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tle, a prey to the vulture and the wolf. In the Austrian army there is no provision of this nature; and Tilly himself, when marked with a Protestant sabre, was obliged to send to Halle for a surgeon. The brigading of troops, -the firing en pelotons,-the dragoon service,—the short cannon, which carries farther than a long one,—the new pike, and the cartridge-box, are but a portion of the inventions which we owe to Gustavus Adolphus. Every field-officer in the Swedish service is a worthy pupil of our heroic master, who fights alike in summer and in winter, and who has proved himself the best engineer of his time, by his skill in the conduct of sieges, batteries and entrenchments. When he drew his sword in the Protestant cause, and advanced like a hurricane into Germany, the military fops of Vienna called him the Snow-King, and predicted that he and his troops would melt in the summer heats. They little knew the formidable enemy they had to encounter. But the more sagacious Tilly shook his head when he heard this favorite jest of the Vienna circles, and was heard to say, that the snow-ball would probably roll up into an avalanche. He had sufficient knowledge of human nature to foresee a possibility, that the fresh and ardent religious zeal of the Swedish and German Protestants would eventually triumph over the worn-out fanaticism of the Catholic soldiery. To return to Gustavus, I could utter volumes in praise of his eloquence, and of the talent displayed in his letters, treaties, and manifestos. His character, in short, exhibits a splendid combination of intrepidity and self-possession; of temperance and industry; of affability, clemency, and candor. crown all, he is a good husband and father, a sound and fervent Christian; and may I fall into the talons of old Tilly, or of the devil, who is the best of the two, if I would not shed my blood for him as cheerfully as I now pour out a bumper of old Rhine-wine to his health."

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I listened with growing amazement

to my enthusiastic friend, whose language and deportment had experienced a change as striking as the alteration in his person. I could not discern in the martial figure before me a vestige of the modest, taciturn, and temperate youth I had formerly known. The fire of his eyes, and the stern compression of his lips, indicated a resolute and decided character; his language flowed like a torrent; and he had so entirely subdued his dislike to the bottle, that, in the ardor of his eulogium, he swallowed successive bumpers, without observing that I had limited myself to a single glass.

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After he had entered into some farther details of his military career, he rose to depart, and thus addressed me: My object in calling upon you, Albert, was not merely to embrace an old friend, but to make his fortune. You are irrecoverably spoiled for a soldier; but a king, who pillows his head upon the works of the immortal Grotius, can appreciate learning as well as valor. He loves the book of Grotius on War and Peace, as much as Alexander the Great prized the Iliad of Homer; and has often declared that he would make this highly gifted man his prime minister, if he would accept the appointment. He has also a fine taste, or, I should rather say, an impassioned feeling for poetry. After the surrender of Elbing, but before the definitive treaty was signed, the King walked into the town unobserved, and purchased the Latin poems of Buchanan. You, Albert, are a scholar and a poet, but, more than all, you are descended from the family of Luther. I have often bantered you for attaching importance to this accident of birth, but I now foresee that it will greatly promote your advancement in life. Gustavus is a zealous Lutheran. He venerates the great Reformer as a second savior; and he will certainly bestow upon you an honorable appointment when he learns, that, in addition to more solid merits, you are a scion, although but collaterally, of the stock of Luther.And now, my Albert, vale, et me ama!

The moon will be down in an hour, and I must to quarters. We are encamped three leagues from hence, near the small town of R. The King and his staff occupy the adjacent castle. Visit me the day after to-morrow, and I will introduce you to his Majesty."

With these words he embraced me, and summoned his dragoon. Two noble chargers were brought to my cottage door, and the active riders, vaulting into the saddles, bounded rapidly across the chuchyard path into the high road. The night was still and beautiful; the moon-beams shone brightly upon their nodding plumes and steel cuirasses; and, as I gazed upon their retreating figures, and listened to the loud ring of their sabres and accoutrements, I fancied them two knights of the olden time, sallying forth in quest of nocturnal adventure.

