Chapter 75 Chapter Forty-One

Maczko and Jasko did not stay long in Cracow; perhaps they would have stayed shorter if Jasko had not wanted to see the customs and customs of this strange and dreamlike city.The old knight was anxious to get back home, to reap and weed.Even though Yass repeatedly begged, it was useless.So they arrived home around the feast of the Assumption.One went to Bogdaniets, and the other to his sister Zgotsylitts. ①The Assumption Day is on August 15th. Since then, life has been smooth and steady.They are all busy with farming and general rural affairs.The harvest was good in the Zgortlitri basin, especially in the area of ​​Mochitori, the industry in Jagienka; but not in Bogdanets; No amount of effort is enough to reap.In general, Bogdaniec has very little arable land.The whole land was situated near the forest, and even the small plots of land, which had been brought into order by the abbot's peasants, were deserted for lack of labour, due to the long absence of the master.Although the old knight regretted these losses, he didn't take them very seriously, because he thought that everything could be arranged in an orderly manner with money, as long as he was really working hard for a person he loved.But it was hesitation on this question that spoiled his enthusiasm for labor and daily life.He really isn't lazy.Get up at dawn, drive livestock, check the labor situation in agriculture and forestry.A foundation for the castle was even selected and the wood prepared.But at the end of the day, when the scorching sun turned into a red-gold sunset, he would often feel a rush of longing, followed by an uneasiness he had never experienced before. "I have labored and toiled here," he said to himself, "and my dear boy has died somewhere with a spear stuck in him, and his body is being eaten by hungry wolves." , He was very painful and anxious.So he watched and listened carefully, whether he heard the sound of a horse's hooves announcing Jagienka's approach again.Jagienka came every day to see the old knight.He would cheer up in her presence, and comfort himself by talking to her of his good hopes.

Jagienka always came to see him at night, carrying a crossbow and spear in his saddle in case of any danger returning home. It was impossible for her to encounter Zbyszko suddenly returning during one of her visits.Because even Macko himself could not expect him to return in less than a year or so.But this hope was evidently in the heart of the young lady, for she always came dressed; There were leaves in her hair, which she now braided beautifully, and she wore a dress of fine calico from Shiraz.Macko came out to meet her, and she always began by asking, "What news?" as if someone had written him a letter.

"No news!" he always answered her.So he took her into the house, and chatted by the fireside about Zbyszko, Lithuania, the Crusades, and the war, always on the same subject.But they never tire of it, and they talk on and on. Several months passed like this.Sometimes Matsko called on Zgotrilitri, but most often it was Jagienka who came to see him.Sometimes, because of disturbances in the neighborhood, rough roads, or the season when the male bears are in their prime and ready to hurt, Macko would send her home.The old man, with his superhuman strength, and being fully armed, was not afraid of any wild beasts; and therefore he was a far greater danger to them than they were to him.The two of them rode side by side, and often heard scary noises in the depths of the wood, but they paid no heed to them, for nothing could hurt them.The only thing they cared about was Zbyszko.where is he?what is he doingMaybe killed, maybe he will soon kill so many crusader knights he swore to the dead Danusia mother and daughter.Will he be back soon?Jagienka had asked Macko that question a hundred times.He always answered with great care and thought, as if he were hearing the question for the first time.

"You say," she asked, "that the battle of the field is less terrible to a knight than the assault of a castle?" "Look at Wilke's results. No weapon can stand up to a log rolling down from a fortress, and on the battlefield, an experienced knight can outnumber ten." "How is Zbyszko's armor?" "He has some good ones; the best one was won from a Frisian: it's from Milan. A year ago Zbyszko's armor was too big for him, and now it's gone. It fits." "Then the armor is invulnerable, is it not?" "No, what is made by man can be destroyed by man. The armor made by Milan can be smashed by the sword of Milan, or pierced by the arrow of England."

