science.  He consulted his astrologers, and they declared the stars to be unpropitious to Gustavus.  This at once decided him.  He resolved, however, to act on the defensive, and through the night employed the energies of his army in throwing up intrenchments.  In the earliest dawn of the morning mass was celebrated throughout the whole camp, and Wallenstein on horseback rode along behind the redoubts, urging his troops, by every consideration, to fight valiantly for their emperor and their religion.

The morning was dark and lowering, and such an impenetrable fog enveloped the armies that they were not visible to each other.  It was near noon ere the fog arose, and the two armies, in the full blaze of an unclouded sun, gazed, awe-stricken, upon each other.  The imperial troops and the Swedish troops were alike renowned; and Gustavus Adolphus and Wallenstein were, by universal admission, the two ablest captains in Europe.  Neither force could even affect to despise the other.  The scene unfolded, as the vapor swept away, was one which even war has seldom presented.  The vast plain of Lutzen extended many miles, almost as smooth, level and treeless as a western prairie.  Through the center of this plain ran a nearly straight and wide road.  On one side of this road, in long line, extending one or two miles, was the army of Wallenstein.  His whole front was protected by a ditch and redoubts bristling with bayonets.  Behind these intrenchments his army was extended; the numerous and well-mounted cavalry at the wings, the artillery, in ponderous batteries, at the center, with here and there solid squares of infantry to meet the rush of the assailing columns.  On the other side of the road, and within musket-shot, were drawn up in a parallel line the troops of Gustavus.  He had interspersed along his double line bands of cavalry, with artillery and platoons of musketeers, that he might be prepared from any point to make or repel assault.  The whole host stood reverently, with uncovered heads, as a public prayer was offered.  The Psalm which Watts has so majestically versified was read—­

  “God is the refuge of his saints,
  When storms of dark distress invade;
  Ere we can offer our complaints,
  Behold him present with his aid.

  “Let mountains from their seats be hurled
  Down to the deep, and buried there,
  Convulsions shake the solid world;
  Our faith shall never yield to fear.”

From twenty thousand voices the solemn hymn arose and floated over the field—­celestial songs, to be succeeded by demoniac clangor.  Both parties appealed to the God of battle; both parties seemed to feel that their cause was just.  Alas for man!