Chapter 8 Chapter Six

Now a big thing happened.Compared with this great event, all other things are insignificant.On the evening of June 21st, news spread throughout the castle that the queen had suddenly fallen ill.Bishop Vish and the other doctors stayed in her room overnight.The queen was said to be in danger of premature birth.The governor of Cracow, Jasco Topol of Dengzin, sent a messenger that night to inform the king who was out.The next day, the news spread throughout the city and its surrounding suburbs.It was Sunday, and the church was packed with people attending mass.Everyone knows the truth.So after Mass, the foreign knights, nobles, and townspeople who had come to celebrate went to the castle; guilds and religious groups came out under their banners.Since noon, countless crowds surrounded Wawel, and the king's archers were busy maintaining order.The whole town was almost deserted; throngs of peasants marched towards the castle to inquire about the health of their beloved queen.At last there appeared at the gate the bishop, the doge, the priests of the cathedral, the ministers of the king's council, and the knights.They mingled with the people, and told them the news, but commanded them not to rejoice in the kingdom, but to make noise so as not to disturb the sick queen.They announced to everyone that the Queen had a daughter.When everyone heard the news, their hearts were filled with joy, especially when they heard that although the queen had been born prematurely, both mother and daughter were safe.The people began to disperse, because everyone wanted to express their inner joy, and shouting was forbidden near the castle, so the streets were immediately crowded with people, and joyful songs and shouts resounded from every corner.They were not disappointed that they had a girl. "Isn't it unfortunate that Jadwiga was our queen when King Louis had no son? The power of the kingdom was doubled by her marriage to Achael. The same thing will happen again. Who can be where Find an heir richer than our queen? Neither the Roman emperor nor any king has ever possessed such a vast territory, such a large number of knights! There will be a fierce battle among the kings who propose to her competition; the mightiest of them will pay homage to our king and queen; into our kingdom."

Thus the merchants talked, and their joy grew every moment.They held banquets in private homes and inns.The market is full of lanterns and torches.The whole city is full of vitality and joy all night long and everywhere. In the morning they heard more news from the castle. They heard that Archbishop Peter had baptized the child last night.Therefore, they worry that the girl is not too strong.But experienced city women give some of the same examples of how babies are made stronger when they are baptized.They comforted themselves with this hope; and their confidence was greatly increased when they heard the princess's name.

"No one who is named Bonivash or Bonivasa dies after being baptized; a child with such a name is destined for greatness," they said. "In the first few years, especially in the first few weeks, the child does not know what is good or what is bad." But the next day, bad news came from the castle about the baby and the maternity, which excited the whole city.All day long, the church was packed as if for a confessional.The tributes made to the health of queens and princesses are too numerous to count.Poor farmers can be seen offering grain, lambs, chickens, bunches of dried mushrooms or baskets of nuts.Knights, merchants, and craftsmen paid valuable tribute.They sent messengers to various places where miracles had occurred.Astrologers read the stars.In the city of Krakow, they held many religious processions and hymns.All guilds and religious groups participated.There is also a line of children, because the common people think that these innocent children are more likely to obtain God's favor.Crowds poured in from every city gate.

Day after day, the bells kept ringing, the church was full of voices, and the processions and prayers were held every day.However, by the end of the week, the beloved queen mother and daughter were still alive, and there was hope in the hearts of the common people.They felt that it was impossible for God to call this queen who had made many contributions to the country, because she still had many unfinished things to do.Scholars say how much she has done for the schools; priests say how much she has done for the glory of God; statesmen say how much she has done for peace among Catholic nations; jurists say how much she has done for the How much justice has done; poor people also say how much she has done to the poor.None of them believed that this life, which was so necessary to this country and to the world, would end prematurely.

But on the thirteenth of July, the bells announced the baby's death.People crowded the streets in groups again, and everyone felt very disturbed.The crowd surrounded Wawel again, asking about the queen's health.However, no one brought good news.On the contrary, the faces of the lords who entered the castle or returned to the city were very gloomy, and they became more and more sad every day.It is said that Father Stanislav of Skapimiez, the master of medicine, never left the queen who took communion every day.They also said that after each communion her room was filled with divine light.Some had seen divine lights from windows; but the sight terrified those who loved the lady dearly; they feared it was a sign that she had begun her career in great power.

But each did not believe that such a dreadful thing had happened; they consoled themselves that the justice of heaven must be satisfied with a tribute.By Friday morning, that is, July 17th, the news that the Queen's fate was in jeopardy spread among the common people.Everyone ran to Wawel.All the people in the city were gone; even the mothers with their babies ran to the gate of the castle.Shops are closed, and people don't even cook food at home.All business was at a standstill; but around Wawel a silent and frightened crowd was thronging. Finally, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the bells in the cathedral's bell tower rang.Everyone couldn't figure out the meaning of the bell for a while; the common people were all uneasy.All heads and eyes were turned to the bell-tower; and in an instant the other churches of the town, St Francis, Trinity, and Our Lady, were beating out one after the other in mourning.The people finally understood; their hearts were filled with fear and great sorrow.Later, a large black flag embroidered with skulls appeared on the clock tower.Then, everyone understood: the queen had passed away.

