Chapter 42 chapter eight

Although Grovazhi was eager to get to Zgotrilici, he couldn't move forward as he wished.Because the road is very difficult to walk.First came the severe winter, severe cold, and the snow covered all the villages, followed by the thawing of the earth. Although February was called "Luti," there was nothing terrible about it.First a dense, endless mist, then a downpour that melts the white snow before your eyes; Tear them to pieces, drive them densely together for a while, and disperse them for a while.The wind howled again in the jungle above and howled in the bushes, blowing away the snow that so recently had protected the leaves and trunks in hibernation.

① Note to the English translation: In Polish, February is called "Luty" (luty), which means "terrible", "powerful" and so on. The woods suddenly turned black.The grassland was submerged by a vast ocean.All the rivers flooded.Only the fisherman is pleased with this flood, and the rest are shut up in their houses and huts as if in a prison.In many places, only boats can travel between villages.Although there are many dams and sluices, and there are roads built with big trunks, logs, and even whole trees in the woods and swamps, but now the dykes have collapsed, and the tree stumps in the low-humidity area make travel more difficult and dangerous, and the road is impossible at all. pass.The place where the Czechs find it most difficult to pass is the Lake District of Greater Poland, which thaws more in the spring than anywhere else.So this road is especially difficult for horses.

So he had to wait week after week, sometimes in small towns, sometimes in villages and farms. , received his guests and his entourage hospitablely, and rewarded them with bread and salt.In this way, he waited until spring was already strong, and more than half of March had passed, before he arrived at the neighborhood of Zgotsyriti and Bogdaniec. He was anxious to see his mistress as soon as possible; and though he knew that she was as unattainable to him as the stars in the sky, he still adored and loved her with all his heart.But Grovatsch decided to go to Nimacko first; first, because he was sent by Zbyszko to see his old man; .After Zbyszko had killed Rotgier, according to the custom, ten of the dead man's attendants and ten horses belonged to him, and two of them were ordered to escort Rotgier's body to Sztno.Knowing how much his uncle needed men, Zbyszko sent Grodeche to send the remaining eight men as a present to old Macko.

Macko was not at home when the Czech arrived at Bogdaniec; he was told that the old man had gone into the woods with a dog and a crossbow.But Macko returned that very day, and as soon as he heard that an important retinue was waiting for him, he rushed to meet the guests and entertained them with hospitality.At first he did not recognize Grovatch, but when he had given his name the old man was at first terrified, threw his hat and crossbow on the ground, and cried: "My God! Tell me, did they kill him? Tell me all you know." "They didn't kill him," replied the Czech. "He's in good health."

Macko felt a little embarrassed at this, and gasped; at last he let out a deep breath. "Praise the Lord Christ," he said. "Where is he now?" "He's gone to Marlborough and sent me here to report." "Why is he going to Marlborough?" "To find his wife." "Watch out, boy, what kind of wife is he looking for, by God?" "Going to Jurand's daughter. It is a long story, and it will be enough for us to talk all night, but, my lord, please let me rest for a while, I am terribly tired, and I have been traveling since midnight. Woolen cloth."

Macko paused for a moment without asking any questions, for he was too surprised to speak.When he had collected himself, he asked his servants to throw some wood into the stove and bring food to the Czechs; then he paced up and down, gesticulating, and talking to himself: "I can't believe my ears... Jurand's daughter... Zbyszko is married..." "You can say you're married, or you can say you're not married," said the Czech. He was only now talking slowly about what had happened, Macko listened eagerly, and only interrupted with questions when he did not quite understand what the Czech was saying.For example, Grovatsch could not give the exact date of Zbyszko's marriage, since the wedding was not publicly celebrated.But he decided that he must have been married, and that he had the help of the Duchess Anna Danuda, and that when Zbyszko challenged him to appeal to God after the arrival of the crusader Rotgier, It was only then that the marriage was made public in front of the entire Mazovia court.

"Ah! Has he dueled?" cried Macko, with a gleam of great amazement in his eyes. "What happened next?" "He split the German in two, and, God bless me, he killed the squire." Macko gasped again, but this time, with a contented expression. "Hmm!" he said. "He's a fellow to be reckoned with. He's the last of 'Grache', but I'll swear, not the least. He's already done his best when he fought the Frisians . . . He's just a boy..." The old man looked at the Czech with piercing eyes again and again, and went on: "You are trying to imitate him like this. It seems that you are telling the truth. I thought you were lying, but now I believe that you killed that servant easily, not to mention that you broke the Teutonic mage's arm. Arm, you've brought down that buffalo before, and that's a creditable thing."

