IhavetodeliversomethingtoAnthonyWallner—Aichberger;Imustspeakwithhim。\"
Themenwillinglystoodaside。NowbewasclosebehindWallner,and,interruptinghiminhisspeech,hewhisperedtohim:\"IcomefromAndreasHofer;hesendsyouhisgreetingsandthispaper。Ihaverunallnighttobringittoyou。\"
HehandedafoldedpapertoWallner,whoopeneditwithhandstremblingwithimpatience。
ItwasAndreasHofer\'s\"openorder。\"
Wallner\'sfacebrightenedup,hecastafieryglancearoundtheplacefilledwithhisfriends,andfixedhisflashingeyesthenonthehatofthebailiffwhohadrebukedtheyoungTyroleseinsooverbearingamanner。Ataboundhewasbyhisside,drovethebailiff\'sroundofficialhatwithoneblowofhisfistoverhishead,sothathiswholefacedisappearedinthecrown,andexclaimedinaloud,ringingvoice:
\"Villain!doyounotseetheTyrolese?\"
AloudoutburstofexultationgreetedWallner\'sbolddeed,andallthemencrowdedaroundhim,readytoprotectAnthonyWallner,andlookingatthetax—collectorwithflashing,threateningeyes。
ThelatterseemedasifstunnedbythesuddenchangeinWallner\'sdemeanor,andhelookedindismayattheaudaciousinnkeeperwhowasstandingcloseinfrontofhimandstaringathimwithalaughingface。
\"Whatdoesthismean?\"heaskedatlength,inatremulousvoice。
\"ItmeansthatwewanttobeTyroleseagain,\"shoutedAnthonyWallner,exultingly。\"ItmeansthatwewillnolongersubmittobrutaltreatmentatthehandsofyourBavarianbailiffs,andthatwewilltreatyounowasyouBoafokshavetreatedusforfiveyearspast。\"[Footnote:Boafok,thenicknamewhichtheTyrolesegavetotheBavariansatthattime。Itsignifies\"Bavarianpigs。\"]
\"ForGod\'ssake,howhavewetreatedyou,then?\"askedthetax—
collector,drawingbackfromthethreateningfaceofAnthonyWallnertowardhisbailiffs。
\"Listentome,Tyrolese,\"shoutedAnthonyWallner,scornfully,\"heasksmehowtheBavarianshavetreatedus!ShallItellittohimoncemore!\"
\"Yes,yes,Tony,doso,\"repliedtheTyroleseonallsides。
\"Tellittohim,andifherefusestolisten,wewilltiehimhandandfoot,andcompelhimtohearwhatyousay。\"
\"Well,Mr。Tax—collector,\"saidWallner,withmockpoliteness,\"I
willtellyou,then,howyouBavarianshavetreatedusforfouryearspast,andonlywhenyouknowallourgrievanceswillwesettleouraccounts。Listen,then,towhatyouhavedonetous,andwhatwecomplainof。Youhavebehavedtowardusasperjuredliarsandscoundrels,andIwillproveittoyou。Inthefirstplace,then,in1805,when,toourintensegriefandregret,ouremperorwasobligedtocedetheTyroltoBavaria,theKingofBavaria,inaletterwhichhewrotetous,solemnlyguaranteedourconstitutionandourancientprivilegesandliberties。Thatiswhatyourkingpromisedin1805。
