But all remained so astonished by the unheard-of accident, that very few understood what was going on.

It seemed better that I--notwithstanding the risk of letting myself be seen--should encourage the people not to run away.

I did so, and remedied matters a little but not so much as that--if the enemy had then attacked us--we should not have been in the very greatest risk and peril.

I did not fail to do what I am obliged to do, and always hope to do; but I say no more of what passed, or what was done by myself, because it does not become me to speak of these things." Notwithstanding this discomfiture, the patriots kept up heart, and were incessantly making demonstrations against Parma's works.

Their proceedings against the bridge, although energetic enough to keep the Spanish commander in a state of perpetual anxiety, were never so efficient however as on the memorable occasion when the Mantuan engineer and the Dutch watchmaker had exhausted all their ingenuity.