"AndI,too,amreadytoconquerordiefortheTyrolandtheemperor,andsoisthecorpswhosecommanderIam,"exclaimedthearchdukeenthusiastically。"Theemperor,mygraciousmaster,intendstointrustmewiththecommandofthearmywhichistofightwithandfortheTyrol,whichwillchecktheadvanceoftheenemyapproachingtheTyrolfromtheItalianfrontier,andwillsecondandstrengthentheinsurrectionoftheTyrolese。Now,then,myfriendsandcomradesletuspreparethegreatworkbravely,prudently,andcarefully。Collectyourforces,asIshallcollectmine;makeallyourdispositions,andexhortalltobehaveastruesonsoftheTyrol。Aboveallthings,becautious。Keepinchecknotonlyyourtonguesbutyourfaces,especiallyhereinVienna。ForiftheBavarianspieshereferretoutthatAndreasHofer,Speckbacher,andWallnerareinVienna,andthatIhavehadaninterviewwiththem,theirkeennoseswillscentatoncewhatisgoingon,andtheywillsend,evenbeforewereachtheTyrol,somanyBavarianandFrenchsoldiersintoyourcountry,thatyouwillbetiedhandandfoot,andcannotraiseyourarmsonthe9thofApriltoseizeyourrifles。
Therefore,Irepeatit,keepyourfacesincheck,anddonotallowyourselvestobeseeninthestreetsofViennainthedaytime。Yourbeard,Andy,especiallyisatreacherousthing,anditwouldreallybebestfortheBarbonetoshaveoffhislongmourning—flag。"
AndreasHoferseizedhisbeardwithbothhishands,almostinterror,anddrewitcaressinglythroughhisfingers。
"No,"hesaid,"myfriendsandcountrymenknowmebymybeard,andtheBarboneisawelcomeguestintheItalianTyrol。TheywouldnotrecognizemeifIshouldappearamongthemwithasmoothchin;andtheywoulddoubtifitwasAndreasHoferwhotalkedwiththemaboutthegreatconspiracyandinsurrectionincasetheydidnotseehisblackbeard。"
"No,archduke,"saidSpeckbacher,smilingandwinking,"youmustnotobjecttoourAndy'sbeard,foritistheflagroundwhichtheTyrolesewillrally,andwithwhichtheTyrolwilladornitselfonthedayofinsurrection,astheyputontheirbestclothesonthedayofAssumption。Moreover,AndreasHofermustnotbeungrateful;
andhewouldbeungratefulifheshouldcutoffhisbeardandthrowitaway,forhisbeardgainedhimonedayacoupleoffatoxen。"
"Isthattrue,Andy?"askedJohn,laughing。
"Itis,"saidAndreasHofer,gravely。"Mybearddidgainmetwooxen。Ithappenedasfollows;archduke:Iwasquiteayoungmanyet,andhadmarriedmywife,AnnaGertrudeLadurner,onlyayearbefore。
Iwasveryfondofmylittlewife,anddidnotliketositforhoursinthetavern,asIhaddoneheretofore。Istayedathomeoftenenoughinsteadofattendingtomybusiness,andgoingdowntoItalyorGermanytocarryonmytrafficincorn,wine,horses,andoxen,bywhichIhadmadeagreatdealofmoney。Myfriendssneeredatmystayingsomuchathome,andsaid:'AndyHofer,theSandwirth,isahenpeckedhusband,andhiswifeismasterofthehouse。'Thiswasverydisagreeabletome,for,althoughIlovemyAnnaGertrudefromthebottomofmyheart,Ihavealwaysbeenthemaster;andshehasbeenobedienttome,astheBiblesaysitshouldbebetweenhusbandandwife。Well,onedayIsatathomewithafewfriends;weweredrinkingwineinthebar—room。Suddenlythereenteredtheroomanoldbeggarwithatremendousbeardreachingdowntohisgirdle。I
laughatthebeardandrejoiceoveritsenormouslength。Oneofmyfriends,AnthonyWaidlinger,therichAmselwirth,asksme:'Well,Andy,wouldyouliketowearaslongabeardasthat?''Whynot?'I
