The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER IV.

  The next day after their arrival at Bogdaniec, Macko and Zbyszko began tolook around their old home; they soon realized that Zych of Zgorzelicewas right when he told them that at first they would be uncomfortable.

  With the farming they could get along quite well. There were severalfields cultivated by the peasants whom the abbot had settled there.Formerly there had been much cultivated land in Bogdaniec; but after thebattle at Plowce[73] where the family Grady perished, there was ascarcity of working hands; and after the invasion of the Germans fromSzlonsk and after the war of Nalenczs with Grzymalits, the formerly richfields became overgrown with trees. Macko could not help it. In vain hetried for several years to bring farmers from Krzesnia and rent the landto them; they refused to come, preferring to remain on their own stripsof land rather than to cultivate some one else's. His offer howeverattracted some shelterless men; in the different wars, he capturedseveral slaves whom he married and settled in the houses; and in that wayhe populated the village. But it was hard work for him; therefore as soonas he had an opportunity, Macko pledged the whole of Bogdaniec, thinkingthat it would be easier for the powerful abbot to settle the land withpeasants, and that the war would bring to him and to Zbyszko some peopleand money. In fact, the abbot was energetic. He had increased the workingforce of Bogdaniec with five peasant families; he increased the stock ofcattle and horses; then he built a barn, a stable and a cow house. But ashe did not live in Bogdaniec, he did not repair the house. Macko, who hadhoped to find the _grodek_ surrounded with a ditch and hedge when hereturned, found everything just as he had left it, with this differenceonly, that the walls were more crooked and seemed to be lower, becausethey had settled deeper in the earth.

  The house contained an enormous hall, two large rooms with alcoves, and akitchen. In the rooms there were windows made of bladders; and in thecentre of each room, there was a fireplace made of lime, and the smokeescaped through a hole in the ceiling. From the ceilings now blackenedfrom smoke, during former times used to hang the hams of boars, bears anddeer, rumps of roes, sides of beef and rolls of sausages. But now thehooks were empty as well as the shelves fastened to the walls, on whichthey used to put the tin and earthen dishes. The walls beneath theshelves were no longer empty, however, because Zbyszko had ordered hisservants to hang helmets, cuirasses, long swords and short swords onthem; and further along boar-spears and forks, caparisons and saddles.The smoke blackened the weapons, and it was necessary to clean them veryoften. But Macko, who was careful, ordered the servants to put the costlyclothes in the alcove in which his bed stood.

  In the front rooms there stood near the windows, pine tables and benchesof the same, on which the lords used to sit during the meals, with alltheir servants. People accustomed to war were easily satisfied; but inBogdaniec there was neither bread nor flour and no dishes. The peasantsbrought what they could; Macko expected that the neighbors, as was thencustomary, would help him; and he was not mistaken, at least as far asZych of Zgorzelice was concerned.

  The second day, when the old _wlodyka_ was sitting on a log in front ofthe house, delighted with the bright autumn day, Jagienka came, riding ablack horse; she dismounted and approached Macko, out of breath onaccount of fast riding, and rosy as an apple; she said:

  "May you be blessed! _Tatulo_ sent me to inquire about your health."

  "I am no worse," answered Macko; "and at least I have slept in my ownhouse."

  "But you cannot be comfortable at all, and a sick person needs somecare."

  "We are hardened people. It is true that at first there was no comfort;but we were not hungry. We ordered an ox and two sheep killed, so thereis plenty of meat. The women brought some flour and eggs; the worst isthat we have no dishes."

  "Well, I ordered my servants to load two wagons. On one there are twobeds and dishes, and on the other different provisions. There are somecakes and flour, some salt pork and dried mushrooms; there is a barrel ofbeer and one of mead; in fact a little of everything we had in thehouse."

  Macko, who was grateful for this kindness, caressed Jagienka's head, andsaid:

  "May God reward your father and you. When our housekeeping improves, wewill return the provisions."

  "How clever you are! We are not like the Germans, who take back what theygive."

  "Well, so much more may God reward you. Your father told us what a goodhousekeeper you are, and that you had taken care of Zgorzelice the wholeyear?"

