Sergey Zagraevsky
The
song about a beautiful
and
about love of three noble and brave knights for her
(a
medieval dramatic poem describing the events of 1240-s A.D.)
Annotation to the set of
historical novels "Mysteries of
The historical novels of Professor, Dr. Sergey Zagraevsky
are written on the basis of real chronicle, architectural and archaeological
data, and are dedicated for a wide range of readers interested in history and
architecture of Ancient Rus and Medieval Europe.
The plot of all novels of the set "Mysteries of Vienna
library" are the documents, allegedly found the by author in this library
and translated into Russian. Genres of the novels are different – from a
detective to a romantic poem. All the novels of this set have a common
storyline – unsuccessful attempts of Catholic Church to establish its power in
Annotation
to the novel
A
manuscript of medieval dramatic poem, previously unknown to the public, is found
in Vienna Library. The poem is dedicated to the adventures of three young
knights – two Germans and a Russian, and to their love for Olga, the beauty maid
of
"Historical
poem" of Professor, Dr. Sergey Zagraevsky is a
fascinating romantic story, written based on real chronicle and research data,
and sheds light on a number of the most interesting world events of 1240-s.
The
book is dedicated for a wide range of readers. It shows the historical
reconstruction of the battle with the Swedes on the Neva, of the "Ice Battle",
of the conquest of
Attention!
The following text
was translated from the Russian original by the computer program
and has not yet been
edited.
So it can be used
only for general introduction.
From
the filing of the
Storage
Unit Name:. "The Song of the beautiful Maid of Pskov and love to her three
noble and brave knights"
Document
type: manuscript.
Storage:
XIII -16, Acts of the XIII century.
Document
number for the library inventory: XIII -674-398 / A.
The
source and the date of receipt of the document in the library: the imperial
archive outgoing ¹ 342-75894 on 19 April 1867.
Date
of document: between 1273 and 1278 years.
The
volume of paper: 215 sheets of average quality parchment.
Save
the document: satisfactory.
The
main document language: Middle High German.
DEDICATION
*
The
Christians, blessed,
victorious
Rudolf von Habsburg,
Holy
Roman Emperor and King of
We
humbly bring to strict court of Your Majesty
this
very song about the beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
I ask to pay my humble work
Your
highest attention.
Let
it be known to your Majesty,
that
this song was written after
I
ran into one of her heroes
and
I heard his story.
Yes,
and I myself, being advanced in years,
well
I remember the time
when
at the beginning of the 1240s the birth of Christ
our
valiant knights fought with Russian prince Alexander
**
near the
I
remember I was unfortunate for any good Christian
forty-fourth
year,
when
hopefully
not forever.
All
this and much more
This
is reflected in the lyrics of the beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights.
I
wish Your Majesty countless years of reign,
bless
you almighty God and the Holy Virgin Mary,
yes
they nisposhlyut you victory over all enemies,
especially
over Otakar, malicious king of
May
your days be full of joy and great achievements.
I
remain forever your faithful servant.
Amen.
*
In the manuscript across the sheet of dedication written resolution: "His
Majesty Rudolf familiar with this song and was very displeased, because our
gallant knights, Russian barbarians and lovely lady is not shown as it should.
Distribution is prohibited. "
Probably,
this resolution was the reason that the manuscript was handed over to the
imperial archives, then got into the vault of the
The
author's name "Songs" could not be determined: apparently, it was on
the front page of unpreserved.
The
date of writing can be roughly determined based on the fact that Rudolf von
Habsburg, who is devoted to the "Song", became Holy Roman Emperor in
1273, died in 1291. Judging by the fact that in the dedication mentioned a
hostile emperor Czech King Premysl Otakar II of, who died in 1278, you can narrow the dating
to the 1273-1278 period.
(Hereinafter
- translator's note).
**
***
I
After
praying to our Lord Jesus Christ
and
thrice Sign of the Cross,
with
God's help we begin
a
song about the beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
immediately we encounter the first hero of our songs -
Werner
von Endorf, a knight of the Livonian Order.
Baron
Werner was born in
in
a small and modest ancestral castle Endorf.
Even
in his youth he devoted himself to the Lord
and
he joined the monastic brotherhood of soldiers of Christ,
better
known as the Order of the Sword Livonia *.
Baron
has repeatedly participated in the battles
with
Livonian and Estonian pagan tribes
and
he proved himself a skilful and brave warrior.
And
when the will of the Holy Father of the Sword Order
was
transformed into the Order of Livonian Knights of Christ,
which
is often referred to simply as the Livonian Order,
Werner
is due to their prowess, education and intelligence,
even
before reaching thirty,
He
became komtur Zegevoldskim
** and have in subjection
several
tens of noble knights.
And
the first time we meet with the provincial commander von Endorf
Zegevold not in the
castle, and in the glorious city of
the
capital of the Livonian Order,
and
a small, but fast ship,
racing
on the
from
Swedish capital Sigtuna ***.
April
1240 from Christmas
by
the will of God he was warm,
and
no snow or ice is gone.
At
the prow stands and looks into the distance provincial commander Werner -
tall,
well-built blond, handsome,
dressed
in a white cloak with a red cross and the sword -
symbol
of the Order of Livonian Knights of Christ.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about how the beginning of this voyage,
no
signs of trouble.
*
Today
**
Komtur - head komturstva,
an administrative unit of a number of religious orders, which included the
castle and surrounding area. Zegevold - Castle of the
Livonian Order, now in the city of
***
Not far from
II
and
the captain of the ship * knows and looks anxiously at the sky,
although
a clear day, and blowing a light breeze passing.
Then
the captain comes to the provincial commander Werner
and
he says, bowing low:
"The
noble knight, is the storm."
"Why
do you say that?
The
sun is shining, the wind is very weak. "
"Yes,
the wind is weak, but it blows from the north.
Do
you see that little cloud?
I
have long been following him, it grows and moves here.
At
the north wind in the
it
is a sign that there will be a storm.
Soon
we pass the mouth of the
and
we must take refuge in him.
Now
these things belong to the mouth of the Russian, but we have peace with them,
so
if you meet them and that's okay. "
So
says the captain. But provincial commander replies:
"We
are in a hurry, and no time to lose.
The
Lord is gracious, and hopefully,
that
the storm will pass side.
Veli rowers to increase the pace.
"
The
captain tries to say something,
but
the knight turns away from him,
indicating
that the conversation was over.
Yes,
the provincial commander Werner risking much,
but
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about right or wrong was Baron von Endorf
when
he refused to stop at the mouth of the Narva.
We
use the word "captain" "chief navigator" for simplicity - *
In the original.
III
We
should note that provincial commander Werner
It
has every reason to hurry.
Shortly
before he took a letter
Swedish
King Eric
Master
of the Livonian Order Dietrich von Gruening.
These
are two Christian ruler - Master and King -
linked
long-standing and close ties of friendship
and
the unity of the true faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now
Baron von Endorf lucky to
These
things hidden letter on his chest,
and
he was with him for a minute does not leave.
He
does not know what is written there,
but
no doubt that we are talking about a future war
neighbor
a
huge country, which adopted the Christian faith,
not
only true Catholic and Byzantine-wing.
Once
And this country was united and strong,
but
then broke up into many
almost
independent principalities,
mired
in bloody strife,
and
two years before the events described here
it
easily captured the godless Tatars
led
by Khan Batu.
But
the invasion of Batu remained intact
a
large Russian city of
and
Werner
believes that to take this city
simultaneous
attack from both sides would be easy,
even
if the aid comes
Duchy
of these things recently devastated Batu,
and
serious strength it is not him.
And
the Batu Khan are now fighting in the south of
and
it is not far to the north of
So
turn this city with fire and sword
the
true Catholic faith is quite possible,
and
it is unlikely Khan, has won many Russian principalities,
He
wants to start due to major war
with
the Livonian Order and
and
even with all of the
That
such thoughts full of Baron,
and
he understands the importance of a letter, hidden on his chest.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of thinking about the Baron von Endorf future war.
IV
From
Werner distracting reflections sharp gust of wind,
then
another and another.
Soon
the wind and the waves are so strong,
it
is no longer possible to stand on the deck,
not
holding on to the mast or rigging.
