Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 4, 2025
"Oh, neighbour! What is to do? Why, here is the burgomaster blackening our Gerard." "Stop!" cried Van Swieten. "Peter Buyskens is come in the nick of time. He knows father and daughter both. They cast their glamour on him." "What! is she a witch too?" "Else the egg takes not after the bird. Why is her father called the magician?
All eyes turned towards him, scornfully scanning his little velvet hat decked with a long plume, the quilted red satin garment padded in the breast and sleeves, the huge puffs of his short brown breeches, and the brilliant scarlet silk stockings that closely fitted his well-formed limbs. "The ape," repeated Paul Van Swieten. "He wants to be a cardinal, that's why he wears so much red."
Van Swieten bowed and left the room. The empress and her son remained together. Neither spoke a word. The King of Rome stood in the embrasure of a window, looking sullenly up at the sky. The empress walked hurriedly to and fro, careless that her violent motions were filling her dress with the gold powder that fell from her head like little showers of stars.
Whilst he was gone, there came by, on a mule with rich purple housings, an old man redolent of wealth. The purse at his girdle was plethoric, the fur on his tippet was ermine, broad and new. It was Ghysbrecht Van Swieten, the burgomaster of Tergou. He was old, and his face furrowed. He was a notorious miser, and looked one generally.
"I followed Herr van Swieten," replied Josepha. "He told me that your majesty and the King of Rome were here, awaiting his verdict, and I judged from his manner that it would be in my favor. Therefore I came, and having heard his flattering words, which I do not deserve, I am here to inculpate myself.
You, too, have some right to speak in this matter, and your wishes shall decide mine. To you, also, Van Swieten, I yield in gratitude for all that you have done for me and mine. Let Austria profit by this new discovery, and may it prove a blessing to us all! Are you satisfied, Joseph?" "More than satisfied," exclaimed he, kissing his mother's hand.
"Doctor, where did Isabella and Johanna take the infection? God called them to Himself, and God has shielded me, If it pleases Him that I also shall suffer this fearful scourge, it will not be from contagion. It will be from His divine hand." "No, no, your majesty, it will be my fault," cried Van Swieten. "On my head will be the sin."
"Come, Van Swieten," said she, resolutely, "I know how to force Joseph to the bedside of his poor, dying wife." She rose, and would have gone to the door, but Van Swieten, all ceremony forgetting, held her back. "I will call the emperor myself," said he; "whither would your majesty go?" "Do not detain me," cried the empress, "I must go to the emperor." "But what then?" asked Van Swieten, alarmed.
Is it not so, Van Swieten?" "It is, your Majesty. If the empress would consent to allow the introduction in Austria of inoculation for the small-pox, she would not only shield her own family from danger, but would confer a great blessing on her subjects." "Indeed, Van Swieten," replied the empress, after a pause, "what you propose seems sinful to me.
No, Herr van Swieten, if there were any merit in suffering for a brother whom I dearly loved, it would all be effaced by the wrong which I have done to the King of Rome. I feel that I was guilty in not confiding my malady to your majesty, and I bow my head before the justice of my punishment, severe though it maybe."
Word Of The Day
Others Looking