Tobesure,wedidnotputmuchconfidenceinwhathesaid,forwewellknewthatwhenthebigcatwantstodevourthelittlemouse,ittreatsthevictimatfirstwithgreatkindnessandthrowsasmallbitofbacontoit;butnosoonerdoesthemousetakeitthanthecatpouncesuponitsunsuspectingvictimanddevoursit。Andsuchwasourfatetoo;thecatBavariawantedtoswallowthelittlemouseTyrol;notevenournamewastobelefttous,andweweretobecalledSouthernBavariansinsteadofTyrolese。Besides,ourancientCastleofTyrol,thesacredsymbolofourcountry,wasdismantledanddestroyed。YouthoughtprobablywewouldforgetthepastandthehistoryoftheTyrol,andallthatweare,ifwenolongersawtheCastleofTyrol,wherethedearMargaretMaultaschsolemnlyguaranteedtoherTyrolesetheirliberties,greatprivileges,andindependence,foralltimetocome。Butallwaswritteninourhearts,andyourinfamousconductengraveditonlythemorelastinglythereon。Youtookfromusnotonlyourname,butalsoourconstitution,whichallTyroleseloveastheirmostprecioustreasure。Therepresentativeestatesweresuppressed,andtheprovincialfundsseized。Nolessthaneightnewandoppressivetaxeswereimposed,andleviedwiththeutmostrigor;theverynameofthecountry,asIsaidbefore,wasabolished;and,afterthemodelofrevolutionaryFrance,theTyrolwasdividedintothedepartmentsoftheInn,theAdige,andtheEisach;thepassionplays,whichformedsolargeapartoftheamusementsofourpeople,wereprohibited;
allpilgrimagestochapelsorplacesofextraordinarysanctitywereforbidden。Theconventsandmonasterieswereconfiscated,andtheirestatessold;thechurchplateandholyvesselsweremelteddownanddisposedof;theroyalpropertywasallbroughtintothemarket。Newimpostsweredailyexactedwithoutanyconsultationwiththeestatesofourpeople;speciebecamescarcefromthequantityofitwhichwasdrawnofftotheroyaltreasury;theAustriannoteswerereducedtohalftheirvalue,andthefeelingsofourpeopleirritatedalmosttomadnessbythecompulsorylevyofouryoungmentoserveintheranksofyourarmy。Inthismanneryoutriedtocrushustoearth。
ButItellyou,weshallriseagain,thewholeTyrolwillriseandnolongerallowitselftobetrampledunderfoot。YousaythekingdoesnotwantanyTyroleseassubjects。Heshallnothaveany,fortheTyrolesewanttobecomeagainsubjectsoftheirdearEmperorFrancisofAustria。MenoftheTyrol,fromPusterthal,Teffereck,andVirgenthal,youwishtobecomeagainsubjectsoftheEmperorFrancis,doyounot?\"
\"Wedo,wedo!\"shoutedthemen,utteringdeafeningcheers。\"OurdearFrancisistobecomeagainourlordandemperor!LonglivetheEmperorFrancis!\"
\"Silence!\"criedthetax—collector,palewithrageanddismay;
\"silence,orIshallsendforthesoldiersandhaveeveryoneofyouarrested,and——\"
\"Besilentyourself!\"saidAnthonyWallner,seizinghimviolentlybythearm。\"Sir,youareourprisoner,andsoarethetwobailiffsyonder。Seizethem,myfriends,andiftheyshoutorresist,shootthemdown。Andifyouutteracryoraword,Mr。Tax—collector,sohelpmeGodifIdonotkillyouforaBoafok,asyouare!Keepquiet,therefore,beasensibleman,anddeliveryourfundstous。
Come,men,wewillaccompanythisgentlemantothetax—collector\'soffice;andnowletussingagoodTyrolesesong:\"
\"D\'Schoergenandd\'Schreiberandd\'Richterallsammt,Sind\'nTeufelauskomma,druck\'nueberallauf\'sLand,UndschindenBauern,esiskamzumsog\'n,EswaerjakoanWunder,wirthaeten\'sallsammterschlog\'n。\"
[Footnote:SongoftheTyrolesein1809。——SeeMayr,\"JosephSpechbacher,\"p。22。
\"Thepushing——thewriters,andmagistratesall,Possessedbythedevil,ourcountryenthrall,Andgrindthepoorpeasants;alas,\'tisashame!
