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The Knights of the Cross, a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz |
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Part 2 - Chapter 10 |
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_ PART SECOND: CHAPTER X When Jagienka reached home, she immediately sent a servant to Krzesnia to learn whether there had been a fight in the inn, or whether there had been a challenge. But the servant having received a _skojec_,[85] began to drink with the priest's servants, and did not hasten. Another servant who had been sent to Bogdaniec to inform Macko that the abbot was going to pay him a visit, returned, having fulfilled the commission and reported that he had seen Zbyszko playing dice with the old man. This partly soothed Jagienka, because knowing by experience how dexterous Zbyszko was, she was not so much afraid about a regular duel, as she was about some unexpected accident in the inn. She wanted to accompany the abbot to Bogdaniec, but he was not willing. He wished to talk with Macko about the pledge and about some other important business; and then he wanted to go there toward night. Having learned that Zbyszko had returned home safe, he became very jovial and ordered his wandering seminarists to sing and shout. They obeyed him so well that the forest resounded with the noise, and in Bogdaniec, the farmers came out from their houses, and looked to see whether there was a fire or an invasion of the enemy. The pilgrim riding ahead, quieted them by telling them that a high ecclesiastical dignitary was coming; therefore when they saw the abbot, they bowed to him, and some of them even made the sign of the cross on their chests; he seeing how they respected him, rode along with joyful pride, pleased with the world and full of kindness toward the people. [Footnote 85: Piece of money; it is twenty-fourth
Macko and Zbyszko having heard the singing, came to the gate to meet him. Some of the seminarists had been in Bogdaniec before with the abbot; but others of them having joined the retinue lately, had never seen it until now. They were disappointed when they saw the miserable house which could not be compared with the large mansion in Zgorzelice. But they were reassured when they saw the smoke coming out from the thatched roof of the house; and they were greatly pleased when upon entering the room, they smelt saffron and different kinds of meats, and noticed two tables full of tin dishes, empty as yet, but enormous. On the smaller table which was prepared for the abbot, shone a silver dish and also a beautifully engraved silver cup, both taken with the other treasures from the Fryzes. Macko and Zbyszko invited them to the table immediately; but the abbot who had eaten plentifully in Zgorzelice, refused because he had something else on his mind. Since his arrival he had looked at Zbyszko attentively and uneasily, as if he desired to see on him some traces of the fight; but seeing the quiet face of the youth, he began to be impatient; finally he was unable to restrain his curiosity any longer. "Let us go into the chamber," said he, "to speak about the pledge. Do not refuse me; that will make me angry!" Here he turned to the seminarists and shouted: "You keep quiet and do not listen at the door!" Having said this, he opened the door to the chamber and entered, followed by Zbyszko and Macko. As soon as they were seated on the chests, the abbot turned toward the young knight: "Did you go back to Krzesnia?" asked he. "Yes, I was there." "And what?" "Well, I paid for a mass for my uncle's health, that's all." The abbot moved on the chest impatiently. "Ha!" thought he, "he did not meet Cztan and Wilk; perhaps they were not there, and perhaps he did not look for them. I was mistaken." But he was angry because he was mistaken, and because his plans had not been realized; therefore immediately his face grew red and he began to breathe loudly. "Let us speak about the pledge!" said he. "Have you the money? If not, then the estate is mine!" Macko, who knew how to act with him, rose silently, opened the chest on which he was sitting, and took out of it a bag of _grzywien_, evidently prepared for this occasion, and said: "We are poor people, but we have the money; we will pay what is right, as it is written in the 'letter' which I signed with the mark of the holy cross. If you want to be paid for the improvements, we will not quarrel about that either; we will pay the amount you say, and we will bow to you, our benefactor." Having said this, he kneeled at the abbot's knee and Zbyszko did the same. The abbot, who expected some quarrels and arguing, was very much surprised at such a proceeding, and not very much pleased with it; he wanted to dictate some conditions and he saw that he would have no opportunity to do so. Therefore