Chapter 43 Chapter nine

Macko was leaving; Jagienka had not been to Bogdaniec for two days since that conversation with the Czech.It was not until the third day that the old knight met her on his way to church.She was riding with her brother Jasco to the church in Kirsisnia, with a host of armed servants to protect her from Chitan and Wilk, who could not be sure of them. Is he still recovering from his illness, or is he planning to harm her? "I was going to see you in Bogdaniec after church," she said, greeting Macko, "because I have something urgent to discuss with you, and we can now talk." So she went in front of the retainers, apparently to keep them from hearing her conversation.As soon as Macko came up to her, she asked:

"Are you sure to go?" "If God allows, I will leave tomorrow at the latest." "Are you going to Marlborough?" "Either to Marlborough, or somewhere else, it depends." "Then listen to me. I've been thinking for a long time about what I should do. I want to ask you too. You know very well that as long as Papa is alive and the Abbot is powerful, things are quite different. Chitan and Ver Ke always thought I should pick one of them, so they held back their breath. But now I'm alone, with no protector; so I'm going to live like a prisoner in Zgorty You can't come out of Li Cui's castle, or let them hurt you. Isn't that the case?"

"Yes," Macko said, "I thought so myself." "So do you have any ideas?" "I didn't come up with any ideas, but I have to tell you one thing: we are all in Poland, and the laws of this country will severely punish those who do evil." "That's true, but you know it's easy to cross the border. To be honest, I know Silesia is also in Poland, but the dukes quarrel and attack each other there. Otherwise, my dear father would still be alive. A lot of Germans have come there, making a mess and doing evil, and whoever wants to hide from the Germans can hide. It's easy for me to avoid Chidan and Wilke, but there is also my little brother If I'm not here, all is well, and if I stay in Zgotrilici, God knows what disasters will ensue. There will be all kinds of violence and fighting; Yasco is fourteen years old, including myself , and no one can stop him. When you came to our aid last time, he rushed out, and Khitan swung his stick at the crowd, almost hitting him on the head. 'Oh,' said Yasco to the servants,' I will take the lives of these two people.' I tell you, if I stay here, there will be no peace, and even the little brother will suffer disaster."

"That's true. Chidden and Wilk are dogs," Macko said. "Though they don't dare to beat children. Hey! Only crusader knights would do that." "They don't beat the children, of course, but if there's a riot, or, God forbid, a fire, nothing can happen. What's there to say! Old Setrikhova loves my brother They love their own children like their own, so this dear old lady doesn’t have to worry about taking care of them, but I’m not here... Would they be safer if I’m not here?” "Maybe," Macko replied. He gave the girl a sly look. "So, what are you going to do?"

She answered in a low voice: "Take me with you." At this moment Macko, although he guessed the purpose of the conversation, was also very surprised.He reined in his horse and cried: "Fear God, Jagienka." She lowered her head, and replied shyly and melancholy: "You may think so, but as far as I'm concerned, I'd rather tell you than keep it to myself. Both Hlava and you say that Zbyszko will never find Danusia, and the Czechs think It is almost impossible to find her. God proves that I do not wish any misfortune to her. May Our Lady take care of the poor girl and protect her. Zbyszko loves her more than me. Well, what can I do! This is me That's how it should be. But you see, if Zbyszko doesn't find her, or, as you say, never finds her, then, then..."

"So what?" Macko asked, seeing the girl grow more and more embarrassed and stammering more and more. "Then, no matter who it is, no matter who it is, I don't want to marry." Macko took a deep breath. "I thought you had forgiven him." But she replied in a more mournful tone: "Ah! "Then what are you going to do? How can we take you to the Knights of the Crusader?" "It doesn't have to be to the Knights of the Crusader. I would very much like to be with the abbot who is lying in the hospital in Shiraz right now. He has no relatives around him. His people are not so much looking after him as they are looking after him." Flagon. Besides, he is my godfather and protector. If he is well, I can still ask him for protection, because people are afraid of him."

