Chapter 17 Chapter fifteen

Jagienka did not go to Bogdaniec for three days after her conversation with Zbyszko; but on reaching the third she hurried to inform that the abbot had arrived at Zgotszlitsy.Macko was thrilled to hear the news.He did have enough money to buy back the estate.He also calculated that this money is enough to attract some farmers to the land, and can also be used to buy livestock and other construction matters; For example, he can take away or keep the farmers who have moved here by him; the increase or decrease in the value of his property will also be transferred by this. So Macko asked Jagienka how the abbot was doing: how was he, how was he, what had he told them, when would he come to Bogdaniec?She gave him wise answers, and tried to encourage and comfort him in every way possible.

She said that the abbot was in good health and very happy, and that he had a great retinue, besides the armed servants, there were also several wandering priests and singers; Songs, I also like to listen to secular songs.She also told how he had asked carefully about Macko, and listened eagerly to Tsykh's account of Zbyszko's adventure in Cracow. "You know what you are going to do," said the wise girl at last; "but I think Zbyszko should go immediately to ask his elder relatives first, and not wait until the abbot comes to Bogdaniec." Macko agreed with this opinion; therefore he called Zbyszko to him and said to him:

"Go and change into a fine dress, and then go and pay your respects to the abbot, and greet him; he may take a liking to you." Then, turning to Jagienka, she said: "If you were a fool, I wouldn't be surprised at all, because you are a woman; but I am surprised that you have such good sense. Tell me, then, what is the best way to do it when the abbot comes." Receive him." "As for food, he himself will tell you what he will eat; he likes a good feast, but he will eat anything as long as there is more saffron in the food." When Macko heard this, he said:

"How can I get crocuses to entertain him!" "I brought some," said Jagienka. "Such good girls, let us meet more!" Macko exclaimed overjoyed. "What a pretty good housewife, clever and kind-hearted! Hi! If I had been younger, I would have married you at once!" At this moment Jagienka glanced furtively at Zbyszko, sighed slightly, and said: "I also brought dice, a mug, and a cloth, for the abbot likes to play dice after dinner." "He's always been in the habit of doing it, but he often loses his temper." "And now he loses his temper sometimes too; and when he does, he throws his mug on the floor, and rushes from the room into the field, and then comes back smiling, laughing at his own tantrum. You know him He's the nicest guy in the world, as long as you don't contradict him."

"Who contradicts him? Isn't he smarter and more powerful than anyone else?" So they talked while Zbyszko dressed in the suite.At last he came out, so splendidly dressed that Jagienka's eyes were dazzled by the sight of him, as he had been for the first time in his white "yaka" to Zgotrilitri.She sighed that the handsome knight was not hers, that he was in love with another girl. Macko was very pleased, because he thought that the abbot would inevitably love Zbyszko, and the abbot would naturally be more lenient if they got to know each other.He was very happy at the thought of this, so he decided to go too.

"Order the servants to prepare a carriage," he said to Zbyszko. "If I can go from Krakow to Bogdaniec with a piece of iron in my belt, I can certainly go to Zgorzlitri by now." "As long as you don't get dizzy," said Jagienka. "Well! I can do it, because I think I am stronger. Even if I faint, the abbot will be generous to us when he sees me rushing to meet him in this way." "I'd rather have your health than his generosity!" said Zbyszko. But Matsko insisted on going, and set off for Zgortritri.On the way he groaned a little, but he continued to instruct Zbyszko; he told him how to behave in Zgotzlitri, and especially advised him to be obedient and courteous in the presence of their powerful relatives, because the man Can't bear the slightest resistance.

When they arrived at Zgötschlitz, they found Zich and the abbot sitting in front of the house, gazing out at the beautiful countryside and drinking wine.Behind them, near the wall, sat the Abbot's six retinues: two chanters, one a pilgrim, immediately recognizable by his crooked staff and black cloak; Priest Fang, because they all shaved their heads and wore layman's clothes, leather belts and swords. Seeing Macko approaching in a carriage, Zikh ran towards him; but the abbot, evidently remembering the majesty of his religion, remained sitting there, and began to say something to his wandering priest. .Zbyszko and Tsych led the sick Macko up to the house.

"I am not quite well yet," Macko said, kissing the abbot's hand, "but I have come to pay homage to you, my benefactor; to thank you for your care of Bogdaniec, and this is We sinners need it most." "I heard that you are better," said the abbot, laying his hand on Macko's head, "and that you made a vow to visit the tomb of our late queen." "Because I didn't know which saint to ask for protection, I swore an oath to her." "You've done well!" said the Abbess enthusiastically. "She's better than all the saints, and she's always available."

