For the present he wavered.

Before the news of Luetzen reached him, he undoubtedly encouraged the allies: but that reverse brought about a half left turn towards Napoleon.

"Boney's success at Luetzen," wrote Sir G.Jackson in his Diary, "has made Francis reconsider his half-formed resolutions." Here was the chief difficulty for the allies.

Their fortunes, and the future of Europe, rested largely on the decision of a man whose natural irresolution of character had been increased by adversity.

Fortunately, the news from Spain finally helped to incline him towards war; but for some weeks his decision remained the unknown quantity in European politics.
Fortunately, too, he was amenable to the gentle but determining pressure of the kind which Metternich could so skilfully exert.