Page:Maria Felicia.pdf/257

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A STORY OF BOHEMIAN LOVE
253

tion. We shall soon see whether he intends to offer us a royal gift or a mere pittance. If he do not fulfill our hopes, it will then be time to speak determinedly for justice. But we shall begin openly, we shall speak to him like honest men, and not like sly, revengeful slaves. All of us who have at heart the prosperity and the freedom of the nation will meet and march to Prague to speak personally to the authorities and help to achieve the amelioration of our laws. From there we shall go to the Emperor that he may hear from the lips of the people what they need and desire. In Prague we will say to the masters: ‘Lords, keep your palaces, your estates; we do not covet earthly luxuries and wealth; we ask no more of you than to let us follow our way to God, speak to Him and to our fellow-men in our own tongue, and spend our lives in peace and industry. In return for our willingness to take all your work upon our shoulders and leave you to your pleasures, allow us to live in mental freedom, to enjoy justice and our