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

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СКАЧАТЬ the Order has become corrupt. The knights make different vows; but they often break them, thus setting a bad example to the whole Christian world. But a Krzyzak, especially a comthur, is not obliged to accept a challenge."

      "Ha! Then only in war can you reach him."

      "But they say, that there will be no war," said Zbyszko, "because the

       Knights of the Cross are afraid of our nation."

      To this Zyndram of Maszkow said:

      "This peace will not last long. There cannot be a good understanding with the wolf, because he must live on the goods of others."

      "In the meantime, perhaps we will be obliged to fight with Tymur the Lame," said Powala. "Prince Witold was defeated by Edyga; that is certain."

      "Certain. Wojewoda Spytko will not return," said Paszko Zlodziej of Biskupice.

      "The late queen prophesied it would be so," said the Pan of Taczew.

      "Ha! Then perhaps we will be obliged to go against Tymur."

      Here the conversation was tunned to the Lithuanian expedition against the Tartars. There was no doubt that Prince Witold, that able commander being rather impetuous, had been badly defeated at Worskla, where a great number of the Lithuanian bojars and also a few Polish knights were killed. The knights now gathered in Amylej's house, pitied especially Spytek of Melsztyn, the greatest lord in the kingdom, who went with the expedition as a volunteer; and after the battle he was lost—nobody knew where. They praised his chivalrous deed, and told how he, having received from the commander of the enemy a protective kolpak,[61] would not wear it during the battle, preferring honorable death to life granted him by the ruler of a heathen nation. But it was not certain yet, whether he had perished, or was in captivity. If he were a prisoner, he could pay his ransom himself, because his riches were enormous, and he also held in fief the whole Podole from King Wladyslaw.

      But the defeat of Witold's army might prove ruinous to the whole of Jagiello's empire. Nobody knew when the Tartars, encouraged by the victory over Witold, might now invade the lands and cities belonging to the grand dukedom. In that case the kingdom of Poland would be involved in a war. Therefore many knights, who like Zawisza, Farurej, Dobko and even Powala, were accustomed to seek adventures and fights in foreign countries, remained in Krakow not knowing what might soon happen. In case Tamerlan, who was the ruler of twenty-seven states, moved the whole Mongolian world, then the peril to the kingdom would be great.

      "If it be necessary, then we will measure our swords with the Lame. With us it will not be such an easy matter as it was with those other nations, which he conquered and exterminated. Then the other Christian princes will help us."

      To this Zyndram of Maszkow, who especially hated the Order, said bitterly:

      "I do not know about the princes; but the Knights of the Cross are ready to become friends even with the Tartars and attack us from the other side."

      "Then we shall have a war!" exclaimed Zbyszko. "I am against the

       Krzyzaks!"

      But the other knights began to contradict Zyndram. "The Knights of the Cross have no fear of God, and they seek only their own advantage; but they will not help the pagans against Christian people. And then Tymur is at war somewhere in Asia, and the commander of the Tartars, Edyga, lost so heavily in the battle, that he is afraid even of victory. Prince Witold is a man full of expedients, and you may be sure he took precautions; and even if this time the Lithuanians were not successful, at any rate it is not a new thing for them to overcome the Tartars."

      "We have to fight for life and death; not with the Tartars but with the Germans," said Zyndram of Maszkow, "and if we do not crush them, our peril will come from them."

      Then he turned toward Zbyszko:

      "And in the first place Mazowsze will perish. You will always find plenty to do there; be not afraid!"

      "Hej! if my uncle were well, I would go there immediately."

      "God help you!" said Powala, raising a glass.

      "Yours and Danusia's health!"

      "To the destruction of the Germans!" added Zyndram of Maszkow.

      Then they began to say farewell. At that moment one of the princess' courtiers entered with a falcon on his arm; and having bowed to the knights who were present, he turned with a peculiar smile to Zbyszko:

      "The lady princess wished me to tell you," said he, "that she will stay in Krakow over night, and will start on the journey to-morrow."

      "That is well," said Zbyszko; "but why? Is anybody sick?"

      "No. But the princess has a visitor from Mazowsze."

      "The prince himself?"

      "Not the prince, but Jurand of Spychow," answered the courtier.

      Having heard this, Zbyszko became very much confused, and his heart began to throb as it did when they read the sentence of death to him.

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