Ogniem i mieczem. English

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XXX.

  The army passed Konstantinoff and halted at Rosolovtsi; for the princecalculated that when Koritski and Osinski would receive news of thetaking of Polonnoe, they would retreat to Rosolovtsi, and if the enemyshould pursue them he would fall in among all the forces of the princeas into a trap, and thus meet with sure defeat. That forecast wasjustified in great part. The troops occupied their positions, andremained in silent readiness for the fight. Smaller and largerscouting-parties were sent in every direction from the camp. Theprince, with a number of regiments, took his position in the villageand waited. Toward evening Vershul's Tartars brought news that infantrywas approaching from the direction of Konstantinoff. Hearing this, theprince went out before the door of his quarters, surrounded byofficers, and with them a number of the principal attendants, to lookupon the arrival. Meanwhile the regiments, announcing themselves bysound of trumpet, halted before the village; and two colonels hastened,panting and with all speed, to the prince to offer him their service.These were Osinski and Koritski. When they saw Vishnyevetski with amagnificent suite of knights, they were greatly confused, uncertain oftheir reception, and bowing profoundly, they waited in silence for whathe would say.

  "The wheel of fortune turns and brings down the haughty," said theprince. "You did not wish to come at our request, but now you come atyour own desire."

  "Your Highness," said Osinski, with firmness, "we wished with all oursouls to serve with you, but the order was definite. Let him who issuedit answer for it. We beg pardon; though we are innocent, for assoldiers we were obliged to obey and be silent."

  "Then Prince Dominik has withdrawn the order?" asked the prince.

  "The order is not withdrawn," said Osinski, "but it is no longerbinding, since the only salvation and refuge for our forces is withyou, under whose command we wish henceforth to live and serve and die."

  These words, full of manly power, and the form of Osinski produced thevery best impression on the prince and the officers; for he was afamous soldier, and though still young, not more than forty years ofage, was full of warlike experience which he had acquired in foreignarmies. Every military eye rested on him with pleasure. Tall, straightas a reed, with yellow mustaches brushed upward and a Swedish beard, herecalled completely by his uniform and stature the colonels of theThirty Years' War. Koritski, a Tartar by origin, resembled him innothing. Low in stature and dumpy, he had a gloomy look, and hisappearance was strange in a foreign uniform, not befitting his Orientalfeatures. He led a picked German regiment, and had a reputation forbravery as well as moroseness, and the iron rigor with which he heldhis soldiers.

  "We wait the commands of your Highness," said Osinski.

  "I thank you for your decision, and I accept your services. I know thata soldier must obey; and if I sent for you, it was because I wasunaware of the order. Not only shall we pass henceforth good and eviltimes together, but I hope that you will be pleased with your newservice."

  "If you are pleased with us and with our officers."

  "Very good!" said the prince. "Is the enemy far behind you?"

  "Scouting-parties are near, but the main force may arrive hereto-morrow."

  "Very well, we have time then. Order your regiments to march across thesquare; let me look at them, so I may know what kind of soldiers youbring me, and if much can be done with them."

  The colonels returned to their regiments, and soon after were marchingat the head of them into the camp. Soldiers of the picked regiments ofthe prince hurried out like ants to look at their new comrades. Theroyal dragoons, under Captain Giza, marched in front with heavy Swedishhelmets and lofty crests. They rode Podolian horses, but matched andwell fed. These men, fresh and rested, with bright and glitteringuniforms, had a splendid appearance in comparison with the emaciatedregiments of the prince, in tattered uniforms, faded from rain and sun.After these followed Osinski with his regiment, and in the rearKoritski. A murmur of applause was heard among the prince's cavalry atthe sight of the deep German ranks. Their collars red, on theirshoulders shining muskets, they marched thirty in a rank, with the stepof a single man, strong and thundering. Tall, sturdy fellows all ofthem,--old soldiers who had been in more than one country and in morethan one battle, for the most part veterans of the Thirty Years' War,skilled, disciplined, and experienced.

  When they marched up to the prince, Osinski cried, "Halt!" and theregiment stood as if foot-bound to the earth; the officers raised theirstaffs, the standard-bearer raised his standard, and waving it threetimes, lowered it before the prince. "Vorwaerts!" commanded Osinski,"Vorwaerts!" repeated the officers, and the regiments advanced again. Inthe same way but in almost better form, did Koritski present histroops. At the sight of all this the soldiers' hearts were rejoiced;and Yeremi, judge beyond judges, put his hands on his hips withdelight, looked, and smiled,--for infantry was just what he wanted, andhe was sure that it would be difficult for him to find better in thewhole world. He felt increased in power, and hoped to accomplish greatthings in war. The suite began to speak of different military topicsand of the various kinds of soldiers to be seen in the world.