Nowonderifwetooshareruinthesame。\"]
HeconcludedwithalongandjoyousJodler,andshoutedtriumphantly:\"Dearbrethren,AndreasHofersendsyouhisgreetings,andinformsyouthattheAustrianshaveinvadedtheTyrol。Hurrah,\'tistime!\"
\"Yes,\'tistime,\"murmuredAnnaMaria,AnthonyWallner\'swife,toherself;\"\'tistimeformetogiveLizziethesignal,fortheinsurrectionhasbrokenout。\"Shehastenedintothehouse,tookherhusband\'soldriflefromthechamber,ranwithitoutoftheback—
doorofthehouse,andfiredthesignalforherdaughter。
\"There,\"shesaid,returningquietlyintothehouse,\"shewillhaveheardthereport,andthereistimeyettosavehim。IwilldonowwhatTonyaskedmetodo。Whenhesingsthesong,Ishalltakethepaper—ballsfromthetable—drawerintheback—room,giveapackagetoeachofthetwoboysandtwoservant—girls,andtellthemtogowithitintothemountainsandcirculatethepaper—ballseverywhere,thattheinhabitantsofthewholePusterthal,fromoneendtotheother,fromtheGross—GlocknertotheVenedigerandKrimlerTauern,maylearnthisverydaythatitistime,andthattheBoafoksaretobeexpelledfromthecountry。Halloo,boys,comehere!Halloo,girls,yourmistresswantstospeaktoyou!\"
CHAPTERXI。
THEDECLARATIONOFLOVE。
ElizaWallner,afterleavinghermother,hadspedwiththeutmostrapiditythroughtheback—door,acrosstheyard,throughthegarden,outofthesmallgateleadingtothemeadow,downthefoot—path,upthemountain—road,jumpingfromstonetostone,courageousandintrepidasatruedaughteroftheTyrol。Nowshestoodattheportalofthecastle,infrontofwhichsomeoftheBavariansoldierswerelyinginidlereposeonabench,whileothersintheside—wingofthecastleallottedtothemwerelookingoutofthewindows,anddreamilyhummingaBavariansong,frequentlyinterruptedbyloudyawns。
Elizawalkedpastthemwithaslightgreetingandenteredthehouse。
Theoldfootmansittinginthehallreceivedherkindly,andtoldher,inreplytoherinquiry,thatthecastellan,oldBaronvonHohenberg,hadsetoutearlyinthemorningforSalzburgtoattendcourt,butthathisdaughterandhercousin,CaptainUlrichvonHohenberg,werelunchinginthesmalldining—roomup—stairs。
ThiswasalltheinformationElizaneeded;shenoddedtothefootman,andascendedthestaircasequickly。Theoldfootmandidnotfollowher;heknewthatitwasunnecessaryforhimtoannouncebeautifulLizzietohismistress,butthatshealwayswaswelcometoher。Hethereforesatdownagainquietly,andtookupthewood—workwithwhichhehadbeenoccupiedbefore。
Elizareachedthedining—roomandthrewopenthedoorwithahastyhand;ablissfulsmilethenoverspreadherflushedface,foronthebalconyyonder,behindtheopenglassdoor,shebeheldthetallslenderformofCaptainUlrichvonHohenberg。Sheheardhimchattingandlaughinggayly;andthroughthedoorshealsosawherfriendElzavonHohenberg,whowaslisteningtohercousin\'swordsinsmilingrepose。Scarcelytouchingthefloorwithherfeet,shehastenedthroughtheroom。
\"Iassureyou,cousin,\"saidElzaatthismoment,inherclear,distinctvoice,\"IbelieveattimesthatsheistheresuscitatedMaidofOrleans,andthatshewillperformheroicdeedsoneday。Oh,IknowmydearbeautifulElizaWallner,and——\"
\"Donnotspeakofme,forIamlisteningtoyou,\"exclaimedEliza,enteringthebalcony。