Then, suddenly, he asked again: "Is the loot rich?" "We captured armor, horses, and ten men, and the young lord sent you eight." "Where did he get the other two?" "He sent them back with the body." "Why doesn't the duke send his own servants? You know those two won't come back." The Czech couldn't help laughing at Macko's usual greed. "My lord doesn't care about such trifles now," said he. "Sbyhoff is a big fortune." "Of course a big property is a big property, so what, it's not his after all."

"Then whose is it?" Macko even stood up. "Tell me! And Jurand?" "Jurand is a dying prisoner in the hands of the Knights of the Crusaders. God only knows if he will live, and if he comes back alive, so what? Didn't Father Kaleb read Jurand? Has the will announced to everyone that the young master is their master?" These last words evidently made a deep impression on Macko; for at the time he was quite bewildered and could not understand what was going on.The fact that Zbyszko was married pained him at first, for he loved Jagienka like a father and wished with all his heart to see Zbyszko marry her.But on the other hand, he was accustomed to regard the matter as irrevocable; besides, Mademoiselle Jurand would bring so much wealth that Jagienca could not match; besides, she was very popular with the Duke. She is favored by her, and she is an only daughter, so the dowry is several times more.Matsko already regarded Zbyszko as the prince's friend and master of Bogdaniec and Spykhov; moreover, he would soon be governor.It is by no means impossible.Because there were rumors at that time that a certain poor nobleman had twelve sons, six died in the war, and six became governors.Only a good reputation can boost Zbyszko's official career, and Macsko's ambition and greed for family status can get his wish.But the old man had many reasons for worry.He himself once went to the Knights of the Crusaders to save Zbyszko, but he came back with a piece of iron in his rib;Going there, did you find your wife in the end, or did you ask for your own death?People there would not treat him kindly, Macko thought.He had just killed one of their famous knights, and had tried to kill Lichtenstein before.These dogs love revenge the most.Thinking of this, the old knight became uneasy.It also occurred to him that Zbyszko was quick-tempered and would fight some Germans; but that was all right, and what worried him most was that they might kidnap him as they had kidnapped the Jurands.In Zrodorya, they even kidnapped the Duke himself with impunity.So what scruples did they have about Zbyszko?

What would happen, he asked himself, if the young man had escaped the knights of the crusader and could not find his wife?The thought pleased him, because even if Zbyszko could not find her he would still be Spyhof's owner, but the joy was fleeting.For the old man cared as much for his property as for Zbyszko's children.If Danusia is lost, dead and alive, and Zbyszko cannot marry another man, Bogdaniec's "Grachi" will have no offspring.well!How different things would have been if he had married Jagienka! ... Don't underestimate Mochitori - it's a big place, and it's well stocked.A girl like Jagienka is like an apple tree in an orchard, sure to bear fruit year after year.Thinking about it this way, Macko was more annoyed than happy about the prospect of owning a new property.Annoyed and excited, he repeated to the Czech the questions he had just asked: when and how did Zbyszko get married?

