第19章

"ThereisastrangerfromBerlin，"hesaid，"whobeggedmeurgentlytoadmithinttoDr。Haydn，Mr。Schmid，themanagerofthetheatre，iswithhim，andrequestsyoutoseethestranger，who，hesays，isacelebratedpoet。"

"IfSchmidiswithhim，letthemcomein，"saidHaydn，mildly;"itwilldoubtlessbethelasttimeIshallseemydearold—friendonearth。"

Conradthrewopenthedoor，andbeckonedthegentlemen，whowerestandingoutside，tocomein。Thetwocrossedthethresholdsoftlyontiptoe，andwithfacesexpressiveofprofoundreverence;asifseizedwithcompassionorpiousawe，theystoodstillatthedoor，andgazedwitheyesfulloftendernessuponHaydn，who，atthismoment，overcomeperhapsbythespringair，hadclosedhiseyes，andnotheardtheentranceofthevisitors。

"Thatishe，"whisperedoneofthetwo，amanofatall，erectform，withafaceradiantwithunderstandingandsagacity。"Thatishe！"

herepeated，fixinghisardenteyesonthecomposer。

"Yes，thatisJosephHaydn，"saidtheother，inalowvoice，andanexpressionofprofoundgriefoverspreadhisbroad，good—naturedface。"Buthush！heopenshiseyes。"

AndheapproachedHaydn，whoheldoutbothhishandstohim，andgreetedhimwithagentlesmile。

"Doyoucometobidfarewelltoyouroldfriendoncemoreprevioustohisdeath？"heasked，mildly。"Doyouwishtotakeleaveofme，mydearfriendSchmid？"

"No，Idonotcometobidyoufarewell，butwishyougood—day，"saidSchmid，warmly，"andprayyoutoreceivethisgentlemanherekindly。

ItisIffland，thecelebratedactorandpoetfromBerlin。HehadcometoViennabeforetheFrenchtookthecity，andafteritscapturehecouldnolongergetout:theydetainedhim，anditwasnotuntilnowthat，bydintofthemostpressingsolicitations，hereceivedpermissiontoreturntoBerlin。"

"ButIcouldnotleaveViennawithoutseeingthegreatHaydn，"

exclaimedIffland，inhisfine，sonorousvoice。"WhatwouldthepeopleofBerlinthinkofmeifIhadnotseenthemostillustriousgeniusofourtime？"

"Sir，"saidHaydn，withasigh，"lookatme，andlearnfrommyweaknesshowfragilemaniswithallhisglory。"

"Manaloneisfragile，butgeniusisimmortal，"exclaimedIffland，"andJosephHaydnisageniuswhoseglorywillneverdie。"

"Letmyfootmantellyouthegloryofthenightingaleandtheparrot，"saidHaydn，withafaintsmile。"Theworksofmanareperishable，buttheworksofGodlastforever。"

"ButtheworksofmancomelikewisefromGod，foritwasHewhogavehimthestrengthtocreatethem，"repliedIffland，warmly。"DidnotthegreatandgloriouscreationsofyourgeniuscomejustasmuchfromGodastheflowerswhichyouholdinyourhand，andtheperfumesofwhichdelightyousovisibly？"

"Yes，theseflowersarebeautiful，"saidHaydn，musingly。

"Thebouquetisdoubtlessagiftfromoneofthemanyfairadmirersofourmaestro？"askedSchmid，laughing。

Haydnlookeduptohimsmilinglyandshookhisheadgently。"No，"hesaid，"itisthelastsouvenirofNature，towhichIhavebiddenfarewell。Iworshippedto—dayintheopenair，andthisistherosarywithwhichIwillpray。Ah，IloveNaturesopassionately！"

"AndyouhavetaughtthosewhoseeyesandearswereclosedagainsttheholycharmsofNature，howtoseeandhear，"saidIffland。"Your`Seasons\'isthemostglorioushymnonGod\'ssplendidworld。"

"Yes，the\'Seasons，\'"criedHaydn，almostvehemently，"gavemethedeath—blow。Itwassodifficultformetoderiveenthusiasmfromthewordsofthetext。Thewordssaidsolittle，reallysoverylittle！

