190 HIS ORATION. 



public harangue being known, he was presently surrounded 

 by a crowd of people, who contemplated with interest and 

 admiration the noble form and bearing of the man before 

 them, of whose cruel and unmerited persecution they had 

 heard so much. 



" Friends and countrymen," the hero began, and he spoke 

 in so clear and loud a voice, that he was heard by every one, 

 " I rejoice much at seeing your great congregation ; but with 

 equal sorrow I reflect on the sad condition of us all ! You 

 who hourly hear and see how my life is sought after, must be the 

 best judges of the risk I run in appearing before you. But 

 our unhappy father-land is dearer to me than existence itself. 

 How long are we to be slaves, we who are born to freedom ? 

 The aged well know from bitter experience what persecution 

 Swedish men have to expect from Danish kings. The young 

 have heard of their atrocities, and from childhood have 

 learned to hate and oppose their rule. These tyrants have 

 sucked up the juice from our lands, so that nothing is left 

 to us save empty houses, wasted fields and uncertain life. 

 Remember how, under Erik of Pomerania, you were treated 

 by Josse Eriksson. 5 * The like sad times and misfortunes 

 have again come upon us. The country will soon swim 

 with our blood. Many hundreds of Swedish men have 

 already suffered a shameful and unmerited death. Our 

 bishops and privy councillors have been murdered I myself 

 have been bereaved of father and brother-in-law (here the 

 feelings of the knight overcame him, and tears came into 

 his eyes). Their blood cries aloud for vengeance, and the 

 condign punishment of the Tyrant. When the welfare of our 



* The Governor of the province of Dalecarlia, and part of that of West- 

 manland, who made himself notorious by his tyranny and cruelty. 



