and takes the parchment out of the senator’s hands.  The Elector bends his knee upon the richly embroidered cushion, a crimson glow flushes his cheeks, and deep in his soul he repeats:  “I shall be the last Hohenzollern to submit to such humiliation and bow in the dust before another Prince.  I shall make my Prussia and Brandenburg great.  I shall free them from Emperor and King, and shall own no superior but God!  To that end, O Lord, grant me thy blessing, and hear the vow my heart utters while my lips are speaking other words!”

The King waves his golden scepter and the lord chancellor begins with resonant voice to read off the oath of allegiance couched in the Latin tongue.

Loud and clearly the Elector speaks each word after him, loud and clearly his lips pronounce words of which his heart knows nothing.  To be a submissive vassal, his lips swear—­to fulfill faithfully and obediently all the obligations due from him as Duke of Prussia to the King, as is written in the oath of fealty subscribed by him.  How full and strong is his voice, sounding distinctly over all the square, and yet how sweet and harmonious every tone!

Oh, King’s daughter, King’s daughter, shield your heart!  Look not down upon his lustrous eyes, heed not his voice, though it ring like music in your ear!  Beware of loving him, for you know not whether his heart inclines toward you!

God be praised!  The formula of the oath is ended.  The Elector may rise from his knees, and, as he does so, he says to himself:  “Never again shall this knee bend to man!  Never again shall I endure what I have endured to-day!”

But his countenance betrays nothing of the emotions of his soul, and with a smile upon his lips he ascends the steps of the throne, and takes his place upon a seat at the left hand of the King.

And again are heard the ringing of bells and nourishing of trumpets, as they announce to the city of Warsaw, that the Elector Frederick William has just sworn allegiance to the King of Poland.  The solemnity is over, and the King, the Elector, and the nobles of his realm, repair to the palace to partake of a banquet which has been prepared there for them.

A sumptuous banquet!  The tables glitter with gold and silver plate, around which are ranged the nobles in their striking national costumes.  The Brandenburg officers are arrayed in gold-laced uniforms, and between them sit the beautiful Polish ladies, richly adorned with flowers and sparkling gems, themselves the fairest flowers and their eyes the most brilliant gems.  Between the King and Queen sits the young Elector, opposite him the two Princesses.

Oh, King’s daughter, shield your heart.  He talks with you, indeed, and smiles upon you, and sweet words flutter like butterflies across!  Butterflies take speedy flight, sweet words are scattered to the wind!  Nothing remains of them but a painful memory!  If it should be so with you, King’s daughter!