Chapter 11 Chapter nine

The next day, Jurand did not avoid Zbyszko at all, nor did he prevent Zbyszko from performing various services for Danusia on the road, because these are the duties of Danusia's knights. .Zbyszko, on the contrary, noticed that the melancholy Sir of Spyhof was looking at him kindly, as if regretting that he should have refused his marriage proposal yesterday.The young "Vrodika" also tried several times to strike up a conversation with him.After they set off from Cracow, there were plenty of opportunities for conversation on the road, for they both rode with the prince; When there was something unspeakable, the conversation suddenly stopped.

Jurand's face became gloomy, and he looked at Zbyszko uneasily, as if afraid that he might reveal some secret. Zbyszko thought that perhaps the princess knew the difficulty; so whenever he had an opportunity to talk to her in private, he asked her about it, but she could not tell why. "Of course there's a secret," she said. "Jurand himself told me; but he begged me not to ask him any more, for he not only would not tell why, but he could not. He must have been bound by some oath, as knights always do. things. But God will help us and everything will work out."

"Without Danusia, I would be as unhappy as a dog in a chain, or a bear in a ditch," replied Zbyszko; "then I would be neither happy nor happy. There is no happiness, only mourning and sighing; it would be better to fight the Tartars with Prince Witout and let them kill me. But first I must go to Bogdaniec with my uncle, and then follow me I promised to pluck a few tufts of peacock feathers from the head of the German. Perhaps the German will kill me; I would rather die thus than live to see another marry Danusia." The Duchess looked at him with her kind blue eyes, and asked him with some surprise:

"Then you allow others to marry Danusia?" "Me? As long as I am alive, I will never let this happen, unless my hands are paralyzed and I can't hold an axe!" "Now you understand!" "Oh! but how can I marry her against her father's will?" When the Duchess heard this, she seemed to be talking to herself: "Isn't this kind of thing never happened?" Then she said to Zbyszko: "God's will is stronger than a father's will. What did Jurand say to you? He said to me, 'If it is God's will, then he can have her.'"

"He said the same to me!" cried Zbyszko. "Don't you understand?" "This is my only consolation, my good lady." "I will help you, and you also believe in Danusia's steadfastness. I said to her yesterday: 'Danusia, will you love Zbyszko forever?' She replied: 'I can only be Zbyszko. Xiko's people will never be someone else's,'she is still a green bud, but she will keep her promises, because she is the daughter of a knight. Her mother is just like her." "Thank God!" said Zbyszko. "You just have to remember to be true to her; men are capricious; one moment they pledge fidelity to one, the next to another."

"If I am such a man," cried Zbyszko passionately, "may the Lord Jesus punish me." "Well, then remember. After you have sent your uncle to Bogdaniec, you will come to our court; then there will always be a chance for you to be knighted; then we will see what we can do. I think. During this period Danusia also grows up, and she will realize the will of God; although she loves you very much now, it is not the kind of love that a woman feels. Perhaps Jurand also felt it at that time. Will agree, because I see he likes you very much. You can go to Spychof, and from there you will fight the Germans with Jurand; perhaps you will have the opportunity to do him some kind of great favor and win his favor. .”

"My good Duchess, I have the same thought; but it will be much easier with your permission." This conversation made Zbyszko very happy.At this time, it happened to arrive at the first post station, and old Macko's health deteriorated, so he had to stay and wait for his health to improve before continuing on the journey.The good Duchess Anna Danuta left him all the medicines she had with her, but she herself had to go on.So the two Bogdaniec knights bid farewell to the Masovia court.Zbyszko fell at the princess's feet, then at Danusia's; Strong hands took her in their arms and lifted her up, saying again and again in passionate tones:

"Remember me, my most beautiful flower! Remember me, my little goldfish!" Danusia embraced him as if she were a beloved brother, and pressed her little cheek to his, tears streaming down her face.She repeatedly said: "Without Zbyszko, I wouldn't go to Ciechanov, I wouldn't go to Ciechanov!" Jurand saw her sorrow, but was not angry.On the contrary, he bade the young man good-bye; and, having mounted his horse, turned to him again and said: "God bless you; don't be angry with me." "How could I be angry with you; you are Danusia's father!" replied Zbyszko earnestly.He bent over Jurand's stirrup, and the old man squeezed his hand and said:

