登陆注册
5426900000138

第138章

'It is a misfortune,' said the men, 'that the Austrians are abandoning us at this critical juncture; but it would be a greater misfortune still for us to abandon ourselves and consent to surrender at discretion.'""And I say it is no misfortune at all that the Austrians have left us," cried the Capuchin, vehemently. "The cause of the fatherland has not suffered much by the retreat of the Austrians. Who assisted us at the battle of Mount Isel? Who helped us to drive the enemy twice from the country? Not an Austrian did! We accomplished all that was great and glorious in the short and decisive struggle. Let us not complain, then, that no one stands by us now, and that we know that no one will help us but God and we ourselves. But we must not plunge blindly and furiously into the struggle; on the contrary, we must consider whether we are able to defeat the enemy. The French and Bavarians are sending large forces on all sides to the poor Tyrol. I cannot conceal from you that the enterprise which we are going to undertake, and to which Andreas Hofer invites us, is a dangerous one. Let me tell you that that miserable assassin and ruffian Lefebre, whom they call the Duke of Dantsic, is approaching from the north with twenty-five thousand men, and is already close to Innspruck. General Deroi, too, is coming; he intends to march through the whole Vintschgau, and force his way over the Gerlos Mountains to the district of Innspruck. Rusca's wild legions are already near Lienz; General Pery is moving up from the south with his Italian troops; and the exasperated Bavarians, under Generals Wreden and Arco, are already at Salzburg. In short, more than fifty thousand men are coming up from all sides to trample the poor Tyrol under foot. They are veteran soldiers; they have got artillery and better arms than we, and are superior to us in numbers, equipments, and strength. Consider, therefore, whether you are willing to undertake the heavy task nevertheless; consider that you risk your property, your blood, and your lives, and that, if you should be so unfortunate as to fall into the enemy's hands, he would perhaps punish you as criminals and rebels. It is true, you are ready to risk your property, your blood, and your lives, for the fatherland and the liberty of the Tyrol; but then you have also duties to your families, your parents, your brides; you have a duty to yourselves--that of not endangering your lives recklessly. It is true, even though the enemy should punish you as rebels, you would die the beautiful death of martyrs for your fatherland, and the halo of your virtue and love of country will immortalize your names; but you must consider, also, whether your death will be useful to the country, and whether you will not shed your blood in vain. Ask your hearts, my friends, whether they will be courageous and strong enough to brave cheerfully whatever reverses and calamities may befall us, and whether they really will risk death, imprisonment, and the scaffold, without flinching and trembling? That is what I wished to say to you before concerting measures with you and sending an answer to Andreas Hofer. Consider it all, my friends, and then speak.""We are to ask our hearts if they will not flinch and tremble?" said Peter Mayer, almost contemptuously. "When the enemy returned to the Tyrol last May, he burned down eight houses which belonged to me, and for some time I did not know but that my wife and children had perished in the conflagration. Did you see me tremble--did you hear me complain at that time? Did I not stand up cheerfully in the battle on Mount Isel, without weeping or murmuring, and bearing in mind only that I was fighting for liberty, the fatherland, and the emperor? It was not until we had gained the victory, and obtained our freedom, that I went home to mourn and weep on the smoking ruins of my houses. But I found my wife and my children alive and well; a friend had concealed them and taken care of them; and after thanking God for our victory, I thanked Him for preserving my wife and children; and only now, when we were happy and free, did I shed tears. But since the enemy is re-entering the country, and fresh misfortunes are to befall us, my tears are dried again; my heart is full of courage and constancy; and I believe we must risk all, because otherwise every thing that we have done hitherto will be in vain. I love my wife dearly; but, if she came now to dissuade me from taking part in the struggle, and if I felt that my heart was giving way to her persuasion, I would strangle her with my own hands, lest she should prevent me from serving the great cause of the fatherland. It is true, our task is difficult, but it is not impossible; and that which is not impossible should be tried for the fatherland! I have given you my opinion; it is your turn now, my young friends. Peter Kemnater, speak! Tell Father Red-beard whether your heart is trembling and flinching, and whether you think we had better keep quiet, because the enemy is so powerful and superior to us.""I have an affianced bride of whom I am very fond," said Peter Kemnater, with flushed cheeks and flashing eyes; "a girl whom I love better than my parents, than anything in the world, and whom Iintended to marry a fortnight hence; but I swear to God and the Holy Virgin that my wedding shall not take place until the Tyrol is free again, and we have expelled the enemy once more from the country.

