Chapter 12 chapter Ten

The priest of "Fala" received Macko's confession and entertained them; they spent the night there and set off next morning.Leaving Olgusk, they turned towards Silesia, where they intended to advance via Greater Poland at the junction.The road ran through a great forest where at sunset the roar of bison and buffalo could be heard, and at night the eyes of wolves could be seen gleaming behind thick hazelnut trees.And the greatest danger to passers-by on this road is the castles of the Germanic and Germanic Silesian knights everywhere near the frontier.It is true that in the war between King Vladislav and Natuslav, Duke of Oporschik, most of the castles were destroyed by the Poles, because the Silesians helped them against King Vladislav; but However, it is better to be careful and vigilant, especially after sunset, you must prepare your weapons.

They rode so silently that Zbyszko found the journey monotonous.About a day away from Bogdaniec, they heard the snort and clatter of horses behind them. "Someone is following us," Zbyszko said. Macko was awake, looking at the stars, and answered like an experienced traveler: "It's almost dawn. Bandits don't stop at the end of the night." Zbyszko stopped the carriage, and told his men to stand in the way, facing the approaching horses, and wait there. After a while, he really saw several riders in the dim light.One of them rode ahead, and the man obviously didn't want to hide, because he was still singing.Zbyszko could not make out what he was singing; all he could hear was the stranger shouting cheerfully at the end of each verse: "Jump! Dance!"

"This is one of our own!" he thought. After a while he cried out: "stop!" "Sit down!" answered a cheery voice. "Who are you?" "And you?" "Why are you following us?" "Then why are you blocking the way?" "Quickly answer, our crossbow has been loaded." "We're up too,—push up,—aim!" "You have to answer like a man, otherwise, you will suffer!" On hearing this, the other party sang a merry song, as if in answer to Zbyszko. Hardship meets bitterness, Dancing at the crossroads...

jump!jump!jump! Why are they dancing so hard? Probably reunion after a long absence. jump!jump!jump! ① ①The lyrics are translated from the Russian version. Zbyszko was greatly surprised by such an answer; at that moment the singing stopped, and the same voice asked again: "How is old Macko? Is he still alive?" Macko raised himself from the carriage and said: "My God, they are our own people!" Zbyszko galloped on. "Who asked Macko?" "A neighbour. Zich of Zgotrilici. I've been looking for you for a week, asking you all the way." "Letty! Uncle! Here comes Zikh from Zgotzrich!" Zbyszko shouted.

① Note to the English translation: This is a commonly used cry of joy, sometimes combined with other words, it is also used as a cry of misfortune. They began to say hello to each other cheerfully, for Zich was indeed their neighbor, a very funny man, a nice fellow whom everyone liked. "Well, how are you?" he asked, shaking Macko's hand. "Should I continue to 'jump', or stop 'jumping'?" "Hey, no more 'jumping'!" Macko replied. "But I am glad to see you. Good God, it seems that I have reached Bogdaniec." "What's the matter with you? I heard the Germans wounded you?"

"Yeah, the dogs! Put a spear point in me between the ribs." "Look!" said Zbyszko. "Everyone tells him to drink bear fat. As soon as we get to Bogdaniets, I'll take an ax to Bazi at night." ① "Bazi" is a wooden beehive chiseled on a tree.However, in the dark, they often go to the beehive, and the bear hunters wait there with axes. "Maybe Jagienka has some." "Which Jagienka? Isn't your wife called Margochna?" Macko asked. "Oh! Margochna is dead! Margochna is buried in the church cemetery, and it will be three years until the 'Saint Michael's Day'. She is a strong woman, may the light of God shine on her soul! Jagienka is exactly like her mother, only younger."

Behind the valley is the mountain wind, A daughter always looks like a mother. jump!jump! "I told Margochna not to climb that pine tree, she was very old. But she climbed anyway; the branch broke, and she fell down and was badly injured; and died in three days." "Lord, may your light shine on her soul!" Macko said. "I remember, I remember! The sharecroppers used to take refuge in the hay when she lost her temper. She was very capable. She fell off the pine tree!" "She fell like a pine cone. You know, after the mourning, I was so delirious with grief that they couldn't bring me up for three days. They thought I was dead. I cried a lot at the end. But Jagienka is also capable. Thanks to her for taking care of everything."

