“Oh what a fall was there!” Not of a Cæsar deserving the eulogies of a Marcus Antonius, but the dignity of a nation worthy a nobler leader—diligent, prosperous, sober-minded Germany. XV No sooner did the Belgians know that the occupying government had fallen, than their long-hidden, beloved tricolour appeared. Revolutionary leaders, fearing this might cause trouble, asked those now in authority to have the colours removed, and the people were requested to withdraw them, until one appeared on the Hôtel de Ville. This was accordingly done in the more important thoroughfares, but in others the flag continued to float above the moving streams of enemy forces, who showed no resentment. On the contrary, they seemed to admire the daring patriotism it expressed; and on one occasion, to my knowledge, German troops marched under those flags through the Chaussée d’Ixelles singing the Marseillaise! In the eyes of the more intelligent one could read the anguish at their hearts, and a passion of resentment that suggested they were mentally recalling the lines of their cherished poet: “Ich rief den Teufel und er kam, Und ich sah ihm mit Verwundrung an; Er ist nicht hasslich und ist nicht lahm, Er ist ein lieber, scharmanter Mann, Ein Mann in seiner besten Jahren, Verbindlich und höflich und Welterfahren! Er ist ein gescheuter Diplomat Und spricht recht schön über Kirch und Staat.”[2] [2] I called the devil and he came, And I on him with wonder looked; He is not ugly and he is not lame, He is a nice and charming man, A man amid his best of years, Obliging, courteous, and worldly wise, He is a modest diplomat And speaks right well of Church and State. HEINE. The extraordinary spirit of reconciliation shown by these men, their total lack of humiliation in defeat, was in such strange contrast to the confident pride with which they had originally invaded Belgium that it was difficult to believe one’s eyes. And in their individual self-control, in the genial smile with which they met the rabble’s taunts, was a more beautiful pride than before—the pride of awakened conscience, and of that innate moral force which, despite aristocratic plottings, had before the war raised Germany to a foremost place among nations; which will no doubt raise her again, like a phœnix, from the ashes of her errors.