同类推荐
  • WASHINGTON SQUARE

    WASHINGTON SQUARE

    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。
  • 魂南记

    魂南记

    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。
  • 雷法议玄篇

    雷法议玄篇

    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。
  • 视刀环歌

    视刀环歌

    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。
  • 台湾资料清高宗实录选辑

    台湾资料清高宗实录选辑

    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
  • 沉迷

    沉迷

    三年前,她把他踹了,他们离婚。三年后,她死缠烂打要跟他复合。当他们历尽千辛万苦,他终于要和她重新开始的时候,她却突然冒出一个两岁的孩子。她到底有多少秘密他不知道?三年前的离婚也是。
  • 尼采哲理诗歌

    尼采哲理诗歌

    弗里德里希·威廉·尼采,德国著名哲学家。西方现代哲学的开创者,同时也是卓越的诗人和散文家。“谁从根本上是教师,谁就只在与他的学生的关系中严肃对待一切事物——甚至他本身。”这句富有哲理性的格言出自《尼采哲理诗歌》。《尼采哲理诗歌》收录了大量的格言与诗歌。读读这些,必定让你深受启发。
  • 送你一束洋桔梗

    送你一束洋桔梗

    纯纯获得了一种超能力,能够穿越书本,变成向往的角色。这次,她选择做女主
  • 曹大牙的杰作

    曹大牙的杰作

    尹守国,2006年开始小说创作,发表中短篇小说70多万字,作品多次被《新华文摘》、《小说选刊》、《北京文学中篇小说月报》等选载,中国作家协会会员,辽宁省作协签约作家。
  • 阮义忠的微博生活:一日一世界

    阮义忠的微博生活:一日一世界

    以介绍作者的家居生活方式为主,散步、室内设计及别墅改造等看似生活琐事,皆有作者的乐趣及巧思在内,我们也可从中获取些家居生活的经验,使生活更美好。
  • 我能看见战斗力

    我能看见战斗力

    “如果总有人要成为最强,那为什么不能是我。”一个被流星带到异界的倒霉青年,发出不甘地怒吼。我只是想写一个,看起来不那么假的玄幻世界。阅前提醒1:觉得人性能用简单好坏区分的,慎点。阅前提醒2:觉得家族只是一群乌合之众吹捧主角的地方,慎点。阅前提醒3:觉得全世界都是主角装逼的舞台,所有人都是主角装逼的垫脚石,慎点。书友QQ群:256133197欢迎加群讨论
  • 周审

    周审

    商场精英,一着不慎,穿越千年,开始了穿越千年的审计之旅,同时也成就了自己,收获了爱情。
  • 你过来我怀里

    你过来我怀里

    靳晟言不是第一次遇见沈初一,那时的她美好快乐,眼里全是星光,后来再次遇见沈初一,她沉静如水眼中更多的是淡漠。当时,沈初一的心分两半,一半是家人,一半是尧辞。在靳晟言的长远谋划中,就是挤掉尧辞,拐走沈初一。在追妻的道路上,帝都那个薄情寡欲,不近女色的靳家二爷的人设一去不复返。前者步步紧逼,后者惊慌失措,逃到了国外,本以为坚定的内心可以抵挡住循循善诱,却抵不过二爷柔情一句:“你过来,我怀里。”花开致此复相见,不负君来不负妻【深情腹黑铁汉×温婉清冷美人】慢热文,本文不定时更新!!!
  • 世界名牌大全(英汉双语版)

    世界名牌大全(英汉双语版)

    本书《世界名牌圣经》是中英文的对照白金版本,不仅给读者展现原汁原味的世界名牌,而且领略名牌风采的同时大幅度提高了英语水平和人生品质。本书根据中国人的喜好精心挑选了8大品类:尖端品牌、世界名表、品牌服装、化妆品、珠宝首饰、皮具、名酒、豪车系列。这8部分全是作者精挑细选出的世界名牌,每一个部分分为“品牌名片”、“品牌标志”、“品牌阅读”并附核心词汇。“品牌名片”一目了然列明名牌的品类、标志风格、创始人、诞生地、诞生时间;“品牌标志”展示名牌的商标;“品牌阅读”详细叙述名牌传奇、名牌经典之作等等。
  • 明月照君来

    明月照君来

    她以为她是他最爱的皇后,直到被剖腹取子,眼睁睁的看着自己的孩子被烧死,她才知道,那不过是她自以为是的一场梦……