Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/209

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MARRIAGE EMBASSY TO HUNGARY
205

have heard, far and wide, of the outrage as they deem it, done to this sacred sentiment in the persons of their brethren chiefly in Spain. In proportion as European nations mingle this idea with others more sensuously human, in that proportion will the sense of wrong advance to a passion in the oriental mind. The orient is even now in preparation fora tremendous advance on Europe. Hungary lies in the line of that advance; and woe, woe to Hungary if she wastes her strength in bloody spectacles dooming her best to the flames, and to lingering tortures of want and pain. The nations of the east have heard, and their fierceness has been aroused. When they come let Hungary groan for her slaughtered multitudes, her desolated altars, her ravaged cities, and her children sold into slavery. All this terror will seem to the invaders the just chastisement inflicted by the One for outrages against the only humanity that they know. Evil begets only evil; and the excesses of Europe must arouse passions suited to other excesses that may seem a natural retribution. Then the cry to heaven over desecrated fanes shall be an idle mockery; prayer for the intervention of the supreme one, uttered by the priests of cruelty, must arise in a vain delusion before the eternal fixedness of the resultant penalty of evil.

“Kings and statesmen will wisely rule in conformity to the eternal predestination of cause and effect, and make provision accordingly.”

Abraham well knew that a strong party at court still favored his sentiments; and a rugged clanking of weapons followed his address.