登陆注册
5426900000201

第201章

and of other kind acts. Let all my dear friends and acquaintances pray for me too, and help me to rise from the devouring flames, when I have to expiate my sins in purgatory. My beloved wife, Anna Gertrude, is to have masses read for me at St. Martin's Zum rosenfarbnen Blut. She shall have prayers read in both of the parish-churches, and treat my friends at the lower inn to soup and meat, and give every one half a bottle of wine. The money I had about me will be distributed among the poor of this city; for the rest, settle with my debtors and creditors as honestly as you can;lest I should have to atone for it also. Farewell, all of you, for this world, until we shall meet in heaven and praise God for evermore. Dearest brother-in-law, repair to the Passeyr valley, and inform the landlord of the lower inn of my instructions. He will make all necessary dispositions. Let all the inhabitants of Passeyr, and all my acquaintances remember me in their prayers. Dearest brother-in-law, tell my wife, Anna Gertrude, not to grieve for me. Ishall pray to God for her and for all. Adieu, beautiful world! Dying seems to me so easy that there are not even tears in my eyes.""Written at nine o'clock; at ten I shall ascend to God with the aid of all the saints.""Your--."

"Mantua, February 20, 1810."

[Footnote: "Gallery of heroes: Andreas Hofer," p. 197.]

"I will write the signature as I always did," said Andreas Hofer;and, taking up the pen quickly, he wrote:

"Your Andreas Hofer, from Sand in Passeyr, whom you loved in this life. I will set out on my last journey in the Lord's name."[Footnote: "Gallery of Heroes."]

"I thank you, Cajetan, for rendering me this last service," said Andreas, kindly. "And now, my dear friend, let us take leave of each other. The confessor will be here soon, and then I must no longer speak to any one but God."Cajetan came to him with a tottering step, and leaned his head silently on Hofer's shoulder. He did not speak, he wanted to be firm, but he was unable to restrain the sobs and sighs which issued from his breast.

"My dear Cajetan, why do you weep?" asked Hofer, pressing Doeninger's head gently to his heart. "Did you weep when I went into battle, where the enemy's bullets might have hit me at any second?

You did not weep then. Think, therefore, that I am going into battle to-day too, and that it is better for me to be hit by the bullets than suffer any longer in this manner."At this moment the door opened, and the priest, Giovanni Giacomo Manifesti, dressed in full vestments, came in. The guards who followed him led away Doeninger, who obeyed them in silence, as if stunned by his terrible grief. [Footnote: Cajetan Doeninger was taken immediately after Hofer's execution, from his prison, and sent to the Island of Corsica, as a private in a regiment of light infantry. He succeeded, some time afterward, in escaping from thence, and returning to his native country.]

Andreas Hofer remained alone with his confessor.

At eleven o'clock the doors of the prison were thrown open, and Andreas Hofer was led out to execution. His face was serene, and in his hands he held the small crucifix which he had always worn on his breast. His confessor, Manifesti, walked by his side, and a battalion of grenadiers followed him.

Andreas Hofer walked along the ramparts of the fortress with a firm step. As he passed by the barracks of the Porta Molina, where the Tyrolese prisoners were confined, they fell on their knees and wept aloud. Andreas turned quickly to Manifesti the, priest. "Your reverence," he said, "you will distribute among my poor countrymen the five hundred florins, my last property, which I gave to you, will you not?""I will, my son."

"And take my greetings to all," said Andreas Hofer, in a grave, loud voice, "and tell them not to be disheartened, nor to think that all is lost, and that we have fought and bled in vain. Better times will dawn upon my beloved Tyrol, and one day it will be again a free German country. Tell them to hope and believe in this prediction."On the broad bastion, a little distance from the Porta Ceresa, the grenadiers formed a square, open in the rear. Andreas Hofer entered this open space with the priest, bowed kindly to all sides, and prayed aloud with the priest.

同类推荐
  • 沙州记

    沙州记

    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。
  • 古楼观紫云衍庆集

    古楼观紫云衍庆集

    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。
  • 小鸣稿

    小鸣稿

    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。
  • Sixes and Sevens

    Sixes and Sevens

    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。
  • 法集名数经

    法集名数经

    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
  • 家常肉小炒

    家常肉小炒

    《美食天下(第1辑):家常肉小炒》由中国烹饪协会美食营养专业委员会推荐,《美食天下(第1辑):家常肉小炒》名厨不传的地道好吃肉秘诀,招招好学易做,道道色昧俱佳,让您轻轻松松在家做美味!从“家常”“基础”人手,从原料和原料加工说起,最家常的菜式、最基础的做法一一详解。
  • 妃常傲娇:王爷,该吃药了

    妃常傲娇:王爷,该吃药了

    "“王爷,她是西王国奸细,留不得!”“奸细怎么了?本王府院这么高,她还能翻墙不成。”“王爷,她是前朝公主,要不得!”“前朝算哪根葱?她可是本王的女人”杨南烟:“我可是要杀你的人,你不恨我吗?”江辰:“不恨。”杨南烟:“为何?”江辰:“因为……你杀不了我!”"
  • 逆几率系统

    逆几率系统

    余秋:「给我最难练的秘籍!」「咚!逆几率系统启动,修练成功率由0.001变为99.999%」这是一个余秋带着逆几率系统,挑战最高难度的故事。在他面前,困难不是问题,简单才是问题。群聊号码:4814206032018三江推荐作品,品质可靠!
  • 贪欣误

    贪欣误

    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。
  • 菩萨戒本经

    菩萨戒本经

    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。
  • 香为媒

    香为媒

    罪臣之女,京城第一名媛遭遇退婚,身价不跌反涨,精挑细选嫁给了仇敌之子。对母亲恨之入骨的恶婆婆,神神秘秘的畏缩小姑子,无所不知无所不能的闺蜜。痴缠的前未婚夫,迂腐的酸秀才,勇武黑心的将军。经历战火的洗礼对自己不离不弃的相公。对我好的,我记着,对我不好的,你等着。我是腹黑小白花柳白鹭,我为自己代言。
  • 书鲍忠壮公轶事

    书鲍忠壮公轶事

    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。
  • 养生辩疑诀

    养生辩疑诀

    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。
  • 爱你,是最美的修行:仓央嘉措的诗与情

    爱你,是最美的修行:仓央嘉措的诗与情

    本书通过对仓央嘉措诗与情的解读,将一个最真实、最纯真、最多情的仓央嘉措呈现在读者面前。在本书中,读者可以领略到仓央嘉措诗歌之美,身世之传奇,情感之真挚。
  • 亲事

    亲事

    “不孝有三,无后为大”。在土原上庄稼人的生活哲学里,传宗接代恐怕是一件至高无上的事情。香火,原本是说后人供奉在先人灵位前的祭奠物品,那一缕散发着草木清香的蓝烟,燃烧着的香愈来愈少,燃尽了再重新插上一枝。火,有热量,动态的,也恐怕是活着的意思,人死如灯灭,生命不过如此,个体的群体的生命也不过如此吧。续香火,无非是代代相传,断了香火也就是说这一支人失传了。老人下世,起灵时有继承人摔纸盆子,养儿防老,有子其实是有一个在你死后有一个摔纸盆子的人。那么咣当一下,一个人便从阳间走上了阴间的奈何桥。娶妻生子,便成了孝顺先人的头等大事。那么,定亲就成了这一程序中的一个先行的环节。