"Rowers
do not rake against the wind,
us
is the mouth of Narva "- shouts the captain of
the provincial commander.
"Well,
well, we're going to hide there."
"In
calm weather would have taken refuge,
and
now we shall be at the behest of the wind and waves,
and
it is unlikely we will be able to enter into the river,
past
the sharp rocks near her mouth! "
"Let
them try to rowers' -
calmly
responds brave provincial commander Werner.
Of
course, the rowers are trying,
and
because they themselves want to live,
but
against the raging elements of God
people
are unable to fight.
Blow
terrible crash - the ship hit a rock.
Icy
waters of the
roll
over its deck,
sweeping
away everything and everyone in its path.
No
one on the ship did not stay, all washed overboard,
and
all waiting for imminent death -
if
not from the blows against the rocks, then the cold.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about the ship wreck in the
V
It
is time to meet with our second hero of the song -
young
Russian Boyar Gavrila Aleksic.
It
is necessary to clarify that Aleksic - no middle name
and surname,
Russian
patronymic called the most respected people.
Growth
Gavrila below Werner, broader in the shoulders,
his
hair darker, coarser facial features,
but
it can be called handsome.
Twenty-five
years to him,
origin
- the most noble,
because
he called Boyar,
which
translates from Russian as "a great man".
According
to our notions of it belongs to the knightly class.
Gabriel
was born and raised in the Grand Duchy of Vladimir,
in
the city of
Already
in his youth he joined the squad, that is, the Guards
Alexander,
the son of Grand Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich.
When
Batu Khan came to win
Grand
Duchy of
there
rules elder brother Yaroslav - George Vsevolodovich.
George
was killed, his army routed.
Jaroslav reigned at
this time in the southern Russian capital -
Having
learned about the arrival of Batu, he immediately
went to
He
pleaded vassal khan
and
he was entitled to a great reign.
Son
is his Alexander Yaroslavich
he
had previously sent to reign in
This
merchant city governed by a board of eminent citizens,
modeled
on our famous commercial cities of
and
invites to his princes, just as the generals
and
the judges.
When
Alexander went to
He
took with him his squad, including Gavrilo.
The
prince gave a lot of effort to strengthen the city,
and
Gabriel in this highly contributed to it.
Soon,
Alexander granted Gavrila Aleksic
Sotk title, meaning "Head of
hundreds"
and
sent him to command an important military post
at
the mouth of the
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
we will not talk too much detail
Life
now knights before they are by the will of God
We
met each other.
*
Today Pereslavl.
VI
When
the ship provincial commander Werner von Endorf
carries rocks,
Gavrila Aleksic is located -
his
tent in a camp on the bank of the
Bad
weather shakes and shakes lightweight tent.
Gabriel
with a few fellow warriors
going
to eat and drink home brew,
and
then enters one of his men and said,
in
the sea the ship in distress Livonian Order:
apparently
he is trying to get in Narva, but hit a rock.
"Flown
- and ran, and the road to the Latins" -
says
a friend of Gavrilo.
"There
and expensive, but can somebody survived,
we
must go and see - rumors lord.
All
they wear coats and come ashore,
shivering
from the icy wind.
"Look,
there's the sea threw the dead body"
"There's
another, and another."
"And
it seems to be a knight, and not the last, judging by their clothes."
"Look,
my lord, he is still alive, but unconscious!".
"Of
course, the unconscious - a swim in the icy water!
Probably
the rocks and broke.
Come
on, drag it to our camp and get warm by the fire, "-
Gabriel
commanded Aleksic.
"Yes,
let a Latin is dying!
One
infidels will be less! "-
Gavrilo say his
supporters.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than rough and hard-hearted like the simple Russian soldiers,
moreover,
to be honest, and our simple soldiers
There
are no less rude and cruel.
VII
Gavrila Aleksic repeats his order, and the terrorists,
grumbling
that it is necessary to tinker with the "gentile"
received
warm komtur background Endorf,
but
he did not regain consciousness.
On
his chest are surviving,
although
sodden letter the Swedish king
to
the Master of the Livonian Order.
Gavrila nice to know
Latin,
For
a noble origin
and
as a child he studied all the sciences,
like
any of our knights.
Seeing
what these things written in the letter and to whom is addressed,
lord
commanded to hot prepared his ship,
he
will go to
and
there, along with the city voevoda Gleb Lukich
decide
what to do with the knight and sim sim letter.
"So
die the Germans along the way,
in
a vehicle fire razvedeshsya not "- say Gavrila soldiers.
"Never
mind, put it under warm blankets,
Akim and Groin, undress and lie
with him,
warmed
him with its warmth.
The
rest - on the oars "
Grumbling
and swearing, Russian soldiers carried out orders,
and
that's an easy river boat rushes up the Narva.
With
rivers and lakes ice has gone, because the spring was early,
and
travel is not obstructed.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of the waterway from the
VIII
Along
the way, the soldiers whispering,
that
Gabriel did not just rushing to
and
it's not just the letter and Livonian knights:
he
wants to see his bride -
Olga,
the daughter of
Warriors
believe that the daughter of the governors - a good fiancee
for
so noble a young nobleman,
for
father Olga noble and rich,
It
takes a high military position,
and
most importantly - beautiful girl Olga hardly find
around
Yes,
this is the most beautiful Maid of Pskov,
What
is our song.
Like
most women of
Olga
is named in honor of the famous princess,
in
the days when And this country
It
has not yet been baptized into Christianity.
And
this princess went to
and
there took a holy baptism under the name Helen,
but
in
And
because the Princess was a native of
in
this city, it was glorified
almost
on a par with the Blessed Virgin Mary,
that
in
About
Princess Olga many legends and stories,
and
apparently, it was a decent ruler.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of the pre-Christian
IX
And
then, finally, we meet with Olga Glebovna -
bride
Gavrila Aleksic and
heroines of our songs.
The
very next day after departure
from
the camp at the mouth of Narva
Gabriel
enters the house Gleb Lukic,
and
the bride greets her fiance.
In
fact, Olga's beauty is admirable,
probably
even in our native
and
perhaps did not have,
because
Russian women are renowned all over the world, God -
and
among good Christians, and among the infidels.
Olga
seventeen years,
she
was not very tall, not too thin, not too full.
Big
bright eyes, straight white teeth,
chiseled
features, a beautiful blond braid,
kind
smile, good manners -
In
short, it has everything that can charm
so
noble and worthy young nobleman,
how
Gavrila Aleksic.
And
really, fascinated by Olga Gabriel he was right,
as
soon as it was first seen,
when
I passed through
on
the way to the place of their service at the mouth of Narva
and
I went to the city governor with some princely mission.
Then
he offered his hand and heart Olga.
Gleb Lukic
agreed to give the daughter of Boyar,
and
we decided to get married in three months,
after
Gabriel arrange a military post at Narva
and
return to
When
the young lord brings into this city
Baron
Werner von Endorf
and
is the home magistrates
Gleb and his daughter Olga decide
that the groom
I
have come a long time, and it is necessary to prepare the wedding.
But
Gabriel, barely greeted, says:
"Gleb Lukic, I arrived on an
urgent matter.
I'm
on the boat - shipwrecked
The
knights,
He
is still unconscious, he had a high fever,
but
most importantly - with him I found a letter
Master
of his order from the Swedish king,
and
we must decide what to do with the sim letter. "
Gleb immediately understands the
importance of the incident,
orders
to bring the knight to his house
and
invites the best healers of
so
that he died,
and
the works of Gavrila, who brought him to
They
were not in vain.
The
doctors examine the knight
allowed
him the blood, the use of all sorts of drugs
and
say that his life is out of danger,
but
he needs rest and care.
They
are right,
and
the provincial commander Werner von Endorf remains
alive.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of
X
A
governor with a letter Hleb joined Lukic slyly:
caused
Yevgraf, a master of secret affairs,
and
the slightly warmed royal seal
and
carefully separated it from the parchment.
Due
to the fact that the letter was soaked, it was easy.
