THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 MASTER THADDEUS.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS; 
 
 OR, 
 
 THE LAST FORAY IN LITHUANIA. 
 
 BY 
 
 ADAM MICKIEWICZ. 
 
 Bn ,1bi0torical Bpic ipoem in twelve aSooFis. 
 
 ^tansIatcD from tifje SDrtginal 
 
 BY 
 
 MAUDE ASHURST BIGGS 
 
 (translator of " konrad wallenrod"). 
 
 IV/TH A PREFACE BY W. R. MORFILL, M.A. 
 And Notes bv the Translator and Edmond S. Naganowski. 
 
 VOL. II. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 TRUBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL. 
 
 1885. 
 
 \All right i reserved. \
 
 BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. 
 EDINBURGH AND LONDON
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 COUNCIL. 
 
 The sound and salutary counsels of Bartek, called the Prussian 
 — The soldierly appeal of Matthew the Baptist — Tfie politic 
 opinion of Buchman — Jankiel counsels a reconciliation, which 
 is severed by the Penknife — The speech of Gervasy, ■wJierein 
 are exhibited the great effects of Diet eloquence — Protestation 
 of old Matthew — Tlie sudden arrival of warlike rein- 
 forcefnents breaks off Council — " Down with Soplica ! " 
 
 In order due their Envoy Bartek now 
 Commenced his speech. He, as he often went 
 On rafts unto the kingdom, had been named 
 The Prussian by his fellow-countrymen ; 
 In jest, for greatly did he hate the Prussians, 
 Although he loved to talk of them. A man 
 Advanced in years, in his far journeys he 
 Had seen much of the world, a constant reader 
 Of the gazettes, well-versed in politics ; 
 
 VOL. II. A
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 In Matthew's absence he was usually 
 The president of council. 
 
 " This is not — 
 Sir Matthias, my brother, and good father 
 Of all of us — this is no empty promise ; 
 I'd count upon the French in time of war 
 As on four aces. 'Tis a warlike people, 
 And since the days of Thaddeus Kosciuszko, 
 The world has ne'er seen such a martial genius 
 As the great emperor Bonaparte. I well 
 Remember when the Frenchmen crossed the 
 
 Warta. 
 That time beyond the frontier I was staying, 
 During the year of eighteen hundred six. 
 I was with Dantzig trading, but I have 
 In Posen many relatives ; I went 
 To visit them ; and therefore with Pan Joseph 
 Grabowski, now commanding officer, 
 But who at that time in a village lived 
 Near Objezierz, I hunted some small game. 
 Peace then was in Great Poland, as is now 
 In Lithuania, but a sudden rumour 
 Spread all at once of a terrific battle. 
 An envoy sent by Todwen came to us. 
 Grabowski read the letter through, and cried
 
 COUNCIL. 3 
 
 Out, ' Jena, Jena ! The Prussians have been beaten 
 Upon the head, the neck ! A victory ! ' 
 I, hghting from my horse, fell on my knees. 
 To thank the Lord. We rode into the town. 
 As though on business, as we knew of nought. 
 And there we saw the Landrath, Hofraths, all. 
 Commissioners, and all such sons of dogs. 
 They all bow low to us, each trembling, pale, 
 Like Prussian insects * deluged with hot water. 
 Rubbing our hands, and laughing, we entreat 
 Humbly for news ; we ask, ' What news of 
 
 JenaP'i 
 They marvelled that already we should know 
 Of their defeat ; the Germans cry : ' Ach Gott ! 
 O weh ! ' They went back home, and from their 
 
 houses 
 They ran as fast as feet could carry them. 
 Oh ! what a scramble ! all the roads were full 
 Of fugitives. The German folk like ants 
 Crawled fast away, the carriages ran on. 
 Which there the folk call Wagen and Fornalken, 
 Men, women, carrying pipes and coffee-pots. 
 And dragging pillows, feather beds ; they hurried 
 
 * A name for black beetles, commonly called in Poland 
 '^ szwaby" or Swabians.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 As best they might. But we in silence went 
 
 To council ; hey ! on horseback, to confound 
 
 Retreating of the Germans ! Now to smite 
 
 The Landraths on the necks, and flog the Hofraths, 
 
 And catch the Herren Offiziere by 
 
 Their pigtails ! But our General Dombrowski 
 
 Did enter Posen, and he brought the Emperor's 
 
 Command to insurrection ! In one week 
 
 Our men so soundly had the Prussians thrashed, 
 
 And driven them away, thou couldst not get 
 
 A German, ev'n for medicine. Suppose 
 
 We also should thus nimbly turn about, 
 
 And with such speed, and here in Litva make 
 
 Just such another bath for Muscovy.^ 
 
 Ha! what dost thou think, Matthew? If the Russians 
 
 Contend with Bonaparte, it were no jest 
 
 To fight with him. He is the greatest warrior 
 
 In all the world, and he has countless armies. 
 
 Ha ! what does Matthew think, our Father Rabbit.?" 
 
 He ended. All await old Matthew's sentence. 
 Matthew nor moved his head, nor raised his eye, 
 But only many times he struck his hand 
 Upon his side, as though he sought his sabre. 
 Though since the land's partition he had worn
 
 COUNCIL. 5 
 
 No sabre, yet from ancient habit, when 
 He heard the mention of the Muscovites, 
 He moved his hand towards his left side aye, 
 As though to wield his Rod, and thence was he 
 Called Zabok.* Now he lifted up his head. 
 They listen in deep silence. But Matthias 
 Deceived the general expectation, for 
 A cloud hung o'er his brow, and once again 
 His head sank down upon his breast. At length 
 He spoke, pronouncing slowly every word 
 With emphasis, and nodded to 't in time. 
 
 " Silence ! " he said ; "whence cometh all this news ? 
 How far off are the French ? Who is their leader ? 
 Have they begun already war with Russia ? 
 Where, and for what ? And whence are they to 
 
 march ? 
 What is their strength ? What foot, and what of 
 
 horse ? 
 Who knoweth, let him speak ! " 
 
 Then silent all 
 The assembly, gazing each on each. " I gladly," 
 The Prussian said, " would wait the Bernardine, 
 
 * Za, at or by, l>ok, side. 
 VOL. II.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 For the news comes from him. Meantime we must 
 Send to the frontier trusty spies, and arm 
 The district all in secret ; and meanwhile 
 Conduct the whole thing prudently, so as 
 Not to betray our plans unto the Russians." 
 
 "Ha! wait? and bark? put off?" a second 
 
 Matthew 
 Broke in, the Baptist christened, from a great 
 Club, which he called the Sprinkler. 'Twas with him 
 To-day ; he on its body leaned both hands. 
 And on the handle did support his chin, 
 Exclaiming, " Wait ! delay ! hold sejmiks ! Hem ! 
 Trem ! brem ! and then to fly ! I have not been 
 In Prussia ; kingdom reason's good for Prussia ; 
 But for me noble's reason. This I know, 
 That whoso wants to fight, has but to grasp 
 A Sprinkler ; who will die, call in the priest, 
 And thus be quits ! I want to live, to be ! 
 What is the Bernardine ? Are we then schoolboys ? 
 What's Robak * unto me ? Let us be worms, 
 And on to gnaw at Muscovy ! Trem ! brem ! 
 Spies, scouts ! Do you know, you there, what this 
 
 means ? 
 
 * Tile worm.
 
 [COUNCIL. 7 
 
 It means you're old men, and incapable ! 
 Brothers ! 'tis weasel's work to ferret out, 
 A Bernardine's to beg, but mine, to sprinkle ! 
 To sprinkle, and be quits ! " And here he stroked 
 His club, and after him the crowd of nobles 
 Shouted full loudly, " Sprinkle, sprinkle, sprinkle ! " 
 
 The Baptist's side supported was by Bartek,*! 
 
 Surnamed the Razor, from his thin-edged sword, 
 
 Likewise by IMatthew, who was named the Bucket, 
 
 From a great rifle which he bore, with throat 
 
 So wide that he from it, as from a pail, 
 
 Could pour a torrent of a dozen bullets. 
 
 Both shouted, " Long live Baptist with the 
 
 Sprinkler!" 
 The Prussian tried to speak; his words were drowned 
 By tumult and by laughter ; they exclaimed, 
 " Away ! thou Prussian ! coward ! he who is 
 A coward, let him hide himself beneath 
 A hood of Bernardine." 
 
 Old Matthew then 
 Slowly upraised his head, and then the noise 
 Began to cease a little. " Mock not," said he ; 
 
 * Bartholomew.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 " At Robak, 'tis a tough blade of a priest. 
 
 That tiny worm has gnawed a bigger nut 
 
 Than you. I saw him only once, he scarce 
 
 Had cast a glance, I knew at once the game. 
 
 The priest did turn away his eyes, as fearing 
 
 That I should deign confess him. But all that 
 
 Is no affair of mine ; there's much in this 
 
 To talk about. He never will come here. 
 
 'Tis vain to call the Bernardine to us. 
 
 If all this news proceed from him, who knows 
 
 With what intent ? A devil of a priest 
 
 It is ! If nought you know beside such news, 
 
 Why come you here, and what more do you wish ? " 
 
 "War!" cried they.— "What war?" asked he. 
 
 They replied, 
 " War with the Muscovites ! To fight 'em ! Hey ! 
 Down with the Muscovites !" The Prussian shouted 
 Unceasingly, and ever raised his voice. 
 Until he gained a hearing, part by bowing. 
 And partly by his thin and noisy speech. 
 
 " I too desire to fight," he cried, and smote 
 With both hands on his breast ; " although I bear 
 No Sprinkler, with a barge-pole once I gave
 
 COUNCIL. 9 
 
 Good christening to four Prussians at a time, 
 Who would have drowned me in the foamy Pregel." 
 " You're a bold fellow, Bartek ! " Baptist cried. 
 "Good! Sprinkle, sprinkle !"—" But then, 
 
 sweetest Jesus ! 
 We first must know with whom to fight, and why ; 
 Must tell it to the world," the Prussian cried. 
 " For who will follow us ? where shall they march ? 
 When, whither go, when we ourselves don't know ? 
 Brother nobility ! ye noble sirs ! 
 Good gentlemen ! we must have judgment, we 
 Must order have and regularity ! 
 Ye wish for war. Let us confederate ; ^ 
 Let us consider how we shall unite. 
 And underneath whose staff. So was it in 
 Great Poland ; we the Germans saw retreat. 
 What did we ? We in secret did advise ; 
 We armed the nobles, and the peasant throng. 
 When ready, we did wait Dombrowski's orders ; 
 At last ! heyday ! to horse ! we rose at once." 
 
 " I beg a hearing," the Commissary * 
 From Klecko cried. A young man, handsome, 
 dressed 
 
 * German — Commt'ssariits, a sort of agent.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 In German fashion. Buchman was he called. 
 But yet he was a Pole, in Poland born. 
 'Twas not for certain known if he descended 
 From nobles ; but none asked concerning that, 
 And all respected Buchman, as he served 
 A great lord, a good patriot was, and versed 
 In learning ; he from foreign books had learned 
 The art of husbandry, and with good order 
 Performed the administration of the lands. 
 From politics he sage conclusions drew. 
 By writings smooth and elegant could make 
 Himself renowned. And therefore all were still 
 When he began to speak. " I beg a hearing," 
 Repeated he, and coughed three times ; he bowed, 
 And thus with sounding lips he clattered forth : 
 
 " The previous speakers, in their eloquent 
 
 Speeches, have touched on all the vital points. 
 
 And chiefest ; they have the discussion raised 
 
 Unto a higher standard. Unto me 
 
 Remains alone to blow unto one fire, 
 
 These scattered thoughts and reasonings. I have 
 
 hopes 
 To reconcile all contrary opinions. 
 Two parts in the discussion have I marked,
 
 COUNCIL. 
 
 Division is already made ; I go 
 
 By this division. First of all, for what 
 
 Shall we make insurrection ? in what spirit ? 
 
 This is the first and foremost vital question 
 
 The second question doth concern itself, 
 
 With revolutionary government. 
 
 And this division is right excellent. 
 
 Only I fain would have it t'other way. 
 
 First to begin with government. As soon 
 
 As government I understand, therefrom 
 
 I may deduce its spirit and its aim. 
 
 So, as to government ; as I glance o'er 
 
 The history of all humankind, what in it 
 
 Observe I ? That the savage human race, 
 
 Scattered in forests, herd together, bind 
 
 Themselves together for their mutual 
 
 Defence ; they this consider, and this is 
 
 The first of councils. Each one then lays down 
 
 A portion of his proper liberty 
 
 For general good ; and this is the first statute, 
 
 From whence, as from a fount, all legislation 
 
 Doth flow. We therefore see that government 
 
 Is by agreement framed, proceeding not, 
 
 As some judge wrongly, from the will of God 
 
 But on a mutual contract government
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The rather is supported, and division 
 
 Of powers is but a needful consequence." 
 
 " There you have contracts ! of Kiew or Minsk ! " 
 
 Old Matthew cried out ; " truly Babin rule ! ■* 
 
 Pan Buchman, whether God sent us the Czar, 
 
 Or 'twere the devil, I'll not quarrel with you. 
 
 But only tell us how to oust the Czar." 
 
 " Ay ! that's the knotty point ! " the Baptist 
 
 cried. 
 " If I might spring up to the throne, and with 
 My Sprinkler plash and wet the Czar, no more 
 By any contract would he aye return, 
 Of Kiew, of Minsk, or any Buchman treaty ; 
 Nor could his priests by power divine restore him, 
 Nor by the power of Belzebub. I call 
 Him a bold fellow, who will sprinkle. Buchman, 
 Your speech, good sir, was very eloquent. 
 But eloquence is froth and hum. To sprinkle, 
 That's the chief thing." 
 
 " Just so, just so," hissed forth, 
 Rubbing both hands together, Bartek, named 
 Razor, from Matthew to the Baptist running, 
 Like shuttle thrown from one side of a loom 
 Across its length unto the further side.
 
 COUNCIL. 13 
 
 " Only thou INIatthew with the Rod, and thou 
 Matthew with club, agree ; by heaven ! we 
 Shall smash the Muscovites to bits ; the Awl 
 Will go beneath the orders of the Rod." 
 
 " Command is good," said Baptist ; " for parade, 
 One order in the Kowno brigade we 
 Had, short and pithy : ' Frighten, but yourselves 
 Be not afraid ! Fight, but surrender not. 
 March forward often, deal blows thickly round ! 
 Whizz! whizz!'" 
 
 " Yes, those the orders are for me," 
 Replied the Awl ; " why write an act ? waste ink "? 
 We must confederate ? Why is all this coil ? 
 Our Matthew be the Marshal, and the Rod 
 His staff." — " Long live," cried Baptist, " Weather- 
 cock ! " 
 The nobles answered, " Long the Sprinkler live ! " 
 
 But in the corners rose a murmur, though 
 'Twas stifled in the midst ; 'twas seen the council 
 Was now divided in two parties, Buchman 
 Said, " Never praise I unanimity ; 
 That is my system." Some one else exclaimed, 
 " I lay my veto down ! " ^ some from the corners
 
 14 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Re-echoed him. At last a rough voice spoke : 
 
 The nobleman Skoluba late arrived. 
 
 "What's this here, you Dobrzynskis? what is doing? 
 
 And we, are we then outlaws ? When we were 
 
 Invited hither from our settlement, 
 
 And by the Klucznik Rembajlo Mopanku, 
 
 They told us that some great things should be 
 
 done ; 
 Not only the Dobrzynski family, 
 But the whole district, whole nobility, 
 Therein should be concerned, and Robak talked 
 In a like manner, though he never finished, 
 And indistinctly spoke, and darkly he 
 Explained himself At last, the end of ends, 
 We rode here, and by couriers summoned all 
 Our neighbours. And you are not here alone, 
 Masters Dobrzynski. We are full two hundred 
 From various other farmsteads of us here. 
 So let us all take counsel. If a Marshal 
 Be needed, let us all proclaim him, be 
 The ballot equal. Live equality ! " 
 
 Two Terajewicze then, four Stypulkowscy, 
 Three Mickiewicze cried aloud, " Long live 
 Equality ! " Skoluba's side upholding ;
 
 COUNCIL. IS 
 
 And Buchman meanwhile, " Unanimity 
 
 Were ruin ! "—And the Baptist said, " We'll do 
 
 Without your help. Long live our Marshal, 
 
 Matthew 
 Of Matthews! Hey! unto the staff!" Loud 
 
 shouted 
 All the Dobrzynskis, "We entreat you ! " but 
 The stranger nobles, " We permit it not ! " * 
 So in two parties was the crowd divided, 
 Each nodding in defiance to the rest ; 
 One crying, " We permit it not ! " the others, 
 *' We do entreat you ! " 
 
 But old Matthew still 
 Alone unmoving, in the centre sat. 
 And the sole head immovable was his. 
 There opposite to him the Baptist stood, 
 With both hands leaning on his club ; but round 
 His head he kept turning, leaning on its top, 
 Like to a gourd fixed on a lofty pole, 
 And forward now, now back, alternately 
 He nodded, and unceasing " Sprinkle, sprinkle ! " 
 Exclaimed. Along the room unquiet Razor 
 Ran from the Baptist unto Matthew's bench. 
 
 * Liheriim Veto.
 
 i6 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Bucket slowly passed across the room, 
 From the Dobrzynskis to the noblemen, 
 As though he would unite them. One cried out 
 Unceasing, " Shave ! " the other, " Deluge 'em." 
 Matthew was silent, but 'twas plainly seen 
 That he was angry. 
 
 And this uproar raged 
 A quarter of an hour, when from amid 
 The heads of all the shouting crowd upsprang 
 A shining column high. It was a rapier, 
 A fathom long, a whole span broad, and sharp 
 On either side ; it was a Teuton sword, 
 Of steel of Nuremberg. All silence kept, 
 Gazing upon the sword ; who carried it 
 They knew not, but immediately they guessed. 
 " The Penknife ! " they exclaimed ; " long live the 
 
 Penknife ! 
 Hail to the Penknife ! jewel of Rembajlo ! 
 Hail to Rembajlo, Notchy-pate, Half-goat, 
 Mopanku ! " 
 
 Soon Gervasy (for 'twas he) 
 Pressed through the crowd into the chamber's midst, 
 And made the Penknife's blade to flash around ; 
 Lowering the point in sign of a salute, 
 To Matthew said : " The Penknife bows unto
 
 COUNCIL. 17 
 
 The Rod. My brothers, nobles of Dobrzynski ! 
 I come not here to counsel you in aught ; 
 I'll only tell you why I brought you here, 
 And what to do, how do't, yourselves decide. 
 Ye know that long a rumour goeth round 
 The nobles' farmsteads, that great things shall be 
 Done in the world. Friar Robak spoke of this. 
 Ye all know?" — "Ay! we know!" they cried. 
 
 " Good, good." 
 " ' Unto the wise,' " pursued the orator, 
 With penetrating glance, " ' two words suffice.' * 
 Is this not true?" — "Ay, true indeed," they said. 
 " When the French Emperor," the Klucznik spoke, 
 Shall march from there, the Russian Czar from 
 
 there, 
 War follows 'twixt the Czar and Emperor. 
 Kings fall to loggerheads with kings, as is 
 The custom among monarchs. And shall we 
 Sit still ? When great folks other great men throttle, 
 Let us the lesser strangle, each his own. 
 From high to low, the great the great, the small 
 The small ; as soon as we begin to strike 
 
 * " Mottdrej glowie dose dwie slowie," proverb: Verbum 
 sat. sap.
 
 iS MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Down falls the whole confederacy of knaves. 
 
 Thus flourish happiness and the Republic. 
 
 Is not this true ? " — " 'Tis true," they said, " as 
 
 though 
 He read it from a book." — " True," did repeat 
 The Baptist ; " sprinkle, sprinkle, and be quits ! " 
 " I'm ready aye to shave," the Razor cried. 
 " Do but agree," the Bucket courteously 
 Entreated, " under whose command to go, 
 Baptist and Matthew ! " Buchman interrupted : 
 " Let fools agree. Discussions never hurt 
 The public cause. I beg you to be still. 
 Let's listen, for the cause hereby will gain. 
 The Klucznik from a new point will discuss it." 
 "Rather," the Klucznik said, "from my great age, 
 'Tis meet for me to think of weighty things. 
 To do that there's an emperor, there will be 
 A king, a senate, deputies. Such things, 
 Mopanku, are in Krakow done, or Warsaw, 
 But not among us here in Dobrzyn. Not 
 On chimneys with a piece of chalk are written 
 Confederation Acts, nor in a barge ; 
 On parchment are they written. Not for us 
 To write an act, for Poland has alike 
 Crown and Litvanian Writers ; our forefathers
 
 COUNCIL. 19 
 
 Proceeded thus. J^.Iy business is to slay with 
 The Penknife." — " Mine to splash with Sprinkler," 
 
 said 
 The Baptist. — "And to pierce through with the Awl, " 
 Cried Bartek of the Awl, his slender sword 
 Producing. 
 
 " All of us," the Klucznik said, 
 " I take as witnesses. For did not Robak] 
 Say that before you in your house receive 
 Napoleon, you must sweep the dirt away ? 
 Ye all heard that. Do ye all understand ? 
 Who traitorously slew the best of Poles ? 
 Who robbed him, plundered, yet would wrest away 
 The remnant from the true inheritor ? 
 Who is he ? Must I tell you ? "— " 'Tis Soplica. 
 The villain ! " broke in Bucket. — " Fie ! the tyrant!" 
 Hissed Razor forth. " Then sprinkle him ! " said 
 
 Baptist. ' 
 " If he's a traitor," Buchman said, " then to 
 The gallows ! " — " Down ! " cried all, " down with 
 
 Soplica ! " 
 
 But here the Prussian dared to undertake 
 
 Defending of the Judge, and to the nobles 
 
 He cried, with lifted arms : *' My brothers ! no !
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Ah ! no ! by God's wounds ! What is this new thing? 
 Sir Klucznik, are you mad? Were we then speaking 
 Of this ? Because a man at one time had 
 A mad and outlaw brother, shall we then 
 Chastise him for his brother? That were Christian ! 
 There is some plotting of the Count's in this. 
 To say the Judge was hard upon the nobles 
 Is falsehood ! Heaven forbid that it were truth ! 
 It is yourselves would summon him to law, 
 But he seeks concord with you. Freely he 
 Doth yield his own ; he pays the mark beside. 
 He has a suit against the Count — what then ? 
 They both are rich ; let lord contend with lord. 
 What's that to us ? The Judge a tyrant ! He 
 Did first forbid the peasant to bow down \ 
 To earth before him, saying that was sin. 
 Not seldom at his house a company 
 Of peasants (I myself have seen) sit down ; 
 With him at table. For his peasantry 
 He pays the taxes, and it is not so 
 In Klecko, though you rule there. Master Buchman, 
 In German fashion. What ! the Judge a traitor ! 
 We have known each other from the lowest form. 
 Good was he as a child, and now the same. 
 He loveth Poland more than all things. He
 
 COUNCIL. 
 
 Keeps Polish customs, and no entrance gives 
 
 To Russian fashions. Oft as I return 
 
 From Prussia, wishing to wash off the German, 
 
 I go to SopUcowo, as the centrum 
 
 Of PoUsh manners ; there one may drink in 
 
 And breathe one's country. Heaven forbid ! 
 
 Dobrzynskis ! 
 I am your brother, but I will not let 
 The Judge be wronged, and this shall come to 
 
 nought. 
 It was not, brothers, in Great Poland so. 
 What spirit and what concord ! dear to mem'ry ! 
 None there with such a trifle dared to mar 
 Our council." 
 
 " 'Tis no trifle," said the Klucznik, 
 " To hang- up rascals ! " 
 
 Louder grew the murmur. 
 Then Jankiel begged a hearing ; on a bench 
 He sprang, he stood, and raised above their 
 
 heads 
 His beard like tavern-bush, that hung far down 
 Unto his girdle. With his right hand he 
 Did slowly doif his cap of foxes'-skin, 
 And with his left composed again his gown 
 Disordered ; then his left hand he replaced 
 
 VOL. II. c
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Upon his girdle, and thus made discourse, 
 With fox-skin kolpak bowing all round : 
 
 " Now, sirs Dobrzynski ! I'm a Jew myself. 
 
 The Judge to me is neither kith nor kin. 
 
 I honour the Soplicas as right good 
 
 Masters, and as my landlords ; I respect 
 
 All the Dobrzynskis likewise, all the Barteks, 
 
 And Matthews, all as neighbours very good, 
 
 And benefactors. But I tell you this : 
 
 If you do any violence to the Judge, 
 
 'Tis very wrong. Maybe you'll conquer, kill — 
 
 But the Assessors, and the Sprawnik ? * Prison. 
 
 For in the Soplicowo village is 
 
 A band of soldiers, Jdgers f all. The Assessor 
 
 Is in the house, and if he only whistle. 
 
 They'll muster there, and come as though on 
 
 purpose. 
 And what will be ? If for the French you wait, 
 The French are still far off; the way is long. 
 I am a Jew; I nothing know of war ; 
 But I was in Bielica, where I saw 
 Jews from the very frontier ; and they say, 
 
 * See note 9 in Book III. 
 
 t German — Sharpshooters or Chasseurs.
 
 COUNCIL. 23 
 
 The Frenchmen stand on the Lososna river, 
 
 And if there's war, 'twill not be till the spring. 
 
 Now, thus I say ; wait yet a little time. 
 
 The Soplicowo house is not a booth 
 
 That one can take down, put into a waggon, 
 
 And drive away ; the mansion as it stood 
 
 Will stand until the spring. The Judge is not 
 
 A Jew upon a lease ; he will not fly ; 
 
 You'll find him there next spring. And now, go 
 
 home, 
 And do not talk aloud of what has been, 
 For talking is in vain. And if it please 
 The noble gentlemen, I beg you come 
 With me. My Sarah has a little Jankiel. 
 I will treat all to-day, and have great music, 
 ril order bag-pipes, bass-viol, two fiddles — 
 And jNIaster Matthew loves old July mead, 
 And a new mazurka ; I have new mazurkas. 
 And I have taught my boys to sing right well." 
 
 The generally beloved Jankiel's speech 
 Went to their hearts ; a cry arose, a shout 
 Of joy, a murmur of consent went round 
 Behind the very house — when with the Penknife 
 Gervasy pointed unto Jankiel.
 
 24 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Jew sprang down, he vanished in the crowd. 
 
 The Klucznik cried, " Away, Jew ! never thrust 
 
 Thy fingers between doors; this thee concerns not! 
 
 Because you trade, Sir Prussian, with a pair 
 
 Of miserable barges, that belong 
 
 Unto the Judge, you strain your throat for him. 
 
 Have you forgotten then, Mopanku, how 
 
 Your father floated down to Prussia twenty 
 
 Barges belonging to Horeszko, whereby 
 
 He did enrich himself and family ? 
 
 And even all of you, who are in Dobrzyn, 
 
 You old men may remember, you, young men. 
 
 Have heard, the Pantler was to all of you 
 
 A father and a benefactor. Whom 
 
 Sent he commissioner to his Pinsk estates ? 
 
 'Twas a Dobrzynski. Who were his accountants ? 
 
 Dobrzynskis. And his stewardship, finances. 
 
 To none except Dobrzynskis did he trust. 
 
 Your interests he promoted in the courts ; 
 
 He got you bread of favour from the king ; 
 
 He sent your children, at his own expense. 
 
 To school to the Pijary fathers,^ paid 
 
 Their board and clothing, and at his expense 
 
 Advanced them when grown-up. Why did he this ? 
 
 Because he was your neighbour. And to-day
 
 COUNCIL. 25 
 
 Soplica's borders touch upon your frontier. 
 When did he ever aught of good to you ? " 
 
 " Nothing whatever," Bucket now broke in ; 
 
 " For from a petty noble he grew up, 
 
 And how he puffs himself with pride, faugh ! faugh ! 
 
 How hfts he up his nose ! Do you remember ? 
 
 I asked him to my daughter's wedding. I 
 
 Was drinking ; but he would not drink. Says he, 
 
 ' I cannot drink like all you noblemen ; 
 
 You nobles drink like fishes.' There's a magnate ! 
 
 A delicate dish of flour of Marymont !'' 
 
 He drank not; down his throat we poured the wine. 
 
 He cried, ' You wrong me ! ' Well then, wait a bit, 
 
 And from my Bucket I will deluge thee ! " 
 
 " The wretch ! " cried Baptist ; " oh ! I'll sprinkle 
 
 him ! 
 My son, he was a prudent boy, but now 
 He is grown so stupid that they call him Bustard.* 
 The Judge is cause that he is such a fool. 
 I said, ' Why creepest thou to Soplicowo ? 
 If there I catch thee may the Lord defend thee ! ' 
 
 * Sak in the original.
 
 26 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Again he went to see Sophia, lying 
 
 In wait among the hemp. I caught him, and 
 
 I laid about his ears at once ; he bleated 
 
 And whimpered, as he were a little boy. 
 
 ' Father, although you kill me, I must go.' 
 
 And he kept whimpering. * What is the matter ? ' 
 
 And then he told me that he loved Sophia, 
 
 He wished to look upon her. I was sorry 
 
 For the poor fellow ; so unto the Judge 
 
 I said, 'Judge, give Sophia to the Bustard.' 
 
 He said, ' She's young as yet ; wait three years 
 
 more. 
 See what she wish herself.' The wretch ! he lied ! 
 He's now betrothing her to somebody. 
 I've heard so. I will creep in at the wedding, 
 And with my Sprinkler sanctify their couch." 
 
 " And shall such villain," said the Klucznik, " be 
 A ruler ? shall he ruin ancient lords. 
 His betters ? shall he make to perish both 
 Horeszko's name and race ? Where in the world 
 Is gratitude ? It is not here in Dobrzyn. 
 Brothers, you wish to fight the Russian Czar, 
 And fear to fight the house of Soplicowo. 
 You are afraid of prison. Should I counsel
 
 COUNCIL. 27 
 
 You unto murder ? Heaven forbid it ! Nobles 
 
 And brothers, by the law I take my stand. 
 
 The Count in very truth has gained the suit, 
 
 Has gained already not a few decrees. 
 
 It but remains to put in execution ! 
 
 So was it formerly. The tribunal 
 
 Wrote a decree, the nobles would enforce it, 
 
 Most chiefly the Dobrzynskis ; and your glory 
 
 Thus grew in Litva. You yourselves, Dobrzynskis, 
 
 In the Mysk foray fought against the Russians, 
 
 Led by Wojsilowicz, the Russian general, 
 
 And by a villain who was friend to him, 
 
 Wolk of Logomowicze. You remember, 
 
 How we made Wolk our prisoner ; how we 
 
 wished 
 To hang him on a beam, inside a barn. 
 Because he was a tyrant to the peasants, 
 As well as servant to the Muscovites. 
 But as those foolish peasants pitied him, 
 I had to spit him elsewhere on my Penknife. 
 I will not here recall you other raids, 
 Without a number, whence you always came 
 With booty and applause, as suiteth nobles. 
 Why speak of this ? To-day the Count in vain, 
 Your neighbour, urges suit, procures decrees,
 
 2S MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 And none of you will the poor orphan help, 
 
 Heir of that Pantler, who so many fed. 
 
 No friend now has he ; only me, the Klucznik, 
 
 And this most faithful Penknife here of mine." 
 
 " The Sprinkler also," said the Baptist. " Where 
 
 Thou art, Gervasy, there will I be too. 
 
 And while I have a hand, and it can plash. 
 
 Plash in my hand ! For two are two ! By heaven, 
 
 Gervasy mine, thou hast a sword, and I 
 
 My Sprinkler, and I'll sprinkle well, and thou 
 
 Shalt hew them down. And so whizz ! whizz ! 
 
 plash ! plash ! 
 And let them talk ! " 
 
 "And here is Bartek too," 
 The Razor said ; " my brothers won't reject me. 
 And when you lather, I will shave away." 
 " And I," the Bucket said, " will march with you. 
 And if we cannot make the rest agree 
 About the choice of Marshal, what are votes 
 And balls to me ? Another sort of ball 
 For me." Here from his pouch he drew a handful 
 Of bullets, and he clinked them in his hand. 
 " Here are the balls," he cried ; "into the Judge 
 With all the balls 1 "— " With you ! " Skoluba cried ; 
 " We'll join with you ; wherever you are, we
 
 COUNCIL. 29 
 
 Shall also be ! Long live the Horeszkos ! live 
 The Half-goats! Long the Klucznik live, Rembajlo ! 
 Down with Soplica ! " 
 
 Thus the eloquent 
 Gervasy drew all hearts along with him, 
 For each one had some grievance 'gainst the Judge, 
 As usual is with neighbours. One complained 
 Of damage, one about a clearing, one 
 About infringement of a boundary ; 
 The rest were moved by envy of his wealth. 
 But hatred did unite them all ; they pressed 
 Around the Klucznik, lifting up on high 
 Their clubs and sabres. 
 
 rvLitthew, hitherto 
 Gloomy, immovable, now from the bench 
 Arose, and strode into the chamber's midst. 
 And planted firm his hands upon his sides, 
 And looking straight before him shook his head. 
 He raised his voice, and slowly every word 
 Pronounced, with emphasis and weight : " Ye 
 
 fools ! 
 Ye fools ! And fools ye are ! Who cometh to 
 The mill may grind upon you ! So then, while 
 The council talked of Poland's resurrection. 
 The common weal, ye fools ! there were disputes
 
 30 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Among ye ! Ye could not, ye fools ! discourse 
 Together, nor in order, or appoint 
 A leader over you, ye fools ! But let 
 One urge your private grievances, ye fools ! 
 Then is there concord 'mid you ! Get you gone ! 
 For as 1 Matthew am, by many millions, 
 Hundred of many thousands, cartloads, tons, 
 Waggons, casks full of devils ! ! ! — " ^ 
 
 All were silent. 
 As struck by thunder, till a fearful cry 
 Arose behind the house, " Long live the Count ! " 
 He entered, riding in the Matthews' farm, 
 Himself well armed ; ten armed jockeys followed. 
 The Count was mounted on a gallant steed, 
 Clad all in black ; a wide cloak over all. 
 Nut-brown, of cut Italian, without sleeves. 
 Like a great veil, and fastened by a clasp 
 About the neck, did o'er his shoulders fall. 
 He wore a broad hat with a feather, and 
 He bore a sword. Round turning, with the sword 
 The assembly he saluted. 
 
 " Live the Count ! " 
 They cried ; " with him we'll live and die." The 
 
 nobles 
 Peeped from the cottage windows, following
 
 COUNCIL. 31 
 
 The Klucznik, pressing nearer to the door. 
 The Klucznik went out, and the crowd rushed forth 
 Behind him through the doors. Matthias drove out 
 The others, closed the door, and drew the bolt ; 
 But looking from the window once again. 
 Said, " Fools ! " 
 
 Meanwhile the nobles flocked around 
 The Count, and went into the tavern. Now 
 Gervasy recollected former times. 
 Three girdles from their garments he commands 
 They bring him ; by them from the tavern vault 
 He dragged three casks ; the one containing mead. 
 The other wodka, and the third held beer. 
 He drew the bung out ; with a murmur spurted 
 Three streams forth ; one like silver white, the other 
 Red as a bloodstone, yellow was the third. 
 They in a threefold rainbow play on high, 
 And in a thousand barrels falling, hum 
 Within a hundred glasses. Loudly shout 
 The noblemen ; some drink, some wish the Count 
 A hundred years; all cry "Down with Soplica!" 
 
 In silence Jankiel meanwhile had escaped 
 
 Upon a bare-backed steed. The Prussian, likewise 
 
 Unheard, though still he eloquently spoke,
 
 32 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Tried to escape ; the nobles him pursued, 
 Crying, he was a traitor. Far apart 
 Mickiewicz stood, nor shouted, nor advised, 
 But from his mien that he some evil thing 
 Concocted, plain was seen. So to their swords, 
 And hey ! He backward drew, and made a stand, 
 Leaning against the hedge, when to his aid 
 Sprang Zan and the three Czeczots, After that 
 The nobles were dispersed ; but in this stir 
 Two on the hand were wounded, one received 
 A cut upon the ear ; the others mounted 
 On horseback. 
 
 Then Gervasy and the Count 
 Arrange the ranks, distribute arms, commands. 
 At last all down the settlement's long street 
 Gallop, loud shouting, "Down, down with Soplica!"
 
 NOTES TO BOOK VII. 
 
 I. " We ask what news of Jena ? " 
 
 The battle of Jena took place on the 14th October 1806, 
 and on the 27th November Napoleon entered Posen. 
 
 2. " In Litva made 
 
 Just such another batli for Muscovy." 
 
