登陆注册
5426900000130

第130章

Become Duke of Tyrol, take charge of the government and defence of the country. As provisional duke, call upon the faithful people to take up arms, and they will rise as one man and defend its frontiers against every enemy. Rule over the Tyrol in the emperor's place, until he himself is able again to do so and fold us again to his heart.""What you say is nonsense, Andy," exclaimed Hormayr, shrugging his shoulders. "You want me to become provisional Duke of Tyrol? Why, the whole world would laugh at me, and the emperor would punish me as a rebel!""Well, then," cried Andreas Hofer, in a powerful voice, "if you will not do it, I will! I shall take charge of the government and call myself 'Andreas Hofer, Sandwirth of Passeyr and Duke of Tyrol,' as long as it pleases God!" [Footnote: Andreas Hofer's own words.--See Hormayr's "Andreas Hofer," vol. ii., p. 361.]

"No, you will not, Andy," said Hormayr, gravely; "you will be sensible, on the contrary, and not, from worldly pride, endanger your country, your friends, and yourself. Bear in mind, Andy, that you would be responsible for the blood that would be shed, if you should incite the people to rebellion, and that you would be the murderer of all those who should fall in the struggle provoked by you so recklessly and in open opposition to the orders of your emperor. Bow your head, Andy, and submit as we all do. Intrust your and our cause to God; as it is good and just, He will not forsake it, but render it victorious when it is time.""I believe you," sighed Andreas; "but how can I keep quiet when, as you have often told me, I am God's instrument and destined by Him to deliver the dear Tyrol from the enemy? And what would my brave lieutenants say if their commander-in-chief, Andreas Hofer, were to leave the country in its sore distress, after he had taken an oath to defend it while he lived? Would they not point their fingers at me, and call me a traitor, a Judas Iscariot who sold his country for the sake of his own safety?""You are mistaken, Andy. You think your friends, the captains and other commanders, with whom you fought for the deliverance of the Tyrol, would despise you if you followed the Austrians now and saved your life? Now listen to me, my friend. Your best friends, the brave Tyrolese captains, in whom you repose the greatest confidence, will leave the Tyrol this very day of their own accord and accompany our Austrian troops to Carinthia.""That is false, that is impossible!" cried Andreas, vehemently.

"Speckbacher will never do so."

"Yes, he will, Andy. I saw him this morning. Here resisted and fought as long as he could; but since the armistice compels him to lay down the sword, and since, moreover, the French and Bavarians are entering the country once more, he feels that it is better for him to save his life than be caught and hung here by the vindictive enemy. Hence, Speckbacher accepted the offer of the Austrian officers, and will accompany them.""Joseph Speckbacher will leave the Tyrol?" murmured Andreas Hofer, mournfully.

"And he is not the only one, Andreas: Aschbacher, Puechler, Sieberer, and many other brave captains of the Tyrolese, will likewise leave with the Austrians. All have asked me to implore you to follow their example, and flee from the perils menacing you all.

Oh, believe them, believe me, Andreas! If you stay here, the Bavarians will not rest until they have taken you prisoner--until their hated enemy, the formidable Barbone, has fallen into their hands. Dear Andy, think of your wife at home, the faithful Anna Gertrude, who prays for you morning and evening, and beseeches the Almighty to spare the life of her dear husband; think of your dear children, whose only protector and supporter you are; do not make your dear wife a widow, nor your sweet children orphans! Andreas Hofer, you cannot now be useful to the fatherland; save yourself, then, for your wife and children!""My good wife, my dear children!" sighed Andreas, profoundly moved;"it is true, they love me dearly, and would be very lonely on earth if their father should be taken from them!""Preserve their father to them, then, and preserve yourself also to the fatherland! Follow the example of your brave friends Speckbacher, Aschbacher, Sieberer, and all the others; accompany us, leave the Tyrol for a while, and when the time has come, return with them and fight once more for the deliverance of the country.""Speckbacher will leave, and so will all the others," murmured Andreas to himself. "The Tyrol will fall again into the enemy's hands, and all has been in vain!"He hung his head and heaved a deep sigh.

"Come, Andreas, be sensible; think of yourself and your family,"said Hormayr, beseechingly. "I have come hither for the sole purpose of taking you with me; let me not have travelled in vain from Brixen to Lienz. Come, Andreas, come! My carriage is in readiness at the door; let us ride together to Matrey. Speckbacher, the other friends, and the Austrians are waiting for us there; we shall cross the Tyrolese frontier with them this very day, and you and all your friends will be safe. Therefore, do not hesitate any longer, but come!""I cannot make up my mind so suddenly," said Hofer, disengaging himself gently from the hand of Hormayr, who was trying to draw him up from his chair. "It is a grave, momentous step which you ask me to take, and before I can do so I must consult God and pray to him fervently. Therefore, pray leave me alone a little while, that I may speak to the good God and consult him and my conscience.""Very well, Andy, I give you a quarter of an hour to make up your mind," exclaimed Hormayr, approaching the door.

