Chapter 18 Chapter Sixteen

Zbyszko overtook Zich and Jagienka.Together with the abbot and his retinue they rode to Kirsisnia to pray.Because he was determined to show the abbot that he was not afraid of either Wilk of Borzozoval or Khitan of Rogoff.Once again he secretly marveled at Jagienka's beauty.He had often seen her beautifully dressed in Zgortsyliti and Bogdaniets, but never in the way she was going to church now.Her coat was of broad red cloth trimmed with ermine; she wore red gloves, and on her head was a little turban embroidered with gold, under which fell two braids of hair over her shoulders.She did not ride with her legs spread apart, but sat on a high saddle with a handle and a little footstool, which was covered by her long skirt.Zich allowed the girl to wear a goatskin coat and high boots at home, but to go to church she was required to dress not like the daughter of a poor "Wrodichick" but like a distinguished noblewoman. , two children dressed like page boys lead her horse.Four servants rode behind the abbot's seminarians with swords and lutes.Zbyszko admired the whole retinue, and especially Jagienka, who looked like a beauty in a painting.The abbot wore a red coat with very wide sleeves, like a prince on tour.Zihe is the most plainly dressed. He asks others to dress gorgeously, but he only knows how to sing and play.

①The nickname of "Frodika". The abbot, Jagienka, Zbyszko, and Zikh rode together and walked side by side.At first the abbot ordered his singers to sing some church songs; then, tired of hearing their songs, he began talking to Zbyszko, who had seen his great sword being swung by the Germans with both hands. The big knife is so big, I can't help but smile. "I can see," he said solemnly, "that you are amazed at my sword; the Synod permits religious men to wear swords when they go out, and I am going out now. The Holy Father forbids priests to wear swords and shoot Fuchsia clothes, of course, refer to those who are humble, because God believes that nobles should wear weapons; whoever dares to usurp the rights of nobles is against the eternal will of God."

"I saw Duke Henrik of Masovia, when he was fighting a duel," said Zbyszko. "We do not condemn him for dueling," replied the abbot, holding up a finger, "but because he was married, and unhappily; he married a mulierem, a fornicarium and a bibulam, the woman It is said that since childhood Bachum adorabat ③, and also an adultua ④, marrying this kind of woman will not lead to good results." He reined in his horse and explained more solemnly: ①Latin, meaning "woman". ②Latin, meaning "debauchery and alcoholism". ③Latin, meaning "serve Bachum", Bachum is the god of wine and joy in Greek mythology, serving the God of Dionysus, that is, alcoholism.

④Latin, meaning "harlot". "Whoever wants to marry must choose a uxorem, and must find out whether she is pious, whether she is of good character, whether she is a good housewife, and whether she is pure. This is not only the advice of the priests in the church, but also a certain Advice from the pagan sage called Seneca. How can you know if you have made a good choice if you do not even know the parentage of the life partner you are going to marry? For another sage It has been said: Pomus non cadit absque arbore2. What kind of cow produces such hides; Do not seek a wife far away; for if you take a bad wife, you will cry like that philosopher when his quarrelsome wife poured aquamsondidam on his head."

①Latin, meaning "madame". ②Latin, meaning "the apple fell not far from the apple tree". ③ Latin, that is, sewage.Here is about the allusion to the story of Socrates. "In sacula saculorum, Amen!" cried the wandering theological students in unison, always attributing the words of the abbot to amen irrelevantly. ①Latin, meaning "eternal life". They all listened intently to what the abbot had to say, admiring his eloquence and knowledge of the Bible; apparently he did not speak directly to Zbyszko; on the contrary, he mostly addressed Zikh and Jagienka, As if to enlighten them.But Jagienka evidently understood what he meant, for she kept looking at Zbyszko from under her long eyelashes.Zbyszko frowned and shook his head, as if he were seriously thinking about what the abbot had said.

After this the squires continued on their way in silence; but as they approached Kirsisnia the abbot touched the belt and moved it so that the hilt of the sword was easier to grasp, and he said up: "I believe that old Wilk from Boer in Zhuofar will also come with a large group of followers." "Perhaps so," replied Zich, "but I hear he is not well." "One of my divinity students heard that he was going to attack us in front of the inn after church." "He will never do it without a challenge, especially after seeing Holy Mass." "May God make him rational. I do not provoke anyone, I will patiently endure bullying."

