Bah! Humanity is such a wretched, miserable thing, that it only respects and acknowledges him who makes it tremble.

And people are such contemptible, foolish children, that they have respect only for him who makes them feel the lash daily, and every now and then whips a few of them to death.

Look at me, Kate: where is there a king who has reigned longer and more happily than I?
whom the people love more and obey better than me?
This arises from the fact that I have already signed more than two hundred death-warrants, [Footnote: Tytler, p.428.Leti, vol.i, p.

187.] and because every one believes that, if he does not obey me, I will without delay send his head after the others!" "Oh, you say you love me," murmured Catharine, "and you speak only of blood and death while you are with me." The king laughed.

"You are right, Kate," said he, "and yet, believe me, there are other thoughts slumbering in the depths of my heart, and could you look down into it, you would not accuse me of coldness and unkindness.