  "The Zaporojian infantry is good, especially behind intrenchments,"said Sleshinski; "but these are better, for they are better drilled."

  "Of course a great deal better!" said Migurski.

  "But they are heavy men," said Vershul. "If I had to do it, I shouldundertake to tire them out with my Tartars in two days, so that on thethird I could slaughter them like sheep."

  "What are you talking about? The Germans are good soldiers."

  To this Pan Longin Podbipienta answered in his singing Lithuanianvoice: "How God in his mercy has endowed different nations withdifferent virtues! As I hear, there is no cavalry in the world betterthan ours, and again neither our infantry nor the Hungarian can becompared with the German."

  "Because God is just," remarked Zagloba. "For instance, he gave you agreat fortune, a big sword, and a heavy hand, but small wit."

  "Zagloba has fastened on him like a horse-leech," said Pan Yan,smiling.

  But Podbipienta contracted his eyes and spoke with the mildness usualto him: "An outrage to hear! And he gave you too long a tongue."

  "If you maintain that God did ill in giving me what I have, then youwill go to hell with your virtue, for you wish to oppose his will."

  "Oh, who can out-talk you? You talk and talk."

  "Do you know how a man is different from an animal?"

  "How?"

  "By reason and speech."

  "Oh, he has given it to him, he has given it to him!" said Mokrski.

  "If you don't understand why in Poland there is better cavalry andamong the Germans better infantry, I will explain it to you."

  "Why is it? why is it?" asked several voices.

  "This is why: When the Lord God created the horse he brought him beforemen, so that they should praise his works. And on the bank stood aGerman, for the Germans are always pushing themselves everywhere. TheLord God showed the horse to the German, and asked: 'What is this?''Pferd!' answered the German. 'What!' exclaimed the Creator; 'do yousay "Pfe!" to my work? But you will never ride on this creature, youlubber!--or if you do, you will ride like a fool.' Having said this,the Lord made a present of the horse to the Pole, This is why thePolish cavalry is the best. Then the Germans began to hurry after theLord on foot and to beg forgiveness of him, and that is why the Germanshave become the best infantry."

  "You have calculated everything very cleverly," said Podbipienta.

  Further conversation was interrupted by new guests, who hurried up withthe tidings that approaching the camp were forces which could not beCossacks, for they were not from Konstantinoff, but from an entirelydifferent direction,--from the river Zbruch. Two hours later thosetroops came on with such a thundering of trumpets and drums that theprince became angry and sent an order to them to be quiet, for theenemy was in the neighborhood. It turned out that they were followersof Samuel Lashch, commander of the royal va
nguard, an officer of theking, for the rest a celebrated adventurer, wrongdoer, turbulent,quarrelsome, but a great soldier. He led eight hundred men of the samestamp as himself,--part nobles, part Cossacks, all of whom deservedhanging according to sound justice. But Yeremi was not afraid of theinsubordination of these warriors, trusting that in his hands theywould turn into obedient lambs, and make up in bravery and daring fortheir other defects.

  It was a lucky evening. On the previous day the prince, weighed down bythe expected departure of the voevoda of Kieff, had determined to deferthe war till the arrival of reinforcements, and to retreat to somequiet place for a time. To-day he was again at the head of nearlytwelve thousand men; and although Krivonos had five times that number,still since the greater part of the rebel forces was formed of therabble, the two armies might be considered of equal strength. Now theprince had no thought of rest. Shutting himself up with Lashch, thevoevoda of Kieff, Zatsvilikhovski, Makhnitski, and Osinski, he held acouncil on the conduct of the war. It was determined to give Krivonosbattle on the morrow, and if he did not appear himself, to go in searchof him.

  It was already dark night; but since the recent rains, so annoying tothe soldiers at Makhnovka, the weather had continued to be splendid. Onthe dark vault of the heavens glittered swarms of golden stars. Themoon appeared on high and whitened all the roofs of Rosolovtsi.No one in the camp thought of sleeping. All were conjecturing aboutto-morrow's battle, and preparing for it; chatting in ordinary fashion,singing, and promising themselves great pleasure. The officers and themost distinguished attendants, all in excellent humor, gathered arounda great fire, and passed the time with their cups.