replymerrily。'Ah,'exclaimsAnthony,laughing,'youmustnottalksosaucily。Youmustnotwearsolongabeard。Yourwifewillnotpermitit,Andy!'Thismakesmeveryangry;Istartup,andhardlyknowwhatIamdoing。'What!'Icry,'mywife?Shemustobeymewhethershelikesitornot。WhatwillyoubetIwillnotshavemybeardforawholeyear?''Iwillbetyoutwooxen,'saysAnthony;
'butletmewarnyou,Andy,youwilllosetheoxen;forIsticktoit,yourwifewillneverpermityoutobecomethelaughing—stockofthechildrenbyappearinginthestreetswithsuchalion'smane。
Thereforeconsiderthematterwell,Andy,forthereistimeyet。
Admitthatyouwillnotwinthebet,fortwooxenareatstake!''I
havealreadyconsideredeverything,'Isay:'andasforthetwooxen,theywillbejustwhatIwant。Ayearhenceyouwillbringthemtome,AnthonyWaidlinger。'Andthispredictionwasfulfilled。
Ididnotshavemybeard,andAnnaGertrude,mywife,rejoicedatherAndy'sbeardinsteadofbeingangryatit,andthoughtitmadeherhusbandlookagreatdealbetter。Whentheyearwasup,AnthonyWaidlingerdrovehistwooxenwithasullenairintomystable,andsaid:'Nowyoumaycutoffyourfurandhaveapillowmadefromitforyourwife。''Ineednotcutoffmybeardforthatpurpose,'I
replied;'itmaybemywife'spillowevenwhileithangsdownonmybreast。Forsheisagoodanddutifulwife,andIamfondlyattachedtoher。'That,archduke,isthestoryofmybeard,whichIhaveworneversince,andwhichhasoftenbeenapillowwhenmylittleboyandthreegirlsfellasleeponmylap,andunderwhichtheyhaveoftenconcealedtheirlittleheadswhentheirmotherwaslookingforthem。
Youwillaskmenomoretocutoffmybeard——thepillowandplaythingofmychildren。"
"No,Andreas,"saidthearchduke,kindly,"Iwillnot。Wearyourfinebeardasyouhavedonehitherto;mayitbe,notwithstandingitsblackcolor,thevictoriousflagroundwhichtheroyalTyroleseshallrallyonrisingfortheirlordandemperor!Andnow,farewell,myfriends;itisdawning,anditistimeforustoreposealittle。
Gohome,therefore,andwhatremainstobesettledyoumaytalkoverto—morrowwithBaronvonHormayr,whowillgiveyoumoneyfortravellingexpenses,andfordistributionamongtheinnkeepers。Dayafterto—morrowyouwillsetoutforhome,andbringtoallloyalTyrolesethejoyfulnewsthatwarwillbreakout。"
"Yes,yes,warwillbreakout!"exclaimedthethreeTyrolese,exultingly。
"Hush,forGod'ssake,hush!"saidJohn,laughing。"Youmustkeepquiet,and,insteadofdoingso,youshoutasjubilantlyasthoughyouwerestandingonacrestoftheBrenner,andhadjustdiscoveredthehiding—placeofachamois。LetmethereforetellyouoncemoreitisnecessarythatthepeopleofViennashouldnotfindoutthatyouareinthecity。Pledgemeyourword,then,thatyouwillnotgointothestreettomorrowinthedaytime,norallowanyonetoseeyou。"
"Wepledgeyouourword!"exclaimedtheTyrolese,withoneaccord;
"wewillnotappearinthestreetto—morrowinthedaytime,anddayafterto—morrowweshallsetout。"
"Yes,weshallsetoutthen,"repeatedAndreasHofer,"andreturntoourmountainsandfriends,andwaitpatientlyandfaithfullyuntilthedaywhenweshallseetherisingtotheskythesignalwhichistotellusthatourdearArchdukeJohnsendsushissoldierstoassistusindeliveringourcountryfromtheenemy,andrestoringit,withourmountains,ourlove,andourloyalty,toourdearEmperorFrancis。Godgrantthatwemaysucceedinsodoing,andmaytheHolyVirginprayforusall,andrestoretheTyroltotheemperor!"