So
that read Russian,
except
fraternal greetings and kind words Swedish king
against
an ally - Master Dietrich von Gruening:
"I
agree that now is the grace of God
now
is a good time for the undertakings
noble
cause treatment
the
true Catholic faith.
It's
time we bring to Holy Cross
at
least the northern regions of
We
have been going to do these things.
Devil
intrigues of Batu Khan ahead of us
and
subjugated this very country,
but
now the Lord has arranged,
that
Khan is distracted by the war in the south of
and
he was not to
and
our simultaneous attack on two sides
This
city does not hold out.
I
struck the north-west - through the city of
and
let the Livonian Order will cause a blow
from
the south-west - through the city of
And
we will do so in early July this year.
My
army will lead the first of my earls * - Ulf Fasi,
I
send him, and the young earl Birger Magnusson.
All
the areas that we will be able with God's help
to
bring into the fold of the Holy Catholic Church,
I
propose to divide for justice:
let
everyone owns that won.
But
finally decide who got what lands,
still
better after our victory.
I
do not doubt that the Lord gives it to us. "
The
letter said these things and much more,
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
Instead
of writing about the details of the King Master.
*
Breakfast princely title.
XI
Old
crafty governor Gleb
these
things by reading a letter, invents,
how
to cheat the King and Master.
He
tells Evgrafov fake letter:
pick
the same ink and fix the month of July to August
so
that in the Livonian Order thought
Swedes
attacked in August,
themselves
attacked at the same time rather than in July.
Forge
a letter was easy:
Fortunately
for the Russian and unfortunately for the good Catholics,
the
month of July has been written in Roman numerals VII,
and
it was necessary to substitute only one dash,
so
I figure VIII turned - August.
I
would like to call this very villainous forgery,
but
it is fair to admit,
that
Russian only protected:
Although
Byzantine faith, surely false,
but
over the centuries deeply rooted in
and
these lost souls do not know what they do,
all
the forces opposing the adoption
the
true Catholic faith.
So
and Gleb, and Gabriel, and Eugraph
operate
with a clear conscience.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of that made and still makes Russian
oppose
us.
XII
Evgraf neatly seals the letter -
just
the same, slightly heated seal -
and
puts on chest Baron Werner,
who
was still unconscious.
Meanwhile,
Gabriel hastily saying goodbye to Olga
and
immediately sent to
Prince
Alexander warned that in July will attack the Swedes,
attack
and Livonians -
or
in August, when the trick Gleb Lukic
succeed,
or,
God forbid, also in July.
Prince
graciously accepts Gavrila Aleksic
and
thanks for the intercepted letter.
Gabriel
was going to go back to
but
the prince told him to stay in
and
participate in the preparation of the prince's retinue
and
the
to
repel the attacks of the Swedes and Livonians.
Gavrila upset that
distant day will see Olga,
but
can not do anything:
homeland
defense Khakee for him.
He
just sends Olga birch bark
that
is very fond of her,
but
I had to wait with the wedding until after the war.
He
soon bitterly regret
that
until July I did not find time to go to
get
married and carry the young wife
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not that the Lord could arrange, but did not accept.
XIII
And
in
finally
recovers.
His
first movement - check with him whether the letter.
A
letter with him. He calms down and looks around.
Before
it presents a fascinating vision -
bright
face beautiful Olga.
She
and her kind soul helped the healers to care for Baron
and
when he came to himself,
It
was next to his bed.
Werner
hears her melodious voice:
"I'm
glad you came to, the noble knight."
She
says it in Latin: father gave her an excellent education.
"Where
am I?" - Asks the Baron.
She
said that after he was picked up on the shore
frozen,
battered against the rocks, unconscious,
nobleman
Gavrila Aleksic brought him
to
and
now, with God's help, he gradually recovers.
"And
where is he lord Gabriel?
May
I thank him for salvation? "
"He
is not here, he went to
"And
who are you, beautiful?"
"Glebovna Olga, the daughter of
"And
I'm Baron Werner von Endorf Zegevoldsky
provincial commander."
Then
Werner again falls into oblivion
and
wakes up the next day.
He
is already much better,
and
he wants to talk to himself governor.
Gleb Lukic
is soon.
Knight
thanks for saving him and asks for help
to
get to
Voivod for the kind of arguing with
him,
He
says that the brave knight would have to still undergo treatment,
but
really Gleb wants provincial commander
quickly
drove to
So
Werner is in the house of the magistrates long -
less
than a week.
Every
day the baron talks to Olga,
continue
to care for him.
She
tells him about
no
differences in faith or other disputes
they
do not touch,
and
their conversation quiet and friendly.
Then
equip the ship for the Russian Baron,
Werner
says goodbye to Gleb and Olga,
thanks
them, asked to convey his gratitude
and
her savior - Gavrila Aleksic,
Olga
wished a happy family life with Gavrila,
and
warriors include Baron rook on the hands,
for
he is still very weak.
Already
the beginning of May, the weather is beautiful,
and
the ship without incident to come to the
but
that is not far - only two days' journey.
Werner
under the arms lead to master.
Baron
says that survived the shipwreck,
Russian
and rescued him.
Then
Werner passes the royal letter
and
sent to the hospital - dolechivatsya.
Master
Dietrich von Gruening,
read
the message of King Eric,
It
lends itself to a clever trick Gleb Lukic,
It
does not suspect anything amiss
and
assigns the trip to the
not
the beginning of July and early August.
Preparing
orders for war is being slowly,
For
a lot of time until August.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than on how prepared the Livonian Order
to
install fire and sword the true faith in
XIV
Komtur Werner treated in the
He
has time to think about everything that happened,
and
he could guess that it is necessary to warn the Master,
that
a few days, when he was unconscious,
royal
letter could do anything,
and
it should be carefully checked.
Instead,
Werner discovers,
he
can not forget about the beautiful Maid of Pskov Olga.
He
is always thinking about it,
her
image is in front of him,
and
he dreams of owning it.
Baron
understands that these dreams - are forbidden,
because
he entered the Order, he gave monastic vows,
and
the person is not good to wish the bride,
who
saved your life.
The
commanders of the drives themselves an image of Olga,
exhausting
the body of prayer and fasting,
that
very commendable for a knight-monks,
but,
unfortunately, Werner little help.
Soon
Baron leaves hospital
and
begins his duties komturskim:
prepares
his valiant knights for a military campaign,
which,
as we know, is due to start in August.
And
this activity a little distracting Baron
from
thinking about Olga.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than on how to perform Werner von Endorf
their
duties komtur Zegevoldskogo.
XV
Ready
to march, and the brave Swedish earls
Ulf
Fasi and Birger Magnusson,
appointed
by the king as chief
in
the campaign against
They
are loaded on ships many siege engines,
intending
to primarily take the city Ladoga
with
its strong stone fortress -
only
in
These
things do not mean that in
simply
they are all built of wood,
and
shortly before these events, contact
wicked
Batu Khan took them one by one:
siege
machines swept the wooden walls with rolls,
and
then Tatars easily broke into the fortress.
So
what if the Swedes were able to subdue the stone Ladoga,
then
take the wooden
The
army and Ulf Birger eight thousand soldiers -
not
as much as we would like,
but
the earls are confident that together with them
Russian
hit in the Livonian Order.
They
do not know that the letter was forged by the king,
and
the Order of preparing an attack in August.
Jarls
confident in the fact that unexpectedly attacked,
and
do not know that, thanks to intercepted the royal letter
Russian
prince Alexander prepared to repel an attack
and
has placed numerous outposts
along
the
And
when, in early July
Swedish
ships are included in the
Alexander
learns about it the next day.
News
of any movement of troops of the Livonian Order
the
prince did not arrive, and Alexander understands
the
trick
and
the Order of attacks in August.
So
the prince boldly throws towards Birger and Ulf
and
all his princely retinue, and the squad
all
seven thousand horsemen.
It
could collect and more
but
it goes to the Swedes so hastily,
Along
the way, the Russian army passes Ladoga
and
it joins the ranks of the militia thence,
even
thousands of four.
With
such a large margin strength,
also
knowing all about the movements of the enemy,
also
taking advantage of the surprise,
For
earls and Ulf Birger
did
not expect a counter-strike Russian -
only
the most mediocre commander on the ground Alexander
I
could not win.
