The Two Brothers

           AsthefairRosa,withforebodingdoubt,hadforetold,soithappened.WhilstJohndeWittwasclimbingthenarrowwindingstairswhichledtotheprisonofhisbrotherCornelius,theburghersdidtheirbesttohavethetroopofTilly,whichwasintheirway,removed.

           Seeingthisdisposition,KingMob,whofullyappreciatedthelaudableintentionsofhisownbelovedmilitia,shoutedmostlustily,—

           “Hurrahfortheburghers!”

           AstoCountTilly,whowasasprudentashewasfirm,hebegantoparleywiththeburghers,undertheprotectionofthecockedpistolsofhisdragoons,explainingtothevalianttownsmen,thathisorderfromtheStatescommandedhimtoguardtheprisonanditsapproacheswiththreecompanies.

           “Whereforesuchanorder?Whyguardtheprison?”criedtheOrangists.

           “Stop,”repliedtheCount,“thereyouatonceaskmemorethanIcantellyou.Iwastold,‘Guardtheprison,’andIguardit.You,gentlemen,whoarealmostmilitarymenyourselves,youareawarethatanordermustneverbegainsaid.”

           “Butthisorderhasbeengiventoyouthatthetraitorsmaybeenabledtoleavethetown.”

           “Verypossibly,asthetraitorsarecondemnedtoexile,”repliedTilly.

           “Butwhohasgiventhisorder?”

           “TheStates,tobesure!”

           “TheStatesaretraitors.”

           “Idon’tknowanythingaboutthat!”

           “Andyouareatraitoryourself!”

           “I?”

           “Yes,you.”

           “Well,astothat,letusunderstandeachothergentlemen.WhomshouldIbetray?TheStates?Why,Icannotbetraythem,whilst,beingintheirpay,Ifaithfullyobeytheirorders.