 To prepare a warm bath for any one is a proverbial expres- 
 sion, meaning to thrash him soundly. It is said to have 
 originated in the rough and ready chastisement inflicted by 
 Boleslaw Chrobry, the founder of Poland's historic greatness, 
 upon certain of his recalcitrant subjects, whom the intercession 
 of his queen Konilda had saved from death. But before 
 granting their pardon the king, who at that time was in the 
 bath, sent for the criminals, and gave them with his own 
 hands a scourging so severe as to give rise to the above- 
 quoted proverb, 
 
 3. "Let's make confederacy." 
 
 Poland is perhaps the only country that has enjoyed what 
 may be called an organised right and constitution of revolt, 
 A discontented minority would often unite under a marshal 
 and other officers to form a confederacy, or organised 
 association for resistance to the royal authority, or that of
 
 34 NOTES. 
 
 the Diet. The purpose of the confederacy was set forth by 
 a written act, and the confederates appear to have been 
 generally recognised as belligerents. A revolt organised by 
 a confederacy was called a rokosz. In their deliberations 
 all questions were settled by a plurality of votes, and not by 
 unanimity, so that the veto, of sovereign importance in the 
 Diet, was of no use here. 
 
 4. '•^ Rather Bahin ruley 
 
 The Republic of Babin was a political satire devised in 
 the reign of Sigismund I. (contemporary with Henry VIII.) 
 In it all offices were purposely bestowed on those least 
 qualified to fill them. The post of cellarer was given to a 
 noted drunkard, that of chancellor to a man who could 
 scarcely read or write. When the king inquired who pos- 
 sessed the royal authority, he was answered that during his 
 lifetime the throne should be vacant ! 
 
 The Contracts of Kievv and Minsk imply yearly meetings 
 of landowners, farmers, or merchants, held in these principal 
 cities for purposes of buying and selling. From the fact that 
 many agreements are made at such meetings, the meetings 
 themselves are termed Contracts. Those of Minsk are of 
 little importance, but those of Kiew are still famous. They 
 take place about the middle of February, and being the 
 occasion of a great concourse of people, are in a measure 
 equivalent to a season of business and gaiety combined. As 
 these are the only contracts of which Matthias has heard, 
 the word, as used by Buchman, naturally puzzles him. — 
 E. S. N. 
 
 5. " Vetor 
 
 ^^ Niepozwalam^'' the form in which the liberiim veto, by 
 which a single nobleman could annul the deliberations of 
 a whole majority, was couched. It was not in use, until
 
 NOTES. 35 
 
 first exercised by Sicinski of Upita, a nobleman of most 
 infamous character, in the reign of John Casimir (1648-68), 
 whence resulted a series of disasters, culminating in the 
 ruin of the country. The last exercise of the veto was by 
 Rejtan, as already noticed. 
 
 6. " To school to the Pijaryfathe7-s." 
 
 The order of the Pijary monks {Ordo Scholartcm Fiarutii) 
 attained, after the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1772, great 
 influence over the education of youth, and initiated, mainly 
 by the efforts of Konarski, an improved system of education. 
 While the Jesuits had laid the main stress upon Latin, the 
 Pijary substituted French as the groundwork of education. 
 This was an improvement upon the previous system, but it 
 had the effect of inducing an aping of French manners and 
 customs in literature and social life, till the reaction in favour 
 of Polish nationality. 
 
 7. "A delicate dish of flour of 3Iarymo>it" 
 
 Tlie flour of Marymont, a small village near the gates of 
 Warsaw, is of a superior quality. The mill of Marymont is 
 celebrated as the place which served as a refuge to Stanislas 
 Augustus, after the attempt to seize him by the Confederates 
 of Bar, November 3, 1772. 
 
 8. "By many niillious," (S:c. 
 
 These three lines are not translated by me, but by Mr. 
 Naganowski. — M. A. B.
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 THE FORAY. 
 
 The Wajski's astronomy — The Chamberlain's observations on 
 comets — Mysterious scene in the Judge's apartment — Thad- 
 deus, trying to extricate himself cleverly, gets into great 
 trouble — The new Dido — The Foray — The last protestation 
 by the IVozny — The Count captures Soplicowo — Storm, 
 carnage — Gervasy as butler — The banquet of the foray. 
 
 Before a storm a still and gloomy hour 
 Comes, while the cloud that soars o'er human heads 
 Stands still, and with a threatening countenance 
 Restrains the breath of winds ; silent, it runs 
 Around the earth with eyes of lightning, marking 
 The spots whereon its thunders shall be cast 
 One after the other. Now this hour of stillness 
 Came in the house of Soplicowo ; well 
 One might suppose that some presentiment 
 Of strange events forthcoming, sealed all lips, 
 And raised all spirits to the land of dreams.
 
 THE FORAY. 37 
 
 The supper o'er, the Judge and guests went forth 
 Into the court to enjoy the evening air ; 
 They sit upon the banks all spread with turf. 
 The company, with still and gloomy cheer, 
 Looked up into the sky, which seemed to lower 
 Itself, and narrower grow, and evermore 
 To approach the earth ; till both beneath the veil 
 Of darkness hidden, like a loving pair. 
 Began their secret converse, by their sighs 
 Suppressed their love confessing, by their whispers. 
 By murmurs, and by soft tones half aloud, 
 That formed a wondrous music of the evening. 
 
 The owl began it, from the gable-roof 
 Hooting ; and with the rustling of their wings 
 The bats did whisper; near the house they flew 
 Where window-panes and human faces gleamed. 
 But nearer moths, the sisters of the bats, 
 Circled in swarms, lured by the garments white 
 Worn by the women ; most they teased Sophia, 
 Striking against her face and her bright eyes. 
 Mistaking them for lights. And in the air 
 A mighty ring of insects gathered round. 
 Playing like spheres of an harmonica. 
 Sophia's ear distinguished, 'mid the thousand 
 
 VOL. II. D
 
 38 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Murmurs, the chord of humming of the flies, 
 And a false semitone the gnats created. 
 
 The evening's concert in the fields was scarce 
 
 Begun, for its musicians even now 
 
 Their instruments were tuning ; now three times 
 
 The landrail screeched, the mead's first violin ; 
 
 Now from afar the bittern's bass again 
 
 Re-echoed him from out the marsh ; and now 
 
 The woodcocks, rising upwards, circled round. 
 
 And shrieked once, twice, as beating upon drums. 
 
 Finale to the murmurs of the flies. 
 
 And the birds' cries ; a double chorus woke 
 
 Of two ponds, as among the Caucasus 
 
 Those lakes enchanted, silent in the day. 
 
 But musical at evening. One pond, with 
 
 Bright water and a sandy shore, gave forth 
 
 A solemn low sigh from its azure breast. 
 
 The other pond, with muddy depths, and throat 
 
 More hoarse, replied with passionate grieving cry. 
 
 In both were singing countless hordes of frogs. 
 
 Both choirs were tuned unto two great accords ; 
 
 One seemed /orfi'ssmo, the other soft 
 
 And piano ; one appeared to cry aloud, 
 
 The other merely sighed; thus through the fields
 
 THE FORAY. 39 
 
 Each pond held converse with the other pond, 
 Like two ^olian harps, that in their play / 
 Answered each other. Thicker grew the dusk, 
 And only in the grove, and round the osiers 
 Upon the brook, were gleaming wolfish eyes, 
 Like candles. Far along the horizon's verge, 
 The fires of shepherds' camps gleamed here and 
 
 there. 
 At last the moon uplit her silver torch. 
 She issued from the thicket, and illumed 
 Both sky and earth. From twilight now unveiled, 
 They slept beside each other, like to happy 
 Consorts. The heaven in its pure arms embraced 
 The bosom of the earth, by moonlight silvered. 
 
 Now opposite the moon one star, and then 
 Another, now a thousand gleamed, a million 
 Now twinkled ; at the head of them shone bright 
 Castor, together with his brother Pollux, 
 Among the ancient Slavs called Lei and Polel,i 
 Now in the zodiac of the common folk 
 Re-christened ; one named Litva, and the other 
 The Crown.* The two Scales of the heavenly 
 balance 
 
 * i.e., Poland.
 
 40 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Shine further on ; the Lord, upon the day 
 
 Of the creation, as our old men tell, 
 
 Weighed all the planets and the earth in turn 
 
 Upon them, ere into the deeps of space 
 
 He launched their weights. The golden balance then 
 
 He hung in heaven ; therefrom men received 
 
 The model of their scales and balances. 
 
 Towards the north the starry circle shines 
 
 Of that famed Sieve,* through which the Lord, they 
 
 say, 
 The rye-grains sifted, which from heaven he threw 
 To father Adam, banished from the garden 
 Of pleasure for his sin. 
 
 A little higher 
 Stands David's chariot,! ready for career, 
 Its long beam pointing to the polar star. 
 The ancient Litvins of this chariot knew 
 That common people wrongly call it David's ; 
 It is an angel's car. In it, ere time. 
 Rode Lucifer, when he defied the Lord, 
 And drove on headlong by the Milky Way 
 To heaven's threshold, until Michael hurled him 
 Down from his car, and cast it from the road. 
 
 * Corona Borealis. t Ursa Major.
 
 THE FORAY. 41 
 
 Now broken, doth it roll among the stars ; 
 The Archangel Michael suffers not repair. 
 And this too know we from the old Litvini, 
 But they no doubt first learned it from the Rabbins, 
 That Dragon of the zodiac, long and great,- 
 Who winds his starry folds across the sky, 
 Whom sages wrongly have the Serpent called, 
 No snake is, but a fish. Leviathan. 
 Ere time he dwelt within the seas, but after 
 The deluge from the lack of water died. ' 
 So angels hung him on the vault of heaven, 
 Partly for his strange figure, and in part 
 As a remembrance ; they suspended there 
 His lifeless remnants, as the priest of Mir 
 Once hung up in his church the fossil ribs 
 And vertebrae of giants.^ 
 
 Such old stories 
 About the stars which he had learned from books, 
 Or from tradition knew, the Wojski told. 
 Although the ancient Wojski's sight was weak 
 At evening, and he could through spectacles 
 See nought in heaven, he knew by heart the names 
 And figures of each constellation there ; 
 And so he pointed out their every place, 
 And orbit of their motion.
 
 42 MASTER THADDEUS.' 
 
 Few to-day 
 Listened to him, or heeded not at all 
 The Sieve, the Dragon, or the Scales. To-day 
 A new guest, hitherto unseen in heaven, 
 Had drawn all eyes and thoughts unto itself. 
 This was a comet of first magnitude ^ 
 And power, that in the west appeared, and flew 
 Towards the north, and with a blood-red eye 
 Looked askance on the chariot, as it would 
 Assume the empty place of Lucifer. 
 It threw long tresses backward, and therein 
 Enwrapped the third part of the heavens, and 
 
 gathered 
 As in a net a thousand stars,^ and drew 
 Them after it, and measured ever higher 
 To northward with its head, and pointed straight 
 Up to the Polar star. 
 
 With unexpressed 
 Foreboding, the Litvanian folk each night 
 Gazed on this heavenly wonder, and therefrom 
 Deduced ill-omen, as from other signs. 
 For they too often heard the cries of birds 
 Ill-omened, who in flocks on desert plains 
 Gather, and whet their beaks, as they expect 
 Corpses. Too often marked they how the dogs
 
 THE FORAY. 43 
 
 Tore up the earth, and as though scenting death, 
 Howled fearfully, portending war or famine. 
 The guardians of the forest had beheld 
 The maiden of the pestilence pass through 
 The cemetery, she whose brow is high 
 Above the highest trees, and whose left hand 
 Waveth a bloodstained cloth.*' 
 
 Hence various 
 Conclusions drew, while standing by the hedge, 
 The barn-keeper, who came to give account 
 Of farm w^ork, and the district writer, with 
 The bailiff whispering. 
 
 But on the seats 
 Of turf before the house, the Chamberlain 
 Sat ; he broke in upon the guests' discourse. 
 It might be known he gathered voice to speak. 
 And his great snuff-box in the moonlight shone, 
 Entirely of pure gold, with brilliants set, 
 The portrait of King Stanislas in midst 
 Behind a glass. He tapped thereon, took snuff, 
 And spoke thus : " Master Thaddeus, your talk 
 About the stars is but an echo of 
 The things you heard at school. I much prefer 
 To talk of wonders with the ignorant. 
 I too attended lectures on the stars
 
 44 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Two years in Wilna, where the Puzynina, 
 
 A rich and learned lady, gave the rent 
 
 A hamlet of two hundred peasants yielded. 
 
 To purchase various telescopes and glasses. 
 
 Priest Poczobut/ a most illustrious man, 
 
 Was then observer, and of the Academy 
 
 At that time rector. He, however, left 
 
 At last his chair and telescope, returning 
 
 Unto his convent, to his peaceful cell, 
 
 And there he made most exemplary end. 
 
 I likewise am acquainted with Sniadecki,^ 
 
 Who is extremely learned, though a layman. 
 
 But your astronomers consider planets 
 
 Only as citizens may view a carriage ; 
 
 They know if to the capital it go 
 
 Before the king, or from the suburbs goes 
 
 Beyond the frontier ; but who rides therein ? 
 
 For what ? whereof he with the king discoursed ? 
 
 Or if the king has sent his envoy forth 
 
 With war, or as a messenger of peace ? 
 
 They know not. In my time I recollect 
 
 How when Branicki * drove his chariot 
 
 * Xavier Branicki was the chief promoter of the Targo- 
 wica and other conspiracies.
 
 THE FORAY. 45 
 
 To J assow, and behind this wicked car 
 
 A train of Targowica traitors drew, 
 
 The train resembling of that comet there. 
 
 The simple people then, although they ne'er 
 
 In pubhc councils mixed, at once could guess 
 
 That train the omen of some treason was. 
 
 'Twas said the people to this comet gave 
 
 The name of Broom, and said 'twould sweep away 
 
 A million." 
 
 With a bow the Wojski answered, 
 " True, Most Illustrious, Powerful Chamberlain, 
 I recollect now what was told to me 
 Once as a little boy. I recollect, 
 Though at that time I was not ten years old, 
 When in our house I saw the late Sapieha,^ 
 Commander in the army, and who later 
 Became Court Marshal of the Crown, and died 
 At last Grand Chancellor of Litva, aged 
 A hundred and ten years. He, in the time 
 Of John the Third, was at Vienna under 
 The standard of the Hetman Jablonowski. 
 Well then, the Chancellor related how 
 When John the Third on horseback mounted, when 
 The Papal legate blessed him on the way, 
 And when the Austrian ambassador
 
 46 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Did kiss his feet, and held the stirrup ready — 
 Count Wilczek the ambassador was named — 
 The king exclaimed, " See what is doing in 
 
 heaven ! ' 
 They looked : behold, a comet sailed o'erhead, 
 By that same way whereby Mahomet's armies 
 Marched on, from east to west. And later on 
 Priest Bartochowski wrote a panegyric 
 Upon the triumph of Krakow, by the title 
 Of Orientis Fulme?i, saying much 
 About this comet. I have likewise read 
 About it in the viox\i Janina titled, 
 Where is related the whole enterprise 
 Of the late King John, and where there is engraved 
 The standard of Mahomet, and besides 
 That comet, as we see this one to-day." 
 
 *' Amen," the Judge said, " I accept your omen ; 
 May John the Third be with the star revealed ! 
 Now in the west there is a mighty warrior ; 
 May be the comet brings him here to us, 
 Which Heaven grant ! " 
 
 Thereto the Wojski said, 
 Bending his head down sadly, " Comets sometimes 
 Mean war, and sometimes quarrels. 'Tis not good,
 
 THE FORAY. 47 
 
 It shows itself right over Soplicowo ; 
 May be it threatens us some home misfortune. 
 We yesterday had strife and jar sufficient ; 
 The Regent had a quarrel with the Assessor 
 That morning, in the evening Master Thaddeus 
 Called out the Count. This quarrel also came 
 About the bear's hide ; if the good Judge had not 
 Prevented me, I had made both disputants 
 Agree at table. For I wished to tell 
 A singular adventure, very like 
 The events of yesterday's excursion ; it 
 Chanced to the foremost hunters of my time, 
 The envoy Rejtan and to Prince Denassau. 
 The accident was this : 
 
 " The General 
 Of the Podolian lands went from Volhynia, 
 To his estates in Poland, or indeed, 
 If rightly I remember, to the Diet 
 In Warsaw ; on his way he visited 
 The nobles, partly for amusement, partly 
 For popularity, and so he came 
 To Thaddeus Rejtan, now of holy memory, 
 Who later was our Nowogrodek envoy, 
 And in whose house I grew up from a child. 
 Now Rejtan, on the General's arrival.
 
 48 MASTER TH ADD BUS. 
 
 Invited guests. There gathered many nobles. 
 There was a theatre, for the Prince loved theatres 
 Kaszyc, who dwelt in Jatrze, fireworks gave ; 
 Pan Tyzenhaus sent dancers, and musicians 
 Oginski and Pan Soltan, who then lived 
 In Zdzienciele, In a word, they gave 
 An entertainment in the house past wonder, 
 And in the forest was a grand hunt made. 
 'Tis known to you that nearly all, so far 
 As I remember, of the Czartoryskis, 
 Although proceeding from Jagellon blood. 
 Are little apt at hunting, not indeed 
 From idleness, but from their foreign tastes. 
 And the Prince-General more often looked 
 On books than on the kennel, and more often 
 On ladies' balconies than on the woods. 
 
 " But in the Prince's suite there came the German 
 Prince Denassau, of whom 'twas said that when 
 He sojourned in the Libyan land, he went 
 A-hunting, and he there a tiger * slew 
 With spear in single combat, and of this 
 A mighty boasting Prince Denassau made. 
 
 * A ii^^r in A/rica ! ! !
 
 THE FORAY. 49 
 
 We hunted at this season the wild boar. 
 
 Rejtan a monstrous sow killed with a rifle, 
 
 At great risk, since he fired from very near. 
 
 Each of us marvelled at the shot, and praised. 
 
 The German Denassau alone did hear 
 
 These praises with indifference, and muttered, 
 
 ' A clever shot needs only a bold eye. 
 
 But steel a bold hand,' and began to brag 
 
 At length about his Libya and his spear, 
 
 About his negro kings, and of his tiger. 
 
 And Rejtan took this very ill ; he was 
 
 A man of temper quick ; he struck his sabre, 
 
 And said, ' Sir Prince ! whoever looketh bold. 
 
 Should boldly fight ; a wild boar's worth a tiger, 
 
 A sabre worth a spear ; ' and they began 
 
 A conversation over-warm. But then 
 
 The General happily broke in on them, 
 
 And, speaking French, he made them to agree. 
 
 What there he said I know not, but it was 
 
 Only as ashes laid upon hot coals. 
 
 For Rejtan took this much to heart ; he waited 
 
 Only an opportunity, and promised 
 
 To make the German pay for this. Well-nigh 
 
 He paid with his own life for this offence, 
 
 And did it on the morrow, as I'll tell."
 
 50 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Here ceased the Wojski, and his right hand 
 
 raised, 
 And for his snuff-box asked the Chamberlain. 
 He long time used it, and deigned not to end 
 His story, as he thought thereby to sharpen 
 The listeners' curiosity. At last 
 This curious story he resumed ; they listened 
 With fixed attention ; but again the tale 
 Was broken off. For some one to the Judge 
 Had sent a messenger, to say that he 
 Was waiting with some business very urgent, 
 Which might not be deferred. Good-night then 
 
 giving 
 To all the assembly, took the Judge his leave. 
 They parted and went divers ; some to sleep 
 Inside the house ; the others in the barn 
 Among the hay. Then went the Judge to give 
 An audience to the traveller. 
 
 Tiie rest 
 Already slept. But Thaddeus crept along 
 The passages, and like a sentry paced 
 All up and down before his uncle's door, 
 For he in weighty matters must request 
 His counsel ere he sleep. He dared not knock ; 
 The Judge had locked the door, and secretly
 
 THE FORAY. 51 
 
 Conversed with some one. Thaddeus waited till 
 The end should come, and listened at the door. 
 
 He heard within a sobbing. Stirring not 
 The latch, he gazed, with careful heeding, througli 
 The keyhole. There he saw a wondrous thing, 
 The Judge and Robak kneehng on the ground, 
 Embracing, while they wept with bitter tears. 
 Robak the hands was kissing of the Judge, 
 The Judge embraced the priest upon the neck. 
 And wept. At last, a quarter of an hour 
 Being past while they kept silence, Robak spoke 
 These words in a low voice : 
 
 " The Lord knows, brother, 
 I hitherto have kept those secret vows. 
 Which I in sorrow made, beneath the seal 
 Of absolution ; that all consecrate 
 To God and to my country, serving not 
 Pride, neither seeking earthly glory, I 
 Have lived till now, and I have willed to die 
 A Bernardine, discovering not my name ; 
 Not hiding from the vulgar only, but 
 From thee and mine own son. Yet from the 
 
 Father 
 Provincial I had leave, in case of death,
 
 52 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 To make full revelation of my name. 
 Who knows if I return alive ? Who knows 
 What may occur? In Dobrzyn, brother, is 
 Great, great confusion. Still the French are far ; 
 The winter must pass by ; we still must wait, 
 But nothing can withhold the nobles. I 
 Perhaps was far too busy with this rising ; 
 Perhaps they understood me ill. The Klucznik 
 Has spoilt it all. That madman Count, I hear, 
 Hastened to Dobrzyn. I could not forestall 
 
 him. 
 There is a weighty reason why I could not. 
 For old Matthias has recognised me ; if 
 He lets the secret out, I then must give 
 My neck unto the Penknife. Nothing will 
 Restrain the Klucznik. 'Tis but a small matter 
 About my head, but such discovery 
 Would break the whole web of conspiracy. 
 But yet I must be there to-day, to see 
 What they are doing, even though I die. 
 Without me all the nobles will go mad. 
 Farewell to thee, farewell, my dearest brother ! 
 I must make haste. If I should perish, thou 
 Alone must breathe a sigh forth for my souL 
 In case of war, the secret unto thee
 
 THE FORAY. 53 
 
 Is known, — do thou complete what I began. 
 Remember ever, thou art a Soplica ! " 
 
 The priest here dried his eyes, composed his frock, 
 Drew down his cowl, in silence opened wide 
 The window at the back, and from the window 
 He sprang into the garden ; left alone, 
 The Judge sat in an arm-chair, and he wept. 
 
 A moment waited Thaddeus, ere he stirred) 
 The latch ; the door was opened, and he entered 
 In silence, and low bending, said, " Good uncle, 
 A few days scarcely have I tarried here. 
 These days passed like a minute. I have not 
 Had time sufficient to enjoy thy house 
 And presence ; yet I now must ride away, 
 And hasten, even to-day, my uncle, and 
 Be far away to-morrow. You indeed 
 Remember we the Count have challenged. 'Tis 
 My business to fight with him ; I have sent 
 The challenge. Duelling in Litva is 
 Forbidden ; I will go unto the frontier 
 Of Warsaw's Duchy. Though the Count indeed 
 A coxcomb is, he has no lack of courage, 
 He'll surely come unto the place assigned. 
 
 VOL. II. E
 
 54 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 We will arrange our meeting, and as fitting 
 111 punish him, if Heaven prosper me. 
 Then from the shores of the Lososna I 
 Will swim the stream, upon whose farther shore 
 Our brothers' ranks await me. I have heard 
 My father's testament commanded me 
 To serve in the army, and I know not who 
 This testament has cancelled." 
 
 Said the uncle : 
 " My Thaddeus, are you in boiling water, 
 That thus you twist round like a hunted fox, 
 Who wags his tail one way, but runs another ? 
 We sent a challenge truly, and 'tis fitting 
 To fight ; but why such haste ? why go to-day ? 
 The usual custom is, before a duel, 
 To send a friend, and make conditions. Then 
 The Count may beg our pardon, deprecate. 
 You wait a little ; there is time enough, 
 Unless some other demon drives you hence. 
 Tell me sincerely, why so roundabout ? 
 I am your uncle, and though old, I know 
 What young hearts are ; I have been to thee a 
 
 father "— 
 This saying, he stroked him underneath the chin — 
 " My little finger has already whispered
 
 THE FORAY. 55 
 
 Something of this to me, that you liave some 
 Affairs among the ladies — hang it ! now 
 Young men take quickly to the ladies ! Well, 
 Thaddeus, confess it all to me, and truly." 
 
 "True," stammered Thaddeus; "true; some 
 
 other reasons 
 There are, dear uncle ; 'tis my fault perhaps. 
 An error ! a misfortune ! hard to mend. 
 Dear uncle, no, I dare no longer stay. 
 A fault of youth ! My uncle, ask no more ! 
 I must from Soplicowo part in haste." 
 
 " Ho ! " said the uncle, " love disputes no doubt ! 
 
 I marked how yesterday you bit your lips, 
 
 While looking on a certain little girl 
 
 Askance. She also had, as I perceived, 
 
 A little pouting mien. I know these fooleries ! 
 
 How when a pair of children are in love, 
 
 'Tis sorrow measureless ; they now rejoice. 
 
 Now are cross and sad. Heaven knoweth why, 
 
 they quarrel 
 Both tooth and nail ; now, sulking in their corners, 
 They will not speak to one another, even 
 Sometimes they run away into the fields.
 
 56 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 If this has chanced to you, I'll take on me 
 To reconcile you soon. I know these fooleries ; 
 I once was young. So tell me all, and I 
 May also in my turn discover something. 
 We both will make confession." 
 
 " Uncle," then 
 Said Thaddeus, as he kissed his hand, and blushed, 
 " I'll tell the truth entirely. This young lady. 
 Your ward, Sophia, pleased me very much, 
 Although I have but seen her twice. They say 
 You mean the daughter of the Chamberlain 
 To be my wife ; she is beautiful, and is 
 The daughter of a rich man, but I cannot 
 Marry Miss Rosa when I love Sophia. 
 It's hard to change one's heart, nor would it be 
 An honourable act, to marry one 
 And love another. Time may be will cure me, 
 I'll ride away from here for a long time." 
 
 " Thaddeus," broke in the uncle, " this to me 
 Seems a strange way of loving, from the loved 
 To fly. 'Tis well for thee thou art sincere ; 
 Thou seest thou wouldst have done a fooHsh thing 
 If thou hadst ridden off. What shouldstj thou 
 say
 
 THE FORAY. 57 
 
 If I myself betrothed Sophia to thee ? 
 What ! dost not jump for joy ? " 
 
 Said Thaddeus, 
 After a while had passed : " Your goodness, sir, 
 Astonishes me. But how can it be ? 
 Your favour is of no avail to me, 
 For all my hopes, alas ! are but in vain, 
 For Madam Telimena will not give 
 Sophia to me." 
 
 " We will entreat her," said 
 The Judge. 
 
 " No, no one can prevail with her," 
 Did Thaddeus answer ; " no, I may not tarry. 
 Dear uncle, I must quickly ride away, 
 To-morrow, uncle ; give me but thy blessing. 
 I have prepared all things ; I'll ride at once 
 Unto the Duchy." 
 
 Twirling his moustache, 
 The Judge with anger looked upon the boy. 
 " So this is thy sincerity ? 'tis thus 
 Thou openest thy heart to me ? At first 
 This duel, then 'tis love, and this departure ! 
 Fie on it ! In this is some complication. 
 They have talked to me, and I have tracked your 
 steps.
 
 58 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 You are a libertine and a deceiver ! 
 
 You have told me lies ! Where went you yesterday ? 
 
 Why like a weasel crept you near the house ? 
 
 Thaddeus, if you could deceive Sophia, 
 
 And now will fly, young man, you shan't succeed. 
 Love or not love, I tell in truth to you, 
 That you shall wed Sophia, and to-morrow 
 You stand upon the carpet.* And if not, 
 Stripes ! Talk to me of feelings, changeless heart ! 
 Thou art a liar ! I will find out all 
 About you, Master Thaddeus ; fie upon you ! 
 I'll give you a good scolding even yet. 
 
 1 have had enough of trouble in the day, 
 Until my head does ache ; and still this fellow 
 Will not allow me yet to go to sleep. 
 
 Go you to bed ! " This saying, he opened wide 
 The door, and called the Wozny to undress him. 
 
 In silence Thaddeus went, with drooping head. 
 
 This painful conversation with his uncle 
 
 In thought discussing. 'Twas the first time he 
 
 Had been so harshly chidden ; yet he felt 
 
 The justice of this sharp reproach. He blushed 
 
 * Stanac na kobierai, an idiomatic expression for the 
 ceremony of marriage.
 
 THE FORAY. 59 
 
 Before his very self. What should he do ? 
 What if Sophia should hear of this ? Entreat 
 Her hand ? And what would Telimena say ? 
 No, he must stay no more in Soplicowo. 
 
 Thus deep in thought he scarce had gone two steps, 
 When something crossed his path ; he stopped, he 
 
 saw 
 A phantom all in white, long, slender, thin. 
 She glided towards him with her outstretched hand. 
 From whence the trembling moonlight back was 
 
 thrown. 
 And coming near, low sighed she, "Thankless man ! 
 Once thou didst seek my glance, thou shun'st it 
 
 now. 
 Thou didst my conversation seek, but now 
 Dost close thine ears, as though within my words, 
 And in my looks, a deadly poison lurked. 
 'Tis well, I know thee what thou art — a man ! 
 Unknowing coquetr)', I had no wish 
 To torture thee. I made thee happy ; thus 
 Wouldst thou repay me ? O'er a heart too soft 
 This victory has made thy heart too hard. 
 Because thou hast too easy conquest made, 
 Thou dost despise my heart too soon ! 'Tis well !
 
 66 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 But, taught by such experience, credit me, 
 Far more than thou canst do, I scorn myself." 
 
 Said Thaddeus, " Telimena, Heaven forbid 
 My heart were hard, or that I should avoid thee 
 From scorn ; but thou thyself consider this, 
 They spy upon us, track our steps. Can we 
 Thus openly ? — What will be said ? It were 
 Unsuitable. By Heaven, it were a sin." 
 " A sin ? " she answered, with a bitter smile. 
 " Thou innocent ! thou lamb ! I, though a woman, 
 Care not about a love-affair, although 
 I were discovered, though I were dishonoured. 
 And thou, thou art a man ! What injury 
 To one of you, although he should confess 
 To having with ten women all at once 
 Love passages? Speak thou the truth, dost thou 
 Wish to abandon me ? " She burst out weeping. 
 " But, Telimena, what would the world say," 
 Spoke Thaddeus, " of the man, who at my age, 
 In these days, being sound, in the country lived 
 And loved, when now so many youths, so many 
 Ev'n married men from wives and children part, 
 To go beyond the frontier, and to gather 
 Beneath the nation's standard ? Though I should
 
 THE FORAY. 6i 
 
 Desire to stay, does that depend on me ? 
 
 My father in his testament ordained 
 
 That I should in the Polish army serve, 
 
 And now my uncle this command repeats. 
 
 I go to-morrow, my resolve is fixed, 
 
 And Heaven forbid that I should change it now." 
 
 " I," Telimena said, " would not obstruct 
 
 Thy path to glory, nor thy fortunes mar. 
 
 Thou art a man, thou'lt find a love more worthy 
 
 Thy heart ; one richer, fairer, thou wilt find. 
 
 But let me only for my comfort know, 
 
 Before our parting, that thine inclination 
 
 Towards me was true love. That 'twas not only 
 
 A jest, no vain debauch, but love indeed. 
 
 Let me but know my Thaddeus loves me still ! 
 
 Let me the words, ' I love,' hear from thy lips. 
 
 Let me engrave them on my heart, and write them 
 
 Within my thought. More easily will I 
 
 Forgive thee, even if thou cease to love, 
 
 Remembering how thou once didst bear me love." 
 
 Here she began to sob. 
 
 Thaddeus was moved 
 To pity, seeing how she wept, and prayed 
 So tenderly, and asked so small a thing. 
 The purest grief and pity him possessed ;
 
 62 MASTER TH ADD BUS. 
 
 And had he searched his spirit's inmost depths, 
 
 He had not known for certain, if or no 
 
 He loved her. So he spoke with earnestness. 
 
 *' May I be struck by lightning, Telimena, 
 
 If 'tis not true I Hked thee very much, 
 
 Or loved, by Heaven ! Short the moments were 
 
 That we together spent, but they for me 
 
 So sweetly passed, so dear they are, that long 
 
 They will be ever present to my thought, 
 
 And Heaven forbid that I forget thee aye." 
 
 Then Telimena sprang upon his neck, 
 " I hoped for this," she said ; "thou lovest me, 
 Therefore I live. For I to-day did purpose 
 To end my life with mine own hand. If thou, 
 My dear one, lov'st me, canst thou cast me off? 
 I have given my heart to thee ; my property 
 I'll also give thee ; I will follow thee 
 To every place ; each corner of the earth 
 Were sweet to me with thee ; the wildest desert. 
 Believe me, love will change into a garden 
 Of pleasures." 
 
 Thaddeus released himself 
 By force from her embrace. "What !" answered he, 
 " Art thou in thy right mind ? where ? and for what?
 
 THE FORAY. 63 
 
 To follow me ? I, but a private soldier, 
 To take thee with me, as a cantinierel" 
 " We will be married," answered Telimena. 
 "No, never ! never!" answered Thaddeus. 
 " I have no intent at all to marry now. 
 Or love. That was but nonsense, let it be. 
 I pray thee, love, consider, be at peace ! 
 I am grateful to thee, but I cannot wed thee. 
 Let us each other love, — but thus, — apart. 
 I may no longer tarry ; no, no, I 
 Must go. Farewell now, Telimena mine. 
 To-morrow I shall go." 
 
 He spoke, and pressed 
 The hat upon his brows, and turned aside. 
 Wishing to go, but Telimena stayed him 
 With glance and visage of Medusa. He 
 Must tarry 'spite himself, and looked in fear 
 Upon her form ; she stood, unbreathing, still, 
 And lifeless, till she stretched her hand forth like 
 A sword for piercing, with the finger aimed 
 Straight at the eyes of Thaddeus. " I desired 
 This man ! " she cried ; " ha ! tongue of dragon ! 
 
 ha! 
 Thou heart of lizard ! Was it nothing, then. 
 That I, infatuate with thee, have scorned
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Assessor and the Regent, and the Count ? 
 Thou didst deceive me, and now leav'st forlorn ! 
 That's nothing, for thou art a man ! I know 
 Your wickedness ! I knew that, like the rest. 
 Thou couldst break plighted faith ; I did not know 
 Thou couldst so basely lie ! I listened at 
 Thine uncle's door. And so this child, Sophia, 
 Has pleased thine eyes, and treacherously thou 
 Pursuest her ? Thou scarcely hast deceived 
 One hapless woman, 'neath her very eyes, 
 Thou seekest a new victim ! Fly, but yet 
 My curse shall overtake thee ; or remain ! 
 Thy wickedness I'll publish to the world ! 
 Thine arts no others shall deceive, as they 
 Did me deceive ! Away ! I scorn thee, thou 
 A liar art, a vile man ! " 
 
 At this outrage, 
 Deadly to noble's ears, which no Soplica 
 Had ever heard with patience, Thaddeus shook ; 
 Pale as a corpse his visage, on the ground 
 Stamping, and pressing close his lips, he said, 
 '•' Thou foolish woman ! " 
 
 He departed ; still 
 This term of "vile " re-echoed in his heart. 
 And the youth shuddered ; well he felt that he
 
 THE FORAY. 65 
 
 Deserved it, felt that he had done great wrong 
 To Telimena, that she had with justice 
 Chastised him. Thus to him his conscience spake, 
 Yet more he loathed her for these accusations. 
 And oh, Sophia ! he dared not think of her, 
 It caused him shame ! Yet this Sophia, so fair, 
 So sweet, his uncle had to him betrothed her ; 
 She should have been his wife, if Satan still, 
 Entangling him from sin in fresher sin. 
 In falsehood after falsehood, had at last 
 Left him with laughter, chidden, scorned by all. 
 He had wasted all his future in two days ! 
 Alas ! this was the just reward of crime ! 
 
 In this wild storm of feelings, suddenly 
 
 That duel gleamed before him like an anchor 
 
 Of rest. " ril slay that villain Count ! " he cried 
 
 In anger ; "I will have revenge or die ! " 
 
 But wherefore slay ? Himself he could not tell ; 
 
 This rage exceeding, as it had possessed him. 
 
 So in a twinkling did it blow away. 
 
 Again deep grief possessed him, and he thought, 
 
 "If true be my surmises that the Count 
 
 May have some understanding with Sophia — 
 
 What then ? Perhaps the Count loves Sophy truly.
 
 66 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 May be she loves him, will for husband choose him. 
 What right have I to break such marriage off, 
 Myself unhappy, others' bliss destroy ? " 
 
 He fell into despair, and saw no help 
 
 But rapid flight, and where ? but to the grave. 
 
