Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/308

284 The priest brought her to Zbyshko's bedside, and, putting his stole over their arms, began the usual ceremony. Tears one after another flowed down the honest face of the princess, but in her soul there was no fear at that moment; for she felt that she was doing good by uniting those two wonderful and innocent children.

De Lorche knelt a second time, and, leaning with both hands on the hilt of his sword, he looked exactly like a knight who has a vision.

The couple repeated the words of the priest in turn: "I—take thee—to myself—" and in accompaniment to these low and pleasant words the crickets chirped again in the crevices of the chimney, and the fire crackled in the billets of hornbeam.

When the ceremony was over, Danusia fell at the feet of the princess, who blessed both, and who said as she gave them into the guardianship of the heavenly powers,—

"Rejoice now, for she is thine, and thou art hers."

Then Zbyshko stretched out his sound arm to Danusia, and she encircled his neck with her arms, and for a while the others heard how they repeated to each other,—

"Thou art mine, Danusia!"

"Thou art mine, Zbyshko!"

But immediately after Zbyshko grew weak, for the emotion was too great for his strength, and dropping on the pillow he breathed heavily. He did not faint, however, and did not cease to smile at Danusia, who wiped his face, bedewed with cold sweat, and he did not cease to repeat even yet, "Thou art mine, Danusia!" at which she bent her blond head each time toward him. This spectacle moved to the utmost De Lorche, who declared that in no land had it happened him to see such tender hearts, wherewith he made a solemn vow to meet on foot or on horseback any knight, magician, or dragon who might dare to stand in the way of their happiness. And, in fact, he took that vow immediately on the cross-formed hilt of a misericordia, or small sword, which served knights in despatching the wounded. The princess and Father Vyshonek were called as witnesses of that vow.

The princess, not understanding a marriage without some rejoicement, brought wine, and they drank of it. The hours passed one after another. Zbyshko, overcoming his weakness, drew Danusia toward him a second time, and said,—

"Since the Lord Jesus has given thee to me, no one will take thee from me now, dearest berry."