"May God help you in everything! Get it?" So he rode away.But Zbyszko understood his last words to wish him success; and when he got back into the carriage where Macko lay, he said: "You know, I'm sure he would; it's just that there's something hidden that makes it difficult for him to agree. You've been to Spychof, and you've had a lot of experience, so guess what it is." But Macko was too ill.He had a fever from the morning, and at night, the fever was very high, and he became unconscious.Therefore, instead of answering Zbyszko, he looked at him in surprise, and asked:

"Why are they clocking?" Zbyszko was taken aback.He feared that if the patient heard the bell, it would mean that he was about to die.He also feared that the old man might die without a priest to confess him, and that he should spend centuries in purgatory, if not hell; To enable Macko to receive the sacrament of the dying. So they set off that night.Zbyszko sat on the haystack next to the sick man in the carriage and kept watch until dawn.Every now and then he offered him a sip of wine, which Macko couldn't wait to drink, because it made him feel better.After the second quart, he regained consciousness; after the third quart, he fell asleep; he slept so soundly that Zbyszko bent down every now and then to see if he was still alive.

Only since his imprisonment in Krakow had he understood how much he loved this uncle, who was to him his real parents.Now he felt it more deeply; he felt that when his uncle died, his life would be very bleak and lonely. Friends, and no one to help him.It occurred to him: If Macko died, it would add to him a Lishan who had avenged the Germans; those Germans, for whom he had nearly lost his head, for whom all his ancestors had been killed, and Dar Nusha's mother died at their hands, along with many other innocent people he knew or heard about, and he thought: "In the whole kingdom, there is no one who has not suffered from them, and no one is willing to take revenge." At this time, he remembered the Germans who fought him in Wilno.He knew that even the Tartars were less cruel than they were. Dawn interrupted his thoughts.It was sunny and cold.Macko was clearly on the mend, as his breathing was more regular and calmer.He didn't wake up until the sun was quite warm, opened his sweaty eyes and asked: "I'm better. Where are we?" "We're almost at Orgus. You know, where the people dig for silver." "If anyone can get those things under the ground, then whoever can rebuild Bogdaniec!" "I see you are better," replied Zbyszko, smiling. "Hey! Even a stone castle will suffice! We're going to Farah, for the priests there will entertain us, and you can confess. Everything is God's will; but a man's conscience It's better to be innocent." ① Note to the English translation: Fara is a church with certain privileges. "I am a sinner, and I am willing to repent," Macko replied. "I dreamed last night that the devil skinned me. They spoke Germanic. Thank God I'm better. Have you slept?" "I've been watching you all night, how can I sleep?" "Lie down for a while, then. I'll wake you up when we reach your destination." "I can not sleep!" "Why can't you sleep?" Zbyszko looked at his uncle and said: "Isn't it love? I'm sore; but I'll ride a little bit, and I'll feel better." He got out of the carriage, and the knight-servant brought him a horse; at the same time Macko felt his aching side; but it was evident that he was thinking of other things than his own pain, for he Suddenly raised his head, smacked his lips, and finally said: "After thinking about it, I really don't understand why you are so keen on love. Your father is not like that, and neither am I." Zbyszko made no answer, but straightened himself up immediately, clapped his hands behind him, threw up his head, and began to sing: I cried all night, from night to dawn, Where are you, my dear girl, my kin? What is the use of my grief for you, Because I know in my heart that you will never see me again. Hi! This "hi" echoed in the forest, and when it touched the tree trunk, it vibrated, and finally caused another echo in the distance, and disappeared into the jungle. Macko again touched his side where the German's spear had been struck, groaned, and said: "The previous people were smarter than now!" Then he pondered for a while, as if recalling an ancient situation, and added: "However, some people were stupid back then." At this moment they came out of the forest and saw the huts of the miners behind the forest, and beyond that, the city wall built by King Kazimis, and the "Fala" built by King Vladislav Logedek. bell tower.