\"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;