"ThereisastrangerfromBerlin，"hesaid，"whobeggedmeurgentlytoadmithinttoDr。Haydn，Mr。Schmid，themanagerofthetheatre，iswithhim，andrequestsyoutoseethestranger，who，hesays，isacelebratedpoet。"
　　"IfSchmidiswithhim，letthemcomein，"saidHaydn，mildly;"itwilldoubtlessbethelasttimeIshallseemydearold—friendonearth。"
　　Conradthrewopenthedoor，andbeckonedthegentlemen，whowerestandingoutside，tocomein。Thetwocrossedthethresholdsoftlyontiptoe，andwithfacesexpressiveofprofoundreverence;asifseizedwithcompassionorpiousawe，theystoodstillatthedoor，andgazedwitheyesfulloftendernessuponHaydn，who，atthismoment，overcomeperhapsbythespringair，hadclosedhiseyes，andnotheardtheentranceofthevisitors。
　　"Thatishe，"whisperedoneofthetwo，amanofatall，erectform，withafaceradiantwithunderstandingandsagacity。"Thatishe！"
　　herepeated，fixinghisardenteyesonthecomposer。
　　"Yes，thatisJosephHaydn，"saidtheother，inalowvoice，andanexpressionofprofoundgriefoverspreadhisbroad，good—naturedface。"Buthush！heopenshiseyes。"
　　AndheapproachedHaydn，whoheldoutbothhishandstohim，andgreetedhimwithagentlesmile。
　　"Doyoucometobidfarewelltoyouroldfriendoncemoreprevioustohisdeath？"heasked，mildly。"Doyouwishtotakeleaveofme，mydearfriendSchmid？"
　　"No，Idonotcometobidyoufarewell，butwishyougood—day，"saidSchmid，warmly，"andprayyoutoreceivethisgentlemanherekindly。
　　ItisIffland，thecelebratedactorandpoetfromBerlin。HehadcometoViennabeforetheFrenchtookthecity，andafteritscapturehecouldnolongergetout:theydetainedhim，anditwasnotuntilnowthat，bydintofthemostpressingsolicitations，hereceivedpermissiontoreturntoBerlin。"
　　"ButIcouldnotleaveViennawithoutseeingthegreatHaydn，"
　　exclaimedIffland，inhisfine，sonorousvoice。"WhatwouldthepeopleofBerlinthinkofmeifIhadnotseenthemostillustriousgeniusofourtime？"
　　"Sir，"saidHaydn，withasigh，"lookatme，andlearnfrommyweaknesshowfragilemaniswithallhisglory。"
　　"Manaloneisfragile，butgeniusisimmortal，"exclaimedIffland，"andJosephHaydnisageniuswhoseglorywillneverdie。"
　　"Letmyfootmantellyouthegloryofthenightingaleandtheparrot，"saidHaydn，withafaintsmile。"Theworksofmanareperishable，buttheworksofGodlastforever。"
　　"ButtheworksofmancomelikewisefromGod，foritwasHewhogavehimthestrengthtocreatethem，"repliedIffland，warmly。"DidnotthegreatandgloriouscreationsofyourgeniuscomejustasmuchfromGodastheflowerswhichyouholdinyourhand，andtheperfumesofwhichdelightyousovisibly？"
　　"Yes，theseflowersarebeautiful，"saidHaydn，musingly。
　　"Thebouquetisdoubtlessagiftfromoneofthemanyfairadmirersofourmaestro？"askedSchmid，laughing。
　　Haydnlookeduptohimsmilinglyandshookhisheadgently。"No，"hesaid，"itisthelastsouvenirofNature，towhichIhavebiddenfarewell。Iworshippedto—dayintheopenair，andthisistherosarywithwhichIwillpray。Ah，IloveNaturesopassionately！"
　　"AndyouhavetaughtthosewhoseeyesandearswereclosedagainsttheholycharmsofNature，howtoseeandhear，"saidIffland。"Your`Seasons'isthemostglorioushymnonGod'ssplendidworld。"
　　"Yes，the'Seasons，'"criedHaydn，almostvehemently，"gavemethedeath—blow。Itwassodifficultformetoderiveenthusiasmfromthewordsofthetext。Thewordssaidsolittle，reallysoverylittle！
