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Table of contents
To the Reader.
PART FIRST
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
PART SECOND.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
PART THIRD.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII.
PART FOURTH.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
PART FIFTH.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
PART SIXTH.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
PART SEVENTH
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
PART EIGHTH.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
FOOTNOTES:
To the Reader.
Here
you have, gentle reader—old writers always called you
gentle—something very much more than a novel to amuse an idle hour.
To read it will be enjoyable pastime, no doubt; but the brilliant
romance of the brilliant author calls upon you for some exercise of
the finest sympathy and intelligence; sympathy for a glorious nation
which, with only one exception, has suffered beyond all other
nations; intelligence, of the sources of that unspeakable and
immeasurable love and of the great things that may yet befall before
those woes are atoned for and due punishment for them meted out to
their guilty authors.Poland!
Poland! The very name carries with it sighings and groanings,
nation-murder, brilliance, beauty, patriotism, splendors,
self-sacrifice through generations of gallant men and exquisite
women; indomitable endurance of bands of noble people carrying
through world-wide exile the sacred fire of wrath against the
oppressor, and uttering in every clime a cry of appeal to Humanity to
rescue Poland.It
was indeed a terrible moment in history, when the three military
monarchies of Europe, Russia, Austria and Prussia, swooped down upon
the glorious but unhappy country, torn by internal trouble, and
determined to kill it and divide up its dominions. All were alike
guilty, as far as motive went. But Holy Russia—Holy!—since that
horrible time has taken upon herself by far the greatest burden of
political crime in her dealings with that noble nation. Every evil
passion bred of despotism, of theological hatred, of rancorous
ancient enmities, and the ghastliest official corruption, have
combined in Russian action for more than one hundred and fifty years,
to turn Poland into a hell on earth. Her very language was
proscribed.This
is not the place to give details of that unhappy country's woes. But
suffice it to say, that Poland, in spite of fatuous prohibitions, has
had a great literature since the loss of her independence, and that
literature has so kept alive the soul of the nation, that with
justice Poland sings her great patriotic song:"Poland
is not yet lost As long as we live…."The
nation is still alive in its writers and their works, their splendid
poetry and prose.It
is a pity that so few of these great writers are widely known. But
most people have heard of Jan Kochanowski, of Mikolaj Rey, of
Rubinski, of Szymanowicz, of Poland's great genius in this century,
one of the supreme poets of the world, Adam Mickiewicz, of Joseph
Ignac, of Kraszewski, who is as prolific in literary and scientific
works as Alexander von Humboldt, and of hundreds of others in all
branches of science and art, too numerous to mention here.And
it is remarkable that the author of this book, Henryk Sienkiewicz,
should of late have attained such prominence in the public eye and
found a place in the heart of mankind. It is of good omen. Thus,
Poland, in spite of her fetters, is keeping step in the very van of
the most progressive nations.The
romance of Sienkiewicz in this volume is perhaps the most interesting
and fascinating he has yet produced. It is in the very first rank of
imaginative and historical romance. The time and scene of the noble
story are laid in the middle ages during the conquest of Pagan
Lithuania by the military and priestly order of the "Krzyzacy"
Knights of the Cross. And the story exhibits with splendid force the
collision of race passions and fierce, violent individualities which
accompanied that struggle. Those who read it will, in addition to
their thrilling interest in the tragical and varied incidents, gain
no little insight into the origin and working of the inextinguishable
race hatred between Teuton and Slav. It was an unfortunate thing
surely, that the conversion of the heathen Lithuanians and Zmudzians
was committed so largely to that curious variety of the missionary,
the armed knight, banded in brotherhood, sacred and military. To say
the least, his sword was a weapon dangerous to his evangelizing
purpose. He was always in doubt whether to present to the heathen the
one end of it, as a cross for adoration, or the other, as a point
to kill with.
And so, if Poland
was
made a Catholic nation, she was also made an undying and unalterable
hater of the German, the Teutonic name and person.And
so this noble, historical tale, surpassed perhaps by none in
literature, is commended to the thoughtful attention and appreciation
of the reader.