returning the "letter" or rather the mortgage which Macko had signed with a cross, he said: "Why are you talking to me about an additional payment?" "Because we do not want to receive any presents," answered Macko cunningly, knowing well that the more he quarreled in that matter the more he would get. At this the abbot reddened with anger: "Did you ever see such people? They do not wish to accept anything from a relative! You have too much bread! I did not take waste land and I do not return it waste; and if I want to give you this bag, I will do it!" "You would not do that!" exclaimed Macko. "I will not do it! Here is your pledge! Here is your money! I give it because I want to, and had I even thrown it into the road, it would be none of your affairs. You shall see if I will not do as I wish!" Having said this, he seized the bag and threw it on the floor so hard that it burst, and the money was scattered. "May God reward you! May God reward you, father and benefactor!" exclaimed Macko, who had been waiting for this; "I would not accept it from anyone else, but from a relation and a spiritual father, I will accept it." The abbot looked threateningly at both of them, and finally he said: "Although I am angry, I know what I am doing; therefore hold what you have, because I assure you that you shall not have one _skojeo_ more." "We did not expect even this." "You know that Jagienka will inherit everything I have." "The land also?" asked Macko, simply. "The land also!" shouted the abbot. At this Macko's face grew long, but he recovered himself and said: "Ej, why should you think about death! May the Lord Jesus grant you a hundred years or more of life, and an important bishopric soon." "Certainly! Am I worse than others?" said the abbot. "Not worse, but better!" These words appeased the abbot, for his anger never lasted long. "Well," said he, "you are my relations, and she is only my goddaughter; but I love her, and Zych also. There is no better man in the world than Zych and no better girl than Jagienka, also! Who can say anything against them?" He began to look angry, but Macko did not contradict; he quickly affirmed that there was no worthier neighbor in the whole kingdom. "And as for the girl," said he, "I could not love my own daughter any more than I love her. With her help, I recovered my health and I shall never forget it until my death." "You will both be punished if you forget it," said the abbot, "and I will curse you. But I do not wish to wrong you, therefore I have found a way by which, what I will leave after my death, can belong to you and to Jagienka; do you understand?" "May God help us to realize that!" answered Macko. "Sweet Jesus! I would go on foot to the grave of the queen in Krakow or to Lysa Gora[86] to bow to the Holy Cross."
"The girl is perfectly right to be particular in her choice, because she is pretty, rich and of good family! Of what account are Cztan or Wilk, when the son of a _wojewoda_ would not be too good for her! But if somebody, as myself for instance, spoke in favor of any particular one, then she would marry him, because she loves me and knows that I will advise her well." "The one whom you advise her to marry, will be very lucky," said Macko. But the abbot turned to Zbyszko: "What do you say to this?" "Well, I think the same as my uncle does." The face of the abbot became still more serene; he struck Zbyszko's shoulder with his hand so hard that the blow resounded in the chamber, and asked: "Why did you not let Cztan or Wilk approach Jagienka at church?" "Because I did not want them to think that I was afraid of them, and I did not want you to think so." "But you gave the holy water to her." "Yes, I did." The abbot gave him another blow. "Then, take her!" "Take her!" exclaimed Macko, like an echo. At this Zbyszko gathered up his hair, put it in the net, and answered quietly: "How can I take her, when before the altar in Tyniec, I made a vow to Danusia Jurandowna?" "You made a vow about the peacock's tufts, and you must get them, but take Jagienka immediately." "No," answered Zbyszko; "afterward when Danusia covered me with her veil, I promised that I would marry her." The blood began to rush to the abbot's face; his ears turned blue, and his eyes bulged; he approached Zbyszko and said, in a voice muffled with anger: "Your vows are the chaff and I am the wind; understand! Ot!" And he blew on Zbyszko's head so powerfully, that the net fell off and the hair was scattered on his shoulders. Then Zbyszko frowned, and looking into the abbot's eyes, he said: "In my vows is my honor, and over my honor, I alone am the guardian!" At this, the abbot not being accustomed to opposition, lost his breath to such a degree, that for a time he could not speak. There was an ill-omened silence, which finally was broken by Macko: "Zbyszku!" exclaimed he, "come