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my brothers side by side in such beautiful harmony。 In truth； it was
only wanting to me that even you two should be of the same opinion；
and come to me for the purpose of inviting me； as Schiller says； to
be the third in your league。〃
〃Your majesty would always be the first in this league；〃 said the
Archduke John； in his clear； ringing voice； 〃my brother would be the
second； and I only the third。〃
〃See； see； my brother is very modest and humble to…day；〃 said
Francis； smiling。 〃This means doubtless that you have come to ask a
favor of me； and that； by your kindness and devotedness； you wish to
induce me to comply with your request； as a dog is decoyed with
cakes and sweets by the thief who intends to steal something from
the dog's master。〃
〃Oh； your majesty； we do not intend to steal any thing from our
master！〃 exclaimed John； laughing。 〃But there is really an attack to
be made on our master's property； only he who intends to make it
does not decoy us with cakes and sweets； but assails us with the
sword and coarse invectives。〃
〃It was very shrewd in you to mention at once the subject on which
you wished to speak with me；〃 said the emperor； with a slight sneer。
〃But permit me first to say a word to my brother Charles there； and
bid welcome to his imperial highness； the illustrious captain； the
generalissimo of our army； the hope and consolation of Austria。〃
〃Your majesty wishes to mock me；〃 said the Archduke Charles； in a
mournful voice。
〃I repeat only what I read every day in the newspapers；； and what
the dear Viennese are singing and shouting in every street！〃
exclaimed the emperor。 〃Yes； yes； my dear brother； you must consent
to be the hope and consolation of Austria； and to be praised as the
august and invincible hero of our immediate future。〃
So saying； the emperor gazed with a long and searching look at his
brother's form； and a scornful expression overspread his features。
Indeed； the epithets which the emperor had applied to his brother
corresponded but little to the appearance of the Archduke Charles。
His small； bent form； with its weak； shrivelled limbs； was not the
form of a hero； his pale； wan face； with the hollow cheeks； the dim
eyes deeply imbedded in their sockets； and the clouded brow； on
which thin tufts of hair hung down； was not the face of a bold
captain； confident of achieving brilliant triumphs by his heroic
deeds； and deserving of the name of the hope and consolation of
Austria。 But the Austrians did call him by that name； and the glory
of his military achievements； which filled not only Austria but the
whole of Germany； caused them really to build their hopes on the
Archduke Charles； despite his very feeble health。 The Emperor
Francis was aware of this； he knew that the Archdukes Charles and
John were by far more popular than he was； hence he was jealous of
and angry with themnay； he almost hated them。
〃You look very pale and sick to…day； my dear Archduke Charles；〃 said
the emperor； after a pause； during which he had contemplated the
archduke with a searching expression。
〃I am very feeble and unwell； your majesty；〃 sighed Charles； 〃and
but for the special request of my brother； the Archduke John； I
should not have dared to come here this morning。 However； I am
afraid that I can do but little to comply with his wishes； and that
my brother John will soon think it would have been better for him
not to ask me to accompany him to your majesty。〃
〃Ah； then； you are after all not so harmonious as I thought when I
saw you entering here together！〃 exclaimed the emperor； laughing。
〃There are still differences of opinion； then； between the two
pillars of my throne； and were I to lean on one； the other would
totter and give way。 Well； what do you want？ What brought you here？〃
〃Your majesty； only the intense desire to dedicate our services to
Austria and our emperor！〃 exclaimed John； enthusiastically。 〃We
wished to implore your majesty to utter at length the word that will
deliver Austria and all Germany。 Your majesty； this hesitation and
silence rests like a nightmare on every heart and every bosom； all
eyes are fixed hopefully on your majesty： Oh； my lord and emperor；
one word from your lips； and this nightmare will disappear； all
hearts will rejoice in blissful ecstasy； and every bosom will expand
and breathe more freely when your majesty shall utter this word：
'War！ war！' We hold the sword in our hands； let the will of my
august emperor give us the right now to draw the sword against him
who； for years past； has swept like a destructive hurricane through
all Germany； all Europe； and who tramples alike on princes and
peoples； on liberty and law。 Your majesty； in the name of your
people； in the name of all German patriots； I bend my knees here
before my lord and emperor； and thus； kneeling and full of
reverence。 I implore your majesty to let the hour of deliverance
strike at length； let us； with joyful courage； expel the enemy who
has already so long been threatening our frontiers with defiant
arrogance： let us take the field against the impudent usurper； and
wrest from him the laurels which he gained at Austerlitz； and of
which he is so proud。 Your majesty； your people are filled with
warlike ardor； your faithful Tyrolese are waiting only for a signal
to break their chains and rise for their beloved emperor。 Your
Italian provinces are longing for the day when war shall break out；
in order to avenge themselves on the tyrant who promised them
liberty and brought them only slavery。 The hour of retribution has
come for Napoleon； may your majesty consult our best interests by
saying that we are to profit by this hour； and that war； a mortal
struggle； is to begin now against the Emperor of the French！〃
And； still bending his knees before the emperor； John looked up to
him with longing； beseeching eyes。
Francis looked down on him with a gloomy air； and the noble and
enthusiastic face of his brother； who was ten years younger； and
much stronger and better…looking； made a disagreeable impression on
him。
〃Rise； brother；〃 he said； coldly； 〃your knees must ache； and I； for
my part； do not like such theatrical scenes at all； and such fine
phrases make but little impression on my cold and prosy heart。 I am
accustomed to follow always my convictions； and when I advance a
step； I must be sure not to fall to an abyss which some poetical
hero may perhaps have merely covered for me with his flowery
phrases。 That I am aware of the dangers threatening us on the part
of France I have proved by putting the army on the war footing； by
intrusting you； Archduke John； with organizing the militia and the
reserves in accordance with the plan you drew up for that purpose；
and by placing you； Archduke Charles； at the head of my army and
appointing you generalissimo。〃
〃An honor； your majesty； which I accepted with reverent gratitude；
although it almost crushes me at the present time；〃 said the
Archduke Charles； with a sigh。 〃Permit me now； your majesty； to open
my heart to you； and lay my innermost thoughts at your feet。 To do
so； I accompanied my brother John to you。 He said he would implore
your majesty on