The Czech replied: "I have told you, my lord, that I do not know when the wedding took place; I only conjecture, and I cannot swear to it." "Then how did you deduce it?" "I never took a step away from the young lord, I slept with him all the time. Only one night did he bid me leave him, when I saw them all come to see him: accompanied by Mademoiselle Jurand (Danusia) Here comes the Duchess, Monsieur de Lauches and the Abbe Versonnec. I thought it strange to see the young lady with a wreath on her head; but I thought the priest was coming to consecrate my master. The dinner...perhaps it was the wedding. . . . I remembered that the young lord had ordered me to dress him up as if he were going to a wedding, but I thought he was going to communion, too." "Well, what about after that? Have the two of them ever been alone together?" "The two of them never stayed together; and if they had, the master was still very weak at the time, and needed help to eat. Besides, a group of people had already come, and it was said that Jurand had sent to fetch him. Her daughter went back, and she left the next morning. . . . " "Then Zbyszko hasn't seen her since then?" "Nobody saw her." There was silence for a while. "What do you think?" Macko asked again after a while. "Will the Knights of the Crusader release her?" The Czech shook his head, then waved in frustration. "I think," he said slowly, "that she will never be found." "Why?" Macko asked terrified. "For, if they say she is in their hands, there is still hope, and they can fight them, either to ransom her, or to take her back by force.' But," said they, "we have learned from robbers He snatched a girl back in his hand, and informed Jurand to claim it; but he refused to admit that it was his daughter, and killed many of us in front of us, more than the casualties in a war many. "Then they showed Jurand another girl." "It's said to be so. God knows the truth. Maybe it's not the case, maybe they showed him another girl. But it's true that he killed someone, and the crusader knights swore that they never abducted Miss Jurand, it is a very difficult matter. Even if the Grand Master orders an investigation, they will reply that she is not in their hands; My own letter also stated that she was not with the Crusader Knights." "Maybe she really isn't with them." "Forgive me, my lord! . . . If they took her from robbers, it was only for a ransom. Besides, robbers can neither write letters nor imitate my lord from Spychof." seals, and no honorable courier can be sent." "That is true; but what does the Knights of the Crusader want her to do?" "Revenge on Jurand's descendants. They would rather take revenge than shake hands; and it's not without reason. They are afraid of this Lord of Spyhof, and hate his latest behavior... I I also heard that my master offended Lichtenstein and killed Rotgier... God also helped me to break the arm of the dog mage. Alas! Let's think about it. There were four of them Damn it, there's only one alive now, and an old man at that. Remember, Monseigneur, we can take care of even that one." There was another moment of silence. "You're a clever squire," Macko said at last, "but what do you think they're going to do with her?" "Duke Wittout is a mighty duke, to whom the emperors of Germany are said to bow; but what do they do with his children? Have they less castles? Dungeons? Eyes? Ropes and nooses ?” "By the Eternal Lord!" cried Macko. "God don't let them detain the little lord, though he has a letter from the duke with him, and is accompanied by lord de lauche, who is a famous knight , is related to the Grand Duke. Well, I didn't want to come here, but the young lord ordered me to come. I once heard him say to the old lord of Spychof: 'You have wit. Because I'm lacking in that, but tact is necessary against the Knights of the Crusader. Oh, Uncle Macko! It would be good for us if he were here!' That's why he sent me Come. As for Mademoiselle Gurlund, you can't even find her, because she's probably gone to another world; and the most cunning person can't deal with death." Macko thought for a long time, then he said: "Yes! There is nothing to be done about it. Tricks are no match for death. But if I can go there and find out that she is dead, then Spyhoff belongs to Zbyszko anyway, and he himself You can come back and marry another girl." Macko breathed a sigh of relief when he said this, as if a big stone had been put down in his heart.Grovatchi asked in a low voice shyly: "Do you mean that Miss Zgotrilici?" "Yes!" Macko replied, "and besides, she's an orphan now, and Khitan of Rogoff and Wilk of Borzozoval are always pestering her to propose marriage." The Czech straightened up when he heard this. "Is Miss an orphan?... What happened to Knight Zihe?..." "Then you don't know yet." "For the mercy of God! What has happened?" "Well, you guessed it right. You've just arrived, so how would you know? Besides, we're talking about Zbyszko. She's an orphan. Zikh of Zgotzrichri doesn't stay unless there's a visitor." At home; on weekdays he avoids Zgotrilici. He mentioned you in a letter to the abbot, saying that he intends to visit Prince Pulsimka in Osvetria, and invites him to come with him. Qi Hang did this because he knew the duke very well, and they often had fun together. So Qi He came to me and said the following: 'I'm going to Osweetria, and then to Grevik You take care of Zgotririti." I immediately suspected that something was wrong, and I said: "Don't go! I will take good care of Jagienka and the estate. I know that Chitan and Wilk are in I'll use my brains on you,' and I should tell you that the abbot hates Zbyszko, and he would have married the girl to Chedang or Wilk. But he got to know them better, turned them down, and kicked them