Page:The Czar, A Tale of the Time of the First Napleon.djvu/173

Rh systematic: from this period until the end of his life he read three chapters daily, even under the most difficult circumstances, "when the cannon were thundering about his tent." He prayed constantly, "using no form," as he said himself, "but the words which God's Spirit taught him, according to his needs." And he sought to conform his conduct to the will of God, so far as he understood it.

This was not done without a struggle. His life had not been blameless, and much once dear had to be surrendered. But henceforward his court became a model of purity; and moreover his fear of God showed itself in an increase of gentleness towards man. He made great efforts to control his naturally passionate temper; and if, after this period, he was betrayed into a hasty expression, he would frankly apologize, not only to a member of his suite, but even to the humblest of his attendants.

He had always known that his enormous power was intrusted to him for the good of others, not for his own happiness or glory. "Fifty millions of men are worth more than one man," had been an axiom with him from the beginning of his reign. But now he knew himself the steward of God, responsible to him for its exercise. "You should be in my place," he said to a friend, "to understand what is the responsibility of a sovereign, and what I feel when I reflect that one day I must render an account of the life of every one of my soldiers."

Amongst the commands of Christ which impressed him most deeply were these: "Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you." He learned to forgive personal injuries, "which in other reigns would have drawn down thunder." One instance amongst many may be given. Admiral Tchichagof, one of his ministers, quarrelled with his colleagues, and at length withdrew to Paris, where he said many bitter and injurious things about the Czar, which were all reported to him, and probably