Page:Adventures of Baron Wenceslas Wratislaw of Mitrowitz (1862).djvu/33

 strong tower over it. At the entrance there are two shields to be seen; on the one is painted an angel with the cup, as though inviting people to taste it; on the other is a portrait of the blind old Ziska, formerly the most distinguished leader of the Taborites; for, though they detest the images of saints, yet his image is everywhere held in the greatest honour. There are no regular streets in the town, but where each man first casually pitched his tent, there he afterwards built a house of wood or mud. In the public market-place a number of military engines are placed, to terrify their neighbours. There are about 4,000 men capable of bearing arms in the town; but since they can no longer issue forth as formerly to obtain booty, they have become effeminate, and some maintain themselves by weaving in wool and flax, and others by trade. There are, however, a good many rich people among them, and household furniture is everywhere handsome and even magnificent. Formerly there was no separate property among the Taborites; the booty taken from the enemy was collected and applied by the brethren in common, and one supplied what another wanted. Now, however, each lives for himself; love towards the neighbour has waxed cold; one is in luxury, while another dies of hunger. There stands in the town a wooden house, built something like a village barn, which they call their Temple; there the word is preached, the gospel daily expounded, and the sacrament distributed at a single unconsecrated and unhallowed altar. Their priests wear no tonsure, neither do they shave their beards. The congregation brings to their houses meat and drink, as requisite, and contributes threescore groschen per head, that they may have money for their minor wants. No tithes or money-offerings are brought to the altar. The greatest care is taken that everybody attends the sermon diligently; whoever neglects this is punished.