"I have no objection to that," Macko said, and in fact he was very reluctant to let Jagienka go with him, since he knew very well what the Crusader Order was doing and was absolutely sure that Danusia would never be taken from them. Li escaped with his life. "But I'll just tell you one thing, it's really inconvenient to go out with the same girl." "Perhaps it is inconvenient to go out with other girls, but not with me. So far, I have not had any accidents, and I am used to going out with a crossbow, and I can withstand the hardships of hunting. The boat will be straight when it reaches the bridge. Please don’t worry. I can put on Yasko’s clothes and hairnet and leave. Yasko is smaller than me, but except for his hair, he is exactly the same as me Well, last year at Carnival we were dressed up, and even my late father couldn't tell us apart. You know, neither the Abbess nor anyone else would have recognized me."

"Don't you recognize Zbyszko?" "I'm afraid I won't see him..." Macko thought for a while, then suddenly laughed, and said: "But Wilke of Borzodova and Chedang of Rogoff will be furious." "Let them go! It would be worse if they came after us." "Hmph! Don't be afraid. I'm old, but they've got to be wary of my fists. All 'Graki's' have it! . . . But they've already tasted Zbyszko's power . . . ” Unknowingly, I came to Kirsisnia.Old Wilk of Borzodova, who happened to be in the church, looked at Macko gloomily from time to time, but Macko ignored him.After mass, Matsko went back with Jagienka in a good mood... They said good-bye to each other at the crossroads, and Matsko went back to Bogdaniec alone, with some unpleasant memories in his mind. idea.He knew that neither the people of Zgotririti nor Jagienka's relatives would really object to her going. "As for the girl's two suitors," he said to himself, "that's quite another matter; but as for the orphans and their estate, those two fellows dared not lay hands on them without embarrassment. and all the inhabitants will deal with them like wolves. But Bogdaniec is left to his fate! . . . Field boundaries are encroached, herds are driven away, farmers are lured away! . . . If God wills If I come back, then I will fight them, not with fists, but with the law! . . . If only I can come back. And if I do come back? . . . They will unite against me, because I've ruined their love; and if she goes with me, they'll hate me all the more."

Bogdaniec's estate has improved, and he is very worried.He asserted that when he returned, the countryside must be barren. "It seems that we must think of a countermeasure!" He thought. After lunch, he ordered his horses to be ready and went directly to Borzuo Zhuofa. It was dark when he got there.Old Wilk sat in the front room, drinking mead from the flagon.Young Wilk, who had been wounded by Chidden, was lying on a bench covered with animal skins, drinking mead too.Macko entered unexpectedly, and stood sternly on the threshold; tall, heavy-boned, without armor, with only a large sword at his side.Both father and son recognized him at once, for his face was illuminated by the light from the fire.At first, they all jumped up abruptly, and rushed towards the wall like lightning, no matter what kind of weapon they were, they counted if they got it.

But the experienced old Macko knew these people and their customs very well, so he didn't panic at all, and he didn't even touch the sword on his body.He just put his hands on his hips and said quietly in a slightly ironic tone: "What is this for? Is this how the nobles of Boerzuo Zhuofa treat guests?" These two words had an unexpected effect; they dropped their hands at once, the old man dropped his sword on the ground with a clatter, and the young man dropped his spear, and both craned their necks to look at Macko, although their faces There was still hostility on his face, but already a look of surprise and embarrassment.