"I don't remember her much. She wasn't as long as the handle of an ax when I left. She could walk under a horse without touching it. Oh! It was a long time ago, and she must have grown up." "Fifteen by St. Agnes' Day; but I haven't seen her for more than a year." "Why didn't you see her? Where have you been?" "There's a war. I don't have to stay at home. Jagienka will take care of everything." Although Macko was ill, he listened attentively when the war was brought up, and asked: "Perhaps you once stayed with Duke Weskrawitot?"

"Yes, I'm there," replied Zich of Zgotrilici cheerfully. "Well, God didn't bless him; we've been beaten bad enough by Idica. They kill our horses first. The Tartars don't attack you openly like Catholic knights, but shoot arrows from afar. .You attack him, and he runs away, and shoots at you again. What can you do with such a man? The knights in our army boast, "We don't take up our spears, we don't pull out our spears." The sword of the sword can trample these poisonous insects under our horses' hooves.' They boasted in this way; but when countless arrows whizzed and shot over in the dark, the battle was over at once, and ten Rarely a single man survived. Can you believe it? More than half the army was killed; seventy Lithuanian and Russian dukes died on the battlefield; How many court servants called 'Otterlock' are there?"

"I've heard," interrupted Macko, "that we've lost a lot of knights, too." "Ah! Ten crusaders were killed, too, because they were ordered to serve in Witout's army. Many of us died, you know, because they never ran; The knight has great confidence, and when he fights, he wants a guard of pure Polish men by his side. Heh! Heh! What a mess among them. But he didn't hurt a single hair! Merchiddin's Sir Spitko is beaten, and Penat the Swordmaster, Judge Mykolaj, Prokop, Pulschiclav, Dublogost, Yasko of Lacivitry, Pirik Majur, Vashi of Mikhov, Stud 'Fuyevda', Yasko of Fumbrovo, Yasko of Miroslav, Hichpetsky, Odys Ki and Tomco Lagoda. Who can count them all! It is a terrible sight for one of them, shot with as many arrows as the Tartars, to die like a porcupine!"

