Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/109

 “Gracious Prince, it is for you and King Philip to teach the people of the Netherlands the spirit of tolerance. The people have reached an important crisis in their lives. They look to you to deliver them from the hand of the destroyer. The time is ripe for action. The voice of freedom, that mighty voice of nations, is ever ‘God and the people,’ and it has always confessed its deliverer in Him. In the name of the Lord of Hosts, I bring you His message to-day, ‘Go forward!’”

“The nobles are already doing that,” replied William. “They have risen to right the wrongs of the nation.”

“The nobles!” said Junius contemptuously. “What are they doing? Banqueting, debauching, uttering incautious words which will bring them to ruin, and acting like children just broken loose from parental authority. Some one has truly said that ‘the nobles are but the gilded hands on the outside of the dial—the hour to strike will be determined by the obscure but weighty movements within.’ Your Excellency, the hands of the clock already point to the hour. The people are calling for Father William to lead them out of their Egypt into the promised land.”

“If I understand you aright,” said the cautious Prince, “you are asking me to lead a revolt against lawful authority.”

Junius fixed his keen eyes on the troubled face