Frequentlyasinglepassagecausedmeagreatdealoftroubleforseveraldays，andIdidnotsucceedafterallinexpressingtheideaIwishedtoconveytothehearers。Thewordswereadeadweightonmymusic。Well，itisallovernow。Yes，yousee，itisallovernow。The`Seasons\'istoblameforit，foritexhaustedmylaststrength。Ihavehadtoworkhardallmylifetime;Ihadtosufferhunger，thirst，andcoldinmywretchedattic，whenceIhadtodescendahundredandthirtystepsbeforereachingthestreet。

Privations，hardwork，hunger，inshort，allthatIsufferedinmyyouth，arenowexertingtheireffectsonmeandprostratingme。Butitisanhonorabledefeat——itishardworktowhichIamsuccumbing。

However，Godassistedme。Ineverfeltitmorestrikinglythanthisveryday，andthereforeIamsohappy，oh！sohappy，thatImustshedtearsofblissfulemotion。Donotlaughatmeonthisaccount。

Iamaweakoldman，andwhenanythingaffectsmeprofoundly，I

mustweep。Itwasotherwiseinformeryears。Ah，informeryears！"

Heturnedhistearfuleyestowardthewindow，andgazedintovacancy。"Informeryearsmymindwasstrongandvigorous，"hesighed，"andwhenIwrotemy\'Creation，\'amanlyfirefilledmyheart。"

"Yourenthusiasmisimprintedonyourgreatwork，anditwillneverdisappearfromit，"saidIffland。"JosephHaydn\'s\'Creation\'isimmortalandfullofeternalyouth。TheVienneseprovedittoyouonhearingyoursublimemusictheotherday。"

"ButIprovedtothemthatIhadbecomesofeeblethatIcouldnolongerbearlisteningtomyownmusic。Ihadtoleavetheroomlongbeforetheperformancewasatanend。"

"Yououghtnottohavegonetotheconcertatall，"saidSchmid。

"Theexcitementmighthavebeeninjurioustoyourhealth。"

"Itwasinjurioustome，"saidHaydn，"butconsiderationsofhealthhadnorighttopreventmefrombeingpresent。ItwasnotthefirsttimethathomagehadbeenrenderedtoHaydn，andIwishedtoshowthatIwasabletobearitthistimetoo。Ah，itwasagloriousevening，andneverdidIhearabetterperformanceofmy\'Creation。\'"

"Itwasthegreatcomposer\'sapotheosiswhichthemusiciansandsingerswerecelebrating，"saidIffland，deeplymoved……

"ItistruetheViennesehavedoneagreatdealforme。Theyaresogood，andtheylovemedearly。"

"Oh，theViennesearenotaheadofthepeopleofBerlininthisrespect，"exclaimedIffland。"InBerlin，too，everyoneknowsandlovesthegreatJosephHaydn，andhis\'Creation\'islikewiserecognizedthereasamasterpiece。ItwasperformedinBerlinquiterecentlyatacharityconcert，thereceiptsofwhichamountedtoovertwothousanddollars——"

"Overtwothousanddollarsforthepoor，"saidJosephHaydn，withbeamingeyes;"oh，mywork，thengavethepooragoodday。Thatissplendid，thatisthemostbeautifulrewardforalifeoftoilsandprivations。But，"headded，afterabriefpause，"itisallovernow。Icannolongerdoanything。Iamaleaflesstree，whichwillbreakdownto—dayorto—morrow。"

"ThefallofthistreewillmovethewholeofGermanyasagreatcalamitybefallingeveryloverofhiscountry。"

"Yes，itistrue，muchlovehasbeenmanifestedforme，muchhomagehasbeenrenderedtome，"saidHaydn，musingly。

"Allnationsandallprinceshaverenderedhomagetoyou，"exclaimedIffland。"Thelaurel—wreath，forwhichweotherpoetsandartistsarcstrugglingallourlifetime，andwhichisgenerallybestoweduponusonlyafterweareinthegrave，waslongsincegrantedtoyouinthemostflatteringandgratifyingmanner。Europehaspresentedyou，notwithone，butwithmanylaurel—wreaths，andyoumaylookbackonyourlifelikeavictorioushero，foreachofyourexploitswasatriumphforwhichyoureceivedlaurel—wreathsandtrophies。"