  "Tell us further," said they to Zagloba; "when you were crossing theDnieper, what did you do, and how did you reach Bar?"

  Zagloba emptied a quart cup of mead, and said,--

  "'Sed jam nox humida c[oe]lo praecipitat Suadentque sidera cadentia somnos, Sed si tantus amor casus cognoscere nostros, Incipiam ...'

  Gentlemen, if I should begin to tell all in detail, ten nights wouldnot suffice, and surely mead would be required; for an old throat, likean old wagon, needs lubrication. It is enough if I tell you that I wentto Korsun, to the camp of Hmelnitski himself with the princess, andtook her out of that hell in safety."

  "Jesus, Mary! Did you enchant them?" cried Zatsvilikhovski.

  "It is true that I enchanted them," said Zagloba, "for I learned thathellish art when I was still in youthful years from a witch in Asia,who, having fallen in love with me, divulged all the secret tricks ofher black art. But I could not enchant much, for it was trick againsttrick. Around Hmelnitski are swarms of soothsayers and wizards, whohave brought so many devils into his service that he uses them to workas he would peasants. When he goes to sleep, a devil has to pull hisboots off; when his clothes are dusty, a devil beats them with histail; when he is drunk, Hmelnitski gives this or that devil a box onthe snout, saying, 'You don't do your work well.'"

  The pious Pan Longin crossed himself, and said: "With them the power ofhell; with us the power of heaven."

  "T was afraid the black fellows would betray me to Hmelnitski,--tellwho I was, and whom I was conducting; but I conjured them into silencewith certain words. I was afraid too that Hmelnitski would know me, forI had met him in Chigirin a year before, twice at Dopula's. There werealso other colonels whom I knew; but my stomach had fallen in, my beardhad grown to my waist, my hair to my shoulders, my disguise had changedthe rest, no one recognized me."

  "Then you saw Hmelnitski himself, and spoke with him?"

  "Did I see Hmelnitski? Just as I see you. More than that; he sent me asa spy into Podolia to distribute his manifestoes among the peasants onthe road. He gave me a baton as a safeguard against the Tartars, sothat from Korsun I went everywhere in safety. Peasants or men frombelow met me. I put the staff under their noses, and said, 'Smell this,children, and go to the devil!' Then I ordered them everywhere to giveme plenty to eat and drink, and they did; and wagons, too, for which Iwas glad; and I was always looking after my poor princess, lest shemight give out after such great fatigues and terror. I tell you,gentlemen, that before we arrived at Bar she had recovered to such adegree that there were few people in Bar who didn't gaze at her. Thereare many pretty girls in that place, for the nobles have assembledthere from distant regions, but in comparison with her they are as owlsto a jay. The people admire her, and you would if you could see her."

  "It must be they couldn't help it," said little Pan Volodyovski.

  "But why did you go to Bar?" asked Migurski.

  "Because I said to myself, I will not stop till I come to a safe place.I had no confidence in small castles, thinking that the rebellion mightreach them. But if it should go to Bar, it would break its teeth there.Pan Andrei Pototski has built up strong walls, and cares as much forHmelnitski as I do for an empty glass. Do you think that I did badly ingoing so far from the conflagration? If I had not, that Bogun wouldsurely have pursued; and if he had caught up, I tell you he would havemade tidbits of me for the dogs. You don't know him, but I do. May thedevil fly away with him! I shall have no peace till they hang the man.God grant him that happy end--amen! And surely there is no one withwhom he has such an account as with me. Brrr! When I think of it achill passes over me; so that now I am forced to use stimulants, thoughby nature I am opposed to drink."

  "What do you say?" interrupted Podbipienta. "Why, my dear brother, youtake up liquid like a well-sweep."

  "Don't look into the well, my dear man, for you will see nothing wiseat the bottom. But a truce to this! Travelling then with the baton andmanifestoes of Hmelnitski, I met no great hindrances. When I came toVinnitsa, I found there the troops of Pan Aksak, now present in thiscamp; but I had not put off my minstrel skin yet, for I feared thepeasantry. But I got rid of the manifestoes. There is a saddler therecalled Suhak, a Zaporojian spy, who was sending intelligence toHmelnitski. Through this fellow I sent off the manifestoes; but I wrotesuch sentences on the backs of them that Hmelnitski will surely orderthe saddler to be flayed when he reads them. But right under the verywalls of Bar such a thing happened to me that I came very near beinglost at the shore of refuge."

