All eyes were turned toward this man; and the cries, ."Long live Deconinck! Hail to the Blue Lion!" were echoed and reechoed ever louder and louder. As the Dean of the Clothworkers drew near to the Friday market-place holding aloft the standard, an inexpressible joy filled the hearts of the Butchers; they, too, swelled the exulting shout of victory, and clapped their hands with an impetuous outburst of love. Breydel rushed eagerly to meet the banner, and stretched his impatient hands toward the Lion. Deconinck resigned it to him, and said:
"There, my friend, this hast thou this day won-rthe palladium of our freedom." Breydel answered nothing—his heart was too full. Trembling with emotion, he embraced the drapery of the standard and the Blue Lion. He hid his face in the folds of the silk, and wept; for a few moments he remained motionless; then the banner fell from his grasp, and he sank exhausted by his transport on Deconinck's breast.
While the two Deans held each other in this warm embrace, the people ceased not their shouts; loud exulting cries poured from the lips of all, and their quick and impassioned gestures attested the rapturous gladness of their hearts. The Friday market-place was too small to contain the thronging citizens. In the Stone street, far away to Saint Salvator's, were clustering swarms of men; the Smiths' street and Bouverie street were crowded with women and with children.
The Dean of the Clothworkers turned himself toward the centre of the market-place, and advanced to the gallows. The bodies of the Flemings who had been hanged had been already taken down and buried; but the eight ropes had been purposely left dangling in the air as signs and memorials of the tyranny which had put them to death. The standard with the Lion of Bruges was planted close to the apparatus of murder, and, greeted afresh with cries of joy. After regarding for a few moments in silence the reconquered banner, Deconinck slowly bent his knee, bowed his head, and prayed with folded hands.
When one throws a stone into still water, the movement spreads in tremulous circles over the entire surface, and awakens the ripples of the whole lake; so the thought and the act of Deconinck communicated themselves to the crowd of citizens, although but few could positively see him. First, those who were immediately near to him knelt silently down; then the movement extended itself further and further among the more distant, until every head was bowed in prayer; the voices of those in the centre of the vast circle were first hushed, and so further and further spread the silence, until it pervaded the whole multitude. Eight thousand knees touched the yet bloody earth; eight thousand heads humbled themselves before the God who had created men for freedom. What a harmony must have swelled up to the throne of the Most High in that moment! How grateful to Him must have been that solemn prayer, which, like a cloud of fragrance, was wafted upward to His footstool!
After a short time Deconinck arose, and availed himself of the unbroken stillness to address the following words to his assembled fellow citizens:
"Brothers! this day the sun shines on us with fairer splendor, the breeze of Heaven is purer and more exhilarating in our city; the breath of the foreigner pollutes it no more. The haughty Frenchmen deemed that we were their slaves forever; but they have learned, at the price of their lives, that our Lion may indeed slumber awhile— die, it never can. Again have we reconquered the heritage of our fathers, and washed out in blood the footprints of the aliens. But all our enemies are not yet overcome; France will send us yet more armed hirelings, for blood demands blood. That, indeed, is of small moment, for henceforth we are invincible; but, nevertheless, think not that you may sleep after the victory achieved. Keep your hearts firm, bold, quiet; never let the noble fire which at this moment glows in your breasts waver or wane. Let each betake himself now to his abode, and rejoice with his family in the victory of this day. Exult, and drink the wine of gladness; for this is the fairest day of our lives. Those citizens who have no wine may go to the hall; there a measure shall be dealt out to each."
The shouts, which gradually became louder, prevented Deconinck from saying more; he made a sign to the surrounding Deans, and went with them up to the Stone street. The crowds reverently made way for him, and on him above all, were bestowed the greetings and blessings of the joyous citizens.
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