heir lances. These now, with outstretched hands, pour forth
entreaties in their own language to the citizens, who stand round with
curiosity and sympathy. They are, for the most part, young Frenchmen
who are here lamenting, poor boys, with pale and haggard faces. The
citizens hasten to them with food and drink; ample piles of bread are
brought; but the Russians are hungry themselves; they roughly push back
the approaching people, and tear their gifts from them. Then the women
put baskets and flasks into the hands of their children. A courageous
lad springs forward; the little troop of maidens and young boys trip
amongst the prisoners, who are lying on the ground; even the youngest
totter bravely from man to man, and distribute their gifts smilingly,
unconcerned about their bearded guards,[58] for the Cossack does no
injury to children. The German is not unkind to his enemy.

When anyone carries a wounded countryman to his house, how faithfully
and carefully he nurses him. The family treat him as they would their
own son or brother who is far away in the king's army. The best room
and a soft bed is prepared for him, and the mistress of the house
attends him herself with bandages and all necessary care.

The whole people feel like a great family. The difference of classes,
the variety of avocations, no longer divide; joy and sorrow are felt in
common, and goods and gains are willingly shared. The prince's daughter
stands in union with the wife of the artisan, and both zealously
co-operate together; and the land junker who, only a few months before,
considered every citizen as an intruder in his places of resort, now
rides daily from his property to the city in order to smoke his war
pipe with his new friends, the alderman or manufacturer, and to chat
with them over the news; or, what was still more interesting to them,
over the regiment in which their sons were fighting together. Men
became more frank, firmer and better in this time; the morose pedantry
of officials, the pride of the nobleman, and even the suspicious
egotism of the peasant, were blown away from most, like dust from
good metal; selfishness was despised by everyone; old injustice and
long-nourished rancour were forgotten, and the hidden good in man came
to light. According as every one bestirred himself for his Fatherland,
he was afterwards judged. With surprise did people, both in town and
country, see new characters suddenly rise into consideration among