At this point he laughed, as if telling the funniest story, and immediately sang again: You know how powerful the Tartars are, If he defeats you, run away! "Well, what happened next?" asked Zbyszko. "Then the Grand Duke escaped; but he was as brave as ever. The more you weighed him down, the farther he leaped, like a hazel-nut cane. We rushed to the Tavernine to protect those who passed, A few Polish knights also came to our aid. Next day Edica came with a company of Tartars; He was helpless. We killed and captured many of them. I took five Tartars myself, and I sent them to Zgotriliti. You can see what they look like. dog head." "In Cracow they say the war may come to Poland." "Well, Eddie is not a fool! He knows well what kind of knights we have; and he knows that the greatest knights are still at home, because the queen is not happy with Witout's independent war. Well, he is Sly, that old fellow Eddika! He knows that the Duke's army in Taifanin has increased, and has already run out of the range of the tithe land, and fled far away!" "But you came back?" "Yes, I'm back. There's nothing to do there. I heard from you in Cracow, and that you left a little earlier than I did." Having said this, he turned to Zbyszko: "Ah! my lord, last time I saw you, you were a child; but now, though it is still dark, I can imagine you have grown as big as a buffalo. On your crossbow You have a crossbow, and everyone can see that you have fought in battle." "I grew up in the war. Ask my uncle if I have any experience with it." "You don't need to ask your uncle that; in Cracow I saw Lord Tachev, and he told me about you. But I know that the Majur will not marry his daughter to You. I have nothing against you, I like you. When you see my Jagienka, you will forget about that girl. She is a wonderful beauty!" "Even if I saw ten girls like your Agora, I would never forget her." ①A nickname for Jagienka "I took Mochitori Manor as her dowry. Aren't you worried that many people ask me for Yagna?" Zbyszko was about to answer: "I never told you!" but Zikh of Zgotzrichri started singing again: I will fall at your knees, Please marry me Agora, O, marry me Agora! "You're always singing happily," Macko said. "Well, what are the saints in heaven doing?" "They sing." "That's right! Only the devil cries. I'd rather go to those places that sing than those that cry; St. Peter will say, 'We must let him go to heaven; otherwise, he'll go to hell It's not right to sing in there. 'Look, it's dawn!" Sure enough, it was dawn.After a while, they came to an open forest glade.Most of the clearing was a lake, and by the lake some men were fishing; and when they saw these armed men, they cast down their nets, and at once took pickaxes and clubs, and stood up ready to fight. "They thought we were robbers," Zich said with a smile. "Hey, fishermen! Whose family are you from?" They stood silent for a while, watching suspiciously; at last one of the old ones, recognizing that they were all knights, replied: "The man of the abbot of Durza." "That's our relation," Macko said, "the one who took Bogdaniec as collateral. This must be his forest, and must have just been bought." "He didn't buy it," Zich replied. "He fought for this forest with Wilk of Borzodova. It seems that the abbot defeated Wilk. A year ago they fought for this forest, on horseback, with spears and swords fought; how it turned out I don't know because I left." "Well, we're related," Macko said. "He won't quarrel with us." "Probably not; he was a chivalrous abbot who knew how to put on his helmet; but he was pious, and he sang Mass very well. Don't you remember? Fell out of its nest under the ceiling. That's really a credit to God." "Of course I do! He could blow out the candles on the altar at ten paces. Has he ever been to Bogdaniec?" "He has been, he has been. He has put five peasants on the field. He has also been to my house in Zgotririti. Because, you know, he baptized Jagienka, and he loves her very much." , call her the youngest daughter." "God will bless him if he will leave those farmers to me," Macko said. "Oh! What are five peasants! Tell Jagienka to ask him, and he will not refuse." At this point the conversation paused for a moment, for the brilliant sun had moved across the dark forest and rose over the pink dunes, illuminating the surrounding landscape.The knights cheered as usual: "Glory to Jesus Christ!" and after crossing, they began to say morning prayers. Zikh was the first to finish, and he said to his traveling companions: "I hope to see you well soon. Hey! You have both changed. You, Macko, must recover. Jagienka will take care of you, because you have no women in your family. Anyone can see you." There's a piece of iron between the ribs." He turned again to Zbyszko and said: "Come out and show your face too. Oh, Almighty God! I remember you used to grab the horse's tail and climb on the foal's back when you were a child; but now, what a magnificent knight! The face is like a little My lord; but with a body like a strong man. A body that could even fight a bear." "A bear is nothing to him!" Macko said. "When he was younger than he is now, there was a Frisian who called him a brat, and he got angry and pulled the Frisian's beard off." "I know," put in Zikh, "you fought and captured their