\"Ah,myLizzie,\"exclaimedElza,risingandtenderlyembracingherfriend。\"Haveyoucomeatlength,mymerry,beautifullark?\"
\"Yes,Ihave,andIamgladthatIamhere,\"saidElizaandherlargehazeleyesturnedforamomentsmilinglytotheyoungofficer,who,likehiscousin,hadrisenonbeholdingElizaWallner。Hedidnotutterawordofsalutation;nevertheless,Elizablushedonmeetinghisglance,andavertedhereyestimidlyfromhim,turningthemtowardthedistantsummitsoftheglacierswhichwereglitteringaroundthehorizonyonderinwonderfulmajesty。
\"Youaregladthatyouarehere,mysweetchild?Whydidyounotcomeatanearlierhour?\"askedElza。\"Youarealwaysexpected。Mydearsilentcousin,sheisalwaysexpected,isshenot?\"
\"Mostassuredlysheis,\"saidtheyoungcaptain,withasmile;\"andsheisaswelcomeasthefirstroseofMay。\"
\"Howimpudentyouare!\"exclaimedMissElza,laughing;\"youbidmyLizziewelcomeasthefirstroseofMay,andyetIwasherebeforeher!\"
\"Hemeansonlythewildhedge—rose,Elza,\"saidEliza,smilingarchly,\"foryouknowverywellthatthebeautifulandaristocraticrosesdonotyetbloominMay。\"
\"Well,tellme,cousin,didyoureallyintendtocomparemydarlingherewithawildhedge—rose?\"askedElza。
\"Donotanswer,sir,\"exclaimedEliza,eagerly。\"Youhaveblunderedintryingtoflatterme,andthatisgood。Youwillseeatlengththatfinephrasesamounttonothing,andthattheyarecolorsthatfadeinthesunshine。Youhadbetterspeakfranklyandhonestlytome,forIhaveoftentoldyouIamastupiddaughteroftheTyrol,anddonotknowwhattoreplytosuchfinecityphrases。\"
\"Butforallthatyouarenotstupid,mybeautifulEliza,\"saidUlrichvonHohenberg。\"Intruth,Iwhocompareyouwitharoseamnotaliar,buthewouldbewhoshouldchargeyouwithstupidity。\"
\"ButifIshould,nevertheless,assertthatIamstupid,whomwoulditconcern?\"askedEliza,defiantly。
\"Ah,theretheyarequarrellingagain,\"exclaimedElza,laughing。
\"Cometome,sweetLizzie;sitdownbymysideonthisbenchandgivemeyourhand。Iamsogladthatyouarehere,foritalwaysseemstomeasthoughIwerealonelyorphanwhenmydearestLizzie,withherprettyfaceandhermerrylaughter,isabsentfromme。Buthere,Lizzie,youmustlookuponmewithdueaweto—day,forto—dayIamnotonlyyourfriendandsister,butIamthecastellan!Myfatherwillbeabsentfourdays,andIrepresenthimhere。Hedelegatedhiswholepowertome,andintrustedmewithallthekeys。
Treatme,therefore,withgreatrespect,Lizzie。\"
\"ThatiswhatIalwaysdo,Elza,\"saidLizzie,tenderly,pressingtheslenderwhitehandofherfriendtoherlips。\"Youarealwaysmybetterself,andIobeyyoubecauseIloveyou,andIloveyoubecauseIobeyyousogladly!\"
\"Well,then,Icommandyou,Lizzie,tobeourguestalldayandstaywithusuntilnightfall。Oh,noobjections,Lizzie;ifyouloveme,youmustobey!\"
\"AndIobeyyouwillingly,Elza;onlywhenmyfathersendsforme,I
mustgo,foryouknowwemustnotviolatethefourthcommandment;
ourworthypriestwouldneverforgiveus。\"
\"Whenyourfathersendsforyou,Eliza,Ishallmyselfgodowntohimandbeghimtoleaveyouhere。Well,then,youbelongtousforthewholeday,andwewillconsidernowhowweshallspendthisday。
Cousin,donotstandthereinsilenceallthetime,staringattheglaciers,butlookatusandproposequicklysomeexcursionforustomaketo—day。\"
\"WhatcouldIpropose?\"askedtheyoungofficer,shrugginghisshoulders。
