CHAPTER IV.
The Kurtsevichi Bulygi were of an ancient princely stock which used theescutcheon of Kurts, claimed to be from Koryat, but was really fromRurik. Of the two main lines, one lived in Lithuania, the other inVolynia, till Prince Vassily, one of the numerous descendants of theVolynian line, settled beyond the Dnieper. Being poor, he did not wishto remain among his powerful relatives, and entered the service ofPrince Michael Vishnyevetski, father of the renowned "Yarema."[6]
Having covered himself with glory in that service, he received from thelatter, as a permanent possession, Krasnie Rozlogi, which subsequently,by reason of its vast number of wolves, was called Volchie Rozlogi; andthere he settled for good. He went over to the Latin rite in 1629, andmarried a lady of a distinguished Austrian family of Italian descent.From that marriage a daughter, Helena, came into the world a yearlater, her mother dying at her birth. Prince Vassily, without thinkingof a second marriage, gave himself up altogether to the management ofhis land and the rearing of his only daughter. He was a man of greatcharacter and uncommon virtue. Having acquired a moderate fortunerather rapidly, he remembered at once his eldest brother Constantine,who, rejected by his powerful family, remained in Volynia, and wasobliged to live on rented land. He brought him, with his wife and fivesons, to Rozlogi, and shared every bit of bread with him.
The two Kurtsevichi lived in this way quietly till the end of 1634,when Vassily went with King Vladislav to the siege of Smolensk, wherethat unfortunate event took place which caused his ruin. In the royalcamp was intercepted a letter written to Sheyin (the Russiancommander), signed with the name of the prince, with the seal of Kurtsadded. Such a clear proof of treason on the part of a knight who tillthen had enjoyed an unspotted fame, astonished and confounded everyone. It was in vain that Vassily called God to witness that neither thehand nor the signature on the paper was his; the arms of Kurts onthe seal removed every doubt, no one believed that the seal had beenlost,--which was the prince's explanation,--and finally the unfortunateprince, sentenced _pro crimine perduelionis_ to the loss of his honorand his head, was forced to seek safety in flight.
Arriving at Rozlogi in the night, Vassily implored his brotherConstantine, by all that was holy, to care for Helena as his owndaughter, and then he disappeared forever. It was said that he wrote aletter from Bar to Vishnyevetski, entreating the prince not to take thebread out of Helena's mouth, and to leave her in peace at Rozlogi underthe care of Constantine; after that there was no more word of him.There was a report that he had died suddenly, also that he had joinedthe imperial army and had perished in battle in Germany. No one,however, had certain knowledge of him; but he must have died, since heinquired no further for his daughter. Soon mention of his name ceased,and he was only remembered when his innocence became evident. A certainKuptsevich from Vytebsk confessed on his death-bed that he had written,at the siege of Smolensk, the letter to Sheyin, and sealed it with theseal found in camp. In the face of such testimony, pity and confusionseized all hearts. The sentence was revoked, the name of Prince Vassilyrestored to honor, but for Vassily himself the reward for hissufferings came too late. As to Rozlogi, Yeremi did not think ofconfiscating that; for the Vishnyevetskis, knowing Vassily better thanothers, were never entirely convinced of his guilt. He might even haveremained under their powerful protection and laughed at the sentence;and if he fled, it was because he was unable to endure disgrace.
Helena grew up quietly at Rozlogi under the tender care of her uncle,and only after his death did painful times begin for her. The wife ofConstantine, from a family of dubious origin, was a stern, impulsive,and energetic woman, whom her husband alone was able to keep withinbounds. After his death she gathered into her iron hand the managementof Rozlogi. The serving-men trembled before her, the house-servantsfeared her as fire, and soon she made herself known to the neighbors.During the third year of her management she attacked the Sivinskis ofBrovarki twice with armed hand, dressed in male attire and onhorseback, leading her servants with hired Cossacks. Once when theregiments of Prince Yeremi scattered Tartar bands, plundering in theneighborhood of Semi Mogil, the princess at the head of her people cutto pieces the remnant that had escaped as far as Rozlogi. She hadsettled for good in Rozlogi, and began to consider the place as theproperty of herself and her sons. She loved these sons as the wolfloves her young, but being rude she had no thought of a propereducation for them. A monk of the Greek rite from Kieff taught them toread and write; here their education ended. It was not far to Lubni,where Vishnyevetski's court was, at which the young princes might haveacquired polish and trained themselves to public business in theChancery, or entered the school of knighthood under his banners. Theprincess, however, had reasons of her own for not sending the young mento Lubni.