  "Yes! If you need anything else, send somebody; but send some one whowill know what is needed, because a stupid servant never knows what hehas been sent for."

  Here Jagienka began to look round, and Macko having noticed it, smiledand asked:

  "For whom are you looking?"

  "I am looking for no one!"

  "I will send Zbyszko to thank you and your father. Do you like Zbyszko?"

  "I have not looked at him."

  "Then look at him now, because he is just coming."

  In fact Zbyszko was coming from the stable. He was dressed in a reindeerjacket and round felt cap like those worn under the helmets; his hair waswithout a net, cut evenly over his eyebrows and hung in golden curls onhis shoulders; he walked swiftly, having noticed the girl; he was talland graceful, looking like the shield-bearer of a rich nobleman.

  Jagienka turned toward Macko as if to show that she came only to see him;but Zbyszko welcomed her joyfully, and having taken hold of her hand,raised it to his mouth, notwithstanding her resistance.

  "Why do you kiss my hand?" asked she. "Am I a priest?"

  "Such is the custom; you must not resist."

  "Even if he had kissed both your hands," said Macko, "it would not beenough for all that you have brought us."

  "What have you brought?" asked Zbyszko, looking around the court-yard;but he did not see anything except the black horse tied to the post.

  "The wagons have not come yet; but they will soon be here," answeredJagienka.

  Macko began to enumerate what she had brought; but when he mentioned thetwo beds, Zbyszko said:

  "I am satisfied to sleep on the urus' skin; but I thank you because youthought about me also."

  "It was not I; it was _Tatulo_," answered the girl, blushing. "If youprefer to sleep on the skin, you can do it."

  "I prefer to sleep on what I can. Sometimes after a battle, I slept witha dead Krzyzak instead of a pillow under my head."

  "You do not mean to tell me that you have ever killed a Krzyzak? I amsure you have not."

  Zbyszko, instead of answering, began to laugh. But Macko exclaimed:

  "For heaven's sake, girl, you do not know him yet! He has never doneanything else, but kill the Germans. He can fight with an axe, a spear orwith any weapon; and when he sees a German from afar, one must tie himwith a rope, or else he will rush against him. In Krakow he wanted tokill the envoy, Lichtenstein, and for that he barely escaped execution.Such a man! I will tell you also about the two Fryzes, from whom we tooktheir retinues and so much rich booty, that one could redeem Bogdaniecwith half of it."

  Here Macko began to tell about his duel with the Fryzjans; also aboutother adventures which had happened to them, and about the deeds they hadperformed. How they had fought from behind the walls and in the openfields, with the greatest knights living in foreign lands; how they hadfought Germans, Frenchmen, Englishmen and Burgundians. He also told herwhat they had seen! They had seen German castles of red brick, Lithuanianwooden _grodzce_[74] and churches, more beautiful than one could seearound Bogdaniec; also large cities and the dreadful wilderness in whichduring the nights Lithuanian gods cried, and many different, marvelousthings; and everywhere, in any fight, Zbyszko was victorious, so thateven the greatest knights were astonished at him.

  Jagienka, who was sitting on the log beside Macko, listened with openmouth to that narrative, tossing her head and looking at the young knightwith increasing admiration and amazement. Finally when Macko was through,she sighed and said:

  "I am sorry I was not born a boy
!"

  But Zbyszko, who during the narration had been looking at herattentively, evidently was thinking about something else, because hesuddenly said:

  "What a beautiful girl you are now!"

  Jagienka answered, half in displeasure and half in sadness:

  "You have seen many more beautiful than I am."

  But Zbyszko could truly answer her that he had not seen many as pretty asshe, because Jagienka was beaming with health, youth and strength. Theold abbot used to say that she looked like a pine tree. Everything wasbeautiful in her; a slender figure, a broad bosom that looked as if itwere cut out of marble, a red mouth, and intelligent blue eyes. She wasalso dressed with more care than when in the forest with the huntingparty. Around her neck she had a necklace of red beads; she wore a furjacket opened in front and covered with green cloth, a homespun skirt andnew boots. Even old Macko noticed this beautiful attire, and havinglooked at her for a moment, asked:

  "Why are you dressed as if you were going to church?"

