The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2Sienkiewicz, Henryk
History
The Deluge: An Historical Novel of Poland, Sweden, and Russia. Vol. 2
Sienkiewicz, Henryk
Historical fiction; Poland -- History -- John II Casimir, 1648-1668 -- Fiction
Meanwhile the king, who from the first had conceived a great love for
the young hero, sent Pan Lugovski to him that same day, and on the
morrow commanded Kmita to accompany his majesty to Opol, where at a
general assembly of the senators it was intended to deliberate on the
return of the king to the country. Indeed there was something over
which to deliberate. Lyubomirski, the marshal of the kingdom, had sent
a new letter, announcing that everything in the country was ready for a
general war, and urging earnestly the return. Besides this, news was
spread of a certain league of nobles and soldiers formed for the
defence of the king and the country, concerning which men had really
been thinking for some time, but which, as appeared afterward, was
concluded a little later, under the name of the Confederation of
Tishovtsi.
All minds were greatly occupied by the news, and immediately after a
thanksgiving Mass they assembled in a secret council, to which, at the
instance of the king, Kmita too was admitted, since he had brought news
from Chenstohova.
They began then to discuss whether the return was to take place at
once, or whether it were better to defer it till the army, not only by
wish, but by deed, should abandon the Swedes.
Yan Kazimir put an end to these discussions by saying: “Do not discuss,
your worthinesses, the return, or whether it is better to defer it
awhile, for I have taken counsel already concerning that with God and
the Most Holy Lady. Therefore I communicate to you that whatever may
happen we shall move in person these days. Express your ideas
therefore, your worthinesses, and be not sparing of counsel as to how
our return may be best and most safely accomplished.”
Opinions were various. Some advised not to trust too greatly to the
marshal of the kingdom, who had once shown hesitation and disobedience,
when, instead of giving the crown to the emperor for safe keeping,
according to the order of the king, he had carried it to Lyubovlya.
“Great,” said they, “is the pride and ambition of that lord, and if he
should have the person of the king in his castle, who knows what he
might do, or what he would ask for his services; who knows that he
would not try, or wish to seize the whole government in his own hands,
and become the protector, not only of the entire country, but of the
king?”
These advised the king therefore to wait for the retreat of the Swedes
and repair to Chenstohova, as to the place from which grace and rebirth
had spread over the Commonwealth. But others gave different opinions,—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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