Prince Yeremi might remember to whom Rozlogi belonged, and might lookinto the guardianship of Helena, or in memory of Vassily might takethat guardianship upon himself; then she would undoubtedly have to moveaway from Rozlogi. The princess preferred, therefore, that in Lubnithey should forget there were Kurtsevichi on earth. So the youngprinces were reared half wild, more as Cossacks than as nobles. Whilestill young, they took part in the quarrels of the old princess, inattacks on the Sivinskis, and in her expeditions against Tartars.Feeling an innate aversion to books and letters, they fired arrows frombows for whole days, or took exercise in the management of their fistsor sabres and lariats. They never occupied themselves with the estate,for their mother would not let that out of her own hands. It was sad tolook at those descendants of a noted stock in whose veins princelyblood was flowing, but whose manners were harsh and rude, and whoseideas and dull hearts reminded one of the uncultivated steppe.Meanwhile they were growing up like young oaks; seeing their ownignorance, they were ashamed to live with the nobility; on thecontrary, the companionship of wild Cossack leaders was more agreeable.When old enough, therefore, they went with companies to the lowercountry, where they were considered as comrades. Sometimes they stayedhalf a year in the Saitch; went to "industry" with the Cossacks, tookpart in campaigns against the Turks and Tartars, which finally becametheir chief and favorite occupation.
Their mother was not opposed to this, for they often brought backabundant booty. But in one of these campaigns the eldest, Vassily, fellinto pagan hands. His brothers, it is true, with the aid of Bogun andthe Zaporojians, rescued him, but without his eyes. From that timeVassily was forced to remain at home; as formerly he had been thewildest of all, so then he became very mild and was sunk in meditationand religious exercises. The young men continued their warlikeoccupations, which at last obtained for them the surname ofPrince-Cossacks.
A glance at Rozlogi-Siromakhi was enough to enable one to guess whatkind of people lived there. When the envoy and Pan Yan drove throughthe gate with their wagons, they saw, not a castle, but rather a roomyshed built of enormous oak planks, with narrow windows like port-holes.Dwellings for servants and Cossacks, the stables, the granaries, andstore-rooms were attached directly to the house, composing an irregularbuilding made up of many parts, some high and some low. It would havebeen difficult to consider such a poor and rude exterior as a humandwelling, but for the lights in the windows. On the square in front ofthe house were two well-cranes; nearer the gate was a post with a ringon the top, to which was chained a bear. A strong gate of the same kindof planks as the house afforded entrance to the square, which wassurrounded by a ditch and a palisade.
Evidently it was a fortified place, secure against attacks andincursions. It recalled in every regard the Cossack posts of thefrontier; and though the majority of nobles on the border had no housesof fashion different from this, still this was more like some speciesof robber's nest than any of them. The attendants who came out withtorches to meet the guests were bandits in appearance, rather thanservants. Great dogs on the square tugged at their chains as if tobreak away and rush at the newly arrived. From the stable was heard theneighing of horses. The young Bulygi and their mother began to call tothe servants
with commands and curses.
In the midst of this hurly-burly the guests entered the house. But nowPan Rozvan Ursu, who had almost regretted his promise to pass the nightthere when he saw the wildness and wretchedness of the place, wasreally astonished at the sight that met his eyes. The inside of thehouse answered in no way to the unseemly exterior. First they entered abroad ante-room, the walls of which were almost entirely covered witharmor, weapons, and skins of wild beasts. Logs of wood were blazing intwo enormous fireplaces, and by their bright light were to be seen, onone wall, horse-trappings, shining armor, Turkish steel shirts on whichhere and there were glittering precious stones; chain-mail with giltknobs on the buckles, half armor, breast-pieces, neck-pieces, steelarmor of great value, Polish and Turkish helmets, steel caps withsilver tips. On the opposite wall hung shields, no longer used in thatage; near them Polish lances and Oriental javelins, also edged weaponsin plenty,--from sabres to daggers and yatagans,--the hilts of whichglittered in the firelight with various colors, like stars. In thecorners hung bundles of skins of bears, wolves, foxes, martens, andermine, gained by the hunting of the princes. Farther away, near thewalls, dozing on their rings were hawks, falcons, and great goldeneagles; the last, brought from the distant steppes of the East, wereused in the wolf-hunt.
