His reception from the king of Sweden: his promotion: follows
that prince in all his conquests thro' Poland, Lithuania and Saxony. The
story of count Patkul and madame de Eusilden.
While these things were transacting in Italy, Horatio, animated by love
and glory, was pursuing his journey to Poland. His impatience was so
great, that he travelled almost night and day, already imitating the
example of the master he was going to serve; no wood, no river was
impassable to him that shortened the distance to the place he so much
longed to approach: and thus by inuring himself to hardship, became
fitly qualified to bear his part in all the vast fatigues to which that
prince incessantly exposed his royal person.
Not a city, town, or even village he puffed thro', but echoed with the
wonders performed by the young king of Sweden: - new victories, new
acquisitions met him wherever he came: - all tongues were full of his
praises; and even those who had been ruined by his conquests, could not
help speaking of him with admiration. - Horatio heard all this with
pleasure, but mixed with a kind of pain that he was not present at these
great actions. - How glorious is it, cried he to himself, to fight under
the banners of this invincible monarch! - What immortal honour has not
every private man acquired, who contributed the least part to successes
that astonish the whole world!
