But even before his patriotism was openly displayed, Philip had taken a dislike to one in whom his shrewdness quickly discovered an intellect of which he was jealous.  He could not actually remove William from all interference with public affairs; but he refused him the government of Flanders, and opposed, in secret, his projected marriage with a princess of the House of Lorraine, which was calculated to bring him a considerable accession of fortune, and consequently of influence.  It may be therefore said that William, in his subsequent conduct, was urged by motives of personal enmity against Philip.  Be it so.  We do not seek to raise him above the common feelings of humanity; and we should risk the sinking him below them, if we supposed him insensible to the natural effects of just resentment.

The secret impulses of conduct can never be known beyond the individual’s own breast; but actions must, however questionable, be taken as the tests of motives.  In all those of William’s illustrious career we can detect none that might be supposed to spring from vulgar or base feelings.  If his hostility to Philip was indeed increased by private dislike, he has at least set an example of unparalleled dignity in his method of revenge; but in calmly considering and weighing, without deciding on the question, we see nothing that should deprive William of an unsullied title to pure and perfect patriotism.  The injuries done to him by Philip at this period were not of a nature to excite any violent hatred.  Enough of public wrong was inflicted to arouse the patriot, but not of private ill to inflame the man.  Neither was William of a vindictive disposition.  He was never known to turn the knife of an assassin against his royal rival, even when the blade hired by the latter glanced from him reeking with his blood.  And though William’s enmity may have been kept alive or strengthened by the provocations he received, it is certain that, if a foe to the king, he was, as long as it was possible, the faithful counsellor of the crown.  He spared no pains to impress on the monarch who hated him the real means for preventing the coming evils; and had not a revolution been absolutely inevitable, it is he who would have prevented it.

Such was the chief of the patriot party, chosen by the silent election of general opinion, and by that involuntary homage to genius which leads individuals in the train of those master-minds who take the lead in public affairs.  Counts Egmont and Horn, and some others, largely shared with him the popular favor.  The multitude could not for some time distinguish the uncertain and capricious opposition of an offended courtier from the determined resistance of a great man.  William was still comparatively young; he had lived long out of the country; and it was little by little that his eminent public virtues were developed and understood.