Macko smiled and said: "Praise Jesus Christ!" "Eternal life." "And St. Jesse." "We serve him." "I came to visit my neighbor with good intentions." "We also greet you with kindness, guest of God." Then old Wilk ran up to Macko with his son, and they both shook the guest's hand, and made him take the seat.Immediately they threw another log into the fire, spread the table, put a plateful of food on it, a jug of ale, and a cask of mead, and began to eat and drink.Little Wilk glanced at Macko from time to time, which softened the hostility towards the guest and made him quite happy.He was so hospitable that he was even pale with fatigue, for he had just been wounded and lost his usual strength.Both father and son were anxious to know the purpose of Macko's visit.But neither of them asked him why, they just waited for him to speak first. But Macko was a man of good manners, and he praised the food, the wine, and the hospitality.After eating to my heart's content, I raised my head and said proudly: "People fight a lot, but good neighborliness is the most important thing." "There's nothing better than good neighborliness," echoed Old Wilk, speaking with equal composure. "It often happens," Macko said, "that when a man goes on a journey, he goes to say good-bye to his enemy and make peace with him." "May God reward you for these frank words." "Not only words count, but also actions, because I really came to bid you farewell." "It is a great pleasure to meet you. You are welcome every day." "I intended to entertain you at Bogdaniec in a manner befitting knightly honours. But I was in such a hurry to go that it was too late." "To go to war, or to some holy place?" "It would be all right to go to war or to the Holy Land, but I'm going to a bad place—to the Crusader Order." "To the Knights of the Crusader," shouted the father and son in unison. "Yes!" Macko replied. "And the person who goes is their enemy. Fortunately, this person is willing to surrender to God and live in harmony with the world, so not only will he not lose his life, but he will be saved forever." "That's wonderful!" said old Wilk. "I've never met a person who hasn't been maimed and oppressed by them." "It's like this all over the kingdom," Macko added. "Neither pre-Catholic Lithuania, nor even the Tatars, will be as heavy a burden on the Kingdom of Poland as these devil priests are." "That's right, you know that, we endured, endured, but now we can't bear it anymore, it's time to deal with them." The old man spat in the palm of his hand, and Little Wilk went on: "Only in this way." "It's about to happen. It has to be like this. But when? We can't figure it out. It's the king's business. Maybe soon, maybe slowly...God knows. At the moment I'm Just go to them once." "A ransom to Zbyszko?" As soon as old Wilk mentioned Zbyszko's name, his son turned pale with rage. But Macko answered quietly: "Perhaps to take the ransom, but not to Zbyszko." This sentence made the two masters of Boerzuo Zhuofa feel more and more strange.Old Wilk could bear it no longer, and said: "Could you tell us what you're doing there?" "I'll tell you! I'll tell!" he said, nodding his assent. "But first let me tell you another thing. Please listen. Bogdaniec will be resigned to his fate after I leave... When Zbyszko and I fought under Prince Witout, the abbot, And Tsikhe of Zgotschlitri, who took care of our small estate to some extent. Now we don't even have that kind of care. It makes me very sad to think that all my hard work and blood sweat have been wasted... As you can imagine, This worries me so much. As soon as I go away, someone will come to deceive my men, dig up my landmarks, and take my livestock. Even if God allows me to return safely, then my inheritance will be destroyed.  … There is only one remedy, there is only one reliable help ... and that is good neighbors. I therefore beg you, for the sake of your neighbors, to protect Bogdaniec for me from harm." On hearing Macko's request, old Wilk exchanged glances with his son; both father and son were astonished.They were silent for a while.No one could muster up the courage to answer.But Macko raised another glass of mead to his lips, drained it, and went on, speaking so calmly and confidingly that he almost regarded these two as his closest friends for many years. "I have told you frankly, who is most likely to invade. Who else but Rogoff's Khitan. Although we have been at odds with each other in the past, I have no qualms about you, because you are noble people and aboveboard, You will never retaliate against your opponents with vile deeds. You are quite different people. A knight is always a knight. Chedang is an inferior. This kind of person, you know, can do anything. He hates it very much. Me, because I spoiled his pursuit of Jagienka." "You're leaving her for your nephew," blurted out Little Wilk. Macko looked at him, stared at him for a long time, then turned to the old man and said quietly: "You know, my nephew married a rich Miss Majur, and got a very handsome dowry." A deeper silence followed.Both father and son stared at Macko for a while with their mouths open. At