  "How was that? How?"

  "I met some drunken soldiers, wild fellows, who heard how I called theprincess, 'Your Ladyship,' for I was not so careful then, being nearour own people. And they began: 'What sort of minstrel is that? Whatsort of a lad is it whom he calls "Your Ladyship"?' Then they looked atthe princess, and saw she was as beautiful as a picture. 'Bring hernearer to us,' said they. I pushed her behind me into the corner, andto the sabre--"

  "That is a wonder," said Volodyovski,--"that you, dressed as aminstrel, had a sabre at your side."

  "That I had a sabre? And who told you that I had a sabre? I had not;but I grabbed a soldier's sabre that lay on the table,--for it was in apublic house at Shipintsi, I stretched out two of my assailants in thetwinkle of an eye. The others rushed on me. I cried, 'Stop, youdogs, for I am a noble!' Next moment they called out, 'Stop! stop!Scouts are coming!' It appeared that they were not scouts, but PaniSlavoshevska with an escort, whom her son was conducting, with fiftyhorsemen,--young fellows. These stopped my enemies. I went to the ladywith my story, and roused her feelings so that she opened thefloodgates of her eyes. She took the princess into her carriage, and weentered Bar. But do you think this is the end? No!"

  Suddenly Sleshinski interrupted the narrative. "But, look! is that thedawn? What is it?"

  "Oh, it cannot be the dawn," said Skshetuski. "Too early."

  "It is toward Konstantinoff."

  "Yes. Don't you see it is brighter?"

  "As I live, a fire!"

  At these words the faces of all became serious. They forgot thenarrative and sprang to their feet.

  "Fire! Fire!" repeated several voices.

  "That is Krivonos who has come from Polonnoe."

  "Krivonos with all his forces."

  "The advance guard must have set fire to the town or the neighbor
ingvillages."

  Meanwhile the trumpets sounded the alarm in low notes. Just then oldZatsvilikhovski appeared suddenly among the knights. "Gentlemen," saidhe, "scouts have come with news. The enemy is in sight! We move atonce. To your posts! to your posts!"

  The officers hurried with all speed to their regiments. The attendantsput out the fires, and in a few moments darkness reigned in the camp.But in the distance from the direction of Konstantinoff the heavensreddened each moment more intensely and over a broader space. In thisgleam the stars grew paler and paler. Again the trumpets sounded low."To horse!" was heard through the mouthpiece. Indistinct masses of menand horses began to move. Amid the silence were heard the tramp ofhorses, the measured step of infantry, and finally the dull thump ofVurtsel's cannon; from moment to moment the clatter of muskets or thevoices of command were heard. There was something threatening andominous in that night march, in those voices, murmurs, clatter ofsteel, the gleam of armor and swords. The regiments descended to theKonstantinoff road, and moved over it toward the conflagration like agreat dragon or serpent making its way through the darkness. But theluxuriant July night was drawing to a close. In Rosolovtsi the cocksbegan to crow, answering one another through the whole town. Five milesof road divided Rosolovtsi from Konstantinoff, so that before the armyon its slow march had passed half the interval dawn rose behind thebrightness of the conflagration, pale as if frightened, and filled theair more and more with light, winning from the darkness forests, woods,groves, the whole line of the highway and the troops marching upon it.It was possible to distinguish clearly the people, the horses, and theclose ranks of infantry. The cool morning breeze rose and quiveredamong the flags above the heads of the knights.

  Vershul's Tartars marched in front, behind them Ponyatovski's Cossacks,then the dragoons, Vurtsel's artillery, the infantry and hussars last.Zagloba rode near Skshetuski; but he was somewhat uneasy in the saddle,and it was apparent that alarm was seizing him, in view of theapproaching battle.

  "Listen a moment!" said he to Skshetuski, in a low whisper as if hefeared some one might overhear him.

  "What do you say?"

  "Will the hussars strike first?"

  "You say that you are an old soldier, and you don't know that hussarsare reserved to decide the battle at the moment when the enemy isstraining his utmost power?"

  "I know that, I know that, but I wanted to be sure."

  A moment of silence ensued. Then Zagloba lowered his voice still more,and inquired further: "Is this Krivonos with all his forces?"

  "Yes."

  "How many men is he leading?"

  "Sixty thousand, counting the mob."

  "Oh, the devil take him!" said Zagloba.

  Pan Yan smiled under his mustache.