From that antechamber the guests passed to a spacious reception-room,and here in a chimney with a depression in front burned a brisk fire.In this room there was still greater luxury than in the antechamber.The bare planks of the walls were covered with woven stuffs. On thefloor lay splendid Oriental carpets. In the centre of the room stood along, cross-legged table, made of common planks, on which were goblets,gilt or cut from Venetian glass. At the walls were smaller tables,bureaus, and shelves on which were caskets, bottle-cases inlaid withbronze, brass candlesticks and clocks, taken in their time by the Turksfrom the Venetians and by the Cossacks from the Turks. The whole roomwas crowded with superfluous objects, of a use very often unknown tothe possessor. Everywhere was luxury blended with the extreme rudenessof the steppe. Costly Turkish bureaus, inlaid with bronze, ebony,mother-of-pearl, were standing at the side of unplaned shelves; simplewooden chairs at the side of soft sofas. Cushions lying in Easternfashion on sofas had covers of brocade or silk stuff, but were rarelyfilled with down, oftener with hay or pea-stalks. Costly stuffs andsuperfluous objects were the so-called Turkish or Tartar goods, partlybought for a trifle from the Cossacks, partly obtained in numerous warsby old Prince Vassily, partly during expeditions with men of the lowercountry by the young Bulygi, who chose rather to go with boats to theBlack Sea than to marry or manage the land.
All this roused no surprise in Skshetuski, who was well acquainted withhouses on the border; but the Wallachian boyar was astonished to see inthe midst of all this luxury the Kurtsevichi in leather boots and furcoats not much better than those worn by the servants. Pan LonginPodbipienta, accustomed to a different order of things in Lithuania,was equally astonished.
Meanwhile the young princes received the guests heartily and with greatwelcome. Being little trained in society, they did this in so awkward amanner that the lieutenant was scarcely able to restrain his laughter.The eldest, Simeon, said,--
"We are glad to see you, and are thankful for your kindness. Our houseis your house; therefore make yourselves at home. We bow to you,gentlemen, at our lowly thresholds."
And though no humility was observable in the tone of his speech, nor arecognition that he received persons superior to himself, he bowed inCossack fashion to the girdle; and after him bowed the youngerbrothers, thinking that politeness required it.
"The forehead to you, gentlemen, the forehead."
Just then the princess, seizing Bogun by the sleeve, led him to anotherroom.
"Listen, Bogun," said she, hurriedly, "I've no time for long speeches:I saw you attack that young noble. You are seeking a quarrel with him."
"Mother," answered the Cossack, kissing the old woman's hand, "theworld is wide,--one road to him, another to me. I have not known him,nor heard of him; but let him not draw near the princess, or as I liveI'll flash my sabre in his eyes."
"Oh! are you mad? Where, Cossack, is your head? What has come upon you?Do you want to ruin yourself and us? He is a soldier of Prince Yeremi,a lieutenant, a person of distinction, for he was sent as envoy fromthe prince to the Khan. Let a hair fall from his head while under ourroof, do you know what will happen? The prince will turn his eyes toRozlogi, will avenge this man, send us to the four winds, take Helenato Lubni,--and then what? Will you quarrel with Vishnyevetski, orattack Lubni? Try it if you want to taste an impaling stake, lostCossack! Whether he comes near the girl or not, he will leave here ashe came, and there will be peace. But restrain yourself! If not, thenbe off to where you came from, for you will bring misfortune to us ifyou stay."
The Cossack gnawed his mustache, frowned, but saw that the princess wasright.
"They will go away in the morning, mother, and I will restrain myself;only let the princess stay in her own rooms."
"Why do you ask this? So that they should think I keep her inconfinement? She will appear, because I wish it. Give no orders to mein this house, for you are not master here!"
"Be not angry. Princess! Since it cannot be otherwise, I will be assweet to them as Turkish tidbits. I'll not grind my teeth nor touch myhead, even though anger were consuming me, though my soul were ready togroan. Let your will be done."
"Oh, that's your talk! Take your lyre, play, sing; then you will feeleasier. But now meet the guests."
They returned to the reception-room, in which the princes, not knowinghow to entertain the guests, continued to ask them to make themselvesat home, and were bowing to the girdle before them.