\"Isubmitrathersilentlyandobedientlytoyourproposals,forMissElizawouldcertainlyrejectallmyproposalsmerelybecauseImakethem。\"
Elizaburstintomerrylaughter。\"Elza,dearestElza,\"sheexclaimed,\"hecallsme\'MissEliza!\'Nosir,letmetellyou,apoorTyrolesegirllikemeisno\'miss,\'noaristocraticlady;
peoplecallmeLizzie,onlyLizzie;donotforgetthat!\"
\"Peopleherecallher\'beautifulLizzie,\'\"saidtheofficerinalowvoice,castinganadmiringglanceontheyounggirl。
\"Thatdoesnotconcernyou,sir,\"shereplied,blushinglikeacrimsonrose;\"youdonotbelongtothepeoplehere,andyoumustnotcallmeanythingbutLizzie,doyouhear?Ithinkthenotionswhichcityfolksentertainaboutbeautyaredifferentfromthoseofpeasantslikeus。WeconsiderthedaisyandtheAlpinerosebeautiful;thoughtheyarebutsmallflowers,yettheysuitus。
However,thecityfolkslaughatourtaste,andsteprecklesslyonourflowers。Theyconsideronlytheproudwhiteliliesandthelargegorgeousrosesbeautifulflowers。Idonotbelongtothem,Iamonlyadaisy;butmyElzalikesthisdaisyandfastensmetoherbosom,andIresttheresosoftandsweetly。\"
SheencircledElza\'sneckwithherarms,leanedherheadagainstherbreast,andlookedtenderlyuptoherwithherhazelgazelleeyes。
Elzabentoverherandkissedhereyesandwhiteforehead。UlrichvonHohenberglookedatthembothwithatender,ardentglance;thenheavertedhisheadtoconcealthecrimsonglowsuffusinghischeeks。
Atthismomentthedooropened,andthecastellan\'soverseerenteredwithanairofhurryandself—importance。
\"MissElza,\"hesaid,\"thewood—cuttershavebroughtwoodandarewaitingforareceipt。Besides,theheaddairy—womanwishestoseeyouaboutthebutterwhichsheistosendtotown;andthecattle—
dealerhasarrived,and——\"
\"Iamcoming,Iamcoming,\"exclaimedtheyounglady,laughing。\"Doyousee,Lizzie,whatanimportantpersonIam?Butformethewholemachinewouldstandstillandsinkinruins。Fortunately,Iamequaltotheoccasion;andsetthewheelsinmotion,andthemachinecangoon。Youmaystayhereandconsiderhowwearetoamuseourselvesto—day。InthemeantimeIshallregulateourdomesticaffairsalittle,andwhenIcomeback,youwillinformmewhatpleasureyouhavedevisedforusto—day。\"
\"No,Elza,letmegowithyou,\"beggedEliza,almostanxiously,\"I
shallassistyou——\"
\"Youcannothelpmeoutside,Lizzie,\"saidElza,laughing;\"buthereyoucantakemyplaceandbemycousinUlrich\'scompanion。Bemerry,mydearchildren,untilIcomeback!\"
Shenoddedpleasantlytothem,tookthelargebunchofkeysfromthetable,andswingingitnoisilyinherhand,skippedthroughtheroomandoutofthedoor。
Lizziehadfollowedherafewsteps;then,asifarrestedbyasuddenthought,shepausedandreturnedslowlytothebalcony。Shecastaquickglanceontheofficer,whowasleaningagainstthewallononesideofthebalcony,and,withhisarmsfoldedonhisbreast,didnotaverthiseyesfromher。
Elizagaveastartandwithdrewtotheothersideofthebalcony。
