The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy. Henryk Sienkiewicz

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СКАЧАТЬ your head will be filled with thoughts of battles and of love."

      "Did you not think yourself about war? I have planned what I must do; in the first place, I will rebuild the grodek."

      "Do you mean to do that?" asked Macko, "Well, and when the grodek is finished?"

      "When the grodek is rebuilt, then I will go to Warszawa to the prince's court, or to Ciechanow."

      "After my death?"

      "If you die soon, then after your death; but before I go, I will bury you properly; if the Lord Jesus restore your health, then you will remain in Bogdaniec. The princess promised me that I should receive my knightly girdle from the prince. Otherwise Lichtenstein will not fight with me."

      "Then afterward you will go to Marienburg?"

      "To Marienburg, or even to the end of the world to reach Lichtenstein."

      "I do not blame you for it! Either he or you must die!"

      "I will bring his girdle and his gloves to Bogdaniec; do not be frightened!"

      "You must look out for treachery. There is plenty among them."

      "I will bow to Prince Janusz and ask him to send to the grand master for a safe conduct. There is peace now. I will go to Marienburg, where there are always many knights. Then you know? In the first place, Lichtenstein; then I will look for those who wear peacock's tufts, and I will challenge them in turn. If the Lord Jesus grant me victory, then I will fulfill my vow."

      Speaking thus, Zbyszko smiled at his own thoughts; his face was like that of a lad who tells what knightly deeds he will perform when he is a man.

      "Hej!" said Macko; "if you defeat three knights belonging to great families, then you will not only fulfill your vow, but you will bring some booty!"

      "Three!" exclaimed Zbyszko. "In the prison I promised myself, that I would not be selfish with Danusia. As many knights as I have fingers on both hands!"

      Macko shrugged his shoulders.

      "Are you surprised?" said Zbyszko. "From Marienburg I shall go to Jurand of Spychow. Why should I not bow to him, he is Danusia's father? With him I shall attack the Germans of Chelminsko. You told me yourself that in the whole of Mazowsze there was no greater ware-wolf against the Germans."

      "And if he will not give you Danusia?"

      "Why not? He is seeking his vengeance. I am searching for mine. Can he find a better man? And then, the princess has given her consent for the betrothal; he will not refuse."

      "I see one thing," said Macko, "you will take all the people from Bogdaniec in order to have a retinue, as is proper for a knight, and the land will remain without hands to till it. As long as I live, I will not let you do it; but after my death, I see, you will take them."

      "The Lord God will help me to get a retinue; Janko of Tulcza is a relation of ours and he will help me also."

      At that moment the door opened, and as though to prove that the Lord God would help Zbyszko get a retinue, two men entered. They were dark-complexioned, short, dressed in Jewish-like yellow caftans, red caps and very wide trousers. They stopped in the doorway and touched their fingers to their foreheads, to their mouths, and then to their chests; then they bowed to the ground.

      "Who are these devils?" asked Macko. "Who are you?"

      "Your slaves," answered the newcomers in broken Polish.

      "For what reason? Where from? Who sent you here?"

      "Pan Zawisza sent us here as a present to the young knight, to be his slaves."

      "O for God's sake! two men more!" exclaimed Macko, joyfully.

      "Of what nationality are you?"

      "We are Turks!"

      "Turks?" repeated Zbyszko. "I shall have two Turks in my retinue. Have you ever seen Turks?"

      And having jumped toward them, he began to turn them around and to look at them curiously. Macko said:

      "I have never seen them; but I have heard, that the Pan of Garbow has Turks in his service whom he captured while fighting on the Danube with the Roman emperor, Zygmunt. How is it? Are you heathens, your dog-brothers?"

      "The lord ordered us to be baptized," said one of the slaves.

      "Did you have no money for ransom?"

      "We are from far lands, from Asiatic shores, from Brussa."

      Zbyszko, who always listened gladly to war stories, and especially when there was anything told about the deeds of the famous Zawisza of Garbow, began to inquire how they were captured. But there was nothing extraordinary in their narration; Zawisza attacked them in a ravine, part of them perished and part were captured; and he sent the prisoners as presents to his different friends. Zbyszko and Macko's hearts were throbing at the sight of such a noble gift, especially as it was difficult to get men in those days and the possession of them constituted true wealth.

      In the meanwhile, Zawisza himself accompanied by Powala and Paszko

       Zlodzie; of Biskupice arrived. As they had all worked hard to free

       Zbyszko, they were pleased when they succeeded; therefore everyone of

       them gave him some present as a souvenir. The liberal Pan of Taczew gave him a beautiful large caparison embroidered with gold; Paszko, a Hungarian sword and ten grzywiens.[60] Then came Lis of Targowisko, Farurej and Krzon of Kozieglowy, with Marcin of Wrocimowice and finally Zyndram of Maszkow; everyone brought rich presents.

      Zbyszko welcomed them with a joyful heart, feeling very happy on account of the presents and because the most famous knights in the kingdom were showing him their friendship. They asked him about his departure and Macko's health, recommending to the latter, different remedies which would miraculously heal wounds.

      But Macko recommended Zbyszko to their care, being ready himself for the other world. He said that it was impossible to live with an iron spear head between the ribs. He complained also that he spit blood and could not eat. A quart of shelled nuts, a sausage two spans long and a dish of boiled eggs were all he could eat at once. Father Cybek had bled him several times, hoping in that way to draw out the fever from around his heart, and restore his appetite; but it had not helped him any.

      But he was so pleased with the presents given to his nephew, that at that moment he was feeling better, and when the merchant, Amylej, ordered a barrel of wine brought in honor of such famous guests, Macko drank with them. They began to talk about Zbyszko's deliverance and about his betrothal with Danusia. The knights did not doubt that Jurand of Spychow would give his consent, especially if Zbyszko avenged the death of Danusia's mother and captured the peacock tufts.

      "But as for Lichtenstein," said Zawisza, "I do not think he will accept your challenge, because he is a friar, and also one of the officers in the Order. Bah! The people of his retinue told me that perhaps he would be elected grand master!"

      "If he refuse to fight, he will lose his honor," said Lis of Targowisko.

      "No," СКАЧАТЬ