seeing all those persons step to the office and get tickets； I
thought there were Christian passion…plays performed there； as at
Innspruck in Lent； and on hearing the man standing before me
shouting； 'Ticket for an orchestra…stall；' I shouted； also； 'Ticket
for an orchestra…stall；' and threw a florin on the table。 Thereupon
they handed me a ticket； and I followed the others into the hall。
The performance commenced almost at the same moment； the curtain
rose； and the actors began to sing。 It is true； it is not a passion…
play； and there is nothing from the Bible in it； but then it is a
nice play。 I believe the curtain will rise again immediately； and it
is time for me to return to my seat。 But I should like to know where
my countryman with the horses and wine is。 He insisted on seeing me；
sent for me； and does not come now。〃
〃But； Andy； do you not yet know that it was I who sent for you？〃
asked Hormayr。 〃Why； it was only a stratagem of mine to get the
Barbone out of the theatre and take him away from here。〃
〃But why do you want to take me away from here？ I tell you I like
the play very well； and have never seen any thing like it。 It is
true； Cherubino； the boy； is an arrant liar； but he is a jolly
fellow； and I do not want him to come to grief。 And Figaro is a sly
fox； and withal a brave man。 I should like to make his acquaintance
and ask him if he really promised old Marielle to marry her； for it
would be wrong if he did not keep his word now； and refused to make
her his wife because he likes the young woman better than her。 If I
knew where he lives； I would go to him this very night and tell him
what he ought to do。〃
〃Oh； you foolish old child of Nature！ what you saw on the stage was
nothing but a play。 Figaro never existed； and even though he did；
you would not go to him； but accompany me and take supper with me。〃
〃I am sorry。〃 said Andreas； gravely； 〃I cannot do so； for； in the
first place； I must stay here and wait for the countryman who has
arrived here with the horses and wine。〃
〃Jesus Maria！ what do you say？ The countryman？ Did I not tell you
that it is I； Andy？〃
〃Oh； yes； I had already forgotten it。 But； second； I cannot go
because I must see the remainder of the play。 Let me； therefore；
return to my seat； for I paid for the whole performance； I believe I
have already missed a great deal； but they will assuredly not return
to me at the office a penny for what I did not hear。〃 ＇Footnote：
Hofer's own words。See Hormayr； 〃Andreas Hofer；〃 vol。 i。； p。 810。＇
〃They will not； and shall not either；〃 cried Hormayr； angrily。 〃You
will not return to your seat； Andy； but go and take supper with me。
For you know； my dear fellow； that you have come to Vienna； not to
go to the theatre； but to ask the dear Archduke John's assistance
and succor for the beloved Tyrol； and inquire of the emperor if he
will not aid his loyal Tyrolese in their attempt to become his
subjects once more。 And the emperor and the archduke will help you；
they promise to send soldiers and guns in time to the Tyrol。 But； in
return； you must do what the archduke asked you to do； you must
carefully conceal yourself； Andy； in order to prevent the Bavarians
from learning of your trip to Vienna； otherwise they would arrest
you and your friends after your return to the Tyrol。 Hence you must
not return to your seat； where so many persons would see you； and
unfortunately have seen you already。〃
〃Well； if it must be so； let us go； sir；〃 sighed Andreas。 〃But just
listen how they are singing； shouting； and cheering inside！ Jesus
Maria！ Figaro； I believe； will have to marry old Marielle after all；
and give up pretty little Susanne。 Ah； my God！ she will die heart…
broken； for she loves him so dearly。 Pray； sir； let me go in once
more； that I may see whether or not he must marry old Marielle。〃
〃No； Andy；〃 said Hormayr； smiling； 〃you need not be uneasy； Figaro
will not marry old Marielle； for she is his own mother。〃
〃What！〃 cried Andreas； in dismay； 〃she his mother； and he has
promised to marry her！ That is most sinful and infamous！ No good
Christian should listen to such things。 Come along； sir。 I do not
want to hear another word of it。 Good heavens！ what will Anna
Gertrude say when I tell her what I have seen here； and that there
are here in Vienna men infamous enough to promise to marry their
mothers？〃
〃But they never do so in reality； Andy； but only on the stage。
Otherwise the police would be after them at once。 For the emperor is
a very pious and virtuous gentleman； and he does not permit any
infractions of the sacred laws of God and the Church in his
dominions。〃
〃Yes； the emperor is a very pious and virtuous gentleman；〃 exclaimed
Andreas Hofer； enthusiastically； 〃and that is the reason why the
Tyrolese love him and wish to be again his subjects and children。
Come； I will go home with you。 I do not want to hear any more of the
theatrical nonsense。 Let us speak of our emperor and our dear
Archduke John。 God grant that we may soon be able to say he is our
emperor again； and the archduke is our John； and his Tyrolese are
