spoke to you as if you were a human being instead of kicking you like a dog? Or did you think that since you saved her from the clutches of the savage beast that you have a right to her as if she were a captive girl? Oh, no! If it had to come to that, I’d rather have seen her perish in the deadly embraces of the bear than that she should fall into your hands!”
“Please do not say that, Boyarin! Rather would I have perished myself than that one single hair of her head should have been harmed!”
At these words Peace-Renown turned her face away from them no longer able to hold back the long-threatening tears which now streamed down her face freely. Tuhar Wolf paid no attention but kept right on talking.
“You low-breed son of a stinking peasant, how dare you to put yourself on an equal footing with me? Imagine it, with me, who have spent all my life in the company of princes and who have been honored and rewarded by them for my heroic deeds! Why, my daughter can choose a mate from the very best and most prominent boyar families in the country, why should I give her away to you, a common, low-brow peasant, to take with you into your Tukholian hut where she would wilt and wither and die in poverty? No, no, no! Away, you poor deluded child! You know not what you’re saying! You must have spoken in a fit of insanity!”
Maxim at last was fully convinced that his hopes would never be realized, that the boyar considered himself too far above him, looking down upon him as unworthy of his notice even. Needless to say, he was greatly disappointed, but there was nothing he could do about it.
“Boyarin, Boyarin,” he said grievously, fervidly, “Too high have you raised yourself upon the wings of pride, but take heed! Fate often raises those highest whom she intends to cast down the lowest. Do not look down upon the poor, sir, the humble
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