 So pressing hard his fist upon his brow, 
 
 He rushed into the meadows where the ponds 
 
 Gleamed far below, and o'er the muddy pool 
 
 He stood. He plunged his greedy glance into 
 
 The green gulf, and inhaled its muddy odour 
 
 With pleasure, and he opened wide his lips 
 
 Towards the pond. For suicide is aye 
 
 In choice as delicate as all debauch ; 
 
 And he in the mad whirling of his brain. 
 
 Felt unexpressed attraction to the mud, 
 
 To drown himself therein. 
 
 But Telimena, 
 Who from the youth's wild looks had guessed the 
 
 depth 
 Of his despair, beholding him thus rush 
 Towards the ponds, though she with anger glowed 
 Against him, and this justly, she was frightened 
 For him, she was in truth kind-hearted. Though
 
 THE FORAY. 67 
 
 She deeply grieved that Thaddeus should dare 
 To love another, she would punish him, 
 But not destroy. So rushed she after him, 
 Exclaiming, " Stay ! most foolish ! Love or not ! 
 Marry, or ride away ; but only stop ! " 
 But he in rapid flight outran her far, 
 And stood now on the border of the pond. 
 
 By strange decree of fate, on this same shore 
 The Count now rode, with all his jockey troop, 
 And by the beauty of so fair a night, 
 And by the wondrous harmony of that 
 Sub-aqueous orchestra, charmed ; those choirs 
 That sounded like Eolian harps — no frogs 
 Can make such music as the Polish frogs — 
 He stayed his horse, and his emprize forgot. 
 Turned to the pond, he listened curiously. 
 His eyes roved o'er the fields, and heaven's wide 
 
 plain, 
 In thought composing landscapes of the night. 
 The neighbourhood indeed was picturesque. 
 The two ponds with their visage near approached. 
 Like two fond lovers ; waters smooth and clear 
 The right-hand pond presents, like maiden's cheeks. 
 The left-hand pond seemed something darker, like
 
 68 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The swarthy visage of a youth, bedecked 
 Already with the down of manhood. One 
 Glittered with golden sand, like shining locks ; 
 The forehead of the second pond with osiers 
 Seemed bristling, and a tuft of willows bore. 
 Both ponds were garmented in robes of green. 
 
 From them two streams, like hands together clasped, 
 
 Gushed forth. The stream of these united fell 
 
 Down to the vale ; it fell, but was not lost. 
 
 For in the darkness of the trench it bore 
 
 Upon its waves the gilding of the moon. 
 
 The water fell by stages, and on each 
 
 Shone handfuls of the moonlight. In the trench 
 
 The light was shivered into tiny fragments ; 
 
 The fleeting current caught them, and them bore 
 
 Away into the depths, and from above 
 
 Again the moonlight still in handfuls fell. 
 
 Thou wouldst have said a Switezianka ^*^ sat 
 
 Beside the pond, and with one hand did pour 
 
 The water from a vessel bottomless. 
 
 While with her other hand she flung, in sport, 
 
 Handfuls of gold enchanted, from her lap 
 
 Into the water. 
 
 Further, from the trench
 
 THE FORAY. 69 
 
 The stream escaped meandered o'er the plain, 
 Silent, but one might see its current flow ; 
 For on its moving, trembling surface, bright 
 The shimmering moonlight sparkled all its length, 
 Like the fair Samogitian serpent, called 
 Givoitos ;^^ which, although it seems to sleep, 
 Lying among the heather, crawleth on, 
 As it by turns with gold and silver gleams. 
 Till sudden from the eye it vanishes, 
 In moss and fern. The stream, meandering thus, 
 Lay hid among the alders, shadowy black 
 Upon the horizon's verge, their forms upraising 
 Light, scarcely to the eye expressed, like spirits 
 Half on the earth, half in the clouds beheld. 
 
 Between the two ponds sat within the trench 
 A mill half-hidden, like an ancient guardian 
 Spying upon the lovers, listening 
 Their conversation ; seized with anger, he 
 Spreads wide his arms, and shaking head and hands, 
 Doth stammer threats. Thus suddenly the mill 
 Now shook his moss-grown brow, and whirled 
 
 around 
 His many-fingered fist, loud-clattering, 
 And stirred his toothed wheels; thereby he drowned 
 
 VOL, II. F
 
 70 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The loving conversation of the ponds, 
 And roused the Count from out his reverie. 
 
 The Count, perceiving Thaddeus had approached 
 So near his warlike station, cried, " To arms ! 
 Seize him ! " At once the jockeys sprang to earth. 
 Ere Thaddeus might be well aware what chanced. 
 They captured him. Towards the house they rush, 
 They entered in the courtyard, woke the household ; 
 Loud barked the dogs, and sentries shouted loud. 
 The Judge half-dressed came forth ; he saw a crowd 
 Of men well armed, and thought them robbers, till 
 He recognised the Count. " What means all this ? " 
 He asked. The Count his sabre brandished o'er 
 
 him, 
 But seeing him disarmed his rage grew cool. 
 " Soplica," said he, " thou eternal foe 
 Unto my family, I will chastise thee 
 To-day for recent and for ancient crimes. 
 So do me justice for my fortune's plunder, 
 Ere I revenge me for my honour's wrong." 
 
 V 
 
 But making sign of cross, the Judge replied, 
 
 " In the name of Father and the Son ! Sir Count, 
 
 Fie, fie ! are you a robber ? Heaven forbid !
 
 THE FORAY. 71 
 
 Is this becoming to your noble birth 
 And breeding, and your high rank in the world ? 
 I will not let myself be wronged ! " Just then 
 Up rushed the servants of the Judge, some armed 
 With sticks, with rifles others. Standing far 
 The Wojski gazed with curiosity 
 In the Count's eyes, but in his sleeve concealed 
 A knife. Now had begun a fight ; the Judge 
 Prevented this, however, 'Twere in vain 
 To make defence ; for newer enemies 
 Arrived upon the scene ; among the alders 
 They saw a gleam, the light of rifle shots. 
 The bridge across the stream resounded loud 
 With horses' hoofs, and " Hey ! upon Soplica !" 
 A thousand voices cried. The Judge did shudder : 
 He knew Gervasy's signal. " This is nothing," 
 The Count said ; " more of us will soon be here ! 
 Surrender, Judge, for these are my allies." 
 
 Then rushed the Assessor, crying, " I arrest you 
 
 In name of his Imperial INIajesty. 
 
 Yield up your sword. Sir Count, or I will call 
 
 For military help ; and know you, sir, 
 
 That whoso ventures an assault by night, 
 
 By the twelfth hundred ukase is apprised,
 
 72 MASTER THADDEUS 
 
 That like an evil " Here, upon his face 
 
 The Count with sword-flat struck him, and the 
 
 Assessor 
 Fell stupefied, and in the nettles lay. 
 All thought he had been wounded, or were dead. 
 
 '* I see," the Judge said, " your intent is murder." 
 All cried aloud. Sophia's shrieks o'erpowered 
 The others ; clasping close the Judge, she screamed, 
 Like child transfixed with needles by the Jews.* 
 
 Meanwhile, among the horses Telimena 
 Proceeded, and towards the Count outstretched 
 Her clasped hands. " Upon thine honour," cried 
 
 she 
 With piercing voice, with head thrown back, with 
 
 hair 
 Streaming, " By all things holy, we implore thee 
 Upon our knees ! Count, darest thou refuse ? 
 The ladies pray thee ! Cruel one, thou first 
 Must murder us ! " She fell down in a swoon. 
 The Count sprang forth to help her, much 
 
 surprised, 
 
 * The mediaeval fable and excuse for persecution.
 
 THE FORAY. 73 
 
 And somewhat troubled by this scene. " Miss 
 
 Sophy," 
 He said, " and Madam Telimena, ne'er 
 This sword shall be defiled by guiltless blood. 
 Soplicas ! ye are all my prisoners ! Thus 
 Did I in Italy, when underneath 
 That rock the Sicils call Birbante-Rocca, 
 I captured the intrenchments of the robbers ; 
 Those armed I slew, commanded to be bound 
 The unarmed ; they behind our horses went, 
 And decked my glorious triumph ; after that 
 We hanged them at the base of Etna's mount." 
 
 This was a happy chance for the Soplicas, 
 
 The Count, possessing better horses than 
 
 Those of the noblemen, and wishing first 
 
 To engage the enemy, had left them far 
 
 Behind, and by a mile * at least outran 
 
 Their cavalry, and with his jockey train, 
 
 Obedient and used to discipline, 
 
 He had somfe sort of army regular, 
 
 While all those nobles, as insurgents wont. 
 
 Were stormy, and most prompt to hang their foes. 
 
 * The Polish mile is equivalent to between two and 
 three of Entrlish.
 
 74 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Count had time to cool from his first rage, 
 And thought how fitliest he might end the war 
 Without the need of shedding blood. So then 
 He gave commandment to imprison all 
 The household of Soplica in their house, 
 As prisoners of war, and at their doors 
 He posted sentries. 
 
 Then " Down with Soplica ! " 
 Arose. The nobles in tumultuous crowd 
 Rushed in ; besieged the mansion, and by storm 
 Took it ; the easier because the leader 
 Was captive, and the garrison dispersed. 
 But yet the victors longed to fight ; they sought 
 For foes, and not admitted to the house, 
 They ran to the farm buildings, to the kitchen. 
 When they the kitchen entered, there the sight 
 Of pots, the fire extinguished scarce, the fresh 
 Odour of food, the crunching of the dogs 
 Gnawing the remnants of the supper, took 
 All hearts, and quickly changed the thoughts of all ; 
 It cooled their rage, and kindled need of food. 
 Tired by their march and council all day long, 
 Three times they cried in concert, " Eat, eat, eat ! " 
 "Drink ! drink ! " arose the answer. Thus there were 
 Two choruses, some calling out for food,
 
 THE FORAY. 75 
 
 For drink the others. Loud the uproar still 
 Re-echoed ; where it only reached it caused 
 All mouths to water, and with hunger moved 
 Each one ; at signal given from the kitchen, 
 The army all dispersed for foraging. 
 
 Gervasy, from the Judge's rooms repulsed, 
 Respecting the Count's sentinels, must yield 
 Perforce. So as he might not there take vengeance 
 Upon his enemy, he thought upon 
 The expedition's second great intent. 
 Like an experienced man and versed in law, 
 He would install the Count all legally 
 In his new heritage, and formally. 
 The Wozny he pursued, and after long 
 Searching, he spied him hid behind the oven. 
 He collared him, and to the courtyard dragged 
 And to his breast the Penknife holding, said : 
 " The Count, Sir Wozny, ventures to entreat 
 That you will deign proclaim forthwith, before 
 The brother nobles, this his intromission 
 Upon the castle, and Soplica's mansion. 
 The village, seedlands, fallows ; in a word, 
 Cu7n gravis, woodis, et boundariebus}'^ 
 J-easantis, aique rebus omnibus,
 
 76 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Et quibusdam aliis. As thou 
 
 Knowest, so bark thou, leave thou nothing out." 
 
 " Sir Klucznik, wait awhile," Protasy said 
 
 Boldly, his hands upon his girdle laid ; 
 
 " I am ready from all parties to fulfil 
 
 Commands, but I must warn you that such act, 
 
 By violence extorted, will possess 
 
 No force in law, proclaimed too in the night." 
 
 " What violence is there ? " said the Klucznik ; 
 
 "here 
 Is no assault. I rather courteously 
 Entreat you. If it seems unto you dark, 
 I with my Penknife will a fire upraise, 
 That speedily shall glimmer in your eyes, 
 As though in seven churches." — " Old Gervasy," 
 The Wozny said, " why makest thou such haste ? 
 I am a Wozny ; it is not my business 
 To sift the action. It is known to you, 
 A party will bespeak a Wozny, and 
 Dictate to him the thing they will, and he 
 Proclaims it. He is herald of the law, 
 And none may chastise heralds. Therefore I 
 Know not why thus you hold me under guard. 
 I presently will write an act ; let some one
 
 THE FORAY. 77 
 
 Bring me a lantern here. But I meanwhile 
 Proclaim : Be silent, brothers ! " 
 
 And to speak 
 \Vith greater clearness, mounted he upon 
 A mighty pile of beams, that underneath 
 The orchard hedge were heaped to dry. He climbed 
 Upon the pile, and all at once, as though 
 The wind had blown him off, he from their eyes 
 Had vanished. 'Mid the cabbages they heard him; 
 They saw among the dark hemp his white cap 
 Flit like a pigeon by. The Bucket fired 
 Thereat, but missed his aim. The hop-poles now 
 Began to crackle ; now Protasy walked 
 Among the hops. " I do protest," he cried, 
 Certain of his escape, for him behind 
 The bed and marshes of the streamlet lay. 
 
 After this protestation, which had sounded 
 
 As the last cannon shot o'er conquered ramparts, 
 
 Ceased all resistance in Soplica's house. 
 
 The hungry nobles plundering went around. 
 
 And gathered what they might. The Baptist made 
 
 His quarters in the cattle-shed, and sprinkled 
 
 One ox and two calves on the head. And Razor 
 
 Had in their throats his sabre buried deep.
 
 78 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Awl had used with equal diligence 
 His little sword, and pierced some sucking pigs 
 Beneath the shoulder-blades. Now carnage threat- 
 ened 
 The birds. The watchful geese, who one time saved 
 Rome from the treachery of Gauls, now cackled 
 In vain for help. Instead of Manlius, 
 The Bucket enters in their roost, he strangles 
 Some of the birds, and to his girdle binds 
 The others living ; vainly, with hoarse throats, 
 The geese cry out ; in vain the hissing ganders 
 Nip the invader with their beaks ; he forth 
 Rushes, with down all covered, that in flakes 
 Falls, thick as sparks. By motion of their wings 
 Borne on, as though by wheels, he seemeth 
 
 Chochlik, 
 The winged evil sprite. 
 
 But fiercer carnage, 
 Although less noisy, 'mid the poultry raged. 
 Young Bustard entered in the hen-house ; there. 
 Mounting by ladders, caught with ropes, and drew 
 Down from above the cockerels, crested hens, 
 And tufted ; strangled each one after each, 
 And threw them in a heap. Most lovely birds. 
 Nourished on pearly groats ! O heedless Bustard !
 
 THE FORAY. 79 
 
 What impulse thus did urge thee ? Nevermore 
 Will prayers of thine appease Sophia's wrath. 
 
 Gervasy now remembered former times. 
 
 He ordered kontusz girdles to be brought, 
 
 And thereby from Soplica's cellar drew 
 
 Casks of old spirits, liquors, and of beer. 
 
 He drew the bungs from some, the others seize 
 
 The noblemen ; with ready will, as thick 
 
 As ants, they roll them to the castle ; there 
 
 The whole crowd gather for the night ; the Count 
 
 Has there made his headquarters. 
 
 They now lay 
 A hundred fires, they boil, they roast, they fry ; 
 The tables bend beneath the load of meat. 
 Drink flows in rivers. All the noblemen 
 Would eat, and drink, and sing this whole night 
 
 through ; 
 But gradually they began to sleep, 
 And yawn ; eye is extinguished after eye, 
 And all the assembly nods ; each where he sat 
 Falls down ; the one falls with a dish, the other 
 Over a kettle, one by a beef quarter. 
 Thus sleep, death's brother, has the victors 
 
 vanquished.
 
 NOTES TO BOOK VIII. 
 
 I. '' Lei and Poleir 
 
 Two legendary twin princes, whose story forms part of 
 the powerful, though fantastical drama of " Lilla Weneda," 
 by Julius Slowacki. 
 
 2. " That Dragon of the zodiac, long and great. ''' 
 
 I should not like to say positively, but I am almost 
 certain that the appellation Smok does not exist even in 
 Polish manuals of astronomy. It may be, however, that 
 such is the name in Lithuania for scorpion, or that the poet, 
 not being able to introduce the idea of a scorpion, used 
 dragon. None of the twelve zodiacal signs seem to answer 
 the description, except Scorpio. It may be Serpens in 
 Ophiuchus.— E. S. N. 
 
 3. " Once hung up in his church the fossil ribs 
 And vertebra of giants. " 
 
 * It was customary to hang up in churches fragments of 
 fossil bones, which the people supposed to be those of 
 giants.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 4. '* T/tis was a comet of first viagnitiide." 
 
 The famous comet of iSii, which, having been scarcely 
 visible during April and May, reappeared with great splen- 
 dour, after passing its perihelion, in August, the date of 
 this story, and remained visible all the autumn. The tail 
 on October 14 was estimated at lcX),ooo,ooo miles long, 
 and 15,000,000 broad ; the head measuring 1,270,000 
 millions of miles. Its period is supposed to be 3000 years. 
 
 5. ^^ And gathered 
 
 As in a net a thousand stars" &c. 
 
 The comet of iSll is described as having its tail divided 
 into two streams, parting from the head, and again united 
 into a curve at their base ; so the image used is both char- 
 acteristic and descriptive. 
 
 6. " fVhose left hand 
 
 Waveth a bloodstained cloth." 
 
 The common people of Lithuania figure the Pestilence 
 under the form of a maiden of gigantic stature, and waving 
 in her hand a bloodstained cloth, from which she scatters 
 the pestilence. The appearance of this spectre is commonly 
 supposed to precede the ravages of the plague, or other 
 epidemic. (See notes to "Konrad Wallenrod.") 
 
 The comet of 181 1, besides being regarded as an evil 
 omen in Poland and Russia, received in Spain the name of 
 " El Cometa de Hambre," as preceding a great famine, that 
 immediately followed on the Peninsular war. 
 
 7. " Priest roczoiiit," Sec. 
 
 * The priest Poczobut, an ex-Jesuit, published a work on 
 the Zodiac of Dendera, and by his observations assisted 
 Lalande in calculating lunar motions.
 
 NOTES. 
 
 8. " / likewise am acquainted with Sniadecki." 
 
 John Sniadecki (1756-1S30), a famous astronomer, and 
 writer on scientific subjects. From 1807 to 1825 he was 
 professor of astronomy and rector of the University of Wilna. 
 Among other places he studied some time at Oxford. 
 
 9. " The late Sapieha." 
 
 The family of Sapieha furnished several distinguished 
 men during the seventeenth century, and especially during 
 the reign of John Sobieski. 
 
 10. "^ Sivitezianka." 
 
 The Wilias, Switeziankas, Rusalkas, are the water-maidens 
 of popular Lithuanian legend. 
 
 II. " Like the fair Samogitian serpent called Civoitos." 
 
 These snakes were formerly objects of worship, in the old 
 paganism of the country. 
 
 12. " Cu/n gravis" &c. 
 
 The original is a species of legal macaronic Latin ; an 
 imitation of the same effect has been attempted by means of 
 English words, similarly Latinised. ,
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 Of the danger resulting fro?n disorderly camping out— Unex- 
 pected succour — Sad situation of the nobles — A begging 
 friar's rounds are an omen of rescue— Major Plut by exces- 
 sive gallantry draws a storm on himself— A shot from a 
 pocket-pistol t/ie signal of war — Deeds of the Baptist, deeds 
 and danger of Matthew — T/ie Bucket saves Soplicowo by an 
 ambush — Cavalry auxiliaries, attack on infantry — The 
 deeds of Thaddeus—Duel of the leaders, interrupted by 
 treachery — The IVojski by a decisive manoeuvre turns the 
 scale of war — The bloody deeds of Gervasy — The Chamber- 
 lain a magnanimous victor. 
 
 And in such sound sleep lay they that they woke not 
 
 At shine of lanterns, nor the entering 
 
 Of several men, who fell upon the nobles 
 
 As those wall-spiders named scythe-spiders pounce 
 
 On flies half-sleeping. Scarcely one may buzz, 
 
 With lengthy legs its cruel conqueror 
 
 Embraces it around, and strangles it. 
 
 But sounder than the sleep of flies, the sleep
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Was of the nobles ; not one buzzed ; they all 
 Lay there as lifeless, though by powerful arms 
 Seized, and rolled over like to packs of straw. 
 
 Alone the Bucket, who no equal owned 
 In all the district for his strength of head 
 At banquets, could two firkins drink of mead 
 Ere his tongue tripped him, or his legs him failed, 
 Though he had feasted long, and deeply slept, 
 Gave yet some sign of life. He oped one eye. 
 And saw — true nightmares. Two most dreadful 
 
 faces 
 Right o'er him ! each a pair of whiskers bore. 
 He felt their breath, their whiskers touch his lips. 
 They move their fourfold hands like wings around. 
 Afraid, he tried to sign the cross ; in vain 
 Would raise his hand, the right hand pinioned 
 
 seemed ; 
 He moved the left ; he felt, alas ! the spirits 
 Had bound him like an infant swathed in bands. 
 He feared things yet more dreadful, oped his eyes, 
 And lay unbreathing, stiff, and all but dead. 
 
 But yet the Baptist strove to save himself. 
 It was too late ! already he was fastened
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 In his own girdle ; yet he writhed about, 
 And made such powerful springs, he fell upon 
 The sleepers' chests, among their heads he rolled, 
 And like a pike-fish flung himself about, 
 Who throws him on the sand, and like a bear 
 He roared aloud, for he had powerful lungs. 
 He roared out " Treachery ! " The whole assembly 
 Waked up, and all in chorus answered, "Treachery! 
 Violence ! and treachery ! " 
 
 To the mirrored hall 
 The echoes of that shout arrived, where slept 
 The Count, Gervasy, and the jockeys. Then 
 Gervasy woke, in vain he strove to rise, 
 To his own rapier bound in stick-like form. 
 He looked, and through the window armed men 
 Perceived, in low black hats, green uniforms. 
 Of these one, girded with a scarf, upheld 
 A sword, and with its point his company 
 Of soldiers ordered, whispering the while, 
 "Bind! bind!" Around like sheep the jockeys 
 
 lie 
 In bonds; the Count sits unbound, but disarmed ; 
 Beside him stand, with naked bayonets, 
 Two soldiers. These Gervasy recognised. 
 Alas ! they are Muscovites ! ! 
 
 VOL. II. G
 
 S6 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Not seldom had 
 The Klucznik been in such a plight before. 
 Not seldom ropes were on his feet and hands, 
 Yet could he free himself; he knew the way 
 To break asunder bonds ; great strength had he, 
 Trust in himself; in silence he considered 
 How best release himself. He closed his eyes, 
 As though he slept ; he slowly lengthened out 
 Both feet and hands, drew in his breath, compressed 
 His chest unto the narrowest, until 
 At once contracting, swelling, rolling up, 
 As when a serpent hides both head and tail 
 Among his folds, Gervasy thus from long 
 Grew short and thick ; the ropes expanded, they 
 Did even creak, but still they did not burst. 
 The Klucznik turned him round in shame and rage, 
 And on the ground his angry visage hid ; 
 Eyes closed, he lay insensible as wood. 
 
 Then woke the drums : at first full low, and then 
 
 With ever greater and with louder rattle. 
 
 At this appel the Russian officer 
 
 Ordered the Count and jockeys to be locked 
 
 Within the hall, and under guard, to lead 
 
 The nobles to the mansion, where there stood
 
 THE BATTLE. 87 
 
 The second band. In vain the Baptist strove, 
 And flung himself about. 
 
 The staff was placed 
 Within the mansion, and with it were many 
 Well-armed nobility, Podhajscy, 
 And Birbaszowie, Hreczechy, Biergele, 
 Relations all, or friends unto the Judge, 
 Who hastened to his succour when they heard 
 About the attack, the more because they long 
 Had been at feud with the Dobrzynskis. 
 
 Who 
 The Muscovite battalion from the hamlets 
 Had brought ? Who from the nobles' farmsteads 
 
 round 
 So fast had summoned all the neighbourhood. 
 The Assessor was it ? or else Jankiel ? 
 Of this were differing tales, but no one knew 
 For certain, either then, or later on. 
 Now had the sun arisen, all bloody red. 
 Stripped of his beams, half seen, and half in clouds 
 Concealed, like horse-shoe in a smithy's coals 
 Enkindled. Now the wind increased, and blew 
 Clouds from the eastward quarter, thick and ragged 
 Like ice-floes ; every cloud cold drizzly rain 
 In flying scattered ; after it the wind
 
 88 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Flew swift, and dried the rain up ; and again 
 A damp cloud following the wind rushed on. 
 And thus the day by turns was chill and rainy. 
 
 Meanwhile the Major ordered to be brought 
 
 Some beams that near the house were laid to dry, 
 
 And in each beam with hatchet to be cut 
 
 A half-round opening, and in these holes 
 
 To insert the prisoners' legs, and close them round 
 
 With other beams. Both logs of wood, with nails 
 
 Secured upon the corners, tightly pressed 
 
 Like canine jaws upon their legs ; their hands 
 
 Were tighter yet secured behind their backs. 
 
 The Major, to increase their torment, ordered 
 
 Their caps to be first stripped from off their heads, 
 
 Their cloaks from off their shoulders, their kontusze, 
 
 Ev'n iaraiatki, even their zupany. 
 
 And thus the nobles, fettered in the stocks, 
 
 Sat in a row, their teeth all chattering, 
 
 In cold and rain, for still the wet increased. 
 
 In vain the Baptist strove, and flung about. 
 
 In vain the Judge made intercession for 
 The noblemen, and Telimena joined 
 Entreaties to Sophia's tears, to use
 
 THE BATTLE. S9 
 
 Towards the prisoners greater gentleness. 
 The ofiScer. indeed, who led the band, 
 Nikita Rykow, though a Muscovite, 
 A good man,^ let himself be pacified. 
 But what of that when he must Major Plut 
 Himself obey ? 
 
 This Major was by race 
 A Pole from Dzierowicz, and named, 'twas said, 
 In Polish Plutowicz ; but he had taken 
 Another name ; a rascal great was he, 
 As usual with a Pole who makes himself 
 A Muscovite in service of the Czar. 
 Plut with his pipe stood there before the front, 
 With hands upon his side ; and when folks bowed 
 To him, he lifted up his nose in air. 
 And for all answering he blew as sign 
 Of angry humour from his mouth a cloud 
 Of smoke, and went away into the house. 
 
 But meantime had the Judge made Rykow mild, 
 And led the Assessor likewise on one side. 
 Consulting how to finish this affair 
 Without a trial, and, yet more important, 
 Without entanglement with government. 
 So Captain Rykow said to Major Plut,
 
 50 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 " Sir Major, what to us are all these prisoners ? 
 
 Must we deliver them unto the law ? 
 
 'Twill be a great misfortune to the nobles, 
 
 And none will give you, Major, aught for this. 
 
 Major, do you know how we'll best compose 
 
 This business ? Let the Judge reward your pains. 
 
 -We'll say that we came here a-visiting, 
 
 Thus will the goats be whole, the wolf be fed. 
 
 It is a Russian proverb, ' All things can 
 
 Be done, if but^with prudence.' And a proverb 
 
 Is this, 'Roast on the Czar's spit for yourself.' 
 
 And this too is a proverb, ' Better is 
 
 Agreeing than disagreement,' ' Weave thou well 
 
 The knot, and put the end in water.' We 
 
 Need give in no report, so none need know. 
 
 For ' God gave hands to take ' — a Russian proverb." 
 
 This hearing, up the Major starts and snorts 
 With anger : " Rykow, are you mad ? This is 
 The imperial service, service is not friendship. 
 Stupid old Rykow ! Are you mad ? Shall I 
 Let mutineers loose, in these warlike times ? 
 Ha ! ha ! you Poles ! I'll teach you mutiny ! 
 You miserable nobles ! you Dobrzynskis ! 
 Eh ! I'll soon teach you ! Let the wretches soak ! "
 
 THE BATTLE. 91 
 
 He roared with laughter, from the window looking. 
 
 *' Why, there's that same Dobrzynski in a surtout ! 
 
 Hey ! strip him of his surtout ! last year he 
 
 Began at a redoubt this quarrel with me. 
 
 And who began it ? He it was, not I. 
 
 He, when I danced, exclaimed, ' Put out that thief!' 
 
 For I was then accused of pilfering 
 
 The regimental chest, and undergoing 
 
 Examination, and in mighty trouble. 
 
 But what was that to him ? As I was dancing, 
 
 He cried behind me ' Thief ! ' the noblemen, 
 
 ' Hurrah ! ' They wronged me ; what then ? In 
 
 my claws 
 This wretched nobleman has fall'n. I said, 
 ' Eh ! what ! Dobrzynski, eh ! " The goat has come 
 Unto the waggon." ' What, Dobrzynski, now ? 
 Thou seest it may come unto a flogging ! " 
 
 Then to the Judge he whispered in his ear, 
 " Judge, if you wish the affair to pass off well. 
 For every head pay down a thousand roubles * 
 In ready cash ; a thousand roubles, Judge. 
 That's the last word." 
 
 * About ;^i66.
 
 92 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Judge to bargain tried ; 
 The Major would not hear ; about the room 
 He walked, and belched thick smoke, as does a 
 
 squib 
 Or rocket ; while the women followed him, 
 Weeping and praying. " Major," said the Judge, 
 " What will you gain, if you do summon us ? 
 There here has been no bloody fight, there were 
 None wounded ; as they ate the hens and geese, 
 According to the statute, they must pay 
 Full compensation. I'll bring no complaint 
 Against the Count ; that only was a common 
 Quarrel of neighbours." 
 
 "Judge," the Major said, 
 " Have you yet read the Yellow Book ? " — " What is 
 The Yellow Book?"^ the Judge inquired. — "A 
 
 book," 
 The Major answered, " better than your statutes ; 
 For every other word therein is, ' ropes, 
 Siberia, knout !' the book of martial law, 
 Proclaimed now through all Litva ; your tribunals 
 Are now beneath the table.* For a trick 
 Like this, according to our martial law, 
 
 * Equivalent to "at a discount."
 
 THE BATTLE. 93 
 
 You'll get hard labour in Siberia 
 
 At least." — " I will appeal," the Judge replied, 
 
 "Unto the governor." — "Appeal," said Plut, 
 
 " Even to the Emperor. You know that when 
 
 The Emperor confirms a ukase, often 
 
 He through his clemency the penalty 
 
 Increases twofold. You appeal ; perhaps 
 
 I'll find out in necessity. Sir Judge, 
 
 A good hook ev'n for you ! For that spy, Jankiel, 
 
 Whom long the government has watched, he is 
 
 Your servant, dwelling in your tavern. Now 
 
 I can arrest you all together." — " Me ! " 
 
 The Judge exclaimed ; " arrest me ! How will you 
 
 Dare without orders ? " And the quarrel grew 
 
 Ever more violent, when at once arrived 
 
 A new guest in the courtyard. 
 
 A tumultuous 
 Arrival 'twas. First as some wondrous courier, 
 A monstrous black ram entered ; with four horns 
 His head was bristling, whereof two like arches 
 Were twisted round his ears, and decked with bells. 
 And two, whose ends protruded from his brows, 
 Shook balls, round, brazen, clattering. After him 
 Came oxen, and a flock of sheep and goats ; 
 Behind the beasts four heavy laden wains.
 
 94 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 All guessed it was the entrance of the friar. 
 The Judge, who knew the duties of a host, 
 Stood on the threshold to salute his guest. 
 The priest upon the foremost carriage rode ; 
 The hood half hid his visage, but they quickly 
 Did know him, for as he the prisoners passed, 
 He turned his face to them, and beckoning made. 
 The driver of the second car likewise 
 They knew ; old Matthew 'twas, the Rod, disguised 
 In peasant garments ; soon as he appeared 
 The nobles raised a shout. He said, " Ye fools ! " 
 And with his hand commanded them be still. 
 The third the Prussian bore in ragged coat, 
 And Zan and Mickiewicz were in the fourth. 
 Meanwhile Podhajscy and Isajewicze, 
 Birbasze, Wilbikowie, Biergiele, 
 Kotwicze, seeing the Dobrzynski nobles 
 In this harsh slavery, began to cool 
 Down from their former anger by degrees ; 
 For Poland's nobles, though most quarrelsome. 
 And very quick to fight, are not vindictive. 
 So they for counsel to old Matthew haste. 
 He stations the assembly round the cars. 
 And orders them to wait. 
 
 The Bernardine
 
 THE BATTLE. 95 
 
 Then entered in the room ; they hardly knew him, 
 Although not changed in dress, for he had taken 
 Upon him such a different mood. By custom 
 Gloomy and thoughtful, now he raised his head, 
 And with a cheerful mien, like jovial friar, 
 Ere he began to speak, laughed loud and long. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! ha! I salute you, ha ! ha ! ha ! 
 
 Most excellent ! first-rate ! Sir officers, 
 
 Whoever hunts by day, you hunt by night. 
 
 (jood hunting ! I have seen the game. Ay, ay ! 
 
 Pluck, pluck the nobles, strip 'em of their husks 1 
 
 Ay, put a bit on 'em, for they are skittish ! 
 
 I must congratulate you, IMajor, on 
 
 Catching the little Count. 'Tis a fat morsel, 
 
 Rich, and a young lord from his ancestors. 
 
 Don't let him from the cage, without you get 
 
 Three hundred ducats, and when you have got it, 
 
 Give some three farthings to the convent, and 
 
 To me, for I'll pray always for your soul ; 
 
 As I'm a Bernardine, I often think 
 
 About your soul. Death seizes by the ears 
 
 Even staff-officers. Well Baka wrote,^ 
 
 ' Death lurks behind the executioner 
 
 In scarlet, and not seldom soundly knocks
 
 96 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Upon the coat, and smites on linen as 
 
 Upon a hood, on frizzled locks as on 
 
 The uniform.' Says Baka : ' Mother Death 
 
 Is like an onion, since she forces tears 
 
 Where'er she presses ; but unto her breast 
 
 She folds alike the child that will be lulled, 
 
 And the roaring bully.' Ah ! ah ! Major, we 
 
 Do live to-day, to-morrow die. That only 
 
 Is ours that we to-day may eat and drink. 
 
 Sir Judge, perhaps it's time for breakfast now ? 
 
 I'll sit at table, and beg all to sit 
 
 With me. Some zrasy* Major ? Sir lieutenant, 
 
 What think you ? If we had a bowl of punch ? " 
 
 " True, father," both the officers replied, 
 
 '"Tis time to eat, and drink the Judge's health.' 
 
 The household wondered, as they gazed on Robak, 
 Whence he derived such mien, and merriment. 
 The Judge then gave these orders to the cook : 
 Bowl, sugar, bottle, zrazj. All were brought. 
 Rykow and Plut did labour with such will, 
 Devoured so eagerly, and drank so deep, 
 
 * See note 19 to Book II.
 
 THE BATTLE. 97 
 
 In half-an-hour of zrazy twenty-three 
 
 They ate, and emptied half a mighty punch-bowl. 
 
 The Major, satiate and merry, hurled 
 Himself into an arm-chair, drew his pipe out, 
 And lit it with a bank-note ; with a napkin 
 He wiped his breakfast from his lips, and turned 
 A laughing look upon the women, saying, 
 " I like you, pretty ladies, as dessert 3 
 And, by my epaulettes of Major, when 
 A man has eaten breakfast, after meat 
 The nicest relish is a talk with ladies, 
 Pretty as you, fair ladies ! I know what. 
 Let's play at cards, at welba-cwelba,^ whist, 
 Or — a mazurka ! ha ! three hundred devils ! 
 Am I not best mazurist in the first 
 Regiment oijiigers." Therefore to the ladies 
 He bent half double, and by turns blew out] 
 Tobacco-smoke and compliments. 1 
 
 " A dance ! " 
 Cried Robak; "as I empty out a bottle, 
 I, though a priest, at times tuck up my gown. 
 And dance mazurkas ! But you know this, 
 
 Major, 
 We here are drinking, but iht/dgers freezing
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Behind the house. Drinking is drinking. Judge, 
 
 Give 'em a whisky cask. The Major will 
 
 Allow this; let the valiant y^i-^*?;-^ drink." 
 
 " I'd ask it," said the Major, " but herein 
 
 Is no compulsion." — " Give 'em, Judge," did 
 
 whisper 
 Robak, "a cask of spirits." And thus, while 
 The merry staff were swilling in the house, 
 Behind it, drinking in the ranks began. 
 
 In silence Captain Rykow drained his cup. 
 But at the same time as he drank, the Major 
 Made to the ladies compliments ; and ever 
 The zeal for dancing greater in him grew. 
 He threw away his pipe, and seized the hand 
 Of Telimena ; he would dance, she fled. 
 So went he to Sophia, and bending double, 
 Invited her to a mazurka. " Here, 
 You Rykow, leave off puffing at your pipe ; 
 Put down that pipe, for you can play the lute. 
 Don't you see that guitar ? come, take it up. 
 Play a mazurka. I, the Major, will 
 Make one in the first couple." So the Captain 
 Took the guitar, began to screw the strings. 
 Plut once more Telimena asked to dance.
 
 THE BATTLE. 99 
 
 '• Upon a Major's word, Miss, I'm no Russian. 
 I'll be a dog's son, if I'm telling lies. 
 If I tell lies — inquire ; the officers 
 Will witness all, and all the army says it. 
 That in this second army, the ninth corps, 
 The second foot division, fifteenth regiment 
 Oijdgers, Major Plut's the best mazurist. 
 So come along, Miss, don't be obstinate, 
 Or like an officer I'll punish you." 
 
