ill lead you to battle, and
that you consider it inglorious to show further obedience to me.
Nevertheless, from your own free and unconfined desire, you chose from
the midst of you, not a man, but one of the daughters of the people,
and clothed her with the purple that she might rule over you according
to the usage and custom of the country. Now, whoever can convict me of
a fault in my government, let him come forward freely and openly and
bear witness against me. If, however, I have administered justice
after the manner of my father Crocus; if I have made the hills
straight, the crooked places even, the abysses passable; if I have
secured your harvests, rescued your herds from the wolf, and guarded
your fruit-trees; if I have bowed the stiff-neck of the violent, aided
the oppressed, and given a staff to support the weak, then, I say, it
becomes you to adhere to your promise, and, according to your oath of
fealty, to be faithful and true to me, and to do me good service. If
you think it inglorious to serve a woman, you should have considered
that before you appointed me to be your princess. If there was any
thing wrong in that choice, it reverts to yourselves. However, this
proceeding on your part shows that you do not understand your own
interest. The female hand is soft and gentle, accustomed to raise only
gentle breezes with the fan; but man's arm is sinewy and rough, heavy
and oppressive, when he holds the weight of authority. Besides, do you
know, that when a woman rules, the sovereignty is still in the hand of
man? For she gives hearing to wise councillors; but when the distaff
excludes from the throne, there is female government; for the girls,
who please the king's eyes, have possession of his heart. Reflect
well, then, on what you do, that you may not repent too late of your
fickleness."

The speaker from the throne was silent, a deep reverential silence
prevailed in the hall of assembly, and no one ventured to utter a word
against her. Nevertheless Prince Wladomir and his party did not
abandon their project, but whispered among themselves: "The cunning
chamois is striving not to leave the rich pasture; but the hunter's
horn shall sound still louder, and scare it away." The next day they
stirred up the body of knights, loudly to request the queen to choose a
husband within three days, and by the choice of her heart to give the
people a prince, who should share the government with her. At this
sudde