Chapter 3 Chapter One

In an inn called the Ferocious Buffalo in Tinets (which belonged to the monastery), some people were sitting listening to a knight from afar talk about his own adventures in war and travel. meet. ① Note to the English translation: The Benadict Monastery in Tiniec, Poland. The knight, with a beard, was not very old; broad-shouldered, tall, but thin, with a beaded hair-net on his head, and a leather coat with the traces of a breastplate. He wore a belt made of brass buckles, on which was tied a knife with a horny scabbard, and around his waist hung a short sword for traveling. ① Medieval knights wear belts and spurs, which are marks of canonization.

Beside him and sitting at the same table with him was a young man with long hair and a cheerful expression. He was obviously his companion, or perhaps a squire, because he also wore a similar dress for traveling. fur coat.The other persons present were: two noblemen from the outskirts of Cracow, and three freedmen in red caps, with long slender fringes drawn up to their elbows. ①The knight's attendants are also called "shield bearers". ②Residents in the city in the Middle Ages enjoyed various rights in the city, also known as citizens, and most of them were engaged in business.

The proprietor, a German, wore a faded, hooded vestment with a large white collar.He was holding a bucket of ale, filling an earthen cup for a while, listening to him with great curiosity as he talked about various adventures in the army. The three citizens listened even more fascinated.The incompatible hatred which had been created between the burghers and the knights in the days of King Roguedecke had disappeared, and the burghers were no longer as servile to the noble landowners as they were in the last century.The aristocratic landowners still called the citizens the most noble magnates and gentlemen, and admired their boldness ad concessionem necuniarum.Therefore, in the inn, merchants and nobles can often be seen drinking together like brothers.They were even popular, for they had plenty of money, and often paid the bills for those who had coats of arms.

① Luogedek is the nickname of Vladislav (died in 1333), the Polish duke of the Piast dynasty, who unified the main territories of Poland after a long struggle.In 1320 Vladislav Logedek ascended the throne in Krakow.Logedek's ascension to the throne marked the reconstruction of a unified Polish state. ② Latin, meaning: pay in cash. ③ refers to the knight. They sat there talking like that, and from time to time they winked at the shopkeeper for a drink. "Noble knight, you have seen a lot!" said one of the merchants. "Yes! Not many of you who have come to Cracow from all over the world have seen such a world," replied the knight.

"There will be more in the future," said the businessman. "A big banquet to congratulate the king and queen is about to be held! The king has ordered that gold thread brocades embroidered with pearls should be hung in the queen's bedroom, and a canopy of the same material should be erected. An unprecedented ceremony will be held. Unprecedented banquets and contests." "Uncle Camrose, don't interrupt the knight," said another merchant. ①Camrose and Iotreday were both surnames at the time, or rather, nicknames. "I'm not interrupting, dude Iotrede; I just think he'd be glad to know all the things people are talking about, because I'm sure he's going to Cracow too. We can't get into town today anyway. , because the city gate must be closed."

①Camrose and Iotreday were both surnames at the time, or rather, nicknames. "If you say one thing, you'll always answer twenty. I think you're old, Uncle Camrose!" "But I can lift a wet bolt of broadcloth." "Brilliant! That wool must be as thin as a sieve." The argument was interrupted by the knight, who said: "Yes, I'm going to Krakow for a while, for I've heard of the tournaments. I'd like to show myself in the ring during the fights. This lad is my nephew, and although he's young, There is no hair on his mouth yet, but he has already knocked down many knights in breastplate, and he will also participate in the tournament."

The guests glanced at the young man, who smiled happily, brushed his long hair behind his ears, and brought his wine glass to his mouth. The old knight continued: "Even if we want to go back, there is nowhere to go." "What's the matter?" asked a nobleman. "May I ask your surname, where is your residence?" "I am Macko of Bogdaniec. The boy is my brother's son. His name is Zbyszko. Our coat of arms is 'Demba Podakova'. Our battle cry It's 'Grache'③!" ① Coat of arms, also known as coat of arms, is a sign of knights in medieval Europe.

