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！
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 fearful noise is this again？ The people are cheering as though
they were welcoming God Almighty Himself。 What is it？〃
〃Your majesty；〃 said Ludovica； gazing timidly into her husband's
face； 〃I believe the people are cheering the Archdukes Charles and
John； for they are just walking along the ranks of the militia。〃
〃Ah； my brothers！〃 murmured the emperor； with an angry expression；
which； however； disappeared again immediately； 〃the people are
cheering my brothers as though they were two divinities from whom
alone they expect salvation and prosperity。〃
〃Your majesty； the people cheer the archdukes because they are the
brothers of the emperor； and because the confidence of your majesty
has placed them at the head of the Austrian armies to lead them to
battle； and； if it please God； to victory。 It is your majesty alone
that appointed the Archduke Charles generalissimo of all your
forces； and the Archduke John commander of the army of Lower
Austria。〃
〃Yes； I did so； for； blessed as I am with brothers so heroic and
spirited； I must of course distinguish and employ them in accordance
with their merits； otherwise they might believe I was jealous of
their glory and splendor。 This would be entirely false； for； so far
from being jealous of them； I love them dearly； and give them now
again another opportunity to gain laurels； as they did in 1805。 It
is true； my brother the generalissimo； was not victorious at
Austerlitz； and my brother John has likewise sustained many a
defeat； but that does not prevent them from being heroes and great
men。 Just listen to the roars with which the people greet them！
Jesus Maria！ I hope the generalissimo will not have his fits from
excessive joy。〃
Ludovica cast a quick； mournful glance on the maliciously smiling
face of her husband。 〃Your majesty need not be alarmed；〃 she said；
〃your tender apprehensions will fortunately not be fulfilled。 You
see that the archduke is quite well； he is just addressing his
troops。〃
〃Yes； yes； I know his speech。 M。 von Gentz wrote it for him and I
permitted him to deliver it。 Ah； it abounds with fine phrases； and
my dear Austrians will be astonished on hearing what liberal men we
have become all of a sudden； and what grand ideas of liberty；
equality； and popular sovereignty we have adopted。 Just listen to
him！ the conclusion is very fine； and sounds just as though the
Marseillaise had been translated into the language of the
Austrians。〃
〃Soldiers；〃 shouted the archduke； at this moment； in a loud； ringing
voice。 〃the liberty of Europe has taken refuge under the flag of
Austria； the rights； freedom； and honor of all Germany expect their
salvation only of our armies。 Never shall they； instruments of
oppression； carry on in foreign countries the endless wars of a
destructive ambition； annihilate innocent nations； and with their
own corpses pave for foreign conquerors the road leading to usurped
thrones。 Soldiers； we take up arms only for the liberty； honor； and
rights of all Germany； it is these sacred boons that we have to
defend！〃 ＇Footnote： Hormayr； 〃Allgemeine Geschichte；〃 vol。 iii。； p。
219。＇
A long…continued； deafening outburst of applause both of the
soldiers and the people was the reply to the stirring address of the
generalissimo； but suddenly every sound was hushed； for at the
altar； yonder by the side of the tall crucifix； appeared now the
archbishop； accompanied by the whole body of the high clergy。
The emperor rose from his seat and bowed humbly and devoutly to the
prelate who had been the teacher of his youth； and had afterward
married him three times； the last time only a few months ago。
And now the archdukes marched the troops into the middle of the
place； and the consecration of the flags commenced amid the peals of
all the church…bells and the booming of artillery。
The emperor looked on； standing； bareheaded； and with hands clasped
in prayer。 Ludovica turned her eyes heavenward； and her lips moved
in a low； fervent prayer。 Behind them stood the young archdukes and
archduchesses； muttering prayers； and yet glancing around curiously；
and the cavaliers of the imperial couple； looking gloomy； and
plainly showing in their sombre faces the rage that filled their
hearts。
The ceremony being finished； the archbishop lifted up his hands and
stretched them out toward the soldiers。 〃Adieu； until we meet
again；〃 he exclaimed with a radiant air； and in a voice of joyful
enthusiasm； 〃adieu； until we meet again at the hour of danger！〃
〃Adieu； until we meet again at the hour of danger！〃 echoed the
soldiers with enthusiasm。 Seeing then that the archbishop bent his
knees； they knelt likewise and bowed their heads in prayer。 Hushed
was every sound on the vast place。 Only the church…bells were
pealing and the artillery was booming in the distance； and the
murmur of the devout prayers which rose to God from so many pious
hearts broke the silence。
In the fervent enthusiasm of this hour no one felt the least
timidity； no one looked anxiously into the future。 Even the mothers
did not shed tears for their sons who were about to take the field；
the affianced brides allowed their lovers to depart without uttering
complaints or weeping at the thought of their impending departure；
wives took leave of their husbands with joyous courage； pressing
their infants to their breasts and commending them trustingly to
God's protection。 The patriotic enthusiasm had seized all； and
carried away even the coldest and most selfish hearts。 The rich
contributed their money with unwonted liberality； those who were in
less favorable circumstances laid down their plate and valuables on
the altar of the country； the mechanics offered to work gratuitously
for the army； the women scraped lint and organized associations for
the relief of the wounded； the young men offered their life…blood to
the fatherland； and considered it as a favor that their services
were not rejected。
The long…concealed hatred against France burst forth in bright
flames throughout Austria and Germany； the war was hailed with
rapturous enthusiasm； and every heart longed to take part in this
struggle； which seemed to all a war of holy vengeance and
retribution。 For the first time in long years Austria felt again
thoroughly identified with Germany； while the other Germans were
looking upon Austria as a German state and holding out their hands
to their Austrian brethren； telling them that they sympathized most
vividly with the ends which then were trying to attain。
But while the utmost exultation was reigning among the people and
the soldiers on this joyful day； a gloomy silence prevailed in the
imperial palace。 The joyous mask with which the generalissimo； the
Archduke Charles； had covered his face while on the glacis； had
disappeared from it so soon as he had returned to his rooms。 Pale
and faint； he rested in an easy…chair； and； fixing his sombre eyes
an his quartermaster…general； Count Gruenne； he said： 〃My friend；
listen to that which I am going to say to you now； and