Beneath the walls of the castle, the cries and cries of thousands of people mingled with the melancholy sound of bells.Some people rolled on the ground; some tore their clothes and scratched their faces; others stared silently at the city wall.Some were weeping; some stretched out their hands towards the church, towards the queen's bedroom, praying for a miracle, God is merciful.However, some angry, desperation-like curses can also be heard: "Why should they take our dear queen? What then are our hymns of procession, our prayers and our entreaties? We have offered gold and silver, and God has given us nothing in return! Take us tribute, and give us nothing in return!" Many others were weeping, saying over and over, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!" Crowds were going to pour into the castle to see the Queen's face once.

But they couldn't get in, except for the promise that the body would soon be moved into the church, and everyone could go there to see her and pray next to her body.So in the evening the mournful people began to return to the city, talking all the way of the queen's deathbed, of the funeral to come, and of the miracles that would be performed beside her body and around her tomb.Some also said that the queen would be canonized as soon as she was buried; others said that they doubted it would be possible, and the former became angry and threatened to see the Pope of Avignon. . An atmosphere of gloom and sorrow hung over the city, the country; not only the common people, but every individual; the kingdom's blessed star fell.Even in the eyes of many lords, everything was darkened.They began to ask themselves and others, what will happen in the future?After the death of the queen, does the king have the right to continue to reign and rule the country, or will he go to Lithuania and be content with the position of grand duke?Some of them reasoned, and it turned out they were right, that the king himself would abdicate; Attacked the inhabitants of the kingdom itself.The Crusader Order will be stronger; the Roman Emperor and the Hungarian King will be more powerful; and the Kingdom of Poland, which was one of the most powerful kingdoms yesterday, will collapse and be humiliated.

Previously, Lithuania and Russia had opened up a large number of areas for merchants to enter. Now these merchants foresee that they will suffer heavy losses, so they make a devout wish, hoping that Achaia will continue to reign.But they also expected that he would have a war with the Knights in this matter.It is well known that only the queen can restrain the wrath of the king.The people recalled that there was a time before when the king was very angry at the greed and robbery of the Crusader Knights. At that time, she had a foresight and said to the Crusader Knights: "As long as I live, I will definitely restrain my husband's hand and his hands." Righteous anger; but remember, after my death, your crimes must be punished."

The Knights of the Crusaders are always arrogant and stupid, not afraid of causing war, but counting on the fact that after the death of the queen, there will be no magic power of her piousness to restrain many volunteers from Western countries, and counting on that time, from Germany, Thousands of warriors from Bersardia, France and other countries will join the Crusaders. The news of Jadwiga's death was such an event that Lichtenstein, the emissary of the Knights, could not wait for the answer from the outgoing king, and set off for Marburg at once, in order to get this important, And there was some frightening news to report to the Grand Master and the priests.

