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andreas hofer-第25部分

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what I am going to do is dangerous; and may easily cost my life。 I
do not blind my eyes to it; I may lose my life in either of two
ways。 A bullet may strike me in battle; or; if my life should be
spared in the struggle; and if we should be defeated; the Bavarians
would treat me as a traitor; and then a bullet would strike me also;
for they would shoot me。〃

〃Oh; Jesus Maria! my Andy;〃 cried Gertrude; taking Hofer's head in
her hands; as if to protect it from the murderous bullets。

〃I do not say that this will occur; I say only that it may occur;〃
said Andreas; with a gentle smile。 〃I wish to tell you only that I
am fully alive to the dangers threatening me when I step to…morrow
morning out of my street…door; and enter upon the duties of the
position which they have conferred on me; for I am to command the
peasants of the Passeyr valley and direct the insurrection in all
this part of the country。 Therefore; I asked God and my conscience
whether or not I did right in taking upon myself so responsible a
task; and plunging my family; perhaps; into grief and distress。 But
do you know what both of them replied to me? They said: 'It is your
duty to love your wife and your children; but you must also love
your emperor and your country; and when the latter call you and say;
〃Come; we need your arm and assistance;〃 you must; as an honest man;
obey the call; go to them; and leave your family; for to love the
fatherland is every man's highest honor; and to be loyal and devoted
to the emperor is the first duty of every Tyrolese。' God and my
conscience spoke to me thus in my breast; and now I ask you too;
dear wifeI ask you before God and your consciencewould you like
your husband not to obey the emperor's call; but stay at home; while
his brave brethren and friends are taking the field to defend the
country and expel the Bavarians?〃

〃No; indeed; Andy; I would not;〃 cried Gertrude; in dismay; 〃I
should never dare again to lift my eyes before anybody; I should not
even venture to pray to the Holy Virgin and to God; for; as both
gave up their divine Son; so an honest woman must give up her
husband for the sake of the fatherland。〃

Andreas laid his hand on his wife's head as if to bless her。 〃It is
as you say; Gertrude;〃 he said; solemnly。 〃For the sake of the
fatherland and the emperor you must give up your husband and your
children their father; and we are not allowed to shut our ears in
order not to hear that the dear Tyrol and the good Emperor Francis
have called me。 I have heard the call; and must obey it。 I shall do
so joyously and readily; and yet my heart grieves; and there is in
my breast here something telling me that our happiness is at an end;
that our sun has set; andGertrude; I am not ashamed of itI
weep!〃

He leaned his head against his wife's shoulder; and; folding her to
his heart; sobbed aloud。 But this lasted only a short time; then be
raised himself again; and drew his hand quickly across his eyes。

〃There;〃 he said; 〃it is all over now。 I wept as a good Christian is
surely allowed to do when he takes leave of his wife and his
children; and gives them up for the sake of his country。 Did not
Abraham weep too; and beg God for mercy; when he was to sacrifice
his son to the Almighty? But he nevertheless was ready to make the
sacrifice。 And; like Abraham; I have wept and lamented now; but I
shall make the sacrifice。 Here I am; my God;〃 he added; lifting his
eyes and hands to Heaven; 〃here I am; for Thou hast called me。 Do
with me as thou deemest best。 I am nothing but Thy faithful servant;
but if Thou wishest to use me for Thy great purposes; do so! I offer
Thee my arms; my body; and my life! Take them!〃

〃But thou; Holy Virgin;〃 murmured Gertrude; 〃and thou Saint George;
our patron saint; stretch out your arms over him graciously and
protect my Andy。 Bear in mind that he is my most precious treasure
on earth! Preserve my dear husband to me; and to my children the
father whom they love so ardently!〃

〃Amen!〃 exclaimed Andreas。 〃And now; dearest wife; come and give me
a kiss; a parting kiss!〃

〃You do not intend to set out this very night?〃 asked Gertrude;
anxiously。

〃No; Gertrude; but still it is a parting kiss。 For henceforth I must
become another mana hard man; who will no longer think of his
family; but only of the fatherland and the emperor。 I wept a few
minutes ago as a good father and husband; but now I must become as
hard as a good soldier ought to be。 Until the Bavarians have been
expelled from the country; I shall no longer think of you and the
children; but shall be only a brave and intrepid soldier of my lord
and emperor; and the commander of the Passeyr militia。 Kiss me;
therefore; a last time; Anna Gertrude! There! Give me another kiss!
Who knows but it may be the last time you will ever kiss me; dear
Gertrude? And here is still another kiss for our girls。 Now it is
enough。 Go to bed now; Gertrude; and pray for me。〃

