the whole sacrifice proved to be vain and unwise.
“And the oaths with which your predecessors confirmed the rights of the Bohemian nation, assured its independence, promised to protect its rights?” she said quietly.
“I have made in my heart more sacred oaths than to guard medieval prejudice, perform legislative shows, play with manners and customs, and encourage fancies about languages, which all lead to nothing,” firmly replied the sovereign. “I intend to secure the progress of my subjects in a different way. I did not tell you about the reforms in the churches, the courts and the army that I am planning. I spoke to you only about the freedom of the press and of religion. And besides, I did not promise to protect the rights that you speak of and deem so important, and I do not intend to confirm them. I repeat that first of all I shall try to unite all the nations of my empire into one powerful nation, in which the German language, German customs, German thought and German spirit shall domi-