②The original text is Tempa Podkowa, which means "round-headed horseshoe". ③It means hail; the battle horn is the call sign shouted in battle, used to kill the enemy and cheer, and to boost the morale of one's own people. "Where's Bogdaniec?" "Hey, old man, you should ask where it used to be, because it's gone now. Bogdaniec was burned down during the war between Grzymarchik and Narenzhik, We were robbed of everything; our servants ran away. Neighboring farmers fled to the woods, and the land was left uncultivated. The boy's father rebuilt his home; but the following year a flood All washed away. Then my brother died, and after he died I lived with the orphan. I thought to myself: 'I can't stay any longer!' I heard there was going to be a war, and King Vladislav had already Sent Mikolai of Moscow Zov to Wilno, and then Yasko of Oresnica to recruit troops. I knew a great abbot, Yanko of Durza, and I sent him I gave him a sum of money, and bought armor and horses for the expedition. The boy was only twelve years old, and I put him on a pony, and we fled to Yale in Oresnica. Go to Scoo."

① These are two powerful families.These two great feudal lords of Poland fought a civil war in 1383, before Queen Jadwiga came to the throne, when the throne was vacant. ②Vladislav Achai, the old king-the Grand Duke of Lithuania since 1377, became the husband of Queen Jadwiga of Poland due to the agreement signed in Klev in 1385, and Ephesus The title of Ladislav II ascended the Polish throne and died in 1434. He was the founder of the old Achaean dynasty that ruled Poland and Lithuania before 1572. "With this boy?" "He was not a young man at that time, but he has been physically strong since he was a child. When he was twelve years old, he would often put a crossbow on the ground, put his chest against the crank, and draw the bowstring very full. I was None of the Englishmen Virno saw could beat him."

"Has he always been this strong?" "He used to always carry a helmet for me, and he could hold a spear for me at thirteen." "There are always wars in your place!" "It's all because of Witout. The duke used to stay in the Knights of the Crusaders, and once a year he went out to Lithuania, all the way to Wilno. People from all countries came with them: there were Germans. , the French, the English (they were the best archers), the Czechs, the Swiss, and the Burgundians. They cut down the woods and burned the castles along the way, and finally, with fire and sword, Lithuania was ruined. It made the people of that country not want to stay there, and went to find another place, even to the ends of the earth, to live with the descendants of the devil, as long as they stay far away from the Germans."

