Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/748

 310 it not been, as is known to you, that they were to cut my head off."

"Prince Yamont has learned knightly customs since then," said Povala.

Thus conversing they passed the great camp of Lithuania and the three splendid regiments of Rus, of which the largest was that of Smolensk, and went to the Polish campground. In that were fifty regiments, the kernel and also the forehead of all the forces. In that camp the armor was superior, the horses larger, and the knights better exercised, being second in nothing to those from the West of Europe. In strength of body, in endurance of hunger, of cold, and of labor, those men from Great and Little Poland even surpassed the warriors of the West, who were softer and more intent on their own comfort. The Poles were simpler in manners, their armor was more rudely forged, but its temper was better, while their disdain for death and their immense persistence in battle astonished many a time those knights from afar, in those days, the French and English.

De Lorche, who knew Polish knights from of old spoke thus,—

"Here is the strength and the hope. I remember that in Malborg the knights complained more than once that in battle they were forced to purchase every hand-breadth of earth with streams of blood."

"Blood will flow in a river now also," said Matsko, "for the Order has never assembled such forces thus far."

"The Knight Korzbog, who went with letters from the king to the Grand Master," added Povala, "declared that the Knights of the Cross say that neither the Roman Cæsar nor any king has such forces, and that the Order could conquer all kingdoms."

"Pshaw! we are greater in number," said Zbyshko.

"That is true, but they think little of Vitold's forces, because made up, as they say, of men armed in any fashion, and because they are crushed at the first blow, like an earthen pot beneath a hammer. But whether that be true or untrue, I know not."

"It is true, and untrue," answered the prudent Matsko. "Zbyshko and I campaigned with them once. Their weapons are inferior, and their horses are small, hence it happens often that they flee before the onset of Knights of the Order; but their hearts are as brave, or even braver than those of the Germans."