Skshetuski looked sharply and haughtily into the eyes of Bogun as soonas he came, but he saw in them neither quarrel nor defiance. The faceof the youthful leader was lighted up with good-humor, so wellsimulated that it might have deceived the most experienced eye. Thelieutenant looked at him carefully, for previously he had been unableto distinguish his features in the darkness. He saw now a young hero,straight as a poplar, with splendid brunette face, and rich, dark,drooping mustache. On that face gladness burst through the pensive moodof the Ukraine, as the sun through a mist. The leader had a loftyforehead, on which his dark hair drooped as a mane above his powerfulbrow. An aquiline nose, dilated nostrils, and white teeth, shining atevery smile, gave the face a slight expression of rapacity; but on thewhole it was a model of Ukraine beauty, luxuriant, full of characterand defiance. His splendid dress also distinguished this hero of thesteppe from the princes dressed in skins. Bogun wore a tunic of silverbrocade and a scarlet kontush, which color was worn by all thePereyaslav Cossacks. His loins were girt with a silken sash from whichdepended a rich sabre; but the sabre and the dress paled before theTurkish dagger at his belt. This dagger was so thickly studded withjewels that sparks flew from it. Arrayed in this fashion, he would havebeen easily taken by any one for a scion of some great house; ratherthan a Cossack, especially since his freedom and his lordly mannersbetrayed no low descent.
Approaching Pan Longin, he listened to the story of his ancestorStoveiko and the cutting off of the three heads. He turned to thelieutenant, and said with perfect indifference, just as if nothing hadhappened between them,--
"You are on your way from the Crimea, I hear."
"From the Crimea," answered the lieutenant, dryly.
"I have been there too, though I did not go to Baktche Serai; but Ithink I shall be there if the favorable news we hear comes true."
"Of what news are you speaking?"
"It is said that if the king opens war against the Turks, PrinceVishnyevetski will visit the Crimea with fire and sword. This reportbrings great joy through the whole Ukraine and the lower country, forif under such a leader we do not frolic in Baktche Serai, then undernone."
"We will frolic, as God is in heaven!" cried the young princes.
The respect with which Bogun spoke of the prince captivat
ed thelieutenant; so he smiled and said in a more friendly voice,--
"I see that you are not satisfied yet with the expeditions which youhave had with men of the lower country, which however have covered youwith glory."
"Small war, small glory! Konashevich Sahaidachni did not win it onboats, but in Khotim."
At that moment a door opened, and Vassily, the eldest of theKurtsevichi, came slowly into the room, led by Helena. He was a man ofripe years, pale and emaciated, with a sad ascetic countenance,recalling the Byzantine pictures of saints. His long hair, prematurelygray from misfortune and pain, came down to his shoulders, and insteadof his eyes were two red depressions. In his hand he held a bronzecross, with which he began to bless the room and all present.
"In the name of God the Father, in the name of the Saviour and of theHoly Most Pure," said he, "if you are apostles and bring good tidings,be welcome on Christian thresholds!"
"Be indulgent, gentlemen," muttered the princess; "his mind isdisturbed."
But Vassily continued to bless them with the cross, and added: "As itis said in the 'Dialogues of the Apostles,' 'Whoso sheds his blood forthe faith will be saved; he who dies for gain or booty will be damned.'Let us pray! Woe to you, brothers, woe to me, since we made war forbooty! God be merciful to us, sinners! God be merciful! And you, menwho have come from afar, what tidings do you bring? Are you apostles?"
He was silent, and appeared to wait for an answer; therefore thelieutenant replied,--
"We are far from such a lofty mission. We are only soldiers ready tolay down our lives for the faith."
"Then you will be saved," said the blind man; "but for us the hour ofliberation has not come. Woe to you, brothers! woe to me!"
He uttered the last words almost with a groan, and such deep despairwas depicted on his countenance that the guests were at a loss what todo. Helena seated him straightway on a chair, and hastening to theanteroom, returned in a moment with a lute in her hand.
Low sounds were heard in the apartment, and the princess began to singa hymn as accompaniment,--
"By night and by day I call thee, O Lord! Relieve thou my torment, and dry my sad tears; Be a merciful Father to me in my sins; Oh, hear thou my cry!"
The blind man threw his head back and listened to the words of thesong, which appeared to act as a healing balm, for the pain and terrordisappeared by degrees from his face. At last his head fell upon hisbosom, and he remained as if half asleep and half benumbed.
"If the singing is continued, he will become altogether pacified. Yousee, gentlemen, his insanity consists in this, that he is alwayswaiting for apostles; and if visitors appear, he comes out immediatelyto ask if they are apostles."
Helena continued:--
"Show me the way, Lord above Lords! I'm like one astray in a waste without end, Or a ship in the waves of a measureless sea, Lost and alone."
Her sweet voice grew louder and louder. With the lute in her hands, andeyes raised to heaven, she was so beautiful that the lieutenant couldnot take his eyes from her. He looked, was lost in her, and forgot theworld. He was roused from his ecstasy only by the words of the oldprincess,--
"That's enough! He will not wake soon. But now I request you to supper,gentlemen."
"We beg you to our bread and salt," said the young princes after theirmother.
