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！
their own valor and patriotism； aided by the natural strength of the
country； had entirely delivered the province from the enemy。 The
capitulation of Wiltau crowned the work of deliverance； to the
everlasting glory of the brave Martin Teimer； and to the disgrace of
General Bisson and the French and Bavarians。 ＇Footnote： Major Teimer
was rewarded for this capitulation of Wiltau with the title of Baron
von Wiltau； and with the order of Maria Theresa。 The Emperor of
Austria； besides； presented him with valuable estates in Styria。＇
There were great rejoicings in Innspruck all the day long； glad
faces were to be met with everywhere； and all shouted
enthusiastically： 〃We have become Austrians again！ We are subjects
of the Emperor of Austria again！ Long live the free Tyrol！ Long live
the Emperor Francis！〃
The streets presented a very lively appearance； all the painters of
the city were occupied in removing the hateful Bavarian colors； blue
and white； from the signs and houses； and putting on them the
Austrian； black and gold； and the Tyrolese marksmen held a regular
target…shooting at the Bavarian lion； which； to the great disgust of
the Tyrolese； had been raised four years ago over the entrance of
the imperial palace。 Prizes were awarded for every piece which was
shot from it； and the principal reward was granted to him who
pierced the crown of the lion。
Yes； the northern Tyrol was free； but the South； the Italian Tyrol；
was groaning yet under the yoke of French oppression； and Andreas
Hofer intended to march thither with his forces； as he had concerted
at Vienna with the Archduke John and Hormayr； in order to bring to
the Italian Tyrolese the liberty which the German Tyrolese had
already conquered。
Hence Andreas Hofer； though his heart yearned for it； had refrained
from making his solemn entrance into Innspruck； and had gone on the
17th of April to Meran； where he was to review the Landsturm of that
town and its environs； the brave men who were to accompany him on
his expedition to the Italian Tyrol。
The Tyrolese were drawn up in four lines； at their head was to be
seen Hormayr； surrounded by the priests and civil officers who had
been exiled by the Bavarians； and who were returning now with him
and the Austrian army。
A cloud of dust arose from the neighboring gorges of the Passeyr
valley； and a joyous murmur ran through the ranks of the Tyrolese。
Deafening cheers rent the air then； for Andreas Hofer galloped up on
a fine charger； followed by the men of the Passeyr valley。 His face
glowed； his eyes beamed with delight； and his whole bearing breathed
unbounded satisfaction and happiness。
He shook hands with Hormayr； laughing merrily。 〃We have kept；〃 he
exclaimed； 〃the promises we made at Vienna； have we not？ And our
dear Archduke John； I suppose； will be content with us？〃
〃He sends the best greetings of his love to his dear Andreas Hofer；〃
said Hormayr； 〃and thanks him for all he has done here。〃
〃He thanks me？〃 asked Hofer； in surprise。 〃We have done only what
our hearts longed for； and fulfilled our own wishes。 We wished to
become Austrians again； for Austrians means Germans； we wanted no
longer to be Bavarians； for Bavarians meant French； hence； we were
anxious to rid our mountains of the disgrace and make our country
again free and a province of Germany。 We have succeeded in doing so；
for the good God blessed our efforts and helped us in our sore
distress。 Now we are once more the faithful children of our dear
emperor； and the dear Archduke John will come to us and stay with us
as governor of the Tyrol。〃
〃He certainly will； and I know that he longs to live again in the
midst of his faithful Tyrolese。 But for this reason； Andy； we must
help him that he may soon come to us； and aid him in delivering the
Southern Tyrol。 I have great news for you； Andy； from the Archduke
John。 I wished to communicate it to you first of all。 No one was to
hear of it previous to you。〃
〃I hope it is good news； Baron von Hormayr；〃 said Andreas Hofer；
anxiously。 〃The dear archduke； I trust； has not met with a disaster？
Tell me quick； for my heart throbs as though one of my dear children
were in imminent peril。〃
〃You yourself are a child； Andy。 Do you suppose I should look so
cheerful if our dear archduke had met with a disaster？ And even
though such were the case； would I then be so stupid as to inform
you of it now； at this joyful hour； when it is all…important that we
should be in high spirits？ No； Andy； I bring splendid news。 The
Archduke John achieved yesterday glorious victory at Sacile over the
Viceroy of Italy； Eugene Beauharnais； it was a great triumph； for he
took eight thousand prisoners； and captured a great many guns。 But
amidst this triumph he thought of his dear Tyrolese； and dispatched
from the battle…field a courier who was to bring to me the news and
his order to tell his dear Tyrolese that he defeated the French
yesterday。〃
Andreas Hofer； overjoyed and with his countenance full of sunshine
and happiness； galloped down the long line of his sharpshooters。
〃Hurrah！ my dear friends and brethren；〃 he shouted； 〃the Archduke
John sends his greetings to you。 and informs you that he defeated
the French yesterday at Sacile and took eight thousand prisoners and
a great many guns。 Hurrah！ long live the Archduke John； the future
governor of the Tyrol！〃
And the Tyrolese repeated； with deafening cheers： 〃Hurrah！ long live
the Archduke John； the future governor of the Tyrol！〃
〃And I have to bring you still another greeting from the Archduke
John；〃 shouted Baron von Hormayr。 〃But you shall not hear it here in
the plain； but up at the ancient castle of Tyrol。 It is true； the
Bavarians and the miserable French have destroyed the fine castle；
but the ruins of the ancient seat of our princes remain to us。 We
will now ascend to those ruins； and up there you shall hear the
message which the Archduke John sends to you。〃
The whole force of the Tyrolese thereupon moved up the mountain…path
leading to the castle of Tyrol； headed by Andreas Hofer and Baron
von Hormayr。
On reaching the crest of the hill； Hofer stopped and alighted from
his horse。 He knelt down amidst the ruins of the castle with a
solemn； deeply…moved face； and holding the crucifix on his breast
between his hands； and lifting his eyes to heaven； he exclaimed with
fervent devotion： 〃Thanks； Lord God； thanks for the aid that thou
halt hitherto vouchsafed to us！ Thanks for delivering the country
and permitting us to be Austrians again！ O God； grant now stability
to our workand preserve it from falling to ruin！ If Thou art
content with me； let me further serve and be useful to my native
country！ I am but a weak instrument in Thy hand； my God； but Thou
hast used it； and I pray Thee not to cast it aside now； but impart
to it strength and durability； that it may last until the enemy has
been driven from the country； and the whole Tyrol is free again for
evermore！ I kiss the dear soil where our princes walked in former
times； and where they swore to their Tyrolese that they should be
freemen； and that their free constitution should be sacred for all
time to come