The Knights of the Cross/Volume 2/Chapter 76

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

CHAPTER LXXVI.

In the fifth year, however, when uncommon order had been introduced into all the villages, when above the watchtower a banner with "The Dull Horseshoe" had been waving for some months, and Yagenka had given birth to a fourth son, whom they called Yurand, old Matsko said one day to Zbyshko,—

"Everything succeeds, and if the Lord Jesus would give one more thing I could die in peace."

Zbyshko looked at his uncle inquiringly, and after a while asked,—

"Are you speaking of war with the Knights of the Cross?—for what else do you need?"

"I will say to thee what I have said before, that while the Grand Master Conrad lives there will be no war."

"But is he to live forever?"

"I cannot live forever either, and therefore I am thinking of something else."

"Of what?"

"Better not ask. Meanwhile I am setting out for Spyhov, and perhaps I shall visit the princes in Plotsk and in Chersk."

This answer did not astonish Zbyshko greatly, for in the course of recent years, old Matsko had gone to Spyhov a number of times; hence he only asked,—

"Will you stay long?"

"Longer than usual, for I shall halt at Plotsk."

Something like a week later, Matsko started, taking with him a number of wagons, and good armor, "for the event of having to fight within barriers." When going he declared that he might remain longer than usual, and in fact he did remain during half a year, and there were no tidings of him. Zbyshko began to be alarmed, and at last sent a messenger purposely to Spyhov, but that man met Matsko beyond Sieradz and returned with him.

The old knight was rather gloomy at first, but after he had inquired of Zbyshko carefully touching everything which had happened during his absence, and was set at rest because all had gone well, his face cleared somewhat, and he began first to speak of his expedition.

"Dost thou know that I have been in Malborg?" asked he.

"In Malborg?"

"But where else?"

Zbyshko looked at his uncle for a while with astonished eyes, then he slapped his own thighs suddenly, and added,—

"As God is true! But I had forgotten about death!"

"Thou art free to forget, for thou hast accomplished thy vows," said Matsko; "but God forbid that I should set aside my oath and honor. It is not our custom to neglect—and, so help me the holy cross, as long as there is breath in my nostrils I shall not neglect anything."

Now it grew dusky, and Matsko's face became threatening and resolute in such a way as Zbyshko had seen only in former years, when with Vitold and Skirvoillo they were going to battle with the Knights of the Cross.

"Well, and did you accomplish your vow?"

"No. I did not, for he would not meet me."

"Why so?"

"He has become grand comtur."

"Is Kuno Lichtenstein grand comtur?"

"Yes. Perhaps they will choose him Grand Master. Who knows? Even now he thinks himself the equal of princes. They say that he manages everything, and that all affairs of the Order are on his shoulders, while the Grand Master undertakes nothing without him. How was such a man to appear on trampled earth? To ask him would be to rouse the laughter of people."

"Did they bring thee to ridicule?" asked Zbyshko, and his eyes flashed suddenly with anger.

"The Princess Alexandra of Plotsk laughed. 'Go,' said she, 'and challenge the Roman Cæsar. To Lichtenstein,' said she, 'as we know challenges have been sent by Zavisha Charny, Povala of Tachev, and Pashko Zlodye, and even to those men he gave no answer, for he cannot. He is not lacking in courage, but he is a monk and he has an office so considerable and of such dignity that those things do not come to his head,—and he would lose more honor by accepting than by not paying attention to challenges.' That is what Princess Alexandra said."

"And what was your answer?"

"I was terribly cast down, but I said that even in that case I must go to Malborg, so that I might say to God and man that I did what was in my power. I begged the lady then to arm me with some message, and give me a letter to Malborg, for I knew that otherwise I should not bring my head out of that wolf's-nest. In my soul I thought this way: 'He would not, it is true, grant a meeting to Zavisha, or Povala, or Pashko, but if, in presence of the Master himself, of all the comturs and guests, I slap him on the face or pull his beard and mustache, he will meet me.'"

"God support you!" cried Zbyshko, with enthusiasm.

