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again his subjects； because they fought well for their liberty； and
because God blessed their efforts and crowned them with victory。
Come； we will go home； and to…morrow I shall return to the Tyrol； to
my wife and children； and mountain and valley shall know that the
time has come； and that we shall become Austrians again。 May the
Holy Virgin protect us and grant us a safe return； may she prevent
the Bavarians from waylaying us and frustrating our great and noble
purpose！〃 ＇Footnote： The delegates of the Tyrolese left Vienna on
the following morning； their presence there； however； had been
reported to the Bavarian officers； who； during their homeward
journey； almost succeeded in arresting them。 John von Graff； a
banker of Botzen； was apprised of their arrival in Vienna by his
correspondent in that city and informed the commissary…general at
Brixen of what he had learned。 A warrant for the arrest of the three
delegates was issued； but they escaped in time into the mountains。
Hormayr； vol。 i。； p。 191。＇
CHAPTER VIII。
CONSECRATION OF THE FLAGS； AND FAREWELL。
The die was cast； then。 The war with France was to break out again。
There was to be no more procrastination and hesitation。 The time for
action was at hand。
Already the French ambassador； Andreossi； had left Vienna； and all
the members of the legation had followed him。 Already Clement Count
Metternich had arrived at Vienna but he had not left Paris as Count
Andreossi had left Vienna； quietly and unmolested； but Napoleon had
caused him to be escorted to the French frontier by a detachment of
gens d'armes。
And to…day； on the 9th of March； Austria was to proclaim to all
Germany； by means of a public festival； that she was resolved to
renew the struggle with France and risk once more the blood of her
people and the existence of her imperial dynasty in order to deliver
Germany from the usurper who was intent on crushing in his iron
hands the liberty and independance of the German nation。
A solemn ceremony was to take place to…day on the Glacis of Vienna。
The flags of the militia were to be consecrated by the Archbishop of
Vienna； and the whole imperial family was to be present at the
solemnity。 Hence； all Vienna presented a festive appearance； all
stores were closed； and no one was seen following his every…day
avocations。 The Viennese had made a holiday； no one would toil for
his daily bread； all wished to refresh themselves only with mental
food； and greet with their glances and acclamations the noble men
who were to take the field for the salvation of the fatherland。
The people were surging in dense masses toward the glacis； rushing
with irresistible impetuosity into the empty ditches； and climbing
the trees on their edges； or gaining some other standpoint whence
they could survey the solemnity which was to take place on the broad
promenade of the glacis。 On the large rondel of the glacis had been
erected a tribune whose golden…broidered velvet canopy was
surmounted by a very large imperial crown； four golden double…headed
eagles adorned the four corners of the canopy； and held in their
beaks the colors of Austria and Hungary。 Under the canopy stood gilt
arm…chairs； with cushions of purple velvet。 This was the tribune
destined for the emperor and his family； all eyes were riveted upon
it； and all hearts longed to greet the sovereign； and thank him for
the proud happiness of this hour。
Further on rose other and no less splendidly decorated tribunes； the
seats of which had been sold at enormous rates to the aristocracy
and wealthy citizens of Vienna for the benefit of the militia； and
thousands had found seats on the trees surrounding the broad
promenade and the rondel； and paid for their airy perches only with
some pains and bruises。
Since early dawn this pilgrimage to the glacis had been going on； by
ten o'clock all seats； roads； tribunes； trees； ditches； and bridges；
were occupied by a dense crowd； and； in order to prevent accidents；
the authorities had already ordered all approaches to the glacis to
be closed。
On the broad promenade； too； matters assumed a very lively aspect。
The militia marched up with banners unfurled and drums beating。 They
drew up in line on both sides of the road； and their officers and
standard…bearers repaired to the large rondel where another had been
constructed in face of the imperial tribune。 They ranged themselves
around the altar； on whose steps priests in full vestments were
kneeling； and which was surmounted by a gigantic crucifix； visible
to all spectators far and near； and waving to all its blessings and
love…greetings。
And now all the church…steeples commenced ringing their peals； the
iron tongues of their bells proclaimed to the inhabitants of Vienna；
and to the many thousands of strangers who had come to witness the
solemnity； that the emperor with his con…art and his children had
left the Hofburg； and was approaching the glacis； followed by his
suite。 The militia assumed a stiff military attitude； the drums
rolled； the cannon boomed； the bugles sounded merry notes； and the
emperor； leading his consort by the hand； entered the tribune。 He
looked pale； his form was bent； and trembling as if shaken by an
inward fever； and even more singular appeared his down…hanging
under…lip and the gloomy； morose expression of his lustreless blue
eyes。 But the people did not see this； they saw only that their
emperor had arrivedtheir emperor； who had resolved to deliver
Austria from the ignominious foreign yoke； who would die with his
subjects rather than longer bear the arrogance of France； and who
boldly and courageously staked all in order to win all； to restore
at length a lasting peace to Austria and Germany； and vindicate
their honor and independence。 For this reason all hearts greeted the
Emperor Francis with love and exultation； and he was received with
deafening and constantly…renewed cheers。
The emperor received with a forced smile the flattering homage which
was rendered to him； but more radiant was the smile of his consort；
in her dark and glowing eyes glistened tears of joyful emotion； when
she glanced at this jubilant mass of spectators and the enthusiastic
regiments of the militia。 She was also full of exultation； she did
not； however； give vent to her feelings； but pent them up in her
heart； owing to the moroseness of her imperial husband。
In the midst of a fresh outburst of popular enthusiasm； Francis bent
over the empress。 〃I suppose you are well satisfied now； empress？〃
he asked。 〃You have attained your object； all of you have fanned the
flame until war is ready to break out； and every thing will go again
topsy…turvy。 But I tell you； empress； we shall fail again； I do not
believe that we shall conquer。〃
〃Well； your majesty； then we shall succumb and die； but it will be
an honorable defeat。 It is better to perish in a just and honorable
struggle than submit patiently to foreign usurpation。〃
〃A very nice phrase； but the practical execution of such ideas is
sometimes by far more unpleasant than the theory which they express。
I am afraid you will have good reason to regret this day； andbut
what fe