Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/45

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Libussa.
29

not to satisfy the desire of the people. He was invested with the purple, and went with great pomp to Vizegrade, the residence of the princes, where the people received him with joyous acclamations, and did homage to him as their sovereign. Thus Krokus saw that the third hull of the Elf had also conferred its gifts upon him.

His love of justice, and wise administration of the law, soon spread his reputation over all the neighbouring countries. The Sarmatian princes, who were in the habit of continually warring against each other, came from afar to bring their quarrels before his tribunal. He decided their disputes by the never-failing standard of natural law; and whenever he gave his opinion, it was as if the much-honoured Solon, or the wise Solomon among the twelve lions from his throne, had given their judgment. Once, when some malcontents in Poland had made a confederation against the tranquillity of their country, and caused the easily excited Polish nation to break out into open rebellion, he went at the head of his army into Poland, and brought the civil war to a termination; and, out of gratitude, the greater part of the nation chose him for their sovereign. He built there the town of Krakau,[18] so called