Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/168

 for the last time. She stood before the silent assembly and said in a most august and solemn tone:

"Magnanimous and respectable nation, a great event has just been traced in your records. You regret like me the loss of a sovereign who loved you like a father, and whom I revere as the wisest and most virtuous of husbands. In naming me to the throne, he leaves to me the choice of putting at the head of the government the husband I am supposed to choose who would be the most worthy of succeeding him. Naturally he had Thuringia in mind. It was he who knew so well how to lead you to glory and he who during the travels of my husband knew so well how to hold the reins of state. He, I say, is the only one capable of replacing Frederick. But in designating Thuringia for his successor, I cannot, however, present him as my husband. The wrong of the Marquis of Thuringia, linked to my own, leaves me no other course than to go into the most profound retirement where I hope you will permit me to bury myself forever." At these words, she took off the priceless ornaments which covered her. "I hope you will accept these adornments of my position. I will leave them with Thuringia. Let him ornament the forehead of the one he will select to sit beside him on the throne which can only be occupied by him. I hope that you, respectable Saxons, will honor me sometimes with your memory and will you say in pronouncing the name of one who loved you: 'She lived for our happiness since she sacrificed herself for honor'."

Tears ran down all the cheeks. They had the proof of a great feeling of sensitiveness mixed with courage, and several voices were raised to demand that she stay on the throne which her present conduct made her worthy of. But Adelaide would not accept any such demand, and she left the meeting rapidly without looking back.

Thuringia, although he was heartbroken over the decision of Adelaide, felt that his duty to his country demanded that he take over the reins of government and he was crowned the next day.

Mersburg, furious at what had happened, upset at seeing all his plans go astray, determined to overthrow Thuringia since he would no longer be able to control him now that