On the morning of the day appointed for my introduction to royalty, I felt a natural impulse to adorn the outward man, and surveyed, with some trepidation, the contents of my scanty wardrobe. Alas! the best coat in my possession displayed a surface more brown than black; and, while endeavoring to improve it with a brush, I discovered more nebulous spots and milky ways than ever met the gaze of astronomer through his telescope. At the risk of giving dire offence to the royal nostrils, I obliterated many of these celestial systems with turpentine, converted an old hat into a new one by the aid of warm beer, took my walking-stick and bundle, and commenced my journey to the Swedish camp.

About a quarter of a league from the town I encountered groups of soldiers, seated at the entrances of tents and cottages. They were men of comely aspect, well clothed, and of peaceable deportment. To an officer of some rank, who inquired my object in approaching the camp, I mentioned the invitation of Seifert. He treated me with the respect due to my sacred office, and in terms of courtesy and kindness told me, that my friend was

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"Good morning, Albert!-Excuse my reception of you, but I thought our appointment had been for to-morrow."

Suddenly the stern expression of his features relaxed into kindness and cordiality; he started from his seat, seized my hand affectionately, and exclaimed, with visible emotion,

"It is well, however, that you have arrived to-day, for possibly you had not found me in existence tomorrow."

"Good God!" I ejaculated, “what calamity has befallen you, Seifert! Have you by any fault or misfortune lost the royal favor?"

"On the contrary," he replied, with a smile of singular meaning, "the King has just granted me a signal and unprecedented favor."

He then closed the door of his apartment, and continued in a lower tone: "Every human being, Albert, has his weak side, and even a great king is but a man. The failing of our heroic Gustavus is that of inordinate devotion. He is the high-priest as well as the general of his army, and no superannuated devotee can surpass him in praying, weeping, and psalm-singing. I give him full credit for zeal and sincerity, for it is impossible that Gustavus Adolphus can stoop to hypocrisy ; but, amongst various unmilitary regulations which have sprung from this religious enthusiasm, he has forbidden duels under penalty of death."

Here I would have interrupted him.

"Excuse me, Albert," he continued, "I know all you would say on the subject; I know that, as a clergyman, you must vindicate this absurdity of Gustavus; but kings and curates are

privileged men. The latter are not very tenacious of the point d'honneur; and when a king is insulted, he wages combat on a large scale, and arrays nation against nation to avenge his private quarrels. For instance, what was the battle of Leipzic but a duel between Gustavus Adolphus and Ferdinand III., or rather Maximilian of Bavaria? I must, however, do him the justice to acknowledge that he has at length relaxed the severity of this regulation, and has permitted me to measure swords with Captain Barstrom; but on condition that the duel shall take place in the baronial hall of the castle, and in presence of the king and his staff-officers. The gallery will be open to the public, and I will procure you a good seat and an intelligent companion, that you may have the pleasure of seeing me avail myself of his Majesty's gracious permission to humble the pride and insolence of my opponent. You are a classical man, Albert, and may readily suppose that you are beholding a mortal combat of gladiators, for the encounter will only terminate with the death of one or both. In return for this gratification," he added, with a careless smile, "you must pledge yourself to read the service of the dead over my remains, should I fall, and to compose for me a Latin epitaph in flowing hexameters. And now, my beloved Albert, farewell. I must go and apparel, for it would be a breach of etiquette to perform tragedy before spectators of such exalted rank in any but full dress."

"Strange being!" I here impatiently exclaimed, "you speak of a you speak of a deadly combat as you would of a pageant! Cease this unhallowed levity, and tell me in plain language what is the nature of this insult, which can only be atoned for by the sacrifice of human life?"

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ther the bear shall give the coxcomb a mortal squeeze, or be compelled to dance to the coxcomb's fiddle."

