Perhaps—for a time—Nicholas forgot the little German girl, but she never forgot her Prince! Perhaps Nicholas was lacking in that blessed quality we call “loyalty.” Or it may be that he was only weak of character as most of his friends of the time would have us believe. At all events, he was not even true to his Polish dancer, and when he became infatuated with a Jewess, his Imperial father cried “Enough!” and sent his son on a tour around the world. Nicholas was accompanied on this trip by another bon vivant, his cousin Prince George of Greece. Prince George, however, was also an athlete and a man of ready wit, and when in Japan a fanatic8 rushed upon the Tsarevitch to kill him, Prince George raised his arm and succeeded in so diverting the stroke that Nicholas received only a glancing blow on the forehead. Thus was he spared to return to Darmstadt and renew his suit with his love of earlier days.
Royal marriages are so rarely love matches, that the world watches the few that are with admiration9 and hope. Too often diplomatic objections prevent the coming together of royal lovers. And so in the case with Nicholas, his father desired the union of his son with a Montenegrin princess.{116}
Queen Victoria never really opposed the match, but she feared for the safety of her grand-daughter. The Russian throne is supposed to offer unparalleled peril10 to its occupants, and the health of the Princess Alix had never been rugged11. Queen Victoria feared that under the great stress and strain of St. Petersburg Princess Alix would not have the strength to bear up. The Empress Frederick of Germany, an aunt of Princess Alix, was also doubtful of the wisdom of the match. Her reasons, however, were somewhat different. Empress Frederick had had many opportunities to watch the development of her sister’s daughter and she had noticed, perchance with pain, certain qualities of temperament12 which may have been the result of her trying circumstances in early years, together with the fact that she had been left so much alone through the early death of her mother. She was reserved and shy, therefore seeming cold of nature, and haughty13 of manner. Having seen far less of the great world than most royal princesses she shrank from the social whirl. The loneliness of her childhood had taught her to find resource within herself, thus habits of reading, study, and contemplation had become part of her nature. These characteristics all make for the development of a splendid, substantial woman, but they fail to bring out the qualities essential to a woman who is to preside over a brilliant court, where the sway of personality, of grace, charm and wit—all of the surface virtues—count for as much, if not more,{117} than the deeper qualities of sound character and a disciplined mind.
Appreciating all this Empress Frederick did not encourage, even if she refrained from actively14 opposing the marriage.
The Polish Princess, Catherine Radziwill, chanced to be passing through Germany about this time and lingered for a few days, the guest of the Empress Frederick. One afternoon, Princess Radziwill referred to the betrothal15 and remarked on the happy fate which had led Nicholas to select a bride who had been imbued16 with the ideas of Germany and England. To her surprise the Empress gravely shook her head and remarked that it was not always safe to trust what was said by people ignorant of the true character of those they praised or blamed, according to the exigencies17 of the moment. When Princess Radziwill pressed the Empress further she added that “Princess Alix had a haughty disposition18, and would be inclined to take more seriously than might be supposed, her position of absolute sovereign.”
She went so far as to refer to the despotic temperament of her niece, and her self-opinioned tendencies. “She is far too much convinced of her own perfection,” said the Empress, “and she will never listen to other people’s advice, besides, she has no tact20, and perhaps, without knowing it, will manage to wound the feelings of the persons she ought to try and conciliate.”
Princess Radziwill remarked that it was pass{118}ing strange a daughter of Princess Alice, and a grand-daughter of Queen Victoria could have such a disposition. Whereupon the Empress returned sadly: “Oh! but when do you see daughters taking after their mothers?” Then, after a short pause she continued: “It would not be possible for anyone to be like my sister.”
But Alix loved Nicholas and she would be daunted21 by neither the perils22 of a restless empire, nor the fear of physical weakness or suffering, nor the discouragements of her royal relatives. And Nicholas, with that stubbornness that has ever characterised him, set about to win over all opponents to their marriage. First he appealed to his uncle, Grand Duke Serge, who had married Alix’s sister, Elizabeth. Then he went to London and pleaded with Queen Victoria. Finally, he gained the consent of his own father, who was the last to yield. Then Nicholas went himself to Darmstadt to carry the news in person to his Princess who had now waited for this message for nine long years.
There still remained one important obstacle. And that this was a difficulty to the German Princess, is to her everlasting23 credit. According to the laws of Russia, the throne may never be occupied or shared by anyone not of the Greek Catholic faith. Now Princess Alix, being born in Germany and brought up in Germany, was a Protestant. From earliest childhood, she had been devoted24 to the Church and to her religion, and the tenets of the Greek Church were totally unfamiliar25 to her.
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THE TSARITSA IS HONORARY COLONEL OF THE UHLANS OF THE GUARD.
{119}
When they were presented to her there were many things that seemed so strange that for a long time she could not acknowledge her acceptance of them.
In most royal marriages, the brides change their faith as lightly as they change their gowns, and learn the priest-taught formulas that their tutors prescribe, and subscribe26 to the doctrines27 of their adopted church without fear or question. Alix demanded intimate knowledge of all the doctrines she must accept, so learned theologians and doctrinaires were dispatched to Darmstadt to give her instruction. Many are the stories told of her long arguments with these learned men over points that were not clear to her, and of her deep prying28 questions into the reasons for certain regulations and laws. At one time it seemed as if she could not accept certain things that these holy men were endeavouring to press upon her and more than one rumour29 went abroad that the royal marriage would never take place simply because of these religious difficulties. There seemed some ground for these reports, for the priest who had been her especial instructor30, one Yanisheff, at one time became so despairing of his “heretical” charge, that he left Darmstadt altogether and returned to Russia.
A long letter from the Princess was received by Nicholas, and he, instead of being hurt by the way she held out on these matters, expressed himself as highly pleased. A vigorous correspondence then passed quickly between them. And in the end, it was her love that conquered. I do not think that{120} Princess Alix has ever been what the world calls an “ambitious woman.” No one believes that the Greek priests “converted” her. But she loved Nicholas with a love that transcended31 all creeds32 and dogmas and finally, after long hesitation33, her love rose to the highest point and for his sake she “accepted” the state church of the land that was to be her future home.
At the time the betrothal was definitely announced, it was anticipated that Alexander would probably continue to reign19 for some years, and that in the meantime the bride of the Heir Apparent would have ample time to accustom34 herself to Russia, and to school herself for the difficult r?le of Empress, which she would one day have to assume.
The Russian press was flooded with stories and anecdotes35 of the beauty, the cleverness, and the varied36 accomplishments37 of the German Princess whom Nicholas was bringing to Russia. This was to popularise her among the people. It was said that she was a rare musician, a great scholar, and even that she had taken the degree of doctor of philosophy at some university! Flaming lithographs38 of her were circulated by the thousand among the peasants, and in the space of a few months her name had become a household word across the Empire and the Russian people were prepared to accept her as a worthy39 consort40 to the Heir Apparent.
The betrothal was announced in April. In Sep{121}tember of the same year, Tsar Alexander’s health began to fail rapidly and he was removed from the cold of the northern capital to the Royal estate of Livadia in the Crimea.
I have seen royal palaces and parks in every part of the world, but I have never seen a more beautiful place than Livadia. It is on the slope of the Crimean Alps, some of whose peaks tower more than three thousand feet above the glorious blue waters of the Black Sea that here lap the shores of Livadia. Yalta, lovely Yalta, a winter jewel daintily set in a wondrous41 setting of sea and hills, is removed from Livadia by only a spur of mountains easily and quickly crossed. And here, when all the rest of Russia lies frozen beneath semi-Arctic snows, roses and oleanders bloom, and ripe fruit hangs luscious42 for the pickers. Here winter suns are warm and winter evenings balmy.
I think the fairest nights I have ever seen have been in Yalta and on the road to Livadia when a December moon shone brightly over the restless water and aslant43 the lovely hills as in dream nights of June.
To this most beauteous spot in all Russia, Alexander III was taken. It was the monarch’s last journey. When it became evident that the end was near Nicholas sent for his bride-to-be. Probably no woman or man in modern times has had so warm a welcome prepared. The press of Europe was echoing and re-echoing the praise of the young Princess, in happy attune44 with the inspired press{122} of Russia. The Emperor William himself went to meet the Princess at the Berlin railroad station and bid her Godspeed—she who was to wear an Imperial crown.
Warsaw was the first Russian city where Princess Alix paused on her journey to Livadia whither she was hastening in the expectancy45 of marrying prior to the death of Alexander III. At Warsaw she was met by her sister, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, and farther along in the journey by the Heir Apparent. Her progress across the Empire was like a triumphal march despite the sadness that hovered46 over a nation whose ruler lay dying. Great arches of welcome were raised to her, and the populace turned out all along the way to do her honour.
We can well imagine the mingled47 feelings of surprise and awe48 which must have overwhelmed the retiring and somewhat austere49 German Princess, as she came in contact now for the first time with the great world, and with the homage50 of a vast people which from that day was to be her’s for all the rest of the days of her life. Princes and potentates51, like peasants from the isolated52 villages of the Steppes, bent53 their knees in humble54 obeisance55, while soldiers stood at salute56 as she passed. She knew full well that she was leaving behind her forever the simple life she had always known up until now. She knew that she was going to a death-bed scene, between ranks of gold and silver. Though her path was scattered57 with flowers and{123} the plaudits of the people continuously rang in her ears, she knew what the end of the journey must be, and she must have known too, in a dim, tragic58 way, all that lay beyond the endraped gold, toward which she was speeding in the Crimea.
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1
scion
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| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
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germinating
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| n.& adj.发芽（的）v.（使）发芽( germinate的现在分词 ) | |
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maidenhood
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| n. 处女性, 处女时代 | |
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corrupt
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| v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的 | |
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spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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7
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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actively
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| adv.积极地，勤奋地 | |
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betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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exigencies
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| n.急切需要 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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daunted
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| 使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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everlasting
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| adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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28
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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transcended
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| 超出或超越（经验、信念、描写能力等）的范围( transcend的过去式和过去分词 )； 优于或胜过… | |
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32
creeds
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| （尤指宗教）信条，教条( creed的名词复数 ) | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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accustom
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| vt.使适应，使习惯 | |
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anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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accomplishments
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| n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就 | |
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lithographs
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| n.平版印刷品( lithograph的名词复数 ) | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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40
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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41
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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42
luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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43
aslant
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| adv.倾斜地；adj.斜的 | |
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44
attune
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| v.使调和 | |
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45
expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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46
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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47
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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48
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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49
austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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50
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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51
potentates
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| n.君主，统治者( potentate的名词复数 )；有权势的人 | |
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52
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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53
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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54
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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55
obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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56
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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57
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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58
tragic
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| adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的 | |
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