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into the midst of the bloody melee close up to the captain； 〃yes；
you shall die； I will put an end to your life！〃
And his arm； brandishing the sword of a fallen Bavarian； rose
threateningly above Ulrich's head； while two other Tyrolese rushed
upon him from behind with furious shouts。
At this moment two hands clutched Wallner's arm convulsively； and a
loud； anxious voice exclaimed：
〃Father； do not kill him！ He is my bridegroom！〃
〃Her bridegroom！〃 echoed the Tyrolese； starting back in surprise。
〃Your bridegroom？〃 asked Anthony Wallner； casting a look of dismay
on his daughter Eliza； who was standing in front of her father；
pale； with flashing eyes； encircling Ulrich's neck with one arm；
lifting up the other menacingly； and staring at her father with a
resolute and defiant expression。
〃Away from him； Lizzie！〃 cried Wallner； furiously； 〃I cannot believe
that my child will inflict on me the disgrace of loving a Bavarian。〃
〃Yes； I love him；〃 exclaimed Eliza； with glowing cheeks。 〃If you
wish to kill him； you must kill me first； for we have sworn to live
and die together。 He is my bridegroom； father； and shall become my
husband； so help me God！〃
〃No； never！〃 cried Ulrich von Hohenberg； trying to disengage himself
from Eliza。 〃Never can the peasant…girl become my wife！ Begone；
Eliza； I have nothing further to do with you。〃
〃And still you swore a few minutes ago that you loved nothing on
earth more dearly than me alone；〃 said Eliza； in a loud voice； 〃and
you implored me to go with you and remain always by your side？〃
〃But never did I say that I would marry you；〃 exclaimed Ulrich； pale
with rage； and still trying to disengage himself from Eliza's arm。
〃You would not marry her！〃 cried Anthony Wallner； 〃you intended only
to dishonor her； my proud Bavarian gentleman？ You thought a Tyrolese
peasant…girl's honor an excellent pastime； but you would not marry
her？〃
〃Father； father；〃 cried Eliza； beseechingly； clinging firmly to
Ulrich's side； 〃father； I love him and cannot live without him。 He
is my bridegroom！〃
〃No； no！〃 shouted Ulrich； and a wild imprecation against Eliza burst
from his lips。
The Tyrolese in the mean time had long since overpowered the few
soldiers； and； attracted by the strange scene； crowded around the
curious group； only the twenty sharpshooters were still standing
with rifles raised in front of the windows of the imprisoned
soldiers； and watching them with threatening eyes。
Anthony Wallner had dropped his arm and looked down musingly； on
hearing the captain's insulting words； he gave a shout and lifted up
his face flushed with pride and indignation。
〃Just listen to the traitor； brethren！〃 he said in the cold； quiet
tone which only the most profound exasperation imparts to the human
voice。 〃First he turned the girl's head and heart by the
protestations of his love； causing her even to forget her father and
her Tyrol； and now he insults her and refuses to marry her！〃
〃He said it only in his rage； father； but he loves me after all；〃
exclaimed Eliza； clinging to the captain notwithstanding his
resistance； and trying to wrest his sword from him。
〃Begone； Eliza！〃 cried Ulrich； 〃or〃 He pushed her violently from
him； and quickly raised his sword against her。 But two Tyrolese
prevented him from carrying out his fell design by rushing upon him；
seizing his arm with Herculean strength； wresting the sword from his
hand； throwing the weapon tar away； and exclaiming triumphantly：
〃Now surrender； Bavarian！ You are our prisoner。〃
〃 Then shoot me at least；〃 shouted Ulrich； beside himself with rage；
〃shoot me； I say； death is preferable to the disgrace of being a
prisoner of such miserable rabble。〃
〃Hush； beloved； for God's sake； hush！〃 said Eliza； clinging to him
tenderly。
He pushed her violently from his side。 〃Begone； hypocritical wench！〃
he shouted in a paroxysm of fury； 〃I do not want to have any thing
to do with you！〃
〃But you shall have something to do with her；〃 said Anthony Wallner；
with proud calmness。 〃The girl says that she loves you； and that you
promised to marry her。 It was bad in you to persuade her behind the
backs of her parents and infatuate her poor heart； and you shall be
punished now for your infamy。 You shall marry Lizzie。 The proud and
wealthy baron who despises the Tyrolese peasants so much shall now
marry the Tyrolese peasant…girl。〃
〃Yes； yes； that is right；〃 exclaimed the Tyrolese exultingly； 〃the
proud baron shall marry the Tyrolese peasant…girl。〃
〃Let us go down to the village； then；〃 said Anthony Wallner； 〃our
curate shall marry them immediately at the church； and then let the
two leave the place as quickly as possible； and beware of ever
returning to Windisch…Matrey； for never shall the wife of the
Bavarian Captain Ulrich von Hohenberg dare to say that she is Eliza
Wallner； daughter of the Tyrolese Anthony Wallner…Aichberger； the
innkeeper of Windisch…Matrey。 I have no longer a daughterI tear
her from my heart； as she tore honor； righteousness； and faith from
hers。〃
Eliza called two Tyrolese with an impetuous wave of her hand to her
side。 〃Hold him；〃 she said； pointing to Ulrich； who； pale and
tottering； exhausted from his superhuman efforts and loss of blood；
was scarcely able to stand on his feet； 〃hold him； I must speak to
my father。〃
She hastened to him； seized both his hands despite his resistance；
and drew his face so close to hers that his hot； panting breath
touched her cheek； but he averted his eyes with a gloomy expression
and avoided meeting her fiery glances。
〃You do not want to know me； father！〃 she asked mournfully。 〃You
avert your eyes from your Lizzie； whom you called only yesterday
your dear； brave Tyrolese girl？〃
〃You are no child of mine； you are no Tyrolese girl；〃 exclaimed her
father； angrily and mournfully。 〃You want to marry the Bavarian； and
become an aristocratic lady。〃
〃It is all the same to me whether Ulrich yonder is an aristocratic
gentleman or not；〃 said Eliza； shaking her head proudly； 〃I love him
only because he pleases me so well； and because he loves me so
fondly and ardently。 But； father； you must not say that I am no true
daughter of the Tyrol； and do not love the fatherland。 I will prove
to all of you that I do love it； and to Ulrich yonder； who wished to
persuade me to run away with him secretly； and who must marry me now
to atone for it； I will prove likewise that I am no baroness
although I love him； and that I do not love his king and his
brilliant uniform； but that I will remain loyal to my emperor alone。
Listen to me； therefore； father； and all of you： Ulrich von
Hohenberg is my bridegroom； and therefore you shall not kill him；
nor do him any harm； but convey him as a prisoner to my father's
house； not for the purpose of being married to me； but to be kept
and nursed as a wounded prisoner。 I swear by the Lord God and the
Holy Virgin； I will not marry him till we have conquered； till all
Bavarians have been driven from the country； and the Emperor Francis
is once more sovereign of the Tyrol。 Nor shall I stay at home to
nurse my bridegroom and speak with him of love and marriage； but I
will go and