 This saying, he sprang, seized Telimena's hand, 
 And on her pale arm gave a smacking kiss ; 
 When Thaddeus, springing from one side, bestowed 
 A blow upon his face. The kiss and blow 
 Together sounded, one behind the other. 
 As word may follow after word. 
 
 The Major 
 Was all confounded, rubbed his eyes, and pale 
 With anger, cried, " Rebellion ! mutineer ! " 
 And drawing his sword, made haste to pierce his 
 
 foe. 
 Then from his sleeve the priest a pistol drew; 
 " Fire, Thaddeus," he cried, "as at a candle." 
 Quick Thaddeus seized it, measured aim, and 
 
 fired.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 He missed, but stupefied and singed the Major. 
 
 Up started Rykow with his instrument. 
 
 " Rebellion ! " cried he, and on Thaddeus rushed. 
 
 The Wojski brandished from behind the table 
 
 A knife held backwards. Through the air it hissed 
 
 Between the heads, and sooner struck than gleamed, 
 
 It struck the depth of the guitar, the inside 
 
 To outside turning. Rykow bent aside, 
 
 And thus avoided death, though much frightened. 
 
 Exclaiming, '■'' Jdgers, mutiny, by heaven ! " 
 
 He drew his sword, and making good defence, 
 
 Drew near the threshold. 
 
 Presently there entered 
 From the other side the room, and through the 
 
 window, 
 A many nobles, armed with rapiers, led 
 On by the Rod. Plut reached the hall, and 
 
 Rykow 
 Behind him ; they the soldiers call ; already 
 Three nearest to the house as succour haste. 
 Now through the doors three gleaming bayonets 
 Creep in, and after them three low black hats. 
 With Rod uplifted Matthew in the doorway 
 Stood, leaning 'gainst the wall ; he lay in wait 
 Like cat that watches mice, till fierce he smote.
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 And may be the three heads had rolled on earth ; 
 But either the old man's sight served him ill, 
 Or over-great his ardour ; ere they gave 
 Their necks to him, he smote upon their hats ; 
 He tore them, but the Rod, down falling, clashed 
 On bayonets ; the Muscovites drew back, 
 And Matthew drove them out into the court. 
 
 There the confusion was still greater. There 
 
 Soplica's partisans with emulation 
 
 Worked at unfettering the Dobrzynskis, tore 
 
 The stocks asunder. Seeing this ihe/agers 
 
 Rush to their swords, and hasten to the place. 
 
 A sergeant with a bayonet pierced Podhajski, 
 
 Wounded two other noblemen, a third 
 
 He shot at, and they fled. The Baptist still 
 
 Was in the stocks ; with hands already free, 
 
 Ready for combat he arose, upraised 
 
 His hand, and doubled up his lengthy fingers, 
 
 And from above upon a Russian's back 
 
 So fierce he smote, he brow and visage beat 
 
 Into the carbine's lock. The lock was stirred. 
 
 But drenched in blood the powder kindled not. 
 
 The sergeant rolled o'er at the Baptist's feet 
 
 Upon his weapon. Baptist bent him down, 
 
 VOL. 11. H
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 And seized his rifle by its barrel. Whirling 
 The rifle like his Sprinkler round, high raised, 
 Round turning like a windmiU's sails, at once 
 He on the shoulders smote two rank and file, 
 And knocked a corporal upon the head. 
 The rest in terror drew back from the stocks. 
 Thus Baptist with a moving roof protected 
 The nobles. 
 
 After breaking of the stocks, 
 And cutting ropes, the nobles being free, 
 Now fell upon the waggons of the friar. 
 And from them drew forth rapiers, sabres, swords, 
 Firearms, and scythes. The Bucket found two guns 
 There, with a sack of bullets ; in his rifle 
 He poured them, and another gun like charged 
 Left for the Bustard. 
 
 Now arrived moxQ Jdgers. 
 Confused they grow, together crowded, stumbling ; 
 The nobles cannot in the tumult smite 
 With cross-cut, and ihe/dgers cannot fire. 
 Now hand to hand they fight, steel, tooth by tooth, 
 Encountering steel, is shivered ; bayonet 
 Meets sabre, scythe on hilt is broken, fist 
 Meets fist, and arm meets arm. But Rykow hastes 
 With some part of ihQjdgers, where the barn
 
 THE BATTLE. 103 
 
 Doth meet the hedge ; there stands he, to his 
 
 soldiers 
 He calls, to end a battle so misruled, 
 Wherein, with weapons never used, they fall 
 Beneath the blows of fists. Enraged that he 
 Himself may fire not, since in such a crowd 
 He knows not INIuscovites from Poles, he cries, 
 " Draw up ! " which meaneth, form in rank and file. 
 But 'mid the shouting none his orders heard. 
 
 Old Matthew, for these combats hand to hand 
 
 Unsuited, backward drew, a clear space made 
 
 To right and left before him on his way. 
 
 Here, with his sabre's end, the bayonets 
 
 He wipes off from the barrels of the guns, 
 
 As candle-wicks from lights ; then, backwards 
 
 striking 
 He heweth down, or pierceth ; thus retreated 
 The prudent Matthew from the battlefield. 
 
 But with the greatest fury on him rushed 
 An old Gefreiter,* trainer to the regiment, 
 A mighty master of the bayonet, 
 
 * Germ, Ge/reiier, a lance-corporal.
 
 104 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 He gathered him together, bent, and seized 
 The carbine in both hands, the right upon 
 The lock, the left the barrel midmost grasped. 
 He twisted, skipped, at times seemed half to sit. 
 And with his right hand forward pushed the gun, 
 Like sting from snaky jaws, and once again 
 He drew it backwards, leaning on his knee. 
 Thus twisting, springing, Matthew he attacked. 
 
 Old Matthew straight discerned his foeman's skill, 
 
 And with his left hand placed his spectacles 
 
 Upon his nose, the right against his breast 
 
 Sustained the handle of the Rod ; he drew 
 
 Back, the Gefreiter's motions with his eyes 
 
 Pursuing. He himself upon his legs 
 
 Went sloping, as though drunken. The Gefreiter 
 
 More quickly runs, and sure of victory, 
 
 To reach the easier his retreating foe, 
 
 He rose, and all his right arm far outstretched, 
 
 The rifle forward pushing, so he made 
 
 Himself the stronger by the force of pushing, 
 
 And weapon's weight, until he forward bent. 
 
 And Matthew thither, where the bayonet 
 
 He saw inserted in the barrel, placed 
 
 His Rod beneath, and upwards smote the weapon ;
 
 THE BATTLE. 105 
 
 Then dropping presently his Rod, he slashed 
 The Russian on the hand ; once, and again 
 With backward stroke he cleft in twain his jaw. 
 Thus the Gefreiter fell, chief fencing-master 
 Among the Muscovites, and cavalier 
 With crosses three, and medals four. 
 
 Meanwhile, 
 Around the stocks the nobles' left-hand wing 
 Already were near victory. There fought 
 The Sprinkler, seen from far, the Razor moved 
 Among the Muscovites ; one cut them through 
 The middle of the body, on the head 
 The other smote them, like to that machine 
 Which German masters have invented, called 
 A thrasher ; but it is at the same time 
 A straw-cutter, possessing flails and knives, 
 It chops up straw and beats out grain at once. 
 Thus do the Sprinkler and the Baptist work 
 In common, slaying foes, one from above, 
 And from below the other. 
 
 But the Baptist 
 Now casts aside his certain victory. 
 He rushes to the left wing, where fresh danger 
 Is threatening Matthew. The Gefreiter's death 
 Avenging, with a long spontoon comes on
 
 lo6 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 An ensign. A spontoon at once is spear 
 And axe, neglected, or only used 
 On board the fleet ; but at that time it served 
 The infantry. The ensign, a young man, 
 Moved round with skill ; oft as his foeman thrust 
 Aside his weapon, back he drew, and Matthew 
 Could not the young man overtake, and thus, 
 Or wounding or not wounding, he must fain 
 Defend himself. Now with the pike the ensign 
 Had given him a light wound ; now on high 
 His battle-axe upraising, he prepared 
 To deal the blow. The Baptist could not run 
 Up to the spot, but stood half-way and whirled 
 His weapon round, and underneath the feet 
 He threw it of the foe. He broke a bone ; 
 The spontoon from his hand the ensign dropped ; 
 He tottered ; on him falls the Baptist ; him 
 A crowd of nobles follow, and upon 
 The nobles rush the Muscovites confused 
 From the left wing. War now began around 
 The Sprinkler. 
 
 For the Baptist, who in helping 
 Matthew had lost his sword, well-nigh had paid 
 This service with his own life. For on him 
 There fell two powerful Russians from behind,
 
 THE BATTLE. 107 
 
 And all at once the fourfold hands were tangled 
 Among his hair ; fast planted on their feet, 
 They pulled as tight as springy ropes, fast bound 
 Unto a barge's mast. In vain the Baptist 
 Dealt blind strokes backwards ; he was failing 
 
 fast. 
 But presently he saw that near to him 
 Gervasy combated ; he shouted loud, 
 " Jesus, Maria ! Penknife ! " 
 
 By the shout 
 Knowing the Baptist's trouble, turned the Klucznik, 
 And the blade lowered of the flexile steel, 
 Between the Baptist's head and Russians' hands. 
 They drew back, uttering loudly piercing cries. 
 But one hand, stronger tangled in the hair, 
 Remained there hanging, dripping streams of 
 
 blood. 
 
 Thus a young eagle, who has struck one claw 
 Into a hare to hold the quarry fast 
 While clinging with the other to a tree, 
 Struggling to liberate himself, half tears 
 In twain the spreading eagle ; in the wood 
 Remains the right claw, but the left, all bleeding. 
 Is borne off by the hare into the plains.
 
 I08 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Baptist being free, turns round his eyes, 
 
 Stretches his hands, and for a weapon seeks, 
 
 Calls for a weapon. Meanwhile with his fist 
 
 He threatens, standing strong in act to walk, 
 
 Himself protecting by Gervasy's side, 
 
 Till in the crush he views his son the Bustard. 
 
 The Bustard with his right hand points his gun, 
 
 The left behind him drags a six-foot tree, 
 
 All armed with flints, and knobs, and hardened 
 
 knots,^ 
 No hand could lift it but the Baptist's own. 
 Soon as his well-loved arm the Baptist viewed. 
 His Sprinkler, swift he seized it, kissed it, sprang 
 With joy ; he whirled it round his head, at 
 
 once 
 In blood imbrued. 
 
 What deeds he after did, 
 Or what defeat around him spread, 'twere vain 
 To sing ; for none would credit give the Muse, 
 As none to that poor woman credit gave. 
 In Wilna, who, while standing on the height 
 Above the Ostra gate, beheld how Dejow, 
 The Russian leader, with a Cossack regiment 
 Entering, already open forced the gate ; 
 And now one burgher, Czarnobacki named,
 
 THE BATTLE. 109 
 
 Slew Dejow, and annihilated all 
 The Cossack regiment.^ 
 
 'Tis enough that thus 
 It happened even as Rykow had foreseen ; 
 The J^dgers in the crowd succumbed unto 
 The strength of their antagonists. On earth 
 Of slain lay twenty-three ; some thirty groaned 
 With wounds all covered ; many fled and hid 
 Within the orchard, 'mid the hops, beside 
 The river ; some into the house had rushed 
 Beneath the vantage of the women there. 
 
 With shout of joy the conquering nobles rushed — 
 These to the wine-casks, these to strip the spoils 
 From off their foes. Robak alone did not 
 The triumphs of the nobles share ; though he 
 Himself had fought not hitherto — the canons 
 Forbid a priest to fight — he as a man 
 Of great experience gave counsels, viewed 
 The field of battle round from different sides ; 
 With glance, with beckoning of hand, he gave 
 Fresh courage to the combatants, and guided 
 Their movements. And he now unto them called 
 To join themselves to him, to strike on Rykow, 
 To make the victory complete. Meanwhile
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 He through an envoy signified to Rykow, 
 That if he would lay down his arms he should 
 Preserve his life ; but if he still delay 
 To give his sword up, Robak will command 
 To hem the remnant in, and cut them down. 
 
 In no wise Captain Rykow quarter asked. 
 The half-battalion gathering round himself, 
 He cried, " Make ready ! " Presently the file 
 Their rifles grasped, the weapons crashed, but they 
 Were loaded long before. He cried, " Present ! " 
 In long file gleamed the guns ; he cried out, 
 
 "Fire 
 In turn ! " one after other thundered loud. 
 While one takes aim, one loads, another grasps 
 The rifle in his hand. Resounds the hiss 
 Of bullets, click of locks, the ramrod's crash ; 
 The whole file like a moving reptile seems, 
 A thousand glittering feet together moving. 
 
 'Tis true that all the/d^ers drunken were 
 With the strong liquor, for they aimed but ill. 
 And missed ; they rarely wound, and seldom kill ; 
 And yet two Matthews have already wounds, 
 And one of the Bartholomews lies low.
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 The nobles rarely fire, with but few guns ; 
 They would with sabres strike upon the foe. 
 The elder men restrain them ; thick the balls 
 Whistle, they wound, they drive on ; soon they 
 
 make 
 The courtyard clear before them, now begin 
 To clatter on the mansion's window-panes. 
 
 Thaddeus, who by his uncle's orders had 
 Stayed in the mansion to defend the women, 
 Now hearing loud and louder rage the fight, 
 Ran forth ; the Chamberlain rushed after him, 
 Since Thomas brought to him at length his sabre. 
 He hastened, joined him to the noblemen, 
 And placed him at their head ; rushed on, upraised 
 His sword ', the nobles at his pointing moved. 
 ThQjdgers, them admitting, poured a hail 
 Of bullets. Wounded lay Isajewicz, 
 Wilbik, and Razor. Robak after this 
 Restrains the nobles on one side, and Matthew 
 Restrains them on the other. In their zeal 
 The nobles colder grow, look round, draw back. 
 The Russians mark this. Captain Rykow thinks 
 To strike the last blow, from the court to drive 
 The nobles, and the mansion to command.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 " Form for the charge ! " he cried, " and to your 
 
 pikes. 
 Forward ! " and presently the file, their stocks 
 Planting like hop-poles, bent their heads, and 
 
 marched 
 Forwards, and quickened step. In vain the nobles 
 Resist them from the front, fire on the wings ; 
 The file already had o'er-passed the court. 
 The Captain, pointing with his sword unto 
 The house-door, crieth, " Yield, Soplica, or 
 I'll give command to fire the house ! " " Then 
 
 fire it," 
 Replied the Judge, " I'll fry me at that fire." 
 
 O house of Soplicowo ! if unhurt 
 
 Thy white walls gleam beneath the elm-trees still ; 
 
 If still the assembly of the neighbouring nobles 
 
 Sit at the Judge's hospitable board, 
 
 They surely often drink the Bucket's health ; 
 
 Without him Soplicowo were undone. 
 
 The Bucket hitherto few proofs of courage 
 Had given, though from the stocks the first set free 
 Among the nobles, though immediately 
 He found his well-loved Bucket in the cart,
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 His favourite gun, there with a sack of balls. 
 He would not fight; he trusted not himself, 
 He said, while fasting. So he went where stood 
 A tub of spirits, in his hand he raised 
 The stream, as with a spoon, unto his lips. 
 Then, soon as he well strengthened was and warmed, 
 He set his cap right ; from his knees he took 
 The Bucket in both hands ; the powder rammed 
 Down in the gun, and poured the priming o'er. 
 And looked upon the battle-field. He saw 
 How that bright wave of bayonets smote and 
 
 sundered 
 The nobles ; he against this billow swam ; 
 He stooped him down to earth, and dived among 
 The thick grass in the courtyard's midst ; till there, 
 Where nettles grew, he close in ambush laid, 
 And called by signs the Bustard to him. 
 
 He 
 Stood on the threshold, with his gun defending 
 The mansion, for his dear Sophia lived there ; 
 And though by her his suit remained despised, : 
 He loved her ever, and in her defence 
 Were glad to perish. 
 
 Now the file oijdgers 
 Already on the nettles had encroached
 
 114 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Marching, when Bucket drew the trigger back ; 
 And from the jaws of that deep-throated gun 
 A dozen balls all jagged let he fly 
 Among the Muscovites. A second dozen 
 The Bustard hurls. Theydgers were confused, 
 And frightened at the ambush, all the file 
 Wound in a knot, drew back, threw out their 
 
 wounded. 
 And then the Baptist drove them back again. 
 
 The barn was far off. Fearing a long round. 
 Beneath the garden wall had Rykow sprung, 
 There in their course he stayed his flying band. 
 He ranked them, but he changed their form of file. 
 Of one file he composed a triangle, 
 The sharp wedge pointed forward, but two sides 
 He placed against the garden wall. Well did he. 
 For horsemen from the castle rushed on him. 
 
 The Count, who in the castle under guard 
 Of Muscovites had been, when fled dispersed 
 The frightened guard, his courtiers placed on horse ; 
 And hearing shots, he led his cavalry 
 Right under fire ; himself the foremost rode, 
 With sabre lifted high. Then Rykow cried,
 
 THE BATTLE. 115 
 
 " The half-battalion fire ! " A fiery thread 
 Then flew along the locks, and firom the sable 
 Barrels projecting forward, whistled forth 
 Three hundred bullets. Of the cavalry 
 Three fell down wounded ; one man lay a corpse. 
 The Count's horse fell, and fell the Count; the 
 
 Klucznik 
 Ran, crying out for help, for he had seen 
 The/dgejs for their target take the last 
 Of the Horeszkos, by spindle side. 
 Robak stood nearer ; with his body he 
 The Count did cover, and for him received 
 The shot ; he drew him from beneath his horse, 
 Commanded that the nobles step apart. 
 Take better aim, and spare resultless shots. 
 And lurk behind the hedges, or the wells, 
 Behind the walls of cowsheds ; and the Count 
 Shall with his horsemen wait a better time. 
 
 Most marvellously Thaddeus understood 
 The plans of Robak, and accomplished them. 
 He stood concealed behind a wood-built well. 
 And as he aimed with coolness and with skill 
 From a two-barrelled gun — he well could hit 
 A florin thrown in air^nflicted thus
 
 Ii6 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Most horrid wounds on Muscovy. He chose 
 
 The seniors ; and his first shot slew at once 
 
 A sergeant-major, then from both the barrels 
 
 Each after each he cut two sergeants off. 
 
 Now at the borders of the triangle 
 
 He shot, now at the midst, where stood the staff. 
 
 At this impatiently did Rykow rage, 
 
 Stamped with his feet, and gnawed his sabre's hilt. 
 
 Cried, " Major Plut, what is to come of this ? 
 
 Soon none will here remain to give commands." 
 
 So Plut in anger said to Thaddeus, 
 " Shame on you, Master Pole, to hide behind 
 A piece of wood ; be not a coward, come 
 Out in the midst ; fight honourably, like 
 A soldier." To him Thaddeus made reply, 
 " Then, Major, if you are so bold a knight, 
 Why hide you thus behind a.Jc'iger's collar ? 
 I am not afraid of you ; come from behind 
 The hedges ; you have caught it on your face ; 
 But yet I'm ready still to fight with you. 
 Why all this bloodshed ? For between us two 
 This quarrel was ; let pistols or the sword 
 Decide it. I will give you choice of arms, 
 From cannons down to pins. If not, I'll shoot
 
 THE BATTLE. 117 
 
 You all like wolves in pitfalls." Saying this, 
 He fired, and aimed so well, that the lieutenant 
 He struck who stood at side of Rykow. 
 
 " Major," 
 Did Rykow whisper, " go you forth to duel ; 
 Revenge his earlier doings in the morn : 
 For if another slay this nobleman, 
 You will not, Major, wash away your shame. 
 This noble must be lured into the plain. 
 The rifle may not slay him, but the sword. 
 ' What knocks no art is ; I prefer what pierces,' 
 Did old Suwarow say ; go to the plain, 
 Or he will shoot us, Major, every one. 
 Look, now he's taking aim." Thereto the Major : 
 " Rykow, dear friend, a dreadful fellow thou 
 Art with the sword ; go thou forth, brother Rykow. 
 Or hark ye what, I'll send out some lieutenant ; 
 I as the Major may not leave the soldiers, 
 For I am in command of the battalion." 
 This hearing, Rykow raised his sword, went forth 
 Boldly, commanded firing to give o'er ; 
 Waved a white cloth, and asked of Thaddeus 
 What weapon pleased him. The conditions made. 
 They both agreed on swords. But Thaddeus 
 had 
 
 VOL. II. I
 
 ii8 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 No sword, and while they sought for one on rushed 
 The Count all armed, and broke their conference off. 
 
 He cried out, " Pan Soplica, by your leave, 
 You have the Major challenged. With the captain 
 I have a previous quarrel. In my castle " — 
 " Say, sir," broke in Protasy, " in oi^r castle " — 
 " He entered," said the Count, concluding, " at 
 The head of all those thieves. He — I knew 
 
 Rykow — 
 Bound fast my jockeys. Him I will chastise, 
 As I chastised the robbers 'neath that rock, 
 Which the Sicilians call Birbante-Rocca." 
 
 All then was silent, and the firing ceased. 
 
 Both armies gazed with curiosity 
 
 Upon the meeting of their generals. 
 
 The Count and Rykow went, they turned aside, 
 
 Each other with the right hand threatening. 
 
 And right eye ; with their left hands then they bare 
 
 Their heads, and courteously salute ; the custom 
 
 Of honour, ere it come to murdering. 
 
 First to salute. Their swords already met. 
 
 And had begun to clash. The heroes lift 
 
 Their feet, and on the left knee kneel, by turns 
 
 Backward and forward springing.
 
 THE BATTLE. 119 
 
 But as Plut 
 Saw Thaddeus standing right before his front, 
 He spoke in whispers to Gefreiter Gont, 
 Who passed as foremost shooter in the band. 
 " Gont," said the Major, " see'st that gallows- 
 thief? 
 If thou canst lodge a bullet in him, there 
 Beneath the fifth rib, thou shalt get from me 
 Four silver roubles." Gont turned round his gun. 
 Stooped to the lock, his faithful comrades with 
 Their mantles hid him, and he fired, not at 
 The rib, but at the head of Thaddeus ; 
 Shot, and hit very near, in middle of 
 The hat. Aside turned Thaddeus ; then the Baptist 
 On Rykow fell, and all the nobles after, 
 Exclaiming, "Treachery!" Him shielded Thaddeus. 
 Scarce Rykow in retreating could succeed, 
 And fall into the centre of his ranks. 
 
 Once more did the Dobrzynskis onward charge. 
 
 Vying with Litva ; spite of discord past 
 
 Between the parties, all like brothers fought, 
 
 The one cheered on the other. The Dobrzynskis, 
 
 Who saw Podhajski wheel around before 
 
 The /dger ranks, down-mowing with his scythe.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Cried out rejoicing, "The Podhaje live ! 
 Forward, Litvini brothers ! Litva, Litva ! " 
 The Skolubowie, seeing valiant Razor, 
 Though wounded, fly on with his sword raised high. 
 Cried out, "The Matthews ! long live the Masovians !" 
 Each giving heart to each, they charge upon 
 The Russians ; vainly Robak and Matthias 
 Would hold them back. 
 
 While thus they smote the band 
 Oijagers from the front, the Wojski left 
 The battle-field, and towards the garden went, 
 And at his side the sage Protasy came. 
 The Wojski gave him orders whispering. 
 
 There stood within the garden, close unto 
 
 The very wall that Rykow chose as base 
 
 For his triangle, a large ancient cheese-store, 
 
 Builded in lattices, with rafters bound 
 
 Cross-ways, in cage-like form. Within it gleamed 
 
 Great heaps of whitest cheeses, and around 
 
 Were sheaves of herbs there laid to dry, of sage, 
 
 Of cardims befiedictus, and wild thyme ; 
 
 A herbary complete, the Woj ski's daughter's 
 
 Store of domestic medicine. Above, 
 
 The cheese-store was some seven ells in breadth.
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 Below, it rested on one mighty pillar, 
 Like a stork's nest. That old and oaken column 
 Leaned sidewards, 'twas already half-decayed, 
 And threatened accident. Not once alone 
 The Judge was counselled to throw down the house, 
 Made weak by age ; but always said the Judge, 
 He rather would repair than pull it down, 
 Or else he would rebuild. Thus he delayed 
 The building till some more convenient time ; 
 Meanwhile beneath the pillar he caused place 
 Two props ; the building thereby reinforced. 
 But yet unlasting, o'er the garden wall 
 Looked down on Captain Rykow's triangle. 
 
 Towards this cheese-house silently the Wojski 
 And Wozny go ; each with 'a monstrous pole, 
 As with a spear is armed, the housekeeper 
 Hastes through the hemp-plants after them, likewise 
 The scullion, though a small boy, very strong. 
 When there, upon the rotten column's top ; 
 They placed the poles, and pushed with all their 
 
 strength, 
 As watermen push off a barge when moored 
 On sandy shallows, and away from shore 
 With long poles push it off into the deep.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The column shook, the cheese-house tottered, fell 
 Headlong with crash of wood and cheeses on 
 The Muscovite triangle, crushing, wounding. 
 And slaying ; where the files had stood, now lay 
 Corpses, and wood, and cheeses white as snow, 
 Defiled with blood and brains. The triangle 
 Broke into fi-agments, and the Sprinkler thundered 
 Upon their midst ; already gleamed the Razor, 
 And the Rod smote ; firom forth the house there 
 
 rushed 
 A crowd of noblemen, and from the gates 
 The Count his cavalry did hurl upon 
 The fugitives. 
 
 Eight Jligers now alone, 
 Their sergeant at their head, still make defence. 
 The Klucznik rushes up, they boldly stand. 
 Nine barrels pointed straightway at liis head. 
 He rushed upon their shot, the Penknife's blade 
 Round whirling. This the priest perceiving, ran 
 Across the Klucznik's way, himself he falls. 
 And strikes Gervasy's foot. They fell, just when 
 The platoon fired. The lead scarce whistled by, 
 When up Gervasy stood. Into the smoke 
 He sprung, at once swept off tvio pagers' heads. 
 The rest in terror fled ; he them pursued,
 
 THE BATTLE. 
 
 And smote ; they ran across the courtyard, he 
 Behind them. In the barn doors opening wide 
 They rushed. Gervasy rushed into the barn 
 Upon their necks, and vanished in the dark, 
 But not neglected battle. Through the doors 
 Came groans, a shouting, and blows thickly dealt. 
 Soon all was silent. Forth Gervasy came 
 With bloody sword, alone. 
 
 The nobles now 
 Had cleared the plain, pursued thejiigers, scattered, 
 Cut down, ran through. Rykow alone remained. 
 He cried he never would lay down his arms. 
 And fought on, when the Chamberlain now came 
 Towards him, who with sword uplifted said, 
 " Captain, you will not stain your honour by 
 Accepting quarter ; you have given proof, 
 Unfortunate, though brave, of courage ; lay' 
 Your sword down, ere we with our sabres shall 
 Disarm you ; you shall keep both life and honour. 
 You are my prisoner." 
 
 Then Rykow, by 
 The Chamberlain's exceeding dignity 
 Now vanquished, bowed low, and to him his sword. 
 Unsheathed, with blood-stained hilt gave up; then 
 said,
 
 124 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 " Ye Lachy ! brothers ! woe to me that I 
 Had not a single cannon. Well Suwarow 
 Was used to say, ' Remember, comrade Rykow, 
 Without some cannon never march on Poles.' 
 The J^iigers all were drunk ! the Major let 
 Them drink ! Oh, Major Plut was very wilful. 
 But he shall answer to the Czar, for he 
 Was in command. But I, Sir Chamberlain, 
 Will be your friend. A Russian proverb says, 
 ' Who loveth greatly, he, Sir Chamberlain, 
 Will stoutly fight.' You are good at drinking-bout 
 And good at fighting out, but cease to vent 
 On/dgers your excesses." 
 
 Hearing this, 
 The Chamberlain his sabre straight upraised, 
 And through the Wozny proclamation made 
 Of general pardon ; then he gave command 
 To look unto the wounded, clear the field 
 Of corpses, and the d\'5VLXxnedJagers lead 
 Away as prisoners. Long they searched for Plut. 
 He, deeply buried in the nettles, lay 
 As lifeless ; but at last came forth, when he 
 Became aware the battle all was done. 
 Such ending the last foray had in Litva.''^
 
 NOTES TO BOOK IX. 
 
 1. " Though a Muscovite, 
 A good man." 
 
 In this representation of a Russian officer as an honour- 
 able and just man, and one of his own countrymen as most 
 unjust and tyrannical, our author has shown how little of a 
 narrow or exclusive character was his patriotism. 
 
 2. " What is 
 The Yellow Book ? " the yudge inquired. 
 
 * The Yellow Book, so named from its cover, is the code 
 of the martial laws of Russia. Sometimes in time of peace 
 the government proclaims whole provinces in a state of war, 
 and by authority of the Yellow Book gives to the military 
 commander full authority over the lives and property of the 
 inhabitants. It is known that from the year 1S12 till the 
 revolution the whole of Lithuania was subjected to the 
 Yellow Book, the executor whereof was the Grand Duke 
 Constantine. 
 
 3. " Well Baka wrote" 
 
 Baka, a jovial ecclesiastic in Poland of the last century ; 
 a poetaster chiefly known by his humorous veridicisms, 
 written in most ludicrous forms. His verses are immortal
 
 126 NOTES. 
 
 only on account of their technical absurdities and intrinsic 
 satire. One of them begins : 
 
 " Babula, 
 Cebula," 
 
 and goes on thus in single trisyllabic words or three mono- 
 syllabic ones. It requires uncommon lucidity of mind to 
 understand it. — E. S. N. 
 
 4. " Ai welda-c'cvelda." 
 
 A corruption of the German elf zuolf (eleven-twelve), a 
 game at cards. — E. S. N. 
 
 5. * ' ^ six-foot tree. 
 
 All armed with flints, and knobs, and hardened knots" 
 
 * The Lithuanian clubs were made in this manner ; a. 
 young oak was selected, and an incision made in it with an 
 axe, so as to cut through the bark and marrow. In these 
 notches were inserted sharp flints, which in time grew into 
 the wood, and formed hard knobs. Clubs constituted in 
 pagan times the chief weapon of the Lithuanian infantry ; 
 they are still occasionally used, and called nasieki. 
 
 6. " And how one burgher," &c. 
 
 * After Jasinski's insurrection, when the Lithuanian army 
 had retired towards Warsaw, the Muscovites approached 
 Wilna, left open to their attacks. General Dejow, at the 
 head of his staff, entered by the Ostra Gate. The streets were 
 empt)', the inhabitants having shut themselves up in their 
 houses. One citizen, finding a cannon abandoned in an 
 alley, loaded with grape-shot, pointed it at the gate, and fired 
 it off. This single shot saved Wilna for the time being.
 
 NOTES. 127 
 
 General Dejow, with some of his officers, perished ; the rest, 
 fearing an ambush, retired from the town. The name of 
 the citizen is not known for certain. 
 
 7. " Stick ending the last foray had in Liiza." 
 
 * There were, however, some forays later on, which, 
 though not so glorious, were celebrated and bloody enough. 
 
 About the year 1S17 a certain U , in the Novogrodek 
 
 palatinate, slew in a foray the whole garrison in the town, 
 and took the leaders prisoners.
 
 BOOK X. 
 
 EMIGRA TION—JA CEK. 
 
 Council concerning the safety of the victors — Conventions with 
 Rykoiu — Leave-takings — Important disclosure — Hope. 
 
 Those morning clouds, erst scattered like black 
 
 birds, 
 Soaring in heaven's highest region, now 
 Together gathered closer. Scarce the sun 
 Had from the south descended, than their flock 
 Had with a mighty cloud all heaven o'erspread. 
 The wind with ever greater swiftness drove them ; 
 The cloud grew ever thicker, lower hung, 
 Till by one side half-severed from the sky. 
 Stooping towards the earth, and spread abroad 
 Like a great sail, all winds within itself 
 Gathering, it flew through heaven from south to west
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 129 
 
 Then came a while of silence, and the air 
 Stood dumb and silent, as though mute with fear ; 
 The fields of corn, that first lay down on earth, 
 And shook again aloft their golden ears, 
 Like billows seething, now unmoving stood. 
 And gazed towards heaven, with upbristling straw ; 
 And the green willows, and the poplars standing 
 Beside the ways, that first like women mourning 
 Beside an open grave, their foreheads smote 
 Upon the earth, their long arms flung abroad, 
 Dishevelled on the wind their silvery hair, 
 Now, as though lifeless, with mute mourning 
 
 gaze. 
 They stand like images of Niobe. 
 Alone the trembling aspen shakes grey leaves. 
 
 The cattle, used to turn home leisurely. 
 Now ran tumultuous, nor their guardian [wait. 
 Abandoning their pasture, home they fly. 
 The bull the earth upturneth with his hoof, 
 Ploughs with his horn, and terrifies the herd 
 With roar ill-boding ; and the cow, who raised 
 Her large eyes only once unto the sky, 
 Her mouth in wonder opened wide, and drew 
 A deep sigh. And the hog behind did linger,
 
 I30 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Dashed round, and gnashed his teeth, and from 
 
 the corn 
 Abstracted portions, and them snatched as food. 
 The birds lay hidden in the woods, beneath 
 The thatch, and in deep places of the grass. 
 The rooks alone in troops surround the ponds, 
 And walk about with slow and solemn steps. 
 Turning their black eyes to the clouds as black, 
 Their tongues forth putting from their dry, wide 
 
 throats, 
 And, spreading wide their wings, await their bath. 
 Last of the birds, unreachable in flight, 
 A daring swallow, like an arrow through 
 The dark cloud pierces, then like bullet falls. 
 
 The nobles in that very moment ended 
 That horrid battle with the Muscovites, 
 And sought for shelter in the house and barns. 
 They leave the field of battle, where full soon 
 The elements in battle join. 
 
 Towards 
 The west, still golden, shone with gloomy gleam, 
 The earth, a yellow red. The cloud already 
 Its shades outspreading, like a net in form, — 
 Did apprehend the remnants of the light,
 
 EMIGRA TION—JACEK. 
 
 And flew behind the sun, as though to seize him 
 Before the west. Some few storms whistled through 
 The air below, one after other flying, 
 And casting drops of rain, great, bright, and round, 
 As grain-like hail. 
 
 The storm-winds suddenly 
 Grappled together, broke in twain ; they struggled. 
 And whirled in whistling circles o'er the ponds, 
 Troubling their waters to their very depth. 
 They fell upon the meadows, whistling loud 
 Through osiers and through grass ; the osier boughs 
 Asunder crack, and blades of grass fly wide 
 Upon the winds, like handfuls of torn hair. 
 Mixed with the ringlets of the corn-sheaves. Loud 
 The winds did howl, fell on the plain, contended. 
 Roared, tore up furrows ; made an opening for 
 A third, which from the field itself up-tore 
 Like column from the dark earth, rose up, rolled 
 Round like a moving pyramid ; its head 
 Deep burrowed in the ground, and from its feet 
 Cast sand in the stars' eyes ; at every step 
 It swelled out broadly, shot up tall aloft. 
 And blew a storm upon its mighty trumpet, 
 Till in this chaos of water and of dust, 
 Of straws, and leaves and branches, torn-up turf,
 
 132 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The storms upon the forest smote, and roared 
 Within its deepest wilderness like bears. 
 
 But now as from a sieve plashed down the rain, 
 Unceasing, in thick falling drops. And then 
 The thunders roared, the drops together ran. 
 Now like straight cords with tresses long they 
 
 bind 
 The heavens to the earth. Now forth they burst, 
 As from a pail in watery strata. Now 
 Both heaven and earth are totally concealed ; 
 Night darkens them, with storm more dark than 
 
 night. 
 At times the horizon bursts from end to end, 
 And the storm-angel, like a mighty sun. 
 Unveils the lightnings of his countenance, 
 And, covered with a pall, retires again 
 In heaven, and shuts its doors with thunder noise. 
 Again the storm gains strength, tempestuous rain, 
 A heavy darkness, thick, nigh tangible ; 
 Once more a stiller rain doth murmur, sleeps 
 The thunder for a moment ; once more wakes, 
 It roareth loud, and waters plash, till all 
 Is peaceful. Only trees around the house 
 Rustled, and rain was softly murmuring.
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 133 
 
 On such a day, the fiercest storm was welcome ; 
 Because the tempest, covering o'er the field 
 With twilight, deluged all the roads, and broke 
 The bridge that spanned the river ; of the farm 
 A fortress inaccessible it made. 
 So that which happened in Soplica's camp. 
 To-day no rumour through the neighbourhood 
 Could circulate ; and at the present time 
 The nobles' fate upon a secret hung, j 
 
 Counsels of weight pend in the Judge's room. 
 