In an instant, his face was flushed with anger, his cheeks were filled with blood, and his eyes sparkled. They were all used to his impatience, Zich laughed and called: "Those who believe in God, surrender!" As for the abbot, he gasped, looked straight at the people present, then burst out laughing, looked at Zbyszko, and asked: "Is that one your nephew, my relative?" Zbyszko bent down and kissed his hand. "Last time I saw him he was a child; this time I don't know him," said the prior. "Let's see you!" and he began to look him from head to toe, and finally said:

"He's so handsome! It's a girl, not a knight!" Macko listened, and answered: "That girl used to go to dance with the Germans; but the man who invited her always fell down and couldn't get up." "He can draw a crossbow without a crank!" cried Jagienka. The abbot turned to her and said: "Ah! Are you here?" She flushed very red, even to her neck and ears, and replied: "I saw him pull away." "Then watch out he doesn't shoot you, or you'll have a long time to heal the wound." At this the chanters, pilgrims, and priests burst into laughter, which made Jagienka even more flustered; the abbot took pity on her and raised his arm, pointing to his cuff, and said:

"Hide here, my dear girl!" At this moment Zich helped Macko to sit on the bench and ordered some wine to be brought to him.Jagienka took the wine.The abbot said to Zbyszko: "Enough jokes! I compare you to a girl, not to insult you, but to compliment your beauty, which many girls would be proud of. But I know you are manly! I have heard I've heard about you in Wilno, about the two Frisians, about Cracow. Tsich told me everything, you understand!" Then he began to look intently into Zbyszko's eyes, and after a while he said: "If you have vowed three tufts of peacock feathers, go find them! It is admirable and pleasing to God to punish the enemies of our country. But if you have vowed anything else, I may Release your oath." "Hey!" said Zbyszko, "who has the right to revoke a man's vow in his soul to the Lord Jesus?" Macko looked at the abbot with apprehension; but he was evidently in the best of spirits, for instead of getting angry, he threatened Zbyszko with a finger and said: "How clever you are! But you must be careful not to meet the same fate as Berhard the German." "What happened to him?" Zich asked. "They burned him on the funeral pyre." "why?" "Because he used to say that laymen can understand the miracles of God as well as priests." "They punished him so badly!" "But it is just!" cried the abbot, "because he has blasphemed the Holy Spirit. What do you think? Can a layman explain the miracles of God?" "Never!" cried the wandering priests in unison. "Shut up, you clowns!" said the abbot, "sit quietly for me, you are not official priests, although you have all shaved heads." "We are not jesters, but your lord's servants," replied one of them, looking at a large bucket, which smelled of hops and malt. "Look! He's talking in a bucket!" cried the Abbot. "Hey, you shaggy wretch! Why do you look at that bucket? You can't find Latin in the bottom of that bucket." .” "I'm not looking for Latin, I'm looking for ale; but I can't find it." The abbot turned to Zbyszko, who was looking in amazement at such attendants, and the abbot said: "They are all students of the seminary; but each of them would rather throw away their books, take a lute, and wander about. I feed them, I give them shelter; what else can I do? They are all hundred Useless, but they can sing, and are familiar with the rituals of worshiping God; so they have some use in my church, and if necessary, they will defend me, because some of them are brave men! The pilgrim Said that he had been to the Holy Land; but I asked him in vain about the continents and countries; he did not even know the name of the Emperor of Byzantium, nor the city where he himself lived." "I knew it," said the Pilgrim in a crunch, "but I had a fever on the Danube and forgot everything in my head." "What surprised me the most was that they were priests and they all carried swords," Zbyszko said. "They can bear swords," said the abbot, "because they haven't got the priesthood; and I, the abbot, also wear swords, which is nothing special. Wilk challenged you to fight for the forest you passed through, but he did not come." "How can he fight a priest?" put in Zich. The abbot was enraged at this, and beating the table with his fist, he exclaimed: "As soon as I put on my armor, I am no longer a priest, but a nobleman! He will not come, because he would rather have his servants attack me in Durza. So I will bear a sword: all canons, any laws, They are all allowed to repel force with force, and to defend themselves with all means. So I told them to prepare their swords." Tsych, Macko, and Zbyszko fell silent listening to these Latin words, bowing their heads before the wisdom of the abbot, although they did not understand a single word of Latin; as for the abbot, he was furious. After a while.And said: "Who knows if he will attack me even here?" "Oh! Trick him!" cried the wandering divinity students, swords in hand. "I'm glad he's coming at me! I'd like a fight." "He won't," said Zich, "he's probably coming to pay tribute to you. He's given up the forest, and now he's worried about his son. You know! He'll never come to attack you." of." By this time the abbot had calmed down and said: "I saw Little Wilk drinking with Rogoff's Chedang in an inn in Krzysnya. They didn't recognize us at once, because it was dark; they were talking about Jagienka." Then he said to Zbyszko: "Speaking of you too." "What have they to do with me?" "They have nothing to do with you; but they don't like a third young man near Zgotrilici. Chedang said to Wilk, 'After I beat him, his flesh won't be so smooth. But Wilk said: 'He may be afraid of us; or I shall break his bones!' So they bet each other that you would be afraid of them." Macko looked at Tsych when he heard this, and Tsych looked at him; there were expressions of great wit and joy on their faces.Neither of them was quite sure whether the abbot had actually heard such words, or whether he had said them only to antagonize Zbyszko; but they both knew, Macko especially, that there was nothing better than that. There was a way to provoke Zbyszko to win Jagienka's heart. The abbot deliberately added: "Really, they are all brave men!" Zbyszko was not at all excited; he asked Zich in a strange voice that did not sound like him: "Tomorrow is Sunday, isn't it?" "Yes, Sunday." "Do you go to church?" "Go!" "Where? To Kirsisny?" "That's the nearest church!" "Well, that's all right!"