Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/275

Rh guests often in Spyhov, and Yurand was not your enemy till his beloved wife died in your bonds. How many times have you attacked him yourselves, as now, because he challenged and conquered your knights? How many times have you set murderers on him, or sent bolts at him from crossbows in the pine woods? He has attacked you, it is true, for vengeance was burning him; but have not you, or knights living on your lands, attacked peaceful people in Mazovia? Have you not driven away herds, burnt villages, slaughtered men, women, and children? And when I made complaint to your Master he answered from Malborg: 'An ordinary brawl on the boundary!' Give me peace! It does not become you to complain, you who seized me when I was unarmed, in time of peace, on my own land; and had it not been for terror before the anger of the king at Cracow, I might have been groaning to this hour in your underground dungeons. That is how you paid me, who came from the family of your benefactors. Leave me in peace; it is not for you to speak of justice!"

When they heard this the Knights of the Cross looked at one another with impatience, for it was bitter to them and a shame that the prince mentioned that event in Zlotoria in presence of De Fourcy; so Danveld, wishing to put an end to further conversation on that subject, said,—

"In the case of your Princely Grace there was a mistake, which we corrected, not out of fear of the king at Cracow, but for the sake of justice. As to brawls on the boundary, our Master cannot answer for them, since in all kingdoms of the world everywhere there are turbulent spirits on the boundaries."

"Thou sayst that, but art calling for justice against Yurand. What do ye wish?"

"Justice and punishment."

The prince balled his bony fists and repeated,—

"God give me patience!"

"Let your Princely Grace remember this, too," continued Danveld, "that our turbulent men harm only lay persons not of the German race; but yours raise their hands against the German Order, by which they offend the Saviour himself. And what tortures and punishments can suffice those who offend the Cross?"

"Hear me!" said the prince. "Do not carry on war by means of God, for Him thou wilt not deceive! "And placing his hands on the shoulders of the Knight of the Cross, he