Matsko

“ Then, turning to Matsko, he continued: "Well, now go on! You have glorified the Germans and other knights, saying that they are brave and that they broke Lithuanians easily. But against you was it not more difficult? Did they go against you with the same willingness? How did God favor? Give praise to our side!"
Evidently Matsko was no braggart, hence he answered modestly,—
"Whoso is fresh from distant lands strikes us willingly, but after he has tried us once and a second time he has not the same courage, for our people are stubborn. We have been reproached often with this stubbornness. ”

“ The abbot was delighted at the sincerity with which Matsko spoke, so he laughed and continued,—
"The girl has the right to be choice; she is beautiful, she has a good dowry, she is of good stock. What is Stan or Vilk to her when a voevoda's son would not be too much? But if I, without alluding to any one, propose a bridegroom, she will marry him; for she loves me, and knows that I would not give bad advice to her."
"It will be well for the man whom you find for Yagenka," said Matsko.
"And what sayst thou?" asked the abbot, turning to Zbyshko. ”

“ Yesterday the housekeeper saw two of them."
"They say," answered Matsko, "that it is most fitting for a noble to die in the field, but it is well, too, to die on a bed if one dies like Yurand."
"He eats nothing, he drinks nothing, but smiles continually." ”

“ At the same time it occurred to him that if Matsko died his death would come through Germans, through whom he himself had lacked little of losing his life, through whom all his family had perished, and Danusia's mother, and many, many blameless people whom he had known, or of whom he had heard from acquaintances; and at last wonder seized hold of him. "Is there," said he to himself, "in this whole kingdom a man who has not suffered injustice from Germans, and who is not thirsting for vengeance?" ”

“ This advice struck Matsko, and convinced him; hence he commanded to call Zbyshko, and said,—
"Array thyself nicely, and go to embrace the feet of the abbot, show him honor, so that he also may be gracious to thee."
Then he turned to Yagenka: "Even wert thou simple, I should not wonder, for thou art a woman, but because thou hast wit I admire thee. Tell me how to entertain the abbot best, and how to please him when he comes hither."
"As to eating, he will tell himself what he relishes. He likes to eat well, but if there is plenty of saffron it will not hurt!" ”

“ Oi,' said he, 'my uncle Matsko is the man for this place!' And that is why he sent me to Bogdanets. But even you could not find Yurand's daughter, for she is in the other world perhaps by this time, and against death the greatest cunning is powerless."
Matsko fell into meditation, and only after long silence did he say,—
"Ah, there is no help then; cunning cannot fight against death. But if I should go there and discover even this, that they destroyed the girl, Spyhov would remain even in that case to Zbyshko, and he could come back alone and take another wife." ”

“ Zbyshko blushed, but casting his eyes around, he said: "The ground is even here, if it were a little trampled. Rather than pray the German, I should prefer to meet him on horseback or on foot to the death, or to slavery."
"Thou art stupid!" said Matsko. "How couldst thou do battle with an envoy? It is not for thee to do battle with him, or him with thee, a beardless youth."
"Forgive, noble lord," said he, turning to Povala. "The boy has become insolent because of the war. Better not let him talk to the German, for he would offend him a second time. ”

“ The old man waved his hand contemptuously, in sign that with Kuno it would have gone much easier, then they went to look at the captured "plates," which Matsko had taken only as proof of victory, for they were too much shattered, and therefore without value. But the hip piece and the leg armor were uninjured and of excellent workmanship.
"But I should prefer that these were Kuno's," said Matsko, gloomily.
"The Lord God knows what is best," answered Zbyshko.
"You will not reach Kuno if he becomes Grand Master, unless in some great battle." ”

“ Hlava stretched then before the dying fire, covered himself with a shaggy skin, and was asleep in a moment. But the sky had not whitened in the least, and it was deep night when he woke, crawled forth from under the skin, looked at the stars, stretched his limbs, which were somewhat stiffened, and roused Matsko.
"For me it is time to be off," said he.
"But whither?" asked Matsko, half asleep, rubbing his eyes with his fists.
"To Spyhov."
"Oh, true? Who is this snoring beside us? He would wake a dead man."
"Knight Arnold. I will throw limbs on the fire and go to the attendants." ”