"Yes，Ihavemanysouvenirsofmypast，"saidHaydn，smilingly。"I

willshow。themtoyou。——Conrad，givememytreasures。"

Conradopenedthedrawerofthelargewriting—tablewhichwasstandingclosetoHaydn，andwhichcontainedagreatmanylargeandsmalletuis，casketsandboxes。

"Youshallseemytreasuresnow，"exclaimedHaydn，cheerfully。Inthefirstplace，heshowedthemabeautifulcasketmadeofebonyandgold。ItwasagiftwithwhichtheyoungPrincessEsterhazyhadpresentedthebelovedandadoredfriendofherhouseonlyafewweeksago，andonwhoselidwaspaintedasplendidminiaturerepresentingthesceneatthelastperformanceof"TheCreation，"

whenHaydnreceivedtheenthusiastichomageoftheaudience。Hethenshowedthemthelargegoldmedalsenthim;in1800，fromParis，bythetwohundredandfiftymusicianswho，onChristmaseveninginthatyear，hadperformed"TheCreation，"andtherebydelightedallParis。Thenfollowedmanyothermedalsfrommusicalsocietiesandconservatories，andvaluablediamondrings，snuff—boxes，andbreastpinsfromkingsandemperors。Last，Haydnshowedthem，withpeculiaremotion，thediplomaofcitizenshipwhichthecityofViennahadconferredonhim:Itwascontainedinasilvercase，anditssightcausedhiseyesevennowtoflashwiththemostintensesatisfaction。

Hehadplacedonthetablebeforehimeverypiece，aftershowingittothemandexplainingitsmeaning;andnowthatallthetreasureswerespreadoutbeforehim，hecontemplatedthemwithablissfulsmile，andnoddedtothemasiftodearoldfriends。

"Donotlaughatme，"hesaid，liftinghiseyestoIffland，almostbeseechingly。"Iamfondlyattachedtothesethings，andhenceitdelightedmetolookatthemfromtimetotimewithmyfriends。Youwillsaytheyaretheplaythingsofanoldman。Buttheyaremorethanthattome;onbeholdingthem，Ithinkofmypastlife，andmyrecollectionsrendermeyoungagainforafewmoments。Aftermydeathallthesethingswillpassintodearhands，andIhopethat，whenIamslumberinginmygrave，mysouvenirswillbecarefullypreservedandhonoredifonlyformysake。"[Footnote:HaydnbequeathedallhistrinketsandmanuscriptstotheEsterhazyfamily，whohadhonoredhimsohighlyduringhiswholelife。]

"IhopethedayisdistantwhenGermanywillhavetolamentthedeathofherfavorite，JosephHaydn，"exclaimedIffland。

"Thatdayiscloseathand，"saidHaydn，calmly;"Ifeelto—daymoredistinctlythaneverbeforethatmyendisdrawingnigh。Mystrengthisexhausted。"

"Letusgo，"whisperedSchmid，pointingtoHaydn，whohadfeeblysunkbackintohiseasy—chair，andwasleaninghispaleheadagainstthecushions。

Ifflandfixedhiseyesforalongtimewithanexpressionofheart—

feltgriefonthegroaning，brokenformreposingintheeasy—chair。

"Andthatisallthatisleftofagreatcomposer，ofageniuswhodelightedthewholeworld！"hesighed。"Ah，whatafragileshellourbodyis，amiserabledwellingforthesoullivinginit！Come，myfriend，letussoftlyleavetheroom。OnlyIwouldliketotakeasouvenirwithme，aflowerfromthebouquetwhichHaydnheldinhishands。MayIventuretotakeone？"

AtthismomentHaydnopenedhiseyesagain，andfixedthemwithagentleexpressiononIffland。"Iheardallyousaid，"heremarked;

"butIwastoofeebletospeak。Youwishtogetoneofmyflowers？

No，youshallhavethemall。"

Hetookthebouquet，lookedatittenderly，andburiedhiswholefaceforamomentintheflowers，andthenhandedittoIfflandwithagentlesmile。

"Farewell，"hesaid;"remembermeonlookingattheseflowers。I

wouldIhadknownyouinhappierdays，whenIshouldhavebeenabletoenjoyyourgeniusandadmireyourart。Youmustbeagreatactor，foryouhaveawonderfullysonorousandpliablevoice。Ishouldliketohearyoudeclaim，eventhoughyoushouldrecitebutafewverses。"

