Ogniem i mieczem. English

by Henryk Sienkiewicz

  CHAPTER XLVII.

  At last "Te Deum laudamus" was heard in the cathedral of Warsaw, andthe king was enthroned; cannon thundered, bells were tolled, andconfidence began to enter all hearts. The interregnum had passed,--atime of storms and unrest the more terrible for the Commonwealth thatit happened in a period of universal disaster. Those who had beentrembling at the thought of threatening dangers, now that the electionhad passed with unusual harmony, drew a deep breath. It seemed to manythat the unparalleled civil war was over forever, and that the newlychosen king had but to pronounce sentence on the guilty. Indeed, thishope was supported by the bearing of Hmelnitski himself. The Cossacksat Zamost, while storming the castle wildly, nevertheless spoke loudlyin favor of Yan Kazimir. Hmelnitski sent through the priest HuntselMokrski letters full of loyalty, and through other envoys obedientrequests for favor to himself and the Zaporojian army. It was knownalso that the king, in accord with the policy of the chancellor,desired to make considerable concessions to the Cossacks. As before thecatastrophe of Pilavtsi war was in every mouth, so was peace now. Itwas hoped that after so many disasters the Commonwealth would recover,and under the new reign would be healed from all its wounds. At lastSnyarovski went with a letter of the king to Hmelnitski; and soon thejoyful news was circulated that the Cossacks would withdraw from Zamostto the Ukraine, where they would wait quietly the commands of the kingand the commission which was to be occupied with examining the wrongsinflicted on them. It seemed that after the storm a seven-coloredrainbow hung over the land, heralding calm and fair weather.

  There were not lacking, it is true, unfavorable prophecies andprognostications, but in view of the favoring reality no weight wasattached to them. The king went to Chenstokhova to thank first of allthe Divine Protectress for the election and to give himself to herfurther care, and then to Cracow to the coronation. The dignitariesfollowed him: Warsaw was deserted; only those exiles from Russiaremained who did not dare yet to return to their ruined fortunes, orwho had nothing with which to return.

  Prince Yeremi, as senator of the Commonwealth, had to go with the king;but Volodyovski and Zagloba, at the head of one squadron of dragoons,went with hurried marches to Zamost to give Skshetuski the happytidings of what had happened to Bogun, and then to go with him insearch of the princess.

  Zagloba left Warsaw not without a certain sadness; for in thatimmeasurable concourse of nobles, in the uproar of election, in theendless revelry and the brawls raised in company with Volodyovski, hewas as happy as a fish in the sea. But he consoled himself with thethought that he was returning to active life, to the search foradventures, and stratagems of which he promised not to spare himself;and besides he had his own opinion about the dangers of the capital,which he laid bare to Volodyovski in the following manner:--

  "It is true, Pan Michael," said he, "that we did great things inWarsaw; but God keep us from a longer visit! For I tell you we shouldbecome effeminate, like that famous Carthaginian whom the sweetness ofthe air of Capua weakened to the core. But worst of all are women; theybring every man to destruction. Just think, there is nothing moretraitorous than woman! A man grows old, but still she attracts him."

  "But you might give us peace," said Volodyovski.

  "I repeat this to myself often, it being time for me to grow sedate;but I am too hot-blooded yet. You are more phlegmatic; in me, however,is passion itself. But a truce to this; we will begin another life now.More than once have I grieved for war of late. We have an excellentsquadron; and around Zamost there are bands of marauders with whom wewill amuse ourselves while going after the princess. We shall seeSkshetuski too, and that giant, that Lithuanian stork, that hop-pole,Pan Longin, and we have not seen him for many a day."

  "You are longing for him, and when you see him you give him no peace."

  "Because when he talks it is as if your horse were moving his tail, andhe stretches every word as a shoemaker does leather; with himeverything went into strength instead of brains. When he takes any oneby the shoulders he pushes the ribs through the skin; still there isnot a child in the Commonwealth who could not outwit him. How is itpossible that a man with such a fortune should be so dull?"

  "Has he in truth such a fortune?"

  "He? When I made his acquaintance he had a belt so stuffed that hecould not gird himself with it, and he carried it around like a smokedsausage. You could flourish it like a staff and it would not bend. Hetold me himself how many villages he has,--Myshekishki, Psikishki,Pigvishki, Sirutsiani, Tsiaputsiani, Kapustsiani (or rather,Kapustsiana,[17] but adding _glowa_), Baltupye-- Who could remember allthese heathen names? About half the district belongs to him! It's agreat family, the Podbipienta--among soup-eaters."

  "Haven't you exaggerated a little about these estates?"

  "I do not exaggerate, for I repeat what I heard from him, and duringhis life he has never told a lie,--he is in fact too stupid for that."