Pan Rozvan, as a man of polished manners, gave his arm to the lady ofthe house. Seeing this, Skshetuski hurried to the Princess Helena. Hisheart grew soft within him when he felt her hand on his arm, till fireflashed in his eyes, and he said,--
"The angels in heaven do not sing more beautifully than you."
"It is a sin for you to compare my singing to that of angels," answeredHelena.
"I don't know whether I sin or not; but one thing is sure,--I wouldgive my eyes to hear your singing till death. But what do I say? Ifblind, I could have no sight of you, which would be the same as torturebeyond endurance."
"Don't say that, for you will leave here to-morrow, and to-morrowforget me."
"That will not be. My love is such that to the end of life I can loveno one else."
The face of the princess grew scarlet; her breast began to heave. Shewished to answer, but her lips merely trembled. Then Pan Yancontinued,--
"But you will forget me in the presence of that handsome Cossack, whowill accompany your singing on a balalaika."
"Never, never!" whispered the maiden. "But beware of him; he is aterrible man."
"What is one Cossack to me? Even if the whole Saitch were behind him, Ishould dare everything for your sake. You are for me like a jewelwithout price,--you are my world. But tell me, have you the samefeeling for me?"
A low "Yes" sounded like music of paradise in the ears of Pan Yan, andthat moment it seemed to him as if ten hearts, at least, were beatingin his breast; in his eyes all things grew bright, as if a ray ofsunlight had come to the world; he felt an unknown power withinhimself, as if he had wings on his shoulders.
During supper Bogun's face, which was greatly changed and pale, glaredseveral times. The lieutenant, however, possessing the affection ofHelena, cared not for his rival. "The devil take him!" thought he. "Lethim not get in my way; if he does, I'll rub him out."
But his mind was not on Bogun. He felt Helena sitting so near that healmost touched her shoulder with his own; he saw the blush which neverleft her face, from which warmth went forth; he saw her swelling bosom,and her eyes, now drooping and covered with their lids, now flashinglike a pair of stars,--for Helena, though cowed by the old princess andliving in orphanhood, sadness, and fear, was still of the Ukraine andhot-blooded. The moment a warm ray of love fell on her she bloomed likea flower, and was roused at once to new and unknown life. Happinesswith courage gleamed in her eyes, and those impulses struggling withher maiden timidity painted her face with the beautiful colors of therose.
Pan Yan was almost beside himself. He drank deeply, but the mead had noeffect on him; he was already drunk from love. He saw no one at thetable save her who sat at his side. He saw not how Bogun grew palereach moment, and, touching the hilt of his dagger, gave no ear to PanLongin, who for the third time told of his ancestor Stoveiko, nor toKurtsevich, who told about his expedition for "Turkish goods."
All drank except Bogun; and the best example was given by the oldprincess, who raised a goblet, now to the health of her guests, now tothe health of Vishnyevetski, now to the health of the hospodar Lupul.There was talk, too, of blind Vassily and his former knightly deeds, ofhis unlucky campaign and his present insanity, which Simeon, theeldest, explained as follows:--
"Just think! the smallest bit of anything in the eye prevents sight;why should not great drops of pitch reaching the brain cause madness?"
"Oh, it is a very delicate organ," said Pan Longin.
At this moment the old princess noticed the changed face of Bogun.
"What is the matter, my falcon?"
"My soul is suffering, mother," said he, gloomily; "but a Cossack wordis not smoke. I will endure."
"Hold out, my son; there will be a feast."
Supper came to an end, but mead was poured into the gobletsunsparingly. Cossacks called to the dance came, therefore, with greaterreadiness. The balalaikas and drums, to which the drowsy attendantswere to dance, began to sound. Later on, the young princes dropped intothe prisyadka. The old princess, putting her hands on her sides, beganto keep time with her foot and hum. Pan Yan, seeing this, took Helenato the dance. When he embraced her with his arm it seemed to him thathe was drawing part of heaven toward his breast. In the whirl of thedance her long tresses swept around his neck, as if she wished to bindhim to herself forever. He did not restrain himself; and when he sawthat no one was looking, he bent and kissed her lips with all hismight.
Late at night, when alone with Longin in their sleeping-room, thelieutenant, instead of going to rest, sat on the wooden bedstead andbegan: "You will go to Lubni tomorrow wi
th another man."
Podbipienta, who had just finished his prayers, opened wide his eyesand asked: "How is that? Are you going to stay here?"
"I shall not stay, but my heart will remain, and only the _dulcisrecordatio_ will go with me. You see in me a great change, since fromtender desires I am scarcely able to listen to a thing."
