Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/68

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Libussa.

I have secured your harvests, your flocks, and your orchards,—if I have bent the stiff neck of the powerful, raised up the oppressed, and supported the weak,—if I have done all this, it behoves you to keep your promise to be faithful to me, to be willing and obedient, according to your oath of allegiance. If you think it is inglorious to obey a woman, you ought to have considered this before you chose me for your sovereign; if there is something disgraceful in it, it is your own doing. But your proceedings show that you do not understand your own benefit for a woman’s hand is soft and gentle, and only used to fan the mild air; but sinewy and harsh is the arm of man, oppressive and heavy, when he wields the weight of power. You are not aware, that when a woman governs, the authority is vested in men, for she follows sound advice; but when the spindle is excluded from the throne, there is a petticoat government, for those who please the eyes of the king have his heart in their hands. Therefore consider well what you are about, that you may not regret it when it will be too late.”

The speaker upon the throne was silent, and a deep and reverential stillness prevailed throughout the assembly, nobody daring to say a word