land and people from these flames of war into lasting repose and a peaceful security, and then to govern them well.[41] I shall send you to Sweden, therefore, Leuchtmar, to conclude for me a temporary armistice with the Swedes, and also to negotiate the conditions of a peace.  I must have peace at any price, for on no terms can I carry on a war.  Chancellor Oxenstiern is indeed a proud and overbearing man, who will probably make hard conditions, but we must accommodate ourselves to them, yield gracefully now, and defer our revenge for a later day.  Only if he demands Pomerania as the price of peace, you may not yield; we will indeed be yielding, but not suffer ourselves to be humbled.  We can grant much, but not allow ourselves to be imposed upon in everything.  If Oxenstiern desires money and other material things, promise them, but land and towns you may not give.”

“Not a single title to land or town, your highness!” cried Leuchtmar, “for you have said that you would substantiate your titles, and give kernels to the empty shells; therefore the Swede shall not crack a single one of your nuts.”

“Not a single one,” repeated the Elector, while he smilingly extended his hand to his friend.  “And now, one thing more, Leuchtmar.  Do you remember the plan about which my great-uncle Gustavus Adolphus spoke to my mother, when he was here on a visit?”

“Yes, indeed,” returned Leuchtmar promptly, “I remember it, and think it were time now to carry it into execution.  There is one means of uniting Sweden and Brandenburg in the bonds of peace, without reducing Brandenburg to humiliation.  Only follow the plan of the great Gustavus Adolphus; you know he destined his daughter Christina for your wife.”

“Yes,” said the Elector, and a sudden pallor overspread his cheeks—­“yes, he meant his daughter to be my wife.  Go, Leuchtmar, and woo her, but quite secretly and quietly.  As I have already told you, my heart is dead, young Frederick William no longer desires anything for himself, but the young Elector a great deal still, and it is the Elector who offers his hand to Queen Christina for the good of his country.  I believe the little, young Queen interests herself somewhat in her cousin Frederick William, at least so my aunt, the widowed Queen, assured me.  I shall intrust to you a letter for the young Queen, which you must try to slip into her own hand without Oxenstiern knowing anything about it.  Go now, dear Leuchtmar, and prepare all things for your journey.  Meanwhile I shall write the letter.”

“In one hour, your highness, I shall be ready,” said Leuchtmar, withdrawing with a low bow.

The Elector thoughtfully followed him with his eyes.  “In one hour he will be ready,” he said, “and he goes away to woo for me a woman’s heart.  Oh, Love and Faith, must you, too, bow to the great laws which govern the world?  Must you, too, be laid as sacrifices upon the altar of country?  Hush, poor heart and murmur not!  Sink down into the sea of forgetfulness, ye days of the past!  A new era dawns upon me.  I stand before the gates of a great future, and I write above these gates, ’I will be a mighty and distinguished ruler!’ That is my future.”