Discourtesy, he must entreat my pardon,
Or else we fight.” “But, Judge, how would it be
If Jacek heard of this? why, his despair
Would slay him. Have not the Soplicas done
Enough of evil in that castle yet?
Brother, I will not unto thee recall
That terrible event. Thou knowest also
That Targowica did make confiscate
Some of the castle holdings, and did give them
To the Soplicas. Jacek, for his sins
Grieving, must under absolution make
A vow to render back these lands; and so
Did he adopt Sophia, the destitute
Inheritrix of the Horeszkos; he
Laid out much money on her bringing up;
He would betroth her to his Thaddeus,
And thus unite two families at feud,
Again in brotherhood, and without shame,
Thus yield the plunder to its rightful heiress.”
“But how is that my business?” said the Judge;
“I never knew him, never even saw
My brother Jacek. Scarcely by report
I knew his life of rioting, as then
I studied rhetoric in a Jesuit’s school,
Then at the Wojewode’s as a page I served.
The estates were given me. I took them; he
Commanded that I should receive Sophia.
I did receive her, gave to her a dowry,
And for her future also will provide.
But this old woman’s tale has wearied me
Enough! And then why has this Count come down
Upon me with a claim unto the castle?
For thou, my friend, well knowest, he is kin
To the Horeszkos only distantly.165
Shall he insult me thus, and I invite him
To concord?”—“Brother,” said the priest, “for that
Thou shouldst thus do, there are important reasons.
Rememb’rest thou how Jacek once desired
To send his son unto the wars; but after
Caused him to stay in Litva? Why was this?
Because at home and in his Fatherland
He will be far more needed. Thou hast heard
This thing whereof they are speaking everywhere,
Of which not seldom I have tidings brought.
Now is it time to tell all things, ’tis time!—
Most weighty things, my brother. War among us!
A war for Poland, brother! we’ll be Poles!
A war for certain! When I hastened here
On secret embassy, our army’s foreposts
Already stood upon the Niemen’s shore.
Napoleon gathers now a mighty host;
Our Joseph, our Dombrowski, our white eagles,
Our Polish hosts beside the Frenchmen march.
Now are they on the way, and at the first
Sign from Napoleon they will cross the Niemen,
Our brothers! Then our country shall awake!”
The Judge, while listening, laid his glasses down,
And gazing fixedly upon the priest,
Said nought awhile, but deeply sighed, and tears
Were circling in his eyes. At last he rushed
Upon the priest’s neck, and embraced him.
“My Robak!” cried he, “is this but the truth?
So many times deceived! Dost thou remember?
They said, ‘Napoleon now is coming, and
We looked for him.’ They said, ‘He is in Poland;
He has the Prussians beaten, he will soon
Break through to us.’ And he, what then? He made
At Tilsit peace!166 Is this the truth? Art thou
Thyself deceived not?” “Truth!” cried Robak; “true
As God in heaven!”—“O blessed be the lips
That tell such news!” the Judge exclaimed, and raised
Both hands on high. “Thou shalt thine embassy
Regret not, Robak, neither shall thy convent
Regret it; twenty sheep at choice I give
Unto the convent. Priest, thou yesterday
Didst burn to own my chestnut, and didst praise
My bay; they shall immediately be harnessed,
This day, unto thy wagon. Ask of me
What thing thou wilt to-day, what pleases thee,
I will not thee refuse. But as concerns
This business with the Count, leave me in peace.
He wronged me, and already have I sent
A summons. Does this please thee?” Then the priest,
Astonished, wrung his hands, and fixed his eyes
Upon the Judge, his shoulders shrugged, and said:
“So when Napoleon bringeth liberty
To Litva, when the whole world trembles, thou
Art thinking of a lawsuit? And yet more;
Thou, after all that I have said to thee,
Wilt sit here peaceably, with folded hands,
When needful ’tis to act.”—“To act, and how?”
The Judge inquired. “What! hast thou read it not,”
Said Robak, “from my eyes? Hast not thy heart
Yet told it thee? Ah! brother, if thou hast
Still something in thee of Soplica blood,
Only consider. If the French in front
Should strike, and if the nation rise behind?
What thinkest thou? Then let the Horseman neigh!167
Let the Bear roar in Samogitia!
Ah! if some thousand men, if but five hundred,
Should strike upon the Russians on their rear,
Then like a fire would insurrection spread
Around. If we might snatch from Muscovy
Their cannon, ensigns, then as conquerors
Come forth to hail our countrymen, the land’s
Deliverers! We march; Napoleon,
When he beholds our lances, will inquire,
‘What army are ye?’ We reply, ‘Insurgents,
O most illustrious Emperor, volunteers
Of Litva.’ He: ‘Beneath whose captaincy?’
‘We are led by Judge Soplica.’ Ah! who then
Will dare of Targowica but to whisper.
Brother, while still the trees of Ponar stand,
While flows the Niemen, shall Soplica’s name
Be famed in Litva; and the capital
Of the Jagellons shall point out thy grandsons,
And grandsons’ sons, and say, ‘Behold, that man
Is a Soplica, sprung from those Soplicas
Who first made insurrection!’ ” But to that
The Judge: “To me a lesser matter is
The talk of men; ne’er recked I much of praise.
God is my witness, of my brother’s sins
I am not guilty, never much I mixed
In politics; my office exercising,
And ploughing on my bit of land. But I
A noble am; I gladly would efface
This stain upon my house. I am a Pole,
Would gladly for my country aught achieve,
Though yield my life up. Never greatly I
With sabre did excel, though men from me
Have taken blows. The world doth know them in
The latest diets of Poland; I once challenged
And wounded two Buzwiki, who—But this
Is of no moment. What is your opinion?
Needs it that we should take the field at once?
To gather marksmen is an easy thing.
I have good store of powder, some few cannon
Are at the parish priest’s house. I remember,
Once Jankiel said that he had lance-heads stored,
Which I could take at need. He brought them here
In secret, and in packages prepared
From Königsberg. We will take them, and at once
We’ll make the shafts.
