspinger；　was　encamped　near　Brixen；　and
received　hourly　fresh　accessions。　Peter　Kemnater　and　Peter　Mayer
were　still　traversing　the　country；　and　calling　upon　the　peasants　to
repair　to　Father　Red…beard's　camp　near　Brixe