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Page:Julian Niemcewicz - Notes of my Captivity in Russia.djvu/35

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BATTLE OF MACIEIOWICE.
7

beautiful Etruscan beetle, revolving in its bezel, upon one of the sides of which was engraved a soldier leaning upon his buckler; Potocki admired it much. “Keep it,” said I, “until we meet again.” He did not understand the true sense of my words; it was my wish that, in case any misfortune might befal me, this esteemed friend should have at least a token of remembrance from me. We parted at one o'clock in the morning; none of us foresaw the long separation, and the misfortunes that awaited us; as for myself, I little thought that this was the last time I should visit the capital of Poland.

The following day, Monday, 6th October, at six o'clock in the morning, General Kosciuszko, after having caused a rumour to be circulated in the camp that he was going to town, entrusted General Zaionczek with the temporary command of the army, and

    Mons. Serra, then French ambassador at Warsaw, runs thus:–
    “Hic jacet ob patriam ærumnas et vincula passus,
    “Eripiturque eodem, quo inchoat illa, die.”