himself of this pledge until yesterday, when he solicited my permission to meet Captain Seifert in single combat.
" Seifert has studied chivalry at Ger- man universities, and to good purpose, if we may judge from the brilliant va- lour which made him a captain on the field of Leipzic. He has endeavoured to prove to me, by numerous Greek and Latin scraps, that I ought to sanc- tion this duel; but it would not be difficult to bring forward old Homer himself in evidence, that the Greeks were not very fastidious in points of etiquette. For instance, Achilles call- ed Agamemnon " a drunkard, with the look of a dog and the valour of a deer." Seifert, however, is not a man to be influenced by either classical or Christian authorities ; his reason lies in prostrate adoration before the shrine of false honour, that Moloch of the dark ages, around which the chivalry of that period danced, until their giddy brains lost the faculty of distinguish- ing right from wrong.
" Thus solemnly pledged to two ir- reconcilable obligations, how can I ex- tricate myself from a predicament so embarrassing ? I have exhausted my powers of reasoning and persuasion in vain endeavours to accomplish a re- conciliation. My promise of a free boon to Barstrom I cannot honourably retract ; nor can I, for his sake, in- fringe upon the salutary law so long established. Happily one alternative remains. These misguided men are determined to fight, and, if possible, to destroy each other. Be it so ! Their savage propensities shall be gratified, and I will witness their chivalrous courage and heroic contempt of life Now, gentlemen ! draw, and do your worst ! Fight until the death of one shall prove the other the better swords- man ; but, mark well the consequence ! Soon as one of you is slain, my execu- tioner shall strike off the head of the other. Thus my pledge to Barstrom will be redeemed, and the law against duelling will remain inviolate."
Here Gustavus ceased to speak ; the solemn dead-march was- repeated by the band, the coffins were brought nearer to the duellists, and the grim- visaged executioner again came into view, with his horrible weapon. At
549
this awful moment I beheld Seifert and Barstrom suddenly rush forward, throw themselves at the feet of Gus- tavus, and supplicate for mercy.
" Mercy depends not upon me, but upon yourselves," mildly replied the king, soon as the band had ceased. " If you do not fight, the executioner will find no occupation here." These words were accompanied by a glance at the headsman, who immediately quitted the hall by a side door. " But, if you are sincerely desirous," conti- nued Gustavus, " to regain the good opinion of the brave men and good Christians here assembled, you will at once relinquish every hostile feeling, and embrace each other as friends."
The duellists instantly flew into each other's arms. Gustavus raised his folded hands and kingly features in devotional feeling towards heaven, and the chancellor gave a signal to the band, which played a fine hymn on reconciliation and brotherly love. I now heard, with inexpressible delight the King, Oxenstiern, Horn, Banner, Stahlhantsch, and Prince Bernard, with the assembled officers and guards, singing the impressive verses of Lu- ther, with beautiful accuracy of time and tone. The magnificent bass of Gustavus Adolphus was easily distin- guishable by its organ -like fulness and grandeur ; it resembled the deep low breathing of a silver trumpet, and although forty years have rolled over my head since I heard it, the rich and solemn tones of the royal singer still vibrate upon my memory.
The hallowed feeling spread through hall and gallery, and every one who could sing joined with fervour in the sacred song. Even my old subaltern, whose voice was- painfully harsh and unmusical, drew from his pocket a hymn book and a pair of copper spec- tacles ; his tones were tremulous and discordant, but, in my estimation, his musical deficiencies were amply re- deemed by the tears which rolled abundantly down his hollow and time- worn cheeks.
Thus was this terrible camp-scene converted, as if by miracle or magic, into a solemn, and, surely, an accept- able service of the Almighty,
VOL. XXIV.
