'Captive Queen,' and told myself it would be a grand thing to be like
him. I thought I should like to see a live Emperor. But just when the
delusion was perfect, there was a row in the street. The people had
found me out, and I must show myself at the window. The spell was
broken. I have not tried it again."

They were on the steps of the palace.

"Your story has entertained and touched me beyond measure," said the
Duke. "But something is wanting. It does not (as they say) 'end
well.' I fear you are not happy."

"I am content," said Friedrich. "Yes, I am happy. I never could be a
child again, even if it pleased GOD to restore to me the
circumstances of my childhood. It is best as it is, but I have learnt
the truth of what Marie told me. It is the good, and not the great
things of my life that bring me peace; or rather, neither one nor the
other, but the undeserved mercies of my GOD!"

* * * * *

For those who desire to know more of the poet's life than has been
told, this is added. He did not live to be very old. A painful disease
(the result of mental toil), borne through many years, ended his life
almost in its prime. He retained his faculties till the last, and bore
protracted suffering with a heroism and endurance which he had not
always displayed in smaller trials. The medical men pronounced, on the
authority of a _post-mortem_ examination, that he must for years have
suffered a silent martyrdom. Truly, his bodily sufferings (when known
at last) might well excuse many weaknesses and much moody, irritable