  "Well, then, Anusia will be a lady with a full mouth. But as to yourdictum that he is stupid, I cannot agree to that in any way. He is asolid man, and so clear-headed that no one can give better counsel. Butthat he is not a rogue,--that is not difficult. The Lord God did notgive every one such a nimble tongue as yours. There is no denying thathe is a great knight and a man of the utmost honor. As proof of thisyou love him and are glad to see him."

  "Oh, the punishment of God on him!" muttered Zagloba; "I am glad onlybecause I can tease him with Anusia."

  "I don't advise you to do that, for it is a dangerous thing. You mightplaster a wound with him, but in the case of Anusia he would surelylose patience."

  "Let him lose it. I'll clip his ears for him as I did for PanDunchevski."

  "Oh, spare us! I should not like to have you try him as an enemy."

  "Well, well, let me only see him."

  This wish of Zagloba was fulfilled sooner than he expected. When theyarrived at Konskovoli, Volodyovski determined to stay for the night, asthe horses were terribly road-weary. Who can describe the astonishmentof the two friends when on entering the dark anteroom of the inn theyrecognized Pan Podbipienta in the first noble they met!

  "Oh! how are you? How long, how long!" cried Zagloba; "and the Cossacksdid not cut you up in Zamost?"

  Pan Podbipienta took them one after the other by the shoulders, andkissed them on the cheeks. "And have we met?" he repeated with joy.

  "Where are you going?" asked Volodyovski.

  "To Warsaw,--to the prince."

  "The prince is not in Warsaw; he went to Cracow with the king, beforewhom he has to carry the globe at the coronation."

  "But Pan Weyher sent me to Warsaw with a letter inquiring where theprince's regiments are to go, for God be thanked they are required nolonger in Zamost."

  "Then you need go no farther, for we are carrying the orders."

  Pan Longin frowned; for from his soul he wished to get to the prince,to see the court, and especially one little person at that court.Zagloba began to mutter significantly to Volodyovski.

  "Then I'll go to Cracow," said the Lithuanian, after a moment'sthought. "I was ordered to deliver the letter, and I will deliver it."

  "Let's go and order them to warm up some beer," said Zagloba.

  "And where are you going?" asked Pan Longin.

  "To Zamost, to Skshetuski."

  "He is not in Zamost."

  "Now, old woman, you've got a cake. Where is he?"

  "Somewhere around Khoroschina; he is breaking up disorderly bands.Hmelnitski retreated; but his colonels are burning, robbing, andslaying along the road. The starosta of Valets has ordered Pan JakobRogovski to disperse them."

  "And is Skshetuski with him too?"

  "Yes, but they act separately; for there is great rivalry between them,of which I will tell you later on."

  Meanwhile they entered the room. Zagloba ordered three gallons ofwarmed beer; then approaching the table at which Volodyovski hadalready sat down with Pan Longin, he said,--

  "You do not know, Pan Podbipient
a, the greatest and the happiestnews,--that I and Pan Michael have slain Bogun."

  The Lithuanian rose from the bench. "My own brothers, can this be?"

  "As you see us here alive."

  "And both of you killed him?"

  "We did."

  "That is news. O God, God!" said the Lithuanian, clapping his hands."And you say that both of you--how both?"

  "For I, to begin with, by stratagem brought him to this, that hechallenged us,--do you understand me? Then Pan Michael met him first,and cut him up, I tell you, like a sucking pig at Easter,--opened himlike a roast capon; do you understand?"

  "Then you were not the second combatant?"

  "But look here!" said Zagloba. "I see that you must have lost blood,and that your mind totters from weakness. Did you understand that Iwould fight a duel with a corpse, or that I would kill a prostrateman?"

  "But you said that you had slain him together."

  Zagloba shrugged his shoulders. "Holy patience with such a man! PanMichael didn't Bogun challenge both of us?"

  "He did."

  "Do you understand now?"

  "Well, let it be so," answered Pan Longin. "Skshetuski was looking forBogun around Zamost; but he was no longer there."

  "How was that,--Skshetuski was looking for him?"

  "I must, I see, tell you everything from the beginning exactly as ithappened," said Pan Longin. "We remained, as you know, in Zamost, andyou went to Warsaw. We did not wait for the Cossacks very long. Theycame in impenetrable clouds from Lvoff, so that you could not take themall in with the eye. But our prince had supplied Zamost, so that theymight have stood two years in front of it. We thought that theywouldn't storm it at all, and great was the grief among us on thataccount; for each had promised himself delight from their defeats, andsince there were Tartars among them I too hoped that God would give memy three heads--"

  "Beg of him one, but a good one," interrupted Zagloba.

