1831.] The Wife of the Polish Patriot. 371 



ment remained unshaken. " And, wherefore," she said, " should 

 Poland find such solitary grace in the eyes of Europe's conqueror ? Shall 

 all the nations lie prostrate at his feet, and Poland alone be permitted to 

 stand by his side as an equal ? Be wise, my dear Ladoinski. You con- 

 fess that the conqueror lent but a lifeless ear to the war-cry of your coun- 

 try. Be timely wise open your eyes, and see that this cold-hearted 

 victor wrapped in his own dark and selfish aims uses the sword of the 

 patriot Pole only, like that of the prostrate Prussian, to hew the way to 

 his own throne of universal dominion." " Thou art the daughter of a 

 French Bourbonite, Aimee," said her husband, smiling, " and canst not 

 away with this lawless successor to the throne of thine ancient line of 

 sovereigns. Now I, as a Pole, hold not a monarch's elected right so 

 cheaply." " But Austria, Prussia, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, did nqt 

 surely elect him their sovereign," answered Aimee, warmly ; " nor shall 

 the freedom of Poland arise from the ashes of a whole continent's 

 liberty. Believe it, this proud man did not enslave all Europe to 

 become the liberator of Poland. Ah ! trust me, that is but poor freedom 

 which consists only in a choice of masters. O Ladoinski, Ladoinski ! give 

 up this mad emprise ; return to the bosom of your family ; and when 

 your compatriots arise to assert their rights at the call of their country, 

 and not at the heartless beck of a stranger despot, Aimee herself will 

 buckle the helmet on your brow." " Thou art a noble-minded woman, 

 my Aimee," said Roman, " and perhaps my patriotism shewed strongest 

 when it drove me even from thy side at the call of my country ; but he 

 that has once drawn the sword for her, even though it were in an evil 

 hour, may not lightly sheathe it. But mark, mark, how yon sea of fire 

 rises and roars, covering, as to us it now seems, the face of earth, and 

 mingling with the clouds of heaven !" " Merciful God !" ejaculated 

 Aimee, " can even the judgment of the great and terrible day shew 

 more fearful than this portentous night r Hark ! the crackling and 

 thundering come nearer and nearer, and the light waxes brighter and 

 yet more bright. The whole atmosphere seems alive with lurid sparks 

 and burning brands. See, see ! they begin to fall, thick as snow-flakes, 

 on our quarter !" " The fire has assuredly reached us," said the Pole, 

 calmly ; f ' your safety, my Aimee, must be thought of. For me, I leave 

 not the post assigned me without military orders." " Then I remain 

 with you," said Aimee, in a steady and immovable voice. " And the 

 child," said the Pole, looking on his son " shall I send him away, in 

 this night of confusion, without a mother's protection ?" " Alas !" 

 exclaimed the young mother, " he must not remain to perish he must 

 not go forth without a parent's guidance. God direct me !" She looked 

 alternately at her husband and her boy, who was clinging to her gar- 

 ments, and screaming with childish terror then said, in a tone from 

 which there seemed no appeal, " We all remain !" Aimee's determina- 

 tion was happily only destined to prove to the Pole the strength of her 

 conjugal devotion; for ere he could exercise a husband's authority over 

 his gentle and delicate, but high-souled wife, an order for the evacua- 

 tion of the city arrived from head-quarters. 



With difficulty the party reached the suburbs through streets of flame, 

 showers of burning brands, and an atmosphere which almost threatened 

 suffocation. Ere they reached their destination, the Pole cast a farewell 

 glance on the ruined and blazing capital. " Ha ! proud Moscow," he 

 said, " the hand of Heaven's vengeance hath slumbered long, but hat!?, 



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