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

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER II.

  Zbyszko had left Bogdaniec with a sad heart indeed. In the first place hefelt strange without his uncle, from whom he had never been separatedbefore, and to whom he was so accustomed, that he did not know how hewould get along without him during the journey, as well as in the war.Then he regretted Jagienka. Although he was going to Danusia whom heloved dearly, still he had been so comfortable and happy with Jagienka,that now he felt sad without her. He was surprised himself at his grief,and even somewhat alarmed about it. He would not have minded if he longedfor Jagienka only as a brother longs for a sister; but he noticed that helonged to embrace her, to put her on horseback, to carry her over thebrooks, to wring the water from her tress, to wander with her in theforest, to gaze at her, and to converse with her. He was so accustomed todoing all this and it was so pleasant, that when he began to think aboutit, he forgot that he was going on a long journey to Mazury; instead ofthat, he remembered the moment when Jagienka helped him in the forest,when he was struggling with the bear. It seemed to him as though ithappened only yesterday; also as though it were only yesterday when theywent to the Odstajny lake for beavers. Then he recalled how beautifullyshe was dressed when going to church in Krzesnia, and how surprised hewas that such a simple girl should appear like the daughter of a mightylord. All these thoughts filled his heart with uneasiness, sweetness, andsadness.

  "Had I only bid her good-bye," he said to himself, "perhaps I would feeleasier now."

  Finally he became afraid of these reminiscences, and he shook them fromhis mind like dry snow from his mantle.

  "I am going to Danusia, to my dearest," he said to himself.

  He noticed that this was a more holy love. Gradually his feet grew colderin the stirrups, and the cold wind cooled his blood. All his thoughts nowturned to Danusia Jurandowna. He belonged to her without any doubt; butfor her, he would have been beheaded on the Krakowski square. When shesaid in the presence of the knights and burghers: "He is mine!" sherescued him from the hands of the executioners; from that time, hebelonged to her, as a slave to his master. Jurand's opposition wasuseless. She alone could drive him away; and even then he would not gofar, because he was bound by his vow. He imagined, however, that shewould not drive him away; but rather that she would follow him from theMazowiecki court, even to the end of the world. Then he began to praiseher to himself to Jagienka's disadvantage, as if it were her fault, thattemptations assailed him and his heart was divided. Now he forgot thatJagienka cured old Macko; he forgot that without her help, the bear wouldhave torn him to pieces; and he became enraged with her, hoping in thisway to please Danusia and to justify himself in his own eyes.

  At this moment the Czech, Hlawa, sent by Jagienka, arrived, leading ahorse.

  "Be blessed!" said he, with a low bow.

  Zbyszko had seen him once or twice in Zgorzelice, but he did notrecognize him; therefore he said:

  "Be blessed for ages and ages! Who are you?"

  "Your servant, famous lord."

  "What do you mean? These are my servants," said Zbyszko, pointing to thetwo Turks, given to him by Sulimczyk Zawisza, and to two sturdy men whositting on horseback, were leading the knight's stallions; "these aremine; who sent you?"

  "_Panna_ Jagienka Zychowna of Zgorzelice."

  "_Panna_ Jagienka?"

  A while ago, Zbyszko had been angry with her and his heart was still fullof wrath; therefore he said:

  "Return home and thank the _panna_ for the favor; I do not want you."

  But the Czech shook his head.

  "I cannot return. They have given me to you; besides that, I have swornto serve you until death."

  "If they gave you to me, then you are my servant."

  "Yours, sir."

  "Then I command you to return."

  "I have sworn; although I am a prisoner from Boleslawiec and a poor boy,still I am a _wlodyczka_."[87]

  Zbyszko became angry:

  "Go away! What; are you going to serve me against my will? Go away,before I order my servants to bend their crossbows."

  But the Czech quietly untied a broadcloth mantle, lined with wolf-skins,handed it to Zbyszko and said:

  "_Panna_ Jagienka sent you this, also, sir."

