The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 1 (of 2)

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  The sword-bearer of Rossyeni had a difficult struggle with PannaAleksandra before she consented to go to that feast which the hetmanhad prepared for his people. He had to implore almost with tears thestubborn, bold girl, and swear that it was a question of his head; thatall, not only the military, but citizens dwelling in the region ofKyedani, as far as Radzivill's hand reached, were obliged to appearunder terror of the prince's wrath: how then could they oppose who weresubject to the favor and disfavor of the terrible man? Olenka, not toendanger her uncle, gave way.

  The company was really not small, for he had forced many of thesurrounding nobles to come with their wives and daughters. But themilitary were in the majority, and especially officers of the foreignregiments, who remained nearly all with the prince. Before he showedhimself to the guests he prepared an affable countenance, as if no carehad weighed on him previously; he wished with that banquet to rousecourage, not only in his adherents and the military, but to show thatmost of the citizens were on his side, and only turbulent peopleopposed the union with Sweden. He did not spare therefore trouble oroutlay to make the banquet lordly, that the echo of it might spread aswidely as possible through the land. Barely had darkness covered thecountry when hundreds of barrels were set on fire along the roadleading to the castle and in the courtyard; from time to time cannonswere thundering, and soldiers were ordered to give forth joyous shouts.

  Carriages and covered wagons followed one another on the road, bringingpersonages of the neighborhood and the "cheaper" (smaller) nobility.The courtyard was filled with equipages, horses, and servants, who hadeither come with guests or belonged to the town. Crowds dressed invelvet, brocade, and costly furs filled the so-called "Golden Hall;"and when the prince appeared at last, all glittering from preciousstones, and with a welcoming smile on his face, usually gloomy, andbesides wrinkled at that time by sickness, the first officers shoutedin one voice,--

  "Long live the prince hetman! Long live the voevoda of Vilna!"

  Radzivill cast his eyes suddenly on the assembled citizens, wishing toconvince himself whether they repeated the cries of the soldiers. Infact a few tens of voices from the most timid breasts repeated the cry;the prince on his part began at once to bow, and to thank them for thesincere and "unanimous" love.

  "With you, gracious gentlemen!" said he, "we will manage those whowould destroy the country. God reward you! God reward you!"

  And he went around through the hall, stopped before acquaintances, notsparing titles in his speech,--"Lord brother," "dear neighbor;" andmore than one gloomy face grew bright under the warm rays of themagnate's favor.

  "But it is not possible," said those who till recently looked on hisdeeds with dislike, "that such a lord, such a lofty senator should wishill to his country; either he could not act differently from what hehas acted, or there is some secret in this, which will come out for thegood of the Commonwealth."

  "In fact, we have more rest already from one enemy who does not wish tolight about us with the Swedes."

  "God grant that all turn out for the best."

  Some, however, shook their heads, or said with a look to one another,"We are here because they put the knife to our throats."

  But these were silent; meanwhile others, more easily brought over, saidin loud voices, to be heard by the prince,--

  "It is better to change the king than ruin the Commonwealth."

  "Let the kingdom think of itself, but we will think of ourselves."

  "Besides, who has given us an example, if not Great Poland? _Extremanecessitas, extremis nititur rationibus! Tentanda omnia!_"

  "Let us put all confidence in our prince, and trust him in everything.Let him have Lithuania and the government in his hands."

  "He deserves both. If he will not save us, we perish,--in him issalvation."

  "He is nearer to us than Yan Kazimir, for he is our blood."

  Radzivill caught with an eager ear those voices, dictated by fear orflattery, and did not consider that they came from the mouths of weakpersons, who in danger would be the first to desert him,--from themouths of persons whom every breath of wind might bend as a wave. Andhe was charmed with those expressions, and tempted himself, or his ownconscience, repeating from the maxims he had heard that which seemed toexcuse him the most: "_Extrema necessitas, extremis nititurrationibus!_"

  But when passing a large group of nobles he heard from the lips of PanYujits, "He is nearer to us than Yan Kazimir," his face grew brightaltogether. To compare him with the king, and then to prefer him,flattered his pride; he approached Pan Yujits at once and said,--

  "You are right, brothers, for in Yan Kazimir, in one pot of blood thereis a quart of Lithuanian, but in me there is nothing but Lithuanian. Ifhitherto the quart has commanded the potful, it depends on you,brothers, to change that condition."