Emissaries from Hungary, Austria, and the Czech Republic followed him, or sent messengers to their sovereign.Achaib returned to Krakow in great dismay.At the very beginning he announced to his ministers that the queen was dead, that he no longer wanted to be king, and that he was going back to Lithuania.Later, he was so sad that he was in a trance, unable to deal with any state affairs, unable to answer any questions.Sometimes he was very angry with himself, because he was away from home, and had not been able to say goodbye to the queen, and hear her last words and wishes.In vain did Father Stanislav of Skapimiez and Bishop Vish explain to him that the queen's illness had come on so suddenly, and that, as usual, he would have had plenty of time to return if the delivery had been normal; It brought him no comfort, did not lessen his sorrow. "Without her, I would not be a king," he replied to the bishop, "but a sinner without consolation and regret!" let him say one more word. At this time, everyone was busy preparing for the queen's funeral.From all over the country, large groups of lords, nobles and peasants came to Krakow.The queen's body was placed on a high plinth in the cathedral, and the coffin head was managed to be placed slightly higher.This is intended to make it easier for the common people to pay their respects to the queen's remains.In the cathedral, prayers continued, with thousands of candles burning around the altar.In the shining candlelight and surrounded by flowers and mirrors, she sleeps there with a smile on her face, like a mysterious rose.The common people regarded her as a saint; they brought to her bewitched, lame, and sick children.From time to time in the church one can hear the cheers of a mother who sees her child recover, or the joy of a paralyzed man recovering from his illness.The hearts of the people trembled, and the news spread through the cathedral, the castle, and the whole city, attracting more and more numbers of the poor wretches whose only salvation was by a miracle. During this time Zbyszko was completely forgotten.Who would have thought of this noble youth, imprisoned in the castle tower, in such a time of sorrow and misfortune?However, Zbyszko heard from the guards that the queen was ill.He heard the uproar of the people about the castle; and when he heard their weeping and the church bells, he fell on his knees, forgetting his own fate, and mourning the death of the admirable queen.He felt that something in him had died with her, and that after her death there was nothing in the world worth living for him. For weeks, the sounds heard were those of the funeral—church bells, procession chants, and crowds wailing.During this time he became more gloomy, lost his appetite, lost sleep at night, and walked about the dungeon like a caged beast.He felt the pain of loneliness; often for several days in a row, the jailer did not bring him food or water.Everyone was so busy with the queen's funeral that after her death no one came to see him: the Duchess, Danusia, Povara of Tachev, the merchant Amy Rey, none came. .Zbyszko thought sadly that Macko was forgotten by everyone as soon as he left the city.Sometimes he thought that maybe the law would forget him too, and he would rot in prison and die.So he prayed for death. Finally, a month after the Queen's funeral, at the beginning of the second month, he began to doubt whether Macko would return.Macko originally promised to drive the horse to the whip and drive on the road part-time.Marlborough is not far away.You can call back and forth in twelve weeks, let alone hurry up. "But maybe he's not in a hurry!" thought Zbyszko sadly, "maybe he's already found some woman and happily took her to Bogdaniec to have children for himself, and I'll have to Waiting here indefinitely and resigning to fate." In the end, he completely forgot about the years and did not talk to the jailer.It was only when he saw the cobwebs that were densely covered on the iron lattice windows that he knew that autumn was coming.For hours at a time he sat on the bed with his elbows on his knees and his fingers in his long hair.As if in a dream, he remained motionless, and did not even raise his head when the watchman brought him food or spoke to him.But then, one day, the iron bolts on the door creaked, and a familiar voice called to him from over the threshold: "Zpiscigu!" "Uncle!" cried Zbyszko, rushing across the