“ Zbyshko rushed toward him, placed Yagenka on the floor, and both wished to kneel down, but before they could do so Matsko seized them in his bony arms and pressed them with all his strength to his breast.
"Praised be He!" said the old man. "I knew that it would come to this, but still my delight! God bless you! It will be easier for me to die now. The girl is like the purest of pure gold. Before God and the world! In truth! Let come now what may, since I have lived to this delight. God has visited, but He has comforted us. ”

“ Zbyshko, also very curious, put the wine on the table himself, and with it goblets; all sat around the table then, and Zyndram spoke as follows,—
"This fortress is nothing; for what the hand of man has reared, the hand of man can pull down. Ye know what keeps brick together? Mortar! But do ye know what keeps people together? Love."
"By God's wounds! honey is flowing from your lips!" exclaimed Matsko. ”

“ Thou hast spoken wisely," said Matsko. "She must stand high in God's counsels, and it is certain that no common person will contradict her. So, to gain health, I will do as thou sayest."
This advice pleased also Yagenka, who could not refrain from admiring Zbyshko's good sense; and Matsko made a solemn vow that same evening, and thenceforth drank bear's fat with still greater confidence, waiting from day to day for unfailing recovery. ”

“ Matsko fell to thinking, and began to weigh everything that had happened. Nothing had gone according to his wish, or his heart. He had desired Yagenka for Zbyshko with all his soul; but he understood that there could be no bread from that flour, and that, considering the abbot's anger, considering Zyh and Yagenka, considering finally the battle with Vilk and Stan, it was better that Zbyshko should go than be the cause of more disputes and quarrels.
"Ah!" said he, at last, "thou must seek heads of the Knights of the Cross anyhow; so go, since there is no other way out. ”

“ Prince Vitold gave me a present."
"Is he so bountiful yet?"
Zbyshko nodded his head again, not having evidently the wish to speak further.
But Matsko did not yield up the victory, and determined to approach the real subject.
"Tell me sincerely," said he: "when the tombs were covered with those crests, thou must have been relieved immensely? A man is always glad when he accomplishes a vow. Wert thou glad?"
Zbyshko removed his sad eyes from the ceiling, turned them on Matsko, and answered as if with a certain astonishment,—
"No."
"No? Fear God! ”

“ I foretold as true as life that we should have to go to Vitold."
"Zbyshko had the hope," said Father Kaleb, "that Vitold would burst into Prussia and capture the castles there."
"If they give him time he will not fail," answered Matsko. "Well! praise God, we know at least where to look for Zbyshko."
"Then we must go at once," said Yagenka.
"Be quiet!" cried Matsko. "It is not proper for attendants to give counsel." ”

“ Matsko wished to go himself, but they settled on this, that Hlava, who was a daring fellow and glad to exhibit his daring before people, and especially before women, put an axe inside his girdle, took a staff in his hand, and started.
He set out before daylight, and they looked for his return about midday, but when they did not see him they began to fear. In vain did the servants listen near the edge of the forest. Vit merely waved his hand and said: "He will not come back; if he does woe to us, for God knows whether it will not be with a wolf snout and changed into a wolf man." ”

“ When Zbyshko heard this cry he looked at Hlava with astonishment, for he had not known anything previously and had not suspected. Matsko wondered also at how much woman means in man's affairs, and how through her everything may succeed or may fail altogether. ”

“ They carried off his child by deceit, and they denied; they will say of the master of Spyhov that he lost his tongue and his hand in battle, and his eye also."
"True!" answered Matsko. "Indeed they carried off the Prince himself on a time. He cannot war with them, for he cannot overcome them unless the king helps him. People talk of a great war, but here there is not even a small war."
"Yes, there is, with Prince Vitold."
"Praise be to God that he is a man who cares nothing for the Order. Hei, Prince Vitold is the prince for me! ”

“ Yurand of Spyhov does nothing else but seize Germans, and near the boundary there is work at hand always."
For a while they walked on in silence; meanwhile the daylight came, and bright sun-rays lighted the cliffs on which the monastery was built.
"God can give luck everywhere," said Matsko at last, with a satisfied voice. "Pray that He give it thee."
"It is sure that His favor is everything!"
"And think of Bogdanets, for thou wilt not persuade me that thou hast the wish to go to Bogdanets, and not to Yurand of Spyhov, for that chatterer." ”