CHAPTERVII。
ANDREASHOFERATTHETHEATRE。
CountStadion,theministerofforeignaffairs,waspacinghiscabinetwithaquickstepandananxiousexpressionofcountenance。
Attimeshestoodstill,and,bendinghisheadtowardthedoor,seemedtolistenintentlyforsomesound;allremainingsilentoutside,hecommencedagainstridingupanddown,andwheneverheapproachedtheclockonthemantelpiecehecastananxiousglanceonit。
"IamafraidHormayrwasnotathome,"hemurmuredmoodilytohimself;"hisservantsdidnotknowwherehewas,andthereforethemischiefcannotbestopped。"
Hedrewagoldensnuff—boxfromhispocketandtookalargepinchfromit。"Isaidattheveryoutset,"hemurmured,"thatweoughttokeepalooffromthesestupidpeasants,whowillonlyinvolveusintroubleandmischief。Butthosegentlemenwouldnotlistentome,and——Really,IbelieveIhearfootstepsintheanteroom。Yes,yes,somebodyiscoming!"
CountStadionwasnotmistaken。Thedooropened,andafootmanannounced,inaloudvoice,"BaronvonHormayr!"
"Lethimcomein,lethimcomein,quick!"saidCountStadion,wavinghishandimpatiently;andwhenHormayrappearedonthethresholdofthedoor,hehastilywenttomeethim。
"Intruth;ittookmyservantsagoodwhiletofindyou!"exclaimedtheminister,angrily。"Ihavebeenwaitingforyouhalfanhour。"
"IwasattheArchdukeJohn'srooms,withwhomIhadbusinessofimportance,yourexcellency,"saidHormayr,emphasizinghislastwords。"Moreover,Icouldnotguessthatyourexcellencywouldwishtograntmeanaudienceatsounusualanhour,andwithoutmyaskingforit。"
"Atsounusualanhour!"criedCountStadion,puttingonepinchofsnuffafteranotherintohisnose。"Yes,yes,atsounusualanhour!
Itwouldhavebeenmoreagreeabletome,too,ifithadbeenunnecessaryformetotroubleyouandmyself。Butitisyourownfault。Youdonotkeepyourword。"
"Yourexcellency!"criedHormayr,indignantly。
"Bah!itistrue。Youdonotkeepyourword。YoupromisedmethatyourTyroleseshouldnotshowthemselves,lestwemightbechargedwithfomentinganinsurrection;anditwasnecessary,also,topreventtheBavariansfromlearningprematurelyourplans。Canyoudenythatyoupromisedthistome?"