again his subjects； because they fought well for their liberty； and
because God blessed their efforts and crowned them with victory。
Come； we will go home； and to…morrow I shall return to the Tyrol； to
my wife and children； and mountain and valley shall know that the
time has come； and that we shall become Austrians again。 May the
Holy Virgin protect us and grant us a safe return； may she prevent
the Bavarians from waylaying us and frustrating our great and noble
purpose！〃 ＇Footnote： The delegates of the Tyrolese left Vienna on
the following morning； their presence there； however； had been
reported to the Bavarian officers； who； during their homeward
journey； almost succeeded in arresting them。 John von Graff； a
banker of Botzen； was apprised of their arrival in Vienna by his
correspondent in that city and informed the commissary…general at
Brixen of what he had learned。 A warrant for the arrest of the three
delegates was issued； but they escaped in time into the mountains。
Hormayr； vol。 i。； p。 191。＇
CHAPTER VIII。
CONSECRATION OF THE FLAGS； AND FAREWELL。
The die was cast； then。 The war with France was to break out again。
There was to be no more procrastination and hesitation。 The time for
action was at hand。
Already the French ambassador； Andreossi； had left Vienna； and all
the members of the legation had followed him。 Already Clement Count
Metternich had arrived at Vienna but he had not left Paris as Count
Andreossi had left Vienna； quietly and unmolested； but Napoleon had
caused him to be escorted to the French frontier by a detachment of
gens d'armes。
And to…day； on the 9th of March； Austria was to proclaim to all
Germany； by means of a public festival； that she was resolved to
renew the struggle with France and risk once more the blood of her
people and the existence of her imperial dynasty in order to deliver
Germany from the usurper who was intent on crushing in his iron
hands the liberty and independance of the German nation。
A solemn ceremony was to take place to…day on the Glacis of Vienna。
The flags of the militia were to be consecrated by the Archbishop of
Vienna； and the whole imperial family was to be present at the
solemnity。 Hence； all Vienna presented a festive appearance； all
stores were closed； and no one was seen following his every…day
avocations。 The Viennese had made a holiday； no one would toil for
his daily bread； all wished to refresh themselves only with mental
food； and greet with their glances and acclamations the noble men
who were to take the field for the salvation of the fatherland。
The people were surging in dense masses toward the glacis； rushing
with irresistible impetuosity into the empty ditches； and climbing
the trees on their edges； or gaining some other standpoint whence
they could survey the solemnity which was to take place on the broad
promenade of the glacis。 On the large rondel of the glacis had been
erected a tribune whose golden…broidered velvet canopy was
surmounted by a very large imperial crown； four golden double…headed
eagles adorned the four corners of the canopy； and held in their
beaks the colors of Austria and Hungary。 Under the canopy stood gilt
arm…chairs； with cushions of purple velvet。 This was the tribune
destined for the emperor and his family； all eyes were riveted upon
it； and all hearts longed to greet the sovereign； and thank him for
the proud happiness of this hour。
Further on rose other and no less splendidly decorated tribunes； the
seats of which had been sold at enormous rates to the aristocracy
and wealthy citizens of Vienna for the benefit of the militia； and
thousands had found seats on the trees surrounding the broad
promenade and the rondel； and paid for their airy perches only with
some pains and bruises。
Since early dawn this pilgrimage to the glacis had been going on； by
ten o'clock all seats； roads； tribunes； trees； ditches； and bridges；
were occupied by a dense crowd； and； in order to prevent accidents；
the authorities had already ordered all approaches to the glacis to
be closed。
On the broad promenade； too； matters assumed a very lively aspect。
The militia marched up with banners unfurled and drums beating。 They
drew up in line on both sides of the road； and their officers and
standard…bearers repaired to the large rondel where another had been
constructed in face of the imperial tribune。 They ranged themselves
around the altar； on whose steps priests in full vestments were
kneeling； and which was surmounted by a gigantic crucifix； visible
to all spectators far and near； and waving to all its blessings and
love…greetings。
And now all the church…steeples commenced ringing their peals； the
iron tongues of their bells proclaimed to the inhabitants of Vienna；
and to the many thousands of strangers who had come to witness the
solemnity； that the emperor with his con…art and his children had
left the Hofburg； and was approaching the glacis； followed by his
suite。 The militia assumed a stiff military attitude； the drums
rolled； the cannon boomed； the bugles sounded merry notes； and the
empe