"Permitme，then，torecitethelinesinwhichWielandcelebratedyour\'Creation，\'"saidIffland;and，advancingafewsteps，holdingthebouquetinhishand，andfixinghisgleamingeyesonHaydn，whogazedathimwithagentlesmile，IfflandrecitedinhisfullsonorousvoiceWieland\'sbeautifullines:

"Wiestroem\'tdeinwogenderGesangInuns\'reHerzenein！WirsehenDerSchoepfungmaecht\'genGang，DenHauchdesHerrnaufdemGewaesserwehen;

JetztdurcheinblitzendWortdasersteLichtentstehen，UnddieGestirnesichdurchihreBahnendrehen;

WieBaumundPflanzewird，wiesichderBergerhebt，UndfrohdesLebenssichdiejungenThiereregen。

DerDonnerrolletunsentgegen;

DerRegensaeuselt，jedesWesenstrebtIn\'sDasein;undbestimmt，desSchoepfersWerkzukroenenSehnwirdaserstePaar，gefuehrtvonDeinenToenen。

Oh，jedesHochgefuehl，dasindemHerzenschlief，Istwach！Werrufetnicht:wieschoenistdieseErde？

Undschoener，nunihrHerranchdichin\'sDaseinrief，AufdassseinWerkvollendetwerde！"

[Footnote:

"ThywondroussonginmeltingstrainsToourmuteheartsswiftentrancegains;

Bymagicalyetunfeltforce，Weseecreation\'smightycourse:

Thefirmamentappearsinspace——

Godbreathesuponthewater\'sface。

Oneflashingwordbidsprimallightappear，Revolvingstarsbegintheirvastcareer;

Upheavingmountainsnowareseen，Talltreesandtenderherbagegreen;

Younganimalstobeingrise，Andanimatebylivingcries;

Wehearthemightythunderroar，Andrainsingushingtorrentspour。

Allcreaturesstruggleintolife;andstandBeforeoureyes，freshfromtheirMaker\'shand，Thefirstpair，ledbythysweettones。

Nowwakedbyinspiration\'sart，Enthusiasmstirsourheart。

Whocriesnot，\'Earthispassingfair！\'

YetfarmorefairherMakeris，Howperfecteveryworkofhis！"

Afterconcludinghisrecitation，Ifflandapproachedtheoldmanquickly，kneltdownbeforehimandimprintedakissonhisclaspedhands。Then，withoutaddinganotherword，herose，and，walkingbackwardasifbeforeaking，approachedthedoor，openeditsoftly，andwentout，followedbySchmid。[Footnote:ThewholeaccountofthisinterviewbetweenJosephHaydnandIfflandisinstrictaccordancewithIffland\'sownreportofitinhis"Theatre—Almanac，"

pp。181—207。]

"Farewell！"exclaimedHaydn，inadeeply—movedvoice，andsankbackintheeasy—chair。Profoundsilencenowreignedaroundhim;butallatoncethissilencewasbrokenbyathunderingcrash，whichcausedthewindowstorattleandshookthewalls。Thedeafeningnoisewasrepeatedagainandagain，androlledthroughtheairliketheangryvoiceofGod。

Andnowthedooropened，andConradandKate，theagedservant—

woman，rushedintotheroom。"Ah，master，master，itisallupnow，andwearealllost！TheAustriansandtheFrenchareinforceclosetoVienna，andthebattlehasalreadycommenced。"

"Thebattlehascommenced！"exclaimedJosephHaydn，risingfromhiseasy—chair，andliftinghishandtoheaven。"Thebattlehascommenced！GoodandgreatGodinheaven，protectourfatherland，andgrantAustriaagloriousvictoryoverherarrogantfoe！DonotallowAustriaandGermanytosuccumb;helpustodefeattheproudenemywhohashumiliatedandoppressedussolong！OLordmyGod，shieldthehonorofGermanyandAustria！Protecttheemperor！"