"No,yourexcellency,Idonotdenyitatall。"
"Well,yourTyrolesearerunningaroundeverywhere。"
"Pardonme,yourexcellency,thatcannotbetrue。Youmusthavebeenmisinformed。"
"What!misinformed?Howdareyousaysotomyface,sir?Yourbeardman,orbushman,orSandwirthHoferisattheKarnthnerthorTheatre,andistheobservedofallobservers。Isawhimwithmyowneyes;andthatwasthereasonwhyIleftthetheatreandsentforyou。"[Footnote:CountStadion'sownwords。——SeeHormayr's"AndreasHofer,"voli。,p。209]
"Yourexcellencysawhimwithyourowneyes!Then,ofcourse,itmustbetrue,andIwouldbegleaveofyourexcellencytogoimmediatelytothetheatreandtakehimtohishotel。"
"ThatwasjustwhatIwishedtoaskyoutodo,BaronvonHormayr。
MakehasteandinducethisbushmantoleaveViennaimmediately。"
"Hewillleavethecapitalearlyinthemorning。Yourexcellencywillpermitmenowtowithdraw。"
BaronvonHormayrhasteneddownstairs,leftthechanceryofstate,andcrossedtheJoseph'sPlace。OnreachingtheKarnthnerthorTheatre,heboughtaticketattheofficeandenteredthepit。
"TheMarriageofFigaro,"byMozart,wasperformedattheKarnthnerthorTheatreto—night,andthisfavoriteoperaoftheViennesehadattractedsolargeanaudiencethatnotaseatwasvacant,andthebaronhadtoelbowhiswaywithnolittledifficultythroughthecrowdfillingthepit,inordertoreachapointwherehemightbeabletoseeeverypartofthehouse,anddiscoverhimforwhosesakehehadcome。
Atlengthhehadsucceededinadvancingsofarthat,leaningagainstoneofthepillarssupportingtheuppertiersofboxes,hewasabletosurveythelowerpartofthehouse。Butallfaceswereavertedfromit,alleyeswerefixedonthestage。TheoperahadjustreachedthescenewhereCountAlmavivaliftsthecarpetfromthechairandfindsCherubinounderit。Aloudoutburstoflaughterresoundedfromthepittotheuppergallery。Butinthemidstofthedin,aloudandangryvoiceexclaimed:"Ah,youyounggood—for—
nothing,ifIhadyouhereIwouldshowyouhowtobehave!"Andathreateningfistandvigorousarmwasraisedinthemidstoftheorchestra—stalls。
"Goodheavens!thatisreallyAndreasHofer,"murmuredBaronvonHormayr,concealinghimselfanxiouslybehindthepillar。ArenewedshoutoflaughtergreetedHofer'swords,andalleyesturnedtowardthesidewheretheyhadbeenuttered。AndtheresatthegoodAndreasHofer,inhishandsomenationalcostume,withhislongblackbeard,andhisflorid,kind—heartedface。Therehesat,quiteregardlessofthegazewhichtheaudiencefixeduponhim,utterlyunawareofthefactthathewastheobservedofallobservers,andquiteengrossedinlookingatthestage,whereproceededthewell—knownscenebetweenCherubino,thecount,andFigaro。Hefollowedtheprogressoftheactionwithraptattention,andwhenCherubinotriedtoprovehisinnocencebyallsortsofplausibleandimprobablefalsehoods,Hofer'sbrowbecameclouded。Heavertedhiseyesfromthestage,andturnedtohisneighbor。"Why,"hesaid,loudlyandindignantly,"thatboyisasgreataliarasthoughhewereBonapartehimself!"
Nowthemerrimentoftheaudienceknewnolongeranybounds。Theyapplauded,theyshouted,"Bravo!bravo!"Theyforgotthesceneonthestageentirely,anddevotedtheirexclusiveattentiontothequeer,beardedstrangerintheorchestra—stall,onwhomalleyesandopera—glasseswerefixed。
BaronvonHormayrbehindhispillarwipedtheperspirationfromhisforehead,andcastfuriousglancesonAndreasHofer,who,however,wasutterlyunawareofhispresence,andfromwhosebreast,protectedasitwasbyhisbeardandcrucifix,reboundedallsuchglanceslikebluntedarrows。
