Part 83 (1/2)

”Before G.o.d, before the august prince and all the honorable knighthood of this land, I tell you, Teuton, that you bark like a dog against justice and truth--and I challenge you to a combat on foot, or horseback, with lance or axe, short or long weapons, and not unto imprisonment but unto the last gasp, unto death!”

A fly could be heard in the hall. All eyes were turned upon Rotgier and the challenging knight, whom n.o.body recognized, because he had a helmet covering his head, although without a steel cap, but with a circular visor descending below the ear entirely covering the upper part of the face, and casting a deep shadow over the lower part. The Teuton was no less astonished than the rest. Confusion, pallor and raging anger chased each other over his face, as lightning flashes across a mighty heaven.

He caught the gauntlet and attached it to the hook of his armlet, and said:

”Who are you that challenge G.o.d's justice?”

The other then unbuckled his gorget, removed the helmet, beneath which appeared a fair, youthful head, and said:

”Zbyszko of Bogdaniec, the husband of Jurand's daughter.”

They were all amazed, and Rotgier, with the others, because none of them, except the prince and his wife, Father Wyszoniek and de Lorche, knew of Da.n.u.sia's marriage; the Teutons moreover were confident that Jurand's daughter had no other natural defender besides her father; but at that moment de Lorche stood up and said:

”Upon my knightly honor I vouch for the truthfulness of his words; should anybody dare to doubt it, here is my guage.”

Rotgier, who did not know what fear meant, and whose heart swelled with anger at this moment, would have perhaps accepted even this challenge, but remembering that the man who cast it was powerful, and moreover a relative of Duke Geldryi, he refrained, and the more readily, because the prince himself arose and, wrinkling his brows, said:

”It is forbidden to accept this challenge, because I also declare that this knight has told the truth.”

The Teuton, on hearing this, bowed, and then said to Zbyszko:

”If you wish it, then on foot, in closed lists with axes.”

”I have already challenged you in all ways,” replied Zbyszko.

”May G.o.d give the victory to justice!” exclaimed the Mazovian knights.

CHAPTER III.

There was anxiety about Zbyszko in the whole court, among the knights as well as among the ladies, because he was universally liked; but, according to Jurand's letter, n.o.body doubted that the right was on the side of the Teuton. On the other hand it was known that Rotgier was one of the more famous brethren of the Order. The squire van Krist narrated among the Mazovian n.o.bility, perhaps on purpose, that his lord before becoming an armed monk, once sat at the Honor-Table of the Teutons, to which table only world-famous knights were admitted, those who had accomplished an expedition to the Holy Land, or fought victoriously against giants, dragons, or mighty magicians. Hearing van Krist tell such tales, and, at the same time, boast that his lord had repeatedly met five opponents single-handed with his ”dagger of mercy” in one hand and an axe or sword in the other, the Mazurs were disquieted, and some said: ”Oh, if only Jurand were here, he could give an account of himself with even two; no German ever escaped him yet, but the youth--bah!--for the other exceeds him in strength, years and experience.”

Therefore others regretted that they had not accepted the challenge, a.s.serting that they would undoubtedly have done so, if it had not been for the news from Jurand. ”But fear of the judgment of G.o.d....” On this occasion, and for mutual entertainment, they recalled the names of Mazovian and more often of Polish knights, who, either in courtly jousts or hunting, had gained numerous victories over the western knights; above all they mentioned Zawisza of Garbow, with whom no knight of the Christian kingdom could cope. But there were also those who cherished great hopes of Zbyszko: ”He is not to be despised!” they said ”and according to common report he once admirably broke the heads of Germans in fair field.” But their hearts were particularly strengthened by the action of Zbyszko's follower, the Bohemian Hlawa, who, on the eve of the combat, hearing how van Krist was talking about Rotgier's unheard-of victories, and being a hasty youth, caught van Krist by the beard, pulled his head up, and said:

”If it is no shame to lie before men, then look up, so that G.o.d also may hear you!”

And he kept him long enough to say a ”Pater”; while the other, when at length liberated, began to ask him about his lineage, and, having heard that he sprang from the _wlodykas_, challenged him also to fight with axes.

The Mazovians were delighted at such conduct, and again several said:

”Indeed these fellows will not hobble on the barn-floor; even if truth and G.o.d be on their side these Teutonic women will not carry away sound bones with them!”

But Rotgier succeeded in throwing dust in the eyes of all, so that many were disquieted as to which had the truth on his side, and the prince himself partook of that fear.

Therefore, on the evening before the combat, he summoned Zbyszko to a consultation at which was present the princess only, and asked:

”Are you positive that G.o.d will be with you? How do you know that they captured Da.n.u.sia? Did Jurand perchance tell you any thing? Because, you see, here is Jurand's letter, by the hand of the priest Kaleb, and his seal, and in this letter Jurand says that he knows that it was not the Teutons. What did he tell you?”

”He said that it was not the Teutons.”