①Achael's cousin, Grand Duke of Lithuania "We heard here that Lithuanians were going to take their wives and children away, and we didn't quite believe it at the time." "I've seen it with my own eyes. Hey! If it weren't for Mikolai of Moscow Zov, and Yasko of Oresnica, I'm not boasting, and if it weren't for us, there would be no Virno now." "We know. You didn't abandon that castle." "No. Now listen to me, I have a lot of experience in the military. The old people used to say: 'Rebellious Litva'--that's true! They're good at fighting, but they can't stand the field But if the German horses get stuck in a swamp, or a jungle—that's another matter." ① Lithuanians "The Germans are brave and good at fighting!" cried the three townspeople. "They were lined up one after the other in iron armor, like a wall, and advanced like a single person. When they fell, the Lithuanians fled like loose sand, or lay on the ground listening Trampling. There are not only Germans among them, because there are people from all countries who served in the Knights of the Crusaders. These people are very brave! A knight often faces a battle with his lower body, picks up a spear, and single-handedly rushes to kill a Great army." "Christ!" cried Camrose. "Which of them, then, is the most valiant of men?" "It depends on the weapon. When it comes to bows and crossbows, the English should be regarded as the best. They can shoot through armor with one arrow, and they can always shoot pigeons within a hundred paces. The Czechs (Bohemia) It's terrible to use an axe. As for the two-handed sword, the Germans are the best. The Swiss like to beat their helmets with iron flails. But the greatest knights are the French. They can ride horses or not. , are able to fight, and speak very brave words while fighting. You must not understand this kind of speech, because it is a very strange kind of speech. They are god-worshiping people. They passed the German Come and scold us. They say we have come against Catholicism in the defense of the heathen and the Turks, and they will prove it with a duel of knights. This divine judgment is to be held thus: They send four knights, We also sent four knights to a duel at the court of Wenceslas, King of Rome and King of Czechoslovakia." ① ①Author's Note: This is a historical fact.Press: Roman King and Czech King Waclav, the fourth Czech King Waclav of the Luxembourg Dynasty (reigned from 1378 to 1419), he lived in 1278 to 140 ○ was the emperor (king) of the Germanic (Holy Roman) Empire.Judgment of God means a duel. Speaking of this, the curiosity of the nobles and businessmen became more and more aroused. They all stretched their necks towards Macko of Bogdaniec and asked. "What kind of knights are we sending here? Tell me!" Macko raised his glass to his mouth, took a sip, and then replied: "Well, don't worry about them. Among them are Jeen of Vroshityuva, governor of Dubrun; Mikolai of Vakhmentov; Yaroshi of Hof. All fine knights and strong men. No matter what kind of weapon they use--sword or axe--they can handle it well! It is worth seeing and also Worthy of hearing—for, as I said, these Frenchmen answer you with chivalrous words, even if you put your foot down their throats. But I swear by God and the Holy Cross, Although they are stronger than us with one mouth, our knights can defeat them." ①The Governor, also known as "City Guard", was the local governor who held military and judicial power in the Kingdom of Poland in the Middle Ages. Here it refers to the governor who governed Durerrun. "That would be glorious, may God bless us," said a nobleman. "Stanislav must be blessed!" another nobleman added.Then he turned to Macko again, and went on asking: "Well! Tell us more! You praise the Germans and other knights because they are brave and easily conquer the Lithuanians. But they always find it difficult to deal with you? Can they do what they want?" Are you going to attack you? What's the matter? Please praise our own knights!" Matsko of Bogdaniec was obviously not a big talker, for he answered humbly: "Those who have just come from foreign countries can attack us as they like. But after they have tried it once or twice, they are not so confident in attacking us, because we are tough guys. So they often come to scold us. Our stubbornness: "Even if you are not afraid of death, but you help the Saracens, you will be punished by God." So our mortal enmity deepened, because their The insult is nothing! The king and queen have baptized the Lithuanians. There everyone is to worship Christ our Lord, though not everyone knows how to worship. Everyone knows that when they were in Plotz When the devil's idol was overthrown in the cathedral, our merciful sovereign ordered them to put a candle before it--so that the priests were obliged to tell him that it ought not to be done. Look at a king like that , then, the ordinary people are not to be blamed! So many of them say in private: 'The Duke commanded us to be baptized, so I was baptized. He commanded us to bow to Christ, so I bowed. Pagan devils, spare a morsel of cheese? Why shouldn't I throw 'em some turnips? Why shouldn't I pour off the foam of ale? If I don't, my horses will die; otherwise, The cows would get sick, or their milk would turn to blood—or the harvest would go wrong, and many of them did, and they were all suspected. But they did it out of ignorance and fear of the devil. Those devils They lived very well in ancient times. They used to have their own mountains and forests, and they often rode horses to collect tithes. But today, the mountains and forests are all gone, and they have nothing to eat—the bell in the city is ringing The devils had to hide in the dense forest, where they roared in solitude. If a Lithuanian went into the forest, they would grab him by the goatskin coat and say: 'Give us something! 