The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 126: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

—~ = om - — ee ee ee ee eee te eee - - ~ - —_— * Seg! We < a on 124 powers ; for though he was a brave war- rior and experienced military leader, he was no statesman. As a religious Re- former he wasan enthusiast rather than a philosopher; to speak truly, he was as much a fanatic in his devotion to the principles of John Huss as the Catho- lics were bigots to their own creed. His reasoning was the sword ; his persuasiou was intimidation; and he sought to proselytise by means of armies. Hon- est in purpose and well-intentioned, he was frequently led into grievous errors by his want of education and by a cer- tain passion for intrigue which at times swayed him to a remarkable extent; indeed, he was often known to descend to petty chicanery to accomplish an aim which the bluntness of the soldier would have effected much more readily. Possessed of a heart naturally generous, he was nevertheless capable of waging a war of extermination against those who provoked him grievously or thwart- ed his purposes steadily; and even as he could prove himself a staunch friend, so might he become an implacable foe. Rough in manners, despising the refine- ments and abhorring the elegancies of life, and regarding luxury as a positive crime, he carried his ideas of primitive simplicity and patriarchal independence to such an extent as to contemn the fine arts, literature, and science; and while | advocating a republicanism so extreme that it amounted almost to a system of communism, his notions on the subject were too crude to enable him to carry them out with any degree of success. Thus with many elements of great- ness in his character, John Zitzka was, nevertheless, a man thoroughly incom- petent for the high post to which cir- cumstances had raised him. ‘T'’o become really great, all he wanted was able counsellors and enlightened friends, whose assistance and advice would have have supplied and made up for all that was deficient in his own capacity. THE BRONZE STATUE. cruited. In a word, he possessed a poweriul army and great military ta- lents; but he was neither a politician himself, nor had a single statesman to counsel or assist him. Nor, indeed, did John Zitzka seek for or court any such advice or any such aid. His ignorance made him believe that because he had obtained an illimitable influence over thousands of his fellow-countrymen, he must ne- eessarily possess all the qualities ade- quate to govern them; indeed, he con- sidered statesmanship to be a farce, diplomacy a mockery, policy a delusion; and he flattered himself that he, asa military leader, accumulated in his own person any amount of ability, capacity, and forethought that might be requisite for the promulgation of laws and the maintenance of society in a wholesome state of cohesion. Had he united real talent with his republicanism,—had he possessed the genius to elaborate his democratic notions,—he would have been a splendid character; but he was only fitted to lead an army and conduct military exploits. We have seized a moment when a favorable opportunity appeared to pre- sent itself for affording a rapid sketch of the character of John Zitzka; and we pow resume the thread of our nar- rative. It will be remembered that on the same night when Sir Ernest de Colmar received the note from Satanais ap- pointing that interview which has last been described, a billet from the Daugh- ter of Glory was likewise put into his hand; and we may now observe that this latter communication specified the desire that Gloria experienced to meet him at a place and hour which she named. But would Sir Ernest de Colmar keep this second appointment after all that had passed between him and Satanais ? But | would he either entrust himself within he had not a singie man of talent about! the magic influence of Gloria’s charms, his person. Learning was in those times principally confined to the priest- hood; and this was the very class against whom he was waging war.— The nobility he likewise detested; and thus the only two grades which could | have furnished him with advisers and political administrators, were those to | which he chose not to address himself | for aid. ‘he middle and industrious | classes were in that age steeped in ig- norance; and from the latter of these! two were Zitzka’s retainers chiefly re- | or suffer her to suppose that such meet- ings as these could ever terminate in anything serious? We shall see. _ At all events, we find him issuing forth on foot from one of the gates of Prague, a little before the hour of noon on the day following that memorable evening which marked his second inter- view with the Daughter of Satan in the palace gardens. There was a partial shade of melan- choly upon his handsome countenance, whith likewise wore an expression of comicbooks.com