This mother of the Russian cities had often been besieged and often capitulated, but never before had it been taken by storm, and never before, and never since, have the horrors of war been more sternly exhibited.  For three days and three nights the city and its inhabitants were surrendered to the brutal soldiery.  The imagination shrinks from contemplating the awful scene.  The world of woe may be challenged to exhibit any thing worse.  Fearful, indeed, must be the corruption when man can be capable of such inhumanity to his fellow man.  War unchains the tiger and shows his nature.

Mstislaf, the sovereign, in the midst of the confusion, the uproar and the blood, succeeded almost as by miracle in escaping from the wretched city, basely, however, abandoning his wife and his children to the enemy.  Thus fell Kief.  For some centuries it had been the capital of Russia.  It was such no more.  The victorious Andre, of Moscow, was now, by the energies of his sword, sovereign of the empire.  Kief became but a provincial and a tributary city, which the sovereign placed under the governorship of his brother Gleb.

Nearly all the provinces of known Russia were now more or less tributary to Andre.  Three princes only preserved their independence.  As the army of Andre retired, Gleb was left in possession of the throne of Kief.  In those days there were always many petty princes, ready to embark with their followers in any enterprise which promised either glory or booty.  Mstislaf, the fugitive sovereign, soon gathered around him semi-savage bands, entered the province of Kief, plundering and burning the homes of his former subjects.  As he approached Kief, Gleb, unprepared for efficient resistance, was compelled to seek safety in flight.  The inhabitants of the city, to escape the horrors of another siege and sack, threw open their gates, and crowded out to meet their former monarch as a returning friend.  Mstislaf entered the city in triumph and quietly reseated himself upon the throne.  He however ascended it but to die.  A sudden disease seized him, and the songs of triumph which greeted his entrance, died away in requiems and wailings, as he was borne to the silent tomb.  With dying breath he surrendered his throne to his younger brother Yaroslaf.

Andre, at Moscow, had other formidable engagements on hand, which prevented his interposition in the affairs of Kief.  The Novgorodians had bidden defiance to his authority, and their subjugation was essential, before any troops could be spared to chastise the heir of Mstislaf.  The Novgorodian army had even penetrated the realms of Andre, and were exacting tribute from his provinces.  The grand prince, Andre himself, was far advanced in years, opposed to war, and had probably been pushed on in his enterprises by the ambition of his son, who was also named Mstislaf.  This young prince was impetuous and fiery, greedy for military glory, and restless in his graspings for power.  The Novgorodians were also warlike and