'Some gave, but there were some brave lads who, instead of giving, caught the devil. One of the lads put some steamed peas in a cow's bladder, and in no time thirteen devils came in Go in. He plugged the bladder with a rowan cork, took them to Virno, and sold them to the Franciscan priests, who gave him twenty skoyetris ③.He was meant to destroy the enemies in the name of Christ. I have seen that bladder; it gave off a pungent stench, for thus the foul spirits express their fear before the holy water." ① Saracens (Saracen) refers to people of all Arab races, Turks and other Muslims. ②The Franciscan Order is one of the orders of the Archbishop, founded by the Italian son Franciscan in the early twelfth century. ③ Note to the English translation: A currency equivalent to a "Grevin" or a twenty-fourth mark. "You say you know there are thirteen devils in there, but who counted them," asked the merchant Camrose wisely. "The Lithuanian saw them go into the bladder and counted them one by one. They were all there, because the stench let people know they were there. Who would open the peg to count them? .” "What a wonder, what a wonder!" cried a nobleman. "I have seen marvelous things with my own eyes, for everything about them is queer. They all have disheveled hair, and it is rare for one to comb the duke's hair. They live by roasting turnips, which is their favorite food. They say that eating baked turnips breeds courage. They live in the forest with their cattle and snakes; They say that if a man has a stomach ache, all he needs to do is ask a girl to rub it with a dry leaf and it will be all right." "It's worth the stomach ache if it's all pretty girls who wipe it!" cried Uncle Iotreday. "Ask Zbyszko about that," Macko of Bogdaniec replied. Zbyszko laughed so loudly that the stool he was sitting on shook. "They do have a few beauties there," he said. "Lingava is charming." "Who is Lingava? Tell me!" "What? Haven't you heard of Lingava?" Macko asked. "We've never heard of it." "She is Witout's sister, wife of Prince Henrik Mazowiecki." "No way! Which Prince Henrik? We only know of one Prince Mazovitsky, the bishop of Plotsk, and he's dead." ① Henrik, the bishop of Plotsk, Duke Mazovitsky, had indeed violated the canon by marrying the daughter of Lithuanian Duke Gestudot, Lindava. "That's him. He expected a pardon from Rome, but in the end it was death. It seems that God is not satisfied with what he has done. Jasco of Oresnica sent me one A letter to Duke Witout, at that time the king was also sending Duke Henrik, bishop of Plotsk, to Liedersvelt. Witout was tired of the war, because he could not take Wilno, and we The king, too, did not like his own brethren and their stupidity. The king, seeing that Witout was more able and intelligent than his own brethren, sent the bishop to persuade him to leave the Crusader Knights and return to him, He was also promised to be the Regent of Lithuania. Witout, who was indifferent, listened to the emissary's words, and was very happy, and there was a banquet and some tournaments. The bishop mounted, although the other bishops did not approve of him. Yes, but he showed his knightly strength in the tournament. All the dukes of Masovia are powerful; even the girls of their race are known to break horseshoes without effort. At the first, the prince threw three knights off his horses; the second time, five more. He threw me off too; at the beginning of the tournament, Zbyszko's handle The forelegs stood up in the air, so he was thrown off. The prince received the whole prize from the beautiful Lingava, and knelt down before her in full armor. They fell in love with each other so much that The priests who had to come with him pulled him away from her several times by the sleeve, and her brother Witout stopped her. The duke said: 'I will give myself A pardon, and if the Pope does not approve it, the Pope of Avignon will approve it. I must marry her immediately—or I will die of anxiety!' This would be a great blasphemy against God, but Witout did not dare to disobey him, because he did not want to disappoint the ambassador—so they got married. So they went to Suraz, and then to Slutsk. This young man is really very strange. Piszko was greatly grieved, for, according to the German custom, he had chosen the Princess Lingava as his beloved, and swore to her eternal fidelity." ① From 1378 to 1410, in addition to the Pope of Rome in Western Europe, there was another Pope in Avignon, France. "Oh!" Zbyszko interrupted suddenly, "it's true. However, I heard later that Lingava regretted being the bishop's wife (because even though he was married, he still refused to give up his priesthood. ), and feeling that God must not bless such a marriage, she poisoned her husband. When I heard this, I went to ask a pious hermit who lived not far from Lublin to forgive me for sending oath." "It is true that he is a hermit," Macko replied, laughing, "but whether he is pious or not, I don't know; we went to him on Friday, and he was walking around with an ax in his hand. Splitting the bear bone, sucking the bone marrow desperately, until the sound of sucking in the throat." "He said the marrow was not meat, and he had permission to do so. Because he had sucked the marrow, he would always see wonderful visions in his sleep, and the next day he could prophesy till noon." "Well, well!" Macko replied. "Beautiful Lingava is now a widow, and she will ask you to serve her." "It's useless. I'm going to take another lady, work her to death, and find a wife." "You should get a knight's belt first." "Oh! There are plenty of chances for jousting. The king doesn't make any knight without a jousting. I can fight anyone. If my horse didn't stand up, the bishop wouldn't be able to throw me off. Come off the horse." ① A playful