"A quarter of an hour is not enough," said Andreas, shaking his head. "It is late at night, and night is the time for repose and prayer. Therefore, stay here, Mr. Intendant; sleep a few hours, and to-morrow morning, at sunrise, come to my chamber and awaken me. Iwill tell you then what God in heaven has told me to do.""You pledge me your word, Andreas, that you will not leave during the present night?""I do. I shall stay here. And now good-night. My heart is profoundly moved, and I long for repose. This is my chamber; I begged Anthony Steeger to let me have it; he has fine rooms for aristocratic guests up-stairs, and he will give you one of them. Now good-night, sir!"He bowed kindly to the baron, shook hands with him, and conducted him to the door.

同类推荐
  • 砚谱

    砚谱

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宋稗类钞

    宋稗类钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说毗沙门天王经

    佛说毗沙门天王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 脉象口诀歌

    脉象口诀歌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 北平录

    北平录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 十年懵懂百年心(上)

    十年懵懂百年心(上)

    网络纯恋小说领军人物李李翔宫心催泪大作!十年懵懂百年龄,纠怨心中似梦。侠剑江湖儿女,阴谋帝后廷宫。相思相恨又相争,何奈相思更盛。建武十三年,宫廷斗争使得云罗一夜间家破人亡。云罗也因此身受重伤,昏睡了整整八年。当云罗终于醒过来,却因为寒毒深入骨髓,丧失了记忆。重生后的云罗和自小被人遗弃的东方弃相依为命;临安城行事狠辣的太子燕苏和云儿不打不相识,情愫渐生时却猛然被少时的那场惊天血案惊醒,爱恨纠缠,心碎成灰。爱而不得的感情纠葛,谜一样的事实真相,峰回路转的情节铺展——原本以为这是故事的全部,没想到仅仅只是冰山下显露的一角而已!
  • 幻昼琉璃夜

    幻昼琉璃夜

    “悄悄的我走了,正如我悄悄的来,我挥一挥衣袖,不带走一片云彩。”----徐志摩《再别康桥》
  • 囚爱之甜蜜的背叛

    囚爱之甜蜜的背叛

    她在最美好的年纪遇到了他,她视他为依靠,而他却为了权力将她抛弃。父亲的背叛,继母的陷害,使她崩溃。而他却在她最无助的时候再次出现……
  • 异闻记

    异闻记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 不蔓不枝

    不蔓不枝

    一个是傲气的相府千金,一个是腹黑的皇家太子。一朝被封郡主与他国联姻,眼看着幸福就在眼前,却突然发现原来自己只是幕后操重者的一枚棋子。原来,真情这种东西,真的只是世人的奢望。
  • 经济学的思维方式全集

    经济学的思维方式全集

    一部通俗易懂的老百姓经济学手边书。以讲事实、过日子的方式说事儿,在嬉笑怒骂中让艰涩难懂的经济知识变得通俗易懂,妙趣横生。为大家开启一扇个人理财、经济形势分析、经济政策解读的窗口,帮助那些也许对经济学知识不那么了解的P民“活明白”,不再给资本家、投机客、“砖家”当炮灰。
  • 顾松园医镜

    顾松园医镜

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 血色舞台

    血色舞台

    下午两点整。有人打开了走廊尽头的那扇小门,看了看里面在七八个獐头鼠目中显得异常的男子,随便招招手,告诉他可以出去了。男子似乎并不高兴,怏怏地跟着走出去。办公区内,签了字印下指纹,身边负责的警察打量他一眼,好像打从内心觉得这么人五人六的爷们实在很可惜,语重心长地说:“以后可别再犯事了,挺好个小伙子,干点啥不好。”时骏狠狠地剜了眼对方,把笔一扔转头便走。来赎人的霍刚跟朋友说上几句客套话,不紧不慢地跟了出去。
  • 明月入君怀

    明月入君怀

    天下五分,战乱不断,群雄并起,谁主沉浮?那一年,兵荒马乱,元熙国丞相夫人于逃难时诞下一女,天象大变,人心惶惶。揽月峰掌门力排众议将此女抱入临昀宫抚养。一晃数十载少女已长成,却在回府前夜遭人刺杀,坠入山崖,幸得人相救,养伤二载。再回府时,一切早已天翻地覆......
  • 给小学生讲艺术常识

    给小学生讲艺术常识

    本书讲述的是世界艺术史,其中中国艺术史占一半的比重,主要包括音乐、绘画、雕塑和建筑这四个大的方面,除了介绍最有名的艺术家、最具代表性的艺术作品和艺术发展的历史之外,还通注意讲中西方做对比,让孩子能够领略到艺术的不同表现形式。