Thaddeus of Warsaw

ormation that the Russians had planted themselves before Praga, and were preparing to bombard the town. The intelligence nerved his heart's sinews again,

im recede from his duty. The image of his mother, too, so near the threatened spot, rushed on his soul. In quick march he led on his troops. Devastation met them over the face of the country. Scared and houseless villagers were flying in every dire

t his eyes o

barb me to the heart! Look there," cried he to the soldiers, pointing to the miserable spectacles before him; "

er a matter of policy even to assume it." [Footnote: To answer this, we must remember that Europe was then no longer what she was a century before. Almost all her nations had turned from the doctrines of "sound things," and more or less drank deeply of the cup of inf

himself on the southern side of that little river which divides the territories of Sobieski from

e of smiling eyes and thankful lips coming to meet him, he beheld the dead bodies of his peasants stretched on the hig

setting spurs to his horse, fled from the cont

his eye on that sweep of building which contained the palatine's apartments; but not one solitary lamp illumined its gloom: the moon alone glimmered on the battlements, silvering the painted glass of the study win

dressing General Wawrzecki, he bade him welcome to Villanow, requesting at the same time that his men might b

of his arrival. The moment he appeared at the room door, the women went out at an opposite passage, and Thaddeus, with a bursting heart, threw himself on the bosom of his mother. They were silent for some time. Poignant recollection stopped their utterance; but neither tears nor sighs

who was doomed not only to survive the liberty of his country, but to pass the residue of his life within the dungeons of his enemies. He then tried to reanimate her spirits with hope. He spoke of the approaching battle, without any doubt of the valor and desperation of the Poles rendering it successful. He

e glow which crimsoned his harassed

u! Already has your noble grandfather paid the debt which he owed to his glory. He promised to fall with Poland; he has kept his word; and now, all that I love on earth is concentrated in you." The countess paus

untess embraced him with a forced smile. "You must forgive me, Thaddeus; I have nothing of the soldier in my heart: it is all woman. But I will not detain you longer fr

thdrew, and after having heard that his numerous g

pay their personal gratitude to the countess for the hospitality of her reception; but she declined the honor, on

der the walls of Praga. The lines of the camp were drawn and fortified befo

to the horizon. Sobieski looked at them, and then on the handful of intrepid hearts contained in the small circumference of the Polish camp. Sighing heavily, he reti

All continued dark. He again returned to his marquée, and standing by the lamp which was nearly exhausted, took out his watch, and tried to distinguish the p

t to be a signal of the enemy, he hurried towards the intrenchments, but found the sentinels in perfe

t appeared to be the whole host of Russia advancing in profound silence towards the Polish lines. The instant he made this discovery, he came down, and lost no time in giving orders for the d

r flanks as they advanced. But in defiance of this shower of bullets, they pressed on with an intrepidity worthy of a better cause, and overleaping the ditch by squadrons, ente

s, the spirits of the Poles flagged not a moment; as fast as one rampart was wrested from them, they threw themselves within another, which was as speedily taken by the help of hurdles, fascines, ladders, and a courage as resistless as it was ferocious, merciless, and sanguinary. Every spot of vantage position was at length los

as on the dyke, animating the few who survived. Wawrzecki was wounded, and every hope hung upon Thaddeus. His presence and voice infused new energy into the arms of his fainting countrymen; they kept close

g the earth, and their triumphant adversaries mounting their dying bodies, as they hastened with loud huzzas to the destruction of Praga, whose gates were now burst open. His eyes grew

g of bombs thundered through the air, which was rendered livid and tremendous by long spires of fire streaming from the burning houses, and mingling with the volumes of smoke which rolled from the guns. The dreadful tocsin, and the hurrahs of the vi

ghty!" cried Thaddeus, wringing his hands, "canst thou suffer this?" Whilst he yet spake, some straggling Cossacks near the town, who were prowling abo

and whilst the barbarous avidity of the enemy was too busily engaged in sacking the place to permit them to perceive a solitary ind

ated the arrival of some part of the victorious army before the walls of Villanow. When its young count, with a breaking heart, crossed the drawbridge

e!" [Footnote: It was little more than just a century before this awful scene took place that the invincible John Sobieski, King of Poland, acting upon the old mutually protecting principles of Christendom, saved the f

e force and dispositions, he approved all with a cold despair of their

st the Polish camp. Her son waited for no more, but not hearing their caution, threw open the door of the chamber, and hastening to his mother's couch, cast himself into her arms. She clung round his neck, and f

g her to his breast; "you are il

od that oozed from a cut on his temple; "my beloved son, before our cruel

you to resignation. You see I have not breathed a complaining word, although I behold you covered with wounds." As she spoke, her eye pointed to the sash and ha

could only press her hand to his

no longer be an asylum for a man of honor. I beseech you, should this happen, go that very hour to England: that is a free country; and I have been told that the people are kind to

ey them, m

fastened it under his neck- cloth. "Prize this gift, my child; it is likely to be all that you will now inherit either from me or that father. Try to forget his injustice, m

e," answered he, in a stifled

t, screaming, "The ramparts are stormed!" and the next moment that quarter of the building rocked to its foundation. The countess clung to the bosom of her so

iercing shrieks echoed through the palace. "All is lost!" cried a sol

uld have given her one last and assuring embrace, when his eyes met the sight of her before-agitated features tranquillized in death. Sh

it not, until Butzou, followed by two or three of his soldie

covering the body of the deceased countess with the mantle of her son, hurried his

iend, was returning to the sorrowful scene he had left, when Butzou, aware of his intentions, just stopped him in t

d, with the general and his three Poles, they compelled this merc

wever; a column of fire issued from the south towers. Thaddeus sighed, as if his life were in that sigh, "All is indee

threatened to consume themselves as well as their plunder, that they quitted the spot with precipitation. Decrying the count and his soldiers at a short distance, they directed their motions to that

of musket-balls from the enemy. After hard buffeting with the torrent, he at last reached the opposite bank, and was assisted from the river by some

oulder of Butzou, he pointed to his burning palace with a smile of agony. "See," s

s utterance; but motioning the two soldiers to