andreas hofer-第50节

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！


their　own　valor　and　patriotism；　aided　by　the　natural　strength　of　the
country；　had　entirely　delivered　the　province　from　the　enemy。　The
capitulation　of　Wiltau　crowned　the　work　of　deliverance；　to　the
everlasting　glory　of　the　brave　Martin　Teimer；　and　to　the　disgrace　of
General　Bisson　and　the　French　and　Bavarians。　＇Footnote：　Major　Teimer
was　rewarded　for　this　capitulation　of　Wiltau　with　the　title　of　Baron
von　Wiltau；　and　with　the　order　of　Maria　Theresa。　The　Emperor　of
Austria；　besides；　presented　him　with　valuable　estates　in　Styria。＇

　There　were　great　rejoicings　in　Innspruck　all　the　day　long；　glad
faces　were　to　be　met　with　everywhere；　and　all　shouted
enthusiastically：　〃We　have　become　Austrians　again！　We　are　subjects
of　the　Emperor　of　Austria　again！　Long　live　the　free　Tyrol！　Long　live
the　Emperor　Francis！〃

The　streets　presented　a　very　lively　appearance；　all　the　painters　of
the　city　were　occupied　in　removing　the　hateful　Bavarian　colors；　blue
and　white；　from　the　signs　and　houses；　and　putting　on　them　the
Austrian；　black　and　gold；　and　the　Tyrolese　marksmen　held　a　regular
target…shooting　at　the　Bavarian　lion；　which；　to　the　great　disgust　of
the　Tyrolese；　had　been　raised　four　years　ago　over　the　entrance　of
the　imperial　palace。　Prizes　were　awarded　for　every　piece　which　was
shot　from　it；　and　the　principal　reward　was　granted　to　him　who
pierced　the　crown　of　the　lion。

Yes；　the　northern　Tyrol　was　free；　but　the　South；　the　Italian　Tyrol；
was　groaning　yet　under　the　yoke　of　French　oppression；　and　Andreas
Hofer　intended　to　march　thither　with　his　forces；　as　he　had　concerted
at　Vienna　with　the　Archduke　John　and　Hormayr；　in　order　to　bring　to
the　Italian　Tyrolese　the　liberty　which　the　German　Tyrolese　had
already　conquered。

Hence　Andreas　Hofer；　though　his　heart　yearned　for　it；　had　refrained
from　making　his　solemn　entrance　into　Innspruck；　and　had　gone　on　the
17th　of　April　to　Meran；　where　he　was　to　review　the　Landsturm　of　that
town　and　its　environs；　the　brave　men　who　were　to　accompany　him　on
his　expedition　to　the　Italian　Tyrol。

The　Tyrolese　were　drawn　up　in　four　lines；　at　their　head　was　to　be
seen　Hormayr；　surrounded　by　the　priests　and　civil　officers　who　had
been　exiled　by　the　Bavarians；　and　who　were　returning　now　with　him
and　the　Austrian　army。

A　cloud　of　dust　arose　from　the　neighboring　gorges　of　the　Passeyr
valley；　and　a　joyous　murmur　ran　through　the　ranks　of　the　Tyrolese。
Deafening　cheers　rent　the　air　then；　for　Andreas　Hofer　galloped　up　on
a　fine　charger；　followed　by　the　men　of　the　Passeyr　valley。　His　face
glowed；　his　eyes　beamed　with　delight；　and　his　whole　bearing　breathed
unbounded　satisfaction　and　happiness。

He　shook　hands　with　Hormayr；　laughing　merrily。　〃We　have　kept；〃　he
exclaimed；　〃the　promises　we　made　at　Vienna；　have　we　not？　And　our
dear　Archduke　John；　I　suppose；　will　be　content　with　us？〃

〃He　sends　the　best　greetings　of　his　love　to　his　dear　Andreas　Hofer；〃
said　Hormayr；　〃and　thanks　him　for　all　he　has　done　here。〃

