the side of Bohemia we are safe. Rudolph’s allies have departed. He is poor. Otakar has fallen indeed; but the electors do not desire to see Rudolph suddenly too powerful. He would receive no aid for the subversion of the kingdom; but he and his present advisers will undermine our institutions, divide us into parties worse than at present; will stimulate some against the more independent by promises and by corruption, and thus will sow a full crop of dissension. Politically and with the strong hand, he will do that which his new allies have secretly prepared for during the more recent reigns of our august but deluded dynasty.”
“Have not the Przemysls been always loyally devoted to Bohemia?” inquired Lord Witek.
“By intention, yes,” replied Lord Zawis,“but they have been duped. The insidious course of recent reigns can be best expressed by one word ‘Sentimentalism’ in politics, and religion. During four centuries of our history we were Bohemians devoted to Bohemia. Our civilization, such as it was, grew up within ourselves, tinctured indeed by such coloring as our commercial associations supplied. The natural tendencies and native mind of our people shaped our politics. We grew from within, and we progressed in the line that a growing community, guided by effervescing human virtues and instincts, permitted. Reason, heart, conscience, as our Maker bestowed them on us, controlled our actions. But within two centuries past a gradually insinuated alien sentimentalism has been substituted. We have been
