Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/403

Rh bulky and stalwart beyond measure, so that he seemed to them a chosen man, who could fight his own battle even against the strongest.

The combat was to take place in the courtyard of the castle, which was surrounded by a portico. When day had dawned completely, the prince and princess with their children came and sat down in a central place between the pillars, whence they could see the whole courtyard in the best manner. At both sides of them were the foremost courtiers, noble ladies, and the knighthood. These filled all corners of the portico. The servants fixed themselves beyond an embankment formed of snow which had been swept from the courtyard. Some had mounted on window-sills, and even on the roof. On these places the common people muttered: "God grant our man not to falter!"

The day was damp and cold, but clear. The air was full of daws, which had settled on the roofs and bastion points, but, disturbed by unusual movements, they circled above the castle with great fluttering. In spite of the cold, people were sweating from emotion, and when the first trumpet sound announced the arrival of the combatants, all hearts beat like hammers.

The two men entered from opposite sides of the barriers and halted at the ends of them. Breath stopped in the breasts of all spectators. Each thought: Two souls will soon fly to the judgment threshold of God, and two corpses will be left on the snow! The lips and cheeks of women grew blue and pallid at thought of that; the eyes of men were fixed on the opponents as on a rainbow; each wished to predict in his mind from their forms and weapons the side to which victory would fall.

Rotgier was arrayed in a blue enamelled breastplate, with a similar armor for the thighs, and wore a helmet of the same material with raised visor, and lordly peacock plumes on the top of it. Zbyshko's breast, sides, and back were covered by that splendid Milan armor which he had won from the Frisians. On his head was a helmet not fastened under the chin, and without plumes; on his legs were raw bullhides. On their left shoulders the men carried shields with their escutcheons: on the German's was a chessboard above, and below three lions rampant; on Zbyshko's, the "dull horseshoe." In their right hands they carried the broad terrible axes with oaken handles, which had grown dark and were longer than the arm of a man full-grown. They were