〃You will not go to bed; Andy?〃 asked Gertrude; anxiously。

〃No; I will not; Anna Gertrude。 I have business to attend to in the
yard with Joe; our laborer。 We will kill the brindled cow。〃

〃What? This very night?〃

〃This very night。 We need the blood and meat。 We shall pour the
blood into the Passeyr; and you will see tomorrow that we need the
meat; for I believe we shall have a great many guests in the
morning。〃

Andreas Hofer's prophecy was fulfilled。 Already early in the morning
a great many men assembled in front of the inn Zum Sand。 They were
the sharpshooters of the Passeyr valley; who were flocking from all
parts of the district to Hofer's house to report to the beloved
commander of Passeyr。 They came down from the mountains and up from
the valleys。 They wore their holiday dresses; and their yellow
Sunday hats were decorated with bouquets of rosemary and handsome
ribbons。 They were merry and in the best of spirits; as if they were
going to the dance; only instead of their rosy…cheeked girls; they
held their trusty rifles in their arms。 Nevertheless; they smacked
their lips; uttered loud exclamations of joy; and shouted as merrily
as larks〃'Tis time! The Bavarians must leave the country! Long
live the emperor! Long live the Archduke John!〃

And echo seemed to answer; 〃The Bavarians must leave the country!〃
But it was not echo that had repeated these words。 They proceeded
from the throats of merry men; and a gay procession descended now
from the mountain…path。 It consisted of the sharpshooters and
peasants of Meran and Algund; who were marching up in the beautiful
costumes of the Adige valley。 Oh; how their eyes flashed; and the
rifles in their arms also。 And with what jubilant Jodlers the men of
Passeyr received their dear friends from Algund and Meran。

All at once every sound was hushed; for in the door of the inn
appeared Andreas Hofer; looking like a king in his handsome holiday
attire; his good…natured; honest face gleamed with joy; and his
glance was mild and clear; and yet so firm and commanding。 His whole
bearing breathed calm dignity; and it seemed to the men of Passeyr
as though the morning sun which illuminated his face surrounded his
head with a golden halo。 They stood aside with timid reverence and
awe。 Hofer advanced into the middle of the circle which the men of
Passeyr; Meran; and Algund formed around him。 He then looked around
and greeted the men on all sides with a smile; a pleasant nod; and a
wave of his hand。

〃My friends;〃 he exclaimed in a loud voice; 〃the day has come when
we must expel the Bavarians from the country and restore the Tyrol
to the Austrians。 'Tis time! The Bavarians have amply deserved such
treatment at our hands; for they have sorely oppressed us。 When you
had finished a wooden image; could you carry it to Vienna and sell
it? No; you could not! Is that freedom? You are Tyrolese; at least
your fathers called themselves so; now you are to call yourselves
Bavarians。 And; moreover; our ancient castle of Tyrol in the Passeyr
valley was not spared! Are you satisfied with this? If you harvest
three blades of corn; the government claims two of them; is that
happiness and prosperity? But there is a Providence and there are
angels; and it was revealed to me that if we resolved to avenge our
wrongs; God and St。 George; our patron saint; would help us。 Up;
then; against the Bavarians! Tear the villains with your teeth while
they stand; but when they kneel down and pray; give them quarter。 Up
against the Bavarians! 'Tis time!〃

〃Up against the Bavarians! 'tis time!〃 shouted all the brave men;
enthusiastically; and the mountain echoes answered: 〃Up against the
Bavarians! 'tis time!〃

And the blood…red waters of the Passeyr carried down into the valley
the message: 〃Up against the Bavarians! 'tis time!〃




CHAPTER X。

ANTHONY WALLNER OF WINDISCH…MATREY。


An unusual commotion reigned in the market…place of Windisch…Matrey
on the afternoon of the 9th of April。 The men and youths of
Windisch…Matrey and its environs were assembled there in dense
groups; and thronged in constantly…increasing masses round the house
of the innkeeper Anthony Aichberger; called Wallner。 The women; too;
had left their houses and huts; a
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