　　Frequentlyasinglepassagecausedmeagreatdealoftroubleforseveraldays，andIdidnotsucceedafterallinexpressingtheideaIwishedtoconveytothehearers。Thewordswereadeadweightonmymusic。Well，itisallovernow。Yes，yousee，itisallovernow。The`Seasons'istoblameforit，foritexhaustedmylaststrength。Ihavehadtoworkhardallmylifetime;Ihadtosufferhunger，thirst，andcoldinmywretchedattic，whenceIhadtodescendahundredandthirtystepsbeforereachingthestreet。
　　Privations，hardwork，hunger，inshort，allthatIsufferedinmyyouth，arenowexertingtheireffectsonmeandprostratingme。Butitisanhonorabledefeat——itishardworktowhichIamsuccumbing。
　　However，Godassistedme。Ineverfeltitmorestrikinglythanthisveryday，andthereforeIamsohappy，oh！sohappy，thatImustshedtearsofblissfulemotion。Donotlaughatmeonthisaccount。
　　Iamaweakoldman，andwhenanythingaffectsmeprofoundly，I
　　mustweep。Itwasotherwiseinformeryears。Ah，informeryears！"
　　Heturnedhistearfuleyestowardthewindow，andgazedintovacancy。"Informeryearsmymindwasstrongandvigorous，"hesighed，"andwhenIwrotemy'Creation，'amanlyfirefilledmyheart。"
　　"Yourenthusiasmisimprintedonyourgreatwork，anditwillneverdisappearfromit，"saidIffland。"JosephHaydn's'Creation'isimmortalandfullofeternalyouth。TheVienneseprovedittoyouonhearingyoursublimemusictheotherday。"
　　"ButIprovedtothemthatIhadbecomesofeeblethatIcouldnolongerbearlisteningtomyownmusic。Ihadtoleavetheroomlongbeforetheperformancewasatanend。"
　　"Yououghtnottohavegonetotheconcertatall，"saidSchmid。
　　"Theexcitementmighthavebeeninjurioustoyourhealth。"
　　"Itwasinjurioustome，"saidHaydn，"butconsiderationsofhealthhadnorighttopreventmefrombeingpresent。ItwasnotthefirsttimethathomagehadbeenrenderedtoHaydn，andIwishedtoshowthatIwasabletobearitthistimetoo。Ah，itwasagloriousevening，andneverdidIhearabetterperformanceofmy'Creation。'"
　　"Itwasthegreatcomposer'sapotheosiswhichthemusiciansandsingerswerecelebrating，"saidIffland，deeplymoved……
　　"ItistruetheViennesehavedoneagreatdealforme。Theyaresogood，andtheylovemedearly。"
　　"Oh，theViennesearenotaheadofthepeopleofBerlininthisrespect，"exclaimedIffland。"InBerlin，too，everyoneknowsandlovesthegreatJosephHaydn，andhis'Creation'islikewiserecognizedthereasamasterpiece。ItwasperformedinBerlinquiterecentlyatacharityconcert，thereceiptsofwhichamountedtoovertwothousanddollars——"
　　"Overtwothousanddollarsforthepoor，"saidJosephHaydn，withbeamingeyes;"oh，mywork，thengavethepooragoodday。Thatissplendid，thatisthemostbeautifulrewardforalifeoftoilsandprivations。But，"headded，afterabriefpause，"itisallovernow。Icannolongerdoanything。Iamaleaflesstree，whichwillbreakdownto—dayorto—morrow。"
　　"ThefallofthistreewillmovethewholeofGermanyasagreatcalamitybefallingeveryloverofhiscountry。"
　　"Yes，itistrue，muchlovehasbeenmanifestedforme，muchhomagehasbeenrenderedtome，"saidHaydn，musingly。
　　"Allnationsandallprinceshaverenderedhomagetoyou，"exclaimedIffland。"Thelaurel—wreath，forwhichweotherpoetsandartistsarcstrugglingallourlifetime，andwhichisgenerallybestoweduponusonlyafterweareinthegrave，waslongsincegrantedtoyouinthemostflatteringandgratifyingmanner。Europehaspresentedyou，notwithone，butwithmanylaurel—wreaths，andyoumaylookbackonyourlifelikeavictorioushero，foreachofyourexploitswasatriumphforwhichyoureceivedlaurel—wreathsandtrophies。"
　　"Yes，Ihavemanysouvenirsofmypast，"saidHaydn，smilingly。"I
　　willshow。themtoyou。——Conrad，givememytreasures。"