bed. Macko took him in his arms and kissed his golden hair.Sorrow, sorrow and loneliness filled the young man's heart so much that he couldn't help but threw himself into his uncle's arms and wept bitterly like a child. "I thought you'd never come back," he sobbed. "That's more or less the truth," Macko replied. Then Zbyszko raised his head, glanced at him, and cried: "What happened to you?" He looked with wonder at the old knight's gaunt, pale face, at his stooped figure and gray hair. "What happened to you?" he asked again. Macko sat up on the bed and breathed heavily for a while. "What is it?" he said at last. "I had just crossed the frontier when I met the Germans in the woods, and they shot me with arrows. The bandits! You know that! I can't breathe! God save me, or you wouldn't see me." "Who saved you?" "Jurand of Spychoff," Macko answered. There was silence for a while. "They attacked me; half a day later he attacked them, and not half of them escaped. He took me to a small town, and then to Spychof. I struggled with death for three weeks. God forbid I died, and though I have not yet recovered, I have come back." "Then you haven't been to Marlborough yet?" "Why should I ride? They took everything from me, even the letter. I came back and asked Princess Ziemowit to write another letter; but I haven't met her yet, and I I don't know if I'm going to see her. I have to prepare to go to another world!" Having said this, he spat on the palm of his hand, showed Zbyszko the blood on it, and said: "Did you see it?" After a while, he added another sentence: "It must be God's will." They were both very preoccupied, and after a long silence, Zbyszko said: "Have you been vomiting blood?" "What can I do about it? I've got a 'Span' half-length spear point between my ribs. You'd have to vomit blood! I'm better than I was before I left Jurand of Spychof. and now I am very weary, for the journey is too long, and I have come all the way." ① "Span" means "finger distance", usually nine inches. "Hi! Why did you come here?" "Because I want to come to Duchess Alexandra and get another letter from her. Jurand of Spychof said, 'Go and get the letter to Spyhof. I have several Germans close Here. If any of them will swear on the honor of the knight, and send this letter to the Grand Master, I will release one.' In order to avenge his death commissioner, he often locked up several Germanic captives. He's happy to hear them groan and the chain. He's a hater. Get it?" "I understand. But I wonder why you didn't find the lost letter, since Jurand captured those who attacked you?" "He didn't capture them all. Five or six got away. We deserved it!" "How did they attack you? An ambush?" "They were lying in wait behind the jungle, so dense that they couldn't see anything. I rode without armor, because the merchants told me that the land was peaceful and the weather was warm." "Who is the leader of the bandits? A Crusader knight?" "Not a monk, but a German. Helmincik named Lienz, famous for highway robbers." "How did he turn out?" "Jurand put him in chains. But this man has also imprisoned two Majur nobles in his own dungeon, and he wants to redeem himself with these two." There was silence for a while. "Dear Jesus," said Zbyszko at last, "Lichtenstein is alive, and so is the Lesz robber; but we must die if we can't take revenge. My head will be chopped off, and so will you." Can't survive this winter." "Hey, I can't even survive the winter. I hope I can save you from that." "Have you seen anyone here?" "I went to see the governor of Krakow. I heard that Lichtenstein had left here, and I thought the governor might be less strict." "So Lichtenstein is gone?" "He went back to Marlborough as soon as the queen died. I went to the governor; and he answered me: 'They are going to execute your nephew, not to please Lichtenstein, but because he deserves it. Lichtenstein's presence or absence is the same. Even if he is dead, he will not be punished; the law is made according to axiom, not like a coat, which can be turned