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I never loved him nor would have taken him； because he is a
Bavarian； but that I saved him because he is a near relative of my
dear Elza。 And after telling and explaining all this to the men； I
shall go to Elza； give her the flowers； and tell her that Ulrich
sent them to her； and that his last word was a love…greeting for
her。 God； forgive me this falsehood！ But Elza loves him； and it will
gladden her heart。 She will preserve this bouquet to her wedding…
day； and she will not notice that I kept one flower from it for
myself。 It is the flower which he kissed； it shall be mine。 I
suppose； good God； that I may take it； and that it is no theft for
me to do so？〃
She looked up to heaven with a beseeching glance； then she softly
drew one of the flowers from the bouquet； pressed it to her lips；
and concealed it in her bosom。
〃I will preserve this flower while I live；〃 she exclaimed。 〃God
strengthened my heart so that I was able to reject him； but I shall
love him forever； and this flower is my wedding…bouquet。 I shall
never wear another！〃
She extended her arms in the direction where Ulrich had disappeared。
〃Farewell！〃 she cried。 〃I greet you a thousand times； and my heart
goes with you！〃
Then she turned and hastily descended the path which she had
ascended with Ulrich von Hohenberg。
CHAPTER XXIII
THE TRIUMPH OF DEATH
It was a wondrously beautiful morning in May； the sun shone clear
and bright； the birds sang in all the shrubs and trees； and the gay
spring flowers exhaled their fragrant odors in all the gardens。
Nature had donned its holiday attire； and yet humanity was in
mourning； the sun shone clear and bright； and yet the eyes of men
were sombre and lustreless； and instead of rejoicing over the fresh
verdure and the blossoms of spring； they grieved； and their hearts
were frozen with care and pain。
For the Emperor Napoleon had raised his proud hand again against
Germany； he had defeated the Austrians at Ratisbon and Landshut； and
made his triumphant entrance into Vienna on the 12th of May； 1809。
For the second time the imperial family； fleeing from the victorious
Napoleon； had been compelled to leave the capital； for the second
time the foreign emperor occupied the palace of Schoenbrunn； and
Vienna had to bow again to the will of the all…powerful conqueror。
The Emperor Francis had escaped with his wife and children to
Hungary； and Vienna； whose inhabitants had at first sworn
enthusiastically to defend their city to the last man； and lay it in
ashes rather than surrender it to the French； had nevertheless
opened its gates already on the 12th of May to the Emperor Napoleon
and his army。 It had to bow to stern necessity； for during the
previous night the Archduke Maximilian； with the weak forces with
which he had been ordered to defend Vienna； had evacuated the city；
had burned the great bridge of Thabor to prevent Napoleon from
pursuing him； and had succeeded in escaping； leaving it to the
Viennese to make terms with the conqueror and invoke his clemency
and generosity。 They had thus been obliged to conceal their rage and
exasperation in their hearts； and surrender to the tender mercies of
the French emperor； they had opened their gates to the enemy； but
not their hearts。 Their hearts were filled with boundless rage and
shame； which brought wild imprecations to the lips of the men； and
tears to the eyes of the women。
Joseph Haydn； the silver…haired octogenarian； had still the heart of
a fiery man in his bosom； and his trembling lips cursed the
conqueror； the relentless foe of Austria； and called down the wrath
of Heaven on the French emperor； who always spoke of peace and
conciliation； and always stirred up quarrels and enmities。 The
latest reverses of Austria had produced a most painful impression
upon the aged maestro； and the ravishing joy which had illuminated
Joseph Haydn's face at the performance of 〃The Creation；〃 had long
since disappeared from his careworn and mournful countenance。 His
eyes were gloomy and dim； and often veiled with tears； and when he
played his imperial hymn； as he did every morning； he could not sing
to it； for tears choked his voice； and the words； so full of
confidence and triumphant hope； seemed to him a bitter mockery。
He led now a very quiet and lonely life at his small house in the
Mariahilf suburb； and he did not even leave it； as he had formerly
always done； on Sundays； in order to go to mass。 The sight of the
French uniforms wounded his heart； and he grieved on seeing his
beloved Viennese oppressed and humiliated。
〃God is every where；〃 said Haydn to his faithful servant Conrad；
〃and He will hear my prayer even though I should utter it in my
quiet closet； and not at church。 But to…day； my friend； I will pray
to God in the open air。 See how gloriously the sun shines； and how
blue the sky is！ To…day is Sunday。 Let us； therefore； put on our
Sunday clothes。 Conrad； give me the fine ring which the great King
of Prussia presented to me； and then come to hear mass in my little
garden。〃
Conrad fetched quickly the Sunday clothes of his master； he helped
him to put on the silken and silver…embroidered coat； and put the
large diamond…ring； which Frederick the Great had one day sent to
the great master of harmony； on his finger。 Then he handed him his
hat and his strong cane； which was adorned with a golden cross…
piece； that the tottering octogenarian might lean on it。 Joseph
Haydn now left the room slowly； his right hand leaning on his cane；
his left arm resting on the shoulder of his servant。 Behind him
walked with a grave step the old cat； an heirloom from Haydn's
lamented wife； and hence highly prized and honored by the aged
maestro。 Purring softly； now raising its beautiful long tail； now
rolling it up； the cat followed close in the footsteps of its
master； through the hall and across the yard to the small garden。
〃How beautiful it is here！〃 said Haydn； standing still in the door
of the garden； and slowly looking around at the flowers and
shrubbery； the humming bees and flitting butter…flies。 〃Oh； how
gloriously beautiful is God's creation； and how radiant〃
〃How radiant is nature；〃 interrupted Conrad； 〃how brilliantly the
sun shines； and how splendid the lawn looks！〃
〃You are a fool； old Conrad； to repeat these words from MY
'Creation；'〃 said Haydn； with a gentle smile。 〃I was not thinking of
MY 'Creation' at this moment； but of God's creation。 And He
certainly knew more about the music of the creation than I did； and…
…just listen how the nightingale sings in the elder…bush yonder！ It
is an air such as is to be found only in God's Creation； and； as
Joseph Haydn； with all his talents and enthusiasm； never was able to
compose。 Oh； how sweetly this prima donna assoluta of the good God
sings； and what divine melodies； modulations； and harmonies she
warbles forth； andBut what is that？〃
〃That is the parrot singing an air from Joseph Haydn's 'Creation；'〃
exclaimed Conrad； bursting into triumphant laughter。 〃And just
listen； doctor； the prima donna assoluta of the good God has become
entirely silent； and listens with delight to the divine melodies；
modulations；