Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/68

44 "It is not I who will judge him. My part is merely to put bonds on him."

"How is that?" asked Matsko casting a gloomy glance at the whole assembly of people.

"According to the king's command."

At these words silence came on them.

"He is a noble," said Matsko at length.

"Then let him swear on his knightly honor that he will appear before any court."

"I will swear on my honor!" cried Zbyshko.

"That is well. What is thy name?"

Matsko mentioned his name and escutcheon.

"If of the court of the princess, pray her to intercede for thee before the king."

"We are not of the court. We are journeying from Lithuania, from Prince Vitold. Would to God that we had not met any court! From the meeting misfortune has come to this youth."

Here Matsko began to relate what had happened in the inn; hence he spoke of the meeting with the court of the princess, and Zbyshko's vow, but at last he was seized by sudden anger against Zbyshko, through whose thoughtlessness they had fallen into such a grievous position, and turning to him he cried,—

"Would to God that thou hadst fallen at Vilno! What wert thou thinking of, young wild boar?"

"Oh," said Zbyshko, "after the vow, I prayed to the Lord Jesus to grant me Germans, and I promised Him gifts; so when I saw peacock-plumes, and under them a mantle with a black cross, straightway some voice in me cried: 'Strike the German, for this is a miracle!' Well, I rushed forward—who would not have rushed forward?"

"Hear me," interrupted Povala, "I do not wish you evil, for I see clearly that this youth has offended more through giddiness peculiar to his age than through malice. I should be glad to take no note of his act, and go on as if nothing had happened. But I can do so only in case this comtur should promise not to complain to the king. Pray him on that point; mayhap he will take compassion on the youth."

"I should rather go to judgment than bow before a Knight of the Cross; it does not become my honor as a noble."

Povala looked at him severe!y and said: "Thou art acting ill. Thy elders know better than thou what is proper, and