  But instead of answering, she exclaimed:

  "The wagons are coming!"

  In fact the wagons now appeared and she sprang toward them, followed byZbyszko. The unloading lasted quite a long time to the great satisfactionof Macko who looked at everything, and praised Jagienka all the time. Itwas dusk when the girl started home. While she was getting ready to mounther horse, Zbyszko suddenly caught her, and before she was able to say aword, lifted her into the saddle. Then she blushed like the dawn andturning her head toward him, said with emotion in her voice:

  "What a strong boy you are!"

  But he, not having noticed her confusion nor her blushes because it wasdark, laughed and said:

  "Are you not afraid of wild beasts? It is night!"

  "There is a boar-spear in the wagon. Give it to me."

  Zbyszko went to the wagon, took the boar-spear and handed it to Jagienka;then he said:

  "Be in good health!"

  "Be in good health!" she answered.

  "May God reward you! To-morrow, or the day after, I will be in Zgorzeliceto thank Zych and you for your kindness."

  "Come! You will be welcome!"

  Having touched her horse, she disappeared among the bushes growing on thesides of the road.

  Zbyszko returned to his uncle.

  "You must go inside."

  But Macko answered, without moving from the log:

  "Hej! I what a girl! I She made the court-yard brighter!"

  "That is true!"

  There was a moment of silence. Macko seemed to be thinking aboutsomething while looking at the stars; then he said, as if he werespeaking to himself:

  "She is pretty and a good housekeeper, although she is not more thanfifteen years old."

  "Yes!" answered Zbyszko. "Therefore old Zych loves her dearly."

  "And he said that the estate of Moczydoly will be her dowry; and there onthe pastures is a herd of mares with many colts."

  "Are there not a great many marshes in the Moczydlowski estate?"

  "Yes; but in those marshes there are plenty of beavers."

  There was silence again. Macko looked intently at Zbyszko for a while,and finally he asked, "About what are you thinking?"

  "Seeing Jagienka reminded me of Danusia, and something pricked me in theheart."

  "Let us go into the house," answered the old _wlodyka_. "It is gettinglate."

  Having risen with difficulty, he leaned on Zbyszko, who conducted him tothe alcove.

  The next day Zbyszko went to Zgorzelice, because Macko urged him. He alsoinsisted that he take two servants with him for ostentation, and that hedress in his best clothes, to show respect and gratitude to Zych. Zbyszkodid as he was asked and went attired as if for a wedding, in his _jaka_made of white satin, bordered with gold fringe and embroidered with goldgriffins. Zych received him with open arms, with joy and with singing; asfor Jagienka, when she entered, she stopped as if she were rooted to theground and almost dropped the bucket of wine which she was carrying; shethought that a son of some king had arrived. She became timid and satsilently, rubbing her eyes from time to time as if she would like toawaken from a dream. The inexperienced Zbyszko thought that, for somereason unknown to him, she did not wish to talk to him; therefore heconversed only with Zych, praising his munificence and admiring the houseat Zgorzelice, which in fact was quite different from that in Bogdaniec.

  Everywhere comfort and wealth were evident. In the rooms there werewindows with panes made of horn, cut in thin slices and polished so thatit was as transparent as glass. Instead of fireplaces in the centre,there were large chimneys in the corners. The floors were made of larchtree planks, while on the walls were hung suits of armor and manypolished dishes, also silver spoons. Here and there were costly rugsbrought from the wars. Under the tables there were enormous urus' skins.Zych showed his riches willingly, saying that it was Jagienka'shousehold. He conducted Zbyszko to the alcove, fragrant with rosin andpeppermint, in which were hanging from the ceiling, large bunches of wolfskins, fox skins, beaver skins and marten skins. He showed to him theprovisions of cheese, honey, wax, barrels of flour, pails of dried bread,hemp and dried mushrooms. Then he went with him to the granaries, barns,stables, cow houses, and to the sheds filled with plenty of huntingimplements and nets. Zbyszko was so dazzled by all this wealth thatduring supper, he could not refrain from admiration.