Thereshesatdownonthebenchlikeatimidlittlebird,andallowedhereyestowanderdreamilyandthoughtfullyoverthelandscape。And,indeed,theviewwhichtheyenjoyedfromthe,balconywaswondrouslybeautiful。Ononesideextendedthesplendidvalley,withitsmeadowscladinthefreshestverdureofspring,itsfoamingwhitemountain—torrents,itshousesandhuts,whichdisappearedgraduallyinthevioletmistsborderingthehorizon。Onbothsidesofthevalleyrosethegreenwoodedheights,interspersedhereandtherewithsmallverdantpasturesandclearings,onwhichhandsomeredcowsweregrazingorlyinginmajesticrepose。Behindtheclearingsblackpinesandfirsdottedtheslopes,which,however,intheirmoreelevatedportionsbecamemoreandmorebare;
wherethetreesceased,appearedhereandthereagaingreenpastures,andonthem,grayandsmall,likebirds\'nests,thehutsofthemountaincow—keepers,who,themostadvancedsentinels,asitwere,wereguardingthefrontierswherethewarbetweennatureandmancommences,thefrontiersofthesnowyregionandtheworldofglaciers。Behindthecow—keepers\'hutsflashedalreadymassesofsnowfromseveralmountain—gorges;fartherabove,thesnowhadspreaditswhitesilverveilsfarandwideoverallthemountain—
peaks,sothattheyglitteredandsparkledwithindescribablebeautyinthebrightmorningsun,andloomedlikeswans\'necksuptotheazuresky。
Below,intheforegroundofthevalley,atthefootofCastleWeissenstein,laythevillageofWindisch—Matrey,withitsscatteringgroupsofhandsomehouses,fromwhosemidstarosethechurch,withitstall,pointedsteeple。Fromthestandpointwhichsheoccupied,Elizawasabletodistinctlysurveythemarket—placeanditscrowdsofmen,which,inthedistance,resembledbusyblackant—hills。Shegazeduponthemfixedly,andthesmallspecksseemedtoherpractisedeyelikehumanforms;shethoughtshecoulddistinguishseveralofthem,and,amongothers,thetallandpowerfulformofherfather;shethought——
\"Eliza,\"saidallatoncealowvoicebyherside——\"Eliza,youdonotwanttoseeme,then?Youarestillangrywithme?\"
Shegaveastart,andcrimsoned,when,onlookingup,shesawyoungUlrichvonHohenbergstandingcloseinfrontofher,andgazingatherwithardentandbeseechingeyes。
\"No,sir,\"shesaid,\"Ireallydidnotseeyou。\"
\"Thatistosay,Eliza,youarestillangrywithme?\"heasked,eagerly。\"Youaresilent,youavertyourhead。MyGod!Eliza,whatdidIdo,then,toincuryouranger?\"
\"Notmuch,perhaps,forcityfolks,butbyfartoomuchforapoorpeasant—girl,\"shesaid,witheyesflashingproudly。\"Youtoldmeyoulovedme,youtriedforciblytoembraceandkissme,andbeggedmetogoupearlyinthemorningtotheyellowgrotto,whereyouwouldwaitforme。Youtoldmefurthernottosayawordaboutittoanybody;itshouldremainasecretbetweenyouandme,andIshouldnotevenmentionittothepriestattheconfessional。Thatwasnothonestofyou,sir;nay,itwasbadofyoutotryandpersuademetosuchmeanthings。Itshowedmethatyoucannotbeagoodman,andthatyourfriendshipformeispromptedbyevilintentions。\"
\"Idonotfeelanyfriendshipforyou,nonewhatever,\"saidtheyoungmanardently,seatinghimselfbyherside,seizingherhandinspiteofherresistance,andpressingittohisheart。\"Idonotwanttobeyourfriend,mysweet,beautiful,wildAlpinerose;no,notyourfriend,butyourlover。AndIcommencebylovingyouwithintenseardor,bydesiringandlongingfornothing,andthinkingofnothingbutyoualone。Oh,Eliza,believeme,Iloveyouintensely——
byfarmorethanElza,morethanyourparents,morethanallyourfriendstogether。\"
\"More,perhaps,butnotbetter,\"shesaid,shakingherhead,andgentlywithdrawingherhandfromhim。
\"No,letmekeepyourhand!\"heexclaimedhastily,seizingitagain;