  "We are ready to drink a potful to your health," answered Pan Yujits.

  "You have struck my mind. Rejoice, brothers; I would gladly invitehither all Lithuania."

  "It would have to be trimmed still better," said Pan Shchanyetski ofDalnovo,--a bold man, and cutting with the tongue as with the sword.

  "What do you mean by that?" asked the prince, fixing his eyes on him.

  "That the heart of your highness is wider than Kyedani."

  Radzivill gave a forced laugh and went farther.

  At this moment the marshal of the castle approached him with theannouncement that the banquet was ready. Crowds began to flow, like ariver, after the prince to the same hall in which not long before theunion with Sweden was declared. The marshal seated the guests accordingto dignity, calling each one by name and rank. But it was evident thatthe orders of the prince had been issued in advance on this point, forKmita's place was between Billevich and Panna Aleksandra.

  The hearts jumped in both when they heard their names called insuccession, and both hesitated at the first moment; but it occurred tothem that to refuse would be to draw on themselves the eyes of allpresent, therefore they sat side by side. They were angry and ill atease. Pan Andrei determined to be as indifferent as if a stranger weresitting next him; but soon he understood that he could not be soindifferent, and that his neighbor was not such a stranger that theycould begin an ordinary conversation. But both saw that in that throngof persons of the most varied feelings, interests, and passions, hethinks only of her and she of him. For this very reason it was awkwardfor them. They would not and could not tell sincerely, clearly, andopenly, what lay on their hearts. They had the past, but no future.Recent feelings, confidence, even acquaintance, were all broken. Therewas nothing between them save the feeling of disappointment andoffence. If this link should burst, they would be freer; but time onlycould bring forgetfulness: it was too soon for that.

  For Kmita it was so disagreeable that he almost suffered torments;still he would not have yielded, for anything in the world, the placewhich the marshal had given him. He caught with his ear the rustle ofher dress; he watched every movement of hers,--he watched whilefeigning not to watch; he felt the warmth beating from her, and allthis caused him a certain painful delight.

  At the same moment he discovered that she too was equally on the alert,though she was as if not paying attention. An unconquerable desire oflooking at her drew him on; therefore he glanced sidewise, until he sawher clear forehead, her eyes covered with dark lashes, and her fairface, not touched by paint, as were those of other ladies. For himthere had always been something attractive in that face, so that theheart in the poor knight was shivering from sorrow and pain. "To thinkthat such animosity could find a place with such beauty," thought he.But the offence was too deep; hence he added soon in his soul, "I havenothing to do with you; let some other man take you."

  And he felt suddenly that if that "other" were merely to try to makeuse of the permission, he would cut him into pieces as small as choppedstraw. At the very thought terrible anger seized him; but he calmedhimself when he remembered that he was still alone, t
hat no "other" wassitting near her, and that no one, at least at that moment, was tryingto win her.

  "I will look at her once more and turn to the other side," thought he.

  And again he cast a sidelong glance; but just at that moment she didthe same, and both dropped their eyes with all quickness, terriblyconfused, as if they had been caught in a crime.

  Panna Aleksandra too was struggling with herself. From all that hadhappened, from the action of Kmita at Billeviche, from the words ofZagloba and Pan Yan, she learned that Kmita erred, but that he was notso guilty and did not deserve such contempt, such unreservedcondemnation, as she had thought previously. Besides, he had savedthose worthy men from death, and there was so much in him of a certaingrand pride that when he had fallen into their hands, having a letteron his person sufficient to vindicate him, or at least to save him fromexecution, he did not show that letter, he said not a word, but went todeath with head erect.

  Olenka, reared by an old soldier who placed contempt for death aboveall virtues, worshipped courage with her whole heart; therefore shecould not resist an involuntary admiration for that stern knightlydaring which could be driven from the body only with the soul.