 The Bernardine lay wearied on the bed. 
 
 Pale, stained with blood, but wholly sound in mind. 
 
 He gives commands, the Judge exact fulfils ; 
 
 Entreats the presence of the Chamberlain, 
 
 Summons the Klucznik, Rykow there to bring 
 
 Commands. The door then closes. One whole 
 
 hour 
 
 These secret conversations lasted, till 
 
 With these words Captain Rykow broke them off, 
 
 A bag with ducats heavy throwing down — 
 
 " Ye Polish sirs, among you is a saying, 
 
 That every Muscovite's a thief. Say ye, 
 
 Whoever asks, you know a Muscovite, 
 
 Named Nikita Nikiticz Rykow, captain 
 VOL. II. K
 
 134 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Of a band, who gained eight medals and three 
 
 crosses — 
 I pray you to remember that — this medal 
 At Oczakow, this one at Ismail, 
 This for the fight at Novi, and this one 
 At Preussisch-Eylau, this at Korsakow's 
 Famous retreat from Zurich,^ and I gained 
 Likewise a SAvord for courage shown, likewise 
 Three testimonials of his satisfaction 
 From the Field-Marshal, by the Emperor 
 Three times commended, four times mentioned, all 
 
 In writing " 
 
 " But, but, Captain," Robak spoke, 
 •' Whatever will become of us, if you 
 Wilt not be reconciled ? Indeed, you have 
 Given us your word to simplify this thing." 
 
 " True, and I pledge my word to you again,' 
 SaysRykow; "here's my word! What good would 
 
 ' come 
 Of ruining you ? I am an honest man. 
 I love you, Lachy, gentlemen, for you 
 Are merry folk, good at a drinking-bout, 
 And gallant folk too, good at fighting out. 
 We have a Russian proverb, ' He who rides
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 135 
 
 Upon the waggon, oft is used to be 
 
 Under the waggon;' 'Who to-day is foremost 
 
 To-morrow's in the rear ; ' ' To-day thou beatest, 
 
 To-morrow thou art beaten.' Is that cause 
 
 For anger ? That is how we soldiers live. 
 
 Why such great malice should a man conceive, 
 
 Or angry be at losing ? All that work 
 
 At Oczakow was bloody, and at Zurich 
 
 They slew our infantry ; at Austerlitz 
 
 I lost my whole band ; but before that time, 
 
 Did your Kosciuszko at Raclawice ^ 
 
 (Where I was sergeant) mow down my platoon, 
 
 With scythes. But what of that ? Then I again, 
 
 At Maciejowice,^ slew with mine own hand 
 
 Two valiant nobles ; one was Mokronowski. 
 
 He with his scythe had come before our front, 
 
 And cut off from a cannonier his hand, 
 
 Grasping the match. Oh ! oh ! ye Lachy ! Country ! 
 
 I feel all that. I, Rykow— Still the Czar 
 
 Commands this, but I pity you. What should 
 
 The Lachy be to us ? For Muscovites 
 
 Muscovia ; Poland for the Poles ; — but then — 
 
 The Czar will not allow it ! " 
 
 Unto him 
 The Judge replies: "Sir Captain, that thou art
 
 136 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 An honest man, the country-folks have seen 
 
 'Mid whom so many years you have been quartered. 
 
 Be you not angry at this gift, good friend ; 
 
 We would not work you wrong ; these ducats here 
 
 We ventured to subscribe, as knowing you 
 
 Art not a rich man." 
 
 "Ah ! the J^agers," cried 
 Rykow ; " the whole band run through ! my 
 
 division ! 
 And all that Plut's fault. He was in command, 
 And he must answer to the Czar for this. 
 But you take back your money, gentlemen ; 
 I have indeed but wretched captain's pay. 
 But 'tis enough to give me punch and pipe. 
 But you I like, since I have drunk with you, 
 And eaten, I'll be merry, chatter, and 
 Thus will I live. But I'll be your defence ; 
 And as there will be inquest, on my word 
 Of honour, I will give my witness for you, 
 That we came here upon a visit, drank, 
 And danced together, somewhat tipsy got, 
 And Plut by chance commandment gave to fire. 
 And so we fought, and wasted the battalion. 
 You, sirs, grease the Commission well with gold ; 
 'Twill soon despatch. But now I'll tell you this.
 
 EMIGRATION-yACEK. 137 
 
 Which to this nobleman I said before, 
 Who wears the lengthy rapier ; in command 
 Plut was the first, I second ; Plut remains 
 Alive, perhaps he'll bend you such a hook, 
 That you will perish, he's a cunning blade. 
 You must with bank-notes gag him. Well then, now, 
 Sir noble, thou with the long rapier, hast thou 
 Seen Plut already, taken counsel with him ? " 
 
 Gervasy looked round, and his bald crown stroked, 
 And with a careless gesture waved his hand, 
 As by this sign he gave to them to know 
 That he had made all easy. Rykow still 
 Insisted. " What, will Plut be silent ? has he 
 Then given his word ? " The Klucznik, vexed that 
 
 Rykow 
 Tormented him with questions, bent his finger 
 To earth most solemnly, then waved his hand, 
 As though he cut all further talk in twain. 
 And said, " I by the Penknife swear that Plut 
 Will let out nothing. He will nevermore 
 Converse with any one." Then dropped his hand, 
 And snapt his fingers, as though shaking out 
 Some secret from his hands. 
 
 This darkling gesture
 
 138 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The hearers comprehended, and they stood 
 With wonder looking on each other, still 
 Inquiring of this thing. Some minutes yet 
 A gloomy silence lasted, till at last 
 Said Rykow, " Long the wolf has borne away, 
 Now is the wolf borne off ! " * The Chamberlain 
 ^^ Requiescat in pace" added. " Even in this, 
 Was," said the Judge, " the finger of the Lord ! 
 But I am guiltless of this blood, I knew 
 Not of it." 
 
 From the pillow started up 
 The priest, and upright sat with gloomy cheer. 
 " Great sin an unarmed captive 'twas to slay ! 
 Christ forbids vengeance even on a foe. 
 Fie ! Klucznik ! thou shalt answer heavily 
 For this before the Lord. One reservation 
 Alone there is, if this committed were 
 Not for mere foolish vengeance, but instead, 
 Fro bono publico^ The Klucznik nodded, 
 And waved his hand extended ; murmuringly 
 Repeated he, " Fro bono publico " 
 
 And no one after spoke of Major Plut ; 
 
 * " A'osil wilk, poniesli i wilka" A proverb.
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 139 
 
 They sought him vainly on the morrow, in 
 
 The mansion, vainly for the corpse proclaimed 
 
 Reward ; the Major without trace was gone, 
 
 As he had fallen in the water. What 
 
 Had come of him, were different stories told ; 
 
 But none for certain knew nor then, nor after. 
 
 In vain with questionings did they torment 
 
 The Klucznik ; nought he said, except these words, 
 
 "7V<7 bono publico r The Wojski was 
 
 Within the secret, but as he was bound 
 
 By word of honour, the old man was silent, 
 
 As though enchanted. 
 
 After the conclusion 
 Of these conditions, Rykow left the room, 
 But Robak all the warrior noblemen 
 Commanded thither ; and the Chamberlain 
 Addressed them thus with great solemnity : 
 " Brothers, the Lord has blessed our swords to-day. 
 But without reservation, I to you 
 Must give to know that ill effects will come 
 From these unhappy wars. We all have erred, 
 And none of us here is without his fault ; 
 Friar Robak, that he spread too busily 
 The news abroad, the Klucznik and the nobles 
 That they misunderstood it War with Russia
 
 I40 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Cannot so quickly be begun. Meanwhile 
 Who in the battle took most active part, 
 Cannot with safety tarry here in Litva, 
 So must ye quickly to the Duchy fly. 
 Matthew especially, the Baptist called, 
 Thaddeus and Razor, and the Bucket, bear 
 Their heads beyond the Niemen, where await them 
 Our national hosts. We on you absent ones 
 Will lay the blame entirely, so shall we 
 Preserve the rest of all the family. 
 I bid ye farewell not for long. There are 
 Most certain hopes that on us with the spring 
 Shall brighten Freedom's dawn, and Litva, who 
 Now bids farewell to you as exiles, soon 
 Shall view you her triumphant rescuers. 
 All necessaries for the road the Judge 
 Will furnish, and myself I will assist you 
 With money, as I can." 
 
 The nobles felt 
 The Chamberlain had wisely counselled them ; 
 For well 'tis known that he who once has had 
 A difference with the Russian Czar, can ne'er 
 Be truly reconciled to him on earth ; 
 And either he must fight, or perish in 
 Siberia. Therefore without speaking they
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 141 
 
 Gazed sadly on each other, sighed, but as 
 A signing of consent they bo\Yed their heads. 
 
 The Pole, although among the nations famed 
 
 For love of native land exceeding life, 
 
 Is ready aye to leave it, and depart 
 
 Into the world's wide country, and to live 
 
 Long years in poverty and in contempt. 
 
 Battling with men and destiny, while still 
 
 This hope before him glimmers through the storm, 
 
 That yet he serves his Fatherland. 
 
 They all 
 Declared that they were ready to set out 
 At once ; alone this pleased not Master Buchman. 
 Buchman, a prudent man, had mixed not in 
 The battle, but on hearing that they took 
 Counsel together, he made haste to give 
 His own opinion. He approved the project, 
 But wished it were completely otherwise. 
 He would develop it more fully, would 
 Have it explained more clearly ; first appoint 
 Commission legally, that should consider 
 The emigration's aims, and means, and action ; 
 And many other things consider too. 
 Unhappily the shortness of the time
 
 142 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Prevented justice being done to Buchman's 
 Advice. The nobles hastily took leave, 
 And were already starting. 
 
 But the Judge 
 Stayed Thaddeus in the room, and to the priest 
 Said, " Now 'tis time that I should tell to thee, 
 That which since yesterday I learned for certain, 
 Our Thaddeus loves Sophia truly. Let him, 
 Before departing, for her hand entreat her. 
 I spoke to Telimena, she will not 
 Be hindrance to us ; likewise is Sophia 
 Conformable unto her guardians' will. 
 If we may not in wreath of marriage join 
 To-day the couple, they at least to-day, 
 Brother, may be affianced, ere he part ; 
 Since for young hearts and travellers, thou well 
 
 knowest 
 What various temptations rise. But when 
 The youth shall cast his eyes upon the ring. 
 Remembering he already is a husband. 
 At once the fever of temptations strange 
 Is cool within him ; the betrothal ring, 
 Believe me, has great power. 
 
 " Myself, I had. 
 Some thirty years ago, a great affection
 
 EMIGRATION— JACEK. 143 
 
 For the fair Martha, and her heart I won. 
 
 We were betrothed, but Heaven did not bless 
 
 Our union, and soon left me desolate, 
 
 Taking the lovely Wojszczanka to 
 
 His glory, daughter of my friend Hreczecha. 
 
 As memory of her virtues, of her charms, 
 
 This gold betrothal ring alone remained 
 
 To me. As often as I looked thereon. 
 
 My dead love stood before my eyes, and thus 
 
 By Heaven's grace I hitherto have kept 
 
 My faith to my betrothed one, and though ne'er 
 
 A husband, I am an old widower. 
 
 Although the Wojski has another daughter. 
 
 Pretty enough, and like enough unto 
 
 My well-loved Martha." 
 
 Saying this he looked 
 Upon the ring with tenderness, and brushed 
 A tear off with his hand ; then ended : " Brother, 
 What thinkest thou, shall we betroth the two ? 
 He loves, and I have the aunt's word and the girl's." 
 
 But up rushed Thaddeus, and earnestly 
 Spoke thus : " How can I show my gratitude 
 To my dear uncle, who so constantly 
 Thinks of my happiness ! Ah ! dearest uncle,
 
 144 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 I were the happiest of men, if now 
 
 Sophia were betrothed to me, if I 
 
 Could know she was my future wife ; and yet — 
 
 I'll say it openly — to-day these spousals 
 
 May not be done, for this are many reasons. 
 
 Ask me no more. If Sophia deigns to wait, 
 
 She maybe will behold me better, worthier. 
 
 Maybe by steadfastness I shall deserve 
 
 Her love ; maybe a little glory may 
 
 Adorn my name. Maybe we shall return 
 
 Soon to our native region. Then, my uncle, 
 
 I shall recall your promise to you, then 
 
 Upon my knees salute my dear Sophia, 
 
 And if she still be free, entreat her hand. 
 
 Now must I part from Litva, it may be 
 
 For long, perhaps another may meanwhile 
 
 Commend him to Sophia. I will not 
 
 Constrain her will, to beg return of love 
 
 Which I have not deserved, were mean and base." 
 
 And as the young lad spoke thus feelingly, 
 Like two great pearl-drops glittered two bright tears 
 Within his large blue eyes, and ran together 
 Swift down his blushing countenance. 
 
 But curious,
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 145 
 
 Sophia from the depths of the alcove 
 
 Had heard this secret discourse, and she heard 
 
 While Thaddeus simply thus and boldly spake 
 
 His love ; the heart within her trembled ; she 
 
 Saw only those two large tears in his eyes ; 
 
 Although she might not track his secret's thread, 
 
 Wherefore he loved her, why abandoned her, 
 
 Or whither he departed, yet this parting 
 
 Much saddened her. The first time in her life 
 
 She from a young man's lips had heard the great 
 
 And wondrous tidings that she was beloved. 
 
 So ran she to a little household shrine, 
 
 Therefrom an image and a reliquary 
 
 She took ; the picture was St. Genevieve, 
 
 And in the reliquary was a shred 
 
 Of holy Joseph's coat, the lover, patron 
 
 Of youth betrothed ; and with these holy things 
 
 She entered the apartment. 
 
 " Are you going 
 So quickly ? I will give you for the journey 
 A little present, and a warning too. 
 Carry this relic with you always, and 
 This picture, and remember still Sophia. 
 May the Lord God in health and weal conduct you, 
 And quickly bring you back to us in joy ! "
 
 146 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Silent she stood, and drooped her head, while half 
 Closed her blue eyes, and liberal tears ran forth 
 From underneath the lashes ; and Sophia, 
 Standing with eyelids closed, kept silence still, 
 Pouring down tears like diamonds. 
 
 Thaddeus, taking 
 The gifts, and on her hand a kiss imprinting, 
 Said, " Lady, I must bid farewell to you. 
 Farewell, remember me, and deign at times 
 To say a prayer for me, Sophia ! " More 
 He could not say. 
 
 But unexpectedly 
 The Count and Telimena coming in, 
 Observed the youthful lovers' tender parting. 
 The Count, much moved, at Telimena looked. 
 And said, " What beauty even in a scene 
 So simple ! when a shepherdess's soul 
 Must with a warrior's part, even as a boat 
 Parts from a ship in tempest ! Truly, nought 
 Can kindle tenderness within the heart, 
 As when heart parts from heart. Time ^is like 
 
 wind, 
 It but extinguishes a feeble light ; 
 A great fire flames but stronger from the wind. 
 My heart can love more strongly from afar.
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 147 
 
 Soplica, I have held tliee for a rival, 
 
 And this mistake of our sad variance, 
 
 Which forced me to draw sword on you, one cause 
 
 Has been. I see my error, since thou for 
 
 The shepherdess didst sigh, but I had given 
 
 My heart to this fair nymph. Let our offences 
 
 Be drowned in blood of foes. We will not strive 
 
 With murderers' swords against each others' lives. 
 
 Let otherwise our lovers' quarrel be 
 
 Decided ; let us strive who shall excel 
 
 In strength of love ! Let us both leave behind 
 
 The objects dear unto our hearts, and let us 
 
 Both hasten upon swords, on spears to rush. 
 
 Let us together strive in steadfastness. 
 
 In woe, in sufferings, and with valiant arm 
 
 Pursue oui foes." He spoke, on Telimena 
 
 He looked, but she replied not, sore amazed. 
 
 " But, Count," the Judge broke in, " wherefore 
 
 must you 
 Depart, of such necessity ? Believe me, 
 You may m safety dwell upon your lands ; 
 The government may strip and scourge the poor 
 Nobility, but you are certain, Count, 
 Whole to remain. You know how high your rank ;
 
 148 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 You are tolerably rich ; with half your income 
 You may redeem yourself from prison." 
 
 "That,"' 
 The Count replied, " agrees not with my mood ; 
 As I may be no lover, I will be 
 A hero. For the cares of love I summon 
 The comforters of glory ; if I am 
 A beggar of the heart, I will be great 
 In arms ! " 
 
 Said Telimena: " What debars you 
 From love and happiness ? " " My destiny's 
 Power," said the Count; "the darkness of fore- 
 bodings, 
 That by mysterious movement swiftly rush 
 To foreign regions, unaccustomed deeds. 
 I own I wished in Telimena's honour 
 To light the flame to-day at Hymen's altar. 
 But an example far too beautiful 
 This young man gives me, of his own free will 
 Tearing his nuptial garland off, and rushing 
 To prove his heart in accidents of fate. 
 Changing, and in the bloody chance of war. 
 To-day for me likewise an epoch new 
 Is opening. The sounding of my sword 
 Birbante-Rocca once did echo back.
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK.] 149 
 
 Oh, may its sound through Poland spread as well !" 
 He ended, on his sword-hilt proudly smote. 
 
 "Ay ! " Robak spoke ; " such good-will hard it were 
 To blame. Ride off, and money take with thee. 
 Thou mayest perhaps equip a band of men 
 Like Wladimir Potocki, who amazed 
 The Frenchmen, giving to the treasury 
 A million ; like Prince Dominic Radziwill, 
 Who pledged his lands and furniture, and armed 
 Two regiments of horse. Ride off, and take 
 Money ; we now enough of hands possess, 
 But there is want of money in the Duchy, 
 Ride ye away, we take our leave of you." 
 
 With sad eyes Telimena on him glanced. 
 "Alas ! " she said, " I see nought will restrain thee. 
 My hero ! when thou enterest warlike lists 
 On thy love's colour turn a tender glance." 
 Thus saying, a ribbon from her dress she took. 
 She fashioned therewith a cockade, and pinned it 
 To the Count's bosom. " Let this colour lead thee 
 Up to the fiery cannon, shining spears, 
 And rain of bullets ; when by valiant deeds 
 Thou winnest glory, and with deathless laurels 
 
 VOL. II. L
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Thou shalt enwreathe thy blood-stained helm and 
 
 crest 
 With victory proud, ev'n then turn thou thine eyes 
 On this cockade. Remember thou whose hand 
 Fastened that colour there." She reached her hand 
 To him. The Count then, kneeling, kissed that 
 
 hand, 
 And Telimena to one eye approached 
 Her handkerchief, but with the other looked 
 From high upon the Count, who bade farewell, 
 Most deeply moved. She sighed — but — shrugged 
 
 her shoulders. 
 
 But said the Judge, " Sir Count, make haste, 'tis 
 
 late ; " 
 And Friar Robak cried, with threatening mien, 
 *' Enough of this ! make haste ! " The orders thus 
 Both of the Judge and of the priest divide 
 The loving pair, and drive them from the room. 
 
 Meantime did Thaddeus embrace his uncle 
 With tears, and Robak's hand kissed. Robak 
 
 pressed 
 Unto his bosom the lad's forehead, laying 
 His hands in form of cross upon his head.
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 151 
 
 Looked up to heaven, and said, " My son ! depart 
 With God ! " and wept. But Thaddeus already 
 Had passed the threshold. " What ! " then asked 
 
 the Judge, 
 *' Will you not tell him, brother, anything ? 
 And now, poor boy, shall he learn nothing, ere 
 He part ? " — " No, nothing," said the priest, long 
 
 weeping. 
 With face hid in his hands. " And wherefore should 
 The poor lad know that he a father has, 
 Who hid him from the world, as being a villain 
 And murderer ? God knows, how I did long 
 To tell my son, but of this consolation 
 I make unto the Lord a sacrifice 
 To expiate my former crimes." 
 
 " Then," said 
 The Judge, " 'tis time to think now of thyself. 
 Consider at thine age, and in thy plight, 
 Thou couldst not with the others emigrate. 
 Thou once did say thou knewest a house, where 
 
 thou 
 Couldst hide thyself. Say where ? Let us make 
 
 haste. 
 A carriage waiteth ready harnessed. Was it 
 Not in the forest, in the keeper's hut ? "
 
 152 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Shaking his head, said Robak, " 'Twill be time 
 To-morrow. Now, my brother, send thou to 
 The parish priest, that he may swiftly come 
 Here with the sacrament. Send all from hence ; 
 Thou only, with the Klucznik, here remain. 
 Close thou the doors." 
 
 Robak's commands the Judge 
 Fulfilled, and sat beside him on the couch ; 
 Gervasy stood, and with his elbow leaned 
 Upon his rapier's hilt, and with his brow 
 Supported on his hand. 
 
 Robak, before 
 He spoke, his glance fixed on the Klucznik's face, 
 And kept mysterious silence. As a surgeon 
 On a diseased body lightly lays 
 At first his hand, ere he the sharp blade prove. 
 Thus Robak softened of his piercing eyes 
 The glance severe ; long o'er Gervasy's face 
 He held them mute. At length, as he would give 
 Blindfold the stroke, he covered with his hand 
 His eyes, and with a powerful voice he said : 
 " I am Jacek Soplica." 
 
 At these words 
 Pale grew the Klucznik, forward bent, and stood 
 One half all stooping forward ; stood, supported
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 15^ 
 
 On one foot, like a flying stone, from high 
 Arrested on its path ; his eyes wide staring ; 
 Lips wide apart, with white teeth threatening ; 
 His whiskers bristling ; from his hand the rapier 
 Abandoned on the ground his knees held fast ; 
 His right hand, closely pressing, grasped the hilt. 
 The rapier from behind stretched after him, 
 Waved its long black extremity around. 
 Unto each side. And like a wounded lynx 
 The Klucznik seemed, that from a tree will spring 
 Into the hunter's eyes ; it puffs itself 
 Up in a ball ; it growls, its bloodshot eyes 
 In sparkles kindles, moves its whiskers, lashes 
 Its tail. 
 
 " Rembajlo," said the friar, " no more 
 The wrath of man affrights me, for I am 
 Already under God's hand. I conjure 
 Thee in the name of Him who saved the world, 
 And on the cross did bless His murderers, 
 And did accept the thief's entreaty, that 
 Thou wilt be pacified, and all that I 
 Shall say wilt listen patiently. I have 
 Confessed now whom I am, and for relief 
 Of conscience I must seek, and must at least 
 For pardon pray. Thou listen my confession ;
 
 154 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Then after do thou what thou wilt with me." 
 
 And here his hands he folded, as in prayer. 
 
 The Klucznik, deep in thought, moved backward, 
 
 smote 
 His forehead, and his shoulders moved. 
 
 The priest 
 Began the story to relate of his 
 Familiar friendship with Horeszko, how 
 He loved his daughter ; from this cause proceeded 
 His quarrel with the Pantler. But he spoke 
 With little order, mingling oft complaints 
 And lamentations in his story ; often 
 His speech broke off, as though he had ended it. 
 And then again began. 
 
 The Klucznik, knowing 
 Most perfectly the annals of Horeszko, 
 Though tangled in disorder all this tale, 
 In memory could range, and fill it out ; 
 But many things the Judge nought understood. 
 Both listened diligently, with bowed heads, 
 And Jacek ever spoke with freer words, 
 And oft broke off.* 
 
 * In translating the whole of this scene, an effort has been 
 made to reproduce the effect of the broken lines in the 
 original.
 
 EMIGRATION— JACEK. 155 
 
 " Indeed, thou knowest too well, Gervasy, how 
 The Pantler oft invited me to banquets, 
 And would propose my health ; not seldom cried, 
 Lifting his glass on high, he had no friend 
 Above Soplica. How he then embraced me ! 
 All who saw this would think he shared with me 
 His very soul. A friend he 1 well he knew 
 What at that time was passing in my soul ! 
 
 " Meanwhile the neighbourhood already whispered, 
 And such a one said to me : * Ah ! Soplica ! 
 In vain wouldst thou compete, the threshold of 
 A dignitary is too high for Jacek 
 Podczaszyc' feet.' I laughed, pretending I 
 Laughed at the magnates, and their daughters too, 
 And cared not for the aristocracy ; 
 That if I oft consorted with them, 'twas 
 From friendship ; I would only take for wife 
 One of my own condition. Ne'ertheless 
 These jestings cut me to the quick. Young then, 
 Courageous, all the world to me was open. 
 In this land, where, as well you know, a noble 
 By birth may for the throne be candidate 
 With highest lords — in truth Tenczynski once 
 Did ask a daughter of a royal house,*
 
 156 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 And a king gave her to him without shame — 
 Were not Soplica's honours equal with 
 Tenczynski's, both by blood, and crest, and service 
 To the Republic ? 
 
 " Ah ! how easily 
 A man may ruin another's happiness, 
 In one short moment, and may not repair it 
 In all a long life ! One word from the Pantler, 
 How happy we had been ! who knows, maybe 
 We both had lived till now. Maybe, even he, 
 Beside his darling child, his lovely Eva, 
 Beside his grateful son-in-law, had reached 
 A peaceful old age, and his grandchildren 
 Perhaps had rocked. Now what has passed ? He 
 
 ruined 
 Both of us, and himself! — That murderous deed, 
 And all the foUowings of that crime, and all 
 My woes and sins ! — I have no right to complain, 
 I was his murderer ! — I have no right 
 To make complaint ! — I from my very heart 
 Do pardon him ; but even he- 
 
 ** If one time merely he had openly 
 
 Refused me ! For he well knew what we felt. 
 
 If he had not received my visitings —
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 157 
 
 Who knoweth how ? — I maybe had departed, 
 Been angry, railed against him, in the end 
 Neglected him. But he in cunning proud 
 Thought of a new idea ; he made pretence 
 That such a thing had entered ne'er his head 
 That I could ever seek for such alliance. 
 But I was needful to him ; I had weight 
 Among the nobles, and the peasants all 
 Loved me ! As though he ne'er'perceived my love. 
 He welcomed me as erst, insisted ev'n 
 That I should come more often. And as oft 
 As we two were alone together, seeing 
 Mine eyes o'erclouded, and my breast o'ercharged. 
 And ready to break forth, the old man, cunning, 
 Would presently throw out indifferent words 
 Of lawsuits, diets, hunts 
 
 " Ah ! o'er our cups, not seldom, when he thus 
 Would melt, when thus he pressed me, and assured 
 Me of his friendship, having need of my 
 Sabre, or vote in Diet — when I must 
 Press him in turn affectionately, then 
 Such anger boiled in me, that I turned o'er 
 The spittle in my mouth, and then my hand 
 Would grasp my sabre's hilt ; — I longed to spit
 
 158 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Upon this friendship, and to draw my sword. 
 But Eva, looking on my glance and posture, 
 Could guess, I know not how, what in me passed. 
 She gazed imploringly, her cheeks grew pale ; 
 And such a lovely dove, so gentle she — 
 And such a sweet look had she — so serene ! 
 So angel-like ! I know not even how, 
 I had no heart to anger her, to grieve her ; 
 And I was silent ! — I, the brawler famous 
 Throughout all Litva ! — I, who lived no day 
 Without a fight, who never would submit 
 To wrong, not merely at the Pantler's hands, 
 But even at the king's ; whom slightest cross 
 Drove into madness. I, though evil-minded 
 And drunken, was as dumb as a young lamb. 
 As though I saw the Holiest 
 
 " How many times I longed to ope my heart. 
 And even to prayer before him humble me ! 
 But gazing in his eyes I met a look 
 Cold as a stone. Ashamed of my emotion 
 I was ; I hastened once again, quite coldly 
 Of lawsuits, diets, to discourse, and even 
 To jest ! True, all from pride, not to debase 
 The name of the Soplicas, not degrade
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 159 
 
 jMyself before a lord by useless prayers, 
 Nor earn refusal. For what would be said 
 Among the nobles, if they knew that I 
 I, Jacek 
 
 " That the Horeszkos had refused 
 A maiden to Soplica, and to me, 
 Jacek, had offered the black broth ! ^ 
 
 " At last, 
 Not knowing how to act, I thought to gather 
 A slender regiment of the nobles, and 
 To leave for aye the district and my country ; 
 Somewhere in Muscovy or Tartary 
 To go, and war begin. I rode to take 
 Leave of the Pantler, in the hope that when 
 He saw his staunch supporter, his old friend, 
 Almost an inmate of his house, with whom 
 He had drunken, and made war through all those 
 
 years. 
 Now bidding farewell, and into the world 
 Riding afar, the old man might be moved. 
 And show me somewhat yet of human soul. 
 As a snail his horns 
 
 " Ah ! who, though but in his inmost heart's depth,
 
 l6o MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Has but one spark of feeling for a friend, 
 But will this sparkle show on taking leave, 
 Having his forehead for the last time touched, 
 The coldest eye will often shed a tear. 
 
 " The poor girl, hearing I should go away, 
 
 Grew pale, unconscious, fell almost a corpse ; 
 
 Nought could she say, until she poured a stream 
 
 Of tears ! I saw how dear I was to her ! 
 
 I recollect, the first time in my life, 
 
 I burst in tears of joy and of despair. 
 
 I longed again before her father's feet 
 
 To fall, to wind like serpent round his knees. 
 
 Crying, ' Dear father, take me for thy son, 
 
 Or slay me ! ' — Then the Pantler, solemnly, 
 
 Cold as a pillar of salt, polite, unmoved. 
 
 Began to speak; of what? — his daughter's wedding ! 
 
 That moment ! — Thou, Gervasy, friend, consider; 
 
 Thou hast a human heart ! 
 
 " The Pantler said, 
 * Soplica, unto me the Castellan 
 Has sent betrothers ; thou my friend art, what 
 Sayest thou to this ? Thou knowest that I have 
 A daughter fair and rich. The Castellan 
 Is of Witepsk. True, in the Senate he has
 
 EMIGRATION—JACEK. i6r 
 
 A low seat, unconfirmed. What counsel you, 
 Brother?' I cannot now at all remember 
 What unto him I answered ; possibly 
 Nothing. To horse I mounted, and I fled." 
 
 " Jacek," the Klucznik said, " excuses wise 
 
 Thou urgest, yet they lessen not thy fault. 
 
 For truly not once only in the world, 
 
 It has occurred that one who loved a daughter 
 
 Of lord or king, has tried by violent means 
 
 To win her, thought of stealing her away ; 
 
 Revenged him openly. But thus treacherous 
 
 Death to inflict, upon a Polish lord, 
 
 In Poland, and in concert thus with Russians ! " 
 
 " No, not in concert," Jacek said in grief. 
 " Carry her off by violence ? True, I could 
 Have done so, could have snatched her from 
 
 behind 
 Gratings and latches ; could have ground to dust 
 That castle of his ; I had at my back 
 Dobrzyn and four stout clans more. Ah ! if she 
 Had been as our own noble ladies, strong 
 And healthy ; had she feared not flight, pursuit ; 
 And could she but have heard the clash of arms !
 
 l62 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 But she, poor girl ! so carefully her parents 
 
 Had cherished her, that she was timid, weak, 
 
 A caterpillar, a spring butterfly ; 
 
 And thus to seize her, with an armed hand 
 
 To touch her, were to slay her ! No ! I could 
 
 not! — 
 Revenge me openly, by storm to hurl 
 His castle into ruins? Shame ! for men 
 Would say that I revenged me for refusal ! 
 Klucznik, thine honest heart can never feel 
 What hell there lieth in offended pride. 
 
 " Pride's demon counselled me to better plans ; 
 To take a bloody vengeance, but conceal 
 The cause of vengeance ; not to visit more 
 The castle, root that love from out my heart ; 
 To forget Eva, marry with another ; 
 And then to find out later some pretext, 
 Revenge myself 
 
 "Then seemed it to me, that my heart had 
 
 changed, 
 And pleased I was with this imagining. 
 And — married me unto the first I met, 
 A poor girl ! Evil did I — how I was
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 163 
 
 Cruelly punished ! For I loved her not, 
 The hapless mother of my Thaddeus ! — 
 To me the most attached, most loving soul ! — 
 But I within my heart my former love 
 And malice strangled. And I was as mad. 
 In vain I forced myself to husbandry, 
 Or business, all in vain ! For by a demon 
 Of vengeance driven wild, bad, irritable, 
 I found no comforting in aught on earth. 
 And thus I fell from sin to other sins. 
 Began to drink. 
 
 "And so my wife ere long of sorrow died. 
 Leaving that child ; but me despair consumed, 
 
 " How dear I must have held my perished love ! 
 
 So many years ! where have I not been ? and 
 
 I cannot yet forget her, and for aye 
 
 Her loved form stands before my eyes, as painted, 
 
 I drank ; I could not for a moment drink 
 
 Mem'ry away, nor of it rid myself. 
 
 Though I have traversed o'er so many lands ; 
 
 And now behold, in habit of a monk, 
 
 I am God's servant, on this couch, in blood — 
 
 So long I have spoken of her ! — in this moment 
 
 To speak of such things ! God will pardon me !
 
 i64 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 You here must know in what despair and grief 
 That crime was done. 
 
 *' 'Twas shortly after her betrothal day ; 
 They talked of this betrothal everywhere. 
 'Twas said, when Eva from the Wojewode's hand 
 Received the nuptial ring, she swooned, she fell 
 Into a fever, that she had the symptoms 
 Of a consumption, that she ceaseless sobbed. 
 'Twas guessed she loved another secretly. 
 But still the Pantler, ever tranquil, merry. 
 Gave in the castle balls, and gathered friends. 
 Me he invited not ; in what could I 
 Be useful to him ? My misrule at home, 
 And wretchedness, my shameful custom, made 
 Me as a scorn and laughter to the world ; — 
 Who once, I well may say it, shook the whole 
 District ; whom Radziwill * beloved called ; 
 Who, when I forth from out my farmstead rode, 
 Went with a court more numerous than a prince ; 
 And when I drew my sword some thousand sabres 
 Around were gleaming, frightening lordly castles. 
 But now the peasant children laughed at me. 
 
 * Prince Charles Radziwill, surnamed Kochanek or Be- 
 loved, from his invariable habit of thus addressing all persons.
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 163 
 
 Thus sudden grew I vile in eyes of men ! 
 Jacek Soplica ! Who knows what is pride ? " 
 
 Here feeble grew the Bernardine, and fell 
 Back on the couch. Then spoke the Klucznik, 
 roused : 
 
 " Great are Heaven's judgments. True, true! so 
 
 'tis thou ! 
 And thou art Jacek ! Thou Soplica ! under 
 A hood ! thou livest.as a beggar ! Thou, 
 Whom I remember ruddy and in health, 
 A handsome noble, when the ladies praised thee. 
 When women raved about thee ! Whisker-bearer ! 
 Not as thou wert in former days ! thus hast thou 
 Grown old from sorrow ! How did I not know thee 
 After that shot, when thou didst hit the bear 
 So perfectly ? our Litva had no marksman 
 Surpassing thee ; thou also, after Matthew, 
 Wert with the sabre first ! True, in past times 
 Our noble ladies sang concerning thee, 
 ' Lo ! Jacek twirls his whisker, all the regions 
 
 shake, 
 And he for whom the whisker shall this twirling 
 make, 
 
 VOL. II. M
 
 1 66 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Were he even Prince Eadziwill, shall tremble for 
 
 its sake.' 
 And thou didst twirl it even for my lord ! 
 Unhappy one ! 'Tis thou ! brought to what state ! 
 Jacek the Whiskered is a begging friar ! 
 Great are Heaven's judgments! And now, ha! ha! 
 
 scatheless 
 Thou never shall come forth ! 1 swear it, thou 
 Who hast sucked Horeszko's drops of blood away." 
 
 Meanwhile the priest sat up upon the couch, 
 
 And ended thus : " I rode around the castle. 
 
 How many devils were there in my head, 
 
 And in my heart ! who shall repeat their names ? 
 
 ' The Pantler slayeth his own child. Already 
 
 Me has he slain, annihilated.' Under 
 
 The door I rode ; some devil lured me there. 
 
 Look on his riot ! Drunkenness each day 
 
 Within the castle, and how many lights 
 
 The windows show ; what music in the halls ! 
 
 And will that castle not in ruins fall 
 
 Upon his bald head ? 
 
 "Think of vengeance, swift 
 Will Satan give a weapon to thy hand. 
 Scarce I imagined it, when Satan sent
 
 EMIGRATION— y ACER. 167 
 
 The Muscovites ! I stood on gazing. Thou 
 Knowest how they stormed your castle. 
 
 " But 'tis false 
 That I was in accord with Muscovites ! 
 
