Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

316CHANGE IN HIS CHARACTER.

tures, as we do see his power revealed in the life of an Ivan IV.; for, God be praised, that prince showed himself brave as a lion so long as he was generous, and dastardly as a slave when he became inhuman. This lesson, though it may be an exception in the annals of our race, is precious and consoling. I rejoice to extract it out of the depths of the horrible history of the fourth Ivan.

Owing to the energy of the young hero, whose plans were then blamed by his entire council, As-tradian underwent the fate of Kazan. Russia, delivered from the near vicinity of her ancient masters the Tartars, resounded with the shout of triumph ; but the inferior classes of her population, who knew not how to escape from one yoke without passing under another, began to idolise their youthful sovereign with the timid pride of the freedman.

The wearied Czar paused to repose in the midst of his glory : he tired of the benedictions poured upon his virtues; he bent beneath the weight of palms and laurels, and renounced for ever the pursuit of his holy career. But the folly was in his heart; it did not extend to his head. In the midst of the most irrational actions his language was full of sense, his letters of logic: their cutting style paints the malignity of his soul, but it does honour to the penetration and clearness of his understanding.

His ancient counsellors were the first to suffer. They appeared to him as traitors, or, which was the same thing in his eyes, as tutors: he therefore condemned them to exile and death ; and this sentence seemed equitable in the eyes of the nation. It was to the advice of these uncorruptible men that he