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withdraw in silence； and shut up my grief and my apprehensions in my
bosom； but my fatherland is at stake； and so is the poor Tyrol； so
enthusiastic in its love； so unwavering in its fidelity； and so are
the honor and glory of our arms。 Hence； I will dare once more to
speak the truth； and may God impart strength to my words！〃
CHAPTER XXV。
THE EMPEROR FRANCIS AT WOLBERSDORF。
The Emperor of Austria was still at his headquarters at Wolkersdorf。
The news of the victory at Aspern had illuminated the Emperor's face
with the first rays of hope； and greatly lessened the influence of
the peace…party over him。 The war…party became more confident； the
beautiful； pale face of the Empress Ludovica became radiant as it
had never been seen before； and Count Stadion told the emperor he
would soon be able to return to Vienna。
But the Emperor Francis shook his head with an incredulous smile。
〃You do not know Bonaparte；〃 he said； 〃if you think he will； because
he has suffered a defeat； be immediately ready to make peace and
return to France。 Now he will not rest before he gains a victory and
repairs the blunders he has committed。 There is wild and insidious
blood circulating in Bonaparte's veins； and the battle of Aspern has
envenomed it more than ever。 Did you not hear； Stadion； of what
Bonaparte is reported to have said？ He declared that there was no
longer a dynasty of the Hapsburgs； but only the petty princes of
Lorraine。 And do you not know that he has addressed to the
Hungarians a proclamation advising them to depose me without further
ceremony； and elect another king； of course one of the new…fangled
French princes？ Do you not know that he has sent to Hungary
emissaries who are calling upon the people to rise against me and
conquer their liberty； which he； Bonaparte； would protect？ In truth；
it is laughable to hear Bonaparte still prating about liberty as
though it were a piece of sugar which he has only to put into the
mouth of the nations； when they are crying like babies； in order to
silence them； and thereupon pull the wool quietly over their eyes。
But it is true； the nations really are like babies； they do not
become reasonable and wise； and the accursed word 'liberty；' which
Bonaparte puts as a flea into their ears； maddens them still as
though a tarantula had bitten them。 They have seen in Italy and
France what sort of liberty Napoleon brings to them； and what a yoke
he intends to lay on their necks while telling them that he wishes
to make freemen of them。 But they do not become wise； and who knows
if the Magyars will not likewise allow themselves to be fooled and
believe in the liberty which Bonaparte promises to them？〃
〃No； your majesty；〃 said Count Stadion； 〃the Magyars are no
children； they are men who know full well what to think of
Bonaparte's insidious flatteries； and will not permit him to mislead
them by his deceptive promises。 They received the Archduke John with
genuine enthusiasm； and every day volunteers are flocking to his
standards to fight against the despot who； like a demon of terror；
tramples the peace and prosperity of all Europe under his bloody
feet。 No； Bonaparte can no longer count upon the sympathies of the
nations； they are all ready to rise against him； and in the end
hatred will accomplish that which love and reason were unable to
bring about。 The hatred of the nations will crush Bonaparte and hurl
him from his throne。〃
〃Provided the princes of the Rhenish Confederation do not support
him； or provided the Emperor Alexander of Russia does not catch him
in his arms；〃 said Francis； shrugging his shoulders。〃 I have no
great confidence in what you call the nations； they are really
reckless and childish people。 If Bonaparte is lucky again； even the
Germans will idolize him before long； but if he is unlucky； they
will stone him。 Just look at my illustrious brother； the
generalissimo。 After the defeats of Landshut and Ratisbon； and the
humble letter which he wrote to Bonaparte； you； Count Stadion；
thought it would be good for the Archduke Charles if we gave him a
successor； and if we removed him； tormented as he is by a painful
disease； from the command…in…chief of the army。 We； therefore；
suggested to the archduke quietly to present his resignation which
would be promptly accepted。 But the generalissimo would not hear of
it； and thought he would have first to make amends for the defeats
which he had sustained at Landshut and Ratisbon。 Now he has done so；
he has avenged his former defeats and achieved a victory at Aspern；
and after this brilliant victory he comes and offers his
resignation； stating that his feeble health compels him to lay down
the command and surrender if to some one else。 But all at once my
minister of foreign affairs has changed his mind： the victory of
Aspern has converted him； and he thinks now that the generalissimo
must remain at the head of the army。 If so sagacious and eminent a
man as Count Stadion allows success to mould his opinion； am I not
right in not believing that the frivolous fellows whom you call 'the
nations' have no well…settled opinions at all？〃
〃Pardon me； sire；〃 said Count Stadion； smiling； 〃your majesty
commits a slight error。 Your majesty confounds principles with
opinions。 An honorable man and an honorable nation may change their
opinions； but never will they change their principles。 Now the
firmer and more immovable their principles are； the more easily they
may come to change their opinions； for they seek for instruments to
carry out their principles； they profit to…day by the cervices of a
tool which seems to them sufficiently sharp to perform its task； and
they cast it aside to…morrow because it has become blunt； and must
be replaced by another。 This is what happens to the nations and to
myself at this juncture。 The nations are bitterly opposed to France；
the whole German people； both north and south； is unanimous in its
intense hatred against Napoleon。 The nations do not allow him to
deceive them； they see through the Caesarean mask； and perceive the
face of the tyrant； despot； and intriguer； lurking behind it。 They
do not believe a word of his pacific protestations and promises of
freedom and liberal reforms； for they see that he always means war
when he prates about peace； that he means tyranny when he promises
liberty； and that he gives Draconic laws instead of establishing
liberal institutions。 The nations hate Napoleon and abhor his
despotic system。 They seek for means to annihilate him and deliver
at length the bloody and trembling world from him。 If the princes
were as unanimous in their hatred as the nations are； Germany would
stand as one man； sword in hand； and this sublime and imposing
spectacle would cause Napoleon to retreat with his host beyond the
Rhine； the German Rhine； whose banks would be guarded by the united
people of Germany。〃 〃You speak like a Utopian； my dear count；〃 said
the emperor； with a shrug。 〃If the united people of Germany are
alone able to defeat and expel Bonaparte； he will never he defeated
and expelled； for Germany will never be united； she will never stand
up as one man； but always resemble a number