  "What a pleasure to live in Zgorzelice!" exclaimed he.

  "In Moczydoly, there is almost the same wealth," answered Zych. "Do youremember Moczydoly? It is not far from Bogdaniec. Formerly ourforefathers quarreled about the boundaries and challenged each other; butI shall not quarrel."

  Here he filled Zbyszko's goblet with mead and said:

  "Perhaps you would like to sing?"

  "No," answered Zbyszko; "but I shall listen to you with pleasure."

  "Zgorzelice will belong to the young bears."

  "What do you mean by 'young bears?'"

  "Why, Jagienka's brothers."

  "Hej! they will not have to suck their paws during the winter."

  "No; but Jagienka will also have plenty in Moczydoly."

  "That is true!"

  "Why don't you eat and drink? Jagienka, pour for him and for me."

  "I am drinking and eating as much as I can."

  "Ungird your belt; then you will be able to eat and drink more. What abeautiful girdle you have! Yon must have taken rich booty in Lithuania!"

  "We cannot complain," answered Zbyszko, gladly seizing the opportunity toexplain that the heirs of Bogdaniec were no longer _wlodykas_. "A part ofour booty, we sold in Krakow and received forty silver _grzywiens_ forit."

  "You don't say so! Why, one can buy an estate for that."

  "Yes. There was one Milanese armor which my uncle, expecting to die, soldfor a good price."

  "I know! Well, it is worth while to go to Lithuania. I wanted to go therealso; but I was afraid."

  "Of what? Of the Knights of the Cross?"

  "Ej, who would be afraid of Germans? I was afraid of those heathenishgods or devils. It seems there are plenty of them in the woods."

  "They do not have any other place for shelter, because their temples havebeen burned. Formerly they were well-to-do; but now they live onmushrooms and ants."

  "Did you see them?"

  "No, I did not see any myself; but I heard of people who had seen them.Sometimes one of them sticks out a hairy paw from behind a tree andshakes it, begging for something."

  "Macko told me the same," answered Jagienka.

  "Yes! He told me about it on the road," said Zych. "Well, no wonder! Inour country also, although it has been a Christian country for a longtime, one can hear laughter in the marshes; and although the priestsscold about it in the churches, it is always good policy to put a dishfilled with something to eat, for the little devils; otherwise they willscratch on the walls so much that one can hardly sleep. Jagienka, mydearest! put a dish at the threshold."

  Jagienka took an earthen porringer full of
noodles and cheese, and placedit at the threshold. Zych said:

  "The priests scold! But the Lord Jesus will not be angry about a dish ofnoodles; and a god, as soon as his hunger is satisfied, will protect onefrom fire and from thieves."

  Then he turned to Zbyszko:

  "But will you not ungird yourself and sing a little?"

  "You had better sing, or perhaps _Panna_[75] Jagienka will sing."

  "We will sing by turns," exclaimed Zych. "We have a servant who willaccompany us on a wooden fife. Call the boy!"

  They called the servant who sat down on the bench and put the fife to hismouth, waiting to learn whom he was to accompany.

  None of them wanted to be first. Finally Zych told Jagienka to begin;therefore Jagienka, although bashful because Zbyszko was present, rosefrom the bench and having put her hands under her apron, began:

  "If I only could get The wings like a birdie, I would fly quickly To my dearest Jasiek."

  Zbyszko opened his eyes wide; then he jumped up and shouted:

  "Where did you learn that song?"

  Jagienka looked at him astonished.

  "Everybody sings that. What is the matter with you?"

  Zych thinking that Zbyszko was a little intoxicated, turned his jovialface toward him and said:

  "Ungird! It will relieve you!"

  But Zbyszko stood for a while with astonishment on his face; then, havingrecovered from his emotion, said to Jagienka:

  "Excuse me, I suddenly remembered something. Sing further."

  "Perhaps it makes you sad?"

  "Ej, not at all!" he answered, with a quivering voice. "I could listen toit the whole night."

  Then he sat down, covered his face with his hand, and listened.

