rally
familiar. They have, besides, the merit of a peculiarly simple and
unpretending style, that gives them an additional charm, and which I
have endeavored to preserve in the translation. Whether that endeavor
has been successful, however, and whether the English dress I have
substituted for the graceful German garb, is worthy of the author and
suited to the public taste, are questions upon which I feel somewhat
doubtful and apprehensive. Should the reader answer them in the
affirmative, I shall have the consolation of feeling that the leisure
devoted to the work has been harmlessly, if not profitably, employed.

It is proper to add, that in a few cases I have taken the liberty to
omit some passages, and to alter others, that were deemed incompatible
with the ideas of propriety and decorum prevalent in this country.

BOSTON, NOVEMBER, 1837.

ARWED GYLLENSTIERNA.

A TALE OF THE EARLY PART OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE,

* * * * *

PART FIRST.

CHAPTER I.

In October of the year 1718, the royal counsellor, Nils count
Gyllenstierna, was sitting before his desk in his cabinet at Stockholm.
Behind him stood Arwed, his son, a tall Swedish youth with blue eyes
and golden hair, whose rosy countenance wore a decided expression of
courage and resolution. The father suddenly turned his moveable chair
so as to face the youth.

'One word is as good as a thousand!' cried he, angrily; 'dismiss for
the present your heroic aspirations. You are too young for this war.'

'Not younger than our king was,' quickly answered Arwed, 'when he beat
the Danes by Humblebeck and the Muscovites by the Narva!'

'It is a great misfortune for a land when its king is a Don Quixote,'
grumbled the senator; 'every fool in the kingdom quotes his example as
authority.'

'O, do not calumniate the hero,' entreated Arwed, feelingly. 'Sweden
has had no greater king since Gustavus Adolphus.'

'Nor has she had one who has brought more misery upon the land replied
the senator. 'Do not suppose, my son,' proceeded he, calmly, 'that I
underrate the qualifications of our lord the king. He has given proof
of many, any one of which would render some other princes immortal. He
is firm, liberal, brave, just, and knows how to maintain the royal
dignity. But all the