　　Conradopenedthedrawerofthelargewriting—tablewhichwasstandingclosetoHaydn，andwhichcontainedagreatmanylargeandsmalletuis，casketsandboxes。
　　"Youshallseemytreasuresnow，"exclaimedHaydn，cheerfully。Inthefirstplace，heshowedthemabeautifulcasketmadeofebonyandgold。ItwasagiftwithwhichtheyoungPrincessEsterhazyhadpresentedthebelovedandadoredfriendofherhouseonlyafewweeksago，andonwhoselidwaspaintedasplendidminiaturerepresentingthesceneatthelastperformanceof"TheCreation，"
　　whenHaydnreceivedtheenthusiastichomageoftheaudience。Hethenshowedthemthelargegoldmedalsenthim;in1800，fromParis，bythetwohundredandfiftymusicianswho，onChristmaseveninginthatyear，hadperformed"TheCreation，"andtherebydelightedallParis。Thenfollowedmanyothermedalsfrommusicalsocietiesandconservatories，andvaluablediamondrings，snuff—boxes，andbreastpinsfromkingsandemperors。Last，Haydnshowedthem，withpeculiaremotion，thediplomaofcitizenshipwhichthecityofViennahadconferredonhim:Itwascontainedinasilvercase，anditssightcausedhiseyesevennowtoflashwiththemostintensesatisfaction。
　　Hehadplacedonthetablebeforehimeverypiece，aftershowingittothemandexplainingitsmeaning;andnowthatallthetreasureswerespreadoutbeforehim，hecontemplatedthemwithablissfulsmile，andnoddedtothemasiftodearoldfriends。
　　"Donotlaughatme，"hesaid，liftinghiseyestoIffland，almostbeseechingly。"Iamfondlyattachedtothesethings，andhenceitdelightedmetolookatthemfromtimetotimewithmyfriends。Youwillsaytheyaretheplaythingsofanoldman。Buttheyaremorethanthattome;onbeholdingthem，Ithinkofmypastlife，andmyrecollectionsrendermeyoungagainforafewmoments。Aftermydeathallthesethingswillpassintodearhands，andIhopethat，whenIamslumberinginmygrave，mysouvenirswillbecarefullypreservedandhonoredifonlyformysake。"[Footnote:HaydnbequeathedallhistrinketsandmanuscriptstotheEsterhazyfamily，whohadhonoredhimsohighlyduringhiswholelife。]
　　"IhopethedayisdistantwhenGermanywillhavetolamentthedeathofherfavorite，JosephHaydn，"exclaimedIffland。
　　"Thatdayiscloseathand，"saidHaydn，calmly;"Ifeelto—daymoredistinctlythaneverbeforethatmyendisdrawingnigh。Mystrengthisexhausted。"
　　"Letusgo，"whisperedSchmid，pointingtoHaydn，whohadfeeblysunkbackintohiseasy—chair，andwasleaninghispaleheadagainstthecushions。
　　Ifflandfixedhiseyesforalongtimewithanexpressionofheart—
　　feltgriefonthegroaning，brokenformreposingintheeasy—chair。
　　"Andthatisallthatisleftofagreatcomposer，ofageniuswhodelightedthewholeworld！"hesighed。"Ah，whatafragileshellourbodyis，amiserabledwellingforthesoullivinginit！Come，myfriend，letussoftlyleavetheroom。OnlyIwouldliketotakeasouvenirwithme，aflowerfromthebouquetwhichHaydnheldinhishands。MayIventuretotakeone？"
　　AtthismomentHaydnopenedhiseyesagain，andfixedthemwithagentleexpressiononIffland。"Iheardallyousaid，"heremarked;
　　"butIwastoofeebletospeak。Youwishtogetoneofmyflowers？
　　No，youshallhavethemall。"
　　Hetookthebouquet，lookedatittenderly，andburiedhiswholefaceforamomentintheflowers，andthenhandedittoIfflandwithagentlesmile。
　　"Farewell，"hesaid;"remembermeonlookingattheseflowers。I
　　wouldIhadknownyouinhappierdays，whenIshouldhavebeenabletoenjoyyourgeniusandadmireyourart。Youmustbeagreatactor，foryouhaveawonderfullysonorousandpliablevoice。Ishouldliketohearyoudeclaim，eventhoughyoushouldrecitebutafewverses。"