"Well," continued the old man. "There is a way for everything if a man has a head on his shoulders. But in this case the Lord Jesus withdrew his favor, for I did not find Lichtenstein in Malborg. They told me that he had gone to Vitold as an envoy. I knew not what to do then, whether to wait or to follow him. I was afraid of missing him on the road. And since I was acquainted from former times with the Grand Master and the grand keeper of the wardrobe, I explained to them, as a secret, why I had come; they shouted at me that that could not be."

"Why?"

"For the very same reason which the princess in Plotsk had given. And the Grand Master said also: 'What wouldst thou think of me should I fight a duel with every knight from Mazovia or Poland?' Well, he was right, for he would have been out of the world long ago. Then he and the keeper of the wardrobe were astounded, and told of this at the supper table in the evening. Their story acted on the company as the blowing of a man would on a swarm of bees, especially on the guests; a crowd started up at once. 'Kuno,' cried they, 'may not fight, but we may.' I chose three then, wishing to fight with them in turn, but the Master, after great petitions, gave permission to fight with only one, whose name was Lichtenstein, and who was a relative of Kuno."

"Well, what?" cried Zbyshko.

"This—I have brought back his armor, but I am sorry for its condition; it is smashed so that no one would give a gryven for it."

"Fear God! then you have fulfilled your vow?"

"At first I was glad, for I thought myself that I had, but afterward I thought: 'No, that is not the same!' And now I have no peace, for it is not the same."

Zbyshko fell to consoling him,—

"You know that in such matters I do not spare myself, or any one, but if things had happened to me as to you I should be satisfied. And I say now that the greatest knights in Cracow will support me. Zavisha Charny himself, who knows most of knightly honor, will surely say nothing different."

"Dost thou say that?" inquired Matsko.

"But just think: they are famous throughout the whole world, and they challenged him also, but none of them have done so much as you. They vowed death to Lichtenstein, but you have slaughtered a Lichtenstein."

"That may be," said the old knight.

But Zbyshko, who was curious in knightly affairs, said,—

"Well! tell me: was he young, or old, and how was the struggle? on horseback, or on foot?"

"He was thirty-five years old, he had a beard to his girdle, and was on horseback. God assisted me so that I overcame him with the lance, but after that it came to swords. I tell thee the blood gushed from his mouth so that his whole beard was drenched with it."

"But have you not complained frequently that you are growing old?"

"Yes, for when on horseback, or on the ground, I hold firmly, but I cannot spring into the saddle in full armor."

"But Kuno himself would not have escaped you."

The old man waved his hand contemptuously, in sign that with Kuno it would have gone much easier, then they went to look at the captured "plates," which Matsko had taken only as proof of victory, for they were too much shattered, and therefore without value. But the hip piece and the leg armor were uninjured and of excellent workmanship.

"But I should prefer that these were Kuno's," said Matsko, gloomily.

"The Lord God knows what is best," answered Zbyshko.

"You will not reach Kuno if he becomes Grand Master, unless in some great battle."

"I inclined my ears to what people said," replied Matsko.

"Some declared that after Conrad would come Kuno, while others mentioned Ulrich the brother of Conrad."

"I should prefer Ulrich," said Zbyshko.

"I too, and knowest why? Kuno has more mind and is more cunning, while Ulrich is passionate. He is a truthful knight who observes honor, but he just quivers for war with us. They say also that were he to be Grand Master there would come such a tempest as has not been in the world. Fits of weakness fall frequently on Conrad. Once he fainted in my presence. Hei, perhaps we may live to it."

"God grant! But are there some new misunderstandings with the Kingdom?"

"There are both old and new. A Knight of the Cross is always a Knight of the Cross. Though he knows that thou art stronger, and that it is evil to quarrel with thee, he will lie in wait since he cannot do otherwise."

"But they think that the Order is mightier than all kingdoms."

"Not all of the Knights think so, but many do, and among others Ulrich; for really their power is tremendous."

"But you remember what Zyndram said—"

"I remember. And every year it is worse among them down there. A brother does not receive a brother, as even Germans in Prussia received me when no Knight of the Cross was looking on. All the people have enough of the Knights."

"Then there is not long to wait?"

"Not long, or even long," answered Matsko. And after stopping a while he added: "But meanwhile it is necessary to labor and increase property, so as to appear in the field worthily."