Tales from the German Volume I Part 17

'That is also our opinion,' said the three other barons and the counts Cronhielm and Meierfeld, simultaneously.

'As he has been judged by so learned and discriminating a commission,'

observed count Tessin, 'and as the knighthood and n.o.bility have approved the sentence, it should be carried into full and complete effect. Should I advise any clemency, it must be in harmony with those who have a more minute knowledge of all the individual views presented by the commission, which are said to be very exact and to comprehend the particulars of Goertz' crimes. The Italian proverb indeed says: _Morta la bestia, morto il veneno_--but something is necessary by way of example, that others may be deterred from meddling with the business of state--and I know not but it might be well to think of another expedient, which is often resorted to in other places, viz; the erection of a monument, which shall inform posterity of his conduct and his fate, and which may prove a warning to foreigners not to intrude themselves into this kingdom, exciting its subjects to such violence as he has instigated. Yet I only throw out these ideas for the gracious and favorable consideration of your majesty and your excellencies.'

'I still adhere to the opinion I before advanced,' said count Horn; 'and G.o.d knows that I am not influenced by any prejudice. But I am convinced that smaller offences are oftentimes more severely punished.

From affection to my native country must I adhere to the sentence.'

'If we examine the circ.u.mstances of this case,' remarked count Stromberg deliberately, 'we find them very bad. I am therefore compelled to support the opinion of count Horn.'

'For his pernicious projects,' said count Rhenskioeld, 'Goertz has well deserved the punishment of death. I suggest however for the gracious consideration of your majesty, whether mercy should not be extended to him in consideration of his family.'

'As it appears to me,' said count Gyllenstierna, taking up the argument, 'the present question is only whether the condemned shall be buried under the gallows. That he must die, is already decided by a majority of the voices. Now, the object being accomplished by his death, I see no objection to his being buried any where else, so that his family may be spared too great suffering through such ignominy.'

'He is disgraced sufficiently when he falls under the hands of the executioner,' said the queen in her most scornful tone. 'As for the rest, the diet may do what they please with him.'

'It must be confessed,' said Cronhielm timidly, 'that he was not permitted to exercise the right of defence so fully as the law allows, and that he had not the benefit of legal counsel. Besides, he is a member of the Franconian n.o.bility, who are very jealous of their privileges. They will maintain that the accused could not be legally judged here, and, to avoid irritating them, it appears to me that it would be well not to deal too severely with him.'

'I know nothing to induce me to suppose,' said Horn, 'that Goertz had not the privilege of defending himself.'

'If he had not,' said Tessin, 'he must be allowed a new trial.'

'I call for the votes of the special commission,' said Cronhielm.

'Stiernkrona has explicitly declared it contrary to law and equity to deprive Goertz of the means of defending himself.'

'Let the record of the commission be brought here,' said the queen angrily, to baron Banner. He hastened into the ante-chamber and sent the chief clerk to bring it, while slight hopes were once more raised in the bosom of the listening Arwed. Meanwhile there was a long pause in the council room, during which count Cronhielm was compelled to bear the inconvenient criticisms of his brother counsellors for his last speech.

'As governor of Stockholm,' said Baron Taube, interrupting the general silence, 'it is my duty to inquire how the execution shall be conducted?'

'The conclusion is,' answered the queen impatiently, 'that the governor is to deal with baron von Goertz according to the sentence of the commission, as confirmed by the diet.'

'It is quite superfluous, then,' cried Cronhielm, rising up with feelings of resentment, 'that we should further discuss an affair in relation to which her majesty has already issued her commands.'

'Certainly, wholly superfluous,' said Horn, likewise rising. The others followed his example. The council broke up its sitting without waiting for the record of the commission, and, reverentially conducted by her attendants, the queen, like a thunder cloud which had ignited and exploded with wide spread desolation, proudly moved through the ante-chamber.

'_Stat pro ratione voluntas!_' cried Arwed with suppressed rage. 'Wo to the country where the holy halls of justice can be profaned by such a sentence!'

CHAPTER XXIV.

On the 12th March, all Stockholm was stirring with unusual commotion.

The streets leading to the place of execution were thronged with people impelled by strongly excited curiosity. Cavalry and infantry were drawn up before the council house on the Suedermalm, before the princ.i.p.al door of which stood the carriage destined for the conveyance of the baron von Goertz.

Arwed entered Goertz' prison, supporting the faltering steps of Georgina with one arm, whilst with the other hand he led the wailing Magdalena. Lieutenant general Rank was sitting alone in the room, reading a paper which he had taken from among others which lay upon the table.

'Is it you, my good captain?' exclaimed he, taking Arwed's hand. Then, looking at his companions, he sighed, 'Alas! poor, poor, children!'

'Where is my father?' asked Georgina in an almost inaudible tone, sinking down upon a stool.

'In the next room,' answered Rank. 'Conradi is with him.'

'What are you reading there, general?' asked Arwed without interest, merely to break the painful silence.

'The epitaph of our friend,' answered Rank, handing the paper to him.

'He sketched it himself.'

Georgina had sprung from her seat, and hanging upon Arwed's arm, looked with him upon the ma.n.u.script.

'Read aloud,' said she. 'Something like a dense cloud waves before my eyes. I cannot see the letters.'

'Will it not prove too great a trial for you?' asked Arwed with tender care.

'I am here,' she answered, 'to take a last leave of my father, before his death by the sword of the executioner. What else can shake me?'

Struggling to suppress his tears, Arwed proceeded to read:

'A la veille de conclure un grand traite de paix, mon heros perit, la royaute avec lui. Dieu veuille qu'il n'arrive pis! Je meurs aussi.

C'est toujours mourir en magnifique compagnie, quand on meurt avec son roi et la royaute.'

'Very true!' exclaimed Georgina. 'The ruins of royalty are a worthy mausoleum for the great man; but his children despair.'

Arwed continued:

'Mors regis, fidesque in regem et ducem, mors mea.'

'That means?' asked Georgina in a faint voice.

'The death of the king and fidelity to him and to the duke are the cause of his death.'

'Alas, how true!' sighed Georgina, and, breaking out in a flood of tears, she sunk upon Arwed's shoulder.

The door of the adjoining room now opened, and Goertz entered with a serene countenance, followed by the weeping Conradi. 'Father!' shrieked his daughters, throwing themselves into his arms.

'My dear children!' cried he, joyfully pressing them to his bosom, and kissing them tenderly.

'If that adamantine heart were here,' said Arwed to Conradi, with deep emotion, 'this scene would yet melt it.'

'I thank G.o.d that the queen is not here,' answered the latter. 'She would remain inexorable, and thus aggravate her responsibility in the next world.'

The outer prison door was now opened, and with a brutal air colonel Baumgardt walked into the room. He was followed by chief judge Hylten, who appeared yet more miserable than before, leaning upon his clerk.

The outer hall was soon filled with Swedish grenadiers.

'Goertz, your time has come!' cried Baumgardt, roughly.

'In G.o.d's name, your blessing, my father!' cried Greorgina, kneeling and drawing Magdalena down with her to his feet.

'Continue good!' cried Goertz in a broken voice, laying his hands upon their heads, 'so that I may give a good account of you to your mother, and that you may say joyfully to your G.o.d, when you come after me, Father, here am I, and here are those whom thou hast given me.'