Chapter 68 Chapter Thirty-Four

Macko and Zbyszko hugged each other tightly for a long time.They had always loved each other; after recent encounters and common misfortunes, they were still more dear.As soon as the old knight saw his nephew, he guessed that Danusia was dead, so he did not ask her, but pressed the young man to his heart, and wanted to show him with a firm embrace that he was not an orphan, It means that there is such a close person who is willing to share his sorrow at any time. They shed many tears of sorrow and sorrow, and remained silent for a long time.Then Macko asked: "Did they take her from you again, or did she die in your arms?"

"She died in my arms when we were almost at Spychof," answered the young knight. He told him all that had happened, and his mournful account was often interrupted by his own tears and sighs.Macko listened carefully and sighed.Finally he asked again: "Is Jurand alive?" "Jurand was alive when I left, but he will not live long; I believe I shall never see him again." "Wouldn't it be better for you to stay there?" "How could I leave you here?" "A week or two early, a week or two late, it's all the same." Zbyszko looked at him attentively and said:

"You must have been sick here? You look like a 'Piotrowin.'" ① Note to the English translation: "Piotrovin" is a person who died and came back to life. "Although it was hot outside, the dungeon was very cold and very damp, because the fortress was surrounded by water. I thought I would melt like wax. It was difficult to breathe; all this made my trauma relapse , the wound, you know—the one healed with otter oil in Bogdaniec." "I remember," said Zbyszko, "because Jagienka and I went together to catch an otter...then those dogs put you in this dungeon, didn't they?"

Macko nodded and replied: "If it hadn't been a big mess, I would have been out of luck, because the people here hate the Witout and the Shimud, especially those of us who help them. I explained to them why we At that time, the reason for Mude to go, turned out to be in vain. They would have chopped off my head, but they didn't do it because they were greedy for ransom. You know, money is more desirable to them than revenge. On the other hand , they can also show the world that the Poles help the heathen. We go to the Zumde and know that the poor Zumde asks to be Catholic, to be baptized, but refuses to be baptized from the Knights of the Crusaders, and The knights of the crusaders proclaimed that they did not know it, and accused them and our king at every court."

At this moment Matsko was out of breath and unable to speak, and when he had recovered his breath he went on: "I would have died in prison, but Arnold von Peyton fought for me, because he had something to do with the ransom, but he had no prestige among the crusading knights, and they nicknamed him 'Bear'. Luckily de Rausch got word of me from Arnold, who quarreled very badly with them. I don't know if he told you about it, because he always likes to hide his own good deeds. He There is some prestige here, because there was a de Rausch who once occupied a prominent position in the Knights, and this de Rausch was a descendant of that prominent family and was very rich. He therefore told them that he himself was our captive, and if they take my life, or if I die from lack of food or dampness, you'll have his head chopped off. He threatens the priest that he'll treat a crusader like a girdle Tell all the courts in the west about the knight's deed. The Germans got scared and sent me to the hospital, where the air and food are better."

"I will not demand a ransom from De Lauche, I swear to God!" "I would rather take money from my enemy than from my friend," said Macko. "I hear they have agreed with the King to exchange captives, so you don't have to pay anything for me." "Where is it! Where is our honor as a knight?" cried Zbyszko. "An agreement is an agreement, and we cannot let Arnold put a bad name on us." Macko was displeased at this; he thought for a while, and said: "But you can negotiate a price with him." "We set the price ourselves. Have we lost our value now?"

Macko was even more depressed, but there was something in his eyes that resembled admiration for Zbyszko and greater love. "How he loves his honor! It's in his nature," he murmured to himself. Then he sighed.Zbyszko thought he was sighing over the ransom they were about to pay von Peyton, so he said: "Ah! We have plenty of money, but our lives are too miserable." "Everything will change!" said the old knight excitedly. "I won't live long in this world." "Don't say that, as long as the wind blows on you, you'll be all right!"

"Wind? Wind bends young trees, but breaks old ones!" "Hey! Your bones are still strong, and you're not too old. Don't worry." "If you're happy, I'll laugh. But I'm sad for a reason, to tell you the truth, not only for me, but for all of us." "What's the reason?" asked Zbyszko. "Do you remember how I reproached you when you praised the strength of the Crusader knights when we were in the Scovolo barracks? Our nation is strong enough on the battlefield, and now I have the opportunity to carefully Watch these dogs."

Macko lowered his voice, as if afraid of being heard: "I understand now that you are right, not I. May the hand of God be upon us. What strength, what power! Our knights' hands are itching; they want to attack the Germans as soon as possible, but They don't know that all peoples and all kings will help the crusading knights, that the knights have more money than us, better training, stronger castles, and better weapons. May the hand of God protect us! In our country also As here, people talk of a great war, and it seems that it will; but if it does happen, may God have mercy on our kingdom and our nation!"