  She understood also that if Kmita served Radzivill he did so in perfectgood faith; what a wrong therefore to condemn him for intentionaltreason! And still she had put that wrong on him, she had spared himneither injustice nor contempt, she would not forgive him even in theface of death.

  "Right the wrong," said her heart; "all is finished between you, but itis thy duty to confess that thou hast judged him unjustly. In this isthy duty to thyself also."

  But there was in this lady no little pride, and perhaps something ofstubbornness; therefore it came at once to her mind that that cavalierwas not worth such satisfaction, and a flush came to her face.

  "If he is not worth it, let him go without it," said her mind.

  But conscience said further that whether the injured one is worthsatisfaction or not, it is needful to give it; but on the other sideher pride brought forth continually new arguments,--

  "If--which might be--he was unwilling to listen, she would have toswallow her shame for nothing. And secondly, guilty or not guilty,whether he acts purposely or through blindness, it is enough that heholds with traitors and enemies of the country, and helps them to ruinit. It is the same to the country whether he lacks reason or honesty.God may forgive him; men must and ought to condemn, and the name oftraitor will remain with him. That is true! If he is not guilty, is shenot right in despising a man who has not the wit to distinguish wrongfrom right, crime from virtue?"

  Here anger began to carry the lady away, and her cheeks flushed.

  "I will be silent!" said she to herself. "Let him suffer what he hasdeserved. Until I see penitence I have the right to condemn him."

  Then she turned her glance to Kmita, as if wishing to be convincedwhether penitence was yet to be seen in his face. Just then it wasthat the meeting of their eyes took place, at which both were soshame-stricken.

  Olenka, it may be, did not see penitence in the face of the cavalier,but she saw pain and suffering; she saw that face pale as aftersickness; therefore deep pity seized her, tears came perforce to hereyes, and she bent still more over the table to avoid betrayingemotion.

  Meanwhile the banquet was becoming animated. At first all wereevidently under a disagreeable impression, but with the cups camefancy. The bustle increased. At last the prince rose,--

  "Gracious gentlemen, I ask leave to speak."

  "The prince wishes to speak! The prince wishes to speak!" was calledfrom every side.

  "I raise the first toast to the Most Serene King of Sweden, who givesus aid against our enemies, and ruling meanwhile this country, will notleave it till he brings peace. Arise, gentlemen, for that health isdrunk standing."

  The guests rose, except ladies, and filled their glasses, but withoutshouts, without enthusiasm. Pan Shchanyetski of Dalnovo mutteredsomething to his neighbors, and they bit their mustaches to avoidlaughter. It was evident that he was jeering at the King of Sweden.

  It was only when the prince raised the other toast to his "belovedguests" kind to Kyedani, who had come even from distant places totestify their confidence in the intentions of the host, that theyanswered him with a loud shout,--

  "We thank you from our hearts!"

  "The health of the prince!"

  "Our Hector of Lithuania!"

  "May he live! Long life to the prince hetman, our voevoda."

  Now Pan Yujits, a little drunk already, cried with all the strength ofhis lungs, "Long life to Yanush I., Grand Prince of Lithuania!"

  Radzivill blushed like a young lady at her betrothal, but remarkingthat those assembled were stubbornly silent and looking at him withastonishment, he said,--

  "That is in your power; but your wishes are premature, Pan Yujits,premature."

  "Long live Yanush I., Grand Prince of Lithuania!" repeated Pan Yujits,with the stubbornness of a drunken man.

  Pan Shchanyetski rose in his turn and raised his glass. "True," saidhe, coolly, "Grand Prince of Lithuania, King of Poland, and Emperor ofGermany!"

  Again an interval of silence. Suddenly the company burst out intolaughter. All were staring, their mustaches were dancing on theirreddened faces, and laughter shook their bodies, echoed from the archesof the hall, and lasted long; and as suddenly as it rose so suddenlydid it die on the lips of all at sight of the hetman's face, which waschanging like a rainbow.

  Radzivill restrained the terrible anger which had seized his breast andsaid, "Low jests, Pan Shchanyetski."

