Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/668

 230 May God's hand defend us! Both among us, and here, people say that it must come to a great war, and will come; but when it comes may God have mercy on our kingdom and our people!"

Here he clasped his iron-gray head with his palms, rested his elbows on his knees, and was silent.

"Well," said Zbyshko, "you see, taken separately, many of our men are stronger than single champions on their side, but as to a great war you yourself have grown thoughtful."

"Oi! I have indeed! And God grant that those envoys of the king will grow thoughtful also, but especially Zyndram."

"I saw how gloomy he became. He is a great man in war, and they say that no one in the world is so skilful in battle."

"If this is true, perhaps there will be no war."

"If the Knights of the Cross see that they are stronger, then war will come surely. And I tell you sincerely, God grant us an end of some sort, for we cannot live longer in this way."

In his turn Zbyshko, as if crushed by his own and the general misfortune, dropped his head.

"I grieve for our noble kingdom," said Matsko; "but I fear that God has punished us for great boasting. Thou rememberest how, in front of the cathedral in Cracow before mass, at the time when thy head was to be cut off, and was not, the knighthood challenged Timur the Lame, the master of forty kingdoms, the man who made a mountain of human skulls,—the Knights of the Cross were not enough for them, they must challenge all opponents at once,—and in this was offence against God, perhaps."

Zbyshko at this reminder seized his golden hair, for great grief had come on him unexpectedly, and he cried,—

"But who saved me at that time from the headman, if not she? O Jesus! My Danusia! Jesus!"

And he tore his hair, and then began to gnaw his fist, with which he tried to stifle his sobbing, so did the spirit whine in the man from sudden pain.

"Keep God in thy heart, boy! be quiet!" cried Matsko. "What wilt thou gain? Restrain thyself! Be calm!"

But Zbyshko was unable for a long time to calm himself, and he came to his mind only when Matsko, who was really ill yet, grew so faint that he tottered on his feet, and fell to the bench quite unconscious. Then the young man placed