over. For pardon only the king can pardon, no one else can.'” "So where is the king?" "After the queen's burial, he went to Rose." "Well, that's hopeless." "Yes. The governor went on to say: 'I pity him, because Duchess Anna begged for the land, but I can't help it, I can't help it!'" "Princess Anna is still here, then?" "May God repay her! She is a good lady. She is still here, because Mademoiselle Jurand is ill, and the Duchess loves her as her own child." "My God! Danusia is ill! What is the matter with her?" "I don't know! The Duchess said someone was cursing her." "I believe it must be Lichtenstein! No one else.—Only Lichtenstein—the bastard!" "Perhaps it was him. But what can you do with him? Nothing!" "So they don't seem to remember that I'm locked up here. It turns out that she is sick." Having said this, Zbyszko began to walk up and down the room; at last he took Macko's hand, kissed it, and said: "May God reward you for all this! If you die, I will kill you. Before your health deteriorates, you must do one more thing. Go to the governor and ask him to release you. I, on my knight's word, let me go twelve weeks. After twelve weeks, I will come back, and they will have my head. We must both die without revenge. You know, I If you want to go to the Marburg Conference, challenge Lichtenstein immediately. This must be the case. Either he dies, or I die!" Macko wiped his forehead. "I will go; but will the Governor agree?" "I'll swear by the knight's word. I only want twelve weeks—no more." "What's the use of talking; twelve weeks! But if you're wounded, you can't come back; what'll they think then?" "I will crawl back even if I crawl. Don't worry! Maybe the king will come back by this time, and you can go and ask him for forgiveness." "That's true," Macko replied. After a while, he said again: "The governor also said this to me: 'We have forgotten your nephew because of the queen's death; but now his sentence must be carried out.'" "Well, he will," Zbyszko replied hopefully. "He knows a nobleman keeps his vows, and it makes all the same thing to him whether they chop my head now or listen to my head after St. Michael's." ①Mikel Festival is the autumn festival, on September 29, this is a festival to commemorate the saint Michael. "Hey! I'm going today." "You'd better go to Amirei's to rest today. He will bandage your wounds, and you can go to see the governor tomorrow." "Well, be with the Lord!" ① means "goodbye!" "With the Lord!" They embraced each other, Macko turned and walked towards the door; at the threshold he stopped again, frowning, as if remembering something unpleasant. "Well, you haven't put on your knight's belt yet; what will you do if Lichtenstein says he won't fight you?" Zbyszko felt sad, but after a while he said: "What was it like during the war? Are knights only willing to fight knights?" "War is war; individual duels make all the difference." "Yes, wait a minute. You must find a way. Well, there is a way! Duke Janussi is going to make me a knight. If the Duchess and Danusia ask him, he will give it to me. Meanwhile, I will fight the son of Mykolaj of Drugolas in Masovia." "why?" "Because Mikolai, who was with the Duchess and was called 'Obuh', called Danusia 'Grass.'" Macko looked at him in surprise.Zbyszko, in order to explain more clearly what had happened, went on: "That's something I can't forgive, but I can't duel with Mikolai, because he's almost eighty years old." Macko heard this and exclaimed: "Listen! I'm sorry for you. Your head's going to be gone, but your brains won't be much lost, because you're as stupid as a goat." "Why are you annoyed?" Macko didn't answer, but got up to go.Zbyszko jumped towards him and said: "How's Danusia? Is she all right? Don't be angry about a trifle. You've been away a long time!" Once again he bent over the old man, Macko shrugged his shoulders, and said softly: "Miss Jurand has recovered, but they are not letting her out of the room. Good-bye!" Zbyszko was alone again.However, he felt as if he had been reborn.It pleased