With these words he left the apartment, and shortly returned with a Saxon subaltern of mature age and intelligent physiognomy. He told him to accompany me to the gallery of the castle-hall, and to procure for me a commodious seat. Thunderstruck at this intelligence, I left the quarters of Seifert, and approached the castle gate in silent consternation. My companion gave me a look full of humorous meaning, and remarked, while he offered me a pinch of snuff,

"All this is, doubtless, above your comprehension, reverend sir! It is almost above mine, although I have lived above half a century, and have made some use of my opportunities. Perhaps, however, you, who have studied at the university, can explain to me why no man likes to be called by his proper name. I have known Captain Seifert for a twelvemonth-I have seen him in battle-and, God knows he wields his sabre as well as he does his tongue, which is no small praise, because he surpasses most men in wit and knowledge; but I maintain, nevertheless, that he is somewhat of a coxcomb. Captain Barstrom is also a man of distinguished bravery, and he had once the good fortune to save the king's life, but in manner he is a wild beast; and why he should take offence at the very characteristic appellation of a Swedish bear,' puzzles me exceedingly."

I followed my conductor into the gallery, which was crowded with citizens, who readily, however, made way for me and my escort, and we gained a position commanding a good view of the arena below. The royal guards, a fine body of men, in light blue coats and steel cuirasses, lined both sides of the spacious hall, and their polished battle-axes flashed brightly from the tops of their long black lances.

"I suppose," said I to my companion, "that these fine body-guards are the King's favorite regiment?"

"Gustavus is a father to all his

soldiers," answered the subaltern; " and incredible as it may appear to you, he knows personally almost every Swede in his army, has conversed with most of them, and addressed them even by name. The entire Swedish force is as well equipped as the men before you. On this point the munificent Gustavus differs widely from Corporal Skeleton, as he always calls Tilly. The old Bavarian maintains that a polished musket and a ragged soldier set off each other. The Swedish monarch studies the health and comfort of his soldiers collectively, and indulges no preference for the guards. Indeed he has often been heard to say that he trusted not in body-guards, but in the Providence of God."

During this discussion, the castle hall had become gradually crowded with officers in Swedish and Saxon uniforms. Suddenly the loud clash of spurs and voices ceased, and was succeeded by a deep and respectful silence. The lofty folding-doors were thrown open, and with a beating heart and aching eye-balls I awaited a first view of the mighty Gustavus. A tall man entered the hall, spare in body but stout and muscular in limb. His forehead was lofty and commanding, his eye-brows were prominent and bushy, and his nose had the curve of a hawk's. Good feeling and intelligence were finely blended in his physiognomy; but the powerful glance of his deep-set eyes was softened and shaded by an expression of settled melancholy. He saluted right and left with much urbanity, proceeded to the upper end of the hall, and stood with folded arms and abstracted gaze, evidently unconscious of the passing scene.

"That is a personage of high rank," I observed; "but it cannot be the king. I have understood that Gustavus is robust in person, and has a full and jovial countenance."

"That field-officer," replied the subaltern, "is the king's right arm, the admirable Gustavus Horn, whose division was immediately opposed to

Tilly in the battle of Leipzic. He is at once a terrible warrior and a nobleminded man. I could relate many instances of his humanity and forbearance."

