He answered the summons by a defiance, and the condemnation by two campaigns, unsuccessful in appearance, but which had in reality prostrated the authority of the sovereign.
Since that period, the representative of royalty had sued the condemned traitor for forgiveness.

The haughty brother of Philip had almost gone upon his knees, that the Prince might name his terms, and accept the proffered hand of majesty.
The Prince had refused, not from contumely, but from distrust.

He had spurned the supplications, as he had defied the proscription of the King.
There could be no friendship between the destroyer and the protector of a people.

Had the Prince desired only the reversal of his death-sentence, and the infinite aggrandizement of his family, we have seen how completely he had held these issues in his power.

Never had it been more easy, plausible, tempting, for a proscribed patriot to turn his back upon an almost sinking cause.