out. Zgotrilitre; it is a pity that it has no effect, because they are still begging for nothing. Now they are quiet for a while, and both of them are lying down because they are both defeated, but before this, there was no peace for a moment Everything falls on me, both protection and guardianship. Now Zbyszko wants me to go... I don't know what will happen here with Jagienka—wait a minute, I will put Zikh I'll tell you about it; he didn't listen to my advice—he went away. Well, they ate and drank and had fun together. They went from Glewitch to see old Noshak, the father of Prince Prusimka , he ruled Cuixing; later, because of the hatred of the Duke of Prusimka, Jasko, the Duke of Lachebau, instigated a bandit gang headed by the Czech Hersan to attack them; the Duke of Prusimka died, and the Zikh of Gothrych was also killed in the war. The brigands knocked out the abbot with an iron flail, so that he still shakes his head, doesn't know anything, can't speak, probably never It will be all right! Now the old prince of Norshak has bought Hirsan from Lord Zambach, and made him suffer tortures that even the oldest resident has never heard of,—but torture will not alleviate this. The old man's grief over the loss of his son could not bring Zikh back to life, nor could he wipe away Jagienka's tears. This is the result of the pleasure... Six weeks ago they brought Zikh back and buried him here." "Such a strong man! . . . " said the Czech sadly. "I was a capable young man under Bolaslav, but he caught me right away. I'd rather be a captive with him than be free.... He was a good and noble duke Lord! God bless him with eternal glory. Oh, I am so sorry! Especially for the helpless young lady." "Poor good girl. She loves her father more than a man loves his mother. And she is not safe in Zgotrilici. After the funeral, the snow has not yet covered Zikh's grave. Wilker was coming to attack Zgotrilitri. Fortunately, my men were informed beforehand. So I went to the rescue of Jagienka with my servants; we got there in time, and with the help of God beat They broke up. Immediately after the beating, Jagienka knelt down and begged me to save her. 'If I can't marry Zbyszko,' she said, 'then I won't marry a man; save me from these two scumbags. Save them from my hands, I will never marry them...' Tell you, I have made Zgotrilici a veritable fortress. Since then, Chidan and Wilk have invaded twice, but believe Me, they can't get it. There's going to be a time of peace, because I told you: they beat each other, and they're both badly wounded, so badly that neither of them can move their limbs." Grovatchi didn't answer, but when he heard the behavior of Chidan and Wilk, Logue chattered his teeth angrily. It sounded like opening and closing a door, and then his strong hands kept rubbing his thighs, as if itchy.Finally, the Czech struggled to utter two words: "Rogue!" Just then a voice came from the hall, the door opened suddenly, and Jagienka rushed in, and with her was her elder brother, fourteen-year-old Jasko, who looked very like her, as if twin sister. She had already heard from the peasants of Zgotsyliti that they had seen Hlava, the Czech, with several men, riding towards Bogdaniec, and she was as surprised as Macko. , and when she was told that Zbyszko had not come, she almost believed that something unfortunate had happened.So I couldn't wait to rush to Bogdaniec to find out the truth. "What's the matter? . . . Tell me quickly," she cried as she stepped over the threshold. "What's going to happen?" Macko answered. "Zbyszko is alive and well." The Czech hurried up to his mistress, knelt down, and kissed her skirt, but she paid no attention; and, hearing the old knight's answer, she turned her head from the stove to the darker room. After a while, she remembered that she should greet the Czech, and said: "Praise Jesus Christ!" "Forever and ever," Macko replied. Then she saw the Czech kneeling at her heels, and she stooped down and said to him: "I am very glad to see you, Hlavar, but why have you left your lord?" "He sent me, kindest lady." "What did he order?" "He told me to come to Bogdaniec." "To Bogdaniec? . . . and what else?" "He sent me to ask for advice... He also asked me to bring greetings and blessings." "To Bogdaniec? That's all very well. But where is he himself?" "He went to Marlborough, to the Knights of the Crusader." Jagienka's face was again frightened. "What are you going to do? Is he impatient?" "My dear lady, he is looking for what he cannot find." "I'm sure he's hard to find," Macko put in. "How can a nail be hammered without a hammer? How can a wish come true without God's will?" "What are you talking about?" asked Jagienka.But Macko asked another question in answer. "Did he tell you that Zbyszko was looking for Miss Jurand? I think I heard him." Jagienka did not answer at once, but after a while, holding her breath, she answered: "Ah! He said it! Why didn't he say it?" "Well, then I can speak briskly now," replied the old man. So he told her everything he had heard from the Czechs.He himself could not understand why it was so difficult for him to chatter, but he was born a wise man, and he avoided anything that would provoke Jagienka, and he kept emphasizing his own opinion that Zbyszko In truth Danusia was by no means her husband, and she was never his. The Czechs confirmed the old man's words from time to time, sometimes nodding their heads in agreement, and sometimes repeatedly saying "God above, it is absolutely true", or: "It can only be like this, and there is nothing else!" The young lady listened, her eyelashes drooping almost touched his cheek; asked nothing, but remained silent, so silent that Macko worried. "Well, what do you think of this matter?" he asked when he had finished