  "You are always the same; it is disgusting to hear you," said theLithuanian. "We thought they wouldn't storm; they, however, as if madin their stubbornness, went at once to building machines, and then forthe storming! It transpired later that Hmelnitski himself wasunwilling; but Chernota, their camp commander, began to assail him, andto say that he was afraid and wanted to fraternize with the Poles.Hmelnitski therefore permitted it, and sent Chernota first. Whatfollowed, brothers, I will not tell you. The light could not be seenfrom smoke and fire. They went on boldly at first, filled the ditch,mounted the walls; but we warmed them up so that they ran away from thewalls and their own machines; then we rushed out after them in threesquadrons, and cut them up like cattle."

  Volodyovski rubbed his hands. "Oh, sorry am I not to have been at thatfeast!" cried he, in ecstasy.

  "And I should have been of service there," said Zagloba, with calmconfidence.

  "There Skshetuski and Rogovski distinguished themselves most,"continued the Lithuanian. "Both are grand knights; both are altogetherhostile to each other. Rogovski was specially angry with Skshetuski,and beyond doubt would have sought a quarrel if Pan Weyher had notforbidden duels on pain of death. We didn't understand at first whatthe trouble was with Rogovski till it came out at last that he was arelative of Pan Lashch, whom the prince, as you remember, excluded fromthe camp for Skshetuski's sake; hence the malice in Rogovski againstthe prince, against us all, and especially against Skshetuski; hencethe rivalry between them which covered both in the siege with greatglory, for each tried to surpass the other. Both were first on thewalls and in the sallies, till at last Hmelnitski got tired ofstorming, and began a regular siege, not neglecting meanwhilestratagems which might enable him to capture the place."

  "He confides as much or more in cunning," said Zagloba.

  "He is a madman and ignorant besides," continued Podbipienta. "ThinkingPan Weyher a German,--it is evident he hadn't heard of the voevodas ofPomorye of that name,--he wrote a letter wishing to persuade thestarosta to treason as a foreigner and a mercenary. Then Pan Weyherwrote to him, explaining how everything was and how vainly he hadapproached him with his attempt. The better to show his importance, thestarosta wished to send this letter through some person more importantthan a trumpeter; and as no officers volunteered, since it was likegoing to destruction to venture among such wild beasts, and some hadscruples about their rank, therefore I undertook it. And now listen,for the most interesting part begins here."

  "We are listening attentively," said the two friends.

  "I went then, and found the hetman drunk. He received me angrily.Especially after he had read the letter, he threatened with his baton;and I, commending my soul humbly to God, thought thus to myself: 'If hetouches me, I'll smash his head with my fist.' What was to be done,dear brothers,--what?"

  "It was honorable on your part to have those thoughts," said Zagloba,with emotion.

  "But the colonels pacified him and barred the road to me against him,"said Pan Longin; "and more than all a young man, so bold that he tookhim by the waist and drew him away, saying, 'Don't go, father, you havebeen drinking.' I looked to see who was defending me, and wondered athis boldness and intimacy with Hmelnitski, till I saw that he wasBogun."

  "Bogun!" cried Volodyovski and Zagloba.

  "Yes, I knew him, for I made his acquaintance in Rozlogi. I listened.'That is an acquaintance of mine,' said he to Hmelnitski. AndHmelnitski, since decision with drinking men is sudden, answered, 'Ifhe is thy acquaintance, son, then give him fifty thalers, and I willgive him an answer.' He gave me the answer; and as to the thalers, notto anger the beast, I told him to put them away for the haiduks, for itwas not the custom among officers to take presents. He conducted mepolitely enough to the door; but I had scarcely come out when Bogunfollowed me. 'We met in Rozlogi,' said he. 'Yes,' I answer, 'but I didnot expect, brother, to see you in this camp.' 'Not my own will, butmisfortune, drove me here,' said he. In the conversation I told himthat it was we who had defeated him beyond Yarmolintsi. 'I did not knowwith whom I had to do,' he answered; 'I was cut in the hand, and my menwere good for nothing, for they thought that Prince Yeremi himself wasbeating them.' 'And we did not know,' said I; 'for if Pan Skshetuskihad known that you were there, then one of you would not be livingnow.'"

  "That is very certain; but what did he say then?" asked Volodyovski.

  "He changed greatly, and turned the conversation. He told me howKrivonos had sent him with letters to Hmelnitski at Lvoff in order toget a little rest, and Hmelnitski wouldn't send him back, for hethought to employ him in other missions, since he was a man ofpresence. At last he asked, 'Where is Pan Skshetuski?' and when Ianswered, 'He is in Zamost,' he said, 'Zamost? Then we may meet;' andwith that I bade him farewell."

  "I think now that Hmelnitski sent him immediately afterward to Warsaw,"said Zagloba.