"Then you have fallen in love with the princess?"
"Nothing else, as true as I am alive before you. Sleep flees from mylids, and I want nothing but sighs, from which I am ready to vanishinto vapor. I tell you this, because, having a tender heart famishingfor love, you will easily understand my torture."
Pan Longin began to sigh, in token that he understood the torments oflove, and after a time he inquired mournfully: "Maybe you have alsomade a vow of celibacy?"
"Your inquiry is pointless, for if all made such vows the _genushumanum_ would soon be at an end."
The entrance of a servant interrupted further conversation. It was anold Tartar, with quick black eyes and a face as wrinkled as a driedapple. After he came in he cast a significant look at Pan Yan andasked,--
"Don't you wish for something? Perhaps a cup of mead before going tobed?"
"No, 'tis not necessary."
The Tartar approached Skshetuski and muttered: "I have a word from theyoung princess for you."
"Then be my gift-giver! You may speak before this knight, for he knowseverything."
The Tartar took a ribbon from his sleeve, saying, "The lady has sentyou this scarf, with a message that she loves you with her whole soul."
The lieutenant seized the scarf, kissed it with ecstasy, and pressed itto his bosom. After he had become calmer, he asked: "What did theprincess tell you to say?"
"That she loved you with her whole soul."
"Here is a thaler for your message. She said, then, that she loved me?"
"Yes."
"Here is another thaler for you. May God bless her, for she is mostdear to me. Tell her, too--But wait, I'll write to her. Bring me ink,pen, and paper."
"What?" asked the Tartar.
"Ink, pen, and paper."
"We have none in the house. In the time of Prince Vassily we had, andafterward when the young princes learned to write from the monk; butthat is a long time ago."
Pan Yan clasped his hands. "Haven't you ink and pen?" asked he ofPodbipienta.
The Lithuanian opened his hands and raised his eyes to heaven.
"Well, plague take it!" said the lieutenant; "what can I do?"
The Tartar had squatted before the fire. "What is the use of writing?"said he, gathering up the coals. "The young lady has gone to sleep. Andwhat you would write to her now, you can tell her in the morning."
"In that case I need no ink. You are a faithful servant to the younglady, as I see. Here is a third thaler for you. Are you long in herservice?"
"It is now fourteen years since Prince Vassily took me captive, andsince that time I have served faithfully. The night he went awaythrough losing his name he left his little child to Constantine, andsaid to me: 'You will not desert the little girl, and you will be ascareful of her as the eye in your head."
"Are you doing what he told you?"
"Yes, I am; I will care for her."
"Tell me what you see. How is she living here?"
"They have evil designs against her, for they wish to give her toBogun, and he is a cursed dog."
"Oh, nothing will come of that! A man will be found to take her part."
"Yes!" said the old man, pushing the glowing coals. "They want to giveher to Bogun, to take and bear her away as a wolf bears a lamb, andleave them in Rozlogi; for Rozlogi is not theirs, but hers from herfather, Prince Vassily. Bogun is willing to do this, for he has moregold and silver in the reeds than there is sand in Rozlogi; but sheholds him in hatred from the time he brained a man before her face.Blood has fallen between them, and hatred has sprung up. God is one!"
The lieutenant was unable to sleep that night. He paced the apartment,gazed at the moon, and had many thoughts on his mind. He penetrated thegame of the Bulygi. If a nobleman of the vicinity were to marry theprincess, he would remember Rozlogi, and justly, for it belonged toher; and he might demand also an account of the guardianship. Thereforethe Bulygi, already turned Cossacks, decided to give the young woman toa Cossack. While thinking of this, Skshetuski clinched his fists andsought the sword at his side. He resolved to baffle these plots, andfelt that he had the power to do so. Besides, the guardianship ofHelena belonged to Prince Yeremi,--first, because Rozlogi was givenby the Vishnyevetskis to old Vassily; secondly, because Vassilyhimself wrote a letter to the prince from Bar, requesting thisguardianship. The pressure of public business alone--wars and greatundertakings--could have prevented the prince from looking into theguardianship. But it would be sufficient to remind him with a word, andhe would have justice done.
The gray of dawn was appearing when Skshetuski threw himself on thebed. He slept soundly, and in the morning woke with a finished plan. Heand Pan Longin dressed in haste, all the more since the wagons wereready and the soldiers on horseback waiting to start. He breakfasted inthe reception-room with the young princes and their mother, but Bogunwas not there; it was unknown whether he was sleeping yet or had gone.