him to think that they would grant him three months more life.He can go to distant places; he can find Lichtenstein and fight him to the death.Just thinking about it makes me happy.He would be lucky if he could get on a horse (even if only for twelve weeks) and go to fight instead of dying unrevenged.And then—blessings come to bear, misfortunes to bear—there will always be a long period of time!Maybe the king will pardon him when he returns from Rose.War may break out, and the governor himself, seeing such a hero as he has overcome proud Lichtenstein, may say: "Go, now, into the woods and fields!" ①It means "let you go free". So great hope arose in him.He didn't think they would refuse to let him go for three months.Maybe, he thought, they'd give him a little more time.The old lord of Dengqing would never think that a nobleman cannot keep his oath. When Matsko came to the prison the next day at dusk, the restless Zbyszko jumped over to him and asked: "Are you ready?" Macko was sitting on a low bed on trundles, unable to stand because of his weakness; he gasped for breath for a while, and said: "The governor said: 'If you're going to divide your estate, or take care of the house, I'll let your nephew go for a week or two, but no longer, on his knighthood.'" Zbyszko was so taken aback that for a long time he was speechless. "Two weeks?" he asked at last. "I can't even get to the frontier in two weeks! What's the matter? Didn't you tell the governor why I'm going to Marlborough?" "Not only me, but Princess Anna also begged for you." "So what happened?" "Well? The old man said to her that he didn't want your head, and he pityed you. He said, 'If I can find a law in his favor, or an excuse, I'll let it go He; but I can't find it. If in a country people don't take the law seriously, but act according to friendship, then the world will be in chaos! I won't do that. Even my relative Topolchik Or even my own brother, I don't do it. The people here are hard to get!' And he went on: 'We don't care about crusaders; but we can't tarnish our name. If I released a nobleman who was condemned to death to give him a chance to fight. What will people think of us? What will all our guests from all over the world think of us? Will they believe that he will be punished Will you believe that there are any laws in our country? I would rather order the decapitation of a person than let the king and the kingdom be despised.' The duchess told him that this spirit of impartiality in law enforcement is really strange, and the king's relatives came to In vain intercession, the old man answered: 'The King himself would not tolerate lawlessness, if he might have pardoned him.' So they quarreled, for the Duchess was very angry and said: 'Then don't put him in prison!' The Governor replied: 'Very well! Tomorrow I will order a guillotine to be built in the square.' And so they parted. Only the Lord Jesus can help you." They were silent for a long time. "What?" he said very sadly. "Then it will be executed immediately?" "In two or three days. There is nothing to be done. I have done all I can. I have knelt at the Governor's knees and begged him to be merciful, but he kept saying, 'Find a law, or find a law. An excuse.' What can I find? I have seen Father Stanislav of Skapimiez, and I beg him to come to you. At least you will have the honor of letting that The priest who heard the queen's confession came to hear your confession. But he is not at home, he has gone to Princess Anna's." "Maybe it's for Danusia!" "Never. The girl is better. I'm going to see him tomorrow morning. They say that if he listens to your confession, you will be saved, just like picking a bag." Zbyszko rested his elbows on his knees and hung his head so that his face was completely hidden by his hair.The old man watched for a long time, and finally called him softly: "Zbysig! Zbysig!" The child looked up.There was an expression on his face that was both angry and cold and determined, but it didn't look weak at all. "what?" "Listen carefully, maybe