132 HIS EDUCATION. 



he acquired a healthy and robust frame, a cheerful and 

 daring spirit, and soon became a general favourite. 



About three years afterwards, when by negotiation and 

 compromise, King Johan of Denmark reigned in Sweden, 

 and Sten Sture had in consequence laid down his high office 

 and retired into private life, the monarch paid a visit to the 

 ex-Regent,* and saw Gustavus, then in his ninth year, 

 gambolling about the hall. Calling the boy to him, and 

 attentively contemplating his handsome and animated coun- 

 tenance, he patted him on the head and said : " Should you 

 live, you will be a distinguished man in your day." But 

 reflecting on the youngster's very striking appearance, and 

 high connections, and fearing that in him he should here- 

 after find an obstacle to his bringing Sweden, as was his 

 object, under the absolute dominion of Denmark, he re- 

 quested Sten Sture " to send the fine lad to Copenhagen, 

 that he might be brought up at his Court." Seeing at 

 once through Johan's motives, which were to wean the child 

 from love to his country, the ex-Regent instantly replied : 

 " Gustavus, as yet, is too young to be taken from his 

 parents," to whom, indeed, he was privately sent shortly 

 afterwards. 



It is said that when the King at an after-period heard the 

 great accomplishments of Gustavus spoken of, he remarked : 

 ' The wolfs cub has escaped out of my net." 



For some years, Gustavus either spent his time at home, or 

 at the University of Upsala, where he benefited by the best 



* It is recorded of Johan, that he at one time had thoughts of putting 

 Sture to death, but was dissuaded therefrom by one of his counsellors, who 

 said : " The ex-Regent is now like an old rotten egg ; so long as it is whole, it 

 will injure no one ; but if broken, its stink will spread far and wide." 



