Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/73

 Hardly had this delicate allusion to Duke Nicolas been uttered when the prisoner was escorted into the imperial presence. Rudolph presented his hand cordially. “I am sincerely sorry for your great mishap, duke,” he said; “but I am assured that you will accept the soldier’s fate without repining.”

“The soul of the Premysls,” responded Nicolas, “has never shrunk from any encounter either with destiny from mysterious, and at times traitorous sources, or from the open and announced hostility of a soldier enemy. I trust I shall meet these present apparently evil fortunes with such fortitude as I know my father would have required.”

“I believe your forces have been either dispersed or taken,” replied Rudolph, “and that little, if any, of your army remains.” “It would be useless to deny or conceal the completeness of your triumph,” answered the Duke of Troppau. “But I feel assured your highness is not informed of the devastations now being committed against non-combatants far and wide throughout the towns and villages of Moravia. Bands of marauders and murderers estab lishedestablished [sic] themselves in the most peaceful and prosperous neighborhood to await the issue of the battle. Now that we are defenceless, these ruffians slay, pillage and burn with all their Cumanian savagery.”

“I have given orders to arrest such violence,” briefly replied Rudolph; but no further commands to that effect were issued. “Personally you are under my immediate care,” continued the emperor; “but you will remain at my headquarters for the present. In other respects your freedom is assured.”