At this time, he looked at the clowns and said: ① "Clowns" refer to seminary students. "Don't draw your swords, and remember that you are all God's servants; but if they attack us first, kill them!" Zbyszko, riding side by side with Jagienka, asked: "I'm sure we'll meet Jr. Wilk and Chedang at Kirsisnya. Show them to me from afar so I can recognize them." "Very well, Zbyscigu," answered Jagienka. "Perhaps they will run into you before or after the ceremony? What do they do after they do?" "They work for me."

"They won't be of service to you today, understand?" And she replied, almost humbly: "Yes, Zbyszko." The sound of the gavel interrupted their conversation, for Kirsisnya did not yet have a clock.After a while, they came to the church.From the midst of the crowd waiting for Mass in front of them came out the young Wilk and Rogoff's khatang; but Zbyszko jumped off his horse, and before they could reach her, he took Jagienka into his arms and took her Letting her go, he took her by the arm, and, looking menacingly at them, led her into the church. On the porch of the church they were again disappointed.When they both rushed to the holy fountain, put their hands in, and stretched out their hands to the girl, Zbyszko did the same, and she touched Zbyszko's fingers, made the sign of the sign of the cross, and joined him. Enter the church.Then not only Little Wilk, but also Rogoff's Khitan, in spite of his stupidity, understood that this was done on purpose, and both of them could not help but rage.Wilke rushed out of the porch, running like a madman, but he didn't know where, and Chitan rushed out after him, not knowing what he was doing.

They stopped at the corner of the wall, where some large stones were to be used as cornerstones for Kirsisnya's tower.So Wilk wanted to relieve his anger, so he grabbed a big rock and shook it vigorously; when Chidden saw him doing this, he also grabbed the rock and shook it, and after a while the two workers rolled it to the side of the church. In front of the gate. People looked at them in amazement, thinking that they had sworn some kind of oath, and by doing so they were doing their part in building the belfry.This exertion relieved them and brought them to their senses; and there they stood, pale with exertion, looking uncertainly at one another, panting.

Rogoff's Khitan was the first to break the silence. "What now?" he asked. "What should I do?" Wilk asked back. "Shall we attack him at once?" "How can we do that in a church?" "Not in church, but after mass." "He was with Zikh and the abbot. Did you forget that Zikh said that if there was a fight, he wouldn't let either of us go to Zgotrilici? If it wasn't for that, I would have Just broke your ribs." "Or I'll break your ribs!" Chidang replied, clenching his powerful fists tightly. Their eyes flashed menacingly again; but they both realized at once that they needed mutual understanding now more than ever.They often quarreled together, but after each fight they always reconciled, for although they were at odds for love of Jagienka, they could not live without each other.Now, they had a public enemy, and they all knew it was a dangerous public enemy.

