Chapter 5 third chapter

The Grand Duchess Danu, Macko, and Zbyszko had all been to Tiniec before; but among the retinue some court servants were here for the first time.They admired this magnificent monastery very much.The monastery is located on a lofty mountain, and the towering walls on all sides overlook a cliff, and the rising sun is casting thousands of golden rays on the mountain at this time.These stately walls and buildings were dedicated to each purpose, and the vegetable gardens and well-cultivated fields at the foot of the hills testify to the great wealth of the monastery.The people from impoverished Masovia looked on in astonishment.In other parts of the country, such as Lubusch on the Odra River, Plotsk, Greater Poland, Mugila, etc., there are also some magnificent Benadictine monasteries, but none of them can compare with Tignes. Compared with the monastery of Cici.The monastery was richer than many duchies, and its income even exceeded that of some kings of the time.

And so the amazement of the court grew, some of whom could hardly believe their eyes.At this time the Duchess, in order to make the journey more pleasant and to entertain the young ladies of the court, asked the two priests to tell the terrible story about Walgerz Fedari, who although she was in Cracow I've heard it, but not fully. ① Fudali means extremely beautiful, and here is the handsome man Walgers. After hearing this, the ladies of the court surrounded the Duchess and walked slowly, like flowers wriggling in the sun. "Let Master Sidulf tell the Walgers, he had a vision to him one night," said one priest, looking at another old priest.

"Dear priest, have you seen him with your own eyes?" asked the Duchess. "I have seen him," replied the priest sadly. "Sometimes, by the will of God, he can leave hell and come to earth." "When was that?" The old priest glanced at the other priests and fell silent.It is said that if the life of the monks becomes corrupted, and the clergy become preoccupied with earthly riches and pleasures, the spirits of the Walgers will appear. But none of them was willing to say so; there was also a legend that the appearance of this spirit heralded war or other disasters.After a moment of silence, Master Sidulf said:

"His presence is not a good omen." "I should like to see him," said the Duchess, crossing herself; "but why is he in hell? If what I have heard is true, he is only avenging his wrong. "Even if he is good all his life, he will fall into hell, because he was a heretic, and the original sin cannot be washed away by baptism." The priest said solemnly. When the Duchess heard this, her brows were frowned in pain, because she thought of her beloved father, who also died of the heretic error. "We're all waiting to hear," she said after a pause.

Master Sidulf thus began: "In pagan times, there was a powerful 'Grapia', whose name was Walgerz, and who was called Fodari because of his extraordinary beauty. This whole large area belonged to him. Yes, as far as the eye can see. When he went to war, he did not lead a large number of troops, but only a hundred famous spearmen (they were all "Vrodika"), because the east to Opole, the west As far as Gotomeerz, his subjects are everywhere. No one can count his herds; in Tinets, he has a tower-like treasury, just as the Knights of the Crusaders now have in Mars like the towers built by the fort."

① That is, the earl. "Yes, they have, I know that!" interposed the Duchess. "He's a giant," the priest went on. "He is so powerful that he can pull up an oak tree. No one in the world can compare with him in beauty, playing the lute, or singing. He was once in the court of a king of France, and the king's daughter Helgenda love and went away with him to Tinets, where they lived a life of sin together. No priest would marry them Catholicly, because Helgenda's father had promised her in the honor of God. Send them to the monastery. At the same time, in Visricha there is a Wislav Piekny, who belongs to the family of King Poppier. The land of the count near Tiniec was plundered. Then Walgerz returned, defeated Wislav, and put his kingdom in Tiniec. He did not take into account the fact that any woman who sees Wislav, as long as He will satisfy her lust, and she will be willing to leave her parents and even her husband. This is the case with Helgenda. She immediately devised a chain for Walgers, so that this man who can uproot an oak tree The giant, but could not break free from such shackles. She handed him over to Wislav, and Wislav set his kingdom in Visricha. There, Wislav's sister Linca, because she heard Walgerz singing in the dungeon, , soon fell in love with him, and set him free. Then he slew Wislav and Helgenda with his sword, and let the crows eat their corpses, and he returned to Tinets with Lynja."