AndJosephHaydnwalkedthroughtheroomwiththevigorandalacrityofayouth，droppedhishandsonthekeysofthepiano，andbegantoplayinfullconcordsthemelodyofhisimperialhymn，"GotterhalteFranzdenKaiser！"ConradandKatestoodbehindhim，singinginalow，tremuloustone;butoutside，theboomingofartillerycontinuedincessantly，andtheyheardalsothecriesofthepeoplewhowerehurryingindismaythroughthestreets，andthetollingofallthechurch—bells，whichcalledupontheViennesetopraytoGod。

AllatonceHaydnpausedinthemiddleofthetune;hishandsdroppedfromthe。keys，alongsighburstfromhislips，andhesankfaintingintothearmsofhisfaithfulConrad。Hisservantscarriedhimtohiscouch，andsoonsucceededinrestoringhimtoconsciousness。Heopenedhiseyesslowly，andhisfirstglancefelluponConrad，whostoodweepingathisbedside。

"Thenightingalewasright;myendisdrawingnigh，"hesaid，withafaintsmile。"ButIwillnotdiebeforelearningthattheAustrianshavedefeatedtheenemy，andthatmyemperorhasgainedabattle。"

AndintruthJosephHaydn\'sstrongwilloncemoreover—powereddeath，whichhadalreadytouchedhimwithitsfinger。Heraisedhimselfuponhiscouch;hewouldnotdiewhileAustriawasstrugglingonthereeking，goryfieldofbattlefortheregenerationorherend。

Twodaysfollowed，twodreadfuldaysofuncertaintyandterror;theyheardincessantlytheboomingofartillery;butalthoughtheViennesegazeddownfromtheirchurch—steeplesallday，theywereunabletodiscernanything。Tremendouscloudsofsmokecoveredthecountryallaround，andwrappedthevillagesofAspernandEsslingandtheislandofLobauinanimpenetrableveilofmist。

JosephHaydnpassedthesedays，the21stand22dofMay，insilentgriefandgentleresignation;heprayedoften，andplayedhisimperialhymnthreetimesaday。

Thusthemorningofthe22dofMayhadcome。Conradhadgoneintothestreettoaskfornews，fortheboomingofartilleryhadceased，andthebattlewarsover。"Whichsidewasvictorious？"Thatwasthequestionwhichcausedalltotremble，andwhichfilledallheartswithintenseanxiety。

Haydn\'sheart，too，wasfullofgraveanxiety，and，toovercomehisimpatiencetillConrad\'sreturn，hehadcausedKatetoconducthimtohispiano。

"Iwillplaymyimperialhymn，"hesaid，hastily;"Ihaveoftenderivedcomfortandrelieffromitinthedaysofuneasinessandanxiety;andwhenIplay，itmyheartisalwayssomuchatease。Itsstrengthwillnotfailmeto—dayeither。"[Footnote:Haydn\'sownwords。——See"Zeitgonosson，"vol。iv。，thirdseries，p。36。]

Hecommencedplaying;ablissfulsmileilluminatedhisfeatures;heliftedhisradianteyestoheaven，andhismusicgrewlouderandfierier，andhisfingersglidedmorepowerfullyoverthekeysofthepiano。Suddenlythedoorwasthrownopen，andConradrushedin，pantingfromtherapidrun，flushedwithexcitement，butwithajoyfulface。

"Victory！"heshouted。"Victory！"AndhesankdownatHaydn\'sfeet。

"Whichsidewasvictorious？"askedHaydn，anxiously。

"TheAustrianswerevictorious，"saidConrad，pantingly。"OurArchdukeCharleshasdefeatedtheEmperorNapoleonatAspern;thewholeFrencharmyretreatedtotheislandofLobau，whenceitcannolongerescape。ThousandsofFrenchcorpsesarefloatingdowntheDanube，andproclaimingtotheworldthatAustriahasconqueredtheFrench！Hurrah！hurrah！Ourhero，theArchdukeCharles，hasdefeatedthevillainousBonaparte！Hurrah！"

"Hurrah！hurrah！"repeatedtheparrotonitspole;andthecatraiseditsheadfromthecushiononwhichithadlain，andgazedwithkeen，searchingeyesattheparrot，asifithadunderstoodPaperl\'sjubilantnotes。

