plied the Duke, with a stern voice; "the first
step he makes to the rear, I'll cut him down from his horse. The devil
sat upon your blue lips, Ambrosius Bolland, when you advised us to
despise our people, and subvert the laws of the land. This day, when
the balls whiz and swords clatter, shall you know whether your counsel
has proved of advantage to us or not."

The chancellor's eyes beamed with rage, his lips trembled, and his
whole countenance was fearfully distorted. "I only gave you my
advice,--why did you follow it?" said he; "you are the Duke and master;
you gave the orders for swearing the oath of allegiance,--how could I
help it?"

The Duke, in anger at these words, turned his horse with such velocity
towards him, that the chancellor, expecting his last moment was come,
bent himself down in trepidation on his horse's mane. "By our princely
honour," he cried, with a terrible voice, his eyes flashing fire, "we
are astonished at our own forbearance. You took advantage of the
blindness of our anger, when first we re-entered our capital; you knew
too well how to ingratiate yourself into our confidence. Had we not
followed your counsel, thou serpent, we should have had twenty thousand
Wuertemberg hearts as a wall to defend their Prince. Oh! my Wuertemberg!
my Wuertemberg! Had I but followed the advice of my old friend! There is
indeed a charm in the love of my people!"

"Away with these thoughts," said the old knight of Lichtenstein. "We
are on the eve of battle; all is not yet lost; we have still time to
repair the wrongs we have committed. You are surrounded by six thousand
Wuertembergers, and, by heavens! they will be victorious, if you lead
them with confidence to the enemy. We are all friends here, my Lord!
forgive your enemies; dismiss your chancellor, who can be of no service
to you, he cannot use a sword."

"No! remain by my side, thou tortoise! dog of a scribe!" said the Duke.
"Seated in your office, you wrote laws with your own hand, and despised
my people, you shall now witness how they can fight; how a Wuertemberger
can conquer or----die. Ha! do you see them on the height there? do you
see the flag with the red cross? there's the banner of Bavaria; how
their arms glisten in the dawn of the morning, and their helmet plumes
wave in the breeze! Good morning, gentlemen of the Swabian League; that
is a sight for a Wuertemberger! how my heart gladdens at it!"

"Look! they are preparing their artillery," int