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andreas hofer-第75部分

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Spade; on the Schoenberg; Haspinger directed the left; and advanced
by Mutters。

At four in the morning; the brave Capuchin roused Hofer from sleep;
and; having first united with him in fervent prayer; hurried out to
communicate his orders to the outposts。

The battle commenced at six; and continued without intermission till
midnight; the Bavarians constantly endeavoring to drive the Tyrolese
from their position on Mount Isel; and they; in their turn; to force
the enemy back into the town of Innspruck。

For a long time the contest was undecided; the superior discipline
and admirable artillery of the enemy prevailing over the impetuous
but disorderly assaults and deadly aim of the mountaineers; but
toward nightfall the bridge of the Sill was carried after a
desperate struggle; and their left flank being thus turned; the
French and Bavarians gave way on all sides; and were pursued with
great slaughter into the city。 They lost six thousand men; of whom
seventeen hundred wounded fell into the hands of the Tyrolese; while
on the side of the latter not more than nine hundred had fallen。
Lefebvre had to retreat hastily toward Salzburg; where his whole
army was collected on the 20th。

This great victory was immediately followed by the liberation of the
whole Tyrol; and when; on the morning of the 15th of August; the sun
rose over Innspruck; Andreas Hofer and his victorious host stood on
Mount Isel; gazing with profound emotion on the reeking; gory
battle…field; on which; two days ago; war had raged with all its
horrors; and on the city of Innspruck; whose smoking and burning
houses betokened the last outburst of the rage of the fugitive
French marshal。 'Footnote: 〃Gallery of Heroes: Andreas Hofer;〃 p。
126。'

〃See how much blood it has cost; and how many wrongs had to be
committed; that we might obtain our rights!〃 sighed Andreas Hofer;
pointing to the battle…field。 〃My heart overflows with pity on
seeing these horrors; and I implore you all to be merciful with the
wounded and to treat the prisoners leniently。 Among these prisoners
are about one thousand Bavarians and Saxons。 See; they are standing
down yonder in dense groups; and our men surround them; mocking and
abusing them。 Go down to them; dear Secretary Doeninger; tell them
to be merciful and compassionate; and to bear always in mind that
the prisoners are no longer their enemies; but their German
brethren; that they are Saxons and Bavarians; speak one and the same
language with us; and are our countrymen。 Repeat this to our men;
Doeninger; and say to them in my name; 'Do not injure the prisoners;
they are Saxons and Bavarians; and good and brave men!'〃 'Footnote:
Andreas Hofer's own words。Ibid。; p。 125。'

〃They are not exactly good men;〃 said Speckbacher; who was standing
on the right side of Andreas Hofer; 〃no; they are not exactly good
men; Andy; otherwise they would not have fought against us; who are
assuredly good men and have done nothing but defend our dear
country。〃

Instead of replying to him; Andreas Hofer turned smilingly to the
Capuchin; who was standing on his left side。 〃Brother Joachim;〃 he
said gently; 〃you ought to exhort our Joseph here a little; that he
may comply with the Redeemer's precept and forgive his enemies。 He
is a very good; but very stubborn fellow; a brave and excellent
soldier; but it would do him no harm if he were a better Christian。〃

〃If we had been good Christians latterly we should never have
defeated the enemy;〃 growled the Capuchin; shaking his head。 〃If we
were good Christians; we should have to love our enemies; do good to
them that hate us; and pray for those who despitefully use us and
persecute us。 So long as we are soldiers; Andy; we cannot be good
Christians; and I thank God for it that we fought like downright
brave heathens。 But after the enemy has been expelled from the
country; and peace prevails again everywhere; and I have returned to
my tedious convent at Seeben; I will become again a pious Capuchin;
and exhort our dear brave Joseph Speckbacher to become as good a
Christian as our Andreas Hofer。〃

〃No; no; brother Joachim; we will not wait until then to show to the
world that we are good Christians;〃 exclaimed Andreas。 〃God stood by
us in the battle of Mount Isel and made us victorious over our
enemies。 Let us thank Him; therefore; for His surpassing goodness
and mercy; let us pray Him to bless our victory and grant a glorious
resurrection to those who had to sacrifice their lives for it。〃

He drew his large rosary from his bosom; and; lifting his eyes
devoutly to heaven; sank down on his knees。

〃Yes; let us pray God to bless our victory;〃 said Father Haspinger;
bending his knees like Andreas Hofer; and Joseph Speckbacher
followed his example。

And the pious Tyrolese; seeing their leaders kneeling on the height
above; were filled with devout emotion; they knelt likewise; their
cheers and Jodlers; their shouts and laughter died away; only
prayers were heard from their lips; and; as an accompaniment to
them; the melodious peals of the bells; with which the people of
Innspruck were celebrating the departure of the French marshals; and
the approach of the defenders of the country。