JosephHaydnsaidnothing，butclaspedhishandsandlookedrapturouslyupward。Afterapauseheexclaimed，inaloudandjoyousvoice:"LordGod，IthankTheefornotdisappointingmyfirmtrust，butprotectingAustriaandhelpinghertovanquishherfoe。Iknewfullwellthatthejustcausewouldtriumph，andthejustcauseisthatofAustria;forFrance，hypocriticalFrancealoneprovokedthiswar，andAustriadrewtheswordonlytodefendherhonorandherfrontiers。Thejustcausecouldnotbuttriumph，andhenceAustriahadtoconquer，andFrance，hadtosuccumbinthisstruggle。GodprotecttheEmperorFrancis！Imaylaydownnowanddie。Austriaisvictorious！Thatisthelastjoyfulgreetingwhichtheworldsendstome。WiththisgreetingIwilldie——ay，die！Deathisalreadydrawingnigh。ButDeathwearsalaurel—wreathonitshead，anditseyeisradiantwithtriumphantjoy。GlorytoAustria！GlorytotheGermanfatherland！"

ThesewereJosephHaydn\'slastwords。Hefaintedaway。Itistruethephysicianssucceededinrestoringhimtolife，andhebreathedyetforsixdays;buthisliferesembledonlythelastfeebleflickerofthedyingflame，andinthenightofthe30thofMaydeathcametoextinguishthisflickeringflame。

CHAPTERXXIV。

THEARCHDUKEJOHNATCOMORN。

Theunheard—ofevent，then，hadtakenplace。NapoleonhadbeendefeatedbytheAustrians。TheArchdukeCharleshadgainedabrilliantvictory;NapoleonhadtransferredhiswholearmytotheislandofLobau;hehimselfpassedhistimeinmoodybroodingsatthecastleofEbersberg，andtheunexpecteddisasterwhichhadbefallenhimandwhichatthesametimehadbroughtaboutthedeathofoneofhisfavorites，MarshalLannes，seemedtohavesuddenlydeprivedtheemperorofallhisenergy。Hedidnotspeak，hedidnoteat;hesatforwholedaysinhiscabinet，staringatthemapsspreadoutbeforehimonhistable，andyetforgettingtocoverthem，asheusedtodoonconceivingtheplansofhiscampaigns，withthecoloredpinswhichrepresentedthedifferentarmies。

VictoryhadnolongerbeenabletosoftenthismarbleCaesareanface，butdefeatcausedhisfeaturesnowtowearanexpressionofprofoundangerandgrief。Nevertheless，hedidnotcomplain，andneverdidheconfesseventohisconfidantsthathewassuffering。

Onlyonce，forabriefmoment，heliftedtheveilconcealinghisfeelings，andpermittedhismarshalstoseeintotheinnermostrecessesofhissoul。Marmonthaddaredtopraytheemperor，inthenameofallthemarshals，toyieldnolongertohisgriefatwhathadoccurred，butbearinmindthatitwasincumbentonhimtopreservehimselfforthewelfareofhissubjectsandthegloryofhisfuture。Napoleonhadansweredwithafaintsmile:"YouthinkI

amsittingheretobroodovermymisfortune？Itistrue，Iamburyingmydead，and，asthereareunfortunatelyagreatmanyofthem，ittakesmealongtimetodoit。ButoverthetombofthedeadofEsslingIamgoingtoerectamonumentwhichwillberadiantwiththesplendorofvictory，andonitsfrontispieceshallbereadtheword\'Vengeance！\'TheEmperorofAustriaislost。HadIdefeatedhiminthisbattle，Ishould，perhaps，haveforgivenhisarroganceandperfidy;butashedefeatedme，Imustandshallannihilatehimandhisarmy。"

WhileNapoleonwasthusburyinghisdead，andreflectingonhis"monumentofvengeance，"theutmostrejoicingsreignedattheheadquartersoftheArchdukeCharles，thevictorofAspern;andallAustria，allGermanyjoinedintheserejoicings，andblessedthegloriousdayofBonaparte\'sfirsthumiliation。

AndthisvictorywassoonfollowedbythenewsofatriumphhardlylessgloriousthanthebattleofAspern。TheTyrolese，thosedespisedpeasants，hadgainedabrilliantvictoryovertheFrenchveterans，andtheirBavarianauxiliaries，onthe21stofMay，onMountIsel，nearthecityofInnspruck。AndreasHofer，commander—in—

chiefoftheunitedforcesoftheTyrolese，jointlywithSpeckbacher，Wallner，andtheCapuchinHaspinger，hadagaindefeatedtheBavariansandFrench，whohadre—enteredtheTyrol，anddeliveredtheprovinceasecondtimefromtheenemy。

