Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/58

34 See itself, for living in pride and malice they disobey the Pope of Rome even. They have sent now, as it were, an embassy on the occasion of the queen's delivery, and for the coming christening, but only because they wish to turn away the wrath of the powerful king, which has been roused by their deeds in Lithuania. In their hearts, however, they are always meditating the ruin of this kingdom and the whole Polish race."

The abbot listened attentively and agreed, but said afterward,—

"I know that the comtur, Lichtenstein, has come to Cracow at the head of an embassy; he is a brother highly esteemed in the Order for his distinguished family, his bravery, and his wisdom. Perhaps you will see him here soon, gracious lady, for he sent me notice yesterday that, wishing to pray before our relics, he would come on a visit to Tynets."

When she heard this the princess began to raise new complaints.

"People declare, and God grant with truth, that a great war will come soon,—a war in which there will be on one side the Polish kingdom and all peoples whose speech resembles ours, and on the other all Germans and the Knights of the Cross. Very likely there is a prophecy of some saint touching this."

"Of Saint Bridget," interrupted the learned abbot; "eight years ago she was reckoned among the saints. The pious Peter of Alvaster, and Mathew of Linkoping wrote down her visions, in which a great war is really predicted."

Zbyshko quivered with delight at these words, and unable to restrain himself asked,—

"And is it to come soon?"

The abbot, occupied with the princess, did not hear, or perhaps feigned not to hear, this question.

"Young knights among us," continued the princess, "are delighted with this war, but those who are older and more sober of judgment speak thus: 'Not the Germans do we fear, though great is their pride and strength; not swords and lances, but the relics which the Knights have do we fear, for against them the strength of man is as nothing.'"

Here Princess Anna looked with fear at the abbot and added in a low voice: "Likely they have the true wood of the Holy Cross; how, then, is it possible to war with them?"

"The King of the French sent it to them," answered the abbot.