Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/389

 THE COURSE RIGHTLY TAKEN BY AUSTRIA. 357 blessing, and, whilst calmly receding herself from chap. the perilous brink on which she had long been !__ standing, she expressed a wish that kind Fortune might smile on her friends in the field. * The steady, the accurate righteousness with which Count Buol steered his way through the sea of troubles he crossed was nothing less than a feat marked by wisdom, by skill, by a never- ceasing adherence to the dictates of honour ; but, of course, proved immensely exasperating — for so human nature commands — to the belligerent powers ; and besides, there was theme for the satirists — intent on their laugh — who could say what they liked of ' the blessing,' ' the moral ' support,' quaintly offered to eager combatants by a friend keeping clear of the strife; but it still remains true that the course of action taken by Austria in all these transactions was thor- oughly loyal and right.
 * Eastern Papers, No. xv. p. 22.