to your wits again! What is the matter with you?" Meanwhile the abbot raised his hand and pointing toward the youth, began to shout: "What is the matter with him? I know what is the matter; he has not the heart of a nobleman, nor of a knight, but of a hare! That is the matter with him; he is afraid of Cztan and Wilk!" But Zbyszko, who had remained cool and calm, carelessly shrugged his shoulders and answered: "Owa! I broke their heads when I was in Krzesnia." "For heaven's sake!" exclaimed Macko. The abbot stared for a while at Zbyszko. Anger was struggling with admiration in him, and his reason told him that from that fight, he might derive some benefit for his plans. Therefore having become cooler, he shouted to Zbyszko: "Why didn't you tell us that before?" "Because I was ashamed. I thought they would challenge me, as it is customary for knights to do, to fight on horseback or on foot; but they are bandits, not knights. Wilk first took a board from the table, Cztan seized another and they both rushed against me! What could I do? I seized a bench; well--you know!" "Are they still alive?" asked Macko. "Yes, they are alive, but they were hurt. They breathed when I left." The abbot, rubbing his forehead, listened; then he suddenly jumped from the chest, on which he had seated himself to be more comfortable and to think the matter over, and exclaimed: "Wait! I want to tell you something!" "What?" asked Zbyszko. "If you fought for Jagienka and injured them for her sake, then you are really her knight, not Danusia's; and you must take Jagienka." Having said this, he put his hands on his hips and looked at Zbyszko triumphantly; but Zbyszko smiled and said: "Hej! I knew very well why you wanted me to fight with them; but you have not succeeded in your plans." "Why? Speak!" "Because I challenged them to deny that Danusia Jurandowna is the prettiest and the most virtuous girl in the world; they took Jagienka's part, and that is why there was a fight." Having heard this, the abbot stood amazed, and only the frequent movement of his eyes indicated that he was still alive. Finally he turned, opened the door with his foot, and rushed into the other room; there he seized the curved stick from the pilgrim's hands and began to strike the _shpilmen_ with it, roaring like a wounded urus. "To horse, you rascals! To horse, you dog-faiths! I will not put my foot in this house again! To horse, he who believes in God, to horse!" Then he opened the outer door and went into the court-yard, followed by the frightened seminarists. They rushed to the stable and began to saddle the horses. In vain Macko followed the abbot, and entreated him to remain; swore that it was not his fault. The abbot cursed the house, the people and the fields; when they brought him a horse, he jumped in the saddle without touching the stirrups and galloped away looking, with his large sleeves filled by the wind, like an enormous red bird. The seminarists rushed after him, like a herd following its leader. Macko stood looking after them for some time; but when they disappeared in the forest, he returned slowly to the room and said to Zbyszko, shaking his head sadly: "See what you have done?" "It would not have happened if I had gone away; and it is your fault that I did not." "Why?" "Because I did not wish to leave you when you were sick." "And what will you do now?" "Now I shall go." "Where?" "To Mazowsze to see Danusia; and after that to search for peacock's tufts among the Germans." Macko was silent for a moment, then he said: "He returned the 'letter,' but the mortgage is recorded in the mortgage-book at the court. Now the abbot will not give us even a _skojec_." "I do not care. You have money, and I do not need anything for my journey. I will be received everywhere and my horses will be fed; if I only had a suit of armor on my back and a sword in my hand, I would need nothing else." Macko began to think about everything that had happened. All his plans and wishes had been frustrated. He had wished with his whole heart that Zbyszko would marry Jagienka; but he now realized that this wish would never be fulfilled; and considering the abbot's anger, the behavior of Zbyszko toward Jagienka and finally the fight with Cztan and Wilk, he concluded it would be better to allow Zbyszko to go. "Ha!" said he, finally, "if you must seek for the peacock's feathers on the heads of the Knights of the Cross, go then. Let the Lord Jesus' will be accomplished. But I must go immediately to Zgorzelice; perhaps I will succeed in appeasing their wrath if I implore pardon of the abbot and of Zych; I care especially for the friendship of Zych." Here he looked into Zbyszko's eyes and asked: "Do you not regret Jagienka?" "May God give her health and the best of everything!" answered Zbyszko.
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