I Must Confess, Continued Poniatosky, The History Of This Lady's
Sufferings Touch Me Very Much; And Tho' I Think Her
Lover well worthy of
the death he will undoubtedly receive, could wish some unexpected chance
might once more set him
Free, and in a condition to recompence so tender
a passion, which Augustus has now no longer any power to oppose.
Horatio had a heart too tender, and too sensible of the woes of love,
not to be greatly affected with this passage; and as they all were
young, and probably had each of them a lady to whom their affections
were given, could not help sympathizing in the misfortunes of two
persons who seemed to have fallen into them merely by the sincere
attachment they had for each other.
CHAP. XVIII.
King Stanislaus quits Alranstadt to appease the troubles in Poland:
Charles XII. gives laws to the empire: a courier arrives from Paris:
Horatio receives letters which give him great surprize.
Augustus being able to obtain no better conditions from the king of
Sweden, than leave to return to his almost ruined electorate, took leave
of his conqueror with an almost broken heart. - Intelligence soon after
arriving that Poland was half demolished by the violence of different
factions, who, in the absence of both their kings, contended with equal
fury for the sovereign power, Stanislaus took an affectionate farewell
of his dear friend and patron, and went to appease the troubles of that
kingdom, and make himself peaceably acknowledged for what he was, their
lawful king, not only by election, but by the gift of the conqueror,
Charles XII. of Sweden. He was attended by 10,000 Swedish horse, and
twice the number of foot, in order to make good his claim against any of
his rebellious subjects.
Charles having now accomplished all he could desire in relation to the
Polish affairs, began to grow weary of the idle life he led at
Alranstadt, and was thinking which way he should turn his arms; he had
been used ill by the czar, who, as has been before observed, plotted his
destruction while a minor, and began hostilities when he thought him not
in a condition to defend himself, much less to make any reprisals: his
resentment therefore against him was no less implacable than it had been
against Augustus, - But the emperor had also disobliged him. Count Zobor,
the chamberlain, had taken very indecent and unbecoming liberties with
his character, in the presence of his own Ambassador at Vienna; and that
court had given shelter to 1500 Muscovites, who having escaped his arms,
fled thither for protection. As he was now so near, he therefore thought
best to call the emperor first to account, and then proceed to
attack the czar.
To this end he sent to demand count Zobor, and the 1500 Muscovites
should be given into his hands: the timid emperor complied with the
first and sent his chamberlain to be punished as the king thought fit;
but it was not in his power to acquiesce with the other; the Roman envoy,
then at Vienna, having intelligence of it, provided for their escape by
different routs.
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