The stern features of the electress gradually began to relax; the smile gradually returned to her lips, and she bent her proud head more graciously to the “upstart” Napoleon.
“Oh, sire!” she exclaimed, joyfully, and for the first time she did not avoid addressing him with the title due to his rank—“oh, sire, he who admires the English poets so enthusiastically cannot possibly be an enemy of England!”
“I am not by any means,” said Napoleon, smiling; “I know no enmity whatever; peace is the sole aim of my efforts, and I believe Fate has sent me to mankind for the purpose of establishing eternal peace. It is true, I have to conquer peace by wars and commotions, but I shall conquer it, and you, princess, you and your husband must help me to do so. I intrust to your hands a noble task, which the high-minded and proud daughter of England is worthy of, and the German elector will not hinder the noble endeavors of his wife, especially as the honor and welfare of Germany are at stake.”
“I am ready and willing to do for Germany what I can, and whatever your majesty may command me to do,” exclaimed the elector. “Will your majesty now tell me what I must do?”
“You must conclude an alliance with France, in order to save Germany,” said the emperor, almost sternly.
“Sire, I have not the power to conclude such an alliance—I am unable to do so,” said the elector, sighing.
“Your state can if you cannot,” said Napoleon, quickly.
“But the representatives of my people will not consent.”
“I shall protect you against these representatives of your people. You will tell them, besides, that you have saved Wurtemberg by becoming my ally. For he who is not for me is against me, and I shall annihilate those who are against me, and their states shall fall to ruin. Those, however, who are for me I shall elevate, and it seems to me I see already a royal crown on the noble brow of the electress. I suppose,” asked Napoleon, turning again with a smile toward the electress, “your royal highness would not be dissatisfied if you should become the queen of your people; it would be agreeable to you to be called ‘your majesty,’ and if it were only because it would remind you in so pleasant a manner of your royal parents who are addressed with the same title?”
“Oh, sire,” exclaimed the electress, with radiant eyes, and unable to conceal her joy—“oh, sire, you are right, it would remind me most pleasantly of my paternal home and of England.”