And
Alexander incompetent commander, of course, was not,
and
say that the Lord has turned away from the Swedes in the
I
think, not quite right.
It
would be truer to say that the Lord has turned away then,
when
Werner von Endorf ship caught in a storm,
Royal
letter appeared in Russian,
and
they managed to cleverly forged.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of the inscrutable ways of the Lord.
*
Now, Staraya Ladoga.
XVI
Jarls
Ulf Birger and get up to camp
at
the confluence of the
They
are waiting for news about the actions of their allies - Livonians.
But
here comes Prince Alexander Men.
Unfortunately,
as the earls were not ready to strike Russian,
not
stood on the right and on the left bank of the
where
Russian was easier
to
get close to the camp on the land.
And
suddenly, on the move, with a loud battle cry
Russian
attack on the Swedes.
Marines
raise the alarm,
but
Ulf Birger and still do not have time
build
his army,
and
every warrior is protected where it caught the attack.
Honor
and praise the valiant yarlam:
they
manage to prevent panic,
Swedes
and slowly retreating to their ships.
Camp
with all the good they have to leave,
but
they do not capture or burn the Russian court.
After
all, if the Swedes lost their ships,
their
whole army to come to the inevitable end.
To
the ship breaks only one Russian soldier -
already
familiar Gavrila Aleksic.
This
is the first big battle of the brave young nobleman,
and
it shows itself at its best:
no
dismounting, the ship enters the gangplank,
other
warriors behind him,
he
single-handedly fought with dozens of Swedes,
it
is thrown into the water, his faithful horse dies,
Gabriel
himself wounded: his sword cut through the arm.
Despite
the pouring blood,
Boyar
rises, select the bank and continues to fight,
but
he still can not set fire to the ships.
Jarl
Ulf Fasi, clutching the wound on his face,
which
he paid himself Prince Alexander,
commanded
departure.
With
God's help the Swedes manage to take
almost
all their wounded
and
even a few dozen of those killed -
Unfortunately,
only a fraction of the hundreds of victims.
Having
experienced the bitterness of defeat,
earls
sent his ships back to sea,
on
the way stopping at one of the islands at the mouth of the
and
burying their dead.
Former
army with clerics
proper
funeral service of the deceased.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not that the fallen on the battlefield Catholics, of course,
They
will rest in the righteous.
XVII
Russian,
who won on the
Alexander
and his army returned to
and
received the honorary nickname of "Nevsky".
Gavrila Aleksic wants to go right after the Battle of Pskov -
play
wedding with his beloved Olga,
but
unfortunately, his wound is inflamed.
Burning
heat of the young nobleman brought to
his
favor the best princely physicians,
and
the prince to cope on a daily basis about his health.
When
Gabriel finally comes to his senses,
Alexander
Yaroslavich produces it in tysyatskiye,
and
this is a very high position - "Head of thousands."
Prince
also bestow his cloak from his shoulder -
in
Gets
Gavrila from Alexander, and large areas of land,
and
the share of taken from the Swedish production.
Brave
lord already going to his bride, Olga,
but
then he learns that
conquered
by the army of the Livonian Order.
We
need to talk in detail about
how
these things happened the conquest,
so
strongly influenced the fate of all the characters
our
song about the beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights.
XVIII
When
in
Master
of the Livonian Order Dietrich von Gruening
first
of all wonders:
why
She's
like going to perform in August!
And
then there comes a messenger from King Eric
with
the message that comes through in lines indignation:
"Why
are you, the allies did not support us?
We
warned you in the letter,
sent
to the provincial commander Werner von Endorf
that
attack the Russian barbarians at the beginning of July! "
Wise
Master understands that there is something wrong with the letter,
which
brought him to spring Baron Werner,
It
needs to find these things in an archive
and
invites its masters of secret affairs,
not
less skilful than Derpt Eugraph.
Ribbons
master carefully examine this parchment,
and
their verdict is:
the
seal was broken, the letter was forged.
Werner
von Endorf soon appears
before
the Chapter of his order,
and
angry Knights of Christ of Livonia
require
an answer from him, where she could take And this is a fake.
Werner
says that after a shipwreck
several
days lay unconscious,
and
when I came, was a letter with him.
"But
while you were unconscious,
a
letter could take and forge anyone!
Do
you, the provincial commander von Endorf, did not see
it? "-
It
sounds harsh voice of a master.
"I
understand ..." - bewildered provincial commander said.
"And
if you knew, why he did not warn us about this?
We
have just checked the letter,
revealed
a fake and told the Swedish king,
that
Russian know about our plans!
Maybe
it would not have began to attack
or
in July or August!
And
now it turns out, my brother Werner,
that
our plans are thwarted by your fault,
and
on the
What
can you say in your defense? "
"Just
my brother and master,
that
after the shipwreck and the ensuing fever
I
was very weak. "
"But
because of you and did not have to fight
or
do anything else that requires much effort.
Just
had to figure out
that
you could pick up a letter at a time!
What
prevented you think about it? "
We
know, that prevented the knight think:
the
image of the beautiful Maid of Pskov Olga.
But
Knight is guilty: prefers to keep silent about this,
standing
in front of the Chapter, with downcast eyes,
and
only said: "I confess and pray for forgiveness.
My
sin is great, and repentance as great. "
Humility
Baron Werner
touches
the hearts of the members of the chapter,
and
von Endorf imposed punishment
only
in the form of sacramental
at
the
Werner
thinks lightly,
and
already intends to bow out and get out of the meeting room,
but
the Master said:
"My
brother Werner von Endorf, I believe that you are not
worthy
high
rank komtur Zegevoldskogo.
I
suggest Chapter of Orders
dismiss
you from this title.
There
are members of the chapter objections?
Does
anyone believe that the Baron can be left in the provincial commander?
No
one does not think so?
Well,
then, I am expressing a unanimous general opinion:
Background
Endorf transferred to ordinary knights.
Go,
my brother Werner, with the world. "
Disgraced,
degraded, angry Baron
Zegevold sent to the
castle,
Now
no longer as provincial commander, but as a simple knight.
In
his place, appointed another knight of this castle -
Baron
Johann von merengue,
who
does not like von Endorf,
For
much older, he joined the Order of much earlier,
He
has long claimed to be a place komtur
and
oppressed bossing Werner
who
took this place, bypassing Johann.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of Johann von Merengene.
XIX
Chapter
of Orders continue meeting.
Worthy
Livonian knights contemplating
on
further actions to bring
true
to the Holy Cross Catholic.
And
here appears the Count Adolf von Rozenkampf,
the
oldest member of the Order of the Knights of Christ of Livonia,
having
so many services to the Order,
like
probably no other.
He
said members of the chapter:
"At
trick godless barbarians we can answer
cunning
in the name of the Lord.
Since
the Russian altered the date on the letter from the beginning of July
at
the beginning of August,
and
the attack they will be expected at the beginning of August.
And
if we do not attack at this time,
the
barbarians decide that war in general will not.
or
if you will, in a year or later.
We
will strike them in the end of August,
and
the impact will be a surprise. "
Master
supports it
and
he says that the attack is not only unexpected,
but
also cleverly arranged.
And
he bids to find Prince Yaroslav.
Wherein
ye ruler we have to say
with
mixed feelings:
On
the one hand, we have enjoyed the fruits of his betrayal,
On
the other hand, always disgusting betrayal,
no
matter in whose favor it is made.
This
prince long before the events described here
rules
in
but
showed sympathy to the Holy Catholic Church,
for
that he was exiled
and
he lived on the territory of the Livonian Order castle in Otepaa
*.
When
the Order of the Sword fighting
by
Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich,
right
then in
I
was on our side,
but
it was captured by the Russian in the unfortunate for us
He
was lucky he was not executed as a traitor,
Yaroslav Vsevolodovich swore eternal friendship,
He
was pardoned and released,
but
immediately after the conclusion of peace once again moved to
where
he received the Order of the holdings in the vicinity of the adagio.
He
did not completely break off relations with their homeland
and
he called himself a Russian prince,
but
served us, Catholics, faith and truth
and
even, say, secretly took the true Catholic faith.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of the Pskov Prince-defector.