squire after that. Lord Tachev told me all about it: A very proud German came, But he was beaten with black eyes and nose, and went to the grave. jump!jump! " Zbyszko wondered at Zich's tall, thin figure, at his thin face with a big nose, at his smiling round eyes. "Oh!" said Zbyszko, "with such a neighbor there must be nothing to worry about, and may God restore my uncle to health." "It is a good thing to have a happy neighbor, because with a happy man there are no quarrels," Zich replied, "Listen to you. You have been away from home for a long time, and in Bogdani It is not likely that he will be very comfortable. I do not mean farming, which is taken care of by the abbot; he has opened a large forest, and has arranged for some new farmers to live there. But because he is there often, you will I found the cupboard empty, even in the house, without a bench to sleep on, and a bundle of hay; the sick need comfort. You'd better come with me to Zgotrilici. I'm glad to keep you A month or two. During this time, Jagienka will take care of Bogdaniec. Let her arrange it, and you don't have to worry about it yourself. Zbyszko can often go there to see the farming; I will definitely go Invite the Abbot to Zgotrilici, and you can settle accounts with him. The girl will take care of you as well as your father, and it is best to have a woman when you are sick. Well, I Dear friends, do you accept my invitation?" "We know you are a good man, you have always been a good man," Macko replied emotionally, "but do you know that if I were to die from this wound, I would rather die in my own home. Besides, I'll be back." Even if he is old, he can intervene in all kinds of things, check and take care of many other things. If God orders me to go to another world, then I can't help it! Even if I pay attention, I can't escape. As for Inconvenient, we are used to it in the war. Even sleeping on a tuft of grass is pleasant for a man who has slept on bare ground for years. I thank you for your kindness, and if I cannot ask you Express my thanks, and God will allow Zbyszko to do it for me." Qihe of Zgotrilici, who is famous for his kindness and urgency to justice, repeatedly invited him, but Macko resolutely said, "If I must die, I'd better die in my own yard!" For years he had wanted to see Bogdaniec; therefore, now that he was at home, he had to do so, if only to spend his last night there.God is merciful, and finally let such a seriously ill person rush here. He wiped the tears from under his eyelids with his hands, looked around for a while, and said: "If this area had been the forest of Wilk of Borzodzowah, we would be home this afternoon." "These forests now belong not to Wilke of Borzodova, but to the abbot," Zich said. Macko smiled, and after a while said: "If it belongs to the abbot, then one day, it will be ours." "Hey! You were talking about death just now," said Zich cheerfully, "but now you want to outlive the abbot." "No, I won't outlive him, Zbyszko probably will." The sound of horns in the forest interrupted their conversation.Zihe reined in his horse and listened attentively. "Someone was hunting," he said. "Wait a minute." "Perhaps the Abbot. It would be a pleasure to meet him here." "Quiet Please!" At this time Zihe turned to his followers and shouted: "stop!" They stopped.Only the sound of the horn was heard getting closer, and not long after, a barking of dogs was heard. "Stop!" Zich repeated. "They're coming our way." Zbyszko jumped off his horse and cried: "Give me the crossbow! The beast may charge us! Quick! Quick!" He snatched the crossbow from the servant, propped it on the ground, pressed it down with his lower abdomen, bent over, bent his back hard, like a bow, and when he grasped the bowstring with both hands, he set it up Put on the iron hook, then put on an arrow, and jumped into the woods. "He drew the crossbow without a crank!" whispered Tsikhe, amazed at the strength. "Oh, he's a strong boy!" Macko replied proudly. Now the sound of horns and dogs came nearer; suddenly there was a heavy trampling sound from the right of the woods, mingled with the snapping of branches in the jungle--then a shaggy longhorn burst out of the jungle The old buffalo, with its huge drooping head, bloodshot eyes, and panting, was truly terrifying.It rushed to a ditch by the side of the road, jumped across it, and fell on its front foot when it landed; but it stood up again immediately, and was about to disappear into the jungle on the other side of the road. Er, the string of the stone bow whizzed, and there was a whistling sound of arrows. The beast leaned back on its hind legs, stood up, spun around in place, then roared suddenly, and fell to the ground as if it had been struck by lightning. Zbyszko peeked out from behind a tree, drew the string of the crossbow again, and, preparing to shoot another arrow, approached the buffalo lying on the ground but still digging with its hind feet. But after glancing at it, he calmly turned to his followers, and shouted to them from a distance: "I shot this arrow very hard, and it has been seriously injured." "You are amazing!" Zihe said as he rode towards him. "Shot with one arrow!" "It's because of the close distance and the high speed. You see; not only the iron of the arrowhead, but also the whole