  "True, but wait! I returned then to the fortress, and made a report ofmy mission to Weyher. It was already late at night. Next day a newstorm, more furious than the first. I had no time to see Skshetuskitill the third day. I told him that I had seen Bogun and spoken to him.There were many officers present, and with them Rogovski. Hearing this,he said with a taunt: 'I know it is a question of a woman; but if youare such a knight as report says, now you have Bogun, call him out, andyou may be sure that that fighter will not refuse you. We shall have asplendid view from the walls. But there is more talk of youVishnyevetski men than you deserve.' Skshetuski looked at Rogovski asif he would cut him off his feet. 'Is that your advice?' asked he.'Very good! But I don't know whether you who criticise our value wouldhave the daring to go among the mob and challenge Bogun for me.' 'Thedaring I have, but I am neither groomsman nor brother to you, and Iwill not go.' Then others, with laughter against Rogovski, said: 'Oh,you are small now; but when it was a question of another man's skin youwere big!' Then Rogovski as an ambitious fellow got his blood up. Nextday he went with a challenge, but couldn't find Bogun. We didn'tbelieve his story at first, but now after what you have told me I seethat it was true. Hmelnitski must have sent Bogun away real
ly, and youkilled him."

  "That was it," said Volodyovski.

  "Tell us now," said Zagloba, "where to find Skshetuski, for we mustfind him so as to go for the princess immediately."

  "You will find him easily beyond Zamost, for he is heard of there. Heand Rogovski, tossing from one to the other the forces of Kalina, theCossack colonel, destroyed them. Later Skshetuski alone broke up Tartarparties, twice defeated Burlai, and dispersed a number of bands."

  "Does Hmelnitski permit that?"

  "Hmelnitski disavows them, and says that they plunder in spite of hisorders; if he didn't do this, no one would believe in his loyalty andobedience to the king."

  "The beer is very bad in this Konskovoli," remarked Zagloba.

  "Beyond Lublin you will pass through a ravaged country," continued theLithuanian; "for the advanced parties reached that place, and theTartars took captives everywhere, and God only knows how many theyseized around Zamost and Grubeshovo. Skshetuski has already sentseveral thousand rescued prisoners to the fortress. He is working withall his might, regardless of health."

  Here Pan Longin sighed, bowed his head in thought, and after a whilecontinued: "And I thought: 'God in his supreme mercy will undoubtedlycomfort Skshetuski, and give him that in which he sees his happiness;for great are that man's services.' In these times of corruption andcovetousness, when every one is thinking of self alone, he hasforgotten himself. He might have obtained permission long ago from theprince, and gone to seek the princess; but instead of that, since thisparoxysm has come on the country he has not left his duty for a moment,continuing his unceasing labor with torment in his heart."

  "He has a Roman soul; this cannot be denied," said Zagloba.

  "We should take example from him."

  "Especially you, Pan Longin, who have gone to the war, not to serveyour country, but to find three heads."

  "God is looking into my soul," said Podbipienta, raising his eyes toheaven.

  "God has rewarded Skshetuski with the death of Bogun," said Zagloba,"and with this, that he has given a moment of peace to theCommonwealth; for now the time has come for him to seek what he lost."

  "You will go with him?" asked the Lithuanian.

  "And you?"

  "I should be glad to go; but what will happen to the letters I amtaking,--one from the starosta of Valets to the king, another to theprince, and a third from Skshetuski to the prince, with a request forleave?"

  "We are taking leave to him."

  "Yes, but how can I avoid delivering the letters?"

  "You must go to Cracow, it cannot be otherwise; however, I tell yousincerely I should be glad, in this quest after the princess, to havesuch fists as yours behind my shoulders; but for any other purpose youare useless. There dissimulation will be necessary, and completedisguise in Cossack dress, to appear as peasants; but you are soremarkable with your stature that every one would ask, 'Who is thattall booby? Where did such a Cossack as that come from?' Besides, youdon't know their language well. No, no! you go to Cracow, and we willhelp ourselves somehow."

  "That is what I think too," said Volodyovski.

  "Surely it must be so," answered Podbipienta. "May the merciful Godbless and aid you! And do you know where she is hidden?"

  "Bogun would not tell. We know only what I overheard when Bogunconfined me in the stable, but that is enough."

  "But how will you find her?"

  "My head, my head!" said Zagloba. "I was in more difficult places thanthis. Now the question is only to find Skshetuski as quickly aspossible."

  "Inquire in Zamost. Pan Weyher must know, for he corresponds with him,and Skshetuski sends him captives. May God bless you!"

  "And you too," said Zagloba. "When you are in Cracow, at the prince's,give our respects to Pan Kharlamp."

  "Who is he?"

  "A Lithuanian of extraordinary beauty, for whom all the maidens andladies-in-waiting of the princess have lost their heads."

  Pan Longin trembled. "My good friend, is this joking?"

  "Farewell! Terribly bad beer in this Konskovoli!" concluded Zagloba,muttering at Volodyovski.