Macko propped his gray head on his hands, rested his elbows on his knees, and said nothing. Zbyszko said: "You see! In individual duels, we have many of them better than them; and as for a big battle, you know for yourself..." "Hey! I understand, I understand! May God also let the king's envoy understand, especially the knight in Mashikovynn." "I saw him become very melancholy. It is said that there is no one in the whole world who knows the art of war better than him." "If that were the case, the war would have been avoided." "But if the Knights of the Crusaders see that they are better than us, war is bound to happen. I frankly, let the war come anyway, because we cannot continue to live in danger."

Zbyszko bowed his head in mourning over his own misfortune and that of his people, and Maczko said: "God, what a pity our great kingdom, I'm afraid God will punish us for being too vain. You remember that time in Wawel, they were going to chop off your head, and before they could do it, our knights were just before mass , boasted on the steps of the cathedral, to challenge the lame Tamerlane, ruler of forty kingdoms, who made a mountain of human skulls... Crusader knights are not in their eyes, they wish To challenge everyone - perhaps that is what offends God." Zbyszko, remembering how he was going to have his head chopped off, grabbed his hair and cried out in grief: "Who saved me from the executioner's knife? Wasn't she! Jesus! My Danusren, Jesus!" So he burned his hair, bit his fingers, and tried his best to hold back the tears of disappointment. "Son! For God's sake, what are you doing! Be quiet," Macko cried. "What do you gain by doing this? Restrain yourself, don't cry! . . . " But Zbyszko could not calm down for a while.Macko, still in poor health, was so weak that he staggered on the bench and fell unconscious.Then Zbyszko came to his senses at once, put his uncle on the bed, and gave him wine from the castle's Komto to wake him up.He watched him until the old knight fell asleep. Macko woke up late the next day; refreshed by the rest he had had. "Well," Macko said, "I don't think I'm near the end of my life. I think I'll be able to ride a horse if I can get enough fresh air." "The messengers will be here for a few more days," replied Zbyszko. "People come to them all the time, begging for the release of our captives during the raids in Masovia or Greater Poland; but you can start whenever you like, or whenever you feel strong enough to go on the road, we will You can move." Just then Halaffa came in. "Do you know what those two emissaries are doing now?" Macko asked. "They are visiting the upper castle and the church. The castle's 'Comto' personally accompanied them. Then, they will go to the big dining room to eat, and the grand master invites you to go with them." "What have you been up to this morning?" "I went to see the German mercenaries, the captains were giving them drills, and I compared them with our Czechs." "But do you remember the Czech soldiers?" "I was a boy when the Zikh knights of Zgotrilici took me captive, but I remember them well, because I loved seeing such things very much in my childhood—" "So what do you think?" "Nothing. The foot soldiers of the Crusader Knights are good and well trained, but they are like cattle, and we Czech soldiers are wolves. If there is a war, then your Excellency can see that cattle do not eat wolves, but wolves are very I like beef." "That's right," said Macko, who seemed to understand the point. "Anyone who bumps into one of yours will back away as quickly as if he bumped into a thorn." "In war, one knight on horseback is worth ten infantry," Zbyszko said. "But Marlborough infantry can be beaten," replied the squire. After talking about the infantry, Macko said: "Listen, Halava. When I've had enough to eat and feel stronger, we'll start today." "Where are you going?" asked the Czech. "To Spychow in Masovia," replied Zbyszko. "Are we going to stay there?" Macko looked at Zbyszko inquiringly, for they had not discussed the matter until now.Zbyszko might have had an idea about his future lodgings, but he didn't want to upset his uncle, so he changed the subject and said: "You have to take care of your body first!" "and then?" "Then you go back to Bogdaniec. I know how much you like Bogdaniec." "how about you?" "I would also like." "I'm not telling you not to go to Jurand," Macko said slowly. "Because if he dies, he should be buried with dignity, but listen to me, you are still young, and your knowledge is not as good as mine. Spychof is an ominous place. You are in Sri Lanka. You can never find happiness in Birchoff, you have only sorrow, misery, and grief there." "You're right," said Zbyszko. "But there is dear Danusia's body." Macko, fearing that it would cause another grief, said: "do not talk!" But Zbyszko's face showed sadness and sorrow. "We'll have time to discuss it later," said Zbyszko. "Anyway, you'll have to rest in Plotsk." "There, my lord, the old knight will have all he wants," put in Halava. "Excellent!" said Zbyszko. "Do you know where Jagienka is? She's Princess Ziemowit's lady-in-waiting. Well, of course, you know, you brought her there yourself. She's been to Spykhov too, I wonder." What's more, you didn't even tell me when we were at Scovolo's." "Not only has she been to Spiehof, but if it hadn't been for her, Jurand would have been poking the way with a stick, or even died on the way. I brought her to Plotz for the abbot's estate. Go, I wouldn't have told you then if I remembered to, because you, my poor boy, didn't