Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/224

 already decayed body that I am so monstrously calumniated before thee, and brought into disgrace, because this year fortune has to some extent been adverse to me, and I have lost some soldiers in battle, whereas it is impossible that fortune should remain constantly on one side. I greatly pity thy youth, because thou hast not upright counsellors, and because as soon as any man gives thee intelligence thou believest him, whereas one ought first to inquire sufficiently, whether it be so. I served thy great grandfather, grandsire, and father, even to these grey hairs; I have aided thy house to conquer many kingdoms and countries; I have shed much of my blood for the extension of thy dominions. I conquered Tunis, Golleta, Famagusta, and last year the fortress of Wanek, or Raab, the key of all Christendom, so that, if thou desirest, thou hast an easy access to Vienna, and to all the empire, whereas, neither thy grandsire, nor thy father, ever took so famous a fortress. And now, whereas thou oughtest to give me thanks for this, since I have accomplished more than all the pashas, I have, on the contrary, been brought into disgrace with thee, and it has been forbidden me to gaze at thy Majesty and serve at court. Although, being experienced as well in home as in foreign affairs, having spent my youthful years in the service of the Emperors, thy predecessors, and being now more than ninety years old, I have it in my power to be much more valuable to thee in council, and to serve thee better, than all the present pashas, who are new and young. It was not thus that thy predecessors did; they did not drive old councillors and experienced soldiers from court, and regulate themselves by the advice of young know-nothings.”