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and expelled； for Germany will never be united； she will never stand
up as one man； but always resemble a number of rats grown together
by their tails； and striving to move in opposite directions。 Let us
speak no more of a united Germany； it was the phantom that ruined my
uncle； the Emperor Joseph； whom enthusiasts call the Great Joseph。
But I do not want to be ruined； and therefore I do not want to hear
any thing of a united Germany。 Thank God； since 1806； I am no longer
Emperor of Germany； but only Emperor of Austria； and that is enough
for me。 I do not care what the princes of the Confederation of the
Rhine are doing； nor what intrigues Prussia is entering into in
order to rise from its humiliating prostration； I fix my eyes only
on Austria； and think only whether Austria will be able to cope with
Bonaparte； or whether she may not ultimately fare as badly as
Prussia did。 We have unfortunately experienced already one
Austerlitz； if we should suffer another defeat like it； we would be
lost； hence we must be cautious； and I ask you； therefore； why you
do not want me now to accept the resignation of the generalissimo；
when； only a fortnight ago； you advocated his removal from the
command…in…chief of the army？〃
〃Your majesty； because a fortnight ago he had been repeatedly
defeated； and because he has now gained a brilliant victory。 This
shows your majesty again the difference between opinions and
principles。 Opinions change and are influenced by success。 After the
battle of Ratisbon； the generalissimo was looked upon with distrust
and anxiety by his army； nay； by the whole people of Austria； who
turned their eyes to the Archduke John； the victor of Sacile and St。
Boniface； and wanted to see at the head of the army a victorious
general； instead of the defeated Archduke Charles； but the latter
has acted the hero； and been victorious at Aspern； and the love and
confidence of the army and people are restored to him； all look upon
him as the liberator of the fatherland； and will stand by him until…
…〃
〃Until he loses another battle；〃 interrupted the emperor；
sneeringly。 〃My dear count； one swallow does not make a summer； and…
…Well； what is it； Leonard？〃 said the emperor； turning quickly to
his footman； who entered the room at this moment。
〃Your majesty； his imperial highness the Archduke John has just
arrived； and requests an audience。〃
〃Let the archduke come in；〃 said the emperor； and when the footman
had withdrawn； Francis turned again to the minister。 〃He is the
second swallow in which the childish people here are hoping；〃 he
said。 〃But two swallows do not make a summer either； there may still
be a frost under which John's young laurels of Sacile and St。
Boniface will wither。Ah； here is my brother。〃
The emperor advanced a few steps to meet the Archduke John； who had
just crossed the threshold； and stood still at the door to bow
deeply and reverentially to his imperial brother。
〃No ceremonies； brother； no ceremonies；〃 said the emperor； smiling；
〃we are here not in the imperial palace； but in the camp； my crown
is in Vienna； and my head is therefore bare； while yours is wreathed
with laurels。〃
The emperor said this in so sarcastic a tone that the archduke gave
a start； and his cheeks crimsoned with indignation。 But he
restrained his anger； and fixed his eyes calmly on the sneering face
of the emperor。
〃Your majesty condescends to jest；〃 he said； composedly； 〃and I am
glad to see from this that my brother； the victor of Aspern； has
gladdened your majesty's heart。〃
〃Your majesty；〃 said Count Stadion； in a low； pressing tone； 〃will
you not graciously permit me to withdraw？〃
〃Ah； you think your presence would be inconvenient during our
interview； and might hinder the free exchange of our confidential
communications？ But I do not believe that I and my brother have any
special secrets to communicate to each other； so that the presence
of my minister would be inconvenient to us。 However； let the
archduke decide this point。 Tell me therefore； brother； is it
necessary that you should see me alone and without witnesses？〃
〃On the contrary； your majesty；〃 said John； calmly； 〃it will be
agreeable to me if the minister of foreign affairs is present at our
interview； for； as your majesty deigned to observe； we never have
confidential communications to make to each other； and as we shall
speak only of business affairs； the minister may take part in the
conversation。〃
〃Stay； then； count。 And now； my esteemed brother； may I take the
liberty of asking what induced the commanding…general of my army of
Upper Austria； now stationed at Comorn； to leave his post and pay me
a friendly visit here at Wolkersdorf？〃
〃Your majesty； I come to implore my sovereign to graciously fulfil
the promise which your majesty vouchsafed to me at Vienna。 Your
majesty promised me that I should succor with the forces intrusted
to me the Tyrolese in their heroic struggle for deliverance from the
foreign yoke； and that I might devote all my efforts to aiding this
noble and heroic people； which has risen as one man in order to be
incorporated again with Austria。 It was I who organized the
insurrection of the Tyrol； who appointed the leaders of the
peasants； and fixed the day and hour when the insurrection was to
break out。〃
〃Yes； yes； it is true；〃 interrupted the emperor； 〃you proved that
you were a skilful and shrewd revolutionist； and it was really
fortunate for me that you availed yourself of your revolutionary
talents； not AGAINST me； but FOR me。 If I shall ever recover full
possession of the Tyrol； I shall be indebted for it only to the
revolutionary skill of my brother John； and I shall always look upon
it as an act of great disinterestedness on your part to leave me the
Tyrol； and not keep it for yourself； for it is in your hands； and it
is you whom the Tyrolese in their hearts call their real emperor。〃
〃Your majesty is distrustful of the love of the faithful Tyrolese；〃
said John； mournfully； 〃and yet they have sealed it with their blood
since the insurrection broke out； it was always the name of their
Emperor Francis with which they went into battle； the name of the
Emperor Francis with which they exulted triumphantly when God and
their intrepidity made them victorious。〃
〃No； archduke； I know better！〃 exclaimed the Emperor； vehemently。
〃They did not confine themselves to rendering homage to me； but when
the peasants had taken Innspruck； they placed the Archduke John's
picture on the triumphal arch by the side of my own portrait；
surrounded it with candles； and rendered the same homage to it as to
that of the emperor。〃
〃It is true； the honest peasants know nothing of etiquette；〃 said
John； sadly。〃 They believed in their simplicity that they might love
a little their emperor's brother； who had been sent to their
assistance by his majesty； and that they might place his picture
without further ceremony by the side of that of the emperor。 But
that they nevertheless knew very well how to distinguish the emperor
from the archduke； and that they granted to the emperor the first
place in their hearts； and deemed him the sole object of the