CountNugent，quartermaster—generaloftheArchdukeJohn，hadenteredthelatter\'sroomwiththisjoyfulnews，andtoldhimwithsparklingeyesoftheheroicdeedsoftheTyrolese;ofHofer\'spiouszeal;oftheboldexploitsofWallnerandSpeckbacher，whosedeedsrecalledtheancientheroesofHomer;oftheintrepidCapuchinfriar，Haspinger，who，withahugewoodencrossinhishand，ledontheattack，andanimatedhisfollowersnotlessbyhisexamplethantheassurancesofDivineprotectionwhichheheldforth。CountNugenthadrelatedalltheseheroicdeedswithfervideloquencetothearchduke，andyet，tohisutterastonishment，thelatter\'sfacehadremainedgloomy，andnotarayofjoyhadilluminatedit。

"Yourimperialhighness，then，doesnotsharemyexultation？"heasked，mournfully。"Youreceivethenewsquitecoldlyandindifferently，andyetIamspeakingofyourbelovedTyrolese，ofyourheroes，AndreasHofer，JosephSpeckbacher，andAnthonyWallner？

TheyandtheirheroicmenhavedeliveredtheTyrolasecondtimefromtheenemy，andyourimperialhighnessdoesnotrejoiceatit？"

"No，mydearCount，"saidthearchduke，sighing，"fortheywillloseitagain。Allthisbloodwillhavebeenshedinvain，andmypoorTyrolwillbelostinspiteofit。"

"Youbelieveso？——youwhocalledupontheTyrolesetotakeuparms，whoinviteditsheroesandchampionstosuchdaringefforts，whoarereadyyourselftofightforthecourageousmountaineerstothelastextremity？"

"Yes，Iamalwaysreadytodoso，"criedJohn，laughingbitterly，"butwhatgoodwillitdo？Theywillwindcunningshacklesenoughroundmyfeettomakemefalltotheground;theywillmanaclemyhandsagain，andputmywillintothestrait—jacketofloyaltyandobedience。IcannotdowhatIwantto;Iamonlyatoolinthehandsofothers，andthiswillcausebothmyruinandthatoftheTyrol。I

amwillingtosacrificemylifefortheTyrol，andyetIshallbeunabletosaveit。Fortherest，myfriend，IknewalreadyalltheseparticularsofthebattleonMountIsel。AcourierfromHormayrhadjustreachedmeandbroughtmefulldetails。IwasabletosendbackbythecourierafinerewardforthebraveTyrolese，aletterfromtheemperor，myaugustbrother，whichIreceivedthismorningwiththeordertoforwardittothem。Ikeptacopyoftheimperialletter，fortheremaybeadaywhenitwillbenecessaryformetoremindtheemperorofthisletter。Hereisthecopy。Readitaloud，thatImayhear，too，howfinetheimperialwordssound。"

ThearchdukehandedapapertoCountNugent，whoreadasfollows:

"Afterourarmshadsufferedheavyreverses，andaftertheenemyhadcapturedeventhecapitaloftheempire，myarmysucceededindefeatingtheFrencharmyunderNapoleononthe21stand22dofMay，ontheMarshfield，anddrivingitindisorderacrosstheDanube。ThearmyandpeopleofAustriaareanimatedwithgreaterenthusiasmthanever;everythingjustifiesthemostsanguinehopes。TrustinginGodandmyjustcause，IdeclaretomyloyalprovincesoftheTyrolandVorarlberg，thattheyshallneveragainbeseparatedfromtheAustrianempire，andthatIwillsignnopeacebutonewhichwillindissolublyincorporatetheseprovinceswithmyotherstates。Yournobleconducthassunkdeepintomyheart;Iwillneverabandonyou。

Mybelovedbrother，theArchdukeJohn，willspeedilybeamongyou，andputhimselfatyourhead。FRANCIS。"

[Footnote:Hormayr，"DasHeervonInner—OesterreichunterdenBefehlendesErzherzogsJohann，"p。189。]

