As this was repeated by a man over whose head punishment was suspended, therefore there was no more sincere prayer in the whole church.
CHAPTER V.
After mass Zbyszko thought that if he could only fall upon his knees before the queen and kiss her feet, then he did not care what happened afterward. But after the first mass, the queen went to her apartments. Usually she did not take any nourishment until noontime, and was not present at the merry breakfast, during which jugglers and fools appeared for the amusement of the king. The old wlodyka of Dlugolas came and summoned Zbyszko to the princess.
“You will serve Danusia and me at the table as my courtier,” said the princess. “It may happen that you will please the king by some facetious word or deed, and the Krzyzak if he recognize you, will not complain to the king, seeing that you serve me at the king’s table.”
Zbyszko kissed the princess’ hand. Then he turned to Danusia; and although he was more accustomed to battles than to the manners of the court, still he evidently knew what was befitting a knight, when he sees the lady of his thoughts in the morning; he retreated, and assuming an expression of surprise, and making the sign of the cross, exclaimed:
“In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost!”
Danusia, looking at him with her blue eyes, asked:
“Why do you make the sign of the cross, Zbyszko, after mass is ended?”
“Because your beauty increased so much, during last night, that I am astonished!”
Mikolaj of Dlugolas, who did not like the new, foreign customs of chivalry, shrugged his shoulders and said:
“Don’t lose time talking to her about her beauty! She is only a bush hardly grown up from the soil.”
At this Zbyszko looked at him with rancor.
“You must be careful about calling her a ‘bush,’” said he, turning pale with anger; “if you were younger, I would challenge you immediately and would fight until either you or I were dead!”
“Keep quiet, you beardless boy! I can manage you even to-day!”
“Be quiet!” said the princess. “Instead of thinking about your own danger, you are seeking a quarrel! I would prefer to find a more steady knight for Danusia. If you wish to foam, go where you please; but we do not need you here.”
Zbyszko felt abashed at the princess’ words and began to apologize. But he thought to himself that if Pan Mikolaj of Dlugolas had a grown-up son, then sometime he would challenge the son and would not forgive Mikolaj for calling her “bush.” Now he determined to be quiet while in the king’s castle and not to provoke anybody, only in case of absolute necessity.
The blowing of horns announced that breakfast was ready; therefore the Princess Anna taking Danusia by the hand, went to the king’s apartments, where the lay-dignitaries and the knights, stood awaiting her arrival. Princess Ziemowita entered first, because being the king’s sister, she occupied a higher seat at the table. Soon the hall was filled with guests, dignitaries and knights. The king was seated at the upper end of the table, having near him Wojciech Jastrzembiec, bishop of Krakow, the bishop, although inferior in rank to the other priests wearing mitres, was seated at the right hand of the king because he was the pope’s envoy. The two princesses took the next places. Near Anna Danuta, the former archbishop of Gniezno, Jan, was comfortably seated in a large chair. He was a descendant of the Piasts of Szlonsk and the son of Bolko, Prince of Opole. Zbyszko had heard of him at the court of Witold; and now while standing behind the princess and Danusia, he recognized the archbishop by his abundant hair which being curled, made his head look like a kropidlo. At the courts of the Polish princes, they called him “Kropidlo,” for this reason; and the Knights of the Cross gave him the name of “Grapidla.” He was noted for his gaiety and giddy manners. Having received the nomination for the archbishopric of Gniezno, against the king’s wish, he took possession of it by military force; for this act he was deprived of his rank. He then joined the Knights of the Cross who gave him the poor bishopric of Kamieniec in Pomorze. Then he concluded that it was better to be friendly with the mighty king; he craved his pardon, returned to the country and was now waiting for a vacancy to occur, hoping that the good hearted lord would let him fill it. He was not mistaken as the future proved. In the meantime he was trying to win the king’s heart by merry frolics. But he still liked the Knights of the Cross. Even now, at the court of Jagiello where he was not greatly welcomed by the dignitaries and knights, he sought Lichtenstein’s company and gladly sat beside him at the table.