"An arrow from England?" asked Jagienka in surprise. "Didn't I tell you? There is no better English archer in the world, except the Majurs in the wilderness. But the Majurs don't have such good bows and arrows. The English crossbow can be found in Shoots through the best armor at a hundred paces. I have seen English archers never fail to shoot near Wilno. Some of them can hit eagles." "O sons of the heathen! How then can you conquer them?" "There's only one way: hurry up and charge them! Those dogs are also good at using tomahawks, but we can subdue them in hand-to-hand combat."

"God's hand protected you then, and it will protect Zbyszko now." "I used to say: 'God created us and put us in Bogdaniec. Then of course he will try to keep us from dying out.' Well, it's up to God to worry about that. Really, nothing It is not easy to take care of the whole world with omissions; mortals always omit something; therefore it must be remembered: first, do not be mean to the holy Church, and, secondly, the mind of God is not the same as that of men." In this way, they often chatted, comforted and encouraged each other.So day after day, week after week, month after month, just passed.In the autumn Macko came into conflict with old Wilk of Borzodova.It was an old dispute between the abbot and Wilk about the boundaries of the forest in Bogdaniec.At that time Bogdaniec was in the hands of the abbot, who felled the tree there and took possession of it.At that time, the abbot once challenged Wilke and his son to a duel at the same time, either with a spear or with a long sword.But the Wilkers would not fight a priest.When they went to court, they didn't get any benefit.Now old Wilk was thinking of those lands again; but Macko was always greedy for land, and he knew that there was no better land for growing barley than this new land; don't listen.On one occasion they both went to visit the priest in Kirsisnia, and met there by chance, so that they did not go to court.After they quarreled there, old Wilk suddenly shouted: "Let others judge. There is no justice in the world, and God will judge justice; you have treated me so badly, and God will repay you in your children and grandchildren." Stubborn Macko suddenly softened, turned pale, was silent for a while, and then said to his noisy neighbour:

"Listen, it's not me that caused this, it's the abbot. God knows who is right. But I don't want you to curse Zbyszko, take this land. God bless Zbyszko with health And luck, I give it to you with all my heart." He held out his hand to old Wilk, who had always known the character of his neighbor and was greatly surprised.It did not occur to old Wilkevan that this apparently hard-hearted man harbored in his heart a love for his nephew, and a great concern for his well-being.Old Wilk was silent for a long time, and he could not say a word for a long time. Later, it was the priest of Krzysnian who was very happy to see that things had turned around, and crossed himself to express his blessing for them. Old Wilk said:

"If this is the case, that's another matter entirely! What I want is not benefits. I'm old, and no one will inherit my estate. What I want is justice. Whoever treats me well, I am willing to give in. As for Your nephew, may God bless him right there, so that you don't have to cry for him at such a long age, as I did for my only son..." So they embraced each other; for a long time they gave way to each other, but they refused to take the land.In the end, Macko agreed to take it, because old Wilk really had no heir. Matsko was so delighted that he invited old Wilk to Bogdaniec and entertained him with rich food and wine.Macko was very happy, for he thought that he would soon receive a rich barley from that land; and he also thought that he had relieved God from the wrath of Zbyszko.

"As long as he comes back," he thought, "these lands and possessions will be enough for him." Jagienka was also very satisfied with this reconciliation. She heard all this and said: "If good God Jesus wanted to show that he loves peace and does not want quarrels, then Zbyszko will come back to you safe and sound." Macko's countenance glowed as if illuminated by the sun at these words. "I think so too," he said. "Whatever it is, God Almighty is God Almighty after all; to understand the power of God, you must have understanding." "You have never been short of tact," she answered, looking upward.

She thought for a moment, then continued: "Oh, you love your Zbyszko too! Oh, you love him too!" "Who doesn't love him," answered the old knight. "What about yourself? Do you hate him?" Jagienka did not answer directly, but she was sitting on the bench next to Macko, and now she moved closer, turned her head, and nudged him lightly with her elbow. "Leave me alone," she said. "What have I offended you?"