Alexander, still remaining on his knees, now raised his folded hands toward heaven. “At the grave of the most heroic king,” he said in a loud and solemn voice—“at the grave of Frederick the Great, I swear to my ally, the King of Prussia, an oath of everlasting love and constancy; I swear an oath of everlasting constancy and love to the sacred cause which has united us for the most exalted purpose. Never shall my constancy waver; never shall my love grow cold! I swear it!”
He kissed the coffin and rose from his knees; his eyes, glistening with tears, then turned toward the king, as he said:
“It is your turn now, my brother, to swear the oath.”
The king hesitated.
The queen laid her hand gently on his shoulder, and bent her beautiful face so close to him that he felt her breath, like the kiss of an angel, on his cheek.
“Swear the oath, my friend, my beloved,” she whispered; “swear to be faithful to the holy alliance against the French tyrant; swear everlasting constancy and love to our noble ally.”
The king hesitated no longer; he raised his head resolutely and approached the coffin. Laying his hand upon it, he repeated in a grave and calm voice the words which the queen had uttered before, and which she now whispered with trembling lips.
All three then grasped each other’s hands over the coffin; thus they stood a long while, deeply moved and silent.
All at once this silence was interrupted by the loud, ringing notes of the church clock, announcing the first hour of the new day. The sounds died away, and the chime of the bells now commenced playing in clear and sweet notes the old German hymn, “Ueb immer Treu und Redlichkeit, bis an dein kuhles Grab!” [Footnote: Holty’s beautiful hymn, “Be honest and faithful until they lay thee in thy cool grave.”]
The king inclined his head, as if in silent prayer; an almost imperceptible, strange smile overspread the noble features of the emperor. The queen, however, glowing with enthusiasm, exclaimed: