" He next summoned his children to him, one by one,
and addressing them with words of advice, embraced them heartily
and blessed them fervently. And he being the Lord's anointed,
the bishops present besought he would give them his benediction
likewise, and all that were present, and in them the whole body
of his subjects; in compliance with which request he, with some
difficulty, raised himself, and all falling on their knees, he
blessed them fervently. Then they arose and departed.
Silence fell upon the palace; night wore slowly away. Charles
tossed upon his bed racked with pain, but no complaint escaped
his lips. Those who watched him in the semi-darkened room heard
him ask God to accept his sufferings in atonement for his sins.
Then, speaking aloud, he declared himself weary of life, and
hoped soon to reach a better world. Courteous to the last, he
begged pardon for the trouble he gave, inasmuch as he was long in
dying. And anon he slumbered, and quickly woke again in agony
and prayed with zeal. Never had time moved with slower passage
for him; not hours, but weeks, seemed to elapse between each
stroke of the clock; and yet around him was darkness and tardy
night. But after much weary waiting, morning was at hand, the
time-piece struck six. "Draw the curtains," said the dying man,
"that I may once more see day." The grey light of a February
dawn, scarce brightened to eastward a cheerless sky; but he
hailed this herald of sunrise with infinite relief and terrible
regret; relief that he had lived to see another day; regret that
no more morns should break for him.
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