Page:Sienkiewicz - The knights of the cross.djvu/96

72 daughter of Yurand of Spyhov, to whom this ill-fated young knight made a vow. He vowed to obtain for her three peacock-plumes from helmets; and seeing such a plume on the helmet of this comtur, he thought that God himself had sent it to him. Not through malice did he do this, lord, but through folly; for this reason be merciful, and do not punish him; for this we beg thee on bended knees."

Then she rose, and taking Danusia by the hand, hurried with her to the king, who, seeing them, began to draw back.

But they knelt before him, and Danusia, embracing the king's feet with her little hands, cried, "Forgive Zbyshko, O king; forgive Zbyshko!"

And, carried away at the same time by fear, she hid her bright head in the folds of the gray mantle of the king, kissing his knees, and quivering like a leaf. Princess Anna knelt on the other side, and, putting her palms together, looked imploringly at Yagello, on whose face was expressed great perplexity. He drew back, it is true, with his chair, but he did not repulse Danusia with force; he merely pushed the air with both hands, as if defending himself from flies.

"Give me peace!" said he; "he is at fault, he has shamed the whole kingdom! let them cut off his head!"

But the little hands squeezed the more tightly around his knees, and the childlike voice called still more pitifully,—

"Forgive Zbyshko, O king; forgive Zbyshko!"

Then the voices of knights were heard.

"Yurand of Spyhov is a renowned knight, a terror to Germans."

"And that stripling has done much service at Vilno," added Povala.

The king, however, continued to defend himself, though he was moved at sight of Danusia.

"Leave me in peace! He has not offended me, and I cannot forgive him. Let the envoy of the Order forgive him, then I will pardon; if he will not forgive, let them cut off his head."

"Forgive him, Kuno" said Zavisha Charny; "the Grand Master himself will not blame thee."

"Forgive him, lord!" exclaimed the two princesses.

"Forgive him, forgive him!" repeated voices of knights.

Kuno closed his eyes, and sat with forehead erect, as if delighted that the two princesses and such renowned knights were imploring him. All at once, in the twinkle of an eye, he changed; he dropped his head, and crossed his arms on