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andreas hofer-第46部分
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than the splendid tunes which the bands of the Bavarian regiments
had played to them up to this time。
New cheers rent the air at this moment。 A squad of peasants brought
the great imperial eagle; which they had taken down from the tomb of
Maximilian in the High Church of Innspruck。 They had decorated it
with red ribbons; and carried it amid deafening acclamations through
the streets。 On beholding the eagle of Austria; the excited masses
set no bounds to their rejoicings; they flocked in crowds to gaze at
it; citizens and peasants vied in manifesting their devotion to the
precious emblem; they blessed it and kissed it。 No one was permitted
to stay a long while near it; for the impatience of his successor
compelled him to pass on。 But an aged man; with silvery hair; but
with a form still vigorous and unbent; would not allow himself to be
pushed on in this manner。 An hour ago he had fought like a lion in
the ranks of the Tyrolese; and anger and rage had flashed from his
face; but now; at the sight of the Austrian eagle; he was as mild
and gentle as a lamb; and only love and blissful emotion beamed from
his face。 He encircled the eagle with both his arms; kissed the two
heads and gilded crowns; and; stroking the carved plumes tenderly;
exclaimed: 〃Well; old eagle; have your plumes really grown again?
Have you returned to the loyal Tyrol to stay here for all time to
come? Will〃
Loud cheers interrupted him at this moment。 Another crowd of
Tyrolese came up the street; preceded by four peasants; who were
carrying two portraits in fine golden frames。
Deafening acclamations rent the air as soon as the people beheld
these two portraits。 Everybody recognized them as those of the
Emperor Francis and the Archduke John。 The peasants had found them
in the old imperial palace。
〃John!〃 shouted the people in the streets; and in the houses which
the procession passed on its march through the city。 Even the
Austrian eagle; which had been greeted so tenderly; was forgotten at
the sight of the two portraits; and all accompanied this solemn
procession of love and loyalty。
This procession moved through the whole city until it finally
reached the triumphal arch which Maria Theresa had ordered to be
erected in honor of the wedding of her son Leopold。 The Tyrolese
placed the portraits of Leopold's two sons on this triumphal arch;
and surrounded them by candles kept constantly burning; every one
then bent his knee; and exclaimed: 〃Long live the Emperor Francis!
Long live our dear Archduke John!〃 Woe unto him who should have
dared to pass these portraits without taking off his hat! the
Tyrolese would have compelled him to do it; and to bend his knee。
〃Well;〃 they exclaimed; 〃there is our Francis; and there is our
John。 Look; does it not seem as though he were smiling at us; and
were glad of being here again and able to gaze at us? Long live our
dear Archduke John!〃
And they again burst into cheers which; if the Archduke John had
been able to hear them; would have filled his heart with delight and
his eyes with tears。
These rejoicings around the eagle and the portraits lasted all day。
The whole city presented a festive spectacle; and the overjoyed
Tyrolese scarcely thought to…day of eating and drinking; much less
of the dangers which might menace them。 They sang; and shouted; and
laughed; and when night came they sank down exhausted by the efforts
of the fight; and still more by their boundless rejoicings; to the
ground where they were standing; in the streets; in the gardens; in
the fields; and fell asleep。
Profound silence reigned now in the streets of Innspruck。 It was
dark everywhere; bright lights beamed only from the portraits of the
emperor and the Archduke John; and the stars of heaven looked down
upon the careless and happy sleepers; the victors of Innspruck。
They slept; dreaming of victory and happiness。 Woe to them if they
sleep too long and awake too late; for the enemy does not sleep! He
is awake and approaching; while the victors are sleeping。
CHAPTER XIX。
THE CAPITULATION OF WILTAU。
The Tyrolese were still asleep; and profound stillness reigned yet
in the streets of Innspruck; although it was already after daybreak;
and the first rays of the rising sun shed a crimson lustre on the
summits of the mountains。 All at once this silence was broken by a
strange; loud; and plaintive note which seemed to resound in the
air; it was followed by a second and third note; and; as if
responding to these distant calls; the large bell of the High Church
