The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical RomanceSienkiewicz, Henryk
History
The Knights of the Cross, or, Krzyzacy: Historical Romance
Sienkiewicz, Henryk
Poland -- History -- Jagellons, 1386-1572 -- Fiction; Teutonic Knights -- History -- Fiction
"Is he asleep, or not?"
"Probably not, for he labors heavily."
"Did you try to speak to him?"
"We tried, but he did not answer, and I believe that he will not speak
before dawn."
"We will wait till the dawn," said the princess.
The priest insisted that she should retire but she paid no attention, for
she always in everything wished not to fall short of the late Queen
Jadwiga, in Christian virtues, in caring for the sick and to redeem with
her merits her father's soul; she therefore did not omit any opportunity
to make the old Christian country appear no worse than others, and by
this means to obliterate the remembrance that she was born in a heathen
land.
Besides that, she was burning with desire to hear from Jurand's own lips
about Danusia, for she was much concerned about her. She therefore sat by
his bedside and began to tell her beads, and then dozed. Zbyszko who had
not yet entirely recovered and was moreover greatly fatigued by the night
journey, followed her example; and as the hours passed on, both fell
asleep, so soundly that they might have slept on till daylight, if they
had not awakened by the ringing of the bell of the castle chapel.
But the same sound also awoke Jurand, who opened his eyes and suddenly
sat up in bed and began to stare about him with blinking eyes.
"Praised be Jesus Christ!... How do you feel?" said the princess.
But he apparently had not yet regained consciousness, for he looked at
her as though he knew her not, and after awhile he exclaimed:
"Hurry! Be quick! Dig open the snowdrift."
"In the name of God, you are already in Ciechanow!" again replied the
princess.
Jurand wrinkled his brow like one who with difficulty tries to collect
his thoughts, and replied:
"In Ciechanow?... The child is waiting ... and ... principality ...
Danuska! Danuska!"
Suddenly, he closed his eyes and again fell back on the pillow. Zbyszko
and the princess feared lest he was dead, but at the same moment his
breast began to heave and he breathed deeply like one who is fast asleep.
Father Wyszoniek put his finger to his lips and motioned not to awake
him, then he whispered:
"He may sleep thus a whole day."
"So, but what did he say?" asked the princess.
"He said that the child waits in Ciechanow," Zbyszko replied.
"Because he does not remember," explained the priest.
CHAPTER III.
Father Wyszoniek feared that even at Jurand's next awakening, he might be
stupefied and might not recover consciousness for a long time. Meanwhile
he promised the princess and Zbyszko to let them know when the old knight
could speak, and himself retired after they left. In fact Jurand first
awoke on the second Holy Day just before noon, but fully conscious. The
princess and Zbyszko were present. Therefore, sitting on the bed, he
looked at and recognized her and said:
"Your Highness ... for God's sake, am I in Ciechanow?"
"And you overslept the Holy Day," replied the lady.
"The snows covered me. Who saved me?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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