Zbyszko, standing behind the princess’ chair, was so near to the Krzyzak, Lichtenstein, that he could have touched him with his hand. In fact, his fingers began to twitch, but he overcame his impetuosity and did not permit himself any evil thoughts. But he could not refrain from looking eagerly at Lichtenstein’s head and shoulders, trying to decide whether he would have a hard fight with him, if they met either during the war, or in single combat. He concluded that it would not be difficult to conquer the German. The Krzyzak’s shoulder bones appeared quite large under his dress of grey broadcloth; but he was only a weakling compared with Powala or with Paszko Zlodziej of Biskupice, or with both of the most famous Sulimczyks, or with Krzon of Kozieglowy or with many of the other knights, sitting at the king’s table.
At these knights Zbyszko looked with admiration and envy; but his attention was also attracted by the actions of the king, who at this moment gathered his hair with his fingers and pushed it behind his ears, as if he was impatient because breakfast was not served. His eyes rested for a moment on Zbyszko, and at that the young knight felt afraid, fearing that perhaps he would be obliged to face the angry king. This was the first time he had thought seriously about the consequences of his rash action. Until now it had seemed to him to be something remote, therefore not worthy of sorrow.
The German did not know that that youth who dad attacked him so boldly on the highway, was so near. The breakfast began. They brought in caudle, seasoned so strongly with eggs, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and saffron, that the fragrance filled the whole room. In the meanwhile the fool Ciaruszek, sitting on a chair in the doorway, began to imitate the singing of a nightingale, of which the king was very fond. Then another jester went around the table, stopped behind the guests and imitated the buzzing of a bee so well, that some of them began to defend their heads. Seeing this, the others burst with laughter. Zbyszko had served the princess and Danusia diligently; but when Lichtenstein began to clap his baldhead, he again forgot about his danger and began to laugh. The young Lithuanian kniaz, Jamut, who was standing beside him, also laughed at this very heartily. The Krzyzak having finally noticed his mistake, put his hand in his pocket, and turning to the bishop, Kropidlo, said a few words to him in German; the bishop immediately repeated them in Polish.
“The noble lord says to you,” said he, turning toward the fool, “that you will receive two skojce; but do not buzz too near, because the bee is driven away, but the drones are killed.”
The fool took the two skojce given to him by the Krzyzak, and taking advantage of the license granted at all courts to the fools, answered:
“There is plenty of honey in the province of Dobrzyn; that is why it is beset with the drones. Drive them, King Wladyslaw!”
“Here is a penny from me, because you have said a clever thing,” said Kropidlo, “but remember that if the rope break, the beehive keeper break his neck. Those drones from Malborg, by whom Dobrzyn is beset, have stings, and it is dangerous to climb to the beehives.”
“Owa!” exclaimed Zyndram of Maszkow, the sword bearer of Krakow, “one can smoke them out!”
“With what?”
“With powder.”
“Or cut the beehive with an axe,” added the gigantic Paszko Zlodziej of Biskupice.
Zbyszko’s heart was ready to leap with joy, because he thought that such words betokened war. Kuno von Lichtenstein understood what was said, because during his long sojourn in Torun and Chelmno, he learned the Polish languag
e; but he would not use it on account of pride. But now, being irritated by the words of Zyndram of Maszkow, he looked at him sharply with his grey eyes and said:
“We shall see.”
“Our fathers saw at Plowce and at Wilno,” answered Zyndram.
“Pax vobiscum!” exclaimed Kropidlo. “Pax, pax! If only the ksiondz Mikolaj of Kurow, will give up his Kujawian bishopric, and the gracious king appoint me in his place, I will preach you such a beautiful sermon about the love between Christian nations, that you will sincerely repent. Hatred is nothing but ignis and ignis infernalis at that; such a dreadful fire that one cannot extinguish it with water, but is obliged to pour wine on it. Give us some wine! We will go on ops, as the late Bishop Zawisza of Kurozwenki used to say!”
“And from ops to hell, the devil says,” added the fool Ciaruszek.
“Let him take you!”
“It would be more amusing for him to take you. They have not yet seen the devil with Kropidlo, but I think we shall all have that pleasure.”
