Retrospect of French Literature—Miscellanies. 
of knights, to be always brothers and 
companions in arms, to live and to die 
for one another, to drink out of the same 
cup, and eat out of the same plate ! 
Next morning as Basil was looking 
through the iron bars of his window, to 
see if no other person would drink out 
of his casks, he beheld Bogdanuschiea 
the Little, who approaching the hogs- 
head of strong beer, threw the gold cup 
on the ground; and raising the cask in 
his arms, emptied it without drawing 
breath. On this, the young prince called 
Formuschka, and they descended to- 
gether in great haste, until they had ar- 
rived at the gate of the castle, and with 
their heavy lances struck rudely at the 
head of the gentle Bogdanuschka. But 
Jo! the lances were all broken in pieces, 
and yet the head of Bogdanuschia was 
not in the least affected! On perceiving 
this, they instantly took him by the hand, 
and conducted him through the large 
. Court to the great stair-case, on ascend- 
ing which, they entéred the silded 
apartment ofthe prince. There all the 
three embraced each other, and swore 
fraternity and fidelity, until death, 
In a short time a rumour spread 
through the city, that Basil, the son of Bo- 
guslas, had chosen for his friends, two bold 
undaunted companions, with whom he 
hived in the most friendly manner. On this, 
the Posadniks, who began to be afraid, 
- assembled at the Town-House to deli- 
_ berate. After all of them had taken their 
Seats, the sage old magistrate Tchoudin 
advanced to the middle of the hall and 
spoke as follows : 
The son of Boguslas is still7a minor ; 
and therefore until he hath advanced in 
reason and in age, we are still masters 
of Novogorod, as well as the territory de- 
pendent on it. This young man, who is 
one day to reign over us, promises but 
little that is good. Scarcely has he passed 
his infancy, and# yet his character be- 
speaks him to be bad and turbulent; his 
very diversions are cruel. How many 
widows and orphans have his sports al- 
ready occasioned! And of late, in addi- 
tion to this, he has assembled some of 
the bravest persons as his companions, 
with whom he lives in the most friendly 
terms. But on what account? Are his 
intentions good? : 
‘* [ts our business to discover this, and 
for that purpose we ought to make a feast, 
to which we shall invite the young prince, 
for it is then we shall be able to learn bis 
teal sentiments in respect to our country, 
705 
Let us present him with a cup wine: 
if he will not drink, his intentions are 
bad; but if he should, he will of course 
prattle, and we shail discover all his pro- 
Jects ; for according to the ancient pro-- 
verb, ‘there is truth in wine.’ Now, if 
we learn that his intentions are not ho-~ 
nourable, let us strike off his head with- 
Out any manner of ceremony: for there 
are plenty of princes in Russia, of whom 
we can take our choice; and if there were 
notany, my brethern, we could do very 
well without them |” 
On this ail the Posadniks rising at once, 
inclined their bodies towards the sage 
Tchoudin, after which they exclaimed 
with one voice : 
*< Thy discourse is wisdom. itself; let 
it be done as you have said.” 
Next morning by break of day, the 
usual preparations were made for a fes- 
tival, Tabies of oak wood were placed — 
along the hall of the ‘Town-House, and 
covered with white damask. Sweets 
and confectionary of all kinds were pro- 
cured, and set in order, in an elegant 
manner. Beside the walls were ranged 
casks of wine and of beer, above which 
were suspended rich goblets of gold and 
silver, and of precious woods. When eve- 
ry thing had been prepared, a few of the 
chief Posadniks were deputed to the 
castle, to mvite the princess and her son 
to the feast. After they had finished their 
compliments, the good lady Amelpha 
Timopheiewna replied inthe following 
manner : 
‘* I no longer take any delight in feast- 
ing or dancing—the season of joy has 
passed away in respect tome. My boy 
Basil, will however, perhaps, assist at 
your feast, in company with the youth. 
who attend him, if you will invite him.” 
At these words the Posadniks hasten- 
ed towards the young prince, and be- 
sought him in the most polite terms to 
honour their banquet with his presence ; 
he readily accepted the invitatiou, pro- 
vided he could but obtain his mother’s 
permission for that purpose. He ac- 
cordingly repaired to her apartment, and 
asked her consent to be present at the 
feast of the inhabitants of Novogorod. 
The princess immediately ‘acceded to 
the proposition; and at the same time 
gave him much good advice relative to 
the manner in which he was to conduct 
himself, while surrounded by the hypo- 
critical Posadniks, with whose designs - 
she was well acquainted, “ Drink, my 
son,” said she, “but do not drink too much, 
for 