After he had refreshed himself Skshetuski said: "Worthy princess! timeflies, and we must be on horseback in a moment; but before we thank youwith grateful hearts for your entertainment, I have an important affairon which I should like to say a few words to you and your sons apart."
Astonishment was visible on the face of the princess. She looked at hersons, at the envoy, and Pan Longin, as if trying to divine from theirfaces what the question might be; and with a certain alarm in her voiceshe said: "I am at your service."
The envoy wished to retire, but she did not permit him. They went atonce to the room which was hung with armor and weapons. The youngprinces took their places in a row behind their mother, who, standingopposite Skshetuski, asked: "Of what affair do you wish to speak, sir?"
The lieutenant fastened a quick and indeed severe glance on her, andsaid: "Pardon me, Princess, and you, young Princes, that I act contraryto custom, and instead of speaking through ambassadors of distinction,I am the advocate in my own cause. But it cannot be otherwise; andsince no man can battle with necessity, I present my humble request toyou as guardians to be pleased to give me Princess Helena as wife."
If at that moment of the winter season lightning had descended in frontof the house at Rozlogi, it would have caused less astonishment to theprincess and her sons than those words of the lieutenant. For a timethey looked with amazement on the speaker, who stood before them erect,calm, and wonderfully proud, as if he intended not to ask, but tocommand; and they could not find a word of answer, but instead, theprincess began to ask,--
"How is this? Are you speaking of Helena?"
"I am, Princess, and you hear my fixed resolve."
A moment of silence followed.
"I am waiting for your answer, Princess."
"Forgive me, sir," said she, coughing; and her voice became dry andsharp. "The proposal of such a knight is no small honor for us; butnothing can come of it, since I have already promised Helena toanother."
"But be pleased to consider, as a careful guardian, whether thatpromise was not made against the will of the princess, and if I am notbetter than he to whom you have promised her."
"Well, sir, it is for me to judge who is better. You may be the best ofmen; but that is nothing to us, for we do not know you."
The lieutenant straightened himself still more proudly, and hisglances, though cold, became sharp as knives.
"But I know you, you traitors!" he burst forth. "You wish to give yourrelative to a peasant, on condition that he leaves you propertyunjustly acquired."
"You are a traitor yourself!" shouted the princess. "Is this yourreturn for hospitality? Is this the gratitude you cherish in yourheart? Oh, serpent! What kind of person are you? Whence have you come?"
The fingers of the young princes began to quiver, and they looked alongthe walls for weapons; but the lieutenant cried out,--
"Wretches! you have seized the property of an orphan, but to nopurpose. In a day from now Vishnyevetski will know of this."
At these words the princess rushed to the end of the room, and seizinga dart, went up to the lieutenant. The young men also, having seizedeach what he could lay hands on,--one a sabre, another a knife,--stoodin a half-circle near him, panting like a pack of mad wolves.
"You will go to the prince, will you?" shouted the old woman; "and areyou sure that you will go out of here alive, and that this is not yourlast hour?"
Skshetuski crossed his arms on his breast, and did not wink an eye.
"I am on my way from the Crimea," said he, "as an envoy of PrinceYeremi. Let a single drop of my blood fall here, and in three days theashes of this house will have vanished, and you will rot in thedungeons of Lubni. Is there power in the world to save you? Do notthreaten, for I am not afraid of you."
"We may perish, but you will perish first."
"Then strike! Here is my breast."
The princes, with their mother near them, held weapons pointed at thebreast of the lieutenant; but it seemed as if invisible fetters heldtheir hands. Panting, and gnashing their teeth, they struggled in vainrage, but none of them struck a blow. The terrible name ofVishnyevetski deprived them of strength. The lieutenant was master ofthe position.
The weak rage of the princess was poured out in a mere torrent ofabuse: "Trickster! beggar! you want princely blood. But in vain; wewill give her to any one, but not to you. The prince cannot make us dothat."
Skshetuski answered: "This is no time for me to speak of my nobility. Ithink, however, that your rank might well bear the sword and shieldbehind mine. But for that matter, since a peasant was good in youreyes, I am better. As to my fortune, that too may be compared withyours; and since you say that you will not give me Helena, then listento what I tell you: I will leave you in Rozlogi, and ask no account ofguardianship."
"Do not give that which is not yours."
"I give nothing but my promise for the future. I give it, andstrengthen it with my knightly word. Now choose, either to renderaccount to the prince of your guardianship and leave Rozlogi, or giveme Helena and you may keep the land."
The dart dropped slowly from the hand of the princess, and after amoment fell on the floor with a rattle.
"Choose," repeated Skshetuski,--"either peace or war!"
