Part 11 (1/2)
Suddenly the door opened, and the footman announced the Archduke John. The emperor's face became even more morose. He cast the fly- flap aside, and murmured to himself, ”My brothers never leave me any rest.” He then said in a loud voice, ”Let him come in.”
A minute afterward the archduke entered the cabinet. His face was still joyously lit up by the soul-stirring solemnity in which he had partic.i.p.ated in the morning; his eye was yet radiant with n.o.ble enthusiasm and exultation, and a serene smile played around his lips. Thus he appeared before his brother, whose face seemed doubly gloomy in the presence of his own.
”I come to take leave of your majesty and bid farewell to my brother Francis,” he said, in a mild, tender voice. ”I intend to set out to- night for Gratz, and organize my staff there.”
”G.o.d bless you, commander of the Southern army!” said the emperor, dryly; ”G.o.d bless you, brother. You were all eager for war; now you have it!”
”And your majesty has witnessed the enthusiasm with which the Austrian people hailed the declaration of war. And not only the people of Austria, but all Germany, looks now with joy, hope, and pride toward Austria, and partic.i.p.ates most cordially in our warlike enthusiasm.”
”I do not care for that,” said the emperor, dryly. ”Thank G.o.d, I cast off the crown of Germany three years ago, and am no longer Emperor of Germany.”
”But one day, when your armies have conquered France and delivered the world from the insatiable usurper, Germany will gratefully lie down at your majesty's feet and beseech you to accept the imperial crown again at her hands.”
”Much obliged, sir, but I would not take it,” exclaimed the emperor, with a shrug. ”But say, brother, are you really convinced that we can and shall conquer Bonaparte?”
”I am. We shall conquer, if--”
”Well, if--”asked the emperor, when the archduke hesitated.
”If we are really determined to do so,” said John, looking the emperor full in the face; ”if we act harmoniously, if we do not impede each other, if no petty jealousies favor the efforts of one and frustrate those of the other. Oh, brother, permit me at this farewell hour to utter a few frank and truthful words, and I beg your majesty to forgive me if my heart opens to you in unreserved confidence. Brother, I confess frankly all is not as it should be here. Where concord should reign; there is discord; where all should have their eyes fixed only on the great goal, and avail themselves of all means and forces, they are split up into factions bitterly hostile to each other. Oh, my gracious emperor, I beseech you, do not listen to these factions, do not confide in those who would like to arouse your suspicion against your brothers. Believe me, you have no more loyal, devoted, and obedient subject than I am; therefore, confide in me, who wish only to contribute to the greatness, honor, and glory of my country and my emperor, to the best of my power, however insignificant it may be. My brother, there has long been a gulf between us; G.o.d knows that I did not dig it. But let us fill it up forever at this farewell hour. I implore you, believe in my love, my devoted loyalty; take me by the hand and say, 'John, I trust you!
I believe in you!' See, I am waiting for these words as for the blessing which is to accompany me into battle, and rest on my heart like a talisman. Brother, speak these words of love and confidence!
Give me your hand--open your arms to your brother!”
”Why should we enact here a sentimental scene?” asked the emperor, harshly. ”I do not like such things, and want to see family dramas only performed on the stage. Thank G.o.d, I am not a theatrical emperor, but a real one, and will have nothing to do with scenes from plays. Nor do I know of any gulfs existing between you and me.
I never perceived them, and was never disturbed thereby. But why do you protest your love and loyalty in so pa.s.sionate a manner to me?
Who tells you, then, that I suspect them? That would be equivalent to considering my brother a traitor, and it would be very unfortunate for him; for toward traitors I shall always be inexorable, whosoever they may be, and whether they be persons of high or low rank. Let us speak no longer of it. But, besides, you have again advised me, without being requested to do so, and demand that I should not listen to any factions. I never do, brother. I never listen to any factions, neither to yours, nor to that of the others. I listen only to myself, and require submissiveness and obedience of my servants. You are one of the latter; go, then, and obey me. I have resolved on war; go, then, to your corps and fight, as you are in duty bound, for your emperor and for Austria; Defeat Napoleon if you can. You are playing a game which may easily become dangerous to ourselves. You have stirred up an insurrection in the Tyrol; you will have to bear the responsibility if this insurrection shall be unsuccessful.”
”I will bear it, and G.o.d will forgive what I have done!” said John, solemnly. ”Your majesty, you would not listen to the brother who offered you his love frankly and honestly. I have nothing to add to what I have said, nor shall I ever snake another attempt to gain your confidence.”
”Is that intended as a threat?” asked the emperor, angrily.
”No,” said John, mournfully, ”I do not threaten you. I shall always bear in mind that I loved you, and that you are not only my lord and emperor, but also the son of my mother.”
”And I,” cried the emperor, vehemently, ”shall always bear in mind that you were the head of the faction which, by its insensate clamor for war, first aroused Napoleon's anger, brought about demonstrations and armaments on our part, and finally obliged me to resolve on war, although I know full well that this resolution will inevitably involve Austria in great disaster. Let me likewise speak a farewell word to you, brother. We shall succ.u.mb again, although my wise and learned brothers are at the head of the army. I consulted the most experienced and sagacious men. I myself paid a visit to Count Cobenzl, who is lying at the point of death, and asked his opinion. He hates Napoleon as ardently as any one, and yet he is in favor of peace. I consulted the Prince de Ligne and Minister Thugut; one is an ambitious captain, the other a vindictive diplomatist, who would like to overthrow Napoleon; and yet both were for peace with France, and I will tell you the reason why: because they know that among all my captains and generals there is not one determined and able enough to cope with Napoleon and his marshals: because they knew that even my brother Charles, the generalissimo, is vacillating and irresolute; and because they do not know what an eminent captain the Archduke John would be, if he only had a chance to show his military talents. If, despite all this, I resolved on war, it was because circ.u.mstances, and not my convictions, obliged me to do it-- circ.u.mstances which were mostly brought about by you and your friends.”
”Your majesty,” said John, in a grave and dignified manner, ”permit me to say a few words in reply to what you have just said. You allude to my military talents, which you say I have not had a chance to show. Well, give me such a chance; deliver me from the surveillance tying my hands; let me pursue my path as your general freely and without restrictions, and I pledge you my word that I will reconquer the Tyrol and your Italian provinces.”
”See, see, what a nice plan!” exclaimed the emperor, laughing. ”You wish to be another generalissimo, and independent of any other commander's will?”
”No, your majesty; I wish to obtain only equal rights and authority to deliberate and decide jointly with my brother Charles.”
”It is very bold in you, sir, thus to oppose your generalissimo,”
said the emperor, sternly. ”To-day you will no longer obey the generalissimo--to-morrow you will perhaps refuse to obey the emperor. Not another word about it! Go and do your duty. The Archduke Charles is generalissimo, and you will submit to his orders and instructions. Farewell, brother; may G.o.d and the Holy Virgin bless you and your army!”
”Farewell, your majesty,” said the archduke, bowing ceremoniously to the emperor. He then turned hastily and left the room.