Theactors,who,interruptedbytheunexpectedcheers,andtheincidentintheaudience,hadpausedafewminutes,andhadthemselveshardlybeenabletorefrainfromburstingintolaughter,nowcontinuedtheirscene,andthecharmsofthemusicandtheinterestingcharacteroftheactionsoonsucceededagaininrivetingtheattentionoftheaudience。
AndreasHofer,whohadinthemeantimerelapsedintohissilentastonishment,gazedfixedlyuponthestage。BaronvonHormayrlefthisplacequietlyandwalkedtotheentrance。Heslippedaflorinintothehandofthedoorkeeper,whowasleaningagainstthewall。
"Say,"hewhisperedtohimhastily,"assoonasthecurtaindrops,gotothegiantwiththelongbeard,whositsintheorchestra—stallyonder,andwhosewordsamusedtheaudiencejustnow。Heisacattle—dealerfromHungary,andImustseehimatonce。Justwhisperinhisearthathiscountrymanwiththewineandhorseshasarrived,anditisnecessaryheshouldcomeandseehimrightaway。——ThankGod,thecurtainfalls!Nowmakehaste。Ifyoubringthecattle—
dealerwithyouintothecorridor,Iwillgiveyouanotherflorin。"
Thedoorkeeper'sfacebeamedwithsatisfaction;heelbowedhimselfcourageouslythroughthecrowd,andsucceeded。inreachingthe"cattle—dealerfromHungary,"whosatabsorbedinhisreflections,withhisheadbentonhisbreast。Hetouchedhisshouldersoftlyandwhisperedhismessageintohisear。
AndreasHofergaveastartandstaredatthedoorkeeper。"Whatcountrymen?"heasked;"andhowcanhebringtomewineandhorseshereas——"
"Idonotknowanythingaboutit,"whisperedthedoor—keeper;"I
knowonlythatyourcountrymanwiththewineandthehorsesiswaitingforyou,andthathesayshemustseeyourightaway。"
"Well,then,come,conductmetohim,"saidAndreas,risingfromhischair,anddrawinguphiscolossalformtoitsfullheight。"I
shouldliketoknowwhothiscountrymanis。Leadtheway,sir;I
willfollowyou。"
Thedoorkeeperretracedhisstepsthroughthecrowd;AndreasHoferfollowedhim,greetingkindlyandpleasantlyinalldirections,andpushingasidethemenlikeflieswhenevertheystoodinhisway。
Atlengththeyreachedthedoor,andsteppedintothecorridor。
BaronvonHormayr,likeatigerpouncinguponhisprey,rusheduponAndreasHofer,seizedhisarm,anddrewhimdownthecorridorintotheouterhall,whichwassodesertedandsilentthattherewasnodangeroftheirconversationbeingoverheardbyaneavesdropper。
HereatlengthHormayrstoodstillanddroppedthearmofAndreasHofer,whohadfollowedhim,dumfoundedwithastonishment,andglancingaroundasiflookingforsomebodyelse。
"Andy,"exclaimedHormayr,vehemently,"whatamItothinkofyou?
TheTyrolesealwayskeeptheirpromises,andtothinkthatourhonestSandwirthaloneshouldnotdoso!YoupledgedmeyourwordthatyouwouldconcealyourpresencehereinViennaasmuchaspossible,andnowyouarerunningaboutthecityinyournationalcostumeandwithyourbeardedfacetoheartheopera—trillsandseehowtheballet—dancersstretchtheirlegs!"[Footnote:Hormayr'sownwords。——SeeHormayr's"AndreasHofer,"vol。i。,p。209。]
"AndreasHoferneverbreakshisword,"saidHofer,gravely。"I
promisednottoappearinthestreetsintheday—time,andIhavefaithfullykeptmyword。Istayedathomeallday,anditwasonlyafternightfallthatwethreewenttogetherintothestreet。
SpeckbacherandWallnerwenttotheArchdukeJohn'sgunsmith,AnthonySteger,totakeleaveofhim,andIintendedtogotoSt。
Stephen'sCathedraltoattendvespers。ButIamastrangerinthecity,andhappenedtolosemyway。AllatonceIgotintoadensecrowd,andthoughtIhadarrivedatSt。Stephen'sCathedral,andthatthecrowdconsistedofpiousChristiansgoingtovespers;
hence,Iallowedmyselftobedrawnalongintothedoor,becauseI
thoughtitwasthechurch。"
"Andonbuyingaticket。Andy,yousupposedyoupurchasedindulgence,didyounot?"