“I will sprinkle you first. Give us some wine and may love blossom among the Christians!”
“Among true Christians!” added Kuno von Lichtenstein, emphatically.
“What?” exclaimed the Krakowian bishop Wysz, raising his head; “are you not in an old Christian kingdom? Are not our churches older than yours in Malborg?”
“I don’t know,” answered the Krzyzak. The king was especially sensitive where any question about Christianity arose. It seemed to him that the Krzyzak wished to make an allusion to him; therefore his cheeks flamed immediately and his eyes began to shine.
“What!” said he, in a deep voice, “am I not a Christian king?”
“The kingdom calls itself a Christian one,” coolly answered the Krzyzak; “but its customs are pagan.”
At this many angry knights arose; Marcin of Wrocimowice, whose coat of arms was Polkoza, Florian of Korytnica, Bartosz of Wodzinek, Domarat of Kobylany, Zyndram of Maszkow, Powala of Taczew, Paszko Zlodziej of Biskupice, Jaxa of Targowisko, Krzon of Kozieglowy, Zygmunt of Bobowa and Staszko of Charbimowice, powerful and famous knights, victorious in many battles and in many tournaments. Alternately blushing and turning pale from anger, gnashing their teeth, they began to shout:
“Woe to us! He is a guest and we cannot challenge him!”
Zawisza Czarny, Sulimczyk, the most famous among the famous, “the model of knighthood,” turned to Lichtenstein with a frown on his forehead and said:
“I do not recognize you, Kuno. How can you, a knight, insult a mighty nation, when you know that, being an envoy, you cannot be punished for it.”
But Kuno quietly sustained the threatening look, and answered slowly and precisely:
“Our Order, before it came to Prussia, fought in Palestine; even there the Saracens respected the envoys. But you do not respect them; that is the reason I called your customs pagan.”
At these words the uproar increased. Round the table again were heard shouts: “Woe! Woe!”
But they subsided when the king, who was furious, clasped his hands in the Lithuanian fashion. Then the old Jasko Topor of Tenczyn, castellan of Krakow, venerable, grave and dreaded on account of the importance of his office, arose and said:
“Noble Knight of Lichtenstein, if you, an envoy, have been insulted, speak, and severe punishment will be given quickly.”
“It would not have happened to me in any other Christian country,” answered Kuno. “Yesterday on the road to Tyniec I was attacked by one of your knights, and although he could very easily recognize by the cross on my mantle who I was, he attempted my life.”
Zbyszko, having heard these words, became very pale and involuntarily glanced at the king, whose anger was terrible. Jasko of Tenczyn was surprised, and said:
“Can it be possible?”
“Ask the Pan of Taczew, who was a witness of the incident.”
“All eyes turned toward Powala, who stood for a while gloomy, and with lowered eyelids; then he said:
“Yes, it is so!”
Hearing this the knights began to shout: “Shame! Shame! The earth will devour such a man!” Because of this disgrace some of them began to strike their chests with their hands, and others to rap the silver dishes, not knowing what to do.
“Why did you not kill him?” shouted the king.
“Because his head belongs to the court,” answered Powala.
“Have you put him in prison?” asked the castellan, Topor of Tenczyn.
“No. He is a wlodyka, who swore on his knightly honor, that he would appear.”
“But he will not appear!” ironically exclaimed Kuno, raising his head.
At that moment a young voice resounded behind the Krzyzak:
“I did it; I, Zbyszko of Bogdaniec!”
After these words the knights rushed toward the unhappy Zbyszko; but they were stopped by a threatening nod from the king who began to shout in an angry voice, similar to the rattling of a carriage rolling over the stones:
“Cut his head off! Cut his head off! Let the Krzyzak send it to Malborg to the grand master!”
Then he cried to the young Lithuanian prince standing near.
“Hold him, Jamont!”
The frightened Jamont put his trembling hands on Zbyszko’s shoulders.
But the white-bearded castellan of Krakow, Topor of Tenczyn, raised his hand as a sign that he wished to speak; when everybody was quiet, he said:
“Gracious king! Let this comthur be convinced that not only your impetuous anger, but our laws will punish with death any who insult an envoy. Otherwise he will think that there are no Christian laws in this country. To-morrow I will judge the offender.”