speaking. However, she did not answer, only to see two teardrops twinkling in her eyes rolling down her face. After a while the girl came up to Macko, kissed his hand and said: "Praise God." "Forever and ever," answered the old man. "Are you busy at home? Stay with us for a while. But she declined, asking her family to wait for her to go back and make dinner.Although Matsko also knew that there was an old woman in Zgortsrytsy, Shetsyhova, who could do these chores for Jagienka, and he didn't force her to keep her, because he knew that sadness brings tears, and people don't like it. When others see me weeping, I am like a fish that dives into deep water once it hurts from a harpoon. He just treated her like a girl and accompanied her to the yard with the Czech. But the Czech took the horse from the stable, harnessed it, and followed the lady. Macko went back into the house, shook his head, and muttered: "Zbyszko, you fool! . . . Indeed, her presence makes the whole house smell like perfume." The old man sighed to himself: "If Zbyszko had married her as soon as he came back, how happy and joyful it would be! But now? Whenever he is mentioned, her eyes are filled with tears of longing, but The fellow is gone adrift; if his own head is not chopped off by the Crusader knights of Marlborough, he may have some of their heads off. And the house is empty, only the armor on the wall is shining Light. There is some income from the estate. But if there is no heir, neither Spykhov nor Bogdaniec will be able to work in vain." Thinking of this, Macko lost his temper. "Wait, you vagabond," he cried, "I will never go after you, but do what you like!" But at this moment he felt very much missing Zbyszko again. "Hey! Shall I go?" thought the old man. "Should I just stay at home like this? No, no! . . . I want to see that naughty boy again. It must be. He's going to duel those Teutonic mages again—and he'll get the spoils to bring back. Others don't get their knight's belt until they're old, but he got it from the duke... well deserved. There are brave young men in the nobility, but no one like him." This kindness of his heart calmed his anger.First he looked at the armor, the sword, and the axe, all blackened with smoke; he seemed to consider what weapons he should take with him, and what weapons he should keep; then he went out of the house; for the first , he couldn't stay any longer; next, he had to order the carts to be ready, and a double ration for the horses. It was getting dark in the yard.He suddenly remembered that it was here that Jagienka had just mounted his horse, and he began to fidget again. "I must go," he said to himself, "but who's going to protect this girl from Chedden and Wilk? May the thunder strike those two." At that time Jagienka and his brother Jasko were on their way through the forest leading to Zgotriliti.The Czechs followed them silently, with love and sorrow in their hearts.He had seen her cry just now, and now he looked at her vague figure, which was barely visible in the dark forest, and guessed that she must be very sad and painful.He also felt that at any moment the greedy hands of Wilk or Chedang would suddenly reach out from the dark jungle to snatch her, and the thought of this made him fly into a rage and wish to have a duel with them.Sometimes the desire to fight was so urgent that he wanted to grab an ax or a sword and knock down a pine tree by the side of the road.He felt that the only way to be comfortable was to fight hard.In the end, he thought it would be a pleasure to give his horse a gallop, if at all.But he could not do this, because they rode silently before him, very slowly, step by step, and little Jasco, who was naturally talkative, wanted to talk to his sister several times, but saw that she was unwilling. When he opened his mouth, the question fell silent. As they approached Zgorzlitri, the Czech's sadness replaced his anger at Khitan and Wilk: "For you, I would not hesitate to die and bleed," he said to himself, "as long as I can give you comfort. But what can I, poor man, do? What can I tell you? Just to tell you, and he bids me greet you. May God bless you with some consolation." As he thought this, he rode close to Jagienka's horse. "My dear lady..." "Did you come with us on horseback?" asked Jagienka, as if waking from a dream. "What did you say?" "I forgot to tell you what my lordship wanted me to say to you. When I was about to leave Spyhof he called me and said, 'Go and bow to Miss Zgortrichri and tell her that no matter what I Good luck or bad luck, I shall never forget her; may God reward her for her kindness to my uncle and to myself, and may she be blessed with good health.'” "May God also repay him for his kindness," answered Jagienka. Then she added, in a voice so strange that the Czech heart melted: "And you, Halava." There was a pause in their conversation for a while.The attendant was both happy for himself and for the young lady's words. He said in his heart: "At least she won't say he's ungrateful." After a while he said: "Miss." "what?" "This... I want to say, as the old lord of Bogdaniec said: 'The lady is lost forever, and the young lord will never find her, even if the grand master himself helps It's not his favor'" "But she is his wife after all. The Czech nodded. "Yes, she is his wife after all..." Jagienka made no answer when she heard this, and when she got home, had supper, and after sending Jasko and the little brother to bed, ordered a jug of mead, and said to the Czech: "Maybe you're going to bed. I'd like to talk to you again." Although the Czech was very tired, he was willing to talk to her about tomorrow morning.Then they fell into conversation, and he recounted in detail what had happened to Zbyszko, Jurand, Danusia, and himself.