"No,Ididnot,"saidAndreasinatoneofembarrassment。"But,onseeingallthosepersonssteptotheofficeandgettickets,I
thoughttherewereChristianpassion—playsperformedthere,asatInnspruckinLent;andonhearingthemanstandingbeforemeshouting,'Ticketforanorchestra—stall,'Ishouted,also,'Ticketforanorchestra—stall,'andthrewaflorinonthetable。Thereupontheyhandedmeaticket,andIfollowedtheothersintothehall。
Theperformancecommencedalmostatthesamemoment,thecurtainrose,andtheactorsbegantosing。Itistrue,itisnotapassion—
play,andthereisnothingfromtheBibleinit;butthenitisaniceplay。Ibelievethecurtainwillriseagainimmediately,anditistimeformetoreturntomyseat。ButIshouldliketoknowwheremycountrymanwiththehorsesandwineis。Heinsistedonseeingme,sentforme,anddoesnotcomenow。"
"But,Andy,doyounotyetknowthatitwasIwhosentforyou?"
askedHormayr。"Why,itwasonlyastratagemofminetogettheBarboneoutofthetheatreandtakehimawayfromhere。"
"Butwhydoyouwanttotakemeawayfromhere?ItellyouIliketheplayverywell,andhaveneverseenanythinglikeit。Itistrue,Cherubino,theboy,isanarrantliar,butheisajollyfellow,andIdonotwanthimtocometogrief。AndFigaroisaslyfox,andwithalabraveman。IshouldliketomakehisacquaintanceandaskhimifhereallypromisedoldMarielletomarryher;foritwouldbewrongifhedidnotkeephiswordnow,andrefusedtomakeherhiswifebecausehelikestheyoungwomanbetterthanher。IfI
knewwherehelives,Iwouldgotohimthisverynightandtellhimwhatheoughttodo。"
"Oh,youfoolisholdchildofNature!whatyousawonthestagewasnothingbutaplay。Figaroneverexisted;andeventhoughhedid,youwouldnotgotohim,butaccompanymeandtakesupperwithme。"
"Iamsorry。"saidAndreas,gravely,"Icannotdoso;for,inthefirstplace,Imuststayhereandwaitforthecountrymanwhohasarrivedherewiththehorsesandwine。"
"JesusMaria!whatdoyousay?Thecountryman?DidInottellyouthatitisI,Andy?"
"Oh,yes,Ihadalreadyforgottenit。But,second,IcannotgobecauseImustseetheremainderoftheplay。Letme,therefore,returntomyseat,forIpaidforthewholeperformance;IbelieveI
havealreadymissedagreatdeal;buttheywillassuredlynotreturntomeattheofficeapennyforwhatIdidnothear。"[Footnote:
Hofer'sownwords。——SeeHormayr,"AndreasHofer,"vol。i。,p。810。]
"Theywillnot,andshallnoteither,"criedHormayr,angrily。"Youwillnotreturntoyourseat,Andy,butgoandtakesupperwithme。
Foryouknow,mydearfellow,thatyouhavecometoVienna,nottogotothetheatre,buttoaskthedearArchdukeJohn'sassistanceandsuccorforthebelovedTyrol,andinquireoftheemperorifhewillnotaidhisloyalTyroleseintheirattempttobecomehissubjectsoncemore。Andtheemperorandthearchdukewillhelpyou;
theypromisetosendsoldiersandgunsintimetotheTyrol。But,inreturn,youmustdowhatthearchdukeaskedyoutodo;youmustcarefullyconcealyourself,Andy,inordertopreventtheBavariansfromlearningofyourtriptoVienna;otherwisetheywouldarrestyouandyourfriendsafteryourreturntotheTyrol。Henceyoumustnotreturntoyourseat,wheresomanypersonswouldseeyou,andunfortunatelyhaveseenyoualready。"
"Well,ifitmustbeso,letusgo,sir,"sighedAndreas。"Butjustlistenhowtheyaresinging,shouting,andcheeringinside!JesusMaria!Figaro,Ibelieve,willhavetomarryoldMarielleafterall,andgiveupprettylittleSusanne。Ah,myGod!shewilldieheart—
broken,forsheloveshimsodearly。Pray,sir,letmegoinoncemore,thatImayseewhetherornothemustmarryoldMarielle。"
"No,Andy,"saidHormayr,smiling,"youneednotbeuneasy;FigarowillnotmarryoldMarielle,forsheishisownmother。"
"What!"criedAndreas,indismay;"shehismother,andhehaspromisedtomarryher!Thatismostsinfulandinfamous!NogoodChristianshouldlistentosuchthings。Comealong,sir。Idonotwanttohearanotherwordofit。Goodheavens!whatwillAnnaGertrudesaywhenItellherwhatIhaveseenhere,andthattherearehereinViennameninfamousenoughtopromisetomarrytheirmothers?"
