United States or Mayotte ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
And he thought in his soul that if they wanted him to restore von Bergow, he would do so; if they demanded an additional payment he would give it, even if he had to throw into the price Spychow entire; but then, woe to those who had raised their hands against this his only child! Throughout the whole night, sleep did not close their eyelids for a moment.
The messenger continued: "You will say, that this pontnik who came with me, brought you the ransom, we also will leave here with the noble von Bergow and the prisoners." "How so?" said Jurand, frowning, "do you think that I will give up the prisoners before you return my child?" "You can act, sir, still differently.
If they did carry her off for ransom, or to exchange her for von Bergow, then they must and will inform no one but Jurand." "Those who used to visit the Forest Court captured her," said the priest. "Then the master will submit them to trial, or order them to give Jurand the field." "They must give me the field," exclaimed Zbyszko, "because I challenged them first!"
Here the prince interrupted: "Starosta from Szczytno! you know better than anybody else that Jurand would not miss a challenge." Then he turned to all present and said: "If one of you will challenge Jurand to a fight on horseback or on foot, I give my permission. If he be taken prisoner or killed, then Herr von Bergow will be released without paying any ransom.
Zygfried von Loeve said: "It is forbidden the monks to fight in single combat, except by special permission from the grand master and the grand marshal; but I do not ask for permission for a combat, but for the release of von Bergow and the punishment by death of Jurand." "You do not make the laws in this country." "Our grand master will know how to administer justice."
"Do you refuse, sir, to believe friars." said the pontnik; "how then can they trust you to liberate us and von Bergow on your return?" Jurand's face turned pale with fury, and a critical moment followed, in which it almost seemed that he would catch the pontnik by the throat and dash him to the floor; but he suppressed his anger, drew a deep breath and commenced to speak slowly but emphatically.
"She is not with the Teutons, no!" replied Jurand, in a sleepy tone; and suddenly he fell from the bench upon the floor as if dead. The following day at noon the messengers saw Jurand, and soon afterward they rode away taking with them von Bergow, two esquires and a number of other prisoners.
There were some foreign guests at the court of the Krzyzacki starosta in Lubowa; they were Sir de Fourcy and also Herr von Bergow and Herr Meineger, both belonging to families which had rendered great services to the Order.
"What then are we to say and do?" inquired Rotgier. Zygfried meditated, and finally said: "You, noble Count von Bergow go to Malborg to the master. You were groaning in Jurand's slavery, and are now a guest of the Order; therefore as such, and because you need not necessarily speak in favor of the monks, they will rather believe you.
He did not reply for a moment, as if he had not heard the question, but then he suddenly said: "As if one had struck me in an old wound." "But trust in God's mercy; Danusia will come back as soon as you return von Bergow to them. I would willingly sacrifice my own blood."
Word Of The Day