　　"Permitme，then，torecitethelinesinwhichWielandcelebratedyour'Creation，'"saidIffland;and，advancingafewsteps，holdingthebouquetinhishand，andfixinghisgleamingeyesonHaydn，whogazedathimwithagentlesmile，IfflandrecitedinhisfullsonorousvoiceWieland'sbeautifullines:
　　"Wiestroem'tdeinwogenderGesangInuns'reHerzenein！WirsehenDerSchoepfungmaecht'genGang，DenHauchdesHerrnaufdemGewaesserwehen;
　　JetztdurcheinblitzendWortdasersteLichtentstehen，UnddieGestirnesichdurchihreBahnendrehen;
　　WieBaumundPflanzewird，wiesichderBergerhebt，UndfrohdesLebenssichdiejungenThiereregen。
　　DerDonnerrolletunsentgegen;
　　DerRegensaeuselt，jedesWesenstrebtIn'sDasein;undbestimmt，desSchoepfersWerkzukroenenSehnwirdaserstePaar，gefuehrtvonDeinenToenen。
　　Oh，jedesHochgefuehl，dasindemHerzenschlief，Istwach！Werrufetnicht:wieschoenistdieseErde？
　　Undschoener，nunihrHerranchdichin'sDaseinrief，AufdassseinWerkvollendetwerde！"
　　[Footnote:
　　"ThywondroussonginmeltingstrainsToourmuteheartsswiftentrancegains;
　　Bymagicalyetunfeltforce，Weseecreation'smightycourse:
　　Thefirmamentappearsinspace——
　　Godbreathesuponthewater'sface。
　　Oneflashingwordbidsprimallightappear，Revolvingstarsbegintheirvastcareer;
　　Upheavingmountainsnowareseen，Talltreesandtenderherbagegreen;
　　Younganimalstobeingrise，Andanimatebylivingcries;
　　Wehearthemightythunderroar，Andrainsingushingtorrentspour。
　　Allcreaturesstruggleintolife;andstandBeforeoureyes，freshfromtheirMaker'shand，Thefirstpair，ledbythysweettones。
　　Nowwakedbyinspiration'sart，Enthusiasmstirsourheart。
　　Whocriesnot，'Earthispassingfair！'
　　YetfarmorefairherMakeris，Howperfecteveryworkofhis！"
　　Afterconcludinghisrecitation，Ifflandapproachedtheoldmanquickly，kneltdownbeforehimandimprintedakissonhisclaspedhands。Then，withoutaddinganotherword，herose，and，walkingbackwardasifbeforeaking，approachedthedoor，openeditsoftly，andwentout，followedbySchmid。[Footnote:ThewholeaccountofthisinterviewbetweenJosephHaydnandIfflandisinstrictaccordancewithIffland'sownreportofitinhis"Theatre—Almanac，"
　　pp。181—207。]
　　"Farewell！"exclaimedHaydn，inadeeply—movedvoice，andsankbackintheeasy—chair。Profoundsilencenowreignedaroundhim;butallatoncethissilencewasbrokenbyathunderingcrash，whichcausedthewindowstorattleandshookthewalls。Thedeafeningnoisewasrepeatedagainandagain，androlledthroughtheairliketheangryvoiceofGod。
　　Andnowthedooropened，andConradandKate，theagedservant—
　　woman，rushedintotheroom。"Ah，master，master，itisallupnow，andwearealllost！TheAustriansandtheFrenchareinforceclosetoVienna，andthebattlehasalreadycommenced。"
　　"Thebattlehascommenced！"exclaimedJosephHaydn，risingfromhiseasy—chair，andliftinghishandtoheaven。"Thebattlehascommenced！GoodandgreatGodinheaven，protectourfatherland，andgrantAustriaagloriousvictoryoverherarrogantfoe！DonotallowAustriaandGermanytosuccumb;helpustodefeattheproudenemywhohashumiliatedandoppressedussolong！OLordmyGod，shieldthehonorofGermanyandAustria！Protecttheemperor！"
　　AndJosephHaydnwalkedthroughtheroomwiththevigorandalacrityofayouth，droppedhishandsonthekeysofthepiano，andbegantoplayinfullconcordsthemelodyofhisimperialhymn，"GotterhalteFranzdenKaiser！"ConradandKatestoodbehindhim，singinginalow，tremuloustone;butoutside，theboomingofartillerycontinuedincessantly，andtheyheardalsothecriesofthepeoplewhowerehurryingindismaythroughthestreets，andthetollingofallthechurch—bells，whichcalledupontheViennesetopraytoGod。
