登陆注册
5426900000135

第135章

THE CAPUCHIN'S OATH.

A great festival was to be celebrated at Brixen today. It was the 2nd of August, the day of St. Cassian, and not only were the bones of this saint, which reposed in the cathedral adorned with two splendid towers to be exhibited as they were every year to the devout pilgrims, but the pious bishop had resolved that these sacred relics should be carried in solemn procession through the whole city, that all might have an opportunity to see the saint's remains and implore the assistance of God in the sore distress which bad befallen the Tyrol again. Therefore, since early this morning the peasantry had been flocking from all sides toward the gates of Brixen. Women and children, young and old men, came from all parts of the country to take part in the solemn procession and the devout prayers for the welfare of the country.

Among those who were wandering along the road to Brixen, was a monk of strikingly bold and martial appearance. His tall, broad-shouldered form was remarkable for its military bearing; his long, well-kept red whiskers and mustache did not correspond to the tonsure on his head, which was covered with thin reddish ringlets;and in striking contrast with it were likewise the broad red scar on his healthy sunburnt countenance, and the bright, defiant glance of his eyes, which indicated boldness and intrepidity rather than piety and humility. He had tucked up his brown robe, and thus exhibited his stout legs, which seemed to mock the soft sandals encasing his broad, powerful feet. In his hand he held a long brown staff, terminating at its upper end in a carved image of St. Francis; and the Capuchin did not carry this staff in order to lean upon it, but he brandished it in the air like a sword, or held it up triumphantly as though it were a victorious banner.

But however strange and unusual the Capuchin's appearance might be, no one laughed at him, but he was greeted everywhere with demonstrations of love and reverence; and when he passed some slow wanderers with his rapid step, they looked after him with joyful surprise, and said to each other, "Look at old Red-beard, look at brave Father Haspinger! He has fought often enough for the fatherland. Now he is going to pray for the Tyrol.""Pray, and fight again, if need be," said the friar, turning to the speakers.

"You think, then, reverend father, that there will be war again?"asked many voices; and dense groups surrounded the friar, and asked him anxiously if he advised them to allow the enemy to re-enter the country; if it would not be better to drive him back forcibly, or if be thought it would be preferable for them to keep quiet and submit to stern necessity?

"I think there is a time for every thing--for keeping quiet as well as for fighting, for praying as well as for politics," said Father Haspinger, shrugging his shoulders. "If you wish to pray and confess your sins, come to me. I am ready to teach you how to pray, and exhort you with true earnestness. But if you want to fight and expel the enemy from the country, why do you not apply to your commanders, and consult, above all, the brave and pious Andreas Hofer?""We cannot find him anywhere," shouted several voices. "He is not at home, and even his wife does not know where he has concealed himself.""Do you, impious wretches, think that the most pious man in the whole Tyrol, Andreas Hofer, has concealed himself because he is afraid of the Bavarians who are re-entering the country?" asked the friar, in a thundering voice.

"No, your reverence, we do not. We know well that Andreas Hofer will not act like Ashbacher, Sieberer, Teimer, Eisenstecken, and Speckbacher, and abandon us in our sore distress.""He who does not extricate himself from his sore distress will not be saved by others," cried the friar, indignantly.

"Do you not know the eleventh commandment you white-livered cowards, who think you are lost when there is no leader to put himself at your head? Do you not know the eleventh commandment, saying that he who trusts in God and fights well will overpower his enemies? But you will never overpower your enemies; you do not trust in God, and hence you can not fight well.""But we will fight well, your reverence," replied the men, with bold, defiant glances; "only our leaders do not stand by us. Every one cannot fight alone and at random, but there must be some one at the lead to lead the whole movement. Since Andreas Hofer cannot be found, pray put yourself at our head, your reverence, and become our leader!""That request is not so stupid," said the Capuchin, smiling, and stroking his red beard. "You know very well that old Red-beard does not stay at home when an effort is to be made to save the fatherland, and perhaps I may soon be able to accept your offer and call upon you to defend the Tyrol.""Do so, do call upon us," shouted the men enthusiastically. "We will not permit the French and Bavarians to murder our people and burn our houses as they did last May; we will fight rather until we have driven them from the country or perished to a man!""These are brave and pious sentiments," said Father Haspinger, his eyes flashing for joy; "and we will speak further about them. Come up to the church of Latzfons to-morrow, and hear me preach; and after the sermon we will confer as to the state of the country. But now keep quiet, for you see we are at the gate of Brixen; turn your souls, therefore, to God, and pray St. Cassian to have mercy upon you, and intercede for you with God and the Redeemer."And Father Haspinger's face became suddenly very grave and devout;he lifted the rosary hanging at his belt, and, while entering the city by the gate, he commenced praying a Pater-noster in an undertone.