PART FIRST
CHAPTER
I.In
Tyniec,[1] in the inn under "Dreadful Urus," which belonged
to the abbey, a few people were sitting, listening to the talk of a
military man who had come from afar, and was telling them of the
adventures which he had experienced during the war and his journey.He
had a large beard but he was not yet old, and he was almost gigantic
but thin, with broad shoulders; he wore his hair in a net ornamented
with beads; he was dressed in a leather jacket, which was marked by
the cuirass, and he wore a belt composed of brass buckles; in the
belt he had a knife in a horn scabbard, and at his side a short
traveling sword.Near
by him at the table, was sitting a youth with long hair and joyful
look, evidently his comrade, or perhaps a shield-bearer, because he
also was dressed as for a journey in a similar leather jacket. The
rest of the company was composed of two noblemen from the vicinity of
Krakow and of three townsmen with red folding caps, the thin tops of
which were hanging down their sides to their elbows.The
host, a German, dressed in a faded cowl with large, white collar, was
pouring beer for them from a bucket into earthen mugs, and in the
meanwhile he was listening with great curiosity to the military
adventures.The
burghers were listening with still greater curiosity. In these times,
the hatred, which during the time of King Lokietek had separated the
city and the knighthood, had been very much quenched, and the
burghers were prouder than in the following centuries. They called
them still
des allerdurchluchtigsten Kuniges und Herren
and they appreciated their readiness
ad concessionem pecuniarum;
therefore one would very often see in the inns, the merchants
drinking with the noblemen like brothers. They were even welcome,
because having plenty of money, usually they paid for those who had
coats of arms.Therefore
they were sitting there and talking, from time to time winking at the
host to fill up the mugs."Noble
knight, you have seen a good piece of the world!" said one of
the merchants."Not
many of those who are now coming to Krakow from all parts, have seen
as much," answered the knight."There
will be plenty of them," said the merchant. "There is to be
a great feast and great pleasure for the king and the queen! The king
has ordered the queen's chamber to be upholstered with golden
brocade, embroidered with pearls, and a canopy of the same material
over her. There will be such entertainments and tournaments, as the
world has never seen before.""Uncle
Gamroth, don't interrupt the knight," said the second merchant."Friend
Eyertreter, I am not interrupting; only I think that he also will be
glad to know about what they are talking, because I am sure he is
going to Krakow. We cannot return to the city to-day at any rate,
because they will shut the gates.""And
you speak twenty words, in reply to one. You are growing old,
UncleGamroth!""But
I can carry a whole piece of wet broadcloth just the same.""Great
thing! the cloth through which one can see, as through a sieve."But
further dispute was stopped by the knight, who said:"Yes,
I will stay in Krakow because I have heard about the tournaments and
I will be glad to try my strength in the lists during the combats;
and this youth, my nephew, who although young and smooth faced, has
already seen many cuirasses on the ground, will also enter the
lists."The
guests glanced at the youth who laughed mirthfully, and putting his
long hair behind his ears, placed the mug of beer to his mouth.The
older knight added:"Even
if we would like to return, we have no place to go.""How
is that?" asked one of the nobles."Where
are you from, and what do they call you?""I
am Macko of Bogdaniec, and this lad, the son of my brother, calls
himself Zbyszko. Our coat of arms is Tempa Podkowa, and our war-cry
is Grady!""Where
is Bogdaniec?""Bah!
better ask, lord brother, where it was, because it is no more. During
the war between Grzymalczyks and Nalenczs,[2] Bogdaniec was burned,
and we were robbed of everything; the servants ran away. Only the
bare soil remained, because even the farmers who were in the
neighborhood, fled into the forests. The father of this lad, rebuilt;
but the next year, a flood took everything. Then my brother died, and
after his death I remained with the orphan. Then I thought: 'I can't
stay!' I heard about the war for which Jasko of Olesnica, whom the
king, Wladyslaw, sent to Wilno after he sent Mikolaj of Moskorzowo,
was collecting soldiers. I knew a worthy abbot, Janko of Tulcza, to
whom I gave my land as security for the money I needed to buy armor
and horses, necessary for a war expedition. The boy, twelve years
old, I put on a young horse and we went to Jasko of Olesnica.""With
the youth?""He
was not even a youth then, but he has been strong since childhood.
When he was twelve, he used to rest a crossbow on the ground, press
it against his chest and turn the crank. None of the Englishmen, whom
I have seen in Wilno, could do better.""Was
he so strong?""He
used to carry my helmet, and when he passed thirteen winters, he
could carry my spear also.""You
had plenty of fighting there!""Because
of Witold. The prince was with the Knights of the Cross, and every
year they used to make an expedition against Lithuania, as far as
Wilno. Different people went with them: Germans, Frenchmen,
Englishmen, who are the best bowmen, Czechs, Swiss and Burgundians.
