CHAP. VI.]

ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM.

203

Eome. And still better appeal would be toour own swords. If decision and promptitude benecessary to our own body, more so as to theisland at large. What we submit to ourselves, noone can reasonably blame as to the inhabitants.Mutual should be our hardships and valiant defence.Then we may crash the head of the serpent, orwe are destroyed; make your minds up to it.Meekness, and we shall have our throats cut quietly.Their guillotine is soon erected! And what is worse,this ancient, most noble, most beloved order extin-guished ! Hope for no protection from any one;Kussia is too distant. Do yon not perceive howevery sovereign in Europe trembles ? Every statetotters ? Our own good swords alone are to be de-pended on. They are our only resource! I amashamed to go on, as if you wanted to be put inmind of yoru’ ancestors and encouraged. Hot all,but some of us have had then’ hearts and soulsspirited away, I fear; and a base panic terror hasbegun creeping over us like other European sove-reigns. But it ought not—must not be so! Ifthis invader frighten us, we are decidely gone—in-fallibly ruined—not only our state, but our veryexistence. It is not only exile, but abject povertyand death. Let him promise, but not one of hispromises will he keep. To crouch to him is dis-