The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2 (of 2)

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XIII.

  From Lyubovlya the king advanced to Dukla, Krosno, Lantsut, and Lvoff,having at his side the marshal of the kingdom, many dignitaries andsenators, with the court squadrons and escorts. And as a great riverflowing through a country gathers to itself all the smaller waters, sodid new legions gather to the retinue of the king. Lords and armednobles thronged forward, and soldiers, now singly, now in groups, andcrowds of armed peasants burning with special hatred against theSwedes.

  The movement was becoming universal, and the military order of thingshad begun to lead to it. Threatening manifestoes had appeared datedfrom Sanch: one by Constantine Lyubomirski, the marshal of the Circleof Knights; the other by Yan Vyelopolski, the castellan of Voinik, bothcalling on the nobles in the province of Cracow to join the generalmilitia; those failing to appear were threatened with the punishmentsof public law. The manifesto of the king completed these, and broughtthe most slothful to their feet.

  But there was no need of threats, for an immense enthusiasm had seizedall ranks. Old men and children mounted their horses. Women gave uptheir jewels, their dresses; some rushed off to the conflictthemselves.

  In the forges gypsies were pounding whole nights and days with theirhammers, turning the innocent tools of the ploughman into weapons.Villages and towns were empty, for the men had marched to the field.From the heaven-touching mountains night and day crowds of wild peoplewere pouring down. The forces of the king increased with each moment.The clergy came forth with crosses and banners to meet the king; Jewishsocieties came with their rabbis; his advance was like a mightytriumph. From every side flew in the best tidings, as if borne by thewind.

  Not only in that part of the country which the invasion of the enemyhad not included did people rush to arms. Everywhere in the remotestlands and provinces, in towns, villages, settlements, andunapproachable wildernesses, the awful war of revenge and retaliationraised its flaming head. The lower the people had fallen before, thehigher they raised their heads now; they had been reborn, changed inspirit, and in their exaltation did not even hesitate to tear opentheir own half-healed wounds, to free their blood of poisoned juices.

  They had begun already to speak, and with increasing loudness, of thepowerful union of the nobles and the army, at the head of which were tobe the old grand hetman Revera Pototski and the full hetmanLantskoronski, Stefan Charnyetski and Sapyeha, Michael Radzivill, apowerful magnate anxious to remove the ill-fame which Yanush hadbrought on the house, and Pan Kryshtof Tyshkyevich, with many othersenators, provincial and military officials and nobles.

  Letters were flying every day between these men and the marshal of thekingdom, who did not wish that so noted a union should be formedwithout him. Tidings more and more certain arrived, till at last it wasannounced with authority that the hetmans and with them the army hadabandoned the Swedes, and formed for the defence of the king and thecountry the confederation of Tyshovtsi.

  The king knew of this first, for he and the queen, though far apart,had labored no little through letters and messengers at the formationof it; still, not being able to take personal part in the affair, hewaited for the tenor of it with impatience. But before he came toLvoff, Pan Slujevski with Pan Domashevski, judge of Lukoff, came to himbringing assurances of service and loyalty from the confederates andthe act of union for confirmation.

  The king then read that act at a general council of bishops andsenators. The hearts of all were filled with delight, their spiritsrose in thankfulness to God; for that memorable confederacy announcednot merely that the people had come to their senses, but that they hadchanged; that people of whom not long before the foreign invader mightsay that they had no loyalty, no love of country, no conscience, noorder, no endurance, nor any of those virtues through which nations andStates do endure.

  The testimony of all these virtues lay now before the king in the actof a confederation and its manifesto. In it was summed up the perfidyof Karl Gustav, his violation of oaths and promises, the cruelty of hisgenerals and his soldiers, such as are not practised by even thewildest of people, desecration of churches, oppression, rapacity,robbery, shedding of innocent blood, and they declared against theScandinavian invasion a war of life or death. A manifesto terrible asthe trumpet of the archangel, summoned not only knights but all ranksand all people in the Commonwealth. Even _infames_ (the infamous),_banniti_ (outlaws), and _proscripti_ (the proscribed) shouldgo to this war, said the manifesto. The knights were to mount theirhorses and expose their own breasts, and the land was to furnishinfantry,--wealthy holders more, the poorer less, according to theirwealth and means.

  "Since in this state good and evil belong equally to all, it is properthat all should share danger. Whoso calls himself a noble, with hind orwithout it, and if one noble has a number of sons, they should all goto the war against the enemies of the Commonwealth. Since we all,whether of higher or lower birth, being nobles, are eligible to all theprerogatives of office, dignity, and profit in the country, so we areequal in this, that we should go in like manner with our own persons tothe defence of these liberties and benefits."

  Thus did that manifesto explain the equality of nobles. The king, thebishops, and the senators, who for a long time had carried in theirhearts the thought of reforming the Commonwealth, convinced themselveswith joyful wonder that the people had become ripe for that reform,that they were ready to enter upon now paths, rub the rust and mouldfrom themselves, and begin a new, glorious life.

