Page:Taras Bulba. A Tale of the Cossacks. 1916.djvu/88

82 a noble conviction that it was of no consequence where they fought so long as they did fight, because it was a disgrace to an honourable man to exist without fighting. Many there were who had come to the Syech for the sake of being able to say later on that they had been in the Syech, and were, therefore, steeled warriors. But who all was not there? This strange republic was an inevitable outgrowth of the epoch. Lovers of a warlike life, of golden beakers and rich brocades, of ducats and gold pieces, could always find employment there. The lovers of women alone could find nothing there, for no woman dared to show herself in the suburbs of the Syech.

It seemed exceedingly strange to Ostap and Andríi that, although a crowd of persons had come to the Syech with them, not a soul inquired, "Whence come these men? Who are they and what are their names?" They had come thither as though returning to their own home whence they had departed only an hour previously. A newcomer merely presented himself to the Koshevói, who generally said: "Welcome! Do you believe in Christ?"—"I do," replied the new arrival.—"And do you believe in the Holy Trinity?"—"I do."—"And do you go to church?"—"I do."—"Well, now, cross yourself." The newcomer crossed himself.—"Very good," said