  "Do you wish me to break your bones?" asked Zbyszko, taking a spear froman attendant.

  "Here is also a bag of money for your disposal," answered the Czech.

  Zbyszko was ready to strike him with the lance, but he recollected thatthe boy, although a prisoner, was by birth a _wlodyka_, who had remainedwith Zych only because he did not have money to pay his ransom;consequently Zbyszko dropped the spear.

  Then the Czech bent to his stirrups and said:

  "Be not angry, sir. If you do not wish me to accompany you, I will followyou at a distance of one or two furlongs; but I must go, because I havesworn to do so upon the salvation of my soul."

  "If I order my servants to kill you or to bind you?"

  "If you order them to kill me, that will not be my sin; and if you orderthem to bind me, then I will remain until some good people untie me, oruntil the wolves devour me."

  Zbyszko did not reply; he urged his horse forward and his attendantsfollowed him. The Czech with a crossbow and an axe on his shoulder,followed them, shielding himself with a shaggy bison skin, because asharp wind carrying flakes of snow, began to blow. The storm grew worseand worse. The Turks, although dressed in sheepskin coats, were chilledwith cold; Zbyszko himself, not being dressed very warmly, glancedseveral times at the mantle lined with wolf-fur, which Hlawa had broughthim; after a while, he told one of the Turks to give it to him.

  Having wrapped himself with it carefully, he felt a warmth spreading allover his body. He covered his eyes and the greater part of his face withthe hood of the mantle, so that the wind did not annoy him any more.Then, involuntarily, he thought how good Jagienka had been to him. Hereined in his horse, called the Czech, and asked him about her, and abouteverything that had happened in Zgorzelice.

  "Does Zych know that the _panna_ sent you to me?" he said.

  "He knows it," answered Hlawa.

  "Was he not opposed to it?"

  "He was."

  "Tell me then all about it."

  "The _pan_ was walking in the room and the _panna_ followed him. Heshouted, but the _panienka_ said nothing; but when he turned toward her,she kneeled but did not utter one word. Finally the _panisko_[88] said:'Have you become deaf, that you do not answer my questions? Speak then;perhaps I will consent.' Then the _panna_ understood that she could do asshe wished and began to thank him. The _pan_ reproached her, because shehad persuaded him, and complained that he must always do as she wished;finally he said: 'Promise me that you will not go secretly to bid himgood-bye; then I will consent, but not otherwise.' Then the _panienka_became very sorrowful, but she promised; the _pan_ was satisfied, becausethe abbot and he were both afraid that she would see you. Well, that wasnot the end of it; afterward the _panna_ wanted to send two horses, butthe _pan_ would not consent; the _panna_ wanted to send a wolf-skin and abag of money, but the _pan_ refused. His refusal did not amount toanything, however! If she wanted to set the house on fire, the _panisko_would finally consent. Therefore I brought two horses, a wolf-skin and abag of money."

  "Good girl!" thought Zbyszko. After a while he asked:

  "Was there no trouble with the abbot?" The Czech, an intelligentattendant, who understood what happened around him, smiled and answered:

  "They were both careful to keep everything secret from the abbot; I donot know what happened when he learned about it, after I left Zgorzelice.Sometimes he shouts at the _panienka_; but afterward he watches her tosee if he did not wrong her. I saw him myself one time after he hadscolded her, go to his chest and bring out such a beautiful chain thatone could not get a better one even in Krakow, and give it to her. Shewill manage the abbot also, because her own father does not love her anymore than he does."

  "That is certainly true."

  "As God is in heaven!"

/>   Then they became silent and rode along amidst wind and snow. SuddenlyZbyszko reined in his horse; from the forest beside the road, there washeard a plaintive voice, half stifled by the roar of the wind:

  "Christians, help God's servant in his misfortune!"

  Thereupon a man who was dressed partly in clerical clothing, rushed tothe road and began to cry to Zbyszko:

  "Whoever you are, sir, help a fellow-creature who has met with a dreadfulaccident!"

