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Herculean； his shoulders broad； his strength immense； his head was
covered with dense black hair； his bronzed face was radiant with
kind…heartedness and good…humor。 His dress was the common habit of
the country； with some trifling variations： a large black hat； with
a broad brim； black ribbons； and a dark curling feather； a green
jacket； red waistcoat； broad green braces crossed on the breast； a
black leathern girdle； adorned； according to the Tyrolese custom；
with all sorts of ivory and other ornaments； black breeches； red
stockings； and black shoes with buckles。 About his neck was always
to be seen a silver crucifix fastened to a heavy gold chain； and
over it； down to the girdle； flowed his large black beard； which
imparted a strange； fantastic air to his whole appearance。 This man
was Andreas Hofer； the innkeeper of Passeyr； to whom the Italian
Tyrolese； on account of his long beard； had given the name of
〃Barbone。〃
The second of the Tyrolese who entered the archduke's cabinet was a
man of no less imposing appearance； dressed entirely like Andreas
Hofer； only the long beard was wanting to him； and； instead of a
black hat； he wore the pointed green Tyrolese hat； adorned with
hunting ornaments。 His face； less good…natured and serene than that
of his friend； was expressive of energy and resolution； courage and
shrewdness beamed from his black eyes； and a peculiar expression of
defiance and scorn played around his full lips。 This was Joseph
Speckbacher； known by every inhabitant of the northern Tyrol as 〃the
bold chamois…hunter。〃
He was followed by a third Tyrolese； as proud and strong； as robust
and fine…looking； as his two companions。 It was Anthony Wallner； the
innkeeper of Windisch…Matrey； and； like Speckbacher； Hofer's
intimate friend。
The archduke advanced to meet the Tyrolese； and shook hands with
each of them。
〃Welcome； my Tyrolese； welcome！〃 he said； in a deeply…moved voice；
〃may God and the Holy Virgin grant that no harm result； from your
visit to me！ You know that I have never ceased to love you； and that
when； in the year 1805；I had to bid farewell to Andreas Hofer and
the dear Tyrol； my heart almost broke with grief and despair。〃
〃Look； look！〃 exclaimed Andreas Hofer； turning with a radiant smile
to his two friends； 〃he is indeed the same man who bade us farewell
at that time in Brunecken； and was not ashamed of embracing Andreas
Hofer and shedding tears on his shoulder for the poor sacrificed
Tyrol。〃
〃And who is glad to…day to be able to embrace Andreas Hofer again；〃
said the archduke； encircling the Herculean form of the Tyrolese
innkeeper with his arms。 〃But I will shed no tears to…day； Andreas；
for I hope the time of tears is over； and you have come to tell me
so； to bring me love…greetings from the Tyrolese； and the hope of
better times。 Say； you three brave men from the Tyrol； Andreas
Hofer； Joseph Speckbacher； Anthony Wallner； is it not so？ Have you
not come to tell me that the Tyrol is longing for her emperor and
desirous of getting rid of the Bavarians？〃
〃Yes； we have come to say this to our dear John；〃 exclaimed Andreas
Hofer。
〃We have come to ask if Austria does not intend to call upon her
Tyrol to rise and fight under her banners；〃 said Joseph Speckbacher。
〃We have come to ask our Archduke John if he will help us with his
troops and cannon in case we Tyrolese should rise now to expel the
Bavarians from the country；〃 said Anthony Wallner； with flashing
eyes。
〃We have come to ask our John； Is it time？〃 exclaimed Andreas Hofer。
The archduke held out his hand to him with a firm and resolute
glance。 〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃yes； Andreas Hofer； it is time！ Yes；
Anthony Wallner； Austria will assist the Tyrolese with her troops
and cannon in expelling the Bavarians and French from their country。
Yes； Joseph Speckbacher； Austria intends to call upon her faithful
Tyrol to rise and fight under her banners； she will engage in a
mortal contest for you and with you！〃
〃God grant success to our united efforts！〃 said Andreas Hofer；
folding his hands over the crucifix on his breast。 〃During all these
years I have prayed every day to the Holy Virgin to let me live and
see the day when the Austrian eagle shall once more adorn our
boundary…posts； and when we may again fondly and faithfully love our
Emperor Francis as our legitimate sovereign。 The good God in heaven；
I hope； will forgive me for having been a very bad and obstinate
subject of the King of Bavaria。 I would never submit to the new
laws； and could not discover in my old Austrian heart a bit of
loyalty or love for the ruler who was forced upon us。〃
〃No； you were a stubborn disloyalist； Andy。〃 said Hormayr； 〃and； as
spokesman of your whole district； you raised your voice against
every new law which the Bavarian government promulgated in your
country。 But； it is true the Tyrolese love their Andy for this； and
say that he is the most honest； faithful； and reliable man in the
whole valley of the Adige。〃
〃To be courageous is not so difficult if the cause which you fight
for is a good one；〃 said Andreas Hofer； calmly。 〃God Himself
engraved on my heart the commandment to be loyal to my emperor； my
country； and its laws； and if you call me reliable； dear friend； you
merely say that I do my duty as a Christian； for the Bible says；
'Let your communication be Yea； yea； nay； nay； for whatsoever is
more than these cometh of sin。' Therefore； do not praise me for that
which is only my duty； and which Speckbacher and Wallner； and all
our dear friends in the valley of the Adige； do just as well as I。
For the rest； I must tell you； gentlemen； it is not so strange that
we should be attached to the emperor； for the Bavarians are
governing our country in such a manner as if they were intent only
on making us love our emperor every day more and more； and long for
him more intensely。〃
〃It is true； Andy is right；〃 exclaimed Anthony Wallner； 〃the
Bavarians oppress us fearfully； and we will not stand it any longer；
we will become Austrians again； as our fathers were； and will fight
for our liberty and our old privileges which Bavaria solemnly
guaranteed； and which her authorities basely intend to overthrow。〃
〃Which they have already overthrown；〃 cried Joseph Speckbacher； his
eyes flashing with anger。 〃The court of Munich seems intent only on
making the utmost of their new acquisition。 Our old constitution has
been overthrown by a royal edict； the representative estates have
been suppressed； and the provincial funds seized。 No less than eight
new and oppressive taxes have been imposed and are being levied with
the utmost rigor； the very name of our country has been abolished；
the royal property has all been brought into the market； new imports
are daily exacted without any consultation with the estates of the
people； specie has become scarce； from the quantity of it which is
being drawn off to the Bavarian treasury； the Austrian notes have
been reduced to half their value； and； to crown all these wrongs；
compulsory levies are held among our young men； who are to serve in
the ranks of our oppressors！ No； we must break the yoke weighing us
downwe will become f