They cut down the forests, burned the castles on their way and
finally they devastated Lithuania with fire and sword so badly, that
the people who were living in that country, wanted to leave it and
search for another land, even to the end of the world, even among
Belial's children, only far from the Germans.""We
heard here, that the Lithuanians wanted to go away with their wives
and children, but we did not believe it.""And
I looked at it. Hej! If not for Mikolaj of Moskorzowo, for Jasko
ofOlesnica, and without any boasting, if not for us, there would
be noWilno now.""We
know. You did not surrender the castle.""We
did not. And now notice what I am going to say, because I have
experience in military matters. The old people used to say: 'furious
Litwa'[3]—and it's true! They fight well, but they cannot withstand
the knights in the field. When the horses of the Germans are sunk in
the marshes, or when there is a thick forest—that's different.""The
Germans are good soldiers!" exclaimed the burghers."They
stay like a wall, man beside man, in their iron armor. They advance
in one compact body. They strike, and the Litwa are scattered like
sand, or throw themselves flat on the ground and are trampled down.
There are not only Germans among them, because men of all nations
serve with the Knights of the Cross. And they are brave! Often before
a battle a knight stoops, stretches his lance, and rushes alone
against the whole army.""Christ!"
exclaimed Gamroth. "And who among them are the best soldiers?""It
depends. With the crossbow, the best is the Englishman, who can
pierce a suit of armor through and through, and at a hundred steps he
will not miss a dove. Czechowie (Bohemians) cut dreadfully with axes.
For the big two-handed sword the German is the best. The Swiss is
glad to strike the helmets with an iron flail, but the greatest
knights are those who come from France. These will fight on horseback
and on foot, and in the meanwhile they will speak very brave words,
which however you will not understand, because it is such a strange
language. They are pious people. They criticise us through the
Germans. They say we are defending the heathen and the Turks against
the cross, and they want to prove it by a knightly duel. And such
God's judgment is going to be held between four knights from their
side, and four from our side, and they are going to fight at the the
court of Waclaw, the Roman and Bohemian king."[4]Here
the curiosity so increased among the noblemen and merchants, that
they stretched their necks in the direction of Macko of Bogdaniec and
they asked:"And
who are the knights from our side? Speak quickly!" Macko raised
the mug to his mouth, drank and then answered:"Ej,
don't be afraid about them. There is Jan of Wloszczowa, castellan of
Dobrzyn; there's Mikolaj of Waszmuntow; there are Jasko of Zdakow and
Jarosz of Czechow: all glorious knights and sturdy fellows. No matter
which weapons they choose,—swords or axes—nothing new to them! It
will be worth while for human eyes to see it and for human ears to
hear it—because, as I said, even if you press the throat of a
Frenchman with your foot, he will still reply with knightly words.
Therefore so help me God and Holy Cross they will outtalk us, but our
knights will defeat them.""That
will be glory, if God will bless us," said one of the nobles."And
Saint Stanislaw!" added another. Then turning toward Macko, he
asked him further:"Well!