*
Also Odenpe.
**
In 1234.
XX
Preparing
to reflect the attack Livonian Knights
at
the beginning of August,
Alexander
Nevsky put military barriers
along
the
And
because of the expected attack did not happen,
warriors
in still overshadowing the end of summer
not
so vigilant,
and
many of the local militia
all
went home.
Meanwhile,
the master of the Livonian Order
instructs
Prince Yaroslav:
take
a few Russian soldiers, deserters,
pass
them off as his retinue,
secretly
sneak past the barriers of forests
and
enter to
This
prince must pretend
that
has long been returned to
Grand
Duke Vladimir Yaroslav Vsevolodovich
allegedly
sent him to reign in
to
help Alexander of Kostroma,
On
behalf of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich
manufactured
fake security certificates.
Of
course, fake diplomas - not a very beautiful act,
we
can say sin
but
this sin is pardonable,
for
the legitimate interests of the Holy Catholic Church.
And
Yaroslav hits the road.
Wise
Master plan is executed:
Prince
safely pass all the barriers,
and
presents the city council,
that
is the advice of eminent citizens,
artfully
forged security certificates.
Citizens
are very surprised,
but
do not dare to go against the will of the Grand Duke.
However,
the governor Gleb Lukic
immediately sends a messenger
Alexander
Nevsky with the news of an unexpected entry
Prince
Yaroslav Vladimirovich
Pskov.
Nevsky, in turn, is also very surprised
and
sends a messenger to his father Yaroslav Vsevolodovich,
in
order to know for sure whether the Prince of Pskov pretender.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not on where to jump many messengers,
besides,
until they jump,
XXI
Take
that
Yaroslav, voknyazhilsya
there,
It
calls on the governor of the city Gleb Lukic
and
asks where are troop barriers
and
how much in them warriors.
Voivod is forced to tell the prince,
and
Jaroslav immediately sends the Livonian Order in
secret messenger
a
description of where and what the barriers are delivered.
It
is understood that after the bypass these barriers
It
is not too difficult for the Order's troops.
Having
served a prayer service at the Dome Cathedral,
Christ's
warriors for the campaign.
They
number eight thousand,
among
them - and the Livonian Knights of Christ,
and
militia cities of
Estonians
and militia **.
With
troops moving and powerful siege engines.
The
soldiers brutally tormented by blood-sucking insects,
hourly
risking drown
in
the vast marshes of the
quietly
bypass barriers and a few villages
and
go to the advanced fortress
Izborsk, only a
day's journey from
In
Izborsk army is divided:
most
of it is still under the walls of the fortress,
where
very few defenders,
in
the same order of reserves and siege machines.
The
smaller the part headed by the Master
goes
further - to
Humanity
Dietrich von Gruening
and
the hope of being in this city,
faithful
Catholics Prince Yaroslav
Master
forced not to begin the attack,
without
offering the defenders of the city to surrender.
And
in any case we have to wait Dietrich
the
main forces and the transport of siege engines
out
of Izborsk,
taken
by storm on the second day of the siege.
The
released knightly troops
attack
from behind on Russian screens,
for
the most part still unsuspecting,
and
destroy them.
And
now, at
drive
up and siege machines.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than on how to skillfully fight
Nice
true adherents of the Catholic faith.
*
Today,
**
Estonians.
XXII
Prince
Yaroslav Vladimirovich
wants to surrender
referring
to the supremacy of the besieging forces.
On
his side - posadnik solid Ivankovic,
who
understands that if the city will be taken by storm,
the
inevitable fires,
and
from
because
the weather is hot, and it will be impossible to fight the fire.
We
forgot to explain that in
as
head of the council, such as our mayor.
But
the governor Gleb Lukic
convinces the townspeople,
that
the city is well protected, and its soldiers are numerous,
and
the Chamber prohibits the prince and mayor to surrender.
Dietrich
von Gruening is about to begin the attack,
but
then it comes to good news
the
death of the
Gleb stood on the city wall and
was struck by an arrow.
Boom
was released not crossbowmen and archer,
and
arrived not from without, but from within the city,
hitting
the governor is not in the chest and in the back.
Most
likely, it released some of the people
Prince
Yaroslav.
Gleb's body lay in the Holy Trinity
Cathedral,
On
the third day, as expected, funeral service and be buried,
and
on the same day Pskov Veche
at
the insistence of the prince and the mayor agrees to surrender.
The
city gates are opened,
and
the army of the Livonian Order comes in
I
would like to say that the knights
but
put it this way - would be to sin against the truth:
Byzantine
faith is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Russian people,
and
our missionaries is very difficult
bring
them to the Holy True Cross.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about any unfortunate misconceptions
Russian
adhere to their faith.
XXIII
Werner
von Endorf is located in the part of the troops,
which
immediately came under the walls of
and
Baron could not manifest itself either in the capture of Izborsk,
any
subsequent battles.
So
it's still not the provincial commander, and an ordinary knight.
Going
to
Werner
performs the task Master -
together
with other soldiers
provincial
commander under the command of Johann von merengue
checks
whether all the defenders of
And
in the evening von Endorf is sent to the home of the
city magistrates.
He
does not expect to find,
how
he had taken and the forged letter,
because
knows that Gleb Lukic
killed.
He
just wants to see Olga Glebovna.
No,
he's not going to break the vows,
but
he pulls it,
and
do anything with him, he can not.
Should
we blame him for what he went there?
Probably
still do not have.
And
not just because we are told not to judge
Our
Lord Jesus Christ,
And
also because, having come to this house, Baron saves the honor of Olga.
And
since our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
we
must describe in detail,
happened
that night in the house of the late governor.
XXIV
Baron
Werner knocking. No he does not answer.
The
door was not locked, he pushes it and goes inside.
On
the ground floor is unoccupied,
and
the second can hear some strange sounds,
if
someone is trying to scream with his mouth clamped.
Werner
runs up upstairs
and
sees the four volunteer Dorpat
Olga
intend to dishonor.
She
was naked, holding her two, one grips the mouth,
and
one undressed and, God forgive me, ready to sin.
With
sadness we say that although these militias
and
confess the true Catholic faith,
but
behave like real villains.
So
we will call them.
So,
valiant Baron came just in time.
He
puts his hand threateningly on the hilt of his sword
exclaims
a voice of thunder:
"What
do you do the wicked?
Do
you not know that the Master Dietrich
strictly
forbade looting and violence? "
About
robberies Werner remembered by chance:
Another
militiaman at the time groping for chests.
Perhaps
if all the villains were armed,
Baron
and not be faint:
still
five to one - too
even
for a highly experienced soldier as background Endorf.
But,
fortunately, with only two weapons villain
two
others removed their swords, so they do not interfere to keep the victim,
and
one general almost completely stripped.
And
the view of the mighty knight,
dressed
in a white cloak the Order
with
images of the red cross and the sword,
It
brings them fear.
Taking
advantage of the confusion villains
Olga
escapes and runs into another room,
weeping
bitterly and bashfully shut hands.
I
must say that its image
It
sinks deeper into the soul of Werner
in
this moment, when he sees her naked.
The
militiamen angry grumble
but
prefer to clean up and leave.
I
would like to believe that they have repented
and
not go looking for another victim,
and
atone for their sins,
how
these things befits a good Catholic.
In
believe that, unfortunately, it is difficult,
although
blessed not seen but have believed.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not on the individual regrettable cases
looting
and violence on the part of Christ's army.
XXV
That
evening, Werner, to give Olga a calm,
right
away, advising her to lock the door
and
not to let anyone, saying to all,
the
house supposedly allotted komturstvu Zegevoldskomu.
The
next day he visits her.
She
weeps bitterly for his father,
Baron
calms her, saying,
that
her father had fallen as a brave warrior.
Visiting
Werner Olga and in the following days,
difficulty
finding the time for this,
because
it is one of the detachments of guards
and
should almost always be on the streets -
One
afternoon, at night,
and
it is very difficult to be away,
he's
no longer provincial commander, and ordinary knight.
When
meeting with Olga, he feels,
that
his love is stronger and stronger.
