Napoleon and the Queen of Prussia | Page 9

dignified manner," said Count Pückler, gloomily.
"In these hours of melancholy only we feel the full extent of our ardent
love for our country; now only we perceive the indissoluble ties that
attach our hearts to it! I should like to pour out my blood in tears for
this crushed, disgraced, and yet so dearly-beloved country, and I feel
that if we do not rise speedily from our degradation, I shall die of
despair!"
"You will not die," said Schill, gravely, "for all of us who love Prussia,
and are devoted to her honor, must not think of dying at the present
time; all of us must assist Prussia in rising again from the dust, so that
she may once more boldly meet the tyrant, and take revenge for herself
and for Germany! For Prussia is Germany now, because she is the only
power in Germany that has resisted and braved the Corsican conqueror.
But God wanted first to arouse her from her arrogance and vanity, and
make the weakness of her leading men known to her, that she might
rise after a noble regeneration and with redoubled strength. Life springs
from death, and Prussia had to fall so low as to break her old decrepit
limbs that were still kept together by her glory from the Seven Years'
War; and then the young, vigorous soldier of the new century will arise
and draw the sword to deliver his subjugated country, and avenge its
desecrated honor!"
"Then you hope still for a change for the better?" asked Count Pückler,
mournfully.

"I base my hopes on the propitious star of Prussia," exclaimed Schill,
enthusiastically, "on the future, on the wrath and grief which will
awake now in all Prussian hearts, arousing the sluggards, strengthening
the vacillating, and urging the timid. I base my hopes on the tears of
Queen Louisa, which will move Heaven to help us and awaken
avengers on earth. And, for ourselves, comrade, with our wounds, with
our disgrace, we must be like the spirits of vengeance that sweep across
the heath in the howling storm of diversity, and awaken the sleeper
who would give way to dreams of peace and inaction. Prussia must not
make peace in her present calamitous condition; she must fill the hearts
and minds of all with longings for war, till the whole nation arises in its
rage and expels the enemy from the country! My friend, we have now
witnessed the downfall of Prussia, but henceforth we must exert
ourselves in order to witness also her regeneration. We ourselves must
be the--"
"Hush!" said Pückler, hastily. "Just look there, and then take your
sabre."
They were now near a field-path leading to a small wood which a
slender youth had just left, and was hastily approaching them. As yet,
however, he was so far from them that they were unable to distinguish
his features or his dress, and to discern whether he was an armed
soldier or a peaceable wanderer.
"It is, doubtless, a French soldier, and his comrades are lying in
ambush," murmured Pückler, placing his hand on his sword.
"If he wants to attack us, he had better say his death-prayers," said
Schill, calmly. "There are two of us, and each has one uninjured arm."
The youth had meanwhile drawn nearer, and they saw that he did not
wear any uniform.
"He is very young," said Pückler, "and a civilian. He has apparently not
yet seen us. That bush yonder is concealing us from his eyes. Let us
stoop a little, and, as the path lies beyond, he may pass by without
noticing us."

They knelt down behind the bush, but, while doing so, took their
swords, and prepared for an attack. Then they held their breath and
listened.
Profound silence reigned around, and nothing was to be heard but the
quick steps of the wanderer, who drew nearer and nearer. Suddenly this
silence was interrupted by a fresh and youthful voice, singing the air of
a popular song.
"Ah, he sings," murmured Schill. "He who can sing to-day, must be
very harmless, and it is not worth while to kill him."
"Hush! hush! let us listen to his song. He is now singing words to the
melody. Just listen!"
The voice resounded nearer and nearer to the two listeners, and they
could understand the words he was singing:
O Hermann! for thy country's fall No tears! Where vanquished valor
bled The victor rules, and Slavery's pall, Upon these hills and vales is
spread. Shame burns within me, for the brave Lie mouldering in the
freeman's grave.
No voice! where sturdy Luther spoke Fearless for men who dared be
free! O would that Heaven's thunder woke My people for their liberty!
Must heroes fight and die in vain?-- Ye cowards! grasp your