last the old man said: "Oh! What's the matter? Tell me..." Macko deliberately ignored the question and went on: "It is for this reason that I must go; and it is for this reason that I beg your noble and honest neighbor to look after Bogdaniec for me when I am gone. Let others come to damage my property. Please be very careful and guard against him." It occurred to the shrewd little Wilk at this moment that since Zbyszko was married it would be better to make friends with Macko, because Jagienka trusted him and asked him for everything.In this way, a new scene suddenly opened before his eyes. "Not only are we not against Macko, but we are trying to reconcile with him," he said to himself.So although he was a little drunk, he immediately reached out his hand under the table to grab his father's knee, and pressed it hard, expressing that he wanted his father to be careful when he said something, and at the same time he said to himself: "Ah! Don't be afraid of Chedang! Tell him to come and try. It is true that he wounded me with a big saucer, but I beat him so hard that his own mother could not recognize him." Here it comes. Don't be afraid! Don't worry. Bogdaniec won't lose a single crow!" "I know you are righteous. Will you promise me?" "We promise!" both shouted. "Swear on your knightly honor?" "Swear on the honor of the knight." "And by your shield bearing the coat of arms?" "By my shield bearing my coat of arms, and by my cross. True!" Macko smiled with satisfaction and said: "Well, I leave this matter to you now. I am sure you will manage it well. Now that this is the case, let me tell you one more thing. You know, Tsikhe asked me to be the guardian of his children. Therefore I will not Let boys, either Chiddan or you, go to Zgortrieti. But now that I'm going to Marlborough, or God knows where else, how will I come then? What about guardianship?... Yes, God is the father of the orphan; woe befalls the man who seeks to harm the orphan; I will not only blow his head with the axe, but I will declare him a scoundrel without shame. But I will leave , I'm really sad, really sad. Then I ask you to promise not only not to hurt Zihe's orphans yourself, but also to be careful not to let others hurt them." "We promise! We promise!" "By your knighthood and the coat of arms on your shield?" "By knighthood and the coat of arms on the shield." "Is it also by the cross?" "And by the cross." "God is witness. Amen!" Macko concluded, with a deep breath, for he believed they would never break such an oath.Even if they are offended, they would rather hold back their anger and bite their fists than be a perjurer. So he took his leave, but they insisted on keeping him a little longer.He had to drink a lot and make friends with old Wilk.Little Wilke, contrary to his usual drunken habit of provoking quarrels, this time he only scolded Chedan angrily, and walked around Macko very earnestly, as if he could get rid of Macko tomorrow. Like Jagienka.In the middle of the night, he passed out from exhaustion, and when they revived him, he fell asleep like a log.Old Wilk fell asleep after his son, so that when Macko left them they were all lying dead under the table.Macko, however, had an extraordinary head, and he was not very drunk, but he was happy.It was a pleasure to go home and reflect on what he had accomplished. "Well!" he said to himself, "Bogdaniec is safe now, and Zgotsylitri is safe. When they hear that Jagienka is gone, they will be very angry. But her people, and my property are safe. The Lord Jesus gives wisdom, so when a man cannot use his fists, he should use his brains. When I come back, this old man will definitely challenge me, but this kind of thing is not worth it Damn... wish I could trick a crusader knight in this way...but dealing with them is not easy. Here we are, even with a 'dog thing', as long as he has his knightly honor and The coat of arms on the shield swears, and he will keep it. But with them, vows are worthless, like spitting in water. May the Holy Mother help me to align myself with Zbyszko as I am now He's children are as helpful as Bogdaniec's estate..." He thought again that maybe it would be better not to take Jagienka, because the Wilkers would take care of her like an eyeball.But in a flash, he gave up on this plan. "Yes, the Wilkes will take care of her, but Chedan will never give up his purpose, and God knows who will prevail. Then there will be a series of battles and atrocities, Zgotritri, Zikh Even the girl would suffer. It would be easy for the Wilkers to protect Bogdaniecs. But it would be best for the girl to keep her as far away from the two thugs as possible, while at the same time getting as close to them as possible. Wealthy abbot." Macko was convinced that Danusia would never survive the clutches of the Knights of the Crusader Order; and he never gave up the hope that Zbyszko would return home a widower, not to marry Not Jagienka. "O great God!" he thought to himself. "In this way, he will become the owner of Spykhov, and then he will receive from Jagienka all the inheritance from Mochitori and the abbot to Jagienka. Then I will