But
he remembers that
that
her fiancé Gabriel rescued him after a shipwreck,
and
the time Werner did not express their feelings.
But
this time comes after
Baron
decides to ask Olga about that unfortunate letter,
which
was taken from him and forged.
Olga,
perhaps, would not have anything to tell a knight,
but
grateful to him for the salvation of the militia-villains
considers
that a fake letter - low and dishonorable act,
and
most importantly - annoyed at Gavrila because,
that
he did not find time for a little while to come to
before
the war.
Probably,
many women in her place would have thought the same,
and
could also issue a state secret
due
to frustration on the male inattention.
And
Olga decided to tell the truth knight,
we
are with you for a long time already know:
a
letter from the unconscious Baron
Gabriel
took and passed the governor,
he
invited the master secret affairs,
they
have something to do with this letter,
and
then returned his knight.
I
must say that for a smart and visionary Werner
the
revelation of this story did not:
he
thought that there was something like,
just
do not know what this was, and Gabriel,
which
he considered to be his selfless savior.
And
since our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
then
we say that Werner is no longer considers itself bound by
Gavrila gratitude
for saving
and
with a clear conscience Olga Glebovna offers his hand
and heart.
XXVI
"But
you're a knight of the monastic order,
unless
you can marry? And to whom - to the Orthodox? "-
He
asked Werner Olga.
"For
you, I will go out of order,
you
accept Catholicism, we are with you get married,
and
I'll take you in
We
will have a lot of children, and we will be happy! "-
so
it meets the Baron Werner.
She
asks to give her time to think:
she
does not want to break the promise to Gavrila.
But
Russian Boyar far
it
is not known how bravely he fought in the
and
any awards received,
and
for women, to be honest, these things is very important.
Werner
Olga is obliged to save my honor.
She
does not know that the Baron demoted from komtur
and
there was only an ordinary knight,
She
does not know, and then,
how
modest and not rich castle Endorf.
But
we will not blame Olga in prudence,
especially
on a windy,
and
because our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
it
is only to say that it agrees to the proposal of Werner.
XXVII
Maybe
you want to know,
Is
Werner broke the knight of Christ,
Olga
their vows -
in
the sense that directly call
It
does not allow shyness?
Say
briefly: no, not broken.
He
waits when he can get away from the Livonian Order
and
enjoy the beautiful Maid of Pskov,
without
changing their conscience.
But
when Baron von Endorf comes
to
their provincial commander Johann von Merengenu
and
the wish to leave the Order,
provincial
commander does not allow to do these things.
Werner
insists:
"Nobody
has the right to forbid to leave the Order
noble
knight, and free. "
"In
you I have the right to prohibit the war,
and
forbid "- gleefully tells him Johann.
Why
did maliciously? - Yes, because, as we remember,
he
does not like Werner.
Then
sent to Baron von Endorf
to
Master Dietrich von grüningen,
but
hearing about the same thing from him:
"In
order to leave the war is tantamount to betrayal."
Do
nothing, Werner von Endorf remains in the order.
And
the war with the capture of
By
November, the Order army accumulates additional forces,
waiting,
when the rivers, lakes and swamps
will
rise a solid ice,
And
out of the
He
goes with his army and Baron Werner.
Saying
goodbye to Olga, he asks him to wait
and
offers immediately accept the true Christian faith,
without
waiting for their engagement,
because
he knows that all the people of
soon
will pay to Catholicism,
and
refused - to evict from the city and give to the slaves.
I
do not know how justified such drastic measures
for
those who do not profess
the
true Catholic faith,
but
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not for us to discuss, let alone condemn
charitable
actions medal servants of the Lord.
XXVIII
Werner
Olga listens and accepts Catholicism
in
one of the many churches of
which
was given the true Roman consecration
in
the first days of the rule of the Livonian Order.
So
lovely Maid of Pskov
I
am looking forward to her fiancé,
thoughts
are already imagining himself Baroness von Endorf.
A
brave Baron von Endorf
in
November of the same battles under the walls
Another
Russian fortress - Koporye.
This
is not the south-west of
and
to the northwest.
How
do you manage the Order army
so
quickly and without a fight to reach
and
threaten
Why
does not prevent these things Alexander of Kostroma,
famous
in the
You
and these things may seem strange,
but,
in spite of the war,
in
spite of the threatening danger of death city,
despite
the glory of the winner of the Swedes,
banished
prince Alexander Nevsky,
and
he retired to his home town of
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not on the causes of the expulsion of the prince obstinate
XXIX
We
are all the time talking about the three brave and noble knights,
but
so far met with only the two of them out.
Soon
in our story and will be the third,
and
yet the first two
and
are far from the beautiful Maid of Pskov,
and
from each other.
Gavrila Aleksic forced to leave in Pereslavl-Zaleski
along
with his Prince Alexander.
Boyar
rushed to
in
order to see and maybe take away Olga Glebovna,
but
the prince forbade him these things,
saying
that no matter tysyatskogo -
wading
in the night in a city occupied by the enemy.
Gabriel
could not comply.
I
could not disobey his boss
Baron
Werner von Endorf
when
the provincial commander Johann von merengue commanded
him
Koporje stay in and
watch out for the construction of the fortress,
which
I decided to erect the Livonian Order
on
the site almost completely destroyed during the capture.
Build
a fortress this very quickly,
Werner
and because of their employment manage to escape to
in
order to see his sweetheart Olga,
just
once or twice, and then not for long.
Hurry
erecting a fortress in Koporje leads to,
that
it does not build in stone and wood,
and
it will not sustain the next attack,
which
will follow a year later.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about the unreliability of wooden castles.
XXX
The
whole year there are no battles:
good
Catholics grow roots in
gathering
forces to strike at
Maybe
it would be better to Magister
lead
a more decisive combat actions,
and
try to take
since
he is very close.
But
able
to put twenty thousand warriors militia,
and
the glorious army of Christ Catholic -
not
more than ten thousand.
With
such a preponderance of forces Russian does not matter,
stone
fortress in
Novgorodians, seeing the
enemy,
can
go to fight in the field
Ribbons
and crush the army of his strength.
Can
I ask you a question:
Why
not come out to defend
The
answer is simple: for the same reason,
why
banished Duke Alexander Yaroslavich:
Among
many
of them sympathetic to Catholicism,
many
believe that it is better to be vassals of the Livonian Order,
than
vassals of the state infidels Tatars
many
people simply do not like Alexander Nevsky
and
his father Yaroslav Vsevolodovich,
Considering
that these princes encroach
the
ancient liberty of the free city.
And
as citizens, in order to show their convictions,
put
on clothes colored ribbons,
the
city takes over the party "red" -
the
color of the coat of arms of the grand dukes of
the
party of "white" - the color of medal raincoats,
the
party of "blue" - the color of the coat of arms of the ancient
Almost
like "hippodrome party" in ancient
and
the
And
these differences hinder citizens unite,
but
the master understands
that
at the sight of the Order of the troops under the walls of
they
can unite,
And
this union would not in favor of the attackers.
So
he prefers to wait
and
grow roots in the already conquered Russian cities.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not that was right or not Master Dietrich,
without
risking immediately go to
XXXI
Speaking
of Koporje, we mentioned the next attack -
a
year after the capture of the city,
nice
Livonian knights of Christ.
This
attack taking Russian in November
Next,
in 1241 the birth of Christ,
and
this is their first retaliation in this war.
On
the rivers, lakes and marshes have already established a solid ice.
Supervises
Russian none other
the
prince Alexander Nevsky:
No,
you'd better master Dietrich
I
went to
when
the city was torn by internal strife,
and
now it's too late:
in
the army of
fifteen
thousand experienced warriors,
and
in the Order's army - perhaps ten thousand,
and
they are scattered in different cities.
In
addition, Alexander Nevsky true to himself
and
causes a sudden and powerful blow.
Koporye defenders,
among them Baron Werner,
They
did not even have time to get ready for defense.
Having
received from the sentinel signal that the enemy is close,
they
are in disarray sprint onto the unfinished walls
and
seeing how numerous its enemies,
They
understand that their cause was lost.
No
siege engines have no Russian,
but
they immediately, without regard for losses
and
even offered to give up the knights,
begin
to climb the walls of the fortress Koporskaya.