\"letmekeepit,Eliza,forItellyouIloveyoubettertoothanalltheothers;Iloveyouwithmysoul,withmyheart,withmyblood,withmylife!Oh,believeme,sweet,lovelychild;believemeandgivemeyourheart;followme,andbemine——mineforevermore!I
willgiveyouahappy,brilliant,andbeautifulexistence;Iwilllayatyourfeetallthepleasures,enjoyments,andcharmsofthisworld——\"
\"Sir,\"interruptedEliza,hastily,jumpingup,andfixinghereyesuponhimwithastrange,ardentexpression,\"IhopeIunderstandyouright,andmyearsdonotdeceiveme?Youoffermeyourhand?Youwanttomarrymeandmakemeyourwife?\"
Theyoungmangaveaslightstartanddroppedhiseyes。Elizasawit,andasarcasticsmileplayedroundherlips。\"Whydoyounotspeak?\"shesaid。\"Replytome。DidIunderstandyou?Didyoumakeseriousproposalsofmarriagetome?Willyougodowntomyfatherthisverydayandsaytohim:\'Listen,sir。I,thearistocraticgentleman,I,CaptainUlrichvonHohenberg,wanttomarryyourdaughterLizzie。Ithinkthiscountrygirl,withhermanners,herlanguageandbearing,iswellfittedtoassociatewithmyaristocraticanddistinguishedfamily,andmyparentsinMunichwouldbeoverjoyedifIshouldbringtothemthisTyrolesegirlastheirdaughter—in—law,andabrowncowandawhitegoatasherdower。\'Tellme,sir,willyougodowntomydearfather,theinnkeeperofWindisch—Matrey,andsaythattohim?\"
\"But,Eliza,\"sighedtheyoungman,mournfully,\"ifyoulovedmeonlyalittle,youwouldnotimmediatelythinkofmarriage,butwouldforgeteverythingelse,allowyourwholepasttosinkintooblivionbehindyou,andthinkofnothingbutthefactthatIloveyouintensely,andthatyoureturnmylove。\"
\"ButIdonotadmitatallthatIloveyou,\"saidEliza,proudly;
\"onthecontrary,youalonesayandswearthatyouloveme,andI
replythatIdonotbelieveyou。\"
\"Andwhydoyounotbelieveme,cruel,beautifulgirl?\"
\"Becauseyouuttersomanyfinephraseswhichamounttonothingatall。Youtellmethatyouareveryfondofme,butIthinkifyouloveanybodywithallyourheart,youmustbeanxioustopreservehimfrommisfortune,anddoallyoucantomakehimhappy,eventhoughitwereattheexpenseofyourownhappiness。Butyou,sir,donotintendtomakemehappy;onthecontrary,youarebentonplungingmeintomiseryanddisgrace,andthatisthereasonwhyI
contendthatyoudonotloveme。\"
\"Thenyouhaveaheartofstone,\"criedUlrichvonHohenberg,despairingly;\"youwillnotseewhatIamsuffering,norhowintenselyIloveyou。\"
\"Sir,\"saidshe,smiling,\"ifIcannotcomprehendit,prayexplaintomehowyouloveme。\"
\"Iloveyouasthemostbeautiful,lovely,andcharmingcreatureI
haveeverknownandadmired。Iloveyouasagirlwhoseinnocence,naturalness,andgoodness,fillmyheartwithecstasyandprofoundemotion;bywhosesideIshouldliketospendmywholelife,andunitedwithwhomIshouldwishtoseekforalonelyislandofhappinesstodreamthere——remotefromtheworld,itsprejudicesandfollies——asweet,blissfullove—life,fromwhichonlydeathwouldarouseus。\"
\"Sir,ifyoureallylovemeinthismanner,youneednotrunawaywithmetoseekelsewhereinforeignlandsthe\'lonelyislandofhappiness,\'asyoucallit,forinthatcaseyouwouldhaveitroundyouwhereverwemightbe,and,aboveallthings,hereinourmountains。But,look,itisjustasIsaid;youaredesiroustofinda\'lonelyislandofhappiness\'——thatistosay,nobodyistofindoutthatthearistocraticgentlemanlovesthepoorTyrolesegirl,andthatisthereasonwhyyouwantustohideinthemountainsorelsewhere,andseeifwecanbehappywithouttheblessingofthepriest,ourdearparents,andallothergoodmen。\"
