The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER III.

  Princess Danuta, Macko and Zbyszko had been in Tyniec before; but in thetrain of attendants there were some courtiers who now saw it for thefirst time; these greatly admired the magnificent abbey which wassurrounded by high walls built over the rocks and precipices, and stoodon a lofty mountain now shining in the golden rays of the rising sun. Thestately walls and the buildings devoted to various purposes, the gardenssituated at the foot of the mountain and the carefully cultivated fields,showed immediately the great wealth of the abbey. The people from poorMazowsze were amazed. It is true there were other mighty Benedictineabbeys in other parts of the country; as for instance in Lubusz on Odra,in Plock, in Wielkopolska, in Mogila and in several other places: butnone of them could compare with the abbey in Tyniec, which was richerthan many principalities, and had an income greater than even the kingsof those times possessed.

  Therefore the astonishment increased among the courtiers and some of themcould scarcely believe their own eyes. In the meanwhile, the princesswishing to make the journey pleasant, and to interest the young ladies,begged one of the monks to relate the awful story about Walgierz Wdalywhich had been told to her in Krakow, although not very correctly.

  Hearing this, the ladies surrounded the princess and walked slowly,looking in the rays of the sun like moving flowers.

  "Let Brother Hidulf tell about Walgierz, who appeared to him on a certainnight," said one of the monks, looking at one of the other monks who wasan old man.

  "Pious father, have you seen him with your own eyes?" asked the princess.

  "I have seen him," answered the monk gloomily; "there are certain momentsduring which, by God's will, he is permitted to leave the undergroundregions of hell and show himself to the world."

  "When does it happen?"

  The old monk looked at the other monks and became silent. There was atradition that the ghost of Walgierz appeared when the morals of themonastic lives became corrupted, and when the monks thought more aboutworldly riches and pleasures than was right.

  None of them, however, wished to tell this; but it was also said that theghost's appearance portended war or some other calamity. Brother Hidulf,after a short silence, said:

  "His appearance does not foretell any good fortune."

  "I would not care to see him," said the princess, making the sign of thecross; "but why is he in hell, if it is true as I heard, that he onlyavenged a wrong?"

  "Had he been virtuous during his whole life," said the monk sternly, "hewould be damned just the same because he was a heathen, and original sinwas not washed out by baptism."

  After those words the princess' brows contracted painfully because sherecollected that her father whom she loved dearly, had died in theheathen's errors also.

  "We are listening," said she, after a short silence.

  Brother Hidulf began thus:

  During the time of heathenism, there was a mighty _grabia_[24] whose namewas Walgierz, whom on account of his great beauty, they called Wdaly.[25]This whole country, as far as one can see, belonged to him, and he leadall the expeditions, the people on foot and a hundred spearmen who wereall _wlodykas_; the men to the east as far as Opole, and to the west asfar as Sandomierz, were his vassals. Nobody was able to count his herds,and in Tyniec he had a towerful of money the same as the Knights of theCross have now in Marienburg."

  "Yes, they have, I know it!" interrupted the princess.

  "He was a giant," continued the monk. "He was so strong he could dig upan oak tree by the roots, and nobody in the whole world could comparewith him for beauty, playing on the lute or singing. One time when he wasat the court of a French king, the king's daughter, Helgunda, fell inlove with him, and ran away with him to Tyniec, where they lived togetherin sin. No priest would marry them with Christian rites, becauseHelgunda's father had promised her to the cloister for the glory of God.At the same time, there lived in Wislica, Wislaw Piekny,[26] who belongedto King Popiel's family. He, while Walgierz Wdaly was absent, devastatedthe county around Tyniec. Walgierz when he returned overpowered Wislawand imprisoned him in Tyniec. He did not take into consideration thisfact: that every woman as soon as she saw Wislaw, was ready immediatelyto leave father, mother and even husband, if she could only satisfy herpassion. This happened to Helgunda. She immediately devised such fettersfor Walgierz, that that giant, although he could pluck an oak up by itsroots, was unable to break them. She gave him to Wislaw, who took andimprisoned him in Wislica. There Rynga, Wislaw's sister, having heardWalgierz singing in his underground cell, soon fell in love with him andset him at liberty. He then killed Wislaw and Helgunda with the sword,left their bodies for the crows, and returned to Tyniec with Rynga."