 " I gazed on. Various thoughts swarmed through 
 
 my head. 
 First with a foolish smile, as children look 
 On conflagration, gazed I ; then I felt 
 A murderer's joy, and while I waited, swift 
 The castle walls began to burn and fall. 
 At times the thought possessed me to rush in. 
 To rescue her, the Pantler even 
 
 " Ye did defend yourselves, thou knowest, bravely 
 
 And prudently. I marvelled. Round me fell 
 
 The Muscovites. Those cattle ! ill they aim ! 
 
 On viewing their disasters, once again 
 
 Did spite possess me. Shall this Pantler be 
 
 Victorious, and shall all things in the world 
 
 Thus prosper for him ? And shall he come forth 
 
 With triumph from this terrible attack 7 
 
 I rode away in shame. Just then 'twas morn. 
 
 Then looked I up, I knew him. He came forth 
 
 Upon the balcony, his diamond clasp
 
 1 68 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Did in the sunlight ghtter, and he twirled 
 
 His whisker proudly, and a proud glance threw. 
 
 It seemed that unto me especially 
 
 He bade defiance, that he knew me, and 
 
 Thus stretched his hand towards me, mocking me, 
 
 And threatening. I a Russian's rifle grasped, 
 
 Scarce pointed, scarce took aim, but off" it went ! 
 
 Thou knowest ! 
 
 " Cursed be those fire-arms ! He who slays with 
 
 sword 
 Must place himself, attack and parry, turn ; 
 He may disarm his foe, may stay the sword 
 Half-way ; but with these fire-arms ! 'tis enough 
 To touch the lock ! a moment ? one sole spark ! 
 
 " Did I fly then, when thou took'st aim at me 
 
 From overhead ? I fixed my eyes upon 
 
 My gun's two barrels ; and some strange despair, 
 
 Some wondrous sorrow, fixed me to the earth. 
 
 Why then, alas ! Gervasy, why didst thou 
 
 Then miss me? Thou hadst done me service thus! 
 
 But well it might be seen for expiation 
 
 Of sin 'twas needful " 
 
 Here again he failed
 
 EMIGRATION— y ACER. 169 
 
 For want of breath. " God knows," the Klucznik 
 
 said, 
 " I truly wished to hit thee ! How much blood 
 By that one shot of thine hast thou poured forth ! 
 How many miseries fell on us, and on 
 Thine own race, all through thy fault. Master Jacek ! 
 But when thejiigers for their target took 
 The last of the Horeszkos, although by 
 The spindle side, thou didst him shield, and when 
 A Muscovite did fire at me, thou didst 
 Cast me to earth, and thus didst save us both. 
 If true it is thou art a cloistered priest, 
 Thy frock alone protects thee from the Penknife. 
 Farewell, no more I'll tarry on your threshold. 
 Let us be quits, and leave to Heaven the rest." 
 
 Jacek stretched forth his hand. Gervasy drew 
 Backwards. " I cannot," said he, "without shame 
 To my nobility, e'er touch a hand 
 With such a murder stained, from private vengeance, 
 And not pro bono publico " 
 
 But Jacek 
 Sank from the pillows back upon the couch. 
 And turned towards the Judge, and ever paler. 
 Asked anxiously about the parish priest ;
 
 I70 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 And to the Klucznik called, " I do beseech you, 
 That you remain ! I presently will end. 
 I scarce have power sufficient." 
 
 " What, my brother ! " 
 The Judge exclaimed ; " thy wound is not so 
 
 grave. 
 What sayest thou of the parish priest ? Perhaps 
 It was ill dressed. I'll call the doctor here. 
 
 " Or in our store of medicines " The priest 
 
 Broke in : " My brother, 'twere in vain ! It is 
 A former wound from Jena ; 'twas ill-healed, 
 And now fresh opened ; there is gangrene here. 
 I understand wounds. Look how black the blood, 
 Like pitch ! What use the doctor here ? but that 
 A vain thing is ! Once only can we die ; 
 Give up our soul to-morrow, or to-day. 
 Sir Klucznik, wilt thou pardon me ? I must 
 
 Conclude 
 
 " There is in this some merit, not 
 To will to be a traitor to the^nation, 
 Although the nation traitor thee proclaim ; 
 For him, above all, in whom dwells such pride 
 As dwelt in me. — 
 
 " The name of traitor clung 
 To me like pestilence. All patriots
 
 EMIGRATION— y ACER. 171 
 
 Did turn their faces from me ; former friends 
 
 Fled from me ; he who timid was, afar 
 
 Saluted and avoided me; and even 
 
 Each wretched peasant, miserable Jew, 
 
 Although he bowed, did pierce me from aside 
 
 With mocking smile. The name of traitor rung 
 
 Within my ears, with echo did resound 
 
 At home, abroad. That word from morn till dusk 
 
 Before me circled, as a spot before 
 
 An eye diseased. And yet no traitor was I 
 
 Unto my country " 
 
 " The Muscovites would gain me partisan ; 
 
 They gave to the Soplicas a large share 
 
 Of the deceased man's lands; and later on 
 
 The Targowica traitors *^ wished to honour 
 
 Me with an office. If I then had willed 
 
 To Russianise myself, which Satan counselled, 
 
 I had by now most rich and powerful grown. 
 
 Had I become a Muscovite, the highest 
 
 Magnates had sought my favour, even my brother 
 
 Nobles, and even the commonality, 
 
 Who do so readily despise their own. 
 
 Forgive those happier who serve Muscovy ! 
 
 I knew all that — but yet — I could not !
 
 172 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 " From the land I fled — 
 
 Where have I not been ? what have I not suffered? 
 
 " Until God deigned reveal the only cure : 
 I must reform myself, and must repair, 
 As far as in my power might lie 
 
 "The Pantler's daughter, with the Wojewode, 
 Her husband, somewhere in Siberia 
 Transported, there died early. In this country 
 She left Sophia, her little daughter. I 
 Commanded she should be adopted 
 
 " Maybe from foolish pride, far more than love, 
 
 I slew ; so must I show humility. 
 
 I went among the monks. I, once so proud 
 
 Of race, I, who was as a blusterer, 
 
 Did bow my head, a friar ; I called me 
 
 Robak, 
 Since like a worm in dust 
 
 " That ill example for the Fatherland, - ■ 
 Encouragement to treason, it was needful 
 By good example to redeem, by blood. 
 By sacrifice
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 173 
 
 " I for my country fought ; — but where — I say not. 
 
 'Twas not for earthly glory that I rushed 
 
 So oft on swords and shot. To me more sweet 
 
 'Tis to remember, not loud, valorous deeds, 
 
 But silent actions, useful sufferings, 
 
 Which none-7 
 
 " Not one time only did I penetrate 
 Unto my country, bearing the commands 
 Of generals, collecting information, 
 Concluding treaties. The Galicians know 
 This monkish hood, the Poseners know it too. 
 One year I laboured in a Prussian fortress ; 
 Three times the IMuscovites did wound my 
 
 shoulders 
 With sticks, once sent me to Siberia ; 
 The Austrians then in Spielberg buried me 
 To labour^n their dungeons, — career durum. 
 The Lord by miracle delivered me, 
 Permitting me to die among my people, 
 And with the sacraments. 
 
 " Perhaps ev'n now, who knows, maybe I sinned. 
 Maybe 'beyond the generals' commands, 
 I hurried insurrection on. This thought,
 
 174 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 That the Soplica house should arm the first — 
 My kinsmen the first Horseman should upraise 
 In Litva — this thought — seemeth pure 
 
 "Thou didst desire revenge? Behold, thou hast it ! 
 For thou wast instrument of God's chastising ; 
 Heaven by thy means did cut my measures through. 
 Thou didst the thread so many years had spun 
 Tangle ; the great aim which consumed my life, 
 My latest earthly feeling in the world, 
 Which I had cherished as my dearest child, 
 Thou in its father's eyes hast slain, and I 
 
 Forgive thee ! Thou " 
 
 " May Heaven forgive us both ! " 
 The Klucznik broke in. '"' If thou art about 
 To take the sacrament, Friar Jacek, I 
 Am neither Lutheran, nor schismatic* Who 
 Afflicts the dying, I know sins heavily. 
 I'll tell thee somewhat that will sure rejoice thee. 
 When my deceased master wounded fell. 
 And I bent o'er him, kneeling, and my sword 
 Steeped in his wound, and swore revenge, — my lord 
 Did shake his head, his hand stretched towards 
 the gate, 
 
 * Of the Greek Church.
 
 EMIGRATION— yACEK. 175 
 
 To where thou wert, and in the air he signed 
 The cross. He could not speak, but gave this sign 
 That he forgave his murderer. I this 
 Did understand, but I so mad with rage 
 Was then, I ne'er a word spoke of this cross." 
 
 The sick man's sufferings here broke off discourse, 
 And one long hour of silence followed then. 
 They wait the priest. The sound of hoofs was 
 
 heard ; 
 A breathless tenant at the chamber knocked. 
 He bears a letter of importance, shows it 
 To Jacek's self. Then Jacek to his brother 
 Gives it, and him desires to read aloud. 
 The letter was from Fisher, at that time 
 Commanding in the staff of Poland's army, under 
 Prince Joseph. He announced, that in the secret 
 Imperial cabinet was war declared ; 
 The Emperor now proclaims it to the world. 
 The Diet is in Warsaw summoned, and 
 The States Confederate of Masovia have 
 Decreed the union of LitvaniaJ 
 
 Jacek, in hearing, spoke a silent prayer. 
 A sacred taper pressing to his breast,
 
 176 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 He raised to heaven his eyes, alight with hope, 
 
 And shed a flood of last and joyful tears. 
 
 " Now, Lord," he said, " let thou thy servant part 
 
 In peace." All knelt; just then upon the threshold 
 
 A bell did sound, a sign the parish priest 
 
 Had with the Host arrived. 
 
 Night now had fled, 
 And through the milky heaven did course the first 
 Bright, rosy sunbeams, through the window-panes 
 They fell like diamond arrows. On the couch 
 They shone reflected from the sick man's head, 
 And dressed in gold his brow and countenance, 
 That like a saint he shone in fiery crown.
 
 NOTES TO BOOK X. 
 
 I. " ^/ Korsakoiu s 
 
 Famous retreat from Zurich^ 
 
 The dates of the battles here enumerated are as follows : 
 Oczakow, 1788; Ismail, 1790; Novi, in the plain of Marengo, 
 where the French were defeated by the Austro-Russian 
 army, 1799. "^^^ retreat of Suwarow's army from Zurich 
 took place in the same year. 
 
 2. " Your Koschiszko at Raclawice.^'' 
 
 At the battle of Raclawice, near Krakow, Kosciuszko 
 gained a signal victoiy over the Austrian and Russian 
 troops ; in a great measure by the peasant infantry armed 
 with scythes, which he was the first to organise, and of 
 which he there proved the efficiency. 
 
 3. " Again at Maciejoivke." 
 
 Maciejowice, the field where Kosciuszko was defeated 
 
 and taken prisoner by the Russians on the loth October 
 1794-
 
 178 NOTES. 
 
 4. ^^ Tenczynski once 
 Did ask a daughter of a royal house." 
 
 John Tenczynski, in the sixteenth century, gained the love 
 of a princess of Sweden, with the approval of her brother 
 King Eric, but being taken prisoner at sea by the Danish 
 fleet, died in captivity, without the consummation of his 
 wishes. This story forms the base of a novel by Niemce- 
 wicz, and tlrere is a very pretty poem by Karpinski on the 
 same subject. 
 
 5. " The black broth." 
 
 * Black broth, served to a suitor for the hand of a lady, 
 signified a refusal. — See Notes to Book II. 
 
 6. " The Targowica traitors." 
 
 * It would appear that the Stolnik was killed about the 
 year 1791, in the first war [followed by the Russian occupa- 
 tion, and subsequent insurrection]. 
 
 7. " Decreed the union of Litvania," 
 
 War between France and Russia was declared on the 3d 
 August 181 1.
 
 BOOK XI. 
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 
 
 Spring omens — Entrance of armies — Divine service — Official 
 rehabilitation of Jacek Soplica — The end of the lawsuit near 
 at hand, to be inferred frofn the conversation of Gervasy and 
 Protasy — Love-scene betwee?i the lancer and the maiden — The 
 disp7ite concerning Kusy and Sokol is decided — The guests 
 assemble for the banquet — Presentation of the betrothed 
 couples to the generals. 
 
 Thou year ! who in our country thee beheld, 
 
 The year of beauty calls thee even now, 
 
 But year of war the soldier ; even yet 
 
 Our elders love to tell of thee, even now 
 
 Song dreameth of thee. Long wert thou proclaimed 
 
 By heavenly miracle, and thee forestalled 
 
 Dumb rumours 'mid the people ; all the hearts 
 
 Of the Litvini with the sun of spring 
 
 Were girdled by some strange presentiment, 
 
 As though before the ending of the world ; 
 
 Some expectation full of joy and fear.
 
 i8o'' MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 When first they drove the cattle forth in spring, 
 'Twas marked, though lean and famished, they 
 
 did not 
 Rush on the winter-corn, green on the glebe ; 
 But lay down on the mead, with heads bow§d down, 
 To low, or chew the cud of winter food. 
 
 The villagers, who led the plough on field. 
 Now scarce rejoiced as they were wont to do 
 At ending of long winter, for no song 
 They sang ; they laboured idly, as they neither 
 Recalled the seed-time nor the harvest. At 
 Each step they stayed the oxen and the ponies 
 In harness, and with anxious heart they gazed 
 Towards the western quarter, as from thence 
 Some miracle should be revealed, and marked 
 With anxious heart the homeward flying birds. 
 
 For even thus early to his native pine 
 The stork was flying, widely he unfurled 
 His white wings, early standard of the spring. 
 And after him in noisy regiments came 
 Upon the waters swallows gathering thick, 
 Who from the late-thawed earth collected mud 
 To build their houses. And at eventide
 
 THE YEAR 1812. iSi 
 
 The arriving woodcocks whispering were heard 
 Among the thickets, and the wild-goose flock 
 Murmured above the wood, and wearied fell 
 Down with great uproar, for a halt, and in 
 The sky's dark depth the cranes continual cry. 
 Hearing, the nightly guards inquire in fear, 
 Whence in the winged kingdom such confusion ? 
 What storm thus early drives the birds away ? 
 
 And now behold a newer flock, that seems 
 Finches and plovers, starlings, flock of shining 
 Crests and of standards ; brightly on the hills 
 They shone, and on the plains they make descent. 
 The cavalry ! Adornments wondrous, arms 
 Invisible, troop after troop ; in midst 
 Like melted snows, along the highways, glide 
 Ranks sheathed in iron, from out the woods their 
 
 caps 
 Swarm blackly, and a row of bayonets gleams ; 
 The ant-hill's swarming infantry unnumbered. 
 
 All towards the north ! It certain might be said 
 That in that migratory time even men, 
 Following the birds, were marching to our land, 
 Impelled by some mysterious instinct force. 
 
 VOL. II. N
 
 i82 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Men, horses, guns, and eagles, day and night 
 Flow onward ; in the sky flame here and there 
 Wide blazes, earth is trembling, one may hear 
 The thunders smite on every side. 
 
 War ! war ! 
 In Litva there is not a foot of land 
 Wiiereto its uproar does not penetrate. 
 'Mid the dark forest-lands the peasant, all 
 Whose parents and whose ancestors have died, 
 Not having passed beyond the forest's bounds, — 
 Who understood in heaven no other cries 
 Than those of storm-winds, nor on earth beside 
 The roars of beasts ; had seen no other guests 
 Than fellow-foresters, now sees — in heaven 
 A wondrous fire-blaze glowing, in the forest 
 A crashing hears ; some wandering cannon-ball. 
 Strayed from the field of battle, seeks its way 
 Amid the forest, rending all its stems, 
 Its branches severing. The bison, reverend 
 Greybeard, did tremble in the moss, erected 
 The long hair of his mane, and half arose. 
 Leaned on his forelegs, shook his beard, and gazed 
 Bewildered on the embers, glimmering 
 On sudden 'mid the broken clods. It was 
 A wandering grenade, that whirled around,
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 183 
 
 And raged, and hissed, and burst with thunder- 
 noise. 
 The bison, for the first time in his life, 
 Felt fear, and to the deepest refuge fled. 
 
 "A battle ! where? In wliat part?" asked the youths. 
 They seized their weapons, women raise their hands 
 To heaven ; all sure of victory, with tears 
 Cry, " Heaven is with Napoleon, he with us ! " 
 
 O spring ! I, who beheld thee in our land, 
 Spring-time renowned for war ! spring-time of 
 beauty ! 
 
 spring ! I, who beheld thee blossoming 
 With corn and grass, and gleaming all with men, 
 Fruitful in doings, pregnant thou with hope, 
 
 1 see thee yet, fair phantom of a dream ! — 
 In slavery born, chained yet in infancy, 
 
 I had but one such spring-time in my life ! 
 
 Right by the high-road Soplicowo lay. 
 Whereby two leaders marched from Niemen's side,^ 
 Prince Joseph and Jerome, Westphalia's King. 
 They had already conquered part of Litva,
 
 iS4 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 From Grodno unto Slonim, when the King 
 Commanded three days' halt to breathe the troops. 
 But spite of weariness the PoHsh soldiers 
 Lamented that the King forbade their march, 
 So gladly they would reach the Muscovite. 
 
 The Prince's chief staff in the neighbouring town 
 Was quartered, but in Soplicowo stood 
 The camp of forty thousand, with their staffs ; 
 The Generals Dombrowski, Kniaziewicz, 
 And Malachowski, Giedroic, Grabowski. 
 
 Late was it when they entered ; therefore each 
 Where best he might found quarters — in the castle, 
 And in the mansion. Orders swift were given ; 
 The sentinels were posted ; each man, wearied, 
 Went to his chamber for repose ; — with night 
 All things were silent, camp, and house, and field. 
 Alone were seen, like shadows, wandering 
 Patrols, and here and there the camp-fires' gleam. 
 And circling watch-words heard of army posts. 
 
 All slept — the master of the house, the leaders, 
 And soldiers. But the Wojski's eyes alone 
 Taste no sweet sleep ; the Wojski must set forth
 
 THE YEAR 1S12. 185 
 
 Next day a banquet, whereby he will make 
 Soplica's house renowned for evermore ; 
 A banquet dear to hearts of Polish guests, 
 And buiting a great day's solemnity, 
 Feast of the Church, and of the family. 
 To-morrow shall three couples be betrothed ; 
 But General Dombrowski yester-eve 
 Had said he wished to have a Polish dinner. 
 
 Though late the hour, the Wojski gathered quick 
 Cooks from the neighbourhood ; of these were 
 
 five. 
 They serve, he plays the master. As chief cook, 
 He girded him with apron white, indued 
 A white cap, and his sleeves to elbow rolled. 
 In one hand was his fly-scare, to drive off 
 The miserable insects, greedily 
 Upon the tit-bits falling ; with the other 
 He wiped his spectacles and put them on. 
 Drew forth a book, and opened it, and read. 
 
 The book entitled was, " The Perfect Cook." 2 
 
 Therein all specialties were plainly written 
 
 Of Polish tables ; after its direction 
 
 The Count of Tenczyn those famed banquets gave
 
 i86 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 In Italy, whereat the Holy Father, 
 Urban the Eighth, so marvelled.^ After them 
 Charles Radziwill, " Beloved," later on. 
 When he in Nieswiez King Stanislas 
 Received, that memorable banquet made, 
 Whose glory even now through Litva lives 
 In story of the people. 
 
 What the Wojski 
 Reading did understand, and did explain, 
 The cooks intelligent at once fulfilled. 
 The labour seethes, some fifty knives are clattering 
 Upon the board, the scullions bustle round, 
 As demons black ; some carry wood, some jugs 
 With wine and milk, they pour it into kettles, 
 Stewpans, and saucepans. Smoke bursts forth; two 
 
 scullions 
 Beside the oven sit, and blow the bellows. 
 The Wojski, that the wood might easier burn. 
 Commanded melted butter to be poured 
 Upon the wood — permitted such excess 
 Is in a wealthy house. The scullions heap 
 Upon the fire dry brushwood ; others place 
 Upon the spits enormous roasts of beef. 
 Of venison, quarters of the boar and stag ; 
 Some pluck great heaps of birds, the feathers fly
 
 THE YEAR 1S12. 187 
 
 In clouds — grouse, heathcocks, chickens, all are 
 
 stripped. 
 But fowls were not in plenty ; since that inroad 
 Which at the period of the foray made 
 The murderous young Dobrzynski on the henhouse 
 When he Sophia's care reduced to nought, 
 Nor left of reparation means, not yet 
 In Soplicowo, once renowned for poultry, 
 The birds again might flourish. For the rest 
 Of every kind of meat was great abundance. 
 Which might be gathered there from house and 
 
 shambles, 
 And from the forests and the neighbourhood, 
 From near and far; — thou'dst say the only thing 
 They could not furnish forth was milk of birds.* 
 Two things a liberal master seeks in feasts 
 Were joined in Soplicowo, art and plenty. 
 
 Already had arisen the solemn day ; 
 
 The weather was most fair, the hour was early, 
 
 And the clear heaven was drawn around the earth 
 
 Like to a hanging sea, still, concave-arched. 
 
 A few stars glimmered from the deep, like pearls 
 
 * A proverb, used to imply great abundance and luxury.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 From sea-depths through the billows ; on one side 
 A white cloud, one alone, flies lightly upward, 
 And in the deep-blue sky were plunged its wings, 
 Like parting pinions of a guardian angel, 
 Who by the nightly prayer of men detained, 
 And over-late, hastes to return among 
 His fellow-denizens of heaven. 
 
 Now quenched 
 The last faint pearls of stars, and in the depths 
 Of skies extinguished were, and heaven's brow 
 Is paler midmost. Its right temple, laid 
 Upon a pillow of shade, is swarthy still ; 
 Tlie left aye redder blushes ; farther off, 
 A circle, like an eyelid broad, opes wide, 
 And in the midst the white part of an eye 
 Is seen, the iris and the pupil ; now 
 A sunbeam darted forth, and in the round 
 Of skies it gleamed refracted, and it hung 
 Upon a white cloud like a golden lance. 
 Upon this arrow, signal of the day, 
 A sheaf of fires flew forth, a thousand rockets, 
 That o'er the circle of the world did cross. 
 And rose the sun's eye. Somewhat yet asleep, 
 It winked, and trembling shook its radiant lashes. 
 Shining at once with all its seven hues.
 
 THE YEAR 1S12. 189 
 
 At once it shone with sapphire, redly glowed 
 In ruby, yellow with the topaz light ; 
 Till all at once it flamed as crystal clear. 
 Tiicn like a gleaming diamond : lastly fiery. 
 Like to a great moon, like a twinkling star; 
 Thus through the heavens measureless did pass 
 The lonely sun. 
 
 To-day the Litvin people 
 From all the neighbourhood are gathered round 
 The chapel ere the sunrise, as to hear 
 The ahnouncement of some novel miracle. 
 This gathering from the people's piety 
 In part proceeded, part from curiousness ; 
 For this day will the generals be present 
 At mass in Soplicowo, those renowned 
 As leaders of our legions, they of whom 
 The people knew the names, and honoured them 
 Like patron saints, and all whose wanderings. 
 Campaigns, and battles were a national 
 Gospel to Litva. 
 
 Now some officers 
 Had come already, and a crowd of soldiers. 
 The people flocked around them, on them gazed. 
 And scarcely might believe their eyes, beholding 
 Their fellow-countrymen in uniform,
 
 I90 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Armed, free, and speaking in the Polish tongue. 
 Mass was performed. The tiny sanctuary 
 Might not contain the whole assembly there ; 
 The people kneel upon the grass, and gaze 
 Inside the chapel doors, uncovering 
 Their heads. The hair of the Litvanian folk, 
 Fair-hued or yellow, golden shone like field 
 Of ripened rye ; and blooming here and there 
 The fair hair of a maiden, with fresh flowers 
 Adorned, or peacock's eyes, with ribbons braided. 
 Adornment of the tresses, gleamed among 
 The men's heads, as 'mid wheat corn-flowers and 
 
 tares. 
 The many-coloured, kneeling crowd o'erspread 
 The field, and at the bell's voice, as it were 
 At blowing of the wind, the heads all bowed, 
 As corn-ears in a field. 
 
 The village maids 
 To-day unto our Lady's altar bear 
 Spring's earliest gifts, fresh branches of green herbs ; 
 All round in garlands and in nosegays dressed. 
 Altar and picture, and the belfry even, 
 And galleries. At times the morning breeze. 
 When blowing from the east, the garlands strips. 
 And throws on brows of kneeling worshippers.
 
 THE YEAR 1S12. 191 
 
 And scatters them like fragrance from the censers. 
 
 But when the Mass and sermon both were done, 
 
 Presiding o'er the whole assembly now 
 
 The Chamberlain came forth, elected Marshal/ 
 
 With one accord, by ail the District's States, 
 
 Wearing the Palatinal uniform, 
 
 A zupan gold-embroidered, the kontusz 
 
 Of Tours brocade with fringes, massy girdle, 
 
 Where hung a sabre with a shagreen hilt, 
 
 And a great diamond pin gleamed at his neck. 
 
 White his Confederate cap, and thereupon 
 
 A bunch of precious feathers ; crests were these 
 
 Of herons white ; on festivals alone 
 
 Is worn so rich a plume, whose every feather 
 
 A ducat costs. Thus clad, upon a hill 
 
 Before the church he mounted. Round him 
 
 pressed 
 The villagers and soldiers. Thus he spoke : 
 
 " Brothers, the priest has late to you proclaimed 
 The freedom which the Emperor-king restored 
 Unto the crown, and now to Litva's Duchy ; 
 Restored unto all Poland ; ye have heard 
 The government decrees, and convocation , 
 Summoning the Diet. I have but to speak
 
 192 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 A few words to the people, on a matter 
 Concerning the Soplica family, 
 Lords of this place. 
 
 " The region all remembers 
 The crime committed by the late Pan Jacek 
 Soplica here ; but since you all do know 
 His crimes, 'tis time we likewise should proclaim 
 His merits to the world. The leaders of 
 Our armies here are present, from whom I 
 Have learned all that which now I tell to you. 
 This Jacek did not die, as rumour said. 
 In Rome, but only changed his former life. 
 And state, and name, and all his crimes against 
 God and the Fatherland he has effaced 
 By holy life, and by great deeds. 
 
 " 'Twas he. 
 At Hohenlinden, who, when General Richepanse, 
 Half-beaten, did bethink him of retreat, 
 Unknowing Kniaziewicz with help drew near ; — 
 He, Jacek, Robak called, through swords and spears, 
 Bore letters from Kniaziewicz to Richepanse, 
 Announcing our men took the foe in rear.^ 
 He later on in Spain, when that our lancers 
 Did capture Somosierra's trenched crest,^ 
 At Kozieltulski's side was wounded twice.
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 193 
 
 Then, as an envoy, charged with secret orders, 
 
 To different regions travelled he, to sound 
 
 The spirit of the people, to unite 
 
 Secret societies, and form them. Lastly, 
 
 In Soplicowo, his paternal nest, 
 
 ^Vhen he an insurrection did prepare, 
 
 He perished in a foray. Just upon 
 
 His death intelligence to Warsaw came, 
 
 His Majesty the Emperor had deigned 
 
 To give him for his late heroic deeds 
 
 The ensigns chivalrous of Honour's Legion.* 
 
 " Wherefore all these things having in regard, 
 I, representing here the Wojewode's rule. 
 With my Confederation staff, proclaim 
 To you, that Jacek by his faithful service, 
 And by the Emperor's favour, has effaced 
 The stain of infamy, and now returns 
 To honour, and again he finds a place 
 In ranks of truest patriots. Therefore who 
 Shall dare remind the family of Jacek 
 Of his long-expiated fault, shall fall 
 Beneath the punishment of such reproach, 
 
 * Le°ion cT iwnnetir.
 
 194 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 As gravis notcz macula, declare, 
 
 The statute's words ; such penalty affects 
 
 Both 7nilitem and scartabel^ who shall 
 
 Put infamy upon a citizen ; 
 
 And since equality does now prevail, 
 
 Burghers and peasants this third article 
 
 Likewise obliges.* Let this Marshal's order 
 
 The district Writer in the general Acts 
 
 Inscribe, and let the Wozny set it forth. / 
 
 " As touches now the cross of Honour's Legion, 
 
 That it arrived too late shall not detract 
 
 From glory. If it might not Jacek serve 
 
 As ornament, be it a memory of him. 
 
 Let us suspend it on his grave. Three days 
 
 Let it hang here ; then in the chapel lay 
 
 The cross, a votive offering to the Virgin." 
 
 This saying, the order from its covering 
 He drew, and hung upon the humble cross 
 That marked the grave a crimson ribbon, tied 
 In form of a cockade, and that white cross. 
 Glittering with stars and with its golden crown. 
 
 * The inhabitants of cities only received lull political privi 
 leges by the constitution of 1791.
 
 THE YEAR i8r2. 195 
 
 And in the sunbeams brightly shone the stars, 
 Like the last gleam of Jacek's earthly glory. 
 Meanwhile the people said upon their knees 
 The Angelus, for peace eternal praying 
 Unto the sinner's soul. The Judge addressed 
 The guests and village crowd, inviting all 
 To Soplicowo for the banquet. 
 
 But 
 Upon the grassy bank before the house 
 Two old men sat, two measures full of mead 
 Upon their knees ; they towards the orchard gaze, 
 Where like a sunflower, 'mid the poppy-buds 
 Of various hue, there stood a lancer, wearing 
 A shining kolpak, decked with golden metal 
 And a cock's feather ; near to him a girl 
 In dress as green as lowly rue, upraised 
 Eyes blue as heart 's-ease flowers towards the lad's. 
 Young maidens in the garden further off, 
 Were gathering flowers ; purposely they turned 
 Their heads away from where the lovers stood, 
 So that they might not trouble their discourse. 
 
 But those two old men drank their mead, and from 
 A snuff-box made of bark regaled each other. 
 And talked.
 
 196 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 " Yes, yes, dear old Protasy," said 
 Gervasy, Klucznik. — " Yes, dear old Gervasy," 
 Protasy, Wozny, said. — " Yes, yes, just so," 
 They in accord repeated many times, 
 Nodding their heads thereto. At length the Wozny 
 " That wondrously this suit has ended I 
 Do not deny, yet there are precedents ; 
 I can remember lawsuits during which 
 Far worse excesses happened than in ours. 
 But intermarriage ended all the evil. 
 Lopot to the Borzdobohaci 
 Was reconciled, the Krepsztuls to the house 
 Of Kupsc, and to Pikturna Putrament ; 
 Mackiewicz to the Odyniec family, 
 And Turno unto the Kwileckis. But 
 What say I ? Why, the Poles were used to have 
 With Litva disagreements worse by far 
 Than those of the Horeszkos and Soplica ; 
 But Queen Jadwiga, when she counsel took, 
 Did quickly end that feud without the courts. 
 'Tis well when parties have a maid or widow 
 To give in marriage, thus a compromise 
 Is always ready. Lawsuits always last 
 The longest with the clergy, or with kindred 
 Too near related, for the action then
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 197 
 
 May never be with marriage brought to end. 
 Thence come the unending feuds of Poles and 
 
 Russians, 
 Since they proceed from Lech and Russ, own 
 
 brothers ; ^ 
 Thence were so many Lithuanian suits 
 With the Crusaders, till Jagellon won. 
 Thence, to conclude, peudebat long before 
 The acts, that famous lawsuit of the Rymszas 
 With the Dominicans, whence rose the proverb, 
 'The Lord is greater than Pan Rymsza.' But 
 ril warrant, mead is better than the Penknife." 
 This saying, he clinked his goblet with the 
 
 Klucznik's. 
 
 " True, true," replied Gervasy, greatly moved ; 
 
 " Wondrous have been the fortunes of our Crown, 
 
 And of our Litva ! Truly, like two consorts. 
 
 Heaven did unite them, and the devil part. 
 
 To Heaven his own, and to the devil his. 
 
 Ah ! brother dear, Protasy, that our eyes 
 
 Should see this ! that these dwellers of the Crown 
 
 Salute us ! I served with them years ago, 
 
 I well remember they were brave Confederates. 
 
 If but the Pan tier, my late master, had 
 
 VOL. II. o
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Lived to behold this day ! O Jacek ! Jacek ! 
 But why should we lament ? This very day 
 Our Litva once more joineth with the Crown, 
 That too is reconciled, is blotted out." 
 
 " And this a wonder is," Protasy said, 
 
 " Concerning this Sophia, for whose hand 
 
 Our Thaddeus now entreats — a year ago 
 
 There was an omen, like a sign from Heaven." 
 
 " Lady Sophia ! " broke the Klucznik in, 
 
 " We now must call her, since she is grown up ; 
 
 She is not a little girl ; besides, she is 
 
 Of dignitary blood, the Pantler's grandchild. 
 
 However," did Protasy end, " there was 
 
 A sign prophetic of her destiny. 
 
 I saw the sign with mine own eyes. A year 
 
 Ago, our household on a holiday 
 
 Did sit here, drinking mead ; but as we looked, 
 
 Down from the gable fell two sparrows fighting. 
 
 Both were old cock-birds ; one, the younger, had 
 
 A patch of grey beneath the throat, the other 
 
 A black one ; they went scuffling through the 
 
 court, 
 Still turning somersaults, until they rolled 
 Deep in the dust. We looked on, and meanwhile
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 199 
 
 The servants whispered to each other, ' Let 
 The black one be Horeszko, and the other 
 Soplica ; ' so as often as the grey 
 Was uppermost, they cried, ' Long live Soplica ! ' 
 ' Fie ! fie ! Horeszko coward ! ' and when he fell, 
 They cried, ' Up, up, Soplica ! give not in 
 Unto the magnate ; shame 'twere for a noble ! ' 
 Thus jesting did we wait to see who conquered. 
 But just then little Sophy, moved with pity 
 For those two birds, ran up, and covered o'er 
 Both heroes with her little hand ; they fought 
 Together in her hand, until their plumage 
 Flew wide, such rage was in those little devils ! 
 The old women whispered, looking on Sophia, 
 That it was surely the girl's destiny 
 To reconcile two houses long at feud. 
 And now I see, to-day has rendered true 
 The old women's omen, though in truth they then 
 Were thinking of the Count, and not of Thaddjus." 
 
 Thereto the Klucznik answered : '• Wonderful 
 Events are in this world ; who all can fathom ? 
 ril also tell you something ; although not 
 So wondrous as that omen, yet 'tis hard 
 Of understanding. Thou dost know, that once
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 I had been glad to drown the family 
 
 Of the Soplicas in a spoon of water ;* 
 
 But yet this little fellow Thaddeus 
 
 I was extremely fond of from a child. 
 
 I saw that when he fought with other boys, 
 
 He always beat them ; so as oft as he 
 
 Ran to the castle, I would put him up 
 
 To some hard undertaking ; he did all. 
 
 Were it to get down pigeons from the tower, 
 
 Or pluck the mistletoe from off the oak, 
 
 Or plunder crows' nests from the highest pines. 
 
 He did it all ! I said unto myself — 
 
 ' This lad is born beneath a lucky star ; 
 
 A pity 'tis that he is a Soplica ! ' 
 
 But who had guessed the castle should in him 
 
 Welcome its heir, the husband of my lady 
 
 Sophia, my most gracious mistress ? " 
 
 Here 
 The old men left off their discourse, and drank, 
 Deep thinking ; only now and then were heard 
 These few short words — "Yes, yes, masterGervasy;" 
 " Yes, yes, master Protasy." 
 
 The green bank 
 
 * A proverb, signifying to be ready to avenge oneself on 
 the first occasion. — E. S. N.
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 
 
 Touched close upon the kitchen, whereof stood 
 The window open, and the steam burst forth, 
 As from a conflagration ; till from out 
 The wreaths of steam, like to a white dove, gleamed 
 The chief cook's white cap ; through the kitchen 
 
 window 
 The Wojski o'er the old men's heads his own 
 Put forth, in silence listening their discourse ; 
 And offered them a saucer full of biscuits. 
 Saying, " Eat these with your mead, and I mean- 
 while 
 Will tell to you a curious history 
 Of a dispute that well-nigh ended in 
 A bloody fight, when, hunting in the depths 
 Of Naliboko's forests, Rejtan played 
 A trick to Prince Denassau. This same trick 
 Ke well-nigh paid for with his own life. I 
 Composed the quarrel of these gentlemen, 
 As I will now relate to you." ^ But here 
 The cooks broke off the Wojski's story, asking 
 Whom he had charged to arrange the centre-piece. 
 