\"Oh,Eliza,havemercyonme。IsweartoyouthatIloveyouintensely;thatIwouldbethehappiestofmenifIcouldmarryyoupubliclyandmakeyoumywifeinthefaceofthewholeworld,that——
\"
Elizainterruptedhimbysingingwithasmilingair,andinamerry,ringingvoice:
\"UndaBisserleLieb\'undaBisserleTreu\'
UndaBisserleFalschheitistall\'zeitdabei!\"
[Footnote:
\"Andabitoflove,andabitoftruth,Andabitoffalsehood,makelife,forsooth!\"]
\"No,nofalsehood,\"criedUlrich,\"onlytheirksome,terriblenecessity,the——\"
Theloudcrashofarifle,findinganoft—repeatedechointhemountains,interruptedhim。Elizautteredacryofdismayandjumpedup。
\"JesusMaria!\"shemurmuredinalowvoice,\"itisthesignal。Ithascommenced!\"
\"What!Whathascommenced?\"askedtheyoungman,insurprise。
Elizalookedathimwithconfusedandanxiouseyes。\"Nothing,oh,nothingatall,\"shesaid,inatremulousvoice。\"Only——Imean\"——shepausedandlookedwithfixedattentiondownonthelargeplace。Shedistinctlysawthegroupsmovingrapidlytoandfro,andthenpouringwithfurioushastethroughthestreets。
\"Theyarecominguphere,\"shemurmured;andhereyesturnedtowardthewingofthecastleonthesideofthebalcony,wheretheBavariansoldiershadtheirquarters。Thelatter,however,apparentlydidnotsuspecttheimminentdanger。Theyweresittingatthewindowsandsmokingorcleaningtheirmusketsanduniforms。
Elizacouldhearthemchattingandlaughinginperfecttranquillity。
\"Well,Eliza,beautiful,cruelgirl,\"askedUlrichvonHohenberg,\"willyoutellmewhathassuddenlyexcitedyousostrangely?\"
\"Nothing,sir,oh,nothing,\"shesaid;butthensheleanedfarovertherailingofthebalconyandstareddown;shebeheldfouryoungTyrolesesharpshootersrunningupthecastle—hillatafuriousrate,andthehostoftheircomradesfollowingthem。Thefourwholedthewaynowenteredthecourt—yard,andreachedwithwildboundsthelargedoorformingtheentranceofthewingofthebuildingoccupiedbythesoldiers。Withthunderingnoisetheyshutit,turnedthelargekeywhichwasinthelock,anddrewitimmediatelyout。
Twosharpshootersnowranupfromtheoppositeside。
\"Wehavelockedtheback—gate,\"theyshoutedexultingly。
\"Thatdoorislockedtoo,\"repliedtheothers,jubilantly。\"Theyareallprisonersinthecastle!\"
\"Sir,\"criedEliza,drawingUlrichvonHohenbergbackfromthebalcony,\"youmaycomewithmeintothedining—room;Imusttellyousomething。\"
\"No,\"hesaid,\"Ishallstayhereandseewhatisthematter。\"
\"Whatdoesthismean?MorethanfiftyTyroleseareenteringthecourt—yard;andwhydidthosemadyoungfellowslockthedooruponmysoldiers?\"
\"Isupposeitissomemadfreakoftheirs,thatisall,\"saidEliza,trembling。\"Come,dearsir,leavethebalconyandfollowmeintotheroom。Iwishtotellyousomething——quitesecretly,sir,——oh,come!
IdonotwantheavenandGodandthesnow—cladmountainsyondertohearawordofit。\"
\"Eliza,\"heexclaimed,transported,\"howyousmile,howyoublush!
Oh,myGod,whatdoyouwishtosaytome?\"
Sheencircledhisarmwithherhandsanddrewhimintotheroom。