　　AllatonceHaydnpausedinthemiddleofthetune;hishandsdroppedfromthe。keys，alongsighburstfromhislips，andhesankfaintingintothearmsofhisfaithfulConrad。Hisservantscarriedhimtohiscouch，andsoonsucceededinrestoringhimtoconsciousness。Heopenedhiseyesslowly，andhisfirstglancefelluponConrad，whostoodweepingathisbedside。
　　"Thenightingalewasright;myendisdrawingnigh，"hesaid，withafaintsmile。"ButIwillnotdiebeforelearningthattheAustrianshavedefeatedtheenemy，andthatmyemperorhasgainedabattle。"
　　AndintruthJosephHaydn'sstrongwilloncemoreover—powereddeath，whichhadalreadytouchedhimwithitsfinger。Heraisedhimselfuponhiscouch;hewouldnotdiewhileAustriawasstrugglingonthereeking，goryfieldofbattlefortheregenerationorherend。
　　Twodaysfollowed，twodreadfuldaysofuncertaintyandterror;theyheardincessantlytheboomingofartillery;butalthoughtheViennesegazeddownfromtheirchurch—steeplesallday，theywereunabletodiscernanything。Tremendouscloudsofsmokecoveredthecountryallaround，andwrappedthevillagesofAspernandEsslingandtheislandofLobauinanimpenetrableveilofmist。
　　JosephHaydnpassedthesedays，the21stand22dofMay，insilentgriefandgentleresignation;heprayedoften，andplayedhisimperialhymnthreetimesaday。
　　Thusthemorningofthe22dofMayhadcome。Conradhadgoneintothestreettoaskfornews，fortheboomingofartilleryhadceased，andthebattlewarsover。"Whichsidewasvictorious？"Thatwasthequestionwhichcausedalltotremble，andwhichfilledallheartswithintenseanxiety。
　　Haydn'sheart，too，wasfullofgraveanxiety，and，toovercomehisimpatiencetillConrad'sreturn，hehadcausedKatetoconducthimtohispiano。
　　"Iwillplaymyimperialhymn，"hesaid，hastily;"Ihaveoftenderivedcomfortandrelieffromitinthedaysofuneasinessandanxiety;andwhenIplay，itmyheartisalwayssomuchatease。Itsstrengthwillnotfailmeto—dayeither。"[Footnote:Haydn'sownwords。——See"Zeitgonosson，"vol。iv。，thirdseries，p。36。]
　　Hecommencedplaying;ablissfulsmileilluminatedhisfeatures;heliftedhisradianteyestoheaven，andhismusicgrewlouderandfierier，andhisfingersglidedmorepowerfullyoverthekeysofthepiano。Suddenlythedoorwasthrownopen，andConradrushedin，pantingfromtherapidrun，flushedwithexcitement，butwithajoyfulface。
　　"Victory！"heshouted。"Victory！"AndhesankdownatHaydn'sfeet。
　　"Whichsidewasvictorious？"askedHaydn，anxiously。
　　"TheAustrianswerevictorious，"saidConrad，pantingly。"OurArchdukeCharleshasdefeatedtheEmperorNapoleonatAspern;thewholeFrencharmyretreatedtotheislandofLobau，whenceitcannolongerescape。ThousandsofFrenchcorpsesarefloatingdowntheDanube，andproclaimingtotheworldthatAustriahasconqueredtheFrench！Hurrah！hurrah！Ourhero，theArchdukeCharles，hasdefeatedthevillainousBonaparte！Hurrah！"
　　"Hurrah！hurrah！"repeatedtheparrotonitspole;andthecatraiseditsheadfromthecushiononwhichithadlain，andgazedwithkeen，searchingeyesattheparrot，asifithadunderstoodPaperl'sjubilantnotes。