Among
the strikers - and Gabriel Aleksic,
personally
leading the battle in their thousands.
Would
not that Gabriel and Werner,
brides
beautiful Maid of Pskov,
Koporye meet on the
walls,
and
in an open and honest battle will be decided,
which
of them have the Olga?
Maybe
if our song
It
was not true and fictional,
we
would describe this fight,
but
in fact the Lord judged differently.
arrow
shot by one of our well-aimed crossbowmen,
strikes
Gavrila Alexits neck.
His
wound is very heavy,
he
falls, choking on blood,
and
at first glance no different from the dead.
Let
us not forget that there are frosts,
although
not the most violent by Russian standards,
but
still strong
Gavrila and can die
if not by blood loss,
then
from the cold.
And
if one of the noble and brave knights,
in
love with the beautiful Olga,
give
soul to God,
we
will have to finish
our
song about the beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights:
Knights
will be left only two,
one
of them had not even appeared in our songs,
and
we will never know who he is.
But
our song ends,
For
several Russian soldiers immediately nobleman attributed to the doctor,
Gabriel
and the will of God remains alive.
XXXII
Sash
commands troops in Koporje
already
familiar Johann von merengue,
Zegevoldsky provincial
commander.
Realizing
that continuing would be useless defense,
This
brave warrior, however, does not give up,
and
collects the remains of troops at the city gates.
The
fact that the Russian immediately went on the attack,
instead
began the siege and surround the city from all sides,
It
gives many valiant knights,
including
provincial commander Johann and Baron Werner,
to
be saved:
they
sit on the horses, open the gates
and
break out of the fortress in the direction of
Hooked
attack Russian did not even pursue them.
So
Werner is again in
He
was appointed head of one of the units
city
guards,
and
he has nothing stopping to visit Olga Glebovna
and
dream with her about
that
immediately after the conclusion of peace
Baron
will leave the order, and they will play a wedding.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
it is time we finally meet
with
a third of them.
XXXIII
Having
said that, nothing prevents Baron Werner
visit
Olga Glebovna,
to
prepare for the care of the Order
and
his marriage to the beautiful Maid of Pskov,
we're
a little sinned against the truth:
something
still stirs.
Or
maybe not sinned, because not interfere with something, but someone.
And
this "someone" - Count Leopold von Rieneck
kind
of nice Lyudovingov,
belonging
to the younger branch landgraves Wartburg.
He
was tall - even higher Werner and Gavrila,
strong,
well-built, fair-haired,
young
- he's only twenty-four years.
Due
to its high birth
he
was part of the Embassy of the
with
the Order of the Knights of Christ of
Imperial
ambassador, Duke Heinrich von Bamberg
on
the eve of the new forty-two years old
directs
Count von Rieneck from
Ambassador
Leopold in order to notify all that is happening there.
Shortly
before formed in
separate
komturstvo,
and
Heinz von Meyershtadt, provincial commander of
He
considers it his duty to settle Count von Rieneck
one
of the best town homes.
The
choice falls on the house of the late magistrates Gleb
Lukic.
On
the eve of a bright Christmas,
opening
forty-second year,
Leopold
comes to a squire and three servants,
bleschit power,
beauty, youth and wealth,
Armor
Venetian work,
bright
blue cloak beautiful candle
embroidered
on it family crest.
One
graph sword is probably as much,
as
all the military equipment of Baron Werner.
Olga,
if not blinded by the glitter of the graph,
the
impression he makes on it.
However,
since it does not show,
warmly
welcomes Leopold von Rieneck
and
provides it with the best of the rooms.
Good
rooms are for squire and servants.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about how to place Olga's guests.
XXXIV
Not
only Count Leopold impress Olga:
it
also makes an impression on Earl
and
their beauty, and their manners,
and
when they begin to talk in the evenings -
and
your mind, and a good knowledge of Latin.
And
Baron Werner in one of the winter evenings
He
comes into the house of Olga Glebovna,
included
in the common room and sees that the Count is sitting there,
drinking
wine and talking with the beautiful Maid of Pskov.
Olga
is one to the other:
"Count
Leopold von Rieneck, a member of the imperial
embassy,
my
guest.
Baron
Werner von Endorf Zegevoldsky
provincial commander,
my
fiance".
She
still does not know what Werner is no longer provincial commander.
Noble
Knights bowed stiffly,
and
Werner Olga go upstairs.
Leopold
remains at the bottom, beside himself with rage.
He
envies Werner that he has
such
a beautiful woman,
he
is indignant because of the fact that Werner
violates
the vows,
and
even Earl points out,
Werner
Olga presented a komtur Zegevoldskogo,
Although
Leopold, being well aware
in
the affairs of the Livonian Order,
knows
that the provincial commander Zegevoldsky -
Endorf no background, and the
background merengue.
That
evening Count Leopold preferred to remain silent,
but
he has matured cunning plan.
The
next day he finds komtur Johann
and
he says that Werner von Endorf knight his komturstva,
spending
time with a woman,
breaking
the vows
and
forgetting their responsibilities for the protection of the city.
Johann
is enraged
and
wants to immediately call for the punishment of Werner,
but
Leopold cleverly says,
it
is better to catch the offender in the act of the Order of the debt,
so
that he could not shirk responsibility.
And
the count promises to send to the provincial commander servant with a report,
once
again see von Endorf house Olga Glebovna.
Johann
von merengue is pleased to
Count
offer.
With
pleasure, since, as we remember,
provincial
commander does not like Werner.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not whether the received count and well-provincial commander.
XXXV
After
a few days and all occurs
conceived
as the Leopold and Johann.
When
Werner Olga sitting next
on
the upper floor of the house late the governors,
holding
hands and talking about love,
them
breaks Baron von merengue
with
several Knights.
"Who
are you, and what you're doing in my house?" -
Olga
asks.
"I
Zegevoldsky provincial commander" - responds
Johann.
"!
So the provincial commander Zegevoldsky" -
It
shows it to Werner.
"Who
told you this, dear lady?"
"Sam
Baron Werner von Endorf".
"In
this case, it is an impostor!"
Olga
turns to Werner:
"Have
you lied to me, you provincial commander?"
"Yes.
I'm sorry, "- says the knight, after a long silence.
"So
maybe you lied to me, and that you Baron
with
the family castle? "
Werner
is silent, but for him sarcastically responds provincial commander Johann:
"Baron-he,
of course, Baron,
Only
about a family castle, he slightly exaggerated.
actually
Endorf -
rather
large village house than a castle,
and
farmers in this impoverished estate is almost gone.
Besides,
as far as I know,
even
of this modest possessions knight Werner
belongs
to only a small part,
For
the family of his father of seven children,
and
he - the youngest son. "
"Is
it true?" - Asks Werner Olga.
"True".
Hearing
this, the lovely Maid of Pskov very upset.
Maybe
it's not very good,
What
is of great importance for her wealth,
but
what can you do, is that her character:
she
knows that it is very beautiful,
and
like many young beauties,
believes
that its beauty - a gem
requires
framing wealth and luxury.
Enjoying
produced at Olga impression
provincial
commander Johann Werner says:
"Where
are you right now is to be my brother in Christ?"
"The
city guard ..."
"And
where are you? The woman? What about your vows?
I
forgot that we Sash charter you have no right
even
talk to a woman?
Come
with me, we will decide what to do with you. "
And
leads unfortunate, disgraced,
sadly
bowed his head Werner.
However,
Olga says goodbye to the Baron,
his
wealth - not the main thing for her,
and
she will be waiting for his return.
Still,
he and she is very depressed.
The
next day
Order
of Christ of Livonia Werner von Endorf Knight
transferred
from the
on
patrol outside the city walls, on the distant approaches to
Living
in a distant patrol, marching in the icy tent -
not
something that in a cozy town house,
especially
in Russian cold.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of what in
these
things, and so we all know.
XXXVI
Count
Leopold von Rieneck triumphs:
it
has served its purpose,
Baron
Werner has fallen in the eyes of Olga Glebovna,
and
the count begins to take care of this beautiful Maid of Pskov.