〃He　thanks　me？〃　asked　Hofer；　in　surprise。　〃We　have　done　only　what
our　hearts　longed　for；　and　fulfilled　our　own　wishes。　We　wished　to
become　Austrians　again；　for　Austrians　means　Germans；　we　wanted　no
longer　to　be　Bavarians；　for　Bavarians　meant　French；　hence；　we　were
anxious　to　rid　our　mountains　of　the　disgrace　and　make　our　country
again　free　and　a　province　of　Germany。　We　have　succeeded　in　doing　so；
for　the　good　God　blessed　our　efforts　and　helped　us　in　our　sore
distress。　Now　we　are　once　more　the　faithful　children　of　our　dear
emperor；　and　the　dear　Archduke　John　will　come　to　us　and　stay　with　us
as　governor　of　the　Tyrol。〃

〃He　certainly　will；　and　I　know　that　he　longs　to　live　again　in　the
midst　of　his　faithful　Tyrolese。　But　for　this　reason；　Andy；　we　must
help　him　that　he　may　soon　come　to　us；　and　aid　him　in　delivering　the
Southern　Tyrol。　I　have　great　news　for　you；　Andy；　from　the　Archduke
John。　I　wished　to　communicate　it　to　you　first　of　all。　No　one　was　to
hear　of　it　previous　to　you。〃

〃I　hope　it　is　good　news；　Baron　von　Hormayr；〃　said　Andreas　Hofer；
anxiously。　〃The　dear　archduke；　I　trust；　has　not　met　with　a　disaster？
Tell　me　quick；　for　my　heart　throbs　as　though　one　of　my　dear　children
were　in　imminent　peril。〃

〃You　yourself　are　a　child；　Andy。　Do　you　suppose　I　should　look　so
cheerful　if　our　dear　archduke　had　met　with　a　disaster？　And　even
though　such　were　the　case；　would　I　then　be　so　stupid　as　to　inform
you　of　it　now；　at　this　joyful　hour；　when　it　is　all…important　that　we
should　be　in　high　spirits？　No；　Andy；　I　bring　splendid　news。　The
Archduke　John　achieved　yesterday　glorious　victory　at　Sacile　over　the
Viceroy　of　Italy；　Eugene　Beauharnais；　it　was　a　great　triumph；　for　he
took　eight　thousand　prisoners；　and　captured　a　great　many　guns。　But
amidst　this　triumph　he　thought　of　his　dear　Tyrolese；　and　dispatched
from　the　battle…field　a　courier　who　was　to　bring　to　me　the　news　and
his　order　to　tell　his　dear　Tyrolese　that　he　defeated　the　French
yesterday。〃

Andreas　Hofer；　overjoyed　and　with　his　countenance　full　of　sunshine
and　happiness；　galloped　down　the　long　line　of　his　sharpshooters。

〃Hurrah！　my　dear　friends　and　brethren；〃　he　shouted；　〃the　Archduke
John　sends　his　greetings　to　you。　and　informs　you　that　he　defeated
the　French　yesterday　at　Sacile　and　took　eight　thousand　prisoners　and
a　great　many　guns。　Hurrah！　long　live　the　Archduke　John；　the　future
governor　of　the　Tyrol！〃

And　the　Tyrolese　repeated；　with　deafening　cheers：　〃Hurrah！　long　live
the　Archduke　John；　the　future　governor　of　the　Tyrol！〃

〃And　I　have　to　bring　you　still　another　greeting　from　the　Archduke
John；〃　shouted　Baron　von　Hormayr。　〃But　you　shall　not　hear　it　here　in
the　plain；　but　up　at　the　ancient　castle　of　Tyrol。　It　is　true；　the
Bavarians　and　the　miserable　French　have　destroyed　the　fine　castle；
but　the　ruins　of　the　ancient　seat　of　our　princes　remain　to　us。　We
will　now　ascend　to　those　ruins；　and　up　there　you　shall　hear　the
message　which　the　Archduke　John　sends　to　you。〃

The　whole　force　of　the　Tyrolese　thereupon　moved　up　the　mountain…path
leading　to　the　castle　of　Tyrol；　headed　by　Andreas　Hofer　and　Baron
von　Hormayr。

