very hour and strait of peril, assumes a changed attitude when that change favors the designs of a foreign despot, and creates a wide gap in the ranks of a nation’s defenders. A traitor to-day can never be a trustworthy counselor to-morrow. His foreign master may have some new phase of interest to promote.”
Rudolph’s good humor came to the rescue, for he well remembered Bruno’s defection from Otakar before Vienna two years previously under direct order from Rome. Accordingly he said cheerily: “All is fair in love and war, you know, Lord Justice. I would hear Lord Boppo express his judgment and observation.”
“Should I rely on the observation of the eye,” replied Lord Boppo, “I should refer the cause of the downfall of kingdoms to the number of Rudolphs there are in the world. But that explanation must be incomplete, as the existence of conquerors must have the same cause as the fall of kingdoms, and afford the occasion for their manifestation. Your highness and myself aided in the destruction of a people because we were the stronger. Had the Prussians possessed the same elements of knowledge in war and the industry that perversely supplies the, strength and appliances of war, their native courage, their fastnesses and morasses, and their patriotic devotion must have proved victorious. It is the want of knowledge that conduces most to the fall of kingdoms. Men cannot act when they do not know how to act; and their skill and efforts are wasted