  "What has happened to you, and who are you?" asked the young knight.

  "I am God's servant, although not yet ordained; this morning the horsewhich was carrying my chests containing holy things, ran away. I remainedalone, without weapons; evening is approaching, and soon the wild beastswill begin to roar in the forest. I shall perish, unless you succor me."

  "If I let you perish," answered Zbyszko, "I will be accountable for yoursins; but how can I believe that you are speaking the truth. You may be ahighway robber, like many others wandering on the roads!"

  "You may believe me, sir, for I will show you the chests. Many a manwould give a purse full of gold for what is in them; but I will give yousome of it for nothing, if you take me and the chests with you."

  "You told me that you were God's servant, and yet you do not know thatone must give help, not for earthly recompense, but for spiritual reward.But how is it that you have the chests now if the horse carried themaway?"

  "The wolves devoured the horse in the forest, but the chests remained; Ibrought them to the road, and then waited for mercy and help."

  Wishing to prove that he was speaking the truth, he pointed to two chestsmade of leather, lying under a pine tree. Zbyszko still looked at himsuspiciously, because the man did not look honest, and his speechindicated that he came from a distant part of the country. He did notrefuse to help him, however, but permitted him to ride the horse led bythe Czech and take the chests, which proved to be very light.

  "May God multiply your victories, valiant knight!" said the stranger.

  Then, seeing Zbyszko's youthful face, he added softly:

  "And the hairs of your beard, also."

  He rode beside the Czech. For a time they could not talk, because astrong wind was blowing, and roaring in the forest; but when itdecreased, Zbyszko heard the following conversation behind him.

  "I don't deny that you were in Rome; but you look like a beer drunkard,"said the Czech.

  "Look out for eternal damnation," answered the stranger; "you are talkingto a man who last Easter ate hard boiled eggs with the holy father. Don'tspeak to me in such cold weather about beer; but if you have a flask ofwine with you, then give me two or three swallows of it, and I willpardon you a month of purgatory."

  "You have not been ordained; I heard you say you had not. How then canyou grant me pardon for a month of purgatory?"

  "I have not received ordination, but I have my head shaved, because Ireceived permission for that; beside, I am carrying indulgences andrelics."

  "In the chests?" asked the Czech.

  "Yes, in the chests. If you saw all I have there, you would fall on yourface, not only you, but all the pines in the forest and all the wildbeasts."

  But the Czech, being an intelligent and experienced attendant, lookedsuspiciously at this peddler of indulgences, and said:

  "The wolves devoured your horse?"

  "Yes, they devoured him, because they are the devil's relatives. If youhave any wine, give me some; although the wind has ceased, yet I amfrozen, having sat by the road so long."

  The Czech would not give him any wine; and they rode along silently,until the stranger began to ask:

  "Where are you going?"

  "Far. At first to Sieradz. Are you going with us?"

  "I must. I will sleep in the stable, and perhaps to-morrow this piousknight will give me a present of a horse; then I will go further."

  "Where are you from?"

  "From under Prussian lords, not far from Marienburg."

  Having heard this, Zbyszko turned and motioned to the stranger to comenearer to him.

  "Did you come from Marienburg?" said he

  "Yes, sir."

  "But are you a German? You speak our language very well. What is yourname?"

  "I am a German, and they call me Sanderus; I speak your language well,because I was born in Torun, where everybody speaks that language; then Ilived in Marienburg, and there it is the same. Bah! even the brothers ofthe Order understand your language."

  "How long since you left Marienburg?"

  "I was in the Holy Land, then in Constantinople, and in Rome; thencethrough France I came to Marienburg and from there I was going toMazowsze, carrying the holy relics which pious Christians buy willingly,for the salvation of their souls."

  "Have you been in Plock or in Warszawa?"

  "I was in both cities. May God give good health to both of theprincesses! Princess Alexandra is greatly esteemed even by the Prussianlords, because she is a pious lady; the princess Anna Januszowna is alsopious."