The last words he said quietly and as though no one could change his decision. Then he said to Jamont:
“Shut him in the tower. As for you, Pan of Taczew, you will be a witness.”
“I will tell about the offence of this lad,” answered Powala, looking at Lichtenstein.
“He is right!” immediately said some knights. “He is only a lad! Why should the shame be put on us all!”
There was a moment of silence, and angry looks were cast at the Krzyzak. In the meanwhile Jamont conducted Zbyszko to the court-yard of the castle and intrusted him to the archers. In his young heart he pitied the prisoner, and this pity was increased by his natural hatred of the Germans. But he was a Lithuanian, accustomed to fulfill blindly the orders of the grand duke; being himself afraid of the king’s wrath, he began to whisper to the young knight, with kindly persuasion:
“Do you know, what I would do if in your place? Hang myself! It will be the best! The korol is angry; they will cut off your head. Why should you not make him joyful? Hang yourself, druh. Such is the custom in my country.”
Zbyszko, half dazed with shame and fear, at first did not seem to understand the words of the kniazik; but finally he understood them and then he was amazed:
“What do you say?”
“Hang yourself! Why should they judge you. You will only afford pleasure for the king!” repeated Jamont.
“Hang your own self!” exclaimed the young wlodyka. “They have baptized you but your heathen skin remains on you. Do you not know that it is a sin for a Christian to kill himself?”
The kniaz shrugged his shoulders:
“It will not be according to your will. They will cut off your head just the same.”
These words angered Zbyszko, and he wondered if it would be proper to challenge the bojarzynek for a fight either on horseback or on foot, with swords or with axes; but he stifled this desire. He dropped his head sadly and surrounded by the archers, went silently to the tower.
In the meanwhile everybody’s attention in the dining hall was turned to Danusia, who became pale with fright. She stood motionless like a wax figure in a church. But when she heard that they were going to execute Zbyszko, then she was seized with great fear; her mouth quivered and at once she began to cry so loudly and so pitifully, that all faces turned toward her and
the king himself asked her:
“What is the matter with thee?”
“Gracious king!” said the Princess Anna, “she is the daughter of Jurand of Spychow and this unhappy knight made a vow to her. He promised her to tear three peacock tufts from the helmets of the Germans, and having noticed such a tuft on the helmet of this comthur, he thought that God himself had sent the Krzyzak. He did not attack him, lord, through malice, but through stupidity; therefore be merciful and do not punish him, we beseech you on our knees!”
Having said this she arose, seized Danusia by the hand, and rushed with her toward the king, who seeing this began to retire. But both kneeled before him and Danusia began to cry;
“Forgive Zbyszko, king, forgive Zbyszko!”
Because she was afraid, she hid her fair head between the folds of the king’s dress, kissed his knees and trembled like a leaf. Anna Ziemowitowa kneeled on the other side and having clasped her hands, looked at the king on whose face there was visible great perplexity. He retired toward the chair, but did not push Danusia back, only waved his hands.
“Do not trouble me!” he cried. “The youth is guilty; he has brought disgrace on the country! They must execute him!”
But the little hands clung closer and closer to his knees and the child cried more and more pitifully:
“Forgive Zbyszko, king, forgive Zbyszko!”
Now the voices of some knights were heard to exclaim:
“Jurand of Spychow is a famous knight, and the cause of awe to the Germans.”
“And that youth fought bravely at Wilno!” added Powala.
But the king excused himself further, although he pitied Danusia.
“He is not guilty toward me and it is not I who can forgive him. Let the envoy of the Order pardon him, then I will pardon him also; but if the envoy will not, then he must die.”
“Forgive him, sir!” exclaimed both of the princesses.
“Forgive, forgive!” repeated the voices of the knights.
Kuno closed his eyes and sat with uplifted forehead, as if he was delighted to see both princesses and such famous knights entreating him. Then his appearance changed; he dropped his head, crossed his hands on his breast and from a proud man became a humble one, and said with a soft, mild voice:
Complete Works of Henryk Sienkiewicz Page 493