tell us some more! You praised the Germans and other knights because
they are valiant and have conquered Litwa easily. Did they not have
harder work with you? Did they go against you readily? How did it
happen? Praise our knights."But
evidently Macko of Bogdaniec was not a braggart, because he answered
modestly:"Those
who had just returned from foreign lands, attacked us readily; but
after they tried once or twice, they attacked us with less assurance,
because our people are hardened and they reproached us for that
hardness: 'You despise,' they used to say,'death, but you help the
Saracens, and you will be damned for it.' And with us the deadly
grudge increased, because their taunt is not true! The king and the
queen have christened Litwa and everyone there tries to worship the
Lord Christ although not everyone knows how. And it is known also,
that our gracious lord, when in the cathedral of Plock they threw
down the devil, ordered them to put a candle before him—and the
priests were obliged to tell him that he ought not to do it. No
wonder then about an ordinary man! Therefore many of them say to
themselves:"'The
kniaz[5]
ordered us to be baptized, therefore I was baptized; he ordered us to
bow before the Christ, and I bowed; but why should I grudge a little
piece of cheese to the old heathen devils, or why should I not throw
them some turnips; why should I not pour the foam off of the beer? If
I do not do it, then my horses will die; or my cows will be sick, or
their milk will turn into blood—or there will be some trouble with
the harvest.' And many of them do this, and they are suspected. But
they are doing it because of their ignorance and their fear of the
devils. Those devils were better off in times of yore. They used to
have their own groves and they used to take the horses which they
rode for their tithe. But to-day, the groves are cut down and they
have nothing to eat—in the cities the bells ring, therefore the
devils are hiding in the thickest forest, and they howl there from
loneliness. If a Litwin[6] goes to the forest, then they pull him by
his sheep-skin overcoat and they say: 'Give!' Some of them give, but
there are also courageous boys, who will not give and then the devils
catch them. One of the boys put some beans in an ox bladder and
immediately three hundred devils entered there. And he stuffed the
bladder with a service-tree peg, brought them to Wilno and sold them
to the Franciscan priests, who gave him twenty
skojcow[7]
he did this to destroy the enemies of Christ's name. I have seen that
bladder with my own eyes; a dreadful stench came from it, because in
that way those dirty spirits manifested their fear before holy
water.""And
who counted them, that you know there were three hundred devils,"
asked the merchant Gamroth, intelligently."The
Litwin counted them, when he saw them entering the bladder. It was
evident that they were there, because one would know it from the
stench, and nobody wished to take out the peg to count them.""What
wonders, what wonders!" exclaimed one of the nobles."I
have seen many great wonders, because everything is peculiar among
them. They are shaggy and hardly any
kniaz
combs his hair; they live on baked turnips, which they prefer to any
other food, because they say that bravery comes from eating them.
They live in the forests with their cattle and snakes; they are not
abstinent in eating nor drinking. They despise the married women, but
greatly respect the girls to whom they attribute great power. They
say that if a girl rubs a man with dried leaves, it will stop colic.""It's
worth while to have colic, if the women are beautiful!"
exclaimedUncle Eyertreter."Ask
Zbyszko about it," answered Macko of Bogdaniec.Zbyszko
laughed so heartily that the bench began to shake beneath him."There
are some beautiful ones," he said. "Ryngalla was charming.""Who
is Ryngalla? Quick!""What?
you haven't heard about Ryngalla?" asked Macko."We
have not heard a word.""She
was Witold's sister, and the wife of Henryk, Prince Mazowiecki.""You
don't say! Which Prince Henryk? There was only one PrinceMazowiecki,
elect[8] of Plock, but he died.""The
same one. He expected a dispensation from Rome, but death gave him
his dispensation, because evidently he had not pleased God by his
action. Jasko of Olesnica sent me with a letter to Prince Witold,
when Prince Henryk, elect of Plock, was sent by the king to
Ryterswerder. At that time, Witold was tired of the war, because he
could not capture Wilno, and our king was tired of his own brothers
and their dissipation. The king having noticed that Witold was
shrewder and more intelligent than his own brothers, sent the bishop
to him, to persuade him to leave the Knights of the Cross, and return
to his allegiance, for which he promised to make him ruler over
Litwa. Witold, always fond of changing, listened with pleasure to the
embassy. There were also a feast and tournaments. The elect mounted a
horse, although the other bishops did not approve of it, and in the
lists he showed his knightly strength. All the princes of Mazowsze
are very strong; it is well known, that even the girls of that blood
can easily break horseshoes. In the beginning the prince threw three
knights from their saddles; the second time he threw five of them. He
threw me from my saddle, and in the beginning of the encounter,
Zbyszko's horse reared and he was thrown. The prince took all the
prizes from the hands of the beautiful Ryngalla, before whom he
kneeled in full armor. They fell so much in love with each other,
that dining the feasts, the
clerici[9]
pulled him from her by his sleeves and her brother, Witold,
restrained her. The prince said: 'I will give myself a dispensation,
and the pope, if not the one in Home, then the one in Avignon, will
confirm it, but I must marry her immediately—otherwise I will burn
up!' It was a great offence against God, but Witold did not dare to
oppose him, because he did not want to displease the embassador—and
so there was a wedding. Then they went to Suraz, and afterward to
Sluck, to the great sorrow of this youth, Zbyszko, who, according to
the German custom, had selected the Princess Ryngalla to be the lady
of his heart and had promised her eternal fidelity.""Bah!"
suddenly interrupted Zbyszko, "it's true. But afterward the
people said that Ryngalla regretted being the wife of the elect
(because he, although married, did not want to renounce his spiritual
dignity) and feeling that God's blessing could not be over such a
marriage, poisoned her husband. When I heard that, I asked a pious
hermit, living not far from Lublin, to absolve me from that vow.""He
was a hermit," answered Macko, laughing, "but was he pious?