  "Was it not right, what he did?" asked the princess.

  Brother Hidulf answered:

  "Had he received baptism and given Tyniec to the Benedictines, perhapsGod would have forgiven his sins; but he did not do this, therefore theearth has devoured him."

  "Were the Benedictines in this kingdom at that time?"

  "No, the Benedictines were not here; only the heathen lived here then."

  "How then could he receive baptism, or give up Tyniec?"

  "He could not; and that is exactly why he was sent to hell to endureeternal torture," answered the monk with authority.

  "Sure! He speaks rightly!" several voices were heard to say.

  In the meanwhile they approached the principal gate of the monastery,where the abbot with numerous monks and noblemen, was awaiting theprincess. There were always many lay people in the cloister: landstewards, barristers and procurators. Many noblemen, even powerful_wlodykas_, held in fief from the monastery numerous estates; and these,as "vassals," were glad to pass their time at the court of their"suzerain," where near the main altar it was easy to obtain some gift andmany benefits. Therefore the "_abbas centum villarum_"[27] could greetthe princess with a numerous retinue.

  He was a man of great stature, with a thin, intelligent face; his headwas shaved on the top with a fringe of grey hair beneath. He had a deepscar on his forehead, which he had evidently received during his youthwhen he performed knightly deeds. His eyes looked penetratingly frombeneath dark eyebrows. He wore a monk's dress similar to that worn by theother monks, but over it he wore a black mantle, lined with purple;around his neck was a gold chain from which was hanging a gold cross setwith precious stones. His whole figure betrayed a proud man, accustomedto command and one who had confidence in himself.

  But he greeted the princess affably and even humbly, because heremembered that her husband belonged to the family of the princes ofMazowsze, from which came the kings, Wladyslaw and Kazimierz; and thather mother was the reigning queen of one of the most powerful kingdoms inthe world. Therefore he passed the threshold of the gate, bowed low, andthen having made the sign of the cross over Anna Danuta and over hercourt, he said;

  "Welcome, gracious lady, to the threshold of this poor monastery. MaySaint Benedictus of Nursja, Saint Maurus, Saint Bonifacius, SaintBenedictus of Aniane and also Jean of Tolomeia--our patrons living ineternal glory,--give you health and happiness, and bless you seven timesa day during the remainder of your life."

  "They would be deaf, if they did not hear the words of such a greatabbot," said the princess affably; "we came here to hear mass, duringwhich we will place ourselves under their protection."

  Having said this she stretched her hand toward him, which he falling uponone knee, kissed in knightly manner. Then they passed through the gate.The monks were waiting to celebrate mass, because immediately the bellswere rung; the trumpeters blew near the church door in honor of theprincess. Every church used to make a great impression on the princesswho had not been born in a Christian country. The church in Tyniecimpressed her greatly, because there were very few churches that couldrival it in magnificence. Darkness filled the church except at the mainaltar where many lights were shining, brightening the carvings andgildings. A monk, dressed in a chasuble, came from the vestry, bowed tothe princess and comm
enced mass. Then the smoke from the fragrant incensearose, veiled the priest and the altar, and mounted in quiet clouds tothe vaulted ceiling, increasing the solemn beauty of the church. AnnaDanuta bent her head and prayed fervently. But when an organ, rare inthose times, began to shake the nave with majestic thunderings, fillingit with angelic voices, then the princess raised her eyes, and her faceexpressed, beside devotion and fear, a boundless delight; and one lookingat her would take her for some saint, who sees in a marvelous vision, theopen heaven.

  Thus prayed Kiejstut's daughter, who born in heathenism, in everyday lifementioned God's name just as everybody else did in those times,familiarly; but in the Lord's house she used to raise her eyes with fearand humility, toward his secret and unmeasurable power.