On　reaching　the　crest　of　the　hill；　Hofer　stopped　and　alighted　from
his　horse。　He　knelt　down　amidst　the　ruins　of　the　castle　with　a
solemn；　deeply…moved　face；　and　holding　the　crucifix　on　his　breast
between　his　hands；　and　lifting　his　eyes　to　heaven；　he　exclaimed　with
fervent　devotion：　〃Thanks；　Lord　God；　thanks　for　the　aid　that　thou
halt　hitherto　vouchsafed　to　us！　Thanks　for　delivering　the　country
and　permitting　us　to　be　Austrians　again！　O　God；　grant　now　stability
to　our　workand　preserve　it　from　falling　to　ruin！　If　Thou　art
content　with　me；　let　me　further　serve　and　be　useful　to　my　native
country！　I　am　but　a　weak　instrument　in　Thy　hand；　my　God；　but　Thou
hast　used　it；　and　I　pray　Thee　not　to　cast　it　aside　now；　but　impart
to　it　strength　and　durability；　that　it　may　last　until　the　enemy　has
been　driven　from　the　country；　and　the　whole　Tyrol　is　free　again　for
evermore！　I　kiss　the　dear　soil　where　our　princes　walked　in　former
times；　and　where　they　swore　to　their　Tyrolese　that　they　should　be
freemen；　and　that　their　free　constitution　should　be　sacred　for　all
time　to　come！〃

He　bent　down；　kissed　the　moss…grown　stones；　and　encircled　them
tenderly　with　his　arms　as　though　they　were　an　altar　before　which　he
was　uttering　devout　vows　and　prayers。　The　Tyrolese；　who　had
gradually　reached　the　summit；　had　silently　knelt　down　behind　Andreas
Hofer；　and　were　praying　like　him。

One　sentiment　animated　them　all　and　illuminated　their　faces　with　the
radiant　lustre　of　joy：　the　Tyrol　was　delivered　from　the　foreign
yoke；　and　they；　the　sons　of　the　country；　had　alone　liberated　their
beloved　fatherland。

〃Now；　men　of　the　Tyrol；〃　shouted　Hormayr；　〃listen　to　the　message
which　the　Archduke　John　sends　to　you。〃

And　amid　the　solemn　silence　of　the　Tyrolese；　and　the　peals　of　the
Meran　churchbells　penetrating　up　to　them；　Hormayr　read　to　them　a
document　drawn　up　by　the　Archduke　John；　by　virtue　of　which　he
resumed　possession　of　the　Tyrol　in　the　name　of　the　emperor；　declared
it　to　be　incorporated　with　the　imperial　states；　and　solemnly　vowed
that；　as　a　reward　of　its　loyalty；　it　should　remain　united　with
Austria　for　all　future　time。　At　the　same　time；　the　ancient
constitution　and　the　former　privileges　were　restored　to　the
Tyrolese；　and　Baron　von　Hormayr　was　appointed　governor　of　the　Tyrol。




CHAPTER　XX。

ELIZA　WALLNER'S　RETURN。


All　Windisch…Matrey　was　again　in　joyful　commotion　to…day；　for　a
twofold　festival　was　to　be　celebrated：　the　return　of　the　men　of
Windisch…Matrey；　who　had　so　bravely　fought　for　the　country　and　so
aided　in　delivering　it；　and　then；　as　had　been　resolved　previous　to
their　departure；　Eliza　Wallner's　wedding　was　to　come　off　to…day。

She　had　redeemed　her　pledge；　she　had　proved　that　she　was　a　true　and
brave　daughter　of　the　Tyrol；　and　Anthony　Wallner；　her　father；　was　no
longer　angry　with　her；　he　wished　to　reward　her　for　her　courage　and
intrepidity；　and　make　her　happy。　Therefore；　he　had　sent　a　messenger
secretly　and　without　her　knowledge　to　Windisch…Matrey；　and　had
ordered　his　wife　to　decorate　the　house　festively；　and　request　the
curate　to　repair　to　the　ch