I don't know; we went to him on Friday, and he was splitting bear's
bones with an axe, and sucking the marrow so hard, that there was
music in his throat.""But
he said that the marrow was not meat, and besides he had received
permission to do it, because after sucking marrow, he used to have
marvelous visions during his sleep and the next day he could prophesy
until noontime.""Well,
well!" answered Macko. "And the beautiful Ryngalla is a
widow and she may call you to her service.""It
would be in vain, because I am going to choose another lady, whom I
will serve till death, and then I will find a wife.""You
must first find the girdle of a knight.""Owa![10]
There will be plenty of tournaments. And before that the king will
not dub a single knight. I can measure myself against any. The prince
could not have thrown me down, if my horse had not reared.""There
will be knights here better than you are."Here
the noblemen began to shout:"For
heaven's sake! Here, in the presence of the queen, will fight not
such as you, but only the most famous knights in the world. Here will
fight Zawisza of Garbow and Farurej, Dobko of Olesnica, Powala of
Taczew, Paszko Zlodzie of Biskupice, Jasko Naszan and Abdank of Gora.
Andrzej of Brochocice, Krystyn of Ostrow, and Jakob of Kobylany! Can
you measure your sword against the swords of those, with whom neither
the knights here, nor of the Bohemian court, nor of the Hungarian
court can compete? What are you talking about? Are you better then
they? How old are you?""Eighteen,"
answered Zbyszko."Everyone
of them could crush you between his fingers.""We
will see."But
Macko said:"I
have heard that the king rewarded those knights munificently who
returned from the Lithuanian war. Speak, you belong here; is it
true?""Yes,
it is true!" answered one of the nobles. "The king's
munificence is known to the world; but it will be difficult to get
near him now, because the guests are swarming to Krakow; they are
coming to be in time for the queen's confinement and for the
christening, wishing to show reverence to our lord and to render him
homage. The king of Hungary is coming; they say the Roman emperor
will be here also, and plenty of princes, counts and knights, will
come because not one of them expects to return with empty hands. They
even say that Pope Boniface, himself will arrive, because he also
needs favor and help from our lord against his adversary in Avignon.
Therefore in such a crowd, it will be difficult to approach the king;
but if one would be able to see him and bow at his feet, then he will
liberally reward him who deserves it.""Then
I will bow before him, because I have served enough, and if there is
another war, I shall go again. We have taken some booty, and we are
not poor; but I am getting old, and when one is old, and the strength
has left his bones, one is pleased to have a quiet corner.""The
king was glad to see those who returned from Litwa with Jasko
ofOlesnica; and they feast well now.""You
see I did not return at that time; I was still at the war. You know
that the Germans have suffered because of that reconciliation between
the king and
Kniaz
Witold. The prince cunningly got the hostages back, and then rushed
against the Germans! He ruined and burned the castle and slaughtered
the knights and a great many of the people. The Germans wanted
revenge, as did also Swidrygello, who went to them. There was again a
great expedition started. The grand master Kondrat himself went with
a great army; they besieged Wilno, and tried from their towers to
ruin the castles; they also tried to capture the city by
treachery—but they did not succeed! While retreating there were so
many killed, that even half of them did not escape. Then we attacked
Ulrich von Jungingen, the grand master's brother, who is bailiff in
Swabja. But the bailiff was afraid of the
kniaz
and ran away. On account of this flight there is peace, and they are
rebuilding the city. One pious monk, who could walk with bare feet on
hot iron, has prophesied since that time, that as long as the world
exists, no German soldier will be seen under the walls of Wilno. And
if that be so, then whose hands have done it?"Having
said this, Macko of Bogdaniec, extended his palms, broad and
enormous; the others began to nod and to approve:"Yes,
yes! It's true what he says! Yes!"But
further conversation was interrupted by a noise entering through the
windows from which the bladders had been taken out, because the night
was warm and clear. From afar thrumming, singing, laughing and the
snorting of horses were heard. They were surprised because it was
quite late. The host rushed to the yard of the inn, but before the
guests were able to drink their beer to the last drop, he returned
shouting:"Some
court is coming!"A
moment afterward, in the door appeared a footman dressed in a blue
jacket and wearing a red folding cap. He stopped, glanced at the
guests, and then having perceived the host, he said:"Wipe
the tables and prepare lights; the princess, Anna Danuta, will stop
here to-night."Having
said this, he withdrew. In the inn a great commotion began; the host
called his servants, and the guests looked at one another with great
surprise."Princess
Anna Danuta," said one of the townsmen, "she is
Kiejstutowna,[11] Janusz Mazowiecki's wife. She was in Krakow two
weeks, but she went to Zator to visit Prince Waclaw, and now she is
coming back.""Uncle
Gamroth," said the other townsman, "let us go to the barn
and sleep on the hay; the company is too high for us.""I
don't wonder they are traveling during the night," said Macko,
"because the days are very warm; but why do they come to the inn
when the monastery is so near?"Here
he turned toward Zbyszko:"The
beautiful Ryngalla's own sister; do you understand?"And
Zbyszko answered:"There
must be many Mazovian ladies with her, hej!"