　　JosephHaydnsaidnothing，butclaspedhishandsandlookedrapturouslyupward。Afterapauseheexclaimed，inaloudandjoyousvoice:"LordGod，IthankTheefornotdisappointingmyfirmtrust，butprotectingAustriaandhelpinghertovanquishherfoe。Iknewfullwellthatthejustcausewouldtriumph，andthejustcauseisthatofAustria;forFrance，hypocriticalFrancealoneprovokedthiswar，andAustriadrewtheswordonlytodefendherhonorandherfrontiers。Thejustcausecouldnotbuttriumph，andhenceAustriahadtoconquer，andFrance，hadtosuccumbinthisstruggle。GodprotecttheEmperorFrancis！Imaylaydownnowanddie。Austriaisvictorious！Thatisthelastjoyfulgreetingwhichtheworldsendstome。WiththisgreetingIwilldie——ay，die！Deathisalreadydrawingnigh。ButDeathwearsalaurel—wreathonitshead，anditseyeisradiantwithtriumphantjoy。GlorytoAustria！GlorytotheGermanfatherland！"
　　ThesewereJosephHaydn'slastwords。Hefaintedaway。Itistruethephysicianssucceededinrestoringhimtolife，andhebreathedyetforsixdays;buthisliferesembledonlythelastfeebleflickerofthedyingflame，andinthenightofthe30thofMaydeathcametoextinguishthisflickeringflame。
　　CHAPTERXXIV。
　　THEARCHDUKEJOHNATCOMORN。
　　Theunheard—ofevent，then，hadtakenplace。NapoleonhadbeendefeatedbytheAustrians。TheArchdukeCharleshadgainedabrilliantvictory;NapoleonhadtransferredhiswholearmytotheislandofLobau;hehimselfpassedhistimeinmoodybroodingsatthecastleofEbersberg，andtheunexpecteddisasterwhichhadbefallenhimandwhichatthesametimehadbroughtaboutthedeathofoneofhisfavorites，MarshalLannes，seemedtohavesuddenlydeprivedtheemperorofallhisenergy。Hedidnotspeak，hedidnoteat;hesatforwholedaysinhiscabinet，staringatthemapsspreadoutbeforehimonhistable，andyetforgettingtocoverthem，asheusedtodoonconceivingtheplansofhiscampaigns，withthecoloredpinswhichrepresentedthedifferentarmies。
　　VictoryhadnolongerbeenabletosoftenthismarbleCaesareanface，butdefeatcausedhisfeaturesnowtowearanexpressionofprofoundangerandgrief。Nevertheless，hedidnotcomplain，andneverdidheconfesseventohisconfidantsthathewassuffering。
　　Onlyonce，forabriefmoment，heliftedtheveilconcealinghisfeelings，andpermittedhismarshalstoseeintotheinnermostrecessesofhissoul。Marmonthaddaredtopraytheemperor，inthenameofallthemarshals，toyieldnolongertohisgriefatwhathadoccurred，butbearinmindthatitwasincumbentonhimtopreservehimselfforthewelfareofhissubjectsandthegloryofhisfuture。Napoleonhadansweredwithafaintsmile:"YouthinkI
　　amsittingheretobroodovermymisfortune？Itistrue，Iamburyingmydead，and，asthereareunfortunatelyagreatmanyofthem，ittakesmealongtimetodoit。ButoverthetombofthedeadofEsslingIamgoingtoerectamonumentwhichwillberadiantwiththesplendorofvictory，andonitsfrontispieceshallbereadtheword'Vengeance！'TheEmperorofAustriaislost。HadIdefeatedhiminthisbattle，Ishould，perhaps，haveforgivenhisarroganceandperfidy;butashedefeatedme，Imustandshallannihilatehimandhisarmy。"
　　WhileNapoleonwasthusburyinghisdead，andreflectingonhis"monumentofvengeance，"theutmostrejoicingsreignedattheheadquartersoftheArchdukeCharles，thevictorofAspern;andallAustria，allGermanyjoinedintheserejoicings，andblessedthegloriousdayofBonaparte'sfirsthumiliation。
　　AndthisvictorywassoonfollowedbythenewsofatriumphhardlylessgloriousthanthebattleofAspern。TheTyrolese，thosedespisedpeasants，hadgainedabrilliantvictoryovertheFrenchveterans，andtheirBavarianauxiliaries，onthe21stofMay，onMountIsel，nearthecityofInnspruck。AndreasHofer，commander—in—
　　chiefoftheunitedforcesoftheTyrolese，jointlywithSpeckbacher，Wallner，andtheCapuchinHaspinger，hadagaindefeatedtheBavariansandFrench，whohadre—enteredtheTyrol，anddeliveredtheprovinceasecondtimefromtheenemy。