  Jagienka sang another couplet; but when she finished, she noticed a bigtear rolling down Zbyszko's fingers.

  Then she sat down beside him, and began to touch him with her elbow.

  "What is the matter with you? I do not want to make you cry. Tell me whatis the matter with you?"

  "Nothing! Nothing!" answered Zbyszko, sighing. "I could tell you much.But it is over. I feel merry now."

  "Perhaps you would like to have some sweet wine?"

  "Good girl!" exclaimed Zych. "Call him 'Zbyszko,' and you call her'Jagienka.' You have known each other since you were children."

  Then he turned toward his daughter:

  "Do not mind because he struck you when you were children. He will not doit now."

  "I will not!" answered Zbyszko, mirthfully. "If she wishes, she may beatme now for it."

  Then Jagienka, wishing to cheer him up, began to play that she wasstriking him with her little fist.

  "Give us some wine!" shouted the merry _Pan_ of Zgorzelice.

  Jagienka sprang to the closet and brought out a jug of wine, twobeautiful silver goblets, engraved by a silversmith of Wroclaw[76] and acouple of cheese.

  Zych, being a little intoxicated, began to hug the jug and said to it asif he were talking to his daughter:

  "Oj, my dear girl! What shall I do, poor man, when they take you fromZgorzelice; what shall I do?"

  "And you must give her up soon!" said Zbyszko.

  Zych began to laugh.

  "Chy! Chy! The girl is only fifteen; but she is already fond of boys!When she sees one of them, she begins immediately to rub knee with knee!"

  "_Tatusiu_[77] if you don't stop, I will leave you," said Jagienka.

  "Don't go! It's better with you here." Then he continued to say toZbyszko:

  "Two of them visit us. One of them is young Wilk, the son of old Wilk ofBizozowa; the other is Cztan[78] of Rogow. If they meet you here, theywill gnash their teeth, as they do at each other."

  "Owa!" said Zbyszko. Then he turned to Jagienka and asked:

  "Which do you prefer?"

  "Neither of them."

  "Wilk is a great boy," said Zych.

  "Let him go in another direction!"

  "And Cztan?"

  Jagienka began to laugh:

  "Cztan," said she, turning toward Zbyszko, "he has hair on his face likea goat; one can hardly see his eyes; and he has as much grease on him asa bear."

  Zbyszko now touched his head with his hand as if he had just rememberedsomething important, and said:

  "I must ask you for one thing more; have you any bear's grease? I want touse it for medicine for my uncle; and I could not find any in Bogdaniec."

  "We used to have some," answered Jagienka; "but the boys have used someto grease their bows, and the dogs have eaten the rest."

  "Is there none left?"

  "Not a bit!"

  "Well, then, I must find some in the forest."

  "Have a hunting party for bears; there are plenty of them; and if youwant some hunting implements, we will lend you some."

  "I cannot wait. I will go some night to a _barcie_."

  "Take a few men with you."

  "No, I shall not do that, for they will frighten the beast."

  "But you will take a crossbow!"

  "What can I do with a crossbow during the night? There is no moon now! Iwill take a fork and a strong axe, and I will go alone to-morrow."

  Jagienka was silent for awhile; but great uneasiness was reflected on herface.

  "Last year," said she, "the huntsman, Bezduch, was killed by a bear. Itis dangerous, because as soon as the bear sees a man near the _barcie_,he immediately stands up on his hind feet."

  "If he ran away, I could not get him," answered Zbyszko.

  At that moment Zych who had been dozing, suddenly awakened and began tosing:

  "Thou Kuba, of toil I Maciek of pleasure, Go then in the morning with the yoke in the field, While I amuse myself with Kasia."

  Then he said to Zbyszko:

  "You know? There are two of them, Wilk of Brzozowa and Cztan of Rogow;and you?"

  But Jagienka being afraid that Zych would say too much, swiftlyapproached Zbyszko, and began to inquire:

  "When are you going? To-morrow?"

  "To-morrow after sunset."

  "And to which _barcie_?"

  "To ours in Bogdaniec, not far from your boundaries, near the marshes ofRadzikow. They tell me it is very easy to get a bear there."