Thus, Highly Contented With His Lot, Did He Attend The King, Thro'
Rivers, Lakes, Marines, And All The Obstacles Nature
Had thrown in the
way of this conqueror; and whenever they came to any battle, was so
swift in bearing
His commands to the general, and in returning to him in
which line soever he was, that Poniatosky gave him the name of the
Mercury to their Jove; nor did he less signalize his valour; he fought
by the side of the king like one who valued not life, in competition
with the praises of his master. In an engagement where they took the
baggage of Augustus, he did extraordinary service; and a colonel then
being killed on the spot, the king presently cried out, Now here is a
regiment for my Horatio. Our young warrior thanked him on his knees, but
beseeched he might not be removed from him, again protesting that he
could no were deserve so well, as where he was animated by his royal
presence. This Charles XII. took very kindly, and told him, he should
have his desire; but, said he, I must also have mine: - I will continue
you my aid-de-camp, but you shall accept the commission, and the
lieutenant colonel shall command the regiment in your absence.
He also allotted him so large a share in the prize taken in this battle,
that Horatio was already become rich enough to avow his pretensions to
the daughter of the baron de Palfoy; but, dear as she was to him, his
love and admiration of the king of Sweden, joined to the ambition of
desiring still more than he had received, kept him from entertaining the
least desire of quitting the service he was in.
In eight or nine weeks did the two kings clear the country round, and
drove their enemies into the heart of Lithuania. As they were about to
return, they were met by the welcome news that general Renchild had been
no less successful, and entirely routed the whole army of Shullenburgh,
and also that the diet of Ratisbon, fearing the king of Sweden would
enter Germany, had come to a resolution to declare him an enemy to the
empire, in case he offered to pass the Oder with his army.
They could not have taken a more effectual step to bring on what
they dreaded, than by daring him to it by this menace. He took but
little time for consideration, before he determined to carry the war
into Saxony, and drive Augustus from his electorate, as he had done from
his kingdom.
He had no sooner made known his resolution, than the troops began to
march, and with a chearfulness and alacrity, which shewed they had no
will but that of their king: - indeed he seemed the soul of this mighty
body, of which every single man was a member, and actuated only by him.
It is certain his heart was set on establishing Stanislaus on the
throne, and he knew no better way of preventing Augustus from molesting
him, than by calling off all communication between his electorate and
Poland:
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