　　CountNugent，quartermaster—generaloftheArchdukeJohn，hadenteredthelatter'sroomwiththisjoyfulnews，andtoldhimwithsparklingeyesoftheheroicdeedsoftheTyrolese;ofHofer'spiouszeal;oftheboldexploitsofWallnerandSpeckbacher，whosedeedsrecalledtheancientheroesofHomer;oftheintrepidCapuchinfriar，Haspinger，who，withahugewoodencrossinhishand，ledontheattack，andanimatedhisfollowersnotlessbyhisexamplethantheassurancesofDivineprotectionwhichheheldforth。CountNugenthadrelatedalltheseheroicdeedswithfervideloquencetothearchduke，andyet，tohisutterastonishment，thelatter'sfacehadremainedgloomy，andnotarayofjoyhadilluminatedit。
　　"Yourimperialhighness，then，doesnotsharemyexultation？"heasked，mournfully。"Youreceivethenewsquitecoldlyandindifferently，andyetIamspeakingofyourbelovedTyrolese，ofyourheroes，AndreasHofer，JosephSpeckbacher，andAnthonyWallner？
　　TheyandtheirheroicmenhavedeliveredtheTyrolasecondtimefromtheenemy，andyourimperialhighnessdoesnotrejoiceatit？"
　　"No，mydearCount，"saidthearchduke，sighing，"fortheywillloseitagain。Allthisbloodwillhavebeenshedinvain，andmypoorTyrolwillbelostinspiteofit。"
　　"Youbelieveso？——youwhocalledupontheTyrolesetotakeuparms，whoinviteditsheroesandchampionstosuchdaringefforts，whoarereadyyourselftofightforthecourageousmountaineerstothelastextremity？"
　　"Yes，Iamalwaysreadytodoso，"criedJohn，laughingbitterly，"butwhatgoodwillitdo？Theywillwindcunningshacklesenoughroundmyfeettomakemefalltotheground;theywillmanaclemyhandsagain，andputmywillintothestrait—jacketofloyaltyandobedience。IcannotdowhatIwantto;Iamonlyatoolinthehandsofothers，andthiswillcausebothmyruinandthatoftheTyrol。I
　　amwillingtosacrificemylifefortheTyrol，andyetIshallbeunabletosaveit。Fortherest，myfriend，IknewalreadyalltheseparticularsofthebattleonMountIsel。AcourierfromHormayrhadjustreachedmeandbroughtmefulldetails。IwasabletosendbackbythecourierafinerewardforthebraveTyrolese，aletterfromtheemperor，myaugustbrother，whichIreceivedthismorningwiththeordertoforwardittothem。Ikeptacopyoftheimperialletter，fortheremaybeadaywhenitwillbenecessaryformetoremindtheemperorofthisletter。Hereisthecopy。Readitaloud，thatImayhear，too，howfinetheimperialwordssound。"
　　ThearchdukehandedapapertoCountNugent，whoreadasfollows:
　　"Afterourarmshadsufferedheavyreverses，andaftertheenemyhadcapturedeventhecapitaloftheempire，myarmysucceededindefeatingtheFrencharmyunderNapoleononthe21stand22dofMay，ontheMarshfield，anddrivingitindisorderacrosstheDanube。ThearmyandpeopleofAustriaareanimatedwithgreaterenthusiasmthanever;everythingjustifiesthemostsanguinehopes。TrustinginGodandmyjustcause，IdeclaretomyloyalprovincesoftheTyrolandVorarlberg，thattheyshallneveragainbeseparatedfromtheAustrianempire，andthatIwillsignnopeacebutonewhichwillindissolublyincorporatetheseprovinceswithmyotherstates。Yournobleconducthassunkdeepintomyheart;Iwillneverabandonyou。
　　Mybelovedbrother，theArchdukeJohn，willspeedilybeamongyou，andputhimselfatyourhead。FRANCIS。"
　　[Footnote:Hormayr，"DasHeervonInner—OesterreichunterdenBefehlendesErzherzogsJohann，"p。189。]
　　"Andyourimperialhighnessdoubts，evenafterthissolemnpromisegiventotheTyrolesebyhismajestytheemperor？"