At this moment the sun burst forth from the clouds; and shed a
radiant lustre on this whole sublime scenethe three kneeling
heroes on the height above; and all around the Tyrolese; clad in
their picturesque national costume; kneeling and thanking God; with
tears in their eyes; for the victory He had vouchsafed to them。

The Bavarian and Saxon prisoners; carried away by this spectacle;
knelt down like the Tyrolese; and prayed to God; like their enemies…
…not thanking Him; as the latter did; for the victory; but for
having made them prisoners; of good and pious victors。 'Footnote:
Mayer's 〃Joseph Speckbacher;〃 p。 196。'

All at once this pious scene was interrupted by loud cheers; shouts;
and Jodlers; and a long; imposing procession of singing; jubilant
men ascended the mountain。 The new…comers were the students of
Innspruck; who came to congratulate Andreas Hofer on his brilliant
victory; and accompany him on his triumphal entry into the city。
Many persons followed them; and all shouted exultingly; 〃Where is
Andreas Hofer; the savior of the country? Where is Andreas Hofer;
the liberator?〃

The band heading the procession of the students; struck up a ringing
flourish on beholding Andrews; who had risen from his knees at their
approach。 But he raised his arm imperatively; the band ceased
playing immediately; and the cheers died away on the lips of the
students; who bowed respectfully to the tall; imposing form of the
Barbone。

〃Hush; hush;〃 said Andreas; gravely; 〃pray! No cheers; no music!
Neither I nor any of us did it; all the glory is due to Him above!〃
'Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own words; Ibid。; p。 197。'

〃But you helped the good God a little;〃 said the speaker of the
students; 〃and therefore you must submit to accept the thanks of the
whole Tyrol; and to being called the savior and liberator of the
country。 We come to you as messengers of the capital of the Tyrol;
and are instructed to request you to tarry no longer; but make your
triumphal entry into the city。〃

〃Yes; I will come;〃 exclaimed Andreas; joyfully; 〃what I implored of
the Lord as the highest boon has been realized now: we shall make
our triumphal entry into the city; where the mean enemy behaved so
shamefully。 Return to Innspruck; my friends; and say to the
inhabitants that we shall be in the city in the course of an hour
old Red…beard; Speckbacher; and Iand that we shall be glad to meet
all our excellent friends there again。〃

And an hour afterward Andreas Hofer and his friends made their entry
into Innspruck。 He sat in a gorgeous carriage; drawn by four
splendid white horses; which he himself had taken from a French
colonel during his flight across the Brenner。 By the side of the
Sandwirth sat Joachim Haspinger; the Capuchin; and beside the
carriage rode Joseph Speckbacher; with a radiant face; and his dark;
fiery eyes beaming with triumphant joy; he was mounted on the proud
magnificently…caparisoned charger that had borne the haughty Duke of
Dantsic two days ago。

The carriage was preceded by a crowd of rejoicing peasants; and a
band of fifers and fiddlers; carpets and banners hung from all the
windows and balconies; ladies in beautiful attire greeted the
conquering hero with waving handkerchiefs; and the people in the
streets; the ladies on the balconies; and the boys on the roofs and
in the trees; shouted enthusiastically; 〃Long live Andreas Hofer!
Long live the commander…in…chief of the Tyrol!〃 And the bells
pealed; the cannon posted on the market…place thundered; and the
fifers and fiddlers made as much noise as possible。

〃Listen; brother Haspinger;〃 said Andreas Hofer; turning to the
Capuchin; while the carriage was moving on slowly; 〃I should really
dislike to enter the city always amid such fuss and noise; and I
believe it is heavy work for princes always to look well pleased and
cheerful when they are so much molested by the enthusiasm of the
people。 I looked forward with a great deal of joy to the day when we
should make our entry into the city; and I thought it would be much
more beautiful; but now I am greatly tired of the whole thing; I
should be glad if they would cease fiddling; and clear a passage for
the carriage to move on more rapidly。 I am hungry; and I would I
were already at the tavern of my dear friend Niederkircher。〃

〃Well; you must learn to put on a pleasant face when the people
cheer you;〃 said Haspinger; laughing。 〃You have now become a prince
too; and I think your people will love you dearly。〃

〃What nonsense is that; brother?〃 asked Hofer; angrily。

〃It is no nonsense at all; Andy; on the contrary; it is quite true。
Just listen to their acclamations。〃

〃Long live Andreas Hofer!〃 shouted the crowd; which was dancing and
singing around the carriage。 〃Long live the commander…in…chief of
the Tyrol!〃

〃They call me commander…in…chief of the Tyrol;〃 said Andreas;
musingly。 〃Tell me; Joachim; is it necessary for me to assume that
title?〃

〃Yes; it is。 There must be a head of the state;

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