cry. "There are many knights stronger than you." At this time, the two nobles shouted: "For God's sake! It's not you, but the most famous knight in the world, who are fighting before the queen's chariot. Those who come here are Chavesia of Gapov and Farulei, Ole. Dubko of Sniza, Povara of Tachev, Bashiko Zirokiai, Yasko Nassian of Biskupitri, Abdanke of Gora, An Derey, Christian of Ostrov and Ya of Kopilani are terrible! Can you compare sword skills with those people? Whether it is the knights here, or the knights of the Czech court, or the Hungarian court The knights here are not their opponents. What are you talking about? Are you better than them? How old are you?" "Eighteen," replied Zbyszko. "Any one of them can squeeze you into meat paste with their hands." "We'll see." However, Macko said: "I heard that the king gave generous rewards to those knights who returned from the Lithuanian war. Which one of you is Mrs. Krakow, tell me, is this true?" "Yes, it is true!" replied a nobleman. "The king's generosity is famous all over the world; but it's hard to get close to him now, because guests are flocking to Krakow. They all came in time to congratulate the queen on the birth and the naming of the dauphin, and want to pay respects to our The king pays homage and pays him tribute. The king of Hungary is already on his way; they say that the emperor of Rome is coming too, and many dukes, earls, and knights, because none of them wants to go home empty-handed. They even say that Boni The Pope himself will come too, for he also needs the support of our king against his opponents in Avignon. So there are so many people that it is difficult to approach the king. However, if anyone can see him, show him If there is respect, then he will generously reward the person who deserves the reward." ① From 1378, the Catholic Church split; some of the cardinals elected the pope, like his predecessor (from the beginning of the fourteenth century), to use Avignon (in the south of France) as the papal residence, Another part of the pope elected by the cardinals relocated to Rome.The quarrel between the two popes, who vehemently cursed each other, continued until the Synod of 1414. "Then I must pay homage to him. I have served him for many years. If there is another war in Kazumi, I will go to war again. Although we have got some spoils, we are not poor now, but I am getting old. People When you get old, your strength will decrease, and you always want to be at ease." "The king was pleased to see those who returned from Lithuania with Yasko of Oresnica; they were all given a feast." "You know, I hadn't come back then; I was still fighting. You know, the Germans suffered a lot from the king's reconciliation with Duke Wittout. The duke's artifice, after getting the hostages back, went to attack the Germans. Man! He destroyed the castle, burned it, and killed many knights and people. The Germans want revenge, just as Svetleglo, who fell to their side, also has revenge. Another great expedition was launched. The grand master ② Conrad himself led a great army; they besieged Virno, ③ tried to take the castles from their ladders ④; Retreat, no casualties counted, not even half of the people escaped. So we went to attack the brother of the Grand Master, Komto of Swappia, and Ulrich of Jungingen. But Kon Muto' ran away because he was afraid of the 'Duke' ⑤. In this way, there was peace, and now they are rebuilding the city. There is a pious priest who can walk barefoot on hot iron plates, and after that time prophesied Say, as long as the world lasts, not a single Germanic soldier will be seen under the walls of Virno. If so, then who caused this situation?" ① Svetregel (died in 1452) - the Duke of Lithuania, the younger brother of Achael. ②The head of the Knights of the Crusaders. ③ The Knights of the Crusaders expedition to Wilno was in 1394. ④The ladder is a tall, movable wooden structure, which was used to attack fortifications in medieval warfare. ⑤ Refers to the Duke of Witout. With this, Matsko of Bogdaniec spread his broad, large hands; the others nodded in approval: "Yes, yes! He's telling the truth! Yes!" Warm and clear night.At this point, the conversation was interrupted by a knocking sound from the window, because people had taken the bull's arms out of the window.In the distance suddenly came the sound of string music, singing, laughter and the sound of horses spraying.They were all surprised because it was so late.The innkeeper ran out into the inn-yard, but before the customers had had time to drink their ale, he came running back yelling: ① In ancient Poland, cow bladders were used as window panes. "Someone from the court is here!" After a while, a servant in a blue coat and a red cap was seen coming in the door.He stopped there, glanced at the crowd, saw the owner of the shop, and said: ① This is a kind of servant who runs in front of the master's car. "Wipe the lamp; the Duchess Anna Danuta will rest here to-night." He said so and left.There was great commotion in the inn; the innkeeper called the servants, and the customers looked at each other in amazement. "Princess Anna Danuda," said a burgher, "she is the daughter of Gestudot and wife of Janusi Mazowiecki. She was in Krakow two weeks ago, and then she went to Zado I went to visit the Duke of Wenceslas, and now I am back." "Uncle Camrose," said another townsman, "let us sleep in the barn on the haystacks; these nobles are beyond our reach." "I don't wonder if they're traveling at night," said Macko, "because it's too hot in the daytime; but why should they stay in an inn when they're almost at the monastery?" Having said this, he turned to Zbyszko and said: "This is the sister of the beautiful Rinzava; do you know that?" Zbyszko replied: "There must be many ladies of Masovia coming with her, hey!"