　　"Myfriend，"saidthearchduke，castingalong，searchinglookroundtheroom，"wearealone，noonewatches，and，Itrust，noonehearsus。Letme，therefore，foronce，speakfranklywithyou;letmeunbosomtoyou，myfriend，whatIhavehithertosaidtoGodalone;
　　letmeforgetforaquarterofanhourthatIamasubjectoftheemperor，andthathismajestyismybrother;permitmetoexaminethesituationwiththeeyesofanimpartialobserver，andtojudgeofmenasaman。Well，then，ImustconfesstoyouthatIcannotsharetheuniversaljoyattherecentevents，and——mayGodforgiveme！——IdonotbelieveeveninthepromiseswhichtheemperormakestotheTyrolese。Hehimselfmayatthepresenthourbefirmlyresolvedtofulfilthem;hemayhavemadeuphismindnevertosignanypeacebutonewhichwillindissolublyincorporatetheTyrolwithhisempire;buttheevents，andespeciallymen，willassuredlycompelhimtoconsenttoanothertreatyofpeace。Youknowfullwellthattherearetwopartiesabouttheemperor，andthatthereisaconstantfeudbetweenthesetwoparties。Onewantswar，theotherwantspeace;andthepeace—partyisunfortunatelyheadedbytheArchdukeCharles，thegeneralissimoofourarmy。YouknowthefawningandsubmissiveletterwhichthegeneralissimoaddressedtoNapoleonafterthedefeatofRatisbon，andwhichNapoleondisdainedtoanswer。[Footnote:TheArchdukeCharleswrotetoNapoleononthe30thofApril，1809:"YourMajestyannouncedyourarrivalbyasalvoofartillery;Ihadnotimetoreplytoit。But，thoughhardlyinformedofyourpresence，IspeedilydiscovereditbythelosseswhichIexperienced。Youhavetakenmanyprisonersfromme，sire，andIhavetakensomethousandsfromyouinquarterswhereyouwerenotpersonallypresent。Iproposetoyourmajestytoexchangethem，manforman，rankforrank;and，ifthatproposalprovesagreeabletoyou，pointouttheplacewhereitmaybepossibletocarryitintoeffect。Ifeelflattered，sire，incombatingthegreatestcaptainoftheage;butIshouldesteemmyselfmuchhappierifHeavenhadchosenmetobetheinstrumentofprocuringformycountryadurablepeace。Whatevermaybetheeventsofwar，orthechancesofanaccommodation，Iprayyourmajestytobelievethatmydesireswillalwaysoutstripyourwishes，andthatIamequallyhonoredbymeetingyourmajestyeitherwiththeswordortheolive—
　　branchinyourhand。"]Thewar—partyisheadedbytheempressandCountStadion。Buttheempresshasunfortunatelylittleinfluenceoverherhusband，andCountStadionisnomoreinfluentialthanhermajesty。Hisgenerousenthusiasmandfieryimpetuosityarerepugnanttotheemperor，whowillremovehimsosoonashehasdiscoveredamoresubmissiveandobsequioussuccessorwhohasasmuchworkinhimasStadion。Butthereisonepointastowhichtheseincessantlyquarrellingpartiesareagreedandjoinhands，andthatistheircommonhostilityagainstthearch—dukes，theemperor'sbrothers;sovirulentisthishatred，thatthepeace—partydesertsitsleaderinordertooperatewiththewar—partyagainsthimandhisinterests。
　　TheAustriannobilityhasalwaysclaimedtheprivilegeoffillingallsuperioroffices，anditisfuriousatseeingthearchdukesanimatedwiththedesireofdedicatingtheirabilitiestotheirfatherlandandtheiremperor。Hence，thenobilityisdecidedlyopposedtothesuccessofthearchdukes，whichmightsetboundstoitsoligarchy。Itopposesmeaswellastheotherarchdukes，whetherthisoppositionmayendangertheinterestsofthefatherland，andeventheemperor，ornot。Thingswouldbeevenmoreprosperousinthiscampaign，ifthegeneralsservingunderthearchdukeshadcarriedouttheordersoftheirsuperiorswithgreaterzeal，promptness，andwillingness。Buttheyhavebeenintentionallyslow;