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It would not have been astonishing that, during the life of his

cousin Carlos, Frederick should have imitated the example and

followed the counsel of so good a man; but it was surprising,

that after his death no one could perceive that Frederick,

although only twenty years of age, had lost his guardian and

guide. The increasing splendour of his talents, his piety, the

support of many powerful cardinals, the authority of his family,

the name itself, to which Carlos had caused to be associated an

idea of sanctity and sacerdotal superiority, all concurred to

point him out as a proper subject for ecclesiastical dignity. But

he, persuaded in the depth of his soul of that which no true

Christian can deny, that a man has no real superiority over

others, but in devotion to their good, dreaded distinction, and

sought to avoid it.