  The noble pouted, and not at all disconcerted answered: "That also isan elective throne, and we cannot wish your highness too much. If as anoble your highness may become King of Poland, as a prince of theGorman Empire you might be raised to the dignity of Emperor. It is asfar or near for you to the one as to the other; and who does not wishthis to you, let him rise. I will meet him with the sabre." Here heturned to the company: "Rise, whoso does not wish the crown of theGerman Empire to the voevoda of Vilna!"

  Of course no one rose. They did not laugh either, for in the voice ofPan Shchanyetski there was so much insolent malice that an involuntarydisquiet came upon all as to what would happen.

  Nothing happened, save that relish for the banquet was spoiled. In vaindid the servants of the castle fill the glasses every moment. Winecould not scatter gloomy thoughts in the minds of the banqueters, northe disquiet increasing every moment. Radzivill concealed his angerwith difficulty, for he felt that, thanks to the toasts of PanShchanyetski, he was belittled in the eyes of the assembled nobles, andthat, intentionally or not, that man had forced the conviction on thosepresent that the voevoda of Vilna was no nearer the throne of grandprince than the crown of Germany. Everything was turned into jests,into ridicule, while the banquet was given mainly to accustom men'sminds to the coming rule of the Radzivills. What is more, Radzivill wasconcerned lest this ridicule of his hopes should make a bad impressionon the officers, admitted to the secret of his plans. In fact, deepdissatisfaction was depicted on their faces.

  Ganhoff filled glass after glass, and avoided the glance of the prince.Kmita, however, did not drink, but looked at the table before him withfrowning brow, as if he were thinking of something, or lighting aninternal battle. Radzivill trembled at the thought that a light mightflash into that mind any moment, and bring forth truth from theshadows, and then that officer, who furnished the single link bindingthe remnants of the Polish squadrons with the cause of Radzivill, wouldbreak the link, even if he had at the same time to drag the heart outof his own breast.

  Kmita had annoyed Radzivill already over much; and without themarvellous significance given him by events, he would long since havefallen a victim to his own impetuosity and the wrath of the hetman. Butthe prince was mistaken in suspecting him of a hostile turn of thought,for Pan Andrei was occupied wholly with Olenka and that deep dissensionwhich separated them.

  At times it seemed to him that he
loved that woman sitting at his sidebeyond the whole world; then again he felt such hatred that he wouldgive death to her if he could but give it to himself as well.

  Life had become so involved that for his simple nature it was toodifficult, and he felt what a wild beast feels when entangled in a netfrom which it cannot escape.

  The unquiet and gloomy humor of the whole banquet irritated him in thehighest degree. It was simply unendurable.

  The banquet became more gloomy every moment. It seemed to those presentthat they were feasting under a leaden roof resting on their heads.

  At that time a new guest entered the hall. The prince, seeing him,exclaimed,--

  "That is Pan Suhanyets, from Cousin Boguslav! Surely with letters!"

  The newly arrived bowed profoundly. "True, Most Serene Prince, I comestraight from Podlyasye."

  "But give me the letters, and sit at the table yourself. The worthyguests will pardon me if I do not defer the reading, though we aresitting at a banquet, for there may be news which I shall need toimpart to you. Sir Marshal, pray think of the welcome envoy there."

  Speaking thus, he took from the hands of Pan Suhanyets a package ofletters, and broke the seal of the first in haste.

  All present fixed curious eyes on his face, and tried to divine thesubstance of the letter. The first letter did not seem to announceanything favorable, for the face of the prince was filled with blood,and his eyes gleamed with wild anger.

  "Brothers!" said the hetman, "Prince Boguslav reports to me that thosemen who have chosen to form a confederation rather than march againstthe enemy at Vilna, are ravaging at this moment my villages inPodlyasye. It is easier of course to wage war with peasant women invillages. Worthy knights, there is no denying that!--Never mind! Theirreward will not miss them."

  Then he took the second letter, but had barely cast his eyes on it whenhis face brightened with a smile of triumph and delight,--

  "The province of Syeradz has yielded to the Swedes!" cried he, "andfollowing Great Poland, has accepted the protection of Karl Gustav."