care about anything then." "She loves you very much," said Zbyszko. "Thank God, we don't need letters, but she has obtained letters for you from the Duchess, and has obtained through the Duchess a letter from the emissary of the Knights of the Crusaders." "There is no better girl in the world. May God bless her," Macko said. Centram of Mahikovich and Povara of Tachev came in and interrupted them.They heard that Macko had fainted yesterday, and they came to see him. "Praise Jesus Christ!" said Centrum, as soon as he had crossed the threshold. "How are you feeling today?" "God repay you! I'm getting better. Zbyszko says I'll recover completely if I breathe more fresh air." "How can it not be? . . . It will be! Everything will be fine," broke in Povara. "I've had a good rest, unlike you two, who I've heard got up very early." "First people from this place came to talk about exchanging prisoners," said Centram. "Later we inspected the management system of the Crusader Knights, the fortifications of the castle and the two castles." "Their economy is strong, and their castle is strong!" Macko whispered. "Of course they were powerful. Their churches were decorated in the Arabian style. The knights of the crusaders said they learned it from the Saracens in Sicily, and there were excellent carvings on the pillars of the various halls of the palace, both single and one You have seen with your own eyes the great dining-room, which is also full of fortifications, and its strength is seldom seen. The same is true of those amazing walls, which cannot be broken by the largest stone bullet. It's a delight..." Suntram spoke with such enthusiasm that Macko looked at him in surprise and asked: "Have you seen their wealth, their equipment, soldiers and guests?" "He showed us all himself, as if out of hospitality, but really to frighten us. "Well, what do you think?" "Well, God forbid, one day there's a war and we can drive them back, over the mountains, over the sea, where they came from." Macko suddenly forgot about his illness and jumped up in surprise. "Is that true, sir, they say you have a keen understanding.... I almost faint when I see their strength. For God's sake, what grounds do you have for this opinion?" He turned immediately to his nephew. "Zbyszko, send for the wine they sent us yesterday! Sit down, gentlemen, and go on; there is no medicine that will be so effective for my ailment as your advice." Zbyszko, too, was eager to hear; he put the jug and glasses on the table, and they all sat down around the table, whereupon Sentram of Mašković uttered the following words: "Those fortifications are nothing, because what is made by human hands can be crushed by human hands. Do you know, sir, that city walls are also made of bricks and lime? And you know what a man is." Everything can be done.” "It's true, your words are brilliant," Macko exclaimed. Suntram was very happy when he heard this kind of praise, and continued to express his impressions: "Among the people in this place, some have brothers who have been imprisoned by us; some have sons or relatives who have fallen into our hands. The 'Commut' on the border will instigate these people to attack us , many of them will die in battle, and many will be captured by us. But the people here have heard that the King and the Grand Master have made an agreement; they came early this morning to tell us the names of the captives, and we The clerks wrote down. The first was a local cooper, a powerful Germanic citizen with a house in Marlborough. He concluded by saying, 'I hope I can serve your king well.' Not only am I ready to aid you with my wealth, but I will throw my head down.' I dismissed him as Judas. But then a secular friend came to Olivar; he came to his brother, saying said the following: 'Is it true, sir, that you are about to declare war on our Prussian rulers? I tell you that when our people repeat the prayer "Thy kingdom come"', what is meant is Your king.' Then two more nobles who lived in the area of ​​Strom came to apply for the release of their sons. Then came some merchants and craftsmen from Gdańsk, some mechanics from Kvezin, and bellmakers. Craftsmen. There are many different kinds of people, but they all say the same thing." ①From the sixth chapter of Matthew's Gospel: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come..." Then Sentram got up, looked around, went to the door to listen carefully for anyone outside, and said in a low voice: "I've been researching everything for a long time. All Prussians hate crusader knights, whether priests, nobles, citizens, or peasants. And not only the Polish speakers hate them, but even the Germans themselves hate them .Only those who have to serve serve.” Crusader knights are totally unpopular. " "Hey! But what has that to do with the power of the Knights of the Crusader?" Centrum put his hand to his forehead, as if wishing to make a metaphor; at last he asked with a smile: "Have you ever fought a duel?" "More than once!" Macko replied. "Then what do you think? Even if it is the most capable knight, if the saddle girth and mirror belt under him are cut off, wouldn't the knight fall off the horse in the first turn?" "I can swear it is so." "The Order is just such a knight." "By God!" exclaimed Zbyszko, "you won't find anything better in books than that." Macko was so moved that he whispered in a trembling voice: "May God reward you, Your Excellency. You have such a large head that the helmmaker must make a very large helmet for you. The ready-made helmet is definitely not suitable for you."