"Buttheyneverdosoinreality,Andy,butonlyonthestage。
Otherwisethepolicewouldbeafterthematonce。Fortheemperorisaverypiousandvirtuousgentleman,andhedoesnotpermitanyinfractionsofthesacredlawsofGodandtheChurchinhisdominions。"
"Yes,theemperorisaverypiousandvirtuousgentleman,"exclaimedAndreasHofer,enthusiastically,"andthatisthereasonwhytheTyroleselovehimandwishtobeagainhissubjectsandchildren。
Come,Iwillgohomewithyou。Idonotwanttohearanymoreofthetheatricalnonsense。LetusspeakofouremperorandourdearArchdukeJohn。Godgrantthatwemaysoonbeabletosayheisouremperoragain,andthearchdukeisourJohn,andhisTyroleseareagainhissubjects,becausetheyfoughtwellfortheirliberty,andbecauseGodblessedtheireffortsandcrownedthemwithvictory。
Come,wewillgohome,andto—morrowIshallreturntotheTyrol,tomywifeandchildren,andmountainandvalleyshallknowthatthetimehascome,andthatweshallbecomeAustriansagain。MaytheHolyVirginprotectusandgrantusasafereturn;mayshepreventtheBavariansfromwaylayingusandfrustratingourgreatandnoblepurpose!"[Footnote:ThedelegatesoftheTyroleseleftViennaonthefollowingmorning;theirpresencethere,however,hadbeenreportedtotheBavarianofficers,who,duringtheirhomewardjourney,almostsucceededinarrestingthem。JohnvonGraff,abankerofBotzen,wasapprisedoftheirarrivalinViennabyhiscorrespondentinthatcityandinformedthecommissary—generalatBrixenofwhathehadlearned。Awarrantforthearrestofthethreedelegateswasissued,buttheyescapedintimeintothemountains。——
Hormayr,vol。i。,p。191。]
CHAPTERVIII。
CONSECRATIONOFTHEFLAGS,ANDFAREWELL。
Thediewascast,then。ThewarwithFrancewastobreakoutagain。
Therewastobenomoreprocrastinationandhesitation。Thetimeforactionwasathand。
AlreadytheFrenchambassador,Andreossi,hadleftVienna,andallthemembersofthelegationhadfollowedhim。AlreadyClementCountMetternichhadarrivedatViennabuthehadnotleftParisasCountAndreossihadleftVienna,quietlyandunmolested,butNapoleonhadcausedhimtobeescortedtotheFrenchfrontierbyadetachmentofgensd'armes。
Andto—day,onthe9thofMarch,AustriawastoproclaimtoallGermany,bymeansofapublicfestival,thatshewasresolvedtorenewthestrugglewithFranceandriskoncemorethebloodofherpeopleandtheexistenceofherimperialdynastyinordertodeliverGermanyfromtheusurperwhowasintentoncrushinginhisironhandsthelibertyandindependanceoftheGermannation。
Asolemnceremonywastotakeplaceto—dayontheGlacisofVienna。
TheflagsofthemilitiaweretobeconsecratedbytheArchbishopofVienna,andthewholeimperialfamilywastobepresentatthesolemnity。Hence,allViennapresentedafestiveappearance;allstoreswereclosed,andnoonewasseenfollowinghisevery—dayavocations。TheViennesehadmadeaholiday;noonewouldtoilforhisdailybread;allwishedtorefreshthemselvesonlywithmentalfood,andgreetwiththeirglancesandacclamationsthenoblemenwhoweretotakethefieldforthesalvationofthefatherland。