  "With this," explained the manifesto, "we open to each deserving man ofplebeian condition a place, we indicate and offer by this ourconfederation an opportunity to reach and acquire the honors,prerogatives, and benefits which the noble estate enjoys--"

  When this introduction was read at the royal council, a deep silencefollowed. Those who with the king desired most earnestly that access torights of nobility should be open to people of lower station thoughtthat they would have to overcome, endure, and break no smallopposition; that whole years would pass before it would be safe to giveutterance to anything similar; meanwhile that same nobility whichhitherto had been so jealous of its prerogatives, so stubborn inappearance, opened wide the gate to the gray crowds of peasants.

  The primate rose, encircled as it were by the spirit of prophecy, andsaid,--

  "Since you have inserted that _punctum_ (paragraph), posterity willglorify this confederation from age to age, and when any one shall wishto consider these times as times of the fall of ancient Polish virtue,in contradicting him men will point to you."

  Father Gembitski was ill; therefore he could not speak, but with handtrembling from emotion he blessed the act and the envoys.

  "I see the enemy already departing in shame from this land!" said theking.

  "God grant it most quickly!" cried both envoys.

  "Gentlemen, you will go with us to Lvoff," said the king, "where wewill confirm this confederation at once, and besides shall concludeanother which the powers of hell itself will not overcome."

  The envoys and senators looked at one another as if asking what powerwas in question; the king was silent, but his countenance grew brighterand brighter; he took the act again in his hand and read it a secondtime, smiled, and asked,--

  "Were there many opponents?"

  "Gracious Lord," answered Pan Domashevski, "this confederacy arose withunanimity through the efforts of the hetmans, of Sapyeha, of PanCharnyetski; and among nobles not a voice was raised in opposition, soangry are they all at the Swedes, and so have they flamed up with lovefor the country and your majesty."

  "We decided, moreover, in advance," added Pan Slujevski, "that this wasnot to be a diet, but that _pluralitas_ (plurality) alone was todecide; therefore no man's _veto_ could injure the cause; we shouldhave cut an opponent to pieces with our sabres. All said too that itwas necessary to finish with the _liberum veto_, since it is freedomfor one, but slavery for many."

  "Golden words of yours!" said the primate. "Only let a reform of theCommonwealth come, an
d no enemy will frighten us."

  "But where is the voevoda of Vityebsk?" asked the king.

  "He went in the night, after the signing of the manifesto, to his owntroops at Tykotsin, in which he holds the voevoda of Vilna, thetraitor, besieged. Before this time he must have taken him, living ordead."

  "Was he so sure of capturing him?"

  "He was as sure as that night follows day. All, even his most faithfulservants, have deserted the traitor. Only a handful of Swedes aredefending themselves there, and reinforcements cannot come from anyside. Pan Sapyeha said in Tyshovtsi, 'I wanted to wait one day, for Ishould have finished with Radzivill before evening! but this is moreimportant than Radzivill, for they can take him without me; onesquadron is enough.'"

  "Praise be to God!" said the king. "But where is Charnyetski?"

  "So many of the best cavaliers have hurried to him that in one day hewas at the head of an excellent squadron. He moved at once on theSwedes, and where he is at this moment we know not."

  "But the hetmans?"

  "They are waiting anxiously for the commands of your Royal Grace. Theyare both laying plans for the coming war, and are in communication withPan Yan Zamoyski in Zamost; meanwhile regiments are rolling to themevery day with the snow."

  "Have all left the Swedes then?"

  "Yes, Gracious King. There were deputies also to the hetmans from thetroops of Konyetspolski, who is with the person of Karl Gustav. Andthey too would be glad to return to their lawful service, though Karldoes not spare on them promises or flattery. They said too that thoughthey could not _recedere_ (withdraw) at once, they would do so as soonas a convenient time came, for they have grown tired of his feasts andhis flattery, his eye-winking and clapping of hands. They can barelyhold out."

  "Everywhere people are coming to their senses, everywhere good news,"said the king. "Praise to the Most Holy Lady! This is the happiest dayof my life, and a second such will come only when the last soldier ofthe enemy leaves the boundary of the Commonwealth."

  At this Pan Domashevski struck his sword. "May God not grant that tohappen!" said he.

  "How is that?" asked the king, with astonishment.

  "That the last wide-breeches should leave the boundaries of theCommonwealth on his own feet? Impossible, Gracious Lord! What have wesabres at our sides for?"

  "Oh!" said the king, made glad, "that is bravery."

  But Pan Slujevski, not wishing to remain behind Domashevski, said: "Astrue as life we will not agree to that, and first I will place a vetoon it. We shall not be content with their retreat; we will followthem!"

