Page:Brandes - Poland, a Study of the Land, People, and Literature.djvu/77

Rh of his travels has given a sympathetic, idealised description of Denmark. He also took part in the most varied wars for freedom, and was everywhere where there was any righting against Russia.

The following incident of the last rebellion well illustrates the Polish disposition to show a courage which has no regard to the useful. When in 1863 all hope for the cause of Poland was lost, at the last meeting of the national Government its chief announced that he should remain in Warsaw; that he would not run away; the other members of the Government could still save themselves, and he handed them the passports which had been prepared. Then they also determined to remain, and to expose themselves to all the dangers of being taken as leaders of the rebellion, rather than fly before the enemy against whom they had risen.

With such virtues and the vices which have been touched upon, people do not get on in the world in the nineteenth century. They are not even honoured and respected, much less strong and great. The grace of magnanimity and recklessness is badly placed in our time between German prudence and Russian might. E