  And after a while another,--

  "This is the latest dispatch. Good for us, worthy gentlemen, YanKazimir is beaten at Vidava and Jarnov. The army is leaving him! He isretreating on Cracow; the Swedes are pursuing. My cousin writes thatCracow too must fall."

  "Let us rejoice, gracious gentlemen," said Shchanyetski, with a strangevoice.

  "Yes, let us rejoice!" repeated the hetman, without noticing the tonein which Shchanyetski had spoken. And delight issued from the wholeperson of the prince, his face became in one moment as it were younger,his eyes gained lustre; with hands trembling from happiness, he brokethe seal of the last letter, looked, became all radiant as the sun, andcried,--

  "Warsaw is taken! Long life to Karl Gustav!"

  Here he first noticed that the impression which these tidings producedon those present was entirely different from that which he felthimself. For all sat in silence, looking forward with uncertain glance.Some frowned; others covered their faces with their hands. Evencourtiers of the hetman, even men of weak spirit, did not dare toimitate the joy of the prince at the tidings that Warsaw was taken,that Cracow must fall, and that the provinces, one after the other,would leave their legal king and yield to the enemy. Besides, there wassomething monstrous in the satisfaction with which the supreme leaderof half the armies of the Commonwealth, and one of its most exaltedsenators, announced its defeats. The prince saw that it was necessaryto soften the impression.

  "Gentlemen," said he, "I should be the first to weep with you, if harmwere coming to the Commonwealth; but here the Commonwealth suffers noharm, it merely changes kings. Instead of the ill-fated Yan Kazimir weshall have a great and fortunate warrior. I see all wars now finished,and enemies vanquished."

  "Your highness is right," answered Shchanyetski. "Cup for cup, the samething that Radzeyovski and Opalinski held forth at Uistsie. Let usrejoice, gracious gentlemen! Death to Yan Kazimir!"

  When he had said this, Shchanyetski pushed back his chair with arattle, and walked out of the hall.

  "The best of wines that are in the cellar!" cried the prince.

  The marshal hastened to carry out the order. In the hall it was asnoisy as in a hive. When the first impression had passed, the noblesbegan to talk of the news and discuss. They asked Pan Suhanyets fordetails from Podlyasye, and adjoining Mazovia, which the Swedes hadalready occupied.

  After a while pitchy kegs were rolled into the hall and opened. Spiritsbegan to grow brighter and improve by degrees.

  More and more frequently voices were heard to repeat: "All is over!perhaps it is for the best!" "We must bend to fortune!" "The prince willnot let us be wronged." "It is better for us than for others. Long lifeto Yanush Radzivill, our voevoda, hetman, and prince!"

  "Grand Prince of Lithuania!" cried again Pan Yujits.

  But at this time neither silence nor laughter answered him; but anumber of tens of hoarse throats roared at once,--

  "That is our wish,--from heart and soul our wish! Long life to him! Mayhe rule!"

  The magnate rose with a face as red as purple. "I thank you, brothers,"said he, seriously.

  In the hall it had become as suffocating and hot, from lights and thebreath of people, as in a bath.

  Panna Aleksandra bent past Kmita to her uncle. "I am weak," said she;"let us leave here."

  In truth her face was pale, and on her forehead glittered drops ofperspiration; but the sword-bearer of Rossyeni cast an unquiet glanceat the hetman, fearing lest it be taken ill of him to leave the table.In the field he was a gallant soldier, but he feared Radzivill with hiswhole soul.

  At that moment, to complete the evil, the hetman said,--

  "He is my enemy who will not drink all my toasts to the bottom, for Iam joyful to-day."

  "You have heard?" asked Billevich.

  "Uncle, I cannot stay longer, I am faint," said Olenka, with abeseeching voice.

  "Then go alone," answered Pan Tomash.

  The lady rose, wishing to slip away unobserved; but her strengthfailed, and she caught the side of the chair in her weakness.

  Suddenly a strong knightly arm embraced her, and supported the almostfainting maiden.

  "I will conduct you," said Pan Andrei.

  And without asking for permission he caught her form as if with an ironhoop. She leaned on him more and more; before they reached the door,she was hanging powerless on his arm.

  Then he raised her as lightly as he would a child, and bore her out ofthe hall.