like his ancestor Friedrich III., the First Hereditary Burggraf,
was an excellent citizen of his country: a man conspicuously
important in all German business in his time. A man setting up for
no particular magnanimity, ability or heroism, but unconsciously
exhibiting a good deal; which by degrees gained universal
recognition. He did not shine much as Reichs-Generalissimo, under
Kaiser Sigismund, in his expeditions against Zisca; on the
contrary, he presided over huge defeat and rout, once and again,
in that capacity; and indeed had represented in vain that, with
such a species of militia, victory was impossible. He represented
and again represented, to no purpose; whereupon he declined the
office farther; in which others fared no better. [Hormayr,
OEsterreichischer Plutarch vii. 109-158,
? Zisca.]

The offer to be Kaiser was made him in his old days; but he wisely
declined that too. It was in Brandenburg, by what he silently
founded there, that he did his chief benefit to Germany and
mankind. He understood the noble art of governing men; had in him
the justice, clearness, valor and patience needed for that.
A man of sterling probity, for one thing. Which indeed is the
first requisite in said art:--if you will have your laws obeyed
without mutiny, see well that they be pieces of God Almighty's
Law: otherwise all the artillery in the world will not keep
down mutiny.

Friedrich "travelled much over Brandenburg;" looking into
everything with his own eyes;--making, I can well fancy,
innumerable crooked things straight. Reducing more and more that
famishing dog-kennel of a Brandenburg into a fruitful arable