never begrudgingly offer God's candle is out." Because of these thoughts he seemed to have shortened the journey back from Borzodhodai, but it was night after all when he got back to Bogdaniec.He was amazed to see that the windows were brightly lit.The servants were still awake, and the moment Macko stepped into the yard, the groom ran towards him. "Is there any visitor here?" asked Macko, dismounting from his horse. "Master Zgortrichri is here with the Czechs," replied the groom. Matsko was all the more surprised by this news, because Jagienka had promised to come early tomorrow morning and set off with him.So why did Yasco come, so late?The old knight suddenly became worried. Could it be that something happened to Zgotrilici?He walked anxiously into the house.When I got inside, I saw the big clay stove in the center of the room burning vigorously.There are two iron shelves on the table, on which two torches are lit.By the light of the torch Macko saw Jasco, Hlava the Czech, and another young squire with a face as red as an apple. "How are you, Yasko? What's the matter with Jagienka?" asked the old nobleman. "Jagienka ordered me to tell you," said the boy, kissing Macko's hand. "She has reconsidered the matter and decided it would be better to stay at home." "My God! What did you say? What's the matter? What happened to her?" But the boy looked at him with his beautiful blue eyes and laughed. "What are you talking about?" At this moment, the Czech and another attendant also laughed. "Look!" cried the child in masculinity. "Who recognizes me? Not even you!" Then Macko looked carefully at the lovely man, and then exclaimed: "Holy Father and Holy Son! You really look like you were dressed up at a carnival! It turns out that you are the one who is chattering. What are you doing here?" "No! What are you doing? People who are on the road can't wait." "Didn't you agree to leave at dawn tomorrow?" "Why not! When I leave early tomorrow morning, everyone will see me! If I come today, the people of Zgotrilici will think that I am a guest at your place tomorrow, and they will not find out until the day after tomorrow. Only Setrikhova And Yasko knew about it. But Yasko's honor as a knight promised that he would not tell until the people were disturbed. Why don't you recognize me?" Now it was Macko's turn to laugh. "Let me take a good look at you; you're a very handsome boy! . . . unique. Such a child would make fine offspring . . . I'll be honest, if this guy (pointing to himself) still If you're not old,—well! But even so, I'll tell you, don't piss me off, girl, and stand back a little! He pointed his finger at her viciously, but looked at her with great pleasure.Because he had never seen such a girl.She wore a red silk hair-net around her head, and she wore a green pea coat, and wide breeches, tight around her hips, with one leg of the same color as the hat (the hair-net) on her head. ), the other trouser leg has straight stripes on it, and a small sword with gorgeous patterns hangs on his waist, with a smile on his face, as bright as the morning glow.Her face was so pretty that he could not take his eyes off her. "My God!" said the overjoyed Macko. "She looks like a beautiful prince? Or a flower? Or something else?" "And here's this one—I'm sure it must be some sort of masquerade, too?" "This is Setrikhova's daughter," answered Jagienka. "It's not good for me to be alone with you. How can I? So I took Anurka with me, so that two brave women could look after each other and help each other. No one recognized her either. " ①Anurka is the nickname of Anna, the daughter of Shetrihova. "Old lady, you are hosting a wedding. One is bad enough, but now there are two." "Don't be kidding me." "I'm not kidding, anyone will recognize you and her in broad daylight." "Excuse me, why?" "To bow down at the feet of both of you." "Let's have peace! . . . " "I can be at peace, I'm out of date. But will Chitan and Wilk give you peace? Only God knows. Do you know, Magpie, where I just came from? Tell you, I went to Borzodzo It's gone." "For God's sake! What are you talking about?" "To tell the truth, the Wilkes will protect Bogdaniecs and Zgortrietsi from Chedtan. Well, it is easy to challenge an enemy and fight him. But to turn an enemy into a It is very difficult to be the protector of your own estate." Then Matsko told in detail how he had dealt with the Wilkers, how they had reconciled, how he had led them into a trap, and Jagienka was very surprised; when he had finished she said: "The Lord Jesus has given you infinite resourcefulness, I think you will always succeed in what you do." But Macko shook his head, as if feeling sorry. "Ah, daughter! If so, you would have been Bogdaniec's mistress!" At this, Jagienka looked at the old man for a moment with her lovely blue eyes, then went up to him and kissed his hand. "Why did you kiss me?" asked the old knight. "It's nothing... I just want to say good night to you, because it's already late, and we have to get up early tomorrow." She walked with Anurka on her arm.Macko led the Czech into his room, and the two fell asleep on the buffalo hide.