  "Don't think that I am afraid," whispered Zagloba. "But I have shortbreath, and don't like a crowd, for it is hot, and as soon as it is hotI can do nothing. I like to take care of myself in single combat. Notthe head, but the hands win in this place. Here I am a fool incomparison with Podbipienta. I have on my stomach here those twohundred ducats which the prince gave me; but believe me I would ratherhave my stomach somewhere else. Tfu! tfu! I don't like these greatbattles. May the plague bruise!"

  "Nothing will happen to you. Take courage!"

  "Courage? That is all I am afraid of. I fear that bravery will overcomeprudence in me. I am too excitable. Besides, I have had a bad omen:when we sat by the fire two stars fell. Who knows, maybe one of them ismine."

  "For your good deeds God will reward you and keep you in health."

  "Well, if only he doesn't reward me too soon."

  "Why didn't you stay in the camp?"

  "I thought it would be safer with the army."

  "It is. You will see that there is no great trouble. We are accustomedto this fighting, and custom is second nature. But here is the Sluchand Vishovati Stav already."

  In fact the waters of Vishovati Stav, divided from the Sluch by a longdam, glittered in the distance. The army halted at once along the wholeline.

  "Is this the place so soon?" asked Zagloba.

  "The prince will put the army in line," said Skshetuski.

  "I don't like a throng; I tell you, I don't like a throng."

  "Hussars on the right wing!" was the command which came from the princeto Pan Yan.

  It was broad daylight. The fire had grown pale in the light of therising sun, whose golden rays were reflected on the points of thelances, and it appeared as though above the hussars a thousand lightswere gleaming. After its lines were arranged, the army concealed itselfno longer, and began to sing in one voice, "Hail, O ye gates ofsalvation!" The mighty song resounded over the dewy grass, struck thepine grove, and sent back by the echo, rose to the sky. Then the shoreon the other side of the dam grew black with crowds of Cossacks. As faras the eye could reach regiment followed regiment,--mounted Zaporojiansarmed with long lances, infantry with muskets, and waves of peasantsarmed with scythes, flails, and forks. Behind them was to be seen, asif in fog, an immense camp or movable town. The creaking of thousandsof wagons and the neighing of horses reached the ears of the prince'ssoldiers. But the Cossacks marched without their usual tumult, withouthowling, and halted on the other side of the dam. The two opposingforces looked at each other for some time in silence.

  Zagloba, keeping all the time close to Skshetuski, looked on that seaof people and muttered,--

  "Lord, why hast thou created so many ruffians? Hmelnitski must be therewith his mob and their vermin. Isn't that an outbreak, tell me? Theywill cover us with their caps. Ah! in the old time it was so pleasantin the Ukraine! They are rolling on, rolling on! God grant that thedevils may roll you in hell, and all that is coming on us! May theglanders devour you!"

  "Don't swear. To-day is Sunday."

  "True, it is Sunday. Better think of God. 'Pater noster, quies in c[oe]lis'--No respect to be looked for from thesescoundrels--'Sanctificetur nomen tuum'--What is going to be done onthat dam?--'Adveniat regnum tuum'--The breath is already stopped in mybody--'Fiat voluntas tua'--God choke you, you Hamans! But look! what isthat?"

  A division formed of a few hundred men separated from the dark mass andpushed forward without order toward the dam.

  "That is a skirmishing-party," said Skshetuski. "Our men will go out tothem directly."

  "Has the battle begun, then, already?"

  "As God is in heaven!"

  "May the devil take them!" Here the ill-humor of Zagloba was beyondmeasure. "And you are looking at it as a theatre in carnival time!"cried he, in disgust at Skshetuski; "just as if your own skin were notin peril."

  "I told you that we are used to it."

  "And you will go to the skirmish too, of course?"

  "It is not very becoming for knights of picked regiments to fight duelswith such enemies. No one does that who stands on dignity; but in thesetimes no one thinks of dignity."

  "Our men are marching already!" cried Zagloba, seeing the red line ofVolodyovski's dragoons moving at a trot toward the dam.

  They were followed by a number of volunteers from each regiment. Amongothers went the red Vershul, Kushel, Ponyatovski, the two Karvichi, andPan Longin Podbipienta from the hussars. The distance between the twodivisions began to diminish rapidly.

  "You will see something," said Skshetuski to Zagloba, "Look especiallyat Volodyovski and Podbipienta. They are splendid fighters. Do you seethem?"

  "Yes."

  "Well, look at them! You will have something to enjoy."