①It means "beautiful".Here is the beautiful Wislav. "Is he doing something wrong?" asked the Duchess. Master Sidulph replied: "Had he been baptized and consecrated Tiniec to the Benedictines, perhaps God would have pardoned his sins; but he did not, so the earth swallowed him up." "Were there any Benedictines in the kingdom at that time?" "No, there used to be no Benedictines here, only pagans." "Then how can he be baptized, or sacrifice Tinets?" "He couldn't; that's why he was sent to Hell to suffer eternal torment," answered the priest confidently.

"Of course! He's right!" Several people said in unison. At this moment they approached the main entrance, where the abbot, priests, and nobles were waiting for the Duchess.There were always many lay people in the monastery: the landowner's steward, advocates and attorneys, etc.In many places, even some "rich knights" have received a lot of land from the monastery as fiefs; Altar, it is always easy to get some gifts and many benefits.The grand ceremony being prepared in the capital has attracted many tourists from faraway places.They had difficulty finding accommodation in crowded Krakow, so they settled down in Tiniec.Therefore, the abbot, who is in charge of a hundred villages, can lead so many retinues to welcome the Duchess.

①The original text is abbas centum villarum. According to the English translation, it means "the abbot who is in charge of a hundred villages." He was a tall man with a thin, intelligent face; his head was shaved, with a fringe of gray hair beneath.He bore a deep scar on his forehead, evidently a wound he had received in his youth from his exploits as a knight.His eyes were sharp from under his black brows.He was clothed like the other priests, but over a black cloak trimmed with purple; around his neck hung a gold ingot, from which hung a golden cross inlaid with precious stones.His whole figure revealed that of a haughty man, accustomed to commanding, and confident.

But he greeted the Duchess with admiration, even humility, for he remembered that her husband belonged to the same family as many of the dukes of Masovia, a family that had produced two kings—Vladislav and Kazi Mies; also remembers that her mother was queen of one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world.So he stepped out of the threshold, bowed deeply, made the sign of the sign of the cross to Anna Danuda and her court, and said: "My gracious lady, welcome to our monastery. May St. Benadict of Nancia, St. Maurus, St. Boniface, St. Benedict of Aniagne and St. Jan—our glorious Patron Saints—give you health and happiness, and bless you seven times a day for the rest of your life.”

