Old Christian of Anhalt shook his head; "Maximilian of Bavaria," he said, "will fight as soon as he comes up, depend upon it; he must either fight or starve; and one night to him is of more consequence than even to us."
All that the individual exertions of a man could effect, was done by the old Prince himself. He strove to the best of his power to array and encourage the forces. He told them that the King would be with them in an hour. He pointed to the walls and guns of Prague, and said, that with such support as that, with strong hands and brave hearts, they had no need to fear any army were it of ten times their own numbers. His countenance was gay and cheerful, as he rode from rank to rank, whatever doubts might be in his heart; but he failed in raising the spirits of the greater part of the troops; and by all, with the exception of the cavalry under the command of his son, he was listened to with dull and heavy brows, and an aspect of doubt and uncertainty.
When he and his little train had reached the middle of the line, a horseman rode up to him from Prague, and spoke a few words in a low tone. The old man's cheek grew red; and he muttered between his teeth; "In the church! Sin and death! What does he in the church? Why does he not pray here in the eye of the God of battles, and in the presence of his soldiers?"
"I shall have to go and cut Scultetus's throat, to stop his long-winded preaching," said the Prince's son, who was close by.
"Hush," cried the old general; and, raising his voice, he added in loud tone, "the King will be here immediately, my friends; and under his eye you will fight for his crown and your own rights."
"The heads of the columns are appearing on the right, your Highness," said Algernon Grey, in a whisper.
"I am glad of it," answered Christian of Anhalt. "The sooner this is over, the better.--Some one ride down to those Hungarians; tell them to bend back upon the hill; so far advanced, they show our flank to the enemy. Let their right rest upon yon little summer-house; it is quite far enough advanced. You go, Lenepp;" and, riding on, he continued his exhortations to the men, every now and then sending off an officer with orders to one part or another of the line; after having reached the end, he turned his horse, and, accompanied by the Prince of Hohenloe and the rest, rode up at a quick pace to the highest part on the hill, beckoning to the man who had brought him news from Prague to follow. His first attention was directed to the movements of the enemy, whose regiments were now gathering thick in the plain below.
A cloud of light troops, man[oe]uvring hither and thither, almost as if in sport, concealed, in some degree, what was taking place in the main body of the army; but the experienced eye of the old commander was not to be deceived; and once or twice he murmured to himself, "If he does that, and we are wise, he is ruined--We shall soon see--now, sir, what is going on in Prague?" and he turned to the officer who had just arrived from the city: "Praying you say, and preaching too, I suppose. What more?"
"Why, feasting, your Highness," answered the young man, drily; "there is a great banquet prepared for the court after the morning service.
"A banquet!" exclaimed the old Prince furiously; "God's life! who will there be to eat it?--Yes, he will try to cross--No, he is coming farther on.--Praying, and preaching, and feasting, with fifty thousand men at the gates!--Has any one got a bible here?"