同类推荐
  • THE OCTOPUS

    THE OCTOPUS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Latter-Day Pamphlets

    Latter-Day Pamphlets

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 春雨逸响

    春雨逸响

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明伦汇编人事典形影部

    明伦汇编人事典形影部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 双灯记

    双灯记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我读:梁文道的开卷八分钟(全7册)

    我读:梁文道的开卷八分钟(全7册)

    《我读系列》基于凤凰卫视中文台《开卷八分钟》而来,该节目由学者梁文道主持,何亮亮、吕宁思、马鼎盛等主持人侧身其间。每天以八分钟时间介绍一本新书奇书,文学、历史、科学、财经、商业、宗教、人物传记等无所不包。以最有效的方式探究思想精髓,带读者进入一个个迥异奇妙的书中世界。
  • 大瓷商

    大瓷商

    《大瓷商》选择从1910年至1945年这个中国历史大变革大动荡时期为背景,以主人公陶振江和陶家制瓷事业的命运为叙事中心线,以诚信、创新为精神支撑,以精品意识和品牌为导引,形象地反映了三十多年间的中国民族制瓷业和瓷商的发展史奋斗史,题材是独特的,内容是新鲜的,主题是丰富而又昂扬的,并富有许多积极的现实启示,当属弘扬民族精神的主旋律之作。
  • 神级反派系统

    神级反派系统

    叶轩穿越了,却悲催的发现自己穿成了大反派,满世界的主角全都是他的敌人。不过没关系,我有系统在身,主角们,给我等着!
  • 巫裔仙途

    巫裔仙途

    她是瞎了眼才被人表象所迷,被白莲花妹妹所害,肉身葬虎腹还不够,还要她灰飞湮灭,既如此,她就拼个不要轮回也要拉对方一起入地狱……因为上古神族巫神的看中,她幸运的重生在修真大陆上一个没有灵根的废物身上,尽管爹不亲,娘不在,姐弟恶毒,环境恶劣,但因为前世黑女巫的身份,她也能左手炼丹,右手制符。一步步以自保为前提的下,踏足修仙路!……………………新文《重生之农门娇女》已经开始上传。
  • 异世之召唤文臣猛将

    异世之召唤文臣猛将

    新纪元来临,天地异变。地星本土动植物疯狂变异、返祖,异界物种沦落地星,最终新纪元人类诞生一种全新的职业御使。收服怪物,培养怪物,训练怪物,这就是御使。新书《神宠进化》已发布~猛将读者群:六一零五九三零二四
  • 暗度诸天

    暗度诸天

    青年被冥冥之中的另一个自己开启神藏,暗渡诸天世界……!
  • 风云满天雪

    风云满天雪

    祁连阴山、长江三滩、漠北七魔、群妖相会,看似平静的江湖已是暗流涌动,天下第一镖局已是面临生死攸关的局面。。。。。。
  • 碧海青龙传系列三

    碧海青龙传系列三

    十万年前的洪荒之战,无数强者陨落天际,踏入轮回;十万年后,他们的转世逐一出现,当年的暗中布局,都渐渐地浮出水面;看似平静的人间界,终于再起波澜,大唐的烟尘,掩不住历史的脚印,唐朝的官场、江湖逐一出场,无数英杰也逐一隆重登场;但所有人,都只是一个人的陪衬……
  • 凤盗天下:踩了帝王尾巴