"They must be deaf if they have not heard the words of such an abbot," said the Duchess kindly. "We have come to Mass, and to place ourselves under their protection." Having said this, she held out her hand to him, and he dropped to his knees and kissed him knightly.So they walked through the gate.The priests were all waiting for the morning service, for the bells were about to strike; the trumpeter blew at the church door in honor of the Duchess.Every church made a great impression on the Duchess who was not born in a Catholic country.The cathedral in Tiniec had made a great impression on her, for few churches could match it in grandeur.The church was pitch black except for the many candles burning on the high altar, illuminating the gilded statues.A priest in a chaste came out of the vestry, bowed to the Duchess, and began the morning prayers.Then rose the fragrant incense, which, like a cloud, rose to the domed ceiling, enveloping the priest and the altar, and adding to the majesty of the church.Anna Danuta bowed her head and prayed fervently.But when an organ (which was rare at the time) began to shake the chapel with its solemn sound, filling the chapel with the beautiful voice of an angel, the Duchess raised her eyes, and her face was nothing but piety and awe. In addition to her expression, there was boundless joy; when you looked at her, you would take her for a saint, as if in a strange vision, she saw the open heaven. ①The chapel is a sleeveless coat worn by priests. ②Jixiang is the incense burned during rituals and gods. This is how the daughter of Gestadut, who was born in a pagan land, mentioned the name of God in her daily life, just as people did in those days, with a casual tone; but in the monastery, she was always in awe. And humbly raised his eyes to yearn for his mysterious and limitless divine power. All the courtiers, though not as humble as she, were praying devoutly.Zbyszko knelt with the Majurs and prayed to God.From time to time he glanced at Danusia, who was seated by the Duchess; he considered it an honor to be a knight of such a girl, and his oath was therefore no small matter.He had already wrapped a twine around his waist, but that was only half the promise; the other half was more difficult.So now he was more serious than he had been at the inn drinking his ale, and was thinking hard about how it might be done.There was no war ahead.However, on the border of the riots, he might meet some Germans, and he could kill a few of them, or risk his life if he couldn't. He had already told Macko what he meant.But he thought: "Not every German has peacock or ostrich feathers on his helmet. Among the guests of the Knights of the Crusades, only some earls have such hats, and the knights of the Knights of the Crusades have such hats. As such, only the 'comto' have such hats; but not all men are 'comto'. If there hadn't been a war, I'd have wasted years to get these three tufts; I am not yet knighted, and I can only challenge those who are not knights like myself. Yes, I hope to get the knight's belt from the king at the tourney, which has been announced at the dauphin's row But what will happen then? I must go to Jurand of Spyhof; he will help me kill as many Knechts as I want; but It wouldn't do me much good. 'Knecht' isn't a knight, and he doesn't have peacock feathers on his head." ①The original text is comthurs, which is one of the senior titles of the Teutonic Knights. It is the consul, equivalent to the governor and governor. ② Refers to ordinary Germanic soldiers. So in his indecision he saw that he was powerless without the special grace of God, and he began to pray: "Lord Jesus, grant us a war against the Knights of the Crusaders and the Germans, who are enemies of this kingdom and all nations that believe in your name. Bless us; smash those who would rather serve hell 'Starosta' in the 1st place, and would not serve you; they have hatred in their hearts and anger against us, because our king and queen baptized the Lithuanians and forbade them to kill with the sword those who worship you Christ servants. Punish them for this hostility! ①Aristocrat in charge of a county's finances and police in the fourteenth century. "I, Zbyszko, a sinner, repent before you and ask for help from your five wounds, begging your permission to kill three Germans with peacock feathers on their helmets. These crests are my The honor of knighthood is given to Jurand's daughter, your servant, Mademoiselle Ana Danu. ①Refers to the icon that Jesus was beaten to death on the cross. "If I could get any booty from these rout Germans, I'd pay tithes to the Holy Church with sincerity, and let me add a benefit and honor to you, good Jesus; and let you know, I make a wish to you with a sincere heart. It is sincere, please help me, Amen!" The devotion of his prayers again had an effect on his soul, and he was so benevolent that he made another vow, that once the mortgaged Bogdaniecs were redeemed, he would put the beehives back to him. All the beeswax produced throughout the year is donated to the church.He hoped that his uncle Macko would have no objection to it, and that the Lord Jesus would be delighted to have wax for candles, and would help him to fulfill his wish at an early date in order to obtain it.He felt that this thought was very right, and his heart was filled with joy; he almost believed that Jesus would listen to his prayers, and that the war would soon happen.His vow will be fulfilled.He felt so strong that he could almost face a large army.He even thought that since he had made more promises to God, he had to make more promises to Danusia: to capture a few more Germans for her!Although he was determined to do so due to his youthful arrogance, prudence prevailed after all, lest