The Misfortune Of These Great Men Would Have Been Very Afflicting To Those Who Heard It, Could Any Thing Have Given Addition To What They Knew Before.

- Prince Menzikoff was sensible of what they felt, and to alleviate their grief, assured them that he would take

Upon him to give them all their liberty, without even exacting a promise from them never more to draw their swords against the czar, in case the king of Sweden should ever be able to take the field again.

So generous a proceeding both merited and received their utmost acknowledgments: but he put an end to the serious demonstrations they were about to make him of their gratitude, by saying, - I pay you no more than I owe you: - I have wronged you: - this is but part of the retaliation I ought to make: - besides, added he laughing, Mattakesa promised Mullern his freedom; and as she has done me the good office, tho' undesignedly, of revealing to me her own treachery, I can do no less than assist her in fulfilling, her covenant.

To prove how much he was in earnest, he called his secretary, and ordered him to make out their passports with all expedition, that they might be ready to depart next morning; after which he made them repose themselves in his palace the remainder of the night; which being in a manner vastly different from what they had been accustomed to of a long time, indeed ever since their quitting Alranstadt, they did not fail to do, notwithstanding the discontent of their minds.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 309 of 369
Words from 85812 to 86073 of 102800