 The Wojski went away, and having emptied 
 Their mead, the old men, in deep thought, their 
 eyes
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Turned to the garden depths, where held discourse 
 That handsome lancer with the maiden. He 
 Just then within his left hand taking hers — 
 The right was in a sling, for he was wounded — 
 " Sophia, thou now must tell me once for all 
 Ere we change rings. I must be sure of this. 
 What matter that last winter thou wert ready 
 To give thy word to me ? I would not then 
 Accept that word. For what to me availed 
 A promise forced ? At that time I had stayed 
 Short time in Soplicowo. I was not 
 So vain I could delude myself to thinking 
 That by one look of mine I could awake 
 Within thee love. I am no coxcomb ; I 
 By mine own merits wished to gain thy love, 
 Though long I waited for it. Now thou art 
 So gracious as to give once more thy word. 
 By what have I deserved so high a grace ? 
 Maybe thou takest me, Sophia, not 
 So much from inclination, only that 
 Thine uncle and thine aunt to this persuade thee. 
 But marriage is, Sophia, a weighty thing. 
 Advise with thine own heart ; in this attend 
 No threatenings of thine uncle, nor thine aunt's 
 Persuasions. If thou feelest nought for me
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 203 
 
 But goodwill, we may this betrothal yet 
 Some time delay. I have no wish to bind 
 Thy will, and we will wait awhile, Sophia. 
 Nought hurries us, since yester evening I 
 Received commandment to remain in Litva, 
 Drill-master in the regiment here, until 
 My wounds be healed. What then, beloved 
 Sophia ? " 
 
 Thereto Sophia answered, raising up 
 
 Her head, and looking shyly in his eyes : 
 
 " I do not well remember what occurred 
 
 Long since ; I know they all said that I must 
 
 Be married to you ; always I agree 
 
 With Heaven's will, and with my elders' wish." 
 
 Then dropping down her eyes, she added this : 
 
 " Before you parted, if you recollect, 
 
 When Friar Robak died that stormy night, 
 
 I saw that, in departing, you were grieved' 
 
 To leave us ; there were tears within your eyes. 
 
 Those tears, I tell you truly, sank within 
 
 My heart, so I believe you, that you love me. 
 
 As often as I prayed for your success, 
 
 You ever stood before me with those large 
 
 And shinins: tears. The Chamberlain's wife then
 
 204 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Went afterwards to Wilna, and she took me 
 There with her for the winter ; but I longed 
 For Soplicowo, and that little room, 
 Where first at eve you met me by the table ; 
 And then took leave. I know not how, your 
 
 memory, 
 Something like cabbage-seed in autumn sown. 
 Through all the winter quickened in my heart ; 
 That, as I said to you, unceasingly 
 I longed for that apartment, and to me 
 Did something whisper, I again should find 
 You there, and so it happened. Having that 
 Within my heart, your name was often on 
 My lips ; 'twas during Carnival at Wilna ; 
 And the young ladies said I was in love. 
 Now if I some one loved, who should it be, 
 Excepting you ? " Thaddeus, with such a proof 
 Of love delighted, took her by the hand, 
 Pressed it, and they together left the garden, 
 Went to that lady's bower, unto that room 
 Where Thaddeus had dwelt ten years ago. 
 
 Now there the Regent tarried, wondrously 
 Adorned, and served his fair betrothed dame, 
 With running to and fro, and offering
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 205 
 
 Rings, chains, and pots, and flasks, cosmetics, 
 
 perfumes ; 
 Joyful, he gazed with triumph on the bride. 
 The bride her toilette ended even now ; 
 She sat before a mirror, taking counsel 
 Of the divinities of grace ; the maids, 
 Some with the curling-irons renew the stiffened 
 Rings of the tresses, others, kneeling, labour 
 Upon the flounces. 
 
 While the Regent thus 
 Near his betrothed was busy, at the window 
 A scullion knocked ; a hare had just been seen. 
 That hare, late stolen from the osiers forth, 
 Ran through the meadow, in the orchard sprang 
 Among the growing vegetables. There 
 He sat, 'twere easy now to start him, and 
 To hunt him down, the greyhounds placing on 
 The clearing. The Assessor hastens, dragging 
 By the collar Sokol ; after him makes haste 
 The Regent, calling Kusy. Both the dogs 
 The Wojski stations by the hedge, but then 
 Betook him with his fly-scare to the orchard. 
 Trampling, and whistling, clapping, much he 
 
 frightens 
 The game ; the prickers, each one by the collar
 
 2o6 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 His greyhound holding, pointing where the hare 
 
 Is stirring, chuckled silently ; the dogs 
 
 Pricked up their ears impatiently, they trembled. 
 
 Like arrows twain upon one bowstring laid. 
 
 At once the Wojski gave the starting word ; 
 
 The hare straight darted from behind the hedge, 
 
 Upon the mead ; the greyhounds after him. 
 
 And presently, without a double, Sokol 
 
 And Kusy fell together on the hare. 
 
 From two sides in an instant, like a bird's 
 
 Two wings, and plunged into the creature's back 
 
 Their teeth-like claws ; the hare gave forth one cry, 
 
 Grievous, as of a new-born child. The prickers 
 
 Rushed to the spot ; the hare now lifeless lies, 
 
 The greyhounds tear the white fur on his breast. 
 
 The prickers stroked their dogs ; meanwhile the 
 
 Wojski 
 Drew from his girdle forth a hunting-knife, 
 Cut off the feet, and said, "To-day the dogs 
 Shall have an equal fee, for they have both 
 Won equal glory, equal both in swiftness, 
 Equal in labour ; ' Worthy is the palace 
 Of Pac, and Pac is worthy of the palace ; ' ^^ 
 Worthy the prickers of their greyhounds, worthy
 
 THE YEAR 1S12. 207 
 
 The greyhounds of their prickers. Here, behold, 
 Your long and bitter quarrel now is done. 
 I, whom you chose as judge to hold your stakes, 
 Pronounce at length my sentence ; both of you 
 Have won ; the pledges I restore ; let each 
 Receive his own again, and both you sign 
 A peace.'' Then at the old man's invitation 
 The prickers turned a joyous countenance 
 Upon each other, and together joined 
 Their right hands, long divided. 
 
 Then the Regent 
 Said, " Once I staked a horse with all its 
 
 trappings. 
 I notice gave before the local court, 
 That I deposited my ring as fee 
 Unto our Judge ; a pledge deposited. 
 Returned may not be. Let the Wojski take 
 This ring as a remembrance, and command 
 His name to be thereon engraved, or, if 
 He will, Hreczecha's arms. The bloodstone's 
 
 smooth. 
 The gold was tried eleven times. That steed 
 The lancers for the horse have requisitioned ; 
 But still the saddle has remained with me. 
 'Tis praised by every connoisseur, as being
 
 2o8 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Convenient, lasting, lovely as a toy. 
 
 The saddle, in the Turkish Cossack style, 
 
 Is narrow ; in the front a pommel is ; 
 
 Upon it precious stones, a cushion of 
 
 Rich stuff upon the seat ; and when you spring 
 
 Unto the saddle-bow, on this soft down 
 
 Between the pommels you may sit at ease 
 
 As on a couch ; and when you gallop " — here 
 
 Regent Bolesta, who, as well we know, 
 
 Loved gestures greatly, spread his legs apart, 
 
 As though he sprang on horseback, then presenting 
 
 A gallop, slowly rocked from side to side — 
 
 " And when you set off in a gallop, then 
 
 There beams a splendour from the saddle-bow. 
 
 As gold were dropping from the charger, for 
 
 The stirrup-bands are sprinkled o'er with gold, 
 
 And silver the broad stirrups gilded o'er. 
 
 Upon the mouth-piece reins, and on the bridle, 
 
 Shine little buttons of the pearly shell ; 
 
 And to the breast-piece hangs a moon in shape 
 
 Of Leliwa, that is, of the new moon,i^ 
 
 This splendid unique furniture — 'twas captured. 
 
 Report says, in the battle of Podhajce, 
 
 From some considerable Turkish noble — 
 
 Receive, as proof of my regard, Assessor."
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 209 
 
 Whereto the Assessor answered, with the gift 
 Delighted : " I one time my beautiful 
 Dog-collars, given me by Prince Sanguszko, 
 Pledged ; made of shagreen, all with golden circles 
 Inlaid, and with a leash of silk, whereof 
 The workmanship is precious as the stone 
 That shines upon it. I desired to leave 
 This set an heirloom to my children — certain 
 I shall have children, as I shall be married, 
 Thou knowest, to-day. But, Regent, be so good 
 As to accept this set, I pray, in change 
 For thy rich furniture, and in remembrance 
 Of this dispute, which has prevailed for years, 
 And has at last so honourably come 
 To end for both of us. Let peace now flourish 
 Between us." So they home returned, to announce 
 At table that the contest between Sokol 
 And Kusy now was ended. 
 
 Stories were 
 The Wojski in the house had nurtured up 
 This hare, and secretly had let it loose 
 Into the garden, so to make agreed 
 The prickers by such conquest, far too light. 
 The old man with such mystery performed 
 The trick that he completely had deceived
 
 MASTER THADDEUS 
 
 All Soplicowo. Some years later something 
 The scullion of this whispered, to renew 
 The Assessor's quarrel with the Regent, but 
 In vain he spread such tales to wrong the dogs ; 
 The Wojski still denied it, and none then 
 Believed the scullion. 
 
 Now the guests assembled 
 In the great banquet-hall, the banquet waiting. 
 Conversed around the table, when the Judge 
 Entered, in Palatinal uniform. 
 And led in Master Thaddeus and Sophia. 
 Thaddeus, his forehead with the left hand touching. 
 Saluted with a soldier's bow his leaders. 
 Sophia, with glances cast upon the earth. 
 Blushing, the guests with curtsy welcomed, taught 
 By Telimena now to curtsy well. 
 She wore a garland on her head, in sign 
 Of spousal ; for the rest, her dress was such 
 As when to-day within the chapel she 
 Laid spring sheaves for the Virgin. She once 
 
 more 
 Had reaped fresh bunches for the guests of herbs ; 
 With one hand she distributes flowers and grass. 
 The other hand adjusts the shining sickle 
 Upon her head The leaders took the herbs,
 
 THE YEAR 1S12. 
 
 Kissing her hands. Sophia once again 
 Curtsied all round, deep blushing. 
 
 General 
 Kniaziewicz then raised her in his arms, 
 And printing on her brow a father's kiss, 
 Raised up the girl, and set her on the table. 
 Applauding, all cried, " Bravo ! " all enchanted 
 With the girl's beauty, but especially 
 By her Litvanian dress, its simpleness ; 
 Since for these leaders, who in wandering life, 
 So long in foreign parts throughout the world, 
 Had journeyed, wondrous charms the native dress 
 Possessed, as it recalled to them their youth, 
 And former loves. Therefore, well-nigh with tears, 
 They thronged around the table ; eagerly 
 They gazed. Some pray Sophia would upliit 
 Her head a little, and would show her eyes ; 
 Some that she condescend to turn around. 
 The bashful maiden turned, but with her hands 
 Still veiled her eyes. Most joyful, Thaddeus gazed, 
 And rubbed his hands together. 
 
 Whether some one 
 Had given Sophia counsel to appear 
 In such a dress, or she by instinct knew — 
 For every girl by instinct can divine
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 What suits her countenance — it is enough 
 That for the first time in her Hfe Sophia 
 This morning was by Telimena scolded 
 For her self-will, no fashionable dress 
 Desiring, until she by tears prevailed 
 That she might thus be left, in simple dress. 
 
 She had a long, white petticoat, the dress 
 Short, of green camlet, with a rosy hem ; 
 The bodice likewise green, with rosy ribbons, 
 Laced cross-wise from the bosom to the neck. 
 The bosom underneath, hid like a bud 
 Beneath a leaf ; white from the shoulders gleamed 
 The shift-sleeves, like the wings of butterflies 
 Expanded for their flight ; these at the wrist 
 Were gathered, and with ribbon fastened there. 
 The neck was likewise by the narrow shift 
 Surrounded, with its collar girded up 
 By a rosy breast-knot ; earrings artfully 
 Carved out of cherry-stones, whose fashioning 
 Had been Dobrzynski's pride ; two tiny hearts 
 Were there, with dart and flame, given to Sophia, 
 When Bustard wooed her. And upon the collar 
 There hung two strings of amber. On her shoulders 
 Sophia had thrown the ribbons of her tresses.
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 213 
 
 And on her forehead placed, as reapers wont, 
 A curved sickle, polished recently 
 By reaping grass, bright, like the crescent moon 
 Upon Diana's brow. 
 
 All praised, all clapped. 
 One of the officers from out his pocket 
 Drew a portfolio, with some folds of paper. 
 He spread them out, his pencil sharpened, moist- 
 ened. 
 Looked on Sophia, and drew. Scarce saw the 
 
 Judge 
 The paper and the pencil, when he knew 
 The sketcher, though a Colonel's uniform, 
 Rich epaulettes, a truly lancer mien, 
 A darkened moustache, and a Spanish beard 
 Had changed him greatly, yet the Judge him knew. 
 " How are you, my Illustrious, gracious Count ? 
 And have you in your cartridge-box your travelling 
 Painting materials ? " 'Twas the Count indeed ; 
 Not long a soldier, but because he owned 
 Large revenues, and at his own expense 
 A regiment had of cavalry equipped. 
 And in the first fight borne him gallantly. 
 The Emperor on that day had named him Colonel. 
 So did the Judge salute the Count, and on 
 
 VOL. II. P
 
 214 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 His rank congratulated him ; the Count 
 Heard nothing, but still drew with diligence. 
 
 Meanwhile the second pair betrothed came in. 
 The Assessor, once the Czar's, to-day Napoleon's 
 Devoted servant ; under his command 
 He had a body of gendarmes, and though 
 Scarce twenty hours in office, he already 
 Wore the grey uniform with Polish facings, 
 And dragged a crooked sabre at his side, 
 And clinked his spurs. With stately step beside 
 
 him, 
 Came his beloved, magnificently dressed, 
 Thekla Hreszczanka, for the Assessor long 
 Had cast off Telimena, and as more 
 To sadden this coquette, his true affections 
 Had turned towards the Wojszczanka now. 
 Not over-young the bride was, she well-nigh 
 Reached middle age, but a good manager. 
 With dignity and dowry ; for besides 
 A hamlet she inherited, the Judge 
 Her dowry by a small sum had increased. 
 
 The third pair vainly they long time await : 
 The Judge impatient grew, and servants sent.
 
 THE YEAR 1812. 215 
 
 Returning, these bring answer, the third bridegroom, 
 The Regent, starting forth the hare, had lost 
 The ring ; he sought it in the meadow, and 
 The Regent's lady, though herself she hastes, 
 And though the serving-women her assist, 
 Cannot by any means her toilette end. 
 She scarcely will at four o'clock be ready.
 
 NOTES TO BOOK XI. 
 
 I. " Whereby iivo leaders inarched from Niemen's side." 
 
 The French and Polish armies crossed the Niemen on the 
 24th June 1S12. 
 
 2, " The book entitled rvas, ' The Perfect Cook: " 
 
 * A book now extremely rare, published by Stanislaw 
 Czernicki. 
 
 3. " Those famous banquets^' &c. 
 
 * This Roman embassy has been often described. See 
 "The Perfect Cook," preface. "This legation, being a 
 great marvel to all the Western empire, proclaimed a lord 
 unsurpassed in wit, by the splendour of the house and the 
 service of the table, so that one of the Roman princes said, 
 ' To-day Rome is happy in possessing such an ambassador.' " 
 
 4. " Elected Marshal,^'' &c. 
 
 * In Lithuania, on the entrance of the French and Polish 
 armies, Confederations were formed in the palatinates, and 
 deputies elected to the Diet. 
 
 5. " Annotincing our men took tlte foe in rear^'' 
 
 * It is well known that a Polish corps, under the leader- 
 ship of General Kniaziewicz, at Hohenlinden, decided the 
 victory.
 
 NOTES. 217 
 
 6. " When that our lancers 
 Did capture Soinosierra! s trenched crest." 
 
 The capture of Somosierra, by which the road to Madrid 
 was left open to Napoleon's troops, was accomplished on 
 the 30th November 1808. After several unsuccessful assaults, 
 owing to the obstinate resistance of the Spaniards, a body 
 of Polish lancers and sharpshooters was despatched against 
 the chief entrenchments. After covering the ground with 
 their dead, they captured the Spanish artillery, and thereby 
 supported, dislodged the defenders. The Spanish commander, 
 San Juan, with great difficulty cut his way through the 
 Poles, and reached Segovia at imminent hazard. — Toreiio, 
 Gtterra i Rcvolucion en Espana. 
 
 7. " Both militem aw^ scartabel." 
 
 The meaning of militevi is obvious. Scartabel is one of 
 those terms not easy to define. It has many classical deriva- 
 tions assigned to it, with which it is hardly worth while to 
 trouble the reader. Linde thinks that it is a term used to 
 express a new nobility, who owe their rank to fortune in 
 war, from the right to be ennobled which a soldier by a 
 law of Stephen Batory might claim after a certain amount 
 of service, and which was often granted. Or scartabelli might 
 be nobles living under citizen law. Czacki says : " The scarta- 
 belliis hold a midway position between the ancient nobility 
 and those who have risen from being peasants." — Linde. 
 
 8. ''Since they proceed from Lech and Russ, oivn brothers^' 
 
 The three brothers Czech, Lech, and Russ were the 
 legendary founders of the Bohemian, Polish, and Russian 
 peoples. (See Le Monde Slave, by Cyprien Robert.)
 
 2i8 NOTES. 
 
 g. " As I ivill now relate to you,^' 
 
 * Prince Denassau's real name was the Duke of Nassau- 
 Siegen, a noted warrior and adventurer. He was Russian 
 admiral, and defeated the Turks, and was himself defeated 
 by the Swedes. He remained for some time in Poland, 
 where he obtained letters of nobility. His single combat 
 with a tiger (in Africa ! !) was much celebrated in all the 
 gazettes of Europe. 
 
 The story which the Wojski never finished, concerning 
 Rejtan's quarrel with the Prince of Nassau, is known from 
 tradition. Rejtan, offended by the prince's boasting, once 
 stood beside him on a clearing. Just then a monstrous wild 
 boar, furious with shot wounds, and with being hunted, 
 rushed upon them. Rejtan snatched the prince's gun from his 
 hands, threw it on the ground, and taking a spear, and giving 
 another to the German, said, " Now let us see which of us 
 can manage a spear best." The boar was just rushing upon 
 them, when the Wojski Hreczecha, standing at a distance, 
 slew the beast by a fortunate shot. Tlie gentlemen were 
 at first angry, but afterwards became reconciled to each 
 other, and liberally rewarded Hreczecha. 
 
 10. " Worthy is the palace 
 Of Pac, and Pac is worthy of the palace."" 
 
 One of the finest palaces in Warsaw is that of General Pac, 
 who died at Smyrna in exile. The Russians converted it into 
 a bazaar of industry. 
 
 II. " ^ moon in shape 
 Of Lcliiva, that is, of the neiv vtoon." 
 
 The Leliwa is a crest of Polish heraldry, and is the hori- 
 zontal crescent with a star between its horns.
 
 BOOK XII. 
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 
 
 The last old-Polish banquet — The Arch-service— Explanation 
 of its Jigures\- Its movements — Dombrowski receives a pre- 
 sent — More about the Penknife — Kniaziewicz receives a pre- 
 sent — First exercise of authority by Thaddeus on taking 
 possession — Observations by Gervasy—^A concert of concerts] 
 — The Polonaise — Let us love one another. 
 
 At length the doors flew open with loud noise. 
 The Wojski entered in a cap, with head 
 Upraised, he nor saluted, nor took place 
 At table, for the Wojski cometh forth 
 In a new semblance ; marshal of the court. 
 He bears a wand in sign of office ; with 
 That wand he points to all a seat, and places 
 The guests in turn. First, as the highest ruler 
 Within the district, took the Chamberlain- 
 Marshal the seat of honour, velvet chair, 
 With ivory arms ! Beside him, on the right,
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Sat General Dombrowski, on the left 
 Were Kniaziewicz, and Pac, and Malachowski ; 
 'Mid them the lady of the Chamberlain. 
 Then other ladies, officers and lords, 
 Nobles and country people, men and women, 
 Alternately, by couples, sit in order, 
 Where'er the Wojski indicates. 
 
 The Judge, 
 Saluting, left the banquet. In the courtyard 
 He must regale the peasant company. 
 Behind a table he had gathered them 
 Two furlongs long ; himself sat at one end, 
 And at the other sat the parish priest. 
 Thaddeus and Sophia did not sit 
 At table ; busied with the entertaining. 
 They ate while walking ; 'twas an ancient custom, 
 At the first banquet, that the new possessors 
 Themselves should serve the people. 
 
 In the meantime 
 The guests, while dishes waited in the hall, 
 On the great centre-piece astonished looked. 
 Its metal precious as the workmanship. 
 Tradition says Prince Radziwill the Orphan 
 Had caused this set in Venice to be made, 
 And from his own designs to be adorned.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 221 
 
 In Polish fashion. Then the centre-piece 
 Was captured in tlie Swedish war ; it came, 
 None knew in what way, to a noble house. 
 To-day, it had been taken from the treasury, 
 And occupied the middle of the board 
 With its great circle, as a cart-wheel broad. ' 
 
 The service was o'erlaid, from depth to border, 
 With froth and sugar snowy-white ; it showed 
 A winter landscape excellently well. 
 In midst rose black a mighty sweetmeat grove ; 
 Around were houses like to villages, 
 And nobles' farmsteads,* spread with sugar froth 
 Instead of rime-frost ; on the margin stood 
 Vessels for ornament, small personages, 
 Fashioned of porcelain, in Polish dresses, 
 And like to actors on a stage they seemed 
 Presenting some events ; their gesture given 
 Most artfully, the colours vivid, voice 
 Alone they wanted, otherwise alive. 
 
 "What should these represent?" theguests inquired. 
 Thereon the Wojski raised his wand on high, 
 
 * The original words are wioski and zascianki, both of 
 which have been already explained.
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 And thus discoursed — meanwhile was wbdka given, 
 Before they ate — " By the permission of 
 The gracious gentlemen, these personages 
 That here you countless see, present a history 
 Of Polish sejmiks, councils, voting, triumphs, 
 And quarrels. I myself this scene imagined. 
 And will explain it to you. 
 
 " Here, to right. 
 You see a numerous crowd of noblemen 
 Before the Diet to a banquet asked. 
 The table waiteth covered ; no one seats 
 The guests ; they stand in groups, each group 
 
 takes counsel. 
 Look, in the midst of every group there stands 
 A man, whose opened Hps, whose lifted eyes. 
 Unquiet hands, denote the orator. 
 Explaining somewhat, with his finger he 
 Doth emphasise his speaking, with his hand 
 He illustrates his meaning. Here are speakers 
 Who recommend their candidate, with various 
 Success, as from their brother nobles' mien 
 You may perceive. 
 
 " True, in this second group 
 The nobles list attentive, this one plants 
 His hands upon his girdle, lends his ear.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 223 
 
 That one his hand holds to his ear, and twirls 
 
 In silence his moustache ; he probably 
 
 Collects the words, and in his memory strings 
 
 them. 
 The orator rejoices, for he sees 
 They are convinced, and stroketh down his pouch. 
 He has their votes already in his pouch. 
 
 " But in the third assembly other things 
 Are passing. Here the orator must seize 
 The hearers by their girdles. Look, they wrest 
 Themselves away, retire their ears. Look how 
 This hearer swells with rage ; he lifts his hands, 
 Threatens the orator, and stops his mouth, 
 Hearing, no doubt, the praises of his rival ; 
 This other, stooping like a bull his head, 
 You'd say to take the speaker on his horns ; 
 Some draw their sabres, some take to their heels. 
 
 " One noble silent stands among the groups ; 
 We see he is an independent man. 
 He hesitates and fears, — how shall he vote ? 
 Not knowing, and in conflict with himself. 
 He asks of fate, he lifts his hand, puts forth 
 The forefingers, half-shuts his eyes, with nail
 
 224 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Takes aim at nail ; this conjuring will confirm 
 His vote, for if the fingers meet, he gives 
 A vote affirmative, but if they miss, 
 He casts a negative. 
 
 " The left presents 
 Another scene — a convent dining-hall, 
 Turned to a hall of meeting of the nobles. 
 The elders on a bench sit in a row, 
 The young men stand, and gaze with eagerness 
 Betwixt the heads towards the centre. Midmost 
 The Marshal stands ; in hand he holds the urn, 
 He counts the balls, the nobles with their eyes 
 Devour them, in this instant he has shaken 
 The last one out ; the heralds lift their hands, 
 Proclaim the elected legislator's name. 
 
 " One nobleman heeds not the general concord. 
 Look, from the window of the convent kitchen 
 He thrusts his head ; look how his eyes start 
 
 forth ; 
 How bold he looks, how wide he opes his lips, 
 As though he would the chamber all devour. 
 Easy it is to guess this nobleman 
 Has cried out, " Veto ! " Look how, at this sudden 
 Kindling of quarrel, to the doors the throng
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 225 
 
 Rush, to the kitchen certainly they go ; 
 
 They have drawn their sabres, sure a bloody 
 
 fight 
 Will now begin. 
 
 " But in the corridor. 
 Consider, gentlemen, this ancient priest, 
 Who wears a cope. This is the prior ; he bears 
 The Host from off the altar ; and a boy, 
 Clad in a surplice, sounds a bell, and craves 
 Admission ; presently the nobles sheathe 
 Their sabres, cross themselves, and kneel. Tlie 
 
 priest 
 Turns to that quarter where the sword yet clashes. 
 Soon as he comes all peaceful is and still. 
 
 "Ah ! you, young sirs, cannot remember this, 
 How 'mid our stormy and free-ruling nobles, 
 All armed, no need at all was of police ; 
 While faith was flourishing and laws respected, 
 Then freedom was with order, and abundance 
 Of glory ! But in other lands, I hear, 
 The government maintaineth soldiery, 
 Police, gendarmes, and constables ; but if 
 The sword alone can guard the public safety, 
 That in these lands is Freedom I believe not."
 
 226 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Just then, upon his snuff-box tapping, spoke 
 
 The Chamberlain : " Sir Wojski, please to lay 
 
 Aside till later on these histories. 
 
 Truly the sejmik is most interesting, 
 
 But we are hungry. Order that the dishes 
 
 Be brought in." 
 
 Thereunto the Wojski, lowering 
 His wand unto the ground : " Illustrious, 
 Most Powerful Chamberlain, allow me pray 
 This favour. I will end at once the last 
 Scene of these diets. Here is the new Marshal, 
 Borne by his partisans from the refect'ry. 
 Look how the brother nobles throw their caps 
 Aloft, they ope their lips to cry, ' Long live ! ' 
 But there, upon the other side, the noble 
 Outvoted, lonely, on his moody brow 
 Has pressed his cap. His wife before the house 
 Awaits him ; she has guessed what late occurred. 
 Poor woman ! in her servant's arms she faints ! 
 Poor woman ! for she thought to have the tide, 
 Illustrious, Most Powerful ; but again 
 For three years she is only a Most Powerful." 
 
 The Wojski ended his description here, 
 And gave a signal with his wand. And soon
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 227 
 
 With dishes lackeys entered, two and two ; 
 
 The soups, the darsscz* called royal, and the 
 
 roso/ t 
 Of ancient Poland, artfully prepared ; 
 Thereto the Wojski had with wondrous secrets 
 Cast in some small pearls, and a piece of money. 
 Such roso/ purifies the blood, and health 
 Doth fortify. Then followed other dishes ; — 
 But who shall tell their names ? who understand 
 These, in our times already quite unknown ? — 
 Those fishes, salmon from the Danube, dried, 
 Venetian and Turkish caviare. 
 Soles, carp, and mackerel, pike and " noble 
 
 carp." 
 At last a mystery of cookery, 
 A fish uncut, fried slightly at the head, 
 And roasted in the centre, at the tail 
 Some preparation made with sauce. 
 
 The guests 
 Nor asked the names of all these dishes, nor 
 That wondrous secret stayed them; quick they 
 
 ate 
 
 A soup made chiefly of beet-root and cream. 
 Consomme.
 
 228 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 All things with soldiers' appetite, and filled 
 Their goblets up with wine of Hungary. 
 
 But in the meantime the great service ^ changed 
 Its colour ; bare of snow, it now looked green. 
 For that light sugary froth, now gradually 
 Warmed by the summer's heat, had melted, 
 
 and 
 The under side discovered, hitherto 
 Concealed from the eye ; and so the landscape 
 Presented a new season of the year. 
 It shone with green and many-coloured spring ; 
 There came forth various grains, as on the ways 
 They grow ; the saffron wheat luxuriant. 
 With golden ears, the rye with silver leaves. 
 And buckwheat, formed by art, of chocolate. 
 And pear and apple orchards blossoming. 
 
 The guests have scarcely time to enjoy the gifts 
 Of summer ; vainly they entreat the Wojski 
 But to prolong them, for the service now 
 Like to the planet, in its destined orbit. 
 Changes its season ; now the painted grains. 
 Golden, have gathered warmth within the room, 
 And gradually melt, the grass turns yellow.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 229 
 
 The leaves turn red, and fall ; thou wouldst have 
 
 said 
 An autumn wind was blowing ; at the last 
 Those trees, late well-adorned, appearing stripped 
 By storm-winds and by hoar frost, naked stand. 
 They were but twigs of cinnamon, or branches 
 Of bay twigs, counterfeiting pine-trees, dressed 
 With needles, that were seeds of carraway. 
 
 The guests, while drinking, stript the branches off 
 The stems and bark, and ate them with their wine. 
 The Wojski viewed his service all around, 
 And full of joy triumphant glances turned 
 Upon the guests. 
 
 Henry Dombrowski showed 
 Immense astonishment, and said, " Sir Wojski, 
 Were those Chinean shadows ? has Pineti 
 Given you his devils to your service ? - are 
 Such services in general use in Litva ?! 
 Do all hold banquets with such ancient customs ? 
 Pray tell me ; I have spent my life abroad." 
 
 The Wojski answered, bowing : " No, Illustrious, 
 
 Most Powerful General, no godless art 
 
 Is this. 'Tis but a memory of those feasts, 
 
 VOL. II. Q
 
 230 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Renowned in lordly houses of old times, 
 
 When Poland happiness and power enjoyed. 
 
 What I have done I gathered from this book. 
 
 Thou askest, whether everywhere in Litva 
 
 This custom is preserved. Alas ! new fashions 
 
 Among us even have crept in. Not one 
 
 Young lord cries out, he suffers no excess ; 
 
 So like a Jew he stints his guests in meat, 
 
 And drink ; will grudge Hungarian wine, and drink 
 
 Satanic, falsified, and modern wines 
 
 Of Muscovy, Champagne ; then in the evening 
 
 Loses at cards full gold enough to give 
 
 A banquet to a hundred brother nobles. 
 
 Why, even — for what is in my heart to-day 
 
 I'll truly speak, let but the Chamberlain] 
 
 Not take this ill of me — when I drew out 
 
 This wondrous service from the treasury, 
 
 Why, even the Chamberlain did laugh at me, 
 
 And said it was a wearisome machine. 
 
 An old-world thing, it seemed a toy for children. 
 
 Unsuitable to such illustrious men. 
 
 The Judge ! the Judge said, it would tire the guests. 
 
 And ne'ertheless, from that astonishment 
 
 I caused you, gentlemen, I well perceive 
 
 That this fine art was worthy to be seen.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 231 
 
 I know not if another such occasion 
 
 Will come to entertain in Soplicowo 
 
 Such dignitaries. I see, General, 
 
 You knowledge have of banquets. Pray accept 
 
 This book. It will be useful to you when 
 
 You give a banquet to a company 
 
 Of foreign monarchs, bah ! ev'n to Napoleon ! 
 
 But let me, ere I consecrate this book 
 
 To you, relate the chance whereby it fell 
 
 Into my hands." 
 
 This instant rose a murmur 
 Outside the door, together many voices 
 Cried, " Long live Weathercock ! " Into the hall 
 A crowd did press, with Matthew at their head. 
 The Judge his guest conducted to the board, 
 And placed him high among the generals, 
 And said, " Sir Matthew, you are no good neigh- 
 bour, 
 You have arrived too late, when dinner is 
 Nigh over." — " I am early," said Dobrzynski. 
 " I came not here for eating, but because 
 I had the curiosity to view 
 Our national army nearer. There is much 
 To talk of, but 'tis neither here nor there. 
 The nobles saw and dragged me here by force,
 
 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 And you have seated me at table. Thanks, " 
 My neighbour." Having said this, upside down 
 He turned his plate, as sign he would not eat. 
 And kept a gloomy silence. 
 
 " Friend Dobrzynski," 
 Said to him General Dombrowski, " you 
 Are that renowned swordsman of Kosciuszko, 
 That Matthew called the Rod. I know you from 
 Your fame. But, prithee, how art thou preserved 
 So vigorous, so active ? what long years 
 Have passed away. Look, I am growing old, 
 Look, even Kniaziewicz is somewhat grey, 
 But thou might'st hold thine own with young 
 
 men still. 
 And does thy Rod yet flourish as ere time ? 
 I heard that thou didst discipline the Russians 
 Not long ago. But where are now thy brothers ? 
 I should exceedingly rejoice to see 
 Those Penknives, and your Razors, last examples 
 Of ancient Lithuania." 
 
 " General," 
 Replied the Judge, " after that victory, 
 Nearly the whole of the Dobrzynskis took 
 Refuge within the Duchy, probably 
 They went into some legion." — " Ay, indeed,"
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 233 
 
 Said a young officer of squadron, " I 
 Have in the second company a whiskered 
 Scarecrow, Dobrzynski, who doth call himself 
 The Sprinkler, but the Polish soldiers call him 
 The Lithuanian Bear. But if the General 
 Commands it, we will fetch him here." — " There 
 
 are," 
 Said a lieutenant, " others by their race 
 Of Litva, one a soldier, called by name 
 .The Razor, and one more who with a trombone 
 Rides on the flank ; and also in a regiment 
 Of shooters, two Dobrzynskis, grenadiers." 
 
 " But, but — about their chief," the General 
 
 Replied ; " I wish to know about this Penknife, 
 
 Of which the Wojski told me such great wonders, 
 
 As of some giant of the elder time." 
 
 " The Penknife," said the Wojski, " though he went 
 
 Not into exile, yet as fearing inquest, 
 
 Concealed himself from search of Muscovites. 
 
 The poor man wandered all the winter long 
 
 Among the forests, lately he came forth. 
 
 He might be useful in these warlike times, 
 
 For 'tis a valiant man, 'tis only pity 
 
 He's somewhat pressed by age. But there he is."
 
 234 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The Wojski pointed in the hall, where stood 
 Servants and village folk together crowded. 
 But over all the heads gleamed suddenly 
 A shining bald pate, like to a full moon. 
 Three times it issued forth, and three times van- 
 ished 
 Amid the cloud of heads. The Klucznik, passing, 
 Bowed, till he loosed him from the crush, and 
 said : 
 
 " Illustrious, Most Powerful Hetman of 
 
 The Crown, or General — the title is 
 
 A trifling matter — I Rembajlo am. 
 
 I stand at your command with this my Penknife, 
 
 That not from- workmanship, nor from inscriptions. 
 
 Nor from the temper of its blade such glory, 
 
 Earned, that even you. Illustrious Powerful Sir, 
 
 Knew of it. If it could but speak, maybe 
 
 It might say something tending to the praise 
 
 Ev'n of this ancient hand it served so long ; 
 
 Faithful, may Heaven be thanked, to Fatherland, 
 
 And to the lords of the Horeszko race. 
 
 Whose memory still is famous among men. 
 
 Mopanku 1 seldom any district Writer 
 
 So deftly trims his pen, as this does heads.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 235 
 
 'Twere long to reckon up. And ears and noses 
 Countless ! And on this Penknife is no notch, 
 And never any murderous deed has stained it. 
 Once only ! — give him, Lord, eternal rest ! — 
 An unarmed man, alas ! it once despatched. 
 But even that, God be my witness, was 
 Pro bono publico.^'' 
 
 " Well, show it here," 
 Said General Dombrowski, laughing. " But 
 It is a handsome Penknife, truly 'tis 
 A headsman's sword ! " With great astonishment 
 He looked upon the rapier, and in turn 
 Showed it to all the other officers. 
 They proved it all, but scarcely one of them 
 Could lift this rapier. It is said Dembinski,* 
 Renowned for strength of arm, might have upraised 
 This sabre, but he was not there. Of those 
 Then present, only might Dwernicki, chief 
 Of squadron, and Rosycki, of platoon 
 Lieutenant, turn this iron pole around ; 
 And thus the rapier went from hand to hand, 
 In turn, on proof. 
 
 But General Kniaziewicz, 
 
 * Leader first in the insurrection of 1831, later on in the 
 Hungarian war of 1848-49.
 