Thepeopleweresurgingindensemassestowardtheglacis,rushingwithirresistibleimpetuosityintotheemptyditches,andclimbingthetreesontheiredges,orgainingsomeotherstandpointwhencetheycouldsurveythesolemnitywhichwastotakeplaceonthebroadpromenadeoftheglacis。Onthelargerondeloftheglacishadbeenerectedatribunewhosegolden—broideredvelvetcanopywassurmountedbyaverylargeimperialcrown;fourgoldendouble—headedeaglesadornedthefourcornersofthecanopy,andheldintheirbeaksthecolorsofAustriaandHungary。Underthecanopystoodgiltarm—chairs,withcushionsofpurplevelvet。Thiswasthetribunedestinedfortheemperorandhisfamily;alleyeswereriveteduponit,andallheartslongedtogreetthesovereign,andthankhimfortheproudhappinessofthishour。
Furtheronroseotherandnolesssplendidlydecoratedtribunes,theseatsofwhichhadbeensoldatenormousratestothearistocracyandwealthycitizensofViennaforthebenefitofthemilitia;andthousandshadfoundseatsonthetreessurroundingthebroadpromenadeandtherondel,andpaidfortheirairyperchesonlywithsomepainsandbruises。
Sinceearlydawnthispilgrimagetotheglacishadbeengoingon;byteno'clockallseats,roads,tribunes,trees,ditches,andbridges,wereoccupiedbyadensecrowd;and,inordertopreventaccidents,theauthoritieshadalreadyorderedallapproachestotheglacistobeclosed。
Onthebroadpromenade,too,mattersassumedaverylivelyaspect。
Themilitiamarchedupwithbannersunfurledanddrumsbeating。Theydrewupinlineonbothsidesoftheroad,andtheirofficersandstandard—bearersrepairedtothelargerondelwhereanotherhadbeenconstructedinfaceoftheimperialtribune。Theyrangedthemselvesaroundthealtar,onwhosestepspriestsinfullvestmentswerekneeling,andwhichwassurmountedbyagiganticcrucifix,visibletoallspectatorsfarandnear,andwavingtoallitsblessingsandlove—greetings。
Andnowallthechurch—steeplescommencedringingtheirpeals;theirontonguesoftheirbellsproclaimedtotheinhabitantsofVienna,andtothemanythousandsofstrangerswhohadcometowitnessthesolemnity,thattheemperorwithhiscon—artandhischildrenhadlefttheHofburg,andwasapproachingtheglacis,followedbyhissuite。Themilitiaassumedastiffmilitaryattitude,thedrumsrolled,thecannonboomed,thebuglessoundedmerrynotes,andtheemperor,leadinghisconsortbythehand,enteredthetribune。Helookedpale;hisformwasbent,andtremblingasifshakenbyaninwardfever;andevenmoresingularappearedhisdown—hangingunder—lipandthegloomy,moroseexpressionofhislustrelessblueeyes。Butthepeopledidnotseethis;theysawonlythattheiremperorhadarrived——theiremperor,whohadresolvedtodeliverAustriafromtheignominiousforeignyoke;whowoulddiewithhissubjectsratherthanlongerbearthearroganceofFrance;andwhoboldlyandcourageouslystakedallinordertowinall,torestoreatlengthalastingpeacetoAustriaandGermany,andvindicatetheirhonorandindependence。ForthisreasonallheartsgreetedtheEmperorFranciswithloveandexultation,andhewasreceivedwithdeafeningandconstantly—renewedcheers。
第6章