Pale, stained with blood, but wholly sound in mind.
He gives commands, the Judge exact fulfils;
Entreats the presence of the Chamberlain,
Summons the Klucznik, Rykow there to bring
Commands. The door then closes. One whole hour
These secret conversations lasted, till
With these words Captain Rykow broke them off,
A bag with ducats heavy throwing down—
“Ye Polish sirs, among you is a saying,
That every Muscovite’s a thief. Say ye,
Whoever asks, you know a Muscovite,
Named Nikita Nikiticz Rykow, captain
Of a band, who gained eight medals and three crosses—
I pray you to remember that—this medal
At Oczakow, this one at Ismail,
This for the fight at Novi, and this one
At Preussisch-Eylau, this at Korsakow’s
Famous retreat from Zurich,233 and I gained
Likewise a sword for courage shown, likewise
Three testimonials of his satisfaction
From the Field-Marshal, by the Emperor
Three times commended, four times mentioned, all
In writing”— “But, but, Captain,” Robak spoke,
“Whatever will become of us, if you
Wilt not be reconciled? Indeed, you have
Given us your word to simplify this thing.”
“True, and I pledge my word to you again,”
Says Rykow; “here’s my word! What good would come
Of ruining you? I am an honest man.
I love you, Lachy, gentlemen, for you
Are merry folk, good at a drinking-bout,
And gallant folk too, good at fighting out.
We have a Russian proverb, ‘He who rides
Upon the wagon, oft is used to be
Under the wagon;’ ‘Who to-day is foremost
To-morrow’s in the rear;’ ‘To-day thou beatest,
To-morrow thou art beaten.’ Is that cause
For anger? That is how we soldiers live.
Why such great malice should a man conceive,
Or angry be at losing? All that work
At Oczakow was bloody, and at Zurich
They slew our infantry; at Austerlitz
I lost my whole band; but before that time,
Did your Kosciuszko at Raclawice234
(Where I was sergeant) mow down my platoon,
With scythes. But what of that? Then I again,
At Maciejowice,235 slew with mine own hand
Two valiant nobles; one was Mokronowski.
He with his scythe had come before our front,
And cut off from a cannonier his hand,
Grasping the match. Oh! oh! ye Lachy! Country!
I feel all that. I, Rykow—Still the Czar
Commands this, but I pity you. What should
The Lachy be to us? For Muscovites
Muscovia; Poland for the Poles;—but then—
The Czar will not allow it!” Unto him
The Judge replies: “Sir Captain, that thou art
An honest man, the country-folks have seen
’Mid whom so many years you have been quartered.
Be you not angry at this gift, good friend;
We would not work you wrong; these ducats here
We ventured to subscribe, as knowing you
Art not a rich man.” “Ah! the Jägers,” cried
Rykow; “the whole band run through! my division!
And all that Plut’s fault. He was in command,
And he must answer to the Czar for this.
But you take back your money, gentlemen;
I have indeed but wretched captain’s pay,
But ’tis enough to give me punch and pipe.
But you I like, since I have drunk with you,
And eaten. I’ll be merry, chatter, and
Thus will I live. But I’ll be your defence;
And as there will be inquest, on my word
Of honour, I will give my witness for you,
That we came here upon a visit, drank,
And danced together, somewhat tipsy got,
And Plut by chance commandment gave to fire,
And so we fought, and wasted the battalion.
You, sirs, grease the Commission well with gold;
’Twill soon despatch. But now I’ll tell you this,
Which to this nobleman I said before,
Who wears the lengthy rapier; in command
Plut was the first, I second; Plut remains
Alive, perhaps he’ll bend you such a hook,
That you will perish, he’s a cunning blade.
You must with bank-notes gag him. Well then, now,
Sir noble, thou with the long rapier, hast thou
Seen Plut already, taken counsel with him?”
Gervasy looked round, and his bald crown stroked,
And with a careless gesture waved his hand,
As by this sign he gave to them to know
That he had made all easy. Rykow still
Insisted. “What, will Plut be silent? has he
Then given his word?” The Klucznik, vexed that Rykow
Tormented him with questions, bent his finger
To earth most solemnly, then waved his hand,
As though he cut all further talk in twain,
And said, “I by the Penknife swear that Plut
Will let out nothing. He will nevermore
Converse with any one.” Then dropped his hand,
And snapt his fingers, as though shaking out
Some secret from his hands. This darkling gesture
The hearers comprehended, and they stood
With wonder looking on each other, still
Inquiring of this thing. Some minutes yet
A gloomy silence lasted, till at last
Said Rykow, “Long the wolf has borne away,
Now is the wolf borne off!”236 The Chamberlain
“Requiescat in pace” added. “Even in this,
Was,” said the Judge, “the finger of the Lord!
But I am guiltless of this blood, I knew
Not of it.” From the pillow started up
The priest, and upright sat with gloomy cheer.
“Great sin an unarmed captive ’twas to slay!
Christ forbids vengeance even on a foe.
Fie! Klucznik! thou shalt answer heavily
For this before the Lord. One reservation
Alone there is, if this committed were
Not for mere foolish vengeance, but instead,
Pro bono publico.” The Klucznik nodded,
And waved his hand extended; murmuringly
Repeated he, “Pro bono publico.”
And no one after spoke of Major Plut;
They sought him vainly on the morrow, in
The mansion, vainly for the corpse proclaimed
Reward; the Major without trace was gone,
As he had fallen in the water. What
Had come of him, were different stories told;
But none for certain knew nor then, nor after.
In vain with questionings did they torment
The Klucznik; nought he said, except these words,
“Pro bono publico.” The Wojski was
Within the secret, but as he was bound
By word of honour, the old man was silent,
As though enchanted. After the conclusion
Of these conditions, Rykow left the room,
But Robak all the warrior noblemen
Commanded thither; and the Chamberlain
Addressed them thus with great solemnity:
“Brothers, the Lord has blessed our swords to-day.
But without reservation, I to you
Must give to know that ill effects will come
From these unhappy wars. We all have erred,
And none