“ Eyes were dazed by the glitter of spears and the shining of sword-blades. Horses whined, bit, and stood on their hind-legs. The boyars of Jmud rushed in with Zbyshko, Hlava, and the Mazovians. Under their heavy blows the "circle" bent and swayed, like a forest in a strong wind, while they, like woodmen chopping where trees are thick, pushed forward slowly in the heat and the hard work.
Matsko gave command now to collect on the battle-field the long German halberds, and arming with these, about thirty warriors broke a way with them through the crowd to the Germans. ”

“ In fact the abbot grew red in the twinkle of an eye.
"Look at them!" said he. "They will not take anything for nothing from a relative! Bread troubles people! I did not receive wildernesses, and I do not return them. If it please me to throw this bag away I will throw it!"
"You will not do that! " cried out Matsko. ”

“ Gracious king and lord, take pity on us!"
Here Matsko knelt again, and stretching forth hands that were wearied from war, he said, with tears,—
"We defended Vilno. God gave booty; to whom shall I leave it? The German wants punishment; let there be punishment, but let me yield my head. What is life to me without Zbyshko? He is young; let him free his land and beget posterity as God commands men to do. The Knight of the Cross will not even inquire whose head has fallen, if only one falls. ”

“ Then they embraced a second time and parted in good feeling, to the great delight of Matsko, who said,—
"It is evident that with him thou canst effect nothing through harshness, but by kindness thou mayst mould him as wax."
"That is the nature of the people," answered Zbyshko; "but the Germans do not know it."
Then he gave command to bring to the fire De Lorche, who was resting in the hut; Hlava soon brought him, without his weapons, without his helmet, but in a skin coat, on which his armor had left traces, and with a red cap on his head. ”

“ These words acted soothingly on the abbot, for in general his anger was short lived.
"Yes," said he, "ye are my relatives, while she is only a goddaughter, but I like her and Zyh these many years. A better man than Zyh there is not on earth, nor a better girl than Yagenka. Who will say aught against them?"
And he looked around with challenging glance; but Matsko not only made no contradiction, he asserted quickly that it would be useless to search the whole kingdom to find a better neighbor. ”

“ Sometimes, when there was disturbance in the neighborhood, or when old he-bears in a rage were inclined to attack, Matsko conducted the girl home. When well armed the old man, thanks to uncommon strength, feared no wild beasts, since he was more dangerous to them than they could be to him. At such times he rode stirrup to stirrup with Yagenka, and frequently the pine forest gave forth a threatening sound from the depth of it, but they, oblivious of everything which might happen, conversed only of Zbyshko: where was he? ”

“ My imagination recalls with special vividness the eccentric figure of Yasha and the two companions—I might almost call them friends—who accompanied him along the path of life: Matsko, an old rejected cavalry horse, and the yard-dog Bouton.
Yasha was distinguished by the deliberate slowness of his speech and actions, and he always had the air of a man whose thoughts were concentrated on himself. He spoke very seldom and considered his speech; he tried to speak good Russian, though at times when he was moved he would burst out in his native dialect of Little-Russian. ”

“ He showed Zbyshko a long, sharp splinter which had broken from the badly bound arrow and had stuck for some months in his body.
"Glory to God and Queen Yadviga! You will get well now."
"Perhaps; I am relieved, but I feel terrible pain," answered Matsko, squeezing the sore, from which blood mixed with matter flowed abundantly. "The less of this vileness there is in a man, the more must sickness leave him. Yagenka said that now we must apply beaver's fat." ”

“ It was the darling idea of the old man to build a castle for Zbyshko and his future children. He knew that a noble who dwelt, not in an ordinary mansion, but behind a moat and a palisade, and who besides had a watch-tower where a guard gazed on the surrounding regions, was considered as somebody right away by his neighbors, and such a man managed more easily. Matsko did not desire much for himself at that time, but for Zbyshko and Zbyshko's sons he would not stop at little, all the more since their property had increased now considerably. ”