CHAPTER II.
At
that moment the princess entered. She was a middle-aged lady with a
smiling face, dressed in a red mantle and light green dress with a
golden girdle around her hips. The princess was followed by the
ladies of the court; some not yet grown up, some of them older; they
had pink and lilac wreaths on their heads, and the majority of them
had lutes in their hands. Some of them carried large bunches of
fresh, flowers, evidently plucked by the roadside. The room was soon
filled, because the ladies were followed by some courtiers and young
pages. All were lively, with mirth on their faces, talking loudly or
humming as if they were intoxicated with the beauty of the night.
Among the courtiers, there were two
rybalts;[12]
one had a lute and the other had a
gensla[13]
at his girdle. One of the girls who was very young, perhaps twelve
years old, carried behind the princess a very small lute ornamented
with brass nails.
"May
Jesus Christ be praised!" said the princess, standing in the
centre of the room.
"For
ages and ages, amen!" answered those present, in the meanwhile
saluting very profoundly.
"Where
is the host?"
The
German having heard the call, advanced to the front and kneeled, in
the German fashion, on one knee.
"We
are going to stop here and rest," said the lady. "Only be
quick, because we are hungry."
The
townsmen had already gone; now the two noblemen, and with them Macko
of Bogdaniec and young Zbyszko, bowed again, intending to leave the
room, as they did not wish to interfere with the court.
But
the princess detained them.
"You
are noblemen; you do not intrude, you are acquainted with
courtiers.From where has God conducted you?"
Then
they mentioned their names,[14] their coats of arms, their nicknames
and the estates from which they received their names. The lady having
heard from
wlodyka[15]
Macko that he had been to Wilno, clapped her hands, and said:
"How
well it has happened! Tell us about Wilno and about my brother and
sister. Is Prince Witold coming for the queen's confinement and for
the christening?"
"He
would like to, but does not know whether he will be able to do so;
therefore he sent a silver cradle to the queen for a present. My
nephew and I brought that cradle."
"Then
the cradle is here? I would like to see it! All silver?"
"All
silver; but it is not here. The Basilians took it to Krakow."
"And
what are you doing in Tyniec?"
"We
returned here to see the procurator of the monastery who is our
relative, in order to deposit with the worthy monks, that with which
the war has blessed us and that which the prince gave us for a
present."
"Then
God gave you good luck and valuable booty? But tell me why my brother
is uncertain whether he will come?"
"Because
he is preparing an expedition against the Tartars."
"I
know it; but I am grieved that the queen did not prophesy a happy
result for that expedition, and everything she predicts is always
fulfilled."
Macko
smiled.
"Ej,
our lady is a prophetess, I cannot deny; but with Prince Witold, the
might of our knighthood will go, splendid men, against whom nobody is
able to contend."
"Are
you not going?"
"No,
I was sent with the cradle, and for five years I have not taken off
my armor," answered Macko, showing the furrows made by the
cuirass on his reindeer jacket; "but let me rest, then I will
go, or if I do not go myself then I will send this youth, my nephew,
Zbyszko, to Pan[16] Spytko of Melsztyn, under whose command all our
knights will go."
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
Lesen Sie weiter in der vollständigen Ausgabe!
