The Youth of the Great Elector

Produced by Charles Aldarondo, Valerine Blas and PG Distributed
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An Historical Romance
1909
Portrait of George William, Elector of Brandenburg
The Jewess in her Bridal Dress
Robbery of Peasants
Portrait of Wladislaus IV, King of Poland
With hasty strides George William, the Elector, paced to and fro the length of his cabinet. His features wore a dark, agitated expression, his blue eyes flashed with indignation and wrath; his hands were folded behind his back, as if he would shut out from sight the paper they held with so firm a grasp, and which he had crumpled within his fist, until it bore greater resemblance to a ball than a letter. Yet he must look at it once more—that unfortunate epistle, which had stirred within him such a tempest of fury; he must withdraw his hands from his back, and again unfold the paper, for nothing else would satisfy his rage.
Would that I could thus crush between my hands the insolent, seditious authors of this letter! he murmured, as with a sigh he smoothed the paper and read it over. I see it plainly, he said then to himself; with right unworthy motive, these lords of the duchy of Cleves intend to vex and mortify me. To ask me to give them the Electoral Prince for their stadtholder, to fix his residence among them! That were a fine story forsooth, to send our son away, that he, too, may perchance rebel against us. It is an abominable thing, which I shall never suffer, and I shall forwith give them my mind on the subject.
He stepped up to the great table of carved oak-wood, took from it a silver whistle, and gave a loud shrill call.
Are the deputies from the duchy of Cleves already in the antechamber? he asked of the servant who appeared.