God would be angry with excessive demands. However, after morning prayers and a long rest, his self-confidence was strengthened by hearing the conversation between the abbot and Anna Danuda. The queens and duchesses of all countries are very fond of the Crusader Knights because of their pious beliefs and the many luxurious gifts given to them by the head of the Knights.Even the pious Yadwija, as long as she lived on earth, would keep her husband from being angry with them.Only Anna Danuta hated the Knights to the uttermost because of what she had suffered from them.Therefore, when the abbot asked her about Masovia, she sharply accused the Order: "Our situation is very bad, how can we be better with such a neighbor! On the surface it is a time of peace, exchanging envoys and documents, but no one feels safe. People who live on the border of this kingdom go to bed at night When I wake up tomorrow, I don’t know if I’ll be shackled, stabbed in the neck, or the roof is on fire. Whether it’s an oath, a seal, or a parchment document, they won’t be able to keep them. No treachery. It happened in Zrodorya. It was supposed to be a time of peace, but they took the Duke there and imprisoned him. The Knights of the Crusaders said our castle was a threat to them ;Actually, castles are built for defense, not for offense; what duke has no right to build castles on his own land? No matter whether they are powerful or weak, they have nothing to do with the Knights, because they They despise the weak, but want to destroy the powerful. They repay kindness with hatred. Is there any knight order in the world that has benefited from other kingdoms as much as this knight order has received from the Polish dukes? What will they give us in return? Threats, looting of our lands, wars against us, treachery. It is useless to accuse, not even to our Holy See, for they do not even have the words of the Pope himself. Listen. Now they sent a mission in name to congratulate the queen on the birth and the upcoming naming ceremony of the crown prince, but in fact, they just want to take this opportunity to ease our powerful king because of all the bad things they have done in Lithuania It’s nothing more than anger. But in their hearts, they are always thinking of ways to destroy this kingdom and the entire wave ① Refers to the Knights of the Crusaders. The abbot listened carefully, agreed, and said: "I know that 'Komto' Lichtenstein is on his way to Cracow with this embassy; he is well respected in the Order for his bravery and resourcefulness. You may be here soon See him, good lady, he sent someone yesterday, saying he wanted to come to Tiniec to pray to our holy relic." After hearing this, the princess counted again: "It is said--and I believe this to be true--that there will soon be a great war between the Kingdom of Poland and all countries that speak a language similar to Polish, on the one hand, and all Germans and Knights. A saint once foretold this war." "This was prophesied by Bridgett," put in the learned abbot: "she was canonized eight years ago. The pious Peter of Alvastra and Matthew of Linkopin have recorded her Apocalypse, in which a great war was prophesied." Zbyszko shuddered with joy at these words, and asked: "How much longer?" But the abbot was so engrossed in his conversation with the princess that he did not hear, or did not want to listen, it is unknown. The Duchess continued: "Our young knights are glad that this war is about to take place, but the prudent elders say this: 'We are not afraid of the Germans, in spite of their might and might; we are afraid of their holy things. , for human power is powerless against holy things.'” Having said this, Anna Danu looked at the Abbess in awe, and continued softly: "They say they have a real piece of the Holy Cross; how can one fight them?" "It was given to them by the King of France," confirmed the abbot. After a while of silence, Mikolaj of Drugolas, who was known as "Obuch" with great experience, said: "I was a captive among the Knights of the Crusaders, and saw them carry this great relic in procession. There are many other relics besides this in the monastery at Olivar; none of these relics , the knight order will not have such great power." The Benedictine priests all stretched their necks towards the speaker, and asked very curiously: "Tell us, what are those?" "There is a fragment of the garment of the Virgin Mary," answered Drugolas' master, "a molar of Mary brought from Magdalene, and a few branches from the bush where the Father appeared to Moses; There is the hand of St. Lipius, and as for the bones of other saints, I cannot count them with ten fingers and ten toes." "How can one fight them?" repeated the princess, sighing. The abbot frowned, thought for a while, and said: "Therefore it is difficult to fight them; they are priests, and their cloaks are embroidered with crosses; but if they do too much evil, the holy relics will no longer protect them; Instead of adding to the strength of the Knights, it weakens them, and the relic itself passes to more devout hands. May God spare the blood of the Catholics; but, if there were to be a war at all, there are some in our kingdom Holy things, they will protect us too." "God help us!" cried Zbyszko. The abbot said to the princess: "Therefore, gracious lady, trust in God, for their doom is near, and you are not. Now, accept with thanksgiving this casket, which contains a finger of Saint Pythoromus, who One of our patron saints." The Duchess held out her hand, knelt down, took the box, and immediately brought it to her lips.The court attendants also shared the lady's joy, and Zbyszko was also very happy, because he felt that after the festive festival in Krakow, there would be war immediately.