se heroic virtues have, by excess, become more
dangerous in him than would be their opposite vices. His firmness,
becoming obstinacy, caused his misfortune at Pultowa and rendered him
for five painful years the dependant and prisoner of the Turks; his
liberality, degenerated into wastefulness, has ruined Sweden; his
courage, carried in most cases to the utmost extent of foolhardiness,
has led hundreds of thousands of his subjects to butchery or the
Siberian mines; his justice has often become cruelty, and the
maintenance of his royal prerogative, tyranny.'

'Cruelty and tyranny!' repeated Arwed. 'Surely you judge the greatest
man in Europe too severely.'

'Do you remember the Livonian, Patkul?' asked the father--'Patkul, who
was compelled, contrary to private right and international law, to make
such dreadful atonement for what he had done in behalf of his native
land? His horrible death is a dark stain upon Charles's character, and
no laurel wreath will ever so conceal the deed that posterity will not
discover it on the tablets of history.'

'So also are there spots upon the sun,' said Arwed with some degree of
irritation. 'The spirit of the party to which you have attached
yourself, my father, permits you to see only the dark side of his
character.'

'My party spirit will never sway my judgment,' indignantly replied the
senator. 'The true patriot is governed only by a desire to promote his
country's welfare, in choosing and adhering to his party. Were the
government of our king less arbitrary I would joyfully unite myself
with his party; but with monarchs like him, the public good requires an
opposition, and every honest-minded nobleman should take his stand upon
that side.'

'It does not become me to dispute with you upon such topics,' said
Arwed, soothingly. 'As yet I have no voice in public affairs. My arm
only is needed. To that, however, in my opinion, my country has a
righteous claim; and the question now is, not whether, the king has
always chosen the best course for the welfare of his realm, but whether
the decision which he has now irrevocably made shall be maintained with
blood and treasure. Therefore permit me to go this time, my dear
father.'

'Well argued, my son,' said the elder Gyllenstierna gruffly, turning
his attention again to his papers; 'but the father has a will of his
own, and considers himself as much a sovereign in his own house, as
Charles XII is in his kingdom. The king's sinful pass