    凤盗天下:踩了帝王尾巴

    她,绝色倾城,一颗赤子之心,胆小懦弱,是青翼国皇帝最宠爱的小公主,却死于兄姐的魔掌之下,随意的丢弃在乱葬岗。她,来自异世的一缕孤魂,邪恶腹黑假善良,以盗宝为乐,整人为趣,兄姐独宠的宝贝,却死于无情父亲的枪口之下。乱葬岗处,醒来的绝色女子,懦弱不在,泛着水光的大眼睛冷光乍现,尽显狡猾之色。相同的空间,相同的身份,不同的灵魂,是否演绎出不同的传奇?她大小姐的格言一:生命诚可贵,爱情价更高,若为金钱顾,两者皆可抛。格言二:人生无非是笑笑自己,整整别人。格言三:人不犯我,看我心情,人若犯我,灭他满门。【片段一】:“啪啪啪……”一连十几个巴掌清脆悦耳,某女第一天当选采女进宫,便把当朝最受宠的施贵妃打成猪头。半响后,一身龙袍,面容冷峻的男子,怀搂一猪头女子,眼神深邃,眉宇轻挑,“听说,你打了琳儿?”“……”某女神情慵懒的支着头,侧卧在躺椅上,美眸微闭,充耳不闻。“舒妍冰,朕在问你话?”男子冰冷的话语如腊月的寒冬,深不见底的黑眸闪过一丝怒气。“亲爱的皇帝陛下,你可以说她已经被我抛尸荒野了,反正她的官阶比我高。”某女瞥了眼满脸恨意的女子,无所谓的回道。“你的意思是琳儿污蔑你?”男子眼眸暗沉,脸上一片寒意。【片段二】:“怎么?你也想做本堡主的妻妾之一?”男子挑起某女的下颚,气息喷洒在她的面上,一双桃花眼波光流转,讥讽嘲弄,话语却是暧昧至极。“可惜不能如你所愿,老娘对种马没兴趣!”女子浅笑盈盈,狐狸一般,意味深长的上下打量着某自恋男。男子听罢,俊美的脸上一片晦暗,随后笑道:“欲拒还迎的手段我见多了,还没见过如此有新意诋毁本堡主的。”“是么?荣幸之至!”某女把他的话当作赞扬。“……”【片段三】:“你胆子很大嘛,竟敢独闯我玄冥教总坛?”主殿台阶的石榻上,慵懒的侧卧着一位邪魅妖娆的男子,凤眸直视着下面不请自来的某女。“呵呵……承蒙教主大人夸奖。”某女干笑连连,丝毫没有被抓包的胆怯。“是么?说说你来此的目的。”一双凤眸魅惑怏然,一丝狠戾闪过眼底。“这个,我可不可以不说实话。”某女挠挠脑袋,打着商量的说道。“可以,只要你还有命在!”“呃……”为救“父皇”,她盗遍天下,寻找几味堪称稀世珍宝的解药。本只是单纯的寻药旅程,却不想搅乱了几池春水,不知是她盗了宝,还是他们输了心?当兵临城下之时,谁又乱了谁的心?盗宝,盗财,盗国家机密,不难不盗。
  • 对不起,爱上你

    对不起,爱上你

    八岁,她被许家收养。许父为官,许母经商,少有时间在家,便嘱咐许南城好好照顾小妹妹。经过慢慢的接触,轻漾开始接受许南城,而许南城也喜欢上了轻漾,甚至不同兄妹间的那种喜欢。五年之后,他们再次相见,似乎一切都如原来一样,似乎一切又都变了样子。他还是五年前疼她的那个许南城,而她,苏轻漾,五年前却从许母那里得知自己生母曾经的往事,开始与许家越来越远。在许南城离开的五年间,轻漾认识了陈安凉,陈氏集团的少总,一个可以为她放弃一切的男人。轻漾、许南城、陈安凉、裴心莹之间,天一、裴氏、陈氏之间,开始了种种的纷乱纠葛。而轻漾与许南城,一次次靠近,又一次次远离。许南城为她默默打理好一切,陈安凉为她可以放下一切。