I've figured out a way for you to escape." As he spoke, he approached his nephew and whispered: "Have you heard about the Duke of Witout? He was once imprisoned in Klev by our king. Later, he wore a woman's clothes and came out of the prison in disguise. Now, there is no woman's clothes for you to dress up here. , you might as well put on my 'Kubrack'①, put on my turban and go--understand? They won't notice. It's dark outside. They won't put lights on your face. They yesterday Saw me go out, but didn't look at me carefully. Be quiet, listen. They'll find me here tomorrow—what's the matter? Cut my head off? What's the matter? Dying. And you, as soon as you get out of here, get on your horse and go straight to Duke Wittout. You ask him yourself; you pay homage to him; It is as peaceful as the right side of the country. People here say that the duke's army was defeated by the Tartars, because the late queen predicted defeat. If this is true, the duke desperately needs knights and will welcome you You must stay with him, for there is no better office in the world. Other kings lose their battles and it is over; but Duke Wittout has extraordinary wit, and he loses his battles and is stronger Arise. He is also a generous man, and he loves our family. Tell him what happened. Tell him that you were going to fight the Tartars with him, but you could not go because you were locked in the tower. If God wills, he will give you a land and some peasants; he will make you a knight, and will intercede for you with the king. He is a good protector—you will see!— -How about it?" ① A coat. Zbyszko listened in silence, and Macko, who seemed to grow more excited as he spoke, went on: "You can't die young. You have to go back to Bogdaniec. After you go back, you must marry a wife immediately so that our family will not be broken. Only after you have children can you go to Richton. Stan challenges you to the death; until then, you must refrain from revenge. For the sake of the world, put on my 'Kubrak', put on my turban and go." Having said this Macko got up and began to undress; but Zbyszko got up too and stopped him and said: "I swear to God and the Holy Cross that I will not do it." "Why?" Macko asked in amazement. "If you don't do it, you don't do it!" Macko turned pale with anger. "You have grown so big for nothing!" "You must have told the Governor," said Zbyszko, "that you would trade your head for mine." "how do you know?" "My lord Tachev told me." "So what?" "So what? The governor told you that it would embarrass me and my family. Wouldn't it be even more embarrassing if I escaped from here and left you to punish me?" "What law? Anyway, I'm going to die, what can the law do to me? My God! Keep your mind clear!" "You are old and sick now, if I abandon you like this, may God punish me! Hey! Shameful!" There was a silence; only Macko's heavy, hoarse breathing and the archer's command were heard. "Listen," Macko finally broke down in tears, "Prince Witout is not ashamed to escape from Klev, and you are not ashamed." "Hi!" Zbyszko replied sadly. "You know! The Duke of Witout is a great duke, who has received titles, wealth, and lands from the king; and I, but a poor nobleman, have only honor." After a while he flew into a rage and cried: "You don't even know that I love you, I don't want to replace mine with your head, do you?" Macko's legs trembled when he heard this; and though his heart was then as hard as iron, he stretched out his hands and cried out in a heart-rending voice: "Zpiscigu!" The next day the servants of the court began preparations in the market square for the erection of a guillotine opposite the main entrance of the town hall. But the princess was still conferring with Vytrikh Jastersimpiets, Stanislav of Skapimiez, and other priests who were acquainted with the legal code and customary law. 她是受了总督那番话的激励，而作这些努力的，因为总督说过，如果他们能向他提得出任何“法律根据或借口”，他就释放兹皮希科。因此他们认真商议，看看是否有什么法律或惯例可以引用。虽然斯丹尼斯拉夫神甫已经给兹皮希科准备了后事，行了临终的圣餐礼，但是他依然从牢狱里一出来就直接去参加商议，几乎一直商议到天亮。 执刑的日子到了。一大早，一群群的人集合到广场上来，因为杀一个贵族的头比杀一个普通罪犯更能激起人们的好奇心。