"But why," said I, "that expression of sadness in his countenance?" "He has recently lost an excellent wife and two lovely children," answered my companion, "by a contagious malady. He clasped their dead bodies in a long embrace, and sent them in a silver coffin to Sweden for interment.-But you must not overlook the Chancellor Oxenstiern, the tall and majestic figure approaching General Horn. Observe his fine open countenance, exactly what the Italians call a viso sciolto. He is no Cardinal Richelieu-no Machiavel; and yet as cunning as the devil. He is of a mild and tranquil temperament, and affords a noble proof that an honest man may be a clever fellow. Observe how cordially he presses the hand of his sonin law, and endeavors to console him. The wife of Gustavus Horn was his favorite daughter, but his grief for her loss is not outwardly visible. The king, who is a man of quick feelings, could not refrain from remarking this singular composure on so trying an occasion, and called him a cold-blooded animal. But what think you was the chancellor's reply? 'If my cold blood did not occasionally damp your majesty's fire, the conflagration would become inextinguishable.' Gustavus did not hesitate a moment to acknowledge the justice of the remark, nor does any man in Sweden better understand the value of Oxenstiern's cool judgment and comprehensive understanding. Had the chancellor's feelings been more acute and obvious, his mind would have been proportionably deficient in that consummate power and self-balance which have enabled him to accomplish so much for his king and country.-Look at that impetuous young soldier, who is striding rapidly up the hall-I mean the one whose locks are combed half over his forehead, after the newest mode, instead of being brushed upwards in the

lion-fashion, like the hair of Gustavus fluently as his native tongue, but is ignorant of English."

and the chancellor."

"Hah!" I exclaimed, "that is my own illustrious sovereign, Prince Bernard of Weimar. I have often met him, when we were children, on the stairs of Luther's tower near Eisenach, and he always honored me with a friendly greeting. He has shot up into manly strength and beauty; and, if I read correctly his impatient gesture and flashing eye, he is a man of daring and impetuous character."

Right!" answered the subaltern. "He is young and inexperienced; but there are within him all the elements of another Gustavus. Observe how eagerly he approaches General Horn, and how cordially he embraces him. The general has many claims upon the esteem of this headlong youth, who has sometimes in the field dared to dispute the judgment and the orders of the veteran commander; but at length saw his errors, and redeemed them nobly, by proving himself soldier enough to submit to his superior in rank, and man enough to acknowledge in public his own rashness and inexperience."

"Who is that grave-looking fieldofficer," I inquired, "who has just entered, and is so cordially saluted by every one?"

"Ah, my good and reverend sir!" exclaimed the old man, "you see there a striking proof of the great advantages of war over peace, and especially in the Swedish service. In peaceable times, the signal merits of that man would not have raised him from obscurity. He is Colonel Stahlhantsch, a Finlander. In his youth he was a footman, and now he is the equal in military rank, and the personal friend of Duke Bernard. But he is a highly-gifted man, and, amongst other accomplishments, is well acquainted with the English language. He gained this knowledge when in the service of Sir Patrick Ruthven, and it has enabled him to render some valuable aid to the king, who speaks German, French, Italian, and Latin, as

My companion was here interrupted by the loud cheers of a numerous assemblage in the castle-yard. The window being immediately behind us, we had only to reverse our position to obtain a good view of the spacious enclosure, crowded with a dense mass of human beings. The pressure was terrific, and yet no soldiers were employed to clear the way for the approaching monarch and his retinue. The assembled people showed their sense of this forbearance, by uncovering their heads, and giving way respectfully as he advanced. I now beheld a large man on horseback, plainly attired in a suit of grey cloth. He had a green feather in his hat, and was mounted on a large spotted white horse, of singular beauty and magnificent action. I required no prompting to tell me that this was the Great Gustavus.

"Behold!" exclaimed my cicerone, "how slowly he rides across the castle-yard. He is afraid that his mettlesome courser may injure the thoughtless children perpetually crossing his path; and, being near-sighted, he shades his eyes with his hand."

“The king is very plainly attired,” I remarked; "but a man so distinguished by nature needs not the aid of dress. His features are finely moulded and full of dominion; but his person, although majestic and imposing, is somewhat too corpulent."

"Not an ounce too much of him," replied somewhat abruptly the subaltern.

"He is not a heavier man than the heroic Charlemagne, or Rolf the Galloper, who founded the powerful state of Normandy; and in activity of body and mind he is at least their equal."

Unwilling to irritate this partizan of Gustavus by pursuing the subject, I remarked the uncommon beauty of the king's horse.

“A fine horse," he replied, "is the hobby of Gustavus, and by the indulgence of this foible he has too often

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