Page:Armatafragment00ersk.djvu/91

 ¬been accepted, wasfrst told (as you have heard) that the King of Annata could only concur in maintaining the peace of nations by such means as were compatible zvitli his dignity, without even a hint of how his dignity could be lowered by becoming blessed as a peace-maker; and, secondly, that he could only act according to the principles which governed his conduct ; without saying a syllable of what those principles were, or how, without his changing them, the supplicant might bring himself within them. ¬" The King of Annata was then further ad' vised to say, that not having interfered with the internal affairs of Capetia, the same sentiments ought to induce him to respect the rights and independence of other princes, as if it ever had been heard of as an invasion of the rights of man or nation, to propose (if they themselves should see no objection) to become an arbitrator to avert desolation and bloodshed. ¬* The conclusion was in the happiest har- <s monv ¬