SPECIMENS OF PUBLIC VIRTUE. 28? 



fi r.mily !" The astonished soldiers retreat. There is a pale of sanctity 

 around the patriot defending his country's rights alike in an orato- 

 rial tribune, or on the field of battle. 



After the first moment of violent effusion, there comes always a 

 while of lassitude and calmness. Availing himself of that which 

 now ensued in the assembly, the marshal, remaining still in the 

 middle of the hall, exclaimed, in a tone of deep feeling and firm 

 determination : 



" Gentlemen, since liberty does not exist any more amongst us, I 

 will carry away this staff; and I shall not lift it up till the republic 

 is delivered from her grievances." 



The same threats, the same violent shouts follow, as before this 

 speech, and recommence with fresh vigour. There is one voice, 

 however, which overpowers that tempest of clamour, enforcing upon 

 the marshal the uplifting of his staff. " No ! " cried out Mokro- 

 nowski, "you cannot open the Diet in the presence of the Rus- 

 sians and so many soldiers, who fill up the places of our fellow- 

 citizens !" 



No sooner has he pronounced these words, than he is surrounded 

 by the furious soldiery. Some attempt to pierce his breast, thrusting 

 their swords through the crowd of the nuncios, who beseech him to 

 retract his protest ; others, stationed in the gallery, strive to strike 

 him from above. At one moment, when all the points of the gleam- 

 ing swords were directed towards his venerable head, you might have 

 thought it was a halo encircling a martyr's brow. And he un- 

 moved, unshaken, encounters their fury with a disdainful smile; 

 folding his arms, he exclaims : " Strike ! I shall die free, and die 

 for liberty !" 



The chiefs of the party, more prudent than the young zealots, con- 

 trived to deliver Mokronowski from the hands of the barbarians. 

 They attempt once more to persuade the marshal, and to force him 

 to lift up his staff. But he, keeping pace with the vigour of his 

 companion, answers them : 



" You shall sever that hand from my body, or slay me, before I 

 disgrace my country. I am a marshal elected by the free choice of 

 the people ; a free people only can deprive me of that dignity. I 

 will retire." 



In vain they entreat him, in vain they throw themselves before 

 him to bar the passage. He clears his way through the crowd to 

 the doors of the hall. The arm of the general protects him from the 

 brutality of the soldiers, who cross their arms in the entrance. 

 Sheltering the old man with his breast, he exclaims : 



" Respect the virtuous man. If you need a victim, there I am. 

 Respect old age and virtue !" 



The magic power of those words opens the doors, and the marshal 

 escapes from the hall. A new danger awaits him from the infuriated 

 satellites, who fill the court of the castle. He, however, fearlessly 

 approaches the outer gate, still carrying the staff in his hand. He 

 was there doomed to certain death, when a young man from the 

 crowd called out, " Make room for General Gadomski 1 This stra- 

 tagem allowed the marshal to traverse the town without injury. 



