Still he followed them up with an ardour and perseverance worthy of better success.

He found the Poles debased by misery, slavery, and the custom of bearing a foreign yoke.

He found the Polish aristocrats corrupted by luxury, enervated by pleasures, employing in intrigues and language the warmth of their patriotism in the conferences and confederation of _Eperies_.

A female of remarkable beauty, high rank, and eastern genius, the Countess of Mnizeck, stirred up, destroyed, or combined different parties, according to the taste of her ambition or her amours.

Certain patriot orators caused the last accents of independence to resound again in vain.
Certain princes and gentlemen formed meetings without any understanding with each other, who contended as partisans rather than as citizens, and who boasted of personal fame, without any reference to the safety of their country.