 236 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The most illustrious in stature, showed 
 That he was likewise strongest in the arm. 
 Holding the rapier lightly, as a sabre. 
 He raised it, and above all heads he made 
 Its lightnings gleam, remembering all the arts 
 Of Polish fencing, cross-stroke, mill, and curved 
 Stroke, stolen cut, and thrusts of contrapunt. 
 Of tercets, which he likewise understood. 
 For he was of the 'School of Cadets. 
 
 As 
 He fenced thus, laughing, did Rembajlo kneel. 
 Embrace him round the knees, and cry with 
 
 tears, 
 At every turn the sword made : " Beautiful ; 
 Say, General, wert thou a Confederate ? 
 Most beautiful, most perfectly ! That is 
 Pulawski's thrust, thus Dzierzanowski stood. 
 That is the thrust of Sawa ! ^ who thus formed 
 Your hand, except Matthias Dobrzynski ? But 
 That, General, is my invention. Heaven 
 Forbid ! I do not praise myself ! That stroke 
 Is only in the zascianek known 
 Of the Rembajlos, from my name 'tis called 
 Mopanku's stroke. Who taught it to you, 
 
 sir?
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 237 
 
 That is my own stroke, mine ! " He rose, the 
 
 General 
 Seizing in his embrace. " Now shall I die 
 In peace. There's yet upon the earth a man 
 Who will my dear child cherish ! For indeed 
 Both day and night I long have sorely grieved, 
 Lest this my rapier rust when I am dead. 
 Behold, it shall not rust ! My most Illustrious, 
 Most Powerful General, pardon me, throw off 
 Those sj>ifs, those German swords ; to a noble child 
 'Twere shame to wear those sticks. Take here a 
 
 sword 
 That suits a noble ! This my Penknife I 
 Here lay before your feet, the dearest thing 
 That in the world I own. I never had 
 A wife, I have no child ; it was to me 
 Both wife and child ; it never left my arms. 
 From morn till twilight have I cherished it ; 
 By night it slept beside me, and when I 
 Grew old, it on the wall hung o'er my couch. 
 As o'er a Jew the Lord's commandments. I 
 Have thought it should be buried in my grave. 
 Together with my hand. But I have found 
 An heir. Thee let it serve." 
 
 The General,
 
 238 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Half-laughing, with emotion half o'ercome, 
 
 " Comrade," he said, " if thou dost yield thy wife 
 
 And child to me, through thy remaining years 
 
 Thou wilt be very lonely, old and widower, 
 
 And childless. Tell me, by what gift shall I 
 
 Repay thee, and by what thy childless state 
 
 And widowhood assuage ? " — " Am I Cybulski ? " * 
 
 The Klucznik said in grief, " who lost his wife, 
 
 At cards unto a Muscovite, the tale 
 
 The song relates ? It is enough for me, 
 
 That yet my Penknife shines before the world. 
 
 In such a hand. But, General, remember 
 
 The sword-belt must be long, extended well, 
 
 For it is long, and aye from the left ear 
 
 Strike with both edges, so shalt thou cut through 
 
 From head to belly." 
 
 Then the General 
 The Penknife took, but since it Avas so long, 
 He could not wear it ; so the servants laid it 
 Safe in the baggage waggon. What of it 
 Became, concerning that were differing tales, 
 But none for certain knew, nor then, nor after. 
 
 Dombrowski said to Matthew, " How now, com- 
 rade !
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 239 
 
 'Twould seem my coming does not much rejoice 
 
 thee, 
 Silent and sour ! Why does thy heart not leap 
 To see the eagles, golden, silver, when 
 The trumpeters Kosciuszlco'sV^r///^ 
 Sound in thine ears ? Matthew, I thought thou wert 
 A bolder fellow ! If thou wilt not draw 
 Thy sabre, and on horseback mount, at least 
 Thou'lt drink with thy companions merrily 
 Unto Napoleon's and to Poland's health. 
 
 " Ha ! " Matthew said, " I see what here is doing. 
 
 But, sir, two eagles may not nest together. 
 
 Lords' favour, Hetman, rides on piebald horse.* 
 
 The Emperor's a great warrior, much is there 
 
 To talk of. . I remember the Pulawskis,^ 
 
 My friends, were used to say about Dumourier,'' — 
 
 For Poland there must be a Polish hero. 
 
 No Frenchman, nor Italian, but a Piast ; ^ 
 
 Must be a John, a Joseph, or a Matthew. 
 
 £ basta ! Army ! Polish 'tis, they say ; 
 
 But fusiliers, and sappers, grenadiers, 
 
 And cannoniers ; we hear more German titles 
 
 * ''^ Baska panska na pstrym koniii jcdzie'''' — a national 
 proverb.
 
 240 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Than native in this crowd. Who understands this ? 
 
 And there must also be among you Turks, 
 
 And Tartars, or schismatics, with no God 
 
 Or faith. Myself I saw it ! they assault 
 
 The women in the hamlets, rob the passers, 
 
 And pillage churches. The Emperor goes to 
 
 Moscow. 
 A long way, if his Majesty the Emperor 
 Has made this undertaking without God. 
 I have heard he is already under curse 
 Of a bishop. All this is " — here Matthew dipped 
 Bread in the soup, and eating, ended not 
 His sentence. 
 
 Matthew's sayings did not please 
 The Chamberlain. The younger folk besides 
 Began to murmur. Then the Judge broke off 
 These quarrels, by proclaiming the arrival 
 Of the third pair betrothed. 
 
 It was the Regent. 
 Himself proclaimed himself the Regent, else 
 None would have known him. Hitherto he had worn 
 The Polish costume, but now Telimena, 
 His future wife,^ obliged him by a clause 
 Of marriage-contract to renounce the koiihisz. 
 And so the Regent willy-nilly dressed
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 241 
 
 Himself in French costume. Well might be seen 
 The frac had taken half his soul away. 
 He stept as he a stick had swallowed, straight, 
 Unmoving, like a crane ; he dared not look 
 To right or left ; he came with stately mien. 
 But from his mien one saw he suffered tortures. 
 He knew not how to bend, or where to place 
 His hands, who so loved gestures. At his girdle 
 He w'ould have placed his hands, — there was no 
 
 girdle. 
 So he but stroked his waist. He saw his error ; 
 And in confusion coloured fiery red,* 
 And in one pocket of the frac concealed 
 Both hands. He stepped as though through rods, 
 
 through whispers 
 And mockings, shame enduring for ihe/rac, 
 As for an evil deed. At last he met 
 The eyes of Matthew, and with fear he trembled. 
 Matthew till then had been the Regent's friend ; 
 Now on him such a sharp and savage glance 
 He turned, that pale the Regent grew, began 
 To fasten close his buttons, thinking Matthew 
 Would strip him of the frac by looks alone. 
 
 * The Polish original is striking, being literally, "roasted 
 a crab."
 
 242 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Dobrzynski only twice said loudly, " Fool ! " 
 But such his anger at the Regent's dress, 
 That he at once from table rose, without 
 Leave-taking made his exit, and on horseback 
 Mounting, returned unto his farmstead home. 
 
 But in the meantime did the Regent's love, 
 Fair Telimena, all her beauty's splendours 
 And of her dress display, from head to foot 
 All in the newest fashion. What her dress 
 Or head adornment seemed, 'twere vain to write ; 
 The pen could not exhaust them, only might 
 The pencil trace those tulles, those blondes, cash- 
 meres, 
 Those pearls and precious stones, and rosied 
 
 cheeks. 
 And lively glances. 
 
 Instantly the Count 
 Had recognised her ; with astonishment 
 All pale he rose from table, sought his sword. 
 " And is it thou ? " he cried, " or do mine eyes 
 Deceive me ? Thou, who in my presence claspest 
 A stranger's hand ? O faithless being ! thou 
 Most changeful soul ! Thou dost not hide with 
 shame
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 243 
 
 Thy face beneath the earth? Thus art thou 
 
 mindless 
 Of such late vows ? How credulous I was ! 
 Wherefore have I these ribbons worn ? But woe 
 Unto the rival who affronts me thus ! 
 He shall not to the altar pass, except 
 Upon my corpse." 
 
 The guests arose, the Regent 
 Confounded greatly ; to appease the rivals 
 The Chamberlain makes haste. But Telimena, 
 Leading the Count aside : " As yet," she whispered, 
 "The Regent has not taken me to wife. 
 If you will hinder it, pray tell me so. 
 But answer me at once, and in few words. 
 If you do love me ? have you hitherto 
 Not changed your heart ? are you prepared to-day 
 To marry me ? at once ? to-day ? and if 
 You will, I'll leave the Regent." Said the Count : 
 " O woman ! unto me not understood ! 
 Once in thy sentiments thou wast a poet, 
 And now to me thou seemest nought but prose. 
 What are your marriages, if aught but chains, 
 That only fetter hands, and bind not souls ? 
 Believe me, they are only declarations 
 Without confession ; they are obligations,
 
 244 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Which bind not ! Two hearts at the world's far 
 
 ends 
 Burning, converse hke stars with trembUng beams. 
 Who knows ? maybe for this cause towards the sun 
 The earth aye presses, and is therefore ever 
 So dear unto the moon ; eternally 
 They gaze upon each other, and for aye 
 Haste by the shortest way each other toward, 
 
 But never can approach" "Enough of this," 
 
 She interrupted ; " I am not a planet ! 
 
 For Heaven's sake enough. Count ! I am a woman. 
 
 I know the rest already. Cease to talk 
 
 To me of things not here nor there. And now, 
 
 I warn you, if you whisper but one word 
 
 To break my wedding off, as true as God 
 
 In heaven is, I with these nails will spring 
 
 At you, and " ■ " I will not," the Count replied, 
 
 " Madam, disturb your happiness." He turned 
 Away his eyes all full of scorn and grief, 
 And as to punish his unfaithful love. 
 He took the daughter of the Chamberlain 
 For object of his steadfast fires. 
 
 The Wojski 
 Desired to make the angry youths agree 
 By wise examples ; therefore he began
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 245 
 
 To adduce the wild-boar story in the woods 
 
 Of Nahboko, and of Rejtan's quarrel 
 
 With Prince Denassau. But the guests meanwhile 
 
 Had left off eating ices, and they went 
 
 For coolness from the castle to the court. 
 
 There had the peasantry their feast concluded : 
 Pitchers of mead were circling round ; the music 
 Was tuning now, and calling to the dance. 
 They sought for Thaddeus, who stood apart, 
 And whispered something to his future wife : 
 " Sophia, I must now in a thing of weight 
 Take counsel with thee ; I have asked my uncle, 
 And he has no objection. Thou dost know, 
 A large proportion of those villages 
 I shall possess, according to the law 
 Revert to thee ; these peasants are not mine, 
 They are thy subjects ; I should never dare 
 Dispose of them without their lady's will. 
 But when we have a Fatherland beloved, 
 Shall villagers enjoy this happy change 
 By so much only, that it gives to them 
 Another master ? True it is, till now 
 They have been ruled with kindliness, but after 
 My death who knows how I shall leave them ? I 
 
 VOL. II. R
 
 246 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 A soldier am, and we are mortal both. 
 
 I am a man, I fear my own caprices. 
 
 More safely shall we do, if we renounce 
 
 Such rule, and give up the serfs' destiny 
 
 To the protection of the law. Ourselves 
 
 Now free, let us the serfs make also free ; 
 
 Let us bestow on them in heritage 
 
 The holding of these lands where they were born. 
 
 That by a work of blood they have obtained. 
 
 But I must warn thee, that these lands bestowing 
 
 Our revenue will lessen, we must live 
 
 On moderate fortune. I to frugal life 
 
 Am used from childhood ; but for thee, Sophia ? 
 
 Thou art of noble lineage, thou hast spent 
 
 Thy childhood in the capital ; canst thou 
 
 Agree to dwell here in the country, thus 
 
 Far from the world, and as a country woman ? " 
 
 To this Sophia answered modestly : 
 
 " I am a woman ; counsel unto me 
 
 Does not belong, and you will be my husband. 
 
 I am too young for counsel. What you do, 
 
 To that I shall agree with all my heart. 
 
 If, Thaddeus, thou becomest poorer for 
 
 Delivering the serfs, thou wilt be all
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 247 
 
 The dearer to my heart. I httle know 
 
 About my lineage, and I little care 
 
 About it : I remember only this, 
 
 That I was a poor orphan, and adopted 
 
 By the Soplicas, as a daughter cherished 
 
 Within their house, and thence in marriage given. 
 
 I do not fear the country ; if I once 
 
 Lived in a great town, it is long ago, 
 
 I have forgotten it ; — I always loved 
 
 The country, and believe me, that my cocks 
 
 And hens amused me more than Petersburg ; 
 
 And if at times I longed for entertainments. 
 
 And company, it was from childishness ; 
 
 For now I know the city wearies me. 
 
 Last winter a short stay in Wilna taught me 
 
 That I was born for country life. Amid 
 
 Amusements still I longed for Soplicowo. 
 
 Nor fear I work, for I am young and strong ; 
 
 I know how to go round the house, and how 
 
 To carry keys, and thou shalt see how I 
 
 Will learn housekeeping." 
 
 When Sophia had spoken 
 These last words, came towards her the astonished 
 And sour Gervasy. " I know all," he said. 
 " The Judge has spoken of this liberty.
 
 24S MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 But yet I do not understand what this 
 
 Can have to do with serfs. I fear me lest 
 
 'Tis something German. Liberty indeed 
 
 Is not a thing for peasants, but for nobles. 
 
 'Tis true that we from Adam all descend ; 
 
 But I have heard that peasants come from Ham,^ 
 
 The Jews from Japhet, we nobility 
 
 From Shem, and thus as elders rule o'er both ; 
 
 Yet otherwise the parish priest now teaches. 
 
 He says that it has been so formerly, 
 
 And in the ancient dispensation ; but 
 
 When Christ our Lord, though He from kings 
 
 descended, 
 Was born among the Jews in peasants' stable. 
 He levelled all ranks, and made them agree. 
 And so thus let it be, if it may not 
 Be otherwise ! Above all, as I hear. 
 My lady, most Illustrious and Powerful, 
 Sophia, does agree to all. 'Tis hers 
 To give command, mine to obey. But only 
 I warn you, let us give not merely empty 
 And verbal freedom, ^*^ as among the Russians, 
 When Pan Karp late deceased did free his serfs. 
 And with a triple tax the Muscovites 
 Brought them to famine. Therefore I advise
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 249 
 
 That by an ancient custom we ennoble 
 The peasants, and proclaim we give to them 
 Our crest. My lady on some villages 
 Confer her Half-goat, Pan Soplica share 
 The Leliwa with others. That once done, 
 Rembajlo owns the peasant as his equal. 
 When he beholds him nobleman, Most Powerful, 
 With coat-of-arms. The Diet will confirm it. 
 
 " But let my lady's husband have no fear 
 
 That giving of the lands will make you poor. 
 
 Forbid it, heaven ! that I should ever see 
 
 The hands of daughter of a dignitary 
 
 Cumbered with household labours. There are 
 
 means 
 To hinder this. I know a treasure-chest 
 Within the castle, which contains the plate 
 Of the Horeszkos, likewise signet-rings, 
 Medals and jewels, and rich plumes and trappings 
 Of horses, wondrous sabres, treasure of 
 The Pantler, in the ground preserved from plunder. 
 Lady Sophia as inheritrix 
 Possesses it. I watched it in the castle. 
 As 'twere the apple of my eye I kept it 
 From Russians, and from you, Soplicas too.
 
 250 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 I have a great bag full of mine own ducats 
 Besides, collected from my salaries, 
 Also from gifts of lords. I thought whene'er 
 The castle was restored to us, to use 
 The money for repairing of the walls : 
 To-day for the new housekeeping it seems 
 Useful at last. Then, Pan Soplica, I 
 Transfer myself to your house, in my lady's 
 I'll live upon the bread of favour, cradling 
 From the Horeszkos the third generation. 
 And to the Penknife mould my lady's child. 
 If 'tis a son ; — but it a son will be ; 
 For wars are coming, and in time of war 
 Those born are always sons." 
 
 Gervasy scarce 
 These last words spake, when with slow, solemn steps 
 Approached Protasy. Bowing low, from forth 
 The bosom of his kontusz he produced 
 A monstrous panegyric,^^ written on 
 Two folios and a half. It was composed 
 In rhyme by a young under-officer. 
 Who in the capital had formerly 
 Written some famous odes, and then put on 
 The uniform ; but being in the army 
 Still a belle-lettrist, he made verses still.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 251 
 
 The Wozny now had read three hundred through ; 
 Till coming to this place, " O thou whose charms 
 Wake painful bliss and rapturous alarms, 
 When on Bellona's ranks thy countenance 
 Thou turnest, straight are shivered sword and 
 
 lance ; 
 Let Hymen vanquish Mars, and haste to tear 
 From Discord's front the hissing vipers there " — 
 Sophia and Thaddeus clapped unceasingly, 
 As though they praised it, in reality 
 Not wishing to hear more. Already by 
 Commandment of the Judge the parish priest 
 Upon the table mounted, and proclaimed 
 The will of Thaddeus to the peasantry. 
 
 Scarcely the serfs had heard this news, they sprang 
 To their young lord, fell at their lady's feet. 
 " Health to our lord and lady ! " they exclaimed, 
 With tears. " Health to our fellow-citizens," 
 Cried Thaddeus; " free and equal! Poles !" "Igive 
 The People's health ! " Dombrowski said. The 
 
 people 
 Cried out, " Long live the generals ! long live 
 The army ! live the people ! all the states ! " 
 With thousand voices rang alternate healths.
 
 252 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Alone deigned Buchman not to share this joy ; 
 He praised the project, but would gladly see it 
 Quite otherwise, and first appoint a legal 
 
 Commission which should 
 
 Shortness of the time 
 Prevented justice doing to Buchman's counsel ; 
 For in the castle courtyard stood already 
 Couples for dancing ; officers with ladies. 
 The common soldiers with the peasant women. 
 " A Polonaise ! " all cried out with one voice. 
 The officers had brought the army music. 
 But the Judge whispered to the General : 
 " Give orders, sir, the band shall yet stay back. 
 This day is the betrothal of my nephew, 
 And 'tis an ancient custom of our house 
 To be betrothed and wed to village music. 
 Look, here the cymbalist, the fiddler stand. 
 And piper ;— honest folks ! the fiddler now 
 Stands eager, and the piper bows, entreating 
 With glance of eyes. Should I them send away. 
 They'd weep, poor fellows. And the people cannot 
 Spring to another music. Let them now 
 Begin, and let the people all rejoice. 
 And later on we'll hear your chosen band." 
 He gave the sign.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 253 
 
 The fiddler of his coat 
 Tucked up the sleeves, he tightly grasped the neck, 
 Upon the fiddle-head he leaned his chin, 
 And like a horse in full career set off 
 Upon the fiddle ; at this sign the pipers. 
 Who stood beside, as though they flapped with 
 
 wings. 
 With frequent motion of their shoulders blow 
 Into the bags, and fill their cheeks with breath. 
 Thou might'st have thought the pair would fly away 
 Upon the air, like Boreas' winged children. 
 Cymbals were wanting. 
 
 Cymbalists were many ; 
 But none dared play while Jankiel was near. 
 Where Jankiel tarried all the winter through 
 None knew ; now all at once he had appeared 
 With the chief army staff". All knew that none 
 Were equal to him on this instrument 
 In taste and talent. They entreated he 
 Would play, presented cymbals, but the Jew 
 Refused, and said his hands were coarsened, he 
 Was out of practice, dared not, was ashamed 
 To play before the gentlemen ; he bowed. 
 And went away. When this Sophia saw. 
 She ran up to him, and in her white hand
 
 254 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 The bars wherewith the master sounds the strings 
 
 She offered ; with the other hand she stroked 
 
 The old man's hoary beard, and curtsying, 
 
 " Do, Jankiel," says she, "if you please, to-day 
 
 Is my betrothal, Jankiel, do play ; 
 
 You have promised oft to play upon my wedding." 
 
 As Jankiel loved Sophia exceedingly, 
 He nodded with his chin, in sign he did not 
 Refuse, and so they led him to their midst. 
 They gave to him a chair, they bring the cymbals. 
 And place them on his knees. He looks with joy 
 And pride on them, like veteran called to arms, 
 Whose grandsons from the wall his heavy sword 
 Drag down ; the old man laughs, although so long 
 No sword was in his hand, yet has he felt 
 The hand is yet no stranger to the sword. 
 
 Meanwhile two scholars by the cymbals kneel. 
 Attune the strings once more, and tuning strike. 
 Jankiel is silent yet, with half-shut eyes. 
 And still his fingers grasp the unmoving bars.^^ 
 
 He let them go. At first they beat the time 
 Of a triumphal march ; more frequent, then
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 255 
 
 They smote along the strings hke stormy rain. 
 All marvelled. But this only was as proof ; 
 For soon he broke off, and aloft he raised 
 Both bars. 
 
 He played again. The bars vibrate 
 With such light motion, as a fly's wing might 
 Upon the chords, emitting a low hum, 
 Scarce heard. The master ever looked towards 
 
 heaven. 
 Awaiting inspiration. From above 
 He looked, the instrument with proud glance 
 
 scanned. 
 He raised his hands together, dropped, and smote 
 With those two bars. The hearers marvelled much. 
 
 From many strings together burst a sound, 
 As a whole band of Janissary music 
 Awoke with bells, with se/* and beating drums ; 
 The Polonaise of May the third. The lively 
 Maidens breathe hard with joy, the lads may scarce 
 Stay in their places. But the old men's thoughts 
 Were with the sound transported to the past. 
 Into those happy years when deputies 
 
 * An eastern instrument : vide " Lallah Rookli."
 
 2S6 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 And senators upon the third of May, 
 In the town-hall did feast the king, made one 
 Now with the nation, when in dance they sung : 
 " Long live the King, the Diet live, the Estates, the 
 
 Nation long ! " 
 The master hurries evermore the time. 
 Intensifies the tones ; but at that instant 
 Threw in a false chord like a serpent's hiss, 
 Or scratch of iron on glass ; all horror seized, 
 And all their joy an evil-boding fear 
 Confounded, saddened, frightened all the hearers. 
 They doubted : w^as the instrument niistuned ? 
 In error the musician ? Such a master 
 Could not mistake. He purposely has stirred 
 Again that traitorous string, the melody 
 Is troubled ; ever louder, breaketh in 
 That chord unbridled, all confederate 
 Against the concord of the other tones. 
 At last the Klucznik understood the master ; 
 He covered with his face his hands, and cried : 
 " I know, I know that sound, 'tis Targowica I" 
 And presently that string ill-boding burst 
 With hissing. 
 
 The musician to the treble 
 Rushes, he breaks the time, confuses it.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 257 
 
 He leaves the treble, rushes to the bass ; 
 
 And evermore and louder still are heard 
 
 A thousand uproars ; beating of a march, 
 
 Of war, assault, and storm ; then shots were heard, 
 
 The groans of children, and their mothers weeping. 
 
 The perfect master so the horrors gave 
 
 Of storming, that the village women trembled ; 
 
 Recalling to themselves, with tears of pain, 
 
 The Praga carnage, which they knew from songs 
 
 And stories. Glad they were that suddenly 
 
 The master thundered loud with all the strings, 
 
 And strangled all the voices, as though he 
 
 Had beat them to the ground. 
 
 The hearers scarce 
 Had time to issue from astonishment ; 
 Again another music ; once again 
 At first a humming light and low, there sigh 
 Some slender strings, like flies, who strive to loose 
 Themselves from nets of spiders. But the chords 
 Increase aye more and more. The scattered tones 
 Unite, and legions gather of accords ; 
 And now, with sounds accordant, move in time, 
 The tune creating of that famous song. 
 Of how the soldier over hills and forests 
 Goeth, at times well-nigh with hunger dying.
 
 258 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Falling at last before his charger's feet, 
 Who with his foot shall dig for him a grave, 
 The ancient song to Poland's army dear.^^ 
 The soldiers knew it ; all the faithful ranks 
 Gathered around the master, listening. 
 They to themselves recall that fearful time, 
 When o'er their country's grave they sang that song, 
 And went into the country of the world.* 
 In thought they track their years of wandering. 
 O'er lands, o'er seas, through burning sands and frost, 
 Amid strange peoples, where so oft in camp 
 This native song rejoiced and heartened them. 
 Thus thinking, sadly they bowed down their heads. 
 
 But soon they raised them. For the master raised 
 The tones, intensified and changed the time. 
 Proclaiming somewhat else ; he scanned the strings. 
 Rejoined his hands, and smote with both the bars. 
 So artful was the stroke, and of such power, 
 That the strings sounded forth like brazen trumpets. 
 And from the trumpets the triumphal march 
 Rolled toward the sky, " Yet Poland is not dead ! 
 Dombrowski ! march to Poland ! " and all clapped, 
 
 * A common equivalent for into the wide world.
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 259 
 
 And all in chorus, " March ! Dombrowski ! " cried. 
 The master, as though marvelling at his song, 
 Dropped from his hands the bars, and raised his 
 
 hands 
 On high ; his cap of fox-skin from his head 
 Fell on his shoulders, and his reverend beard 
 Waved, lifted high ; upon his cheek there stood 
 Circles of wondrous red, and in his glance 
 All full of spirit, shone the glow of youth. 
 Till when the old man turned his eyes upon 
 Dombrowski, with his hands he covered them ; 
 Beneath his hands a flood of tears poured forth. 
 " General ! " he cried, " long has our Litva waited 
 For thee, as we Jews our Messiah await ! 
 Long singers 'mid the people have foretold thee. 
 And heaven proclaimed thee by a miracle ! 
 Live thou, and fight! — Oh! thou, our" — speaking he 
 Kept sobbing, for the honest Jew our country 
 Loved like a Pole. Dombrowski gave his hand 
 To him, and thanked him. He, his cap removed, 
 Did kiss the leader's hand. 
 
 The Polonaise 
 Shall now begin. The Chamberlain does rise, 
 And lightly throwing back his kontusz cuffs. 
 And twirling his moustache, presents his hand
 
 26o MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Unto Sophia, and bowing courteously 
 Invites her into the first couple. Following 
 The Chamberlain, there forms a rank in pairs. 
 The signal given, the dance begins ; he leads. 
 
 Upon the turf the red boots shine, there gleams 
 A lustre from the sabre, the rich girdle 
 Shines brightly ; but he slowly steps as though 
 Unwilling : but from every step, each motion. 
 The dancer's thoughts and feelings may be read. 
 See, now he stands, as he would ask his lady ; 
 He bends towards her, whispers in her ear ; 
 The lady turns her head away, seems bashful, 
 She listens not ; he takes his cap off, bends 
 Humbly ; the lady deigns to cast a glance, 
 But keeps a silence obstinate ; he tracks 
 Her glances with his eyes, and laughs at length, 
 Glad of her answer ; quicker steps he forth, 
 Looks down upon his rivals ; and his cap, 
 With heron's plumes, now on his brow suspends, 
 Now shakes it o'er his forehead, till he lays it 
 Upon one side, and twirls round his moustache. 
 He goes, all envy him, rush on his traces ; 
 He gladly with his lady would escape 
 Out of the crowd, at times stands in his place,
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 261 
 
 And courteously he lifts his hand, and that 
 They would approach him humbly doth entreat. 
 At times he thinks with skill to turn aside, 
 Changeth the path, glad to mislead the rest ; 
 But with swift step importunate they follow. 
 So he grows angry, and his right hand lays 
 Upon his sword-hilt, while he seems to say, 
 " I care not for you ! to the envious woe ! " 
 He turns, with pride upon his brow, and with 
 Defiance in his eye, straight through the crowd ; 
 The crowd of dancers dare not him approach, 
 They yield to him the way, and change their ranks ; 
 Once more pursuing him. 
 
 And loud applause 
 Resounds on all sides : " Ah ! that is the last, 
 Maybe ! look, look, young people, 'tis perhaps 
 The last who thus can lead a Polonaise ! " 
 And pairs still followed pairs with noise and joy. 
 The circle now unwound, now wound again, 
 Like to a giant snake in thousand folds. 
 And change the varied, many hues of dresses 
 Of ladies, lords, and soldiers, like its scales 
 Gleaming, and gilded by the western sun. 
 On the dark cushion of the turf The dance 
 Is seething, music sounding, healths and plaudits. 
 
 VOL. II. s
 
 262 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Alone the Corporal Dobrzynski Bustard 
 
 Hears not the band, nor dances, nor rejoices. 
 
 With hands behind his back he standeth, cross 
 
 And gloomy, thinking of his former suit 
 
 Unto Sophia, how he loved to bring her 
 
 Flowers, weave her baskets, capture birds' nests, 
 
 carve 
 Earrings ! Ungrateful girl ! Although he lavished 
 So many gifts upon her, though she fled 
 Before him, though his father did forbid him, 
 He yet — how often on the garden wall 
 He sat, to gaze while she her garden weeded. 
 Or gathered cucumbers, or cockerels fed ! 
 Ungrateful girl ! He drooped his head at last ; 
 He whistled a mazurka, then he pressed 
 The hat upon his ears, and to the camp 
 He went, where stood the watch beside the guns. 
 There to distract his mind he played at draughts 
 With soldiers, with the bowl his grief assuaged. 
 Such, for Sophia, Dobrzynski's constancy. 
 
 Sophia dances joyously, but though 
 
 In the first couple, scarcely seen from far. 
 
 On the green surface of the courtyard wide. 
 
 In dress of green adorned with field-flowers, and
 
 LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 263 
 
 In flowery garland, 'mid the flowers and grasses 
 
 She circles round, in flight invisible. 
 
 The dance directing as an angel guides 
 
 The course of nightly stars. Thou guessest where 
 
 She is, for all the eyes are turned towards her, 
 
 All arms are stretched forth, towards her all the 
 
 crowd 
 Do press. The Chamberlain in vain does strive 
 To stay beside her ; envious men have now 
 Repulsed him from the first place, and the happy 
 Dombrowski might not long rejoice himself, 
 But yield her to another ; and a third 
 Already hastened, and this one repulsed, 
 At once departed hopeless. Then Sophia, 
 Already wearied out, met Thaddeus 
 In turn, and fearful of a further change. 
 And wishing to remain with him, she ended 
 The dances, and towards the table went 
 To fill up goblets for the guests. 
 
 The sun 
 Had set already ; warm the evening was. 
 And stilly ; heaven's circle here and there 
 Was paved with clouds, above of bluish hue. 
 Rosy towards the west ; these clouds forebode 
 Fine weather, light and shining ; there like flock
 
 264 MASTER THADDEUS. 
 
 Of sheep that slumber on the grass, and there 
 
 Are lesser clouds like flocks of water-fowl ; 
 
 And in the west a cloud like veilly curtains, 
 
 Transparent, in deep folds ; above like pearl, 
 
 Upon the borders gilded ; in its depths 
 
 Of purple hue ; yet with the western blaze 
 
 It sparkled, and it glowed, till gradually 
 
 It grew more yellow, paler, and then grey. 
 
 The sun has drooped his head, the cloud removed. 
 
 And giving one sigh with the warm air, slept. 
 
 But evermore the nobles drink, with healths 
 
 Unto Napoleon, to the generals. 
 
 To Thaddeus and Sophia, and at last 
 
 In turn of all three couples then betrothed. 
 
 Of all the guests there present, all invited, 
 
 All friends whom living any one recalled. 
 
 And those now dead whose memory was holy. 
 
 And I myself was there among the guests : ^^ 
 I drank the wine and mead, and what I saw 
 And heard there I have written in a book.
 
 NOTES TO BOOK XII. 
 
 I. ^' But in the vteantime the great service changed.'''' 
 
 * In the sixteenth and at the beginning of the seventeenth 
 century, at the time when art was most flourishing, even 
 banquets were arranged by artists, and full of symbols and 
 theatrical devices. At the renowned festival given in Rome to 
 Leo X. was a service representing in turn the four seasons of 
 the year, which probably served as the model for that of 
 Radziwill, These table customs were changed in Europe 
 about the middle of the eighteenth century : they lasted 
 longest in Poland. 
 
 2. " Has Pineti 
 Given yon his devils for your service ? " 
 
 * Pineti, a magician renowned through all Poland ; when 
 he was among us we do not know. 
 
 3. " Dzierzanoivski . . . Sawa'^ 
 
 Dzierzanowski and the Cossack Sawa were both famous 
 as heroes of the Confederacy. 
 
 4. '"Avi ICybulski?' 
 
 The Klucznik said in grief. " 
 
 * The lamentation of the wife of Cybulski, whose husband 
 lost her at cards to a Muscovite, is well known in Lithuania.
 
 266 NOTES. 
 
 5. " T/ie Piiiawsh's." 
 
 The five Pulawskis, father, three brothers, and nephew, 
 were all distinguished in the Confederacy of Bar, formed to 
 resist Russian interference ; being its first originators and 
 afterwards its life and soul. After the death of his father 
 Casimir Pulawski became chief of the whole Confederacy, 
 maintained it for a long time, and was at length persuaded 
 to accede to the seizure of King Stanislas in Warsaw. 
 This act has been undeservedly reprobated by a once famous 
 English novelist, but it was certainly ill-judged, for it con- 
 tributed to the loss oi p7-estige in the Confederates, and the 
 downfall of their cause. After the ruin of the Confederacy 
 Pulawski fought for some time in Turkey against the Rus- 
 sians, and subsequently taking part in the American War of 
 Independence, fell in an assault on Fort Wayne {1779). 
 
 6. " To say about Duviourier." 
 
 Several French officers, chiefly Dumourier, also Choiseul 
 Vismenil, and others, took part with the Confederates. 
 
 7. "^ Plasty 
 
 A Piast originally signified a sovereign of the first historic 
 dynasty that reigned over Poland, from Piast, the reputed 
 founder of the race, to Casimir the Great, who died in 1370. 
 In later times, during the period of elected sovereigns, a 
 Piast came to mean a king, or candidate for the throne, of 
 Polish birth. Hence it is here used for a national hero. 
 
 8. " His future wife" &c. 
 
 * The fashion of dressing in the French style increased 
 greatly in tlie provinces^ between the years 1800 to 1812.
 
 NOTES. 267 
 
 Young men often changed their style of dress before mar- 
 riage, at the request of their betrothed. 
 
 9. " Bt{i I have heard the peasants come from Ham." 
 
 We may notice this curious coincidence (a very un- 
 scriptural genealogy, by the way) between these ideas and 
 the reasons alleged by the Southerners for keeping the 
 negroes in slavery. The reader will remember that the 
 word " Cham " is actually used earlier in the poem in 
 addressing a peasant. 
 
 10. " Not merely empty and verbal freedom^'' 
 
 * The Russian Government acknowledged no freemen 
 except nobles. Serfs, freed by their proprietors, were at 
 once inscribed among the peasants of the Imperial estates, 
 and instead of compulsory labour were forced to pay increased 
 taxes. It is well known that in the year 18 18 the inhabi- 
 tants of the governorship of Wilna decreed in the Senate a 
 project of freeing all the serfs, and appointed for this pur- 
 pose a delegation to the Emperor ; but the government 
 ordered the project to be hushed up, and nevermore to be 
 fmentioned. There was no way of freeing a man at that 
 time, under Russian rule, except by adopting him into the 
 family. Therefore many were freed in this way, either by 
 avour or for money. 
 
 II. '■^ A monstrous panegyric." 
 
 Before the inauguration of a better taste by Mickiewicz 
 and other great writers, the so-called French or Classical 
 school of literature in Poland produced a quantity of pane- 
 gyrics or complimentary verses in honour of great personages, 
 with stale classical images, and strained, far-fetched meta-
 
 268 NOTES. 
 
 phors, destitute of real poetry. Our author has seized this 
 happy opportunity of satirising the faults of classicism. 
 
 12. " He grasped the unmoving bars." 
 
 " The cymbals are a species of lyre laid flat on a table, 
 and played with padded sticks. They have great tone and 
 capability of expression, and emit as much sound as a grand 
 piano ; the lower strings have immense depth and power." — 
 " Unknoivn Hungary" by a Member of the Carpathiaji Club. 
 
 13. " The ancient song," &c. 
 
 The opening words of this song are nearly as quoted in 
 the text. The melody is of a plaintive and melancholy 
 character. It is included in Sowinski's collection of national 
 music, published at Paris. 
 
 14. '■^ And I myself " Saz. 
 
 With these few concluding words the poet indicates his 
 own presence at the concluding festivities, and personal 
 cognisance of all the circumstances related. We are re- 
 minded of Chaucer's parenthetical phrase in the Prologue to 
 the Canterbury Tales, " and then there was myself, there 
 was no mo." The conclusion is, however, probably meant to 
 imitate the general ending of Polish fairy tales, which com- 
 monly finish as this poem does, by a sort of rhyming couplet, 
 assuring us that the narrator was himself present at the 
 wedding-feast, and shared in the festivities. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 PRINTED BY BALI.ANTYNE, HANSON AND CO. 
 EDINBURGH AND LONDON.
 
 " -k