"It is lucky," said she, more mildly, "that Bogun has gone out with thefalcon, not wishing to look at you; for he had suspicions evenyesterday. If he were here, we should not get on without bloodshed."
"I do not wear a sword, madam, to have my belt cut off."
"But think, is it polite on the part of such a knight as you, afterentering a house by invitation, to force people in this way, and take amaiden by assault, as if from Turkish slavery?"
"It is right, since she was to be sold against her will to a peasant."
"Don't say that of Bogun, for though of unknown parentage, he is afamous warrior and a splendid knight; known to us from childhood, he islike a relative in the house. To take the maiden from him is the sameas to stab him with a knife."
"Well, Princess, it is time for me to go. Pardon me, then, if I ask youonce more to make your choice."
The princess turned to her sons. "Well, my sons, what do you say tosuch an humble request from this cavalier?"
The young men looked down, nudged each other with their elbows, andwere silent. At last Simeon muttered: "If you tell us, mother, to slayhim, we will slay; if you say give the girl, we will give her."
"To give is bad, and to slay is bad." Then turning to Skshetuski, shesaid: "You have pushed us to the wall so closely that there is noescape. Bogun is a madman, ready for anything. Who will save us fromhis vengeance? He will perish himself through the prince, but he willdestroy us first. What are we to do?"
"That is your affair."
The princess was silent for a time, then said: "Listen to me. All thismust remain a secret. We will send Bogun to Pereyaslav, and will goourselves with Helena to Lubni, and you will ask the prince to send usa guard at Rozlogi. Bogun has a hundred and fifty Cossacks in theneighborhood; part of them are here. You cannot take Helenaimmediately, for he would rescue her. It cannot be arranged otherwise.Go your way, therefore; tell the secret to no man, and wait for us."
"But won't you betray me?"
"If we only could; but we cannot, as you see yourself. Give your wordthat you will keep the secret."
"If I give it, will you give the girl?"
"Yes, for we are unable not to give her, though we are sorry forBogun."
"Pshaw!" said the lieutenant, turning to the princes, "There are fourof you, like oaks, and afraid of one Cossack, and you wish to overcomehim by treason! Though I am obliged to thank you, still I say that itis not the thing for men of honor."
"Do not interfere in this," cried the princess. "It is not your affair.What can we do? How many soldiers have you against his hundred andfifty Cossacks? Will you protect us? Will you protect Helena herself,whom he is ready to bear away by force? This is not your affair. Goyour way to Lubni. How we must act is for us to judge, if we only bringHelena to you."
"Do what you like; but one thing I repeat: If any wrong comes toHelena, woe to you!"
"Do not treat us in this fashion, you might drive us to desperation."
"You wished to bend her to your will, and now, when selling her forRozlogi, it has never entered your heads to ask whether my person ispleasing to her."
"We are going to ask her in your presence," said the princess,suppressing the rage which began to seethe up again in her breast, forshe felt clearly the contempt in these words of Skshetuski.
Simeon went for Helena, and soon entered the room with her. Amidst therage and threats which still seemed to quiver in the air like theechoes of a tempest that has passed, amidst those frowning brows, angrylooks, and threatening scowls, her beautiful face shone like the sunafter a storm.
"Well, young lady!" said the princess sullenly, pointing to Pan Yan;"if you choose this man, he is your future husband."
Helena grew pale, and with a sudden cry covered her eyes with her twohands; then suddenly stretched them toward Skshetuski.
"Is this true?" whispered she, in transport.
An hour later the retinue of the envoy and the lieutenant moved slowlyalong the forest road toward Lubni. Skshetuski with Pan LonginPodbipienta rode in front; after them came the wagons of the envoy in along line. The lieutenant was completely sunk in thought and longing,when suddenly he was roused from his pensiveness by the words of thesong,--
"I grieve, I grieve, my heart is sore."
In the depth of the forest appeared Bogun on a narrow path trodden outby the peasants. His horse was covered with foam and mud. Apparentlythe Cossack, according to habit, had gone out to the steppes and theforest to dissipate with the wind, destroy, and forget in the distancethat which over-pained his heart. He was returning then to Rozlogi.
Looking on that splendid, genuine knightly form, which only flashed upbefore him and vanished, Skshetuski murmured involuntarily,--
"It is lucky in every case that he brained a man in her presence."
All at once an undefined sorrow pressed his heart. He was sorry as itwere for Bogun, but still more sorry that having bound himself by wordto the princess, he was unable that moment to urge his horse after himand say,--
"We love the same woman; there is one of us, therefore, who cannot livein the world. Draw your sword, Cossack!"