Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/32

8 people said that Princess Ryngalla, understanding that it was not proper for her to be married to the bishop elect (for though married, he had no wish to abandon his spiritual dignity), and because such a marriage could not be blessed by the Lord, poisoned her husband. Hearing of this, I prayed a holy hermit near Lublin to free me from my vow."

"He was a hermit indeed," answered Matsko, with a smile, "but I am not sure that he was holy, for we came upon him one Friday in the forest, where he was cracking bear-bones with an axe, and sucking out the marrow till there was gurgling in his throat."

"But he said that marrow was not flesh, and besides that he had a dispensation to eat it, for he had miraculous visions in sleep after eating marrow, and could prophesy on the morrow till mid-day."

"Well, well," replied Matsko. "But the wonderful Ryngalla is a widow, and she may summon thee to service."

"She would summon me in vain, for I shall choose another lady to serve till death, and besides I shall find a wife."

"First find the belt of a knight."

"Of course! but will there not be tournaments after the queen's delivery? Before that, or after it, the king will belt more than one man. I shall challenge every one. The prince would not have unseated me had my horse not sat on his haunches."

"There will be better men there than thou." Then a nobleman from near Cracow exclaimed,—

"By the dear God! in presence of the queen will appear, not such men as thou, but the most renowned knights on earth: of, and Farurey and Dobko of Olesnitsa, and , and Pashko Zlodye of Biskupitsi, and Yasko Nashan, and Abdank of Gora, and Andrei of Brohotsitsi, and Krystin of Ostrov, and ! How couldst thou cope with these, with whom no man can cope either here or at the court of Bohemia or Hungary. What sayest thou, art thou better than they? How old art thou?"

"Eighteen," replied Zbyshko.

"Then each man of them could bend thee between his fingers."

"We shall see."

"I have heard," said Matsko, "that the king rewards