Horatio Replied To This Compliment With All Humility; And As The Count
Perceived By His Accents That He Was Not
A Frenchman, tho' he spoke the
language perfectly well, he asked him of what country he was; to which
Horatio
Replied, that he was of England, but made him no farther
acquainted with his affairs, nor that the motive of his having remained
so long in France, was because he was not ransomed by his friends: not
that he concealed this out of pride, but he knew the character of most
first ministers, and thought it not prudence to unbosom himself to one
of those, whose first study, when they come into that employment, is to
discover as much as they can of others, without revealing any thing of
themselves. For this reason he was also very sparing of entering into
any discourse of the chevalier's court, or of that of the king of
France, and answered all the questions put to him by the count, that his
youth, and being of foreign extraction, hindered him from being let into
any secrets of state.
After a pretty long conversation, the count led him to the king of
Sweden's apartment, where, just as they were about to enter, he asked
him if he could speak Latin; for, said he, tho' his majesty understands
French, he never could be brought to speak it, nor is pleased to be
addressed in that language. Horatio thanked him for this information,
and told him, that tho' he could not boast of being able to deliver
himself with an affluence becoming the presence of so great a prince,
yet he would chuse rather to shew his bad learning, than his want of
ambition to do every thing that might render himself acceptable.
As he spoke these words, he found himself in his presence. - The king was
encompassed by the officers of the army, to whom he was giving some
directions; but seeing count Piper, and a stranger with him, he left off
what he was saying, and, without giving him time to speak, cried, Count,
who have you brought me here? One, may it please your majesty, replied
he, who brings his credentials with him, and has no need of my
intercession to engage his welcome. While the count Was making this
reply, the king, who had an uncommon quickness in his eyes, measured
Horatio from head to foot; and our young soldier of fortune, without
being daunted, put one knee to the ground, and delivered his packet with
these words: - The princes, by whom I have the honour to be sent,
commanded me to assure your majesty, that they participate in all your
dangers, rejoice in all your glories, and pray, that as you only conquer
for the good of others, the sword you draw, in the cause of justice, may
at last be sheathed in a lasting and universal peace.
I am afraid it will be long before all that is necessary for that
purpose is accomplished, said the king; wrong, when established, not
easily gives place to right; - but we are yet young enough to hope it.
He broke open his letters as he spoke this; and while he was examining
them, took his eye off the paper several times to look on Horatio, and
then read again.
When he had done, I am much obliged, said he, to the zeal these letters
tell me you have expressed for my service, and shall not be
ungrateful: - we are here idle at present but shall not long be so; and
you will have occasions enough to prove your courage, and gratify that
love of arms which, my brother informs me, is the predominant passion of
your soul.
After this he asked him several questions concerning the chevalier St.
George, the queen, and princess Louisa; to which Horatio answered with
great propriety, but mingled with such encomiums of the royal persons,
as testified his gratitude for the favours he received from them. But
when he mentioned the princess, and delivered the message she sent by
him, a more lively colour flushed into the king's cheeks, and he
replied, well, we shall do all we can to comply with her commands; then
turned quick about, and resumed the discourse he was in, before
Horatio's entrance, with his officers, as much as to say, the business
of his love must not interrupt that of the war; and Horatio had
afterwards the opportunity of observing, that tho' he often looked upon
the picture of that amiable princess, which he always wore in his bosom,
yet he would on a sudden snatch his eyes away, as fearing to be too
much softened.
Horatio was ordered to be lodged in the castle where the garrison was
kept; but he was every day at the king's levee, and received the most
extraordinary marks of his favour and affection; for which, as he looked
upon himself entirely indebted to the recommendations of his friends in
France, he wrote letters of thanks, and an account of all that
happened to him.
Poland being now entirely subdued by the valour and fortune of Charles
XII. and having received a king of his nomination, submitted cheerfully,
glad to see an end of devastation, as they then flattered themselves;
but the troubles of that unfortunate kingdom were yet to endure much
longer. - Augustus, impatient of recovering what he had lost, and the
czar of Muscovy jealous and envious of the king of Sweden's glory, came
pouring with mighty armies from Saxony and Russia. Shullenburgh, the
general of the former, had passed the Oder; and the other, at the head
of a numerous body, was plundering all that came in his way, and putting
to the sword every one whom he even suspected of adhering to king
Stanislaus: so that nothing now was talked of but war, and the means
concerted how to put a stop to the miseries these two ambitious princes
made, not only in that country, but all the adjacent parts.
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