天气很好。受刑人的年轻美貌在妇女们中间传播开了。因此，通向城堡的整条路上，都挤满了盛装的女市民；广场四周的窗口和阳台上，都可以看见天鹅绒的女帽，还可以看到年轻姑娘们的金发，她们头上只戴着百合花和玫瑰花的花冠。市参议员们为了表示他们的显要，虽然这件事不属于他们的管辖范围，也都到场，并且站在断头台旁边。骑士们为了表示同情这个年轻人，大批麇集在高墩周围。在他们后面，挤着一群衣着华美的人，都是些小商人和穿着行会服装的工匠。越过这密密层层的人头，可以看见覆盖着新的阔幅绒布的断头台。高墩上站着刽子手，那是个日耳曼人，双肩宽阔，穿一件红色的“库勃拉克”，头上系一块同样颜色的头巾，手里拿着一把双刃的大刀；同他在一起的，有两个光着胳膊、腰带上挂着绳索的助手。还有一只斫头用的墩和一口棺材，也都盖着阔幅绒布。在圣母马利亚教堂的钟楼上，铿锵的钟声响彻了全城，惊起了一群鸽子和穴乌。人们时而望望断头台，时而望望那伸出在台上的刽子手的剑在阳光里闪耀。他们也望着骑士们，市民们对他们总是又尊敬又热切。这一次更值得看看他们。最有名的骑士们都站在高墩的四周。他们赞赏着查维夏·却尔尼的宽阔双肩，一圈圈垂下来的浓密的黑发；赞赏着玛希科维支的盛特拉姆的矮矮胖胖的身材以及比斯古披崔的巴希科·齐洛琪埃伊的魁梧身材；赞赏着伏泽内克的伏衣崔赫的吓人的脸和奥列斯尼查的杜伯科的美貌，他在托纶涅的比武中曾击败过十二名骑士；赞赏着在科希崔同匈牙利人的战斗中也同样出了名的伏伏瓦的齐格门特，还赞赏着科席格罗维的克尔丛；望着常胜决斗手泰戈维斯科的里斯，望着那位能够追得上奔腾的骏马的查皮莫维崔的斯泰希科。 大家也很注意脸色苍白的波格丹涅茨的玛茨科；他由科里特尼查的弗洛林和弗罗契莫维崔的玛尔青扶着走过来，人们都以为他是被判死刑的人的父亲。 但是最引起人们好奇心的是塔契夫的波瓦拉，他站在前面，扶着达奴莎。达奴莎穿着白衣服，金发上戴着芬芳的绿色花冠。人们不懂这是什么意思，也不明白为什么这样一位年轻姑娘也来观看执刑。有些人认为她是犯人的姊妹；还有些人认为她是这年轻骑士的情人；但是谁都说不出她为什么穿那样的衣服，为什么要到断头台跟前来。人们一看到她满脸泪珠，都给引起了怜悯和激动，纷纷指责总督的顽固和法律的严酷。这些指责逐渐变为威胁。最后，到处都听得到有人在说，如果把断头台毁了的话，处刑就会延期。 人群变得又急切又激动。他们说，如果国王在这里，他一定会赦免这个青年。 但是，当远处传来哈喝声，宣告国王的弓箭手已经押送犯人前来的时候，所有的人都安静了。这一行人立刻出现在广场上。前面是一个葬仪队，队员们都穿着长长的黑斗篷，戴着黑面幂，只在眼睛上开了两个孔。人们都害怕这些阴惨惨的形象，一声不响了。跟在他们后面的是一队装备着弓弩，穿着鹿皮外衣①的士兵，这是国王的立陶宛卫队。再后面，可以看见另一队荷戟的士兵。兹皮希科走在即将宣读判决书的法庭书记和捧着耶稣受难像的斯卡皮米埃兹的斯丹尼斯拉夫神甫中间。 ①这是中世纪流行的种以麇鹿皮制的短外衣。 这时所有的眼睛都转向他，所有的窗口和阳台上都伸出了女人的头。兹皮希科穿着绣有金“格列芬”、镶着金花边的白色“雅卡”。他穿着这样华丽的衣服，真像个年轻王子或是豪富宫廷里的侍从。他宽阔的双肩、胸部和粗壮的腰围，显示出他已经是一个完全成熟的男子了；不过，身材虽是强壮的男子的身材，脸却是张孩子似的脸，上唇刚刚长出绒毛。这是一张像国王的侍从一样美丽的脸，金黄色的头发修剪得很整齐，垂到双肩。他昂首阔步地走着，只是脸色非常苍白。他时时望着人群，仿佛是在做梦；望望教堂的塔楼，一群群穴乌，再望望那正在鸣报着他的临终时刻的钟楼；然后，当他领悟到女人们的啜泣和这一切庄严的景象都是为了他的时候，他的脸上流露出了惊奇的神情。最后，他看到了断头台和站在台上的刽子手的红色身影。他打了一个寒颤，画了一个十字，神甫把耶稣受难像递给他吻了。他向前走了几步，一个年轻姑娘扔下了一束玫瑰花，落在他的脚下。兹皮希科俯下身去，捡起那束花，向那姑娘笑了一笑，姑娘却哭了起来。他显然认为，在这些人群中间，在这些窗口上向他挥手帕的女人们面前，他必须勇敢赴死，至少要留“一个勇士”的名声；因此，他尽力鼓足勇气，坚定意志。他以一个突然的动作，把头发甩向后面，头昂得更高，自豪地走着，简直像个按照骑士规矩、由人们引去领取奖品的得胜者。行列行进得很慢，因为人很挤，都不愿意让路，走在前面的立陶宛骑士徒然地呼喝着：“Eyk szalin！Fyk szalin！①走开！”人们还是不理会这些话，反而把士兵们围得更紧。虽然先拉科夫的市民大约有三分之一是日耳曼人，但是，四处仍然听得见斥责十字军骑士团的恐吓声：“可耻！可耻！愿这此豺狼绝子绝孙！他们连孩子的头都要斫！这是国王的耻辱，王国的耻辱！”立陶宛卫队看到人群不肯让路，就拿了肩上的石弓来恐吓他们；但是他们没有命令，不敢动武。卫队长派了几个人用戟开路，他们就这样走近了站在断头台周围的骑士们跟前。 ①意即“让路！让路！” 骑士们顺从地让在一边。持戟的士兵首先进去，接着便是兹皮希科，他由神甫和法庭书记陪伴着。这时候一件谁也料不到的事发生了。波瓦拉从骑士们中间抱着达奴莎向前跨了出来，喊道：“站住！”这样勇猛的声音，使随从们立刻站住了，仿佛脚给钉在地上似的。队长也好，任何士兵也好，都不敢违忏这位爵爷和骑士。他们在城堡里每天都看到他常常同国王密谈。最后，其他几位同样有名的骑士也都用命令的语调喊了起来： “站住！站住！”这时，塔契夫的爵爷走到兹皮希科跟前，把达奴莎交给了他。 兹皮希科把她抱在怀里，将她紧紧压在胸口，向她告别；但是达奴莎并不偎依着他，也不拥抱他。她立刻取下自己的白头巾，把它包在兹皮希科的头上，悲恸而孩子气地尽力喊叫起来： “他是我的人！他是我的人！” “他是她的人！”骑士们的有力的声音一齐嚷道。“去见总督！” 立刻响起了一阵雷鸣似的吼声：“去见总督！去见总督！”神甫仰望着大空，书记惶然不知所措，队长和他的士兵颓然放下了武器；每个人都明白发生了什么事。 在克拉科夫，在波特哈尔甚至更远的地方，有这样一种像法律一样具有威力的古老的波兰习惯，也即斯拉夫习惯：如果一个年轻姑娘把自己的头巾抛到一个被判死刑的人身上，表示愿意嫁给他，这就救得了他的性命。骑士们、农夫们、村民们和市民们全都知道这个习惯；而那些长久住在波兰市镇上的日耳曼人也了解这事。玛茨科老头几乎激动得昏迷过去了；骑士们推开卫队，把兹皮希科和达奴莎团团围起；快乐的人们一而再、再而三愈来愈响地呼喊着：“去见总督！去见总督！” 人群突然像海洋里的波浪似的动荡起来了。刽子手和他的两个助手从断头台上飞奔下来。大家都明白，如果登青的雅斯柯拒绝照这种习俗办事，城里就会暴动起来。事实上，人们现在已经向断头台冲去。一霎眼工夫，他们拉下了罩布，将它撕成粉碎；接着是一条条强壮的手臂将这些横梁和厚板拖的拖，斫的斫，只听得噼里啪啦一阵乱响，接着轰隆一声，整个断头台在一刹那之间就化为乌有了。 兹皮希科抱着达奴莎向城堡走去，这一次他是以一个真正胜利者的姿态，意气扬扬、快快活活走进去的。同他走在一起的是这个王国里最杰出的骑士们；成千上万的男女和孩子都在嚷着、唱着，把他们的双臂伸向达奴莎，赞赏着他们两人的美貌和勇气。窗口上的女市民们鼓着掌，到处都可以看见流着快乐之泪的脸。一阵暴雨似的玫瑰花。百合花、丝带，甚至金戒指抛向这幸运的青年。他满面光彩焕发，内心充满感激，时时刻刻和他的可爱的情人拥抱，有时候还吻着她的手。这情景深深打动了女市民的心，其中有些人不禁投入自己爱人的怀抱，告诉他们说，如果他们也遭到死刑的话，她们准会照样去搭救。兹皮希科和达奴莎成了骑士们、市民们和普通老百姓的宠儿。由科里特尼查的弗洛林和弗罗契莫维崔的玛尔青扶着走的玛茨科，简直乐极忘形了。他奇怪，为什么他想都没有想到这个搭救的办法。在一片杂沓奔忙中，塔契夫的波瓦拉告诉骑士们说，这个办法是伏衣崔赫·雅斯特尔席姆皮埃茨和斯卡皮米埃兹的斯丹尼斯拉夫想出来的，他们两人都是成文法和习惯法的专家。骑士们对于这个简单的办法都感到惊奇，互相谈论说，谁都想不到这条惯例，因为城市里住满了日耳曼人，这个办法已经很久没有采用了。 可是一切还得取决于总督。骑士们和百姓们都到城堡去。在国王出巡时期，克拉科夫斯基的爵爷就住在这里。法庭的书记、斯卡皮米埃兹的斯丹尼斯拉夫神甫、查维夏、法鲁列伊、玛希科维支的盛特拉姆和塔契夫的波瓦拉都向他解释这条惯例的效力，同时提醒他，他自己曾经说过，如果能找到任何“法律或借口”，他就可以立即释放这犯人。比起这个从来没有被废止过的古老习惯来还能有什么更好的法律？ 登青的爵爷回答说，不错，这个习惯比较适用于普通百姓和盗匪，而不适用于贵族；不过，他很精通法律，无法否认这条惯例的效力。这时，他用手掩住自己银白色的胡须，笑了一下，因为他感到非常高兴。最后，他由公爵夫人安娜·达奴大、几位神甫和骑士陪同着，走到门廊跟前。 兹皮希科一看见他，便又把达奴莎抱了起来；老总督把手放在她的金黄色的头发上，庄严而仁慈地低下白发苍苍的头。在场的老百姓都懂得这个动作的意义，于是四面八方发出一片叫喊，使得城堡的四壁都震动起来：“愿天主保佑你！万岁，公正的老爷！愿你长命百岁，做我们的法官！” 过了一会儿，兹皮希科和达奴莎两人走到门廊前，跪在和善的公爵夫人安娜·达奴大的脚跟前。感谢夫人对兹皮希科的救命之恩，因为是她同许多学者们一起想出了这个补救办法，教达奴莎去执行的。 “这对年轻夫妇万岁！”塔契夫的波瓦拉喊道。 “万岁！”其他的人也跟着嚷了起来。白发苍苍的老总督转过身来对公爵夫人说： “仁慈的公爵夫人，婚约必须立即订定，因为按照惯例，非这样做不可！” “婚约立即订定，”和善的夫人回答道，她的脸上闪耀着快乐的光芒：“至于举行婚礼，必须取得斯比荷夫的尤仑德的同意。”