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forgotten my old uncle； who gave me so many proofs of his love and
kindness； and treated me for months as a son at his house。 I will
try to reward his love by availing myself of my influential
connections and my whole eloquence to bring about his release； I
will go myself to the king to intercede in his behalf。〃
〃But you must bring my Elza with you too； sir；〃 exclaimed Eliza。
〃Oh； I implore you； by all that is sacred and dear to you〃
〃Then implore me by your name； by your sweet face；〃 he interrupted
her； enthusiastically。
〃I implore you from the bottom of my heart；〃 she continued； without
taking any notice of his words； 〃bring my Elza back to me。 She is
the better half of my soul； we grew up together； we shared all joys
and afflictions； and have sworn to shed our heart's blood and die
for each other； if need be； and to stand by each other in faithful
friendship to the last day of our lives。 Now； I am only half alive
when my Elza is not with me。 Therefore； dear Ulrich； restore my Elza
to me； and I will thank you； and bless you； and love you as a
brother。〃
〃As a brother！〃 he cried mournfully。 〃But I do not want you to love
me as a brother。 I want your heart； your whole heart； Eliza； and it
is mine in spite of youmine！ But you are vindictive； and cannot
forget and forgive； and because I denied and misunderstood you once
in my blind stubbornness； you wish to wreak vengeance on me； drive
me to despair； and make me unhappy for my whole life！〃
〃I！〃 she exclaimed； mournfully； 〃I wish to make you unhappy？〃
〃Yes； you；〃 he said bitterly； 〃you see my sufferings； and gloat over
them； you feel that I love you boundlessly； and with cold； sneering
pride you try to resent my former contemptible haughtiness。 You
oppose your peasant pride to my insensate aristocratic pride； you
want to make me go mad or die heart…broken； and your coolness never
leaves you for a moment； and my grief makes no impression on you；
for； when I am dead； you will be able to exclaim： 'I fought for my
country as a brave daughter of the Tyrol！ I killed a Bavarian； I
broke his heart laughingly！'〃
〃You lie； I shall never say so！〃 cried Eliza； in an outburst of
generous indignation； 〃you lie if you think me capable of so
miserable a revenge； you lie if you believe that I have a cold and
cruel heart。 I wish I had； for then I should not suffer what I am
suffering now； and I should at least be able to forget you。 You
really charge me with having a cold heart； with hating and despising
you？ Do you not see； do you not even suspect what I am suffering for
your sake？ Look at me； then； see how pale my cheeks are； see how dim
my eyes are！ I do not take any notice of it； I do not look at myself
in the mirrorwhy should I； and for whom？but mother tells me so
every day； and weeps for me。 And why am I so pale and thin； and why
are my eyes so dim？ Because my heart is full of grief； because I
have no rest day or night； because there is in my heart a voice
which I can never silence； not even when I am praying or kneeling in
the confessional。 Do you think I am grieving for the sake of the
country or the bloody war？ What does the country concern me？ I think
no longer of it； and yet every battle makes me tremble； and on
nearing the booming of artillery； I kneel down and pray with tears
of anguish to the Holy Virgin。 Oh； may God forgive me！ I do not pray
for my father； nor for our soldiers； I pray for a Bavarian； I pray
for you！〃
〃Eliza！〃 exclaimed Ulrich； radiant with joy； and stretching out his
arms toward her； 〃Eliza！〃
〃Hush！〃 she said； stepping back proudly； 〃do not speak。 I have told
you the truth； for I do not want you to accuse and curse me； when I
am blessing you every day。 But now go； sir； forget what I have said；
but remember me always as one who never hated you； and never thought
of revenging herself upon you。〃
〃Eliza；〃 said Ulrich； gravely； taking her hand； and gazing deeply
into her eyes； 〃let us now be honest and frank toward each other。
Our hearts have spoken with each other； and God has heard them。 You
love me； and I love you。 Do you remember what I said to you； when
taking leave of you on the mountain？〃
〃I do not； sir；〃 she whispered； dropping her eyes。
〃But I do；〃 he continued； gravely and firmly。 〃I said to you： 'I
will go now； but I shall return and ask you： 〃Do you remember me？
Will you become my wife？'〃 Now； Eliza； I have returned； and ask you
as I asked you on the mountain； Eliza； will you become my wife？〃
〃And I reply as I replied to you on the mountain；〃 she said
solemnly。 〃We can never belong to each other as husband and wife；
but we can remember each other as good friends。 And so； sir； I will
always remember you； and it will always gladden my heart to hear
that you are well and happy。〃
〃Is that your last word？〃 asked Ulrich； angrily。
〃Yes； sir； it is my last word。〃
〃Then you are intent on making us unhappy？〃 he cried； mournfully。
〃Oh； you crystal…heart； so transparent and clear； so hard； so hard！
Will you never； then； allow yourself to be softened by the sunbeams
of love？ Will they always only harden your heart？〃
〃I cannot act otherwise； sir； I assure you I cannot；〃 she said；
beseechingly。
〃Well； then； I cannot act otherwise either；〃 he cried。 〃I shall not
accept this mission； I shall not go to Munich； I shall stay here。〃
〃No； no； I implore you to go！〃 exclaimed Eliza。 〃Save my imprisoned
countrymen； save； above all； my Elza and her father！ Oh； she is
unhappy； she longs for her home； she is weeping for me； for you；
sir！ Make haste； make haste； have mercy upon Elza and myself！〃
〃Why should I have mercy when you have none？〃 he asked； quickly。
〃Let the prisoners die of grief； I am a prisoner too； and shall know
also how to die。 I shall not leave Innspruck unless you promise me
that you will become my wife on my return； and plight me your faith
before the altar of God。 I swear by all that is sacred to me； I will
not leave this city unless I take with me your solemn pledge that
you will overcome your pride and become my wife。〃
〃Well； then；〃 she said； blushing deeply； 〃go； then。 Procure my
Elza's release； bring her home； and then〃
〃And then？〃 he asked； as she hesitated。
〃Then you shall receive at the hands of the priest a bride who loves
you； loves you with infinite tenderness；〃 she said； in a low voice。
He uttered a cry of joy； and folded her to his heart。 But she
disengaged herself gently。 〃Make haste now；〃 she said； 〃for the
sooner yon depart； the sooner you will return。〃
〃I will set out immediately；〃 he cried； radiant with joy。 〃But swear
to me； Eliza； that I shall receive； immediately on my return； even
though it should be early in the morning； at the hands of the
priest； my bridethe bride who loves me with infinite tenderness。〃
〃I swear by the Holy Virgin；〃 said Eliza； solemnly； 〃that if you
bring my Elza to me here； you shall receive your bride at the hands
of the priest on the day of your return； whether it be early in the
morning or late at night。〃
〃Captain Ulrich；〃 shouted Cajetan Doeninger； opening the door； 〃it
is high time for you to set out。 The carriage has been at the door
for upward of an hour。〃