alty and help of Your renowned
Body, and invoke the ancient Hungarian virtue to rise swiftly and save
me!' Whereat the assembled Hungarian Synod, their wild Magyar hearts
touched to the core, start up in impetuous acclaim, flourish aloft their
drawn swords, and shout unanimously in passionate tenor-voice, 'MORIAMUR
(Let us die) for our Rex Maria Theresa!' [_Maria Theresiens Leben_ (which
speaks hypothetically), iv, 44; Coxe, iii. 270 (who is positive, "after
examining the Documents").] Which were not vain words. For a general
'Insurrection' was thereupon decreed; what the Magyars call their
'Insurrection,' which is by no means of rebellious nature; and many
noblemen, old Count Palfy himself a chief among them, though past
threescore and ten, took the field at their own cost; and the noise
of the Hungarian Insurrection spread like a voice of hope over all
Pragmatic countries."--

A very beautiful heroic scene; which has gone about the world,
circulating triumphantly through all hearts for above a Century past;
and has only of late acknowledged itself mythical,--not true, except as
toned down to the following stingy prose pitch:--

PRESBURG, SEPTEMBER 21st. Maria Theresa, since that fine
Coronation-scene, June 28th, has had a mixed time of it with her
Hungarian Diet; soft passages alternating with hard: a chivalrous
people, most consciously chivalrous; but a constitutional withal, very
stiff upon their Charter (PACTA CONVENTA, or whatever the name is); who
wrangle much upon privileges, upon taxes, and are difficult to keep long
in tune. Ten days ago (September 11th), her Majesty tried them on a new
tack; summoned them to her Palace; threw herself upon their nobleness,
"No allies but you in the world" (and other fine things, authentically,
as above, legible in the Archives to this day):--so spake the beautiful
young Queen, her eyes filling with tears as she went on, and yet a noble
fire gleaming through them. Which melted the Hungarian heart a good
deal; and produced fine cheering, some persons even shedding tears,
and voices of "Life and Fortune to your Majesty!" being heard in it.
In which humor the Diet returned to its Session-House, and voted the
"Insurrection,"--or general Arming of Hungary, County by County, each
according to its own contingent;--with all speed, in pursuance of her
Majesty's implied desire. This was voted in rapid manner; but again,
in the detail of executing, it was liable to haggles. From this day