body of the arrow has been shot under its left shoulder bone." "There must be hunters around here, and they will come for the beast." "I won't!" replied Zbyszko. "I killed it on the road, and this road is not private property." "What if the road belongs to the abbot?" "Then let him take it." At this moment a dozen or so dogs came running out of the forest, and when they saw the beast, they rushed towards it screaming. "The hunters are coming soon," Zich said. "Look! It's not them, but they haven't seen the beast yet. Stop! Stop! Here! Here! The buffalo fell here, here!" Zikh suddenly fell silent, covered his eyes with his hands, and after a while said: "My God! What's going on here? Is it my eyesight, or is it my hallucination?" "There's a man coming up ahead on a piebald horse," said Zbyszko. Zich immediately shouted: "Jesus Christ! This must be Jagienka!" Suddenly he cried out: "Agna! Agna!" So he galloped forward; but before his horse could stride, Zbyszko beheld a most marvelous sight—a girl, riding like a man on a black horse, came towards them. came at a gallop; she had a crossbow in her hand, and a hog-piercing spear on her shoulder.Her flying hair was covered with hop-cones; her face was as bright as the dawn.Her blouse was open at the bosom, and over it was a shedak.When she came up to them, she reined in her horse, with surprise on her face.A hesitant, happy look; after a long time, still unable to believe her eyes, she exclaimed in a childish tone: ① A leather coat. "Dadoro, Dados, dearest!" In an instant she sprang from her horse, and Zich dismounted to meet her; she threw herself on her father and threw her arms around his neck.For a long time all Zbyszko heard were the kisses of the father and the daughter and the joyful shouts: "Dadoro!" Yagula! "" Daduro! "" Yagula! " ①A nickname for Yagienka. The squires of both sides were now approaching, and Macko was there; father and daughter were still calling to each other: "Dadoro!" "Yakura!" and kissing each other.Finally, Jagienka asked: "So you have decided not to fight and have come home? Are you in good health?" "Don't go to war. How can I be ill? And you? And the boys? Are they all well? They must be all well, otherwise, you wouldn't be running in the forest. But, my Girl, what are you doing here?" "Didn't you see that I was hunting?" answered Jagienka, smiling. "Hunting in other people's woods?" "The abbot allowed me. He also sent me some experienced hunters and a pack of hounds." Having said this, she turned to the servants: "Get those dogs away, they'll bite through the hide!" Zikh then said: "Oh, how glad I am to have you back!" They kissed again.When the kiss was over, Jagienka said: "We're a long way from home now, and it's all about chasing the beast. We must have chased ten miles and the horses can't run. What a big horned bison! Do you see? It's at least It hit me with three arrows, and the last arrow ended it." "The last arrow killed it. It was not your arrow. It was the young knight who killed it." Jagienka tossed back her hair and looked at Zbyszko sharply with an unfriendly expression. "Do you know who he is?" Zihe asked. "I have no idea." "No wonder you don't know him anymore, because he's grown up. Maybe you know old Macko from Bogdaniec?" "My God! Is it Macko from Bogdaniec?" cried Jagienka. She went up to the carriage and kissed Macko's hand. "Is that you?" "Yes, it was I; I had to sit in the carriage, because the Germans shot me." "What Germans? Aren't they at war with the Tartars?" "The battle was fought against the Tartars, but we didn't fight in that war; we fought in Lithuania, Zbyszko and I." "Where is Zbyszko?" "You don't know Zbyszko yet?" Macko said, smiling. "Is that man Zbyszko?" cried the girl, looking again at the young knight. "Yes, that's him." "You must kiss him, he's an old friend of yours!" Zich said cheerfully. Jagienka turned cheerfully to Zbyszko; but she drew back suddenly, covered her eyes with her hands, and said: "I'm shy." "We've known each other since we were kids," Zbyszko said. "Yes! We know each other very well. I remember you and Macko came to visit us eight years ago, when my Madura gave us some honey-soaked nuts. Punched me and ate all the nuts." ① Mother's pet name. "He won't be like that now!" Macko said. "He has been with Duke Witout, stayed in the castle of Cracow, and has learned court etiquette." But Jagienka was thinking of other things now, and only afterwards asked Zbyszko: "Then you shot the horned buffalo?" "yes. "We have to see where the arrow is." "You can't see it. The arrow went under its shoulder blade." "Be quiet, don't quarrel," said Zich. "We have all seen him shoot the horned buffalo, and we have seen him do something even better: he can draw a crossbow without a crank." Jagienka looked at Zbyszko for the third time, this time with surprise. "Can you draw a crossbow without a crank?" Zbyszko, noticing some doubt in her tone, put the slack crossbow on the ground, and drew it away in the blink of an eye; then, to show his familiarity with knightly etiquette, he fell on his knees, Passed the bow to Jagienka.But the girl didn't take the bow from him, but suddenly blushed—she didn't know why, but hurriedly buttoned up the shirt that was blown open by the wind when she was galloping on horseback.