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III.
The Time after Gustavus II. (Adolphus).
“The sun had lost its brightness, and a thick fog did!
not leave us for four weeks.” So it was. For a moment
there was the blackness of consternation on one side,,
fiendish triumph upon the other. For was not the king
dead whom even his enemies called great, and was not his
only daughter a child ? Oxenstierna’s peace-overtures
remained unanswered. Sweden had to gird her loins for
the continuation of a war which had lost its character; it
had become simply a war of conquest or the defence of
conquered provinces, like other wars; there was no
religious element now; the inspiring influence of a noble
cause had disappeared or was present only with a very
few. The discipline of the Swedish troops, gathered as
they were from the four corners of the earth, grew from
bad to worse, and bickerings between the high Scottish
commanders and their German confederates increased in
bitterness. And again the insolence of the Imperialists,
especially after the victorious Battle of Nördlingen in
1634, knew no bounds. They already saw the Swedes,
driven out of Pomerania into the Baltic Sea.
But the sun lost its glory for four weeks only. It is
most interesting to note how Oxenstierna, after the first
shock was over, never for a moment lost his self-control,,
guiding the unfortunate country with great wisdom and
astonishing energy through all the fogs of uncertainty and
impending doom. He was felt to be a tower of strength
and safety ; field-marshals and statesmen bowed to his
decision.
nicht mehr bis in die vierte Woche und der dicke Nebel blieb aucb
etliche Wochen bestehen.”
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