“From that day forth, all things began to mend. He himself did but little, only ordering and overseeing things. Michalek (for so the devil chose to be called) worked for him, helped by other devils, disguised as farm-servants or as Germans; and in a short time the farm was in better order, larger and more flourishing than it ever had been. “Only there came no more children to them. For how, indeed, could they come to a home so unblessed as that? “This mortified the Hawk exceedingly. Also by night he was wrung at the thought how he should support the everlasting fire of hell. “But Michalek took upon him to say that all rich folk—lords, kings, men of learning, yea, and even such bishops as were mighty on earth—had sold their souls to him. And yet none of them cared for what might come to them after death, and thought only of making merry and tasting all the pleasures of this life to the full. “Then was Casimir more at ease, and he became a yet greater foe to God. With his own hands, he hewed down the cross by the forest; he cast the holy images out of his cabin, and would even have removed the statue of Our Lady of Chenstohova, because it was in his way when he ploughed. Hardly could his wife, with many prayers and tears and entreaties, prevail upon him to let it remain. “The years flew by, like a rapid river. His wealth increased enormously, and his importance along with it; so that the King himself came to see the man, invited him to Court, and gave him the post of chamberlain there. “Now was he puffed up, and looked down upon all, oppressed the poor, threw honesty to the winds, and cared no whit for anyone in the world. “He also most foolishly closed his mind against the thought that he must one day pay dearly for all this. “But at last the hour of reckoning arrived. “Our Lord’s patience and mercy towards that hardened sinner came to an end at last. “And his doom and punishment swooped down upon him. “First, he was assailed by sore diseases, which tortured him unceasingly. “Then the plague swept away all his castle. “Next, his farm-buildings were struck by lightning and burned to the ground. “After which, his corn crops were ruined by hailstorms. “Then such terrible droughts came that everything was withered up and, being dry, burned to ashes; the very ground was cracked and fissured, and his trees died for lack of water. “All men abandoned him, and Want sat down at his threshold. “He was exceeding sick, and his flesh fell from off his bones, which began to rot. “He called for Michalek and his fellow-demons to help him; but without avail. When the hand of the Lord is lifted up in anger against any man, Satan can do nothing. “Instead of trying to aid him, the fiends, who were sure that he was already theirs, blew fire into his horrible wounds to make them rankle yet more. “And now, nothing could save him but God’s mercy.