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274 VL GREAT KINGS AND BISHOPS (A.D. 15931718).
German nation with my blood," he recounts the extra
ordinary effort of his army to avenge their fallen leader.
Then he sums up:
"
If I were asked to find a parallel to
him among those who have controlled the destinies of the
world, I should pitch upon Saint Louis, King of France
in whom also were combined the three greatest qualities
of a ruler of men justice, courage and devotion. Saint
Louis, being born out of due time, lacked the fourth great
quality which was so largely displayed in Gustavus, a
quality or virtue which is indeed in itself but a daughter
of justice tolerance. The true glory of the King of
Sweden was that he was the champion of Protestantism.
Protestantism, though here and there it has been in-
tolerant, and has used its triumphs unmercifully, has
always led to freedom, and freedom to toleration. And
toleration has been the great the only really great
achievement of the modern world." . . .
"
What was
his character? . . .
Simple, brave, passionate, truthful,
devout ;
with the highest sense of his kingly dignity, and a
yet higher sense of his great mission on earth, it is not
unfair to say of him that he had a single eye to the work
God had given him to do. More cannot be said of any
man."
"What were his aims? This has always been a great
problem. But if
any one may be supposed to have known
his mind it surely was Axel Oxtenstiern, with whom, dur
ing his whole reign, he lived upon terms of intimacy so
affectionate [as] to be very uncommon between great men
of equal rank, but rare indeed between a subject and his
sovereign. And all Oxenstiern s utterances on the sub
ject have the same ring :
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