  The primate shook his head, and smiled kindly. "Oh, the nobles are onhorseback, and they will ride on and on! But not too fast, not toofast! The enemy are still within the boundaries."

  "Their time is short!" cried both confederates.

  "The spirit has changed, and fortune will change," said FatherGembitski, in a weak voice.

  "Wine!" cried the king. "Let me drink to the change, with theconfederates."

  They brought wine; but with the servants who brought the wine enteredan old attendant of the king, who said,--

  "Gracious Lord, Pan Kryshtoporski has come from Chenstohova, and wishesto do homage to your Royal Grace."

  "Bring him here quickly!" cried the king.

  In a moment a tall, thin noble entered, with a frowning look. He bowedbefore the king to his feet, then rather haughtily to the dignitaries,and said,--

  "May the Lord Jesus Christ be praised!"

  "For the ages of ages!" answered the king. "What is to be heard fromthe monastery?"

  "Terrible frost. Gracious Lord, so that the eyelids are frozen to theeyeballs."

  "But for God's sake! tell us of the Swedes and not of the frost!" criedthe king.

  "But what can I say of them, Gracious Lord, when there are none atChenstohova?" asked he, humorously.

  "Those tidings have come to us," replied the king, "but only from thetalk of people, and you have come from the cloister itself. Are you aneyewitness?"

  "I am. Gracious Lord, a partner in the defence and an eyewitness of themiracles of the Most Holy Lady."

  "That was not the end of Her grace," said the king, raising his eyes toheaven, "but let us earn them further."

  "I have seen much in my life," continued the noble; "but such evidentmiracles I have not seen, touching which the prior Kordetski writes indetail in this letter."

  Yan Kazimir seized hastily the letter handed him by the noble, andbegan to read. At times he interrupted the reading to pray, then againturned to the letter. His face changed with joyful feelings; at last heraised his eyes to the noble.

  "Father Kordetski writes me," said he, "that you have lost a greatcavalier, a certain Babinich, who blew up the Swedish siege gun withpowder?"

  "He sacrificed himself for all. But some say he is alive, and God knowswhat they have said; not being certain, we have not ceased to mournhim, for without his gallant deed it would have been hard for us todefend ourselves."

  "If that is true, then cease to mourn him. Pan Babinich is alive, andhere with us. He was the first to inform us that the Swedes, not beingable to do anything against the power of God, were thinking of retreat.And later he rendered such famous service that we know not ourselveshow to pay him."

  "Oh, that will comfort the prior!" cried the noble, with gladness; "butif Pan Babinich is alive, it is only because he has the special favorof the Most Holy Lady. How that will comfort Father Kordetski! A fathercould not love a son as he loved him. And your Royal Grace will permitme to greet Pan Babinich, for there is not a second man of such daringin the Commonwealth."

  But the king began again to read, and after a while cried,--

  "What do I hear? After retreating they tried once again to steal on thecloister?"

  "When Miller went away, he did not show himself again; but CountVeyhard appeared unexpectedly at the walls, trusting, it seems, to findthe gates open. He did, but the peasants fell on him with such ragethat he retreated shamefully. While the world is a world, simplepeasants have never fought so in the open field against cavalry. ThenPan Pyotr Charnyetski and Pan Kulesha came up and cut him to pieces."

  The king turned to the senators.

  "See how poor ploughmen stand up in defence of this country and theholy faith."

  "That they stand up, Gracious King, is true," cried the noble. "Wholevillages near Chenstohova are empty, for the peasants are in the fieldwith their scythes. There is a fierce war everywhere; the Swedes areforced to keep together in numbers, and if the peasants catch one ofthem they treat him so that it would be better for him to go straightto hell. Who is not taking up arms now in the Commonwealth? It was notfor the dog-brothers to attack Chenstohova. From that hour they couldnot remain in this country."

  "From this hour no man will suffer oppression in this land who resistsnow with his blood," said the king, with solemnity; "so help me God andthe holy cross!"

  "Amen!" added the primate.

  Now the noble struck his forehead with his hand. "The frost hasdisturbed my mind, Gracious Lord, for I forgot to tell one thing, thatsuch a son, the voevoda of Poznan, is dead. He died, they say,suddenly."

  Here the noble was somewhat ashamed, seeing that he had called a greatsenator "that such a son" in presence of the king and dignitaries;therefore he added, confused,--

  "I did not wish to belittle an honorable station, but a traitor."

  But no one had noticed that clearly, for all looked at the king, whosaid,--

  "We have long predestined Pan Yan Leshchynski to be voevoda of Poznan,even during the life of Pan Opalinski. Let him fill that office moreworthily. The judgment of God, I see, has begun upon those who broughtthis country to its decline, for at this moment, perhaps, the voevodaof Vilna is giving an account of his deeds before the Supreme Judge."Here he turned to the bishops and senators,--

  "But it is time for us to think of a general war, and I wish to havethe opinion of all of you, gentlemen, on this question."