"Andyourimperialhighnessdoubts，evenafterthissolemnpromisegiventotheTyrolesebyhismajestytheemperor？"

"Myfriend，"saidthearchduke，castingalong，searchinglookroundtheroom，"wearealone，noonewatches，and，Itrust，noonehearsus。Letme，therefore，foronce，speakfranklywithyou;letmeunbosomtoyou，myfriend，whatIhavehithertosaidtoGodalone;

letmeforgetforaquarterofanhourthatIamasubjectoftheemperor，andthathismajestyismybrother;permitmetoexaminethesituationwiththeeyesofanimpartialobserver，andtojudgeofmenasaman。Well，then，ImustconfesstoyouthatIcannotsharetheuniversaljoyattherecentevents，and——mayGodforgiveme！——IdonotbelieveeveninthepromiseswhichtheemperormakestotheTyrolese。Hehimselfmayatthepresenthourbefirmlyresolvedtofulfilthem;hemayhavemadeuphismindnevertosignanypeacebutonewhichwillindissolublyincorporatetheTyrolwithhisempire;buttheevents，andespeciallymen，willassuredlycompelhimtoconsenttoanothertreatyofpeace。Youknowfullwellthattherearetwopartiesabouttheemperor，andthatthereisaconstantfeudbetweenthesetwoparties。Onewantswar，theotherwantspeace;andthepeace—partyisunfortunatelyheadedbytheArchdukeCharles，thegeneralissimoofourarmy。YouknowthefawningandsubmissiveletterwhichthegeneralissimoaddressedtoNapoleonafterthedefeatofRatisbon，andwhichNapoleondisdainedtoanswer。[Footnote:TheArchdukeCharleswrotetoNapoleononthe30thofApril，1809:"YourMajestyannouncedyourarrivalbyasalvoofartillery;Ihadnotimetoreplytoit。But，thoughhardlyinformedofyourpresence，IspeedilydiscovereditbythelosseswhichIexperienced。Youhavetakenmanyprisonersfromme，sire，andIhavetakensomethousandsfromyouinquarterswhereyouwerenotpersonallypresent。Iproposetoyourmajestytoexchangethem，manforman，rankforrank;and，ifthatproposalprovesagreeabletoyou，pointouttheplacewhereitmaybepossibletocarryitintoeffect。Ifeelflattered，sire，incombatingthegreatestcaptainoftheage;butIshouldesteemmyselfmuchhappierifHeavenhadchosenmetobetheinstrumentofprocuringformycountryadurablepeace。Whatevermaybetheeventsofwar，orthechancesofanaccommodation，Iprayyourmajestytobelievethatmydesireswillalwaysoutstripyourwishes，andthatIamequallyhonoredbymeetingyourmajestyeitherwiththeswordortheolive—

branchinyourhand。"]Thewar—partyisheadedbytheempressandCountStadion。Buttheempresshasunfortunatelylittleinfluenceoverherhusband，andCountStadionisnomoreinfluentialthanhermajesty。Hisgenerousenthusiasmandfieryimpetuosityarerepugnanttotheemperor，whowillremovehimsosoonashehasdiscoveredamoresubmissiveandobsequioussuccessorwhohasasmuchworkinhimasStadion。Butthereisonepointastowhichtheseincessantlyquarrellingpartiesareagreedandjoinhands，andthatistheircommonhostilityagainstthearch—dukes，theemperor\'sbrothers;sovirulentisthishatred，thatthepeace—partydesertsitsleaderinordertooperatewiththewar—partyagainsthimandhisinterests。

TheAustriannobilityhasalwaysclaimedtheprivilegeoffillingallsuperioroffices，anditisfuriousatseeingthearchdukesanimatedwiththedesireofdedicatingtheirabilitiestotheirfatherlandandtheiremperor。Hence，thenobilityisdecidedlyopposedtothesuccessofthearchdukes，whichmightsetboundstoitsoligarchy。Itopposesmeaswellastheotherarchdukes，whetherthisoppositionmayendangertheinterestsofthefatherland，andeventheemperor，ornot。Thingswouldbeevenmoreprosperousinthiscampaign，ifthegeneralsservingunderthearchdukeshadcarriedouttheordersoftheirsuperiorswithgreaterzeal，promptness，andwillingness。Buttheyhavebeenintentionallyslow;