  "Did you see the court in Warszawa?"

  "I did not see it in Warszawa but in Ciechanow, where both the princessesreceived me hospitably, and gave me munificent presents, as God's servantdeserves to receive. I left them relics, which will bring them God'sblessing."

  Zbyszko wanted to ask about Danusia; but he understood that it would beunwise to make a confidant of this stranger, a man of low origin.Therefore, after a short silence, he asked:

  "What kind of relics are you carrying?"

  "I carry indulgences and relics; the indulgences are different kinds;there are total indulgences, some for five hundred years, some for threehundred, some for two hundred and some for less time, which are cheaper,so that even poor people can buy them and shorten the torments ofpurgatory. I have indulgences for future and for past sins; but don'tthink, sir, that I keep the money I receive for them. I am satisfied witha piece of black bread and a glass of water--that is all for me; the restI carry to Rome, to accumulate enough for a new crusade. It is true,there are many swindlers who carry false indulgences, false relics, falseseals and false testimonials; and they are righteously pursued by theholy father's letters; but I was wronged by the prior of Sieradz, becausemy seals are authentic. Look, sir, at the wax and tell me what you thinkof them."

  "What about the prior of Sieradz?"

  "Ah, sir! I fear that he is infected with Wiklef's heresy. If, as yourshield-bearer told me, you are going to Sieradz, it will be better for menot to show myself to him, because I do not want to lead him into the sinof blasphemy against holy things."

  "This means, speaking frankly, that he thinks that you are a swindler."

  "If the question were about myself, I would pardon him for the sake ofbrotherly love; but he has blasphemed against my holy wares, for which, Iam very much afraid, he will be eternally damned."

  "What kind of holy wares have you?"

  "It is not right to talk about them with covered head; but this time,having many indulgences ready, I give you, sir, permission to keep yourcowl on, because the wind is blowing again. For that you will buy anindulgence and the sin will not be counted against you. What have I not?I have a hoof of the ass on which the Holy Family rode during the flightinto Egypt; it was found near the pyramids. The king of Aragon offered mefifty ducats for it. I have a feather from the wings of the archangelGabriel, which he dropped during the annunciation; I have the heads oftwo quails, sent to the Israelites in the desert; I have the oil in whichthe heathen wanted to fry St. John; a step of the ladder about whichJacob dreamed; the tears of St. Mary of Egypt and some rust of St.Peter's keys. But I cannot mention any more. I am very cold and yourshield-bearer would not give me any wine."

  "Those are great relics, if they are authentic!" said Zbyszko.

  "If they are authentic? Take the spear from your attendant and aim it,because the devil is near and brings such thoughts to you. Hold him, sir,at the length of the spear. If you do not wish to bring some misfortuneon yourself, then buy an indulge
nce from me; otherwise within three weekssomebody whom you love, will die."

  Zbyszko was frightened at this threat, because he thought about Danusia,and said:

  "It is not I, but the prior of the Dominicans in Sieradz who does notbelieve."

  "Look, sir, for yourself, at the wax on the seals; as for the prior, I donot know whether he is still living, because God's justice is quick."

  But when they came to Sieradz they found the prior alive. Zbyszko went tosee him, and purchased two masses; one of which was to be read to insuresuccess for Macko's vow, and the other to insure success for his vow toobtain three peacocks' crests. The prior was a foreigner, having beenborn in Cylia; but during his forty years' residence in Sieradz, he hadlearned the Polish language very well, and was a great enemy of theKnights of the Cross. Therefore, having learned about Zbyszko'senterprise, he said:

  "A still greater punishment will fall upon them; but I shall not dissuadeyou, because you promised it upon your knightly honor; neither can therebe punishment enough administered by Polish hands for the wrongs theyhare perpetrated in this land."

  "What have they done?" asked Zbyszko, who was anxious to hear about theiniquities of the Knights of the Cross.