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Der Donner rollet uns entgegen；
Der Regen saeuselt； jedes Wesen strebt
In's Dasein； und bestimmt； des Schoepfers Werk zu kroenen
Sehn wir das erste Paar； gefuehrt von Deinen Toenen。
Oh； jedes Hochgefuehl； das in dem Herzen schlief；
Ist wach！ Wer rufet nicht： wie schoen ist diese Erde？
Und schoener； nun ihr Herr anch dich in's Dasein rief；
Auf dass sein Werk vollendet werde！〃
＇Footnote：
〃Thy wondrous song in melting strains
To our mute hearts swift entrance gains；
By magical yet unfelt force；
We see creation's mighty course：
The firmament appears in space
God breathes upon the water's face。
One flashing word bids primal light appear；
Revolving stars begin their vast career；
Upheaving mountains now are seen；
Tall trees and tender herbage green；
Young animals to being rise；
And animate by living cries；
We hear the mighty thunder roar；
And rains in gushing torrents pour。
All creatures struggle into life； and stand
Before our eyes； fresh from their Maker's hand；
The first pair； led by thy sweet tones。
Now waked by inspiration's art；
Enthusiasm stirs our heart。
Who cries not； 'Earth is passing fair！'
Yet far more fair her Maker is；
How perfect every work of his！〃
After concluding his recitation； Iffland approached the old man
quickly； knelt down before him and imprinted a kiss on his clasped
hands。 Then； without adding another word； he rose； and； walking
backward as if before a king； approached the door； opened it softly；
and went out； followed by Schmid。 ＇Footnote： The whole account of
this interview between Joseph Haydn and Iffland is in strict
accordance with Iffland's own report of it in his 〃Theatre…Almanac；〃
pp。 181…207。＇
〃Farewell！〃 exclaimed Haydn； in a deeply…moved voice； and sank back
in the easy…chair。 Profound silence now reigned around him； but all
at once this silence was broken by a thundering crash； which caused
the windows to rattle and shook the walls。 The deafening noise was
repeated again and again； and rolled through the air like the angry
voice of God。
And now the door opened； and Conrad and Kate； the aged servant…
woman； rushed into the room。 〃Ah； master； master； it is all up now；
and we are all lost！ The Austrians and the French are in force close
to Vienna； and the battle has already commenced。〃
〃The battle has commenced！〃 exclaimed Joseph Haydn； rising from his
easy…chair； and lifting his hand to heaven。 〃The battle has
commenced！ Good and great God in heaven； protect our fatherland； and
grant Austria a glorious victory over her arrogant foe！ Do not allow
Austria and Germany to succumb； help us to defeat the proud enemy
who has humiliated and oppressed us so long！ O Lord my God； shield
the honor of Germany and Austria！ Protect the emperor！〃
And Joseph Haydn walked through the room with the vigor and alacrity
of a youth； dropped his hands on the keys of the piano； and began to
play in full concords the melody of his imperial hymn； 〃Gott erhalte
Franz den Kaiser！〃 Conrad and Kate stood behind him； singing in a
low； tremulous tone； but outside； the booming of artillery continued
incessantly； and they heard also the cries of the people who were
hurrying in dismay through the streets； and the tolling of all the
church…bells； which called upon the Viennese to pray to God。
All at once Haydn paused in the middle of the tune； his hands
dropped from the。 keys； a long sigh burst from his lips； and he sank
fainting into the arms of his faithful Conrad。 His servants carried
him to his couch； and soon succeeded in restoring him to
consciousness。 He opened his eyes slowly； and his first glance fell
upon Conrad； who stood weeping at his bedside。
〃The nightingale was right； my end is drawing nigh；〃 he said； with a
faint smile。 〃But I will not die before learning that the Austrians
have defeated the enemy； and that my emperor has gained a battle。〃
And in truth Joseph Haydn's strong will once more over…powered
death； which had already touched him with its finger。 He raised
himself upon his couch； he would not die while Austria was
struggling on the reeking； gory field of battle for the regeneration
or her end。
Two days followed； two dreadful days of uncertainty and terror； they
heard incessantly the booming of artillery； but although the
Viennese gazed down from their church…steeples all day； they were
unable to discern any thing。 Tremendous clouds of smoke covered the
country all around； and wrapped the villages of Aspern and Essling
and the island of Lobau in an impenetrable veil of mist。
Joseph Haydn passed these days； the 21st and 22d of May； in silent
grief and gentle resignation； he prayed often； and played his
imperial hymn three times a day。
Thus the morning of the 22d of May had come。 Conrad had gone into
the street to ask for news； for the booming of artillery had ceased；
and the battle wars over。 〃Which side was victorious？〃 That was the
question which caused all to tremble； and which filled all hearts
with intense anxiety。
Haydn's heart； too； was full of grave anxiety； and； to overcome his
impatience till Conrad's return； he had caused Kate to conduct him
to his piano。
〃I will play my imperial hymn；〃 he said； hastily； 〃I have often
derived comfort and relief from it in the days of uneasiness and
anxiety； and when I play； it my heart is always so much at ease。 Its
strength will not fail me to…day either。〃 ＇Footnote： Haydn's own
words。See 〃Zeitgonosson；〃 vol。 iv。； third series； p。 36。＇
He commenced playing； a blissful smile illuminated his features； he
lifted his radiant eyes to heaven； and his music grew louder and
fierier； and his fingers glided more powerfully over the keys of the
piano。 Suddenly the door was thrown open； and Conrad rushed in；
panting from the rapid run； flushed with excitement； but with a
joyful face。
〃Victory！〃 he shouted。 〃Victory！〃 And he sank down at Haydn's feet。
〃Which side was victorious？〃 asked Haydn； anxiously。
〃The Austrians were victorious；〃 said Conrad； pantingly。 〃Our
Archduke Charles has defeated the Emperor Napoleon at Aspern； the
whole French army retreated to the island of Lobau； whence it can no
longer escape。 Thousands of French corpses are floating down the
Danube； and proclaiming to the world that Austria has conquered the
French！ Hurrah！ hurrah！ Our hero； the Archduke Charles； has defeated
the villainous Bonaparte！ Hurrah！〃
〃Hurrah！ hurrah！〃 repeated the parrot on its pole； and the cat
raised its head from the cushion on which it had lain； and gazed
with keen； searching eyes at the parrot； as if it had understood
Paperl's jubilant notes。
Joseph Haydn said nothing； but clasped his hands and looked
rapturously upward。 After a pause he exclaimed； in a loud and joyous
voice： 〃Lord God； I thank Thee for not disappointing my firm trust；
but protecting Austria and helping her to vanquish her foe。 I knew
full well that the just cause would triumph； and the just cause is
that of Austria； for France； hypocritical France alone provoked this
war； and Austria drew the sword only to defend her honor and her
frontiers。 The just cause could not but triumph； and hence Austria
had to conquer； and Fr