  The whole court, although with less humility, prayed devoutly. Zbyszkoknelt among the Mazurs, and committed himself to God's protection. Fromtime to time he glanced at Danusia who was sitting beside the princess;he considered it an honor to be the knight of such a girl, and that hisvow was not a trifle. He had already girded his sides with a hempen rope,but this was only half of his vow; now it was necessary to fulfill theother half which was more difficult. Consequently now, when he was moreserious than when in the inn drinking beer, he was anxious to discoverhow he could fulfill it. There was no war. But amidst the disturbances onthe frontier, it was possible to meet some Germans, and either kill themor lay down his own life.

  He had told this to Macko. But he thought: "Not every German wearspeacock or ostrich feathers on his helmet. Only a few among the guests ofthe Knights of the Cross are counts, and the Knights of the Crossthemselves are only _comthurs_; and not every one of them is a _comthur_either. If there be no war, then years may pass before I shall get thosethree crests; I have not been knighted yet and can challenge only thosewho are not knights like myself. It is true I expect to receive thegirdle of a knight from the king's hands during the tournaments, whichhave been announced to take place during the christening, but what willhappen then? I will go to Jurand of Spychow; he will help me kill as many_knechts_[28] as possible; but that will benefit me little. The _knechts_are not knights, with peacock feathers on their heads."

  Therefore in his uncertainty, seeing that without God's special favor, hecould do nothing, he began to pray:

  "Jesus, grant a war between the Knights of the Cross and the Germans whoare the foes of this kingdom and of all other nations confessing YourHoly Name. Bless us; but crush them who would rather serve the_starosta_[29] of hell, than serve you; they have hatred in their heartsagainst us, being angry because our king and queen, having baptized theLithuanians, forbade them cut your Christian servants with the sword. Forwhich anger punish them!"

  "And I, Zbyszko a sinner, repent before you and from your five woundsbeseech for help, that in your mercy you permit me to kill as soon aspossible three Germans having peacock feathers on their morions. Thesecrests I promised upon my knightly honor to Panna Anna Danuta, Jurand'sdaughter, and your servant."

  "If I shall find any booty on those defeated Germans, I shall faithfullypay to holy church the tithe, in order that you also, sweet Jesus, mayhave some benefit and glory through me; and also that you may know, thatI promise to you with a sincere heart. As this is true, so help me,amen!"

  But as he prayed, his heart softened under the influence of his devotionsand he made another promise, which was that after having redeemedBogdaniec from its pledge, he would give to the church all the wax whichthe bees could make during the whole year. He hoped that his Uncle Mackowould not make any opposition to this, and that the Lord Jesus would beespecially pleased with the wax for the candles, and wishing to get it,would help him sooner. This thought seemed to him so right, that joyfilled his soul; and he was almost sure that his prayer would be heardand that the war would soon come, so that he could accomplish his vow. Hefelt such might in his legs and in his arms, that at that moment he wouldhave attacked a whole army. He even thought that having increased hispromises to God, he would also add for Danusia, a couple of Germans! Hisyouthful anger urged him to do it, but this time prudence prevailed, ashe was afraid to exhaust God's patience by asking too much.

  His confidence increased, however, when after mass and a long rest, heheard the conversation between the abbot and Anna Danuta.

  The wives of the reigning kings and princes, both on account of devotionas well as on account of the magnificent presents, sent them by theMaster of the Order, were very kindly disposed toward the Knights of theCross. Even the pious Jadwiga, as long as she lived, restrained herhusband's anger against them. Anna Danuta alone, having experienceddreadful wrongs from the knights hated them with her whole soul.Therefore when the abbot asked her about Mazowsze and its affairs, shebegan to complain bitterly against the Order:

  "Our affairs are in a bad condition and it cannot be otherwise with suchneighbors! Apparently it is the time of peace; they exchange ambassadorsand letters, but notwithstanding all that nobody can be sure of anything.The one who lives on the borders of the kingdom, never knows when he goesto bed in the evening, whether he will awaken in fetters, or with theblade of a sword in his throat, or with a burning ceiling over his head.Neither oaths, nor seals, nor parchment will protect from treachery. Thusit happened at Zlotorja where during the time of peace, they seized theprince and imprisoned him. The Knights of the Cross said that our castlewas a menace to them; but the castles are repaired for defence not for anonset; and what prince has not the right to build and repair in his ownland? Neither the weak nor the powerful can agree with the Order, becausethe knights despise the weak and try to ruin the mighty. Good deeds theyrepay with evil ones. Is there anywhere in the world another order whichhas received as many benefits from other kingdoms as the knights havereceived from Polish princes? And how have they repaid? With threats,with devastation of our lands, with war and with treachery. And it isuseless to complain, even to our apostolic capital, because they do notlisten to the Roman pope himself. Apparently they have sent an embassynow for the queen's confinement and the expected christening, but onlybecause they wish to appease the anger of this mighty king for the evildeeds they performed in Litwa. But in their hearts they are alwaysplotting means to annihilate this kingdom and the whole Polish nation."

  The abbot listened attentively with approval and then said:

  "I know that Comthur Lichtenstein came to Krakow at the head of theembassy; he is very much respected in the Order for his bravery andintelligence. Perhaps you will see him here soon, gracious lady, becausehe sent me a message yesterday, saying that as he wished to pray to ourholy relics, he would pay a visit to Tyniec."

  Having heard this, the princess began to complain again:

  "The people say--and I am sure rightly--that there will soon be a greatwar, in which on one side will be the kingdom of Poland and all thenations speaking a language similar to the Polish tongue, and on theother side will be all the Germans and the Order. There is a prophecyabout this war by some saint."

  "Bridget," interrupted the scholarly abbot; "eight years ago she wascanonized. The pious Peter from Alvastra and Matthew from Linkoeping havewritten her revelations, in which a great war has been predicted."

  Zbyszko shuddered at these words, and not being able to restrain himself,asked:

  "How soon will it be?"

  But the abbot being occupied with the princess, did not hear, or probablydid not wish to hear, the question.

  The princess spoke further:

  "Our young knights are glad that this war is coming, but the older andprudent ones speak thus: 'We are not afraid of the Germans, althoughtheir pride and power are great, but we are afraid of their relics,because against those all human might is powerless.'"

  Here Anna Danuta looked at the abbot with fear and added in a softervoice:

  "They say they have a true piece of the holy cross; how then can onefight against them?"

  "The French king sent it to them," answered the abbot.

  There was a moment of silence, then Mikolaj
of Dlugolas, called Obuch, aman of great experience, said:

  "I was in captivity among the Knights of the Cross; I saw a procession inwhich they carried this great relic. But beside this, there are manyother relics in the monastery in Oliva without which the order would nothave acquired such power."

  The Benedictines stretched their necks toward the speaker, and began toask with great curiosity:

  "Tell us, what are they?"

  "There is a piece of the dress of the Most Holy Virgin," answered the_wlodyka_ of Dlugolas; "there is a molar tooth of Marya from Magdala andbranches from the bush in which God the Father revealed himself to Moses;there is a hand of Saint Liberjus, and as for the bones of other saints,I cannot count them on the fingers of both hands and the toes of bothfeet."

  "How can one fight them?" repeated the princess, sighing.

  The abbot frowned, and having thought for awhile, said:

  "It is difficult to fight them, for this reason; they are monks and theywear the cross on their mantles; but if they have exceeded the measure oftheir sins, then even those relics will refuse to remain with them; inthat case they will not strengthen the knights, but will take theirstrength away, so that the relics can pass into more pious hands. May Godspare Christian blood; but, if a great war should come, there are somerelics in our kingdom also which will succor us."

  "May God help us!" exclaimed Zbyszko.

  The abbot turned toward the princess and said:

  "Therefore have confidence in God, gracious lady, because their days arenumbered rather than yours. In the meanwhile, accept with grateful heartthis box, in which there is a finger of Saint Ptolomeus, one of ourpatrons."

  The princess extended her hand and kneeling, accepted the box, which sheimmediately pressed to her lips. The courtiers shared the joy of thelady. Zbyszko was happy because it seemed to him that war would comeimmediately after the Krakowian festivals.