of Innspruck aroused with its ringing voice the weary sleepers to
renewed efforts。
They raised themselves from the ground; they listened; still drowsy;
to these strange notes in the air。 Suddenly two horsemen galloped
through the streets; and their clarion voices struck the ears of the
Tyrolese。
〃Up; sleepers!〃 cried Joseph Speckbacher; 〃do you not hear the
tossing? Rise; rise; take your rifles! the French and Bavarians are
at the gates of the city; and we must meet them again。〃
〃Rise; Tyrolese!〃 shouted Major Teimer; 〃the French and Bavarians
are coming。 We must prevent them from penetrating into Innspruck。 We
must barricade the gates; and erect barricades in the streets。〃
The Tyrolese jumped up; fresh; lively; and ready for the fray。 Their
sleep had strengthened them; and yesterday's victory had steeled
their courage。 The enemy was there; and they were ready to defeat
him the second time。
The bells of all the churches of Innspruck were now rung; and those
of the neighboring village steeples responded to them。 They called
upon the able…bodied men to take up arms against the enemy; whose
advanced guard could be seen already on the crests yonder。 Yes;
there was no mistake about it: those men were the French and
Bavarians; who were descending the slope and approaching in strong
columns。
A Tyrolese rushed into the city。 〃The French are coming!〃 he
exclaimed; panting and breathless。 〃I have hurried across the
mountains to bring you the news。 It is General Bisson with several
thousand French troops; and Lieutenant…Colonel Wreden with a few
hundred Bavarians。 We had a hard fight with them yesterday at the
bridge of Laditch and in the Muhlbacher Klause; but they were too
strong; and were joined yesterday by another French column;
therefore; we were unable to capture them; and had to let them march
on。 We killed hundreds of their soldiers; but several thousands of
them escaped; and are coming now to Innspruck。〃
〃They will not come to Innspruck; for we are much stronger than they
are; and we will not let them enter the city;〃 exclaimed
Speckbacher; courageously。
〃No; we will not; except in the same manner in which you brought the
cavalry into the city yesterday; that is; to imprison them in the
barracks;〃 said Major Teimer。
〃Yes; yes; we will do so;〃 shouted the Tyrolese; 〃we will let the
French come to Innspruck; but only as our prisoners。〃
〃Well; let us be up and doing now; my friends;〃 exclaimed
Speckbacher。 〃We must fortify the city against the enemy。 Having
gone thus far yesterday; we cannot retrace our steps to…day。 But we
do not want to retrace them; do we〃
〃No; we do not!〃 cried the Tyrolese。
〃We have raised the Austrian eagle again;〃 said Major Teimer; 〃and
the portraits of the emperor and our dear Archduke John are looking
down upon us from the triumphal arch。 They shall see that we are
good soldiers and loyal sons of our country。 Forward; men; let us be
up and doing! Barricade the city; the streets; and the houses; make
bullets; and put your arms ready。 The French are coming Hurrah! Long
live the emperor Francis and the Archduke John!〃
Deafening cheers responded to him; and then the Tyrolese rushed
through the streets to barricade the city in accordance with
Teimer's orders。
The gates were immediately barricaded with casks; wagons; carts; and
every thing that could be found for that purpose; and the approaches
to the city were filled with armed men; ready to give the enemy a
warm reception。 The doors of the houses were locked and bolted; and
frantic women within them boiled oil and water which they intended
to pour on the heads of the soldiers in case they should succeed in
forcing their way into the city; bullets were made and stones were
carried to the roofs; whence they were to be hurled on the enemy。
Meanwhile the tocsin resounded incessantly; as if to invite the
Tyrolese to redoubled efforts and increased vigilance。
The tocsin; however; had aroused not only the Tyrolese; but also the
Bavarians who were locked up in the barracks; the prisoners
understood full well what the bells were proclaiming。 To the
Tyrolese they said: 〃The enemy; your enemy; is approaching。 He will
attack you。 Be on your guard!〃 To the prisoners they proclaimed:
〃Your friends are approaching。 They will deliver you。 Be ready for
them!〃 And now the Bavarians began to become excited; their eyes
flashed again; the clouds disappeared from their humiliated brows;
and with loud; scornful cheers and fists clinched menacingly; they
stepped before their Tyrolese guards and cried: 〃Our friends are
coming。 They will deliver us and punish you; and
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