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！
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 trembledid 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 I
intended 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。
And if my bride should be angry at this； and demand that I should
think more of her than of the fatherland； and prefer living for her
alone to dying perhaps for the fatherland； I should break with her；
and never look at her again； never speak another word with her。 I
have many houses and lands； but even though I knew that my fields
and meadows were to be devastated； and my houses burned down； like
those of Peter Mayer； I should say； nevertheless； we will fight for
the fatherland！ We will defeat the enemy； even though we should all
become beggars； and even though I knew that I should die before
seeing my affianced bride again； and that she would curse me in my
grave。 That is what I have got to say。 Now you may speak； Martin
Schenk； tell the father whether your heart is flinching and
trembling。〃
〃Yes； it is；〃 cried Martin Schenk； 〃but only when I think the men of
the Tyrol could be so cowardly and mean…spirited as to keep quiet
and submit to their oppressors； because the latter are powerful and
superior to us in numbers。 I have a young wife whom I married only a
year ago； and who gave birth to a little boy a week since； and I
assure you that I love her and her child with all my heart。 But if I
knew that their death would be useful to the fatherland； and would
contribute to its salvation； I would shoot them with my own rifle；
and should not weep on seeing their corpses at my feet； but I should
rejoice and exclaim； 'I did it for the sake of the fatherland； I
sacrificed my most precious treasures for the beloved Tyrol。' Even
though the enemy is very strong and numerous； even though the
emperor has abandoned us； God stands by us。 The mountains stand firm
yet； they are our fortresses； and we will fight in them until we are
all dead； or until we have defeated the enemy； and delivered the
Tyrol a third time。 Now you know my opinion； Father Joachim
Haspinger。〃
The Capuchin made no reply。 He stood with hands clasped in prayer
and eyes lifted to heaven； and two large tears rolled down his
bronzed cheeks into his red beard。
〃Great God in heaven；〃 he murmured in a voice tremulous with