After a moment of silence, Qidang asked: "What shall we do? Shall we challenge him?" Wilke, though smarter, didn't know what to do.Luckily the gavel sounded to let the people know that Mass was about to begin.When he heard it, he said: "What shall we do? Go to the church now, and once you're in, let God do what pleases you." Rogoff's Chiddan was delighted with this answer. "Maybe the Lord Jesus will give us a revelation," he said. "And will bless us," Wilker added. "Act in justice." They went to church, and after having watched Mass devoutly, they seemed to have greater hope.After Mass, when Jagienka received holy water from Zbyszko, they were not angry.In the church yard they bowed to Zikh, to Jagienka, and even to the abbot, though he was the enemy of old Wilk of Borzodova.They glared at Zbyszko, but had no intention of touching him, only out of sadness.Anger and jealousy made their hearts pound; they felt that Jagienka had never been so beautiful, like a real princess.The eminent retinue surrounded the abbot and they walked on the way home, and the joyful singing of the theological students walking around could be heard from afar.Then Chedan began to wipe the sweat from his shaggy cheeks, and snorted like a horse; and as for Wilk, he said through gritted teeth: "Go to the inn! Go to the inn! I'm unlucky!" Then they remembered the action which had relieved them, and they seized the boulder again, and rolled it back to its original place. Zbyszko rode beside Jagienka, listening to the merry songs of the abbot's theological students; but when they had gone five or six furlongs, he suddenly reined in his horse. ,Say: "Oh! I meant to say a mass for my uncle's health, but I forgot; I must turn back." "Don't go back!" Jagienka shouted. "We'll send from Zgotrilici." "No, I'll be back, don't wait for me. Goodbye!" "Good-bye," said the abbot, "go!" He beamed; and when Zbyszko had disappeared, he nudged Zich and said: "do you understand?" "what?" "He's bound to fight Wilker and Khitan at Kirsisnya; that's what I'm hoping for, and I'm glad." "They're vicious fellows! What if they hurt him?" "What? If he fights for Jagienka, then how can he think of another girl, Mademoiselle Jurand? From now on, it will be Jagienka, not that other girl, who will be his lover." Yes; and I hope so, for he is my relation, and I like him." "Hey! And what about his oath?" "I can release him from this oath in the blink of an eye! Didn't you hear that I promised to release him?" "Your sensible mind can handle anything," Zich replied. The abbot was very pleased with this compliment; approaching Jagienka more closely, he asked: "Why are you so sad?" She turned sideways from the saddle, took the abbot's hand, put it to her lips, and said: "Godfather, can't you send your entourage to Kirsisnia?" "What? They'll get drunk in the inn—that's all." "But they can stop a fight." The abbot looked her in the eyes, and said sharply: "It doesn't matter if they kill him." "Then they'll have to kill me too!" cried Jagienka. The bitter sorrow that had been in her heart ever since that conversation with Zbyszko about Danusia burst out in one hot tear.Seeing this, the abbot put his arms around her, so that his great sleeves almost covered her, and began to preach: "Don't worry, my dear little girl. They may quarrel, but the two boys are--nobility; they will attack him with a chivalry; they will take him out into the fields, and then he will That's enough for him, even if he had to deal with them both at once. As for Mademoiselle Jurand, you've heard about her, and I can tell you this: there's no one in my own woods. Other people's trees for their beds!" "If he'd rather have another girl, I don't care about him," answered Jagienka, tearfully. "Then why are you crying?" "Because I worry about him." "It's a woman's sense!" said the abbot, laughing loudly. Then he put Jagienka's ear in his ear and said: "You must remember, girl, that even if he marries you, he must fight; and a nobleman must be a knight at the same time." Drawing closer, he added: "He will marry you, I promise, I will marry you soon!" "Where did it go!" retorted Jagienka. But she laughed through her tears, and looked at the abbot as if to ask him how he knew. By this time Zbyszko had returned to Krzysnya, and went directly to the priest, for he really wanted to celebrate a mass for Macko's health; as soon as this was arranged, he went to the inn, There he expected to find Borzodzoval's Welker the Younger and Rogoff's Kidan. He found both of them there, and many others, nobles, peasants, and a few "walkers" doing Germanic juggling.At first he could not recognize anyone, for the inn windows were made of cow-bladders, and the light was poor; but at last the servant put a piece of pitch on the stove, and he saw Chee in the corner behind the ale-cask. Dang's hairy cheeks and Wilk's furious face. Then he pushed aside the others, and walked slowly towards them; and as soon as he reached them, he struck the table with his fist so violently that the whole inn was shaken. Wilk and Chidan immediately rose to their feet and began to shift their girdles; but before they could grasp the hilt Zbyszko had thrown down a glove, twanging like knights in a challenge. Speaking, these words he said were beyond everyone's expectations: "If either of you, or any chivalrous person present, denies that the most beautiful and virtuous girl in the world is Mademoiselle Danuta Jurand of Spyhof, I shall That person challenges a duel, whether on horseback or on foot, and he will never give up until the opponent kneels down or dies in battle." Welker and Chitan were no less astonished than the abbot (if the abbot had heard the words).For a long while they could not speak a word.Who is this lady?It was Jagienka they were concerned about, not the lady, so what was his intention?Why did he provoke them in the church yard?What is he doing back here?Why did he challenge them?These questions confused them so much that they gaped open and stared at Zbyszko as if he were not a human being but some German miracle. But Wilk, who is smarter, knows a little bit about the rules of knights. He knows that a knight often has to serve one lover and marry another.He thought this must be an example, and he must seize the opportunity to defend Jagienka. So he came up to Zbyszko from behind the table and asked menacingly: "Then, you bastard, do you mean that Miss Jagienka Zikh is not the most beautiful girl in the world?" Chedang followed him; the people surrounded them, for they knew the matter would not be settled with words.