He
gives her oriental brocades, Indian pearls,
Frankish
shawls and more.
Leopold
noble, rich, occupies a high position,
is
not married and is not bound by monastic vows,
Olga
therefore inclined to accept his advances.
Together
they walk the
Olga
is also very like it,
because
she could not walk around the city with Gavrila
because
of its eternal employment,
and
Werner - because of his religious profession:
Livonian
Order knight could not afford
appeared
on the streets together with his girlfriend.
Leopold
Graf, on the contrary,
proud
to be with him - such a beautiful lady.
He
even went a couple of times with her to Mass
in
the city of the Blessed Virgin Mary -
former
Russian Trinity Cathedral.
Count
not bother disapproving glances of
many
of which have not accepted the true faith,
despite
the threat of eviction and appeal to the slaves.
Whether
serious intentions von Rieneck,
if
he was going to marry Olga Glebovna?
Initially,
he probably did not think about this,
but
then it begins to feel something akin to love.
How
deep and strong ability to love
people
such as graph -
We
will not speculate,
because
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
love everyone experiences in their own way,
and
it is impossible to measure.
XXXVII
Meanwhile,
the war continues.
Master
Dietrich von Gruening,
knowing
that Prince Alexander Nevsky saves power
to
attack
in
February, he will leave for
charged
with protecting the city of
Heinz
von Meyershtadtu
and
relying on the courage and resilience of the defenders.
Master
of calculation is as follows:
Alexander
Siege of
and
then medal army suit from
and
unexpected blow on the Russian rear.
The
fact that the Prince will go to attack
as
well as going on the attack Koporye -
on
the move, without any siege engines, regardless of the loss -
Master
can not imagine,
because
it understands that the
than
Koporskaya,
and
defenders of
But
in March, Alexander does so,
Dietrich
von Gruening expected the least:
attacks
on the move, without any siege engines,
regardless
of losses.
First
of all, our cutting-edge swept patrols.
Baron
Werner von Endorf komanduschy
one of them,
time
to send a messenger to
so
there preparing for the defense,
he
bravely fighting the Russian cavalry warriors,
sends
to hell at least half a dozen enemies,
but
stunned by a blow on the helmet battle-ax,
It
is captured.
All
those who were with him, or die,
or
also get trapped.
The
next day begins the attack to
Russian
soldiers climb the city walls
the
ladder,
if
not paying attention to the arrows flying from the top,
nor
pouring burning resin.
"My
God, what kind of people!" -
in
shock repeats Count Leopold,
destroying
his good sword
Russian
climbing wall - one after the other.
Earl,
of course, insolent and artful,
but
his courage, as they say, does not hold.
Fortunately,
the Russian boom is not punched
his
Venetian armor, and he was not even wounded.
"We
have to hold out until the evening!" - Shouts his knights
provincial
commander Heinz von Meyershtadt.
"Hold
on!" - Meet the valiant knights,
including
Count Leopold.
Hold
on. But the next morning resumed Russian attack,
exactly
the same way - regardless of anything else, at the cost of enormous blood.
So
goes another day.
The
loss of the glorious Catholic host large:
killed
several dozens of noble knights
and
hundreds of militias.
Russian
bear much greater losses,
but
did not back down, do not start the siege,
and
preparing for a third attack.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of how little value the Russian prince Alexander
the
blood of their brave soldiers.
XXXVIII
The
night before preparing the third attack
Prince
Yaroslav again commit treason,
only
this time betray the Livonian Order:
It
runs from the
bows
his distant relative in the legs,
He
calls the "father", although the older twice,
and
swears allegiance forever.
Alexander
promises forgiveness Yaroslav
and
reign in the towns of Torzhok and Bezhetsk,
if
he manages to convince the provincial commander Heinz surrender.
Yaroslav himself sent
to the castle
a
proposal to surrender,
after
beforehand dying sacrament,
because
they do not hope to come back alive.
But
the provincial commander of
and
the main force did not have time to go orders,
forbids
his knights to kill defector
and
sent to negotiate with Prince Alexander.
Prince
meets Heinz very kindly,
He
says that he appreciates the heroism of the defenders of the city,
and
offers a honorable surrender terms:
Orders
and soldiers with arms and banners,
as
well as all the people of
will
have the right to leave the city.
Apparently,
the number of casualties among the Russian soldiers
Yet
it turned out too high,
and
Prince Alexander does not want to continue the bloodshed.
The
defenders of
and
the provincial commander receives Prince conditions.
Already
in the morning begins the outcome of good Catholics from
Prince
fulfilling its obligations:
Russian
do not touch the exhaust,
only
accompany their gloomy views.
In
the evening in
who
would like to leave, but did not go away,
and
on the same evening in the city are included Russian troops.
Many
of the hastily abandoned houses light up -
someone
is not extinguished the torch, someone has removed from the furnace coals
and
some may even be specially lit,
so
the house is not got enemies.
But
the Lord has compassion on Pskov from a large urban fire:
still
stand cold weather, no wind,
and
the fire flares up slowly and do not spread to neighboring buildings.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about how good Catholics gave way to Russian Pskov -
hopefully
not forever.
XXXIX
You
may ask, what has become
located
in Pskov with Count Leopold and Olga.
This
you will find out later,
now
fair to talk about
that
at this time does Gavrila Aleksic.
After
all, our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
the noble and courageous Russian Boyar
still
loves Olga and worried about her fate.
As
we remember, Gabriel was seriously wounded
when
taking Koporye.
When
Alexander Nevsky went to Pskov,
Boyar
has only just begun to recover,
but
he insisted to be with the army.
In
the campaign, as he sat on the horse,
its
two sides supported the soldiers.
In
a bloody two-day battle for Pskov
he
took no part,
but
he watched as it fights a thousand,
and
gave the necessary orders.
When
the medal troops went from Pskov,
he
was busy with his own affairs voivodship
and
I did not think to look carefully,
who
among the townspeople joined the Order.
Soon
it turns out, that this was indeed a fatal mistake
brave
young nobleman.
When
the Russian occupied city,
Gabriel
is immediately sent to the home of the late Commander,
but
in place of the house he sees only ashes
and
weeping old voivodship servant Klima,
who
knows since the days when he was alive Gleb Lukic.
"Where
Olga that her?" - Asks Gavrila.
"Trouble,
oh, trouble, noble lord!
She
left it with the damned Germans!
She
had to take them bogomerzkih faith
and
now she was afraid of retaliation and left! "
"One?"
"No,
I went to see her first Baron Werner von Endorf
and
then Count Leopold von Rieneck,
and
she went with sim Count. "
"What
do you mean - go? What was that? "Between them
"I
do not know, Gabriel Aleksic, I do not know.
And
together with the Baron, and with Count
She
spent a lot of time in his room,
and
even with the Count and walked around the city,
and
even visited the infamous Latin Mass. "
"Breshesh!" - Boiled Gabriel.
"Breshet dog, my lord! I'm old, and my days are numbered.
Despite
threats rejected God Latins,
I
kept their Orthodox faith with her and die,
so
why should I sully his conscience lie? "
"Wait,
wait, Klim! How do you say was the name of Baron?
"
"Werner
von Endorf".
"So
it's very German, which I saved in the mouth of the Narva!
And
now, as I've heard, he's a prisoner!
All
good-bye, old man, I have no time. "
And
Gabriel out, leaving the ashes of Klima.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about the fate of the unfortunate old servant.
XL
Werner
von Endorf is located together with other prisoners
in
a guarded camp near Pskov.
Baron
is very worried about the fate of Olga,
For
rightly he believes that the Russian will be severely punished
those
compatriots who took Catholicism,
and
if they know that the groom Olga - German
It
s certainly not big trouble.
He
ponders how to escape from under the guard and get to Pskov,
in
order to save his bride.
But
here in the camp is a Russian nobleman,
Werner
is, withdraws to the side and says,
excitement
confusing Latin, German and Russian words:
"Tell
me what you did with The Maid of Pskov, Olga!"
"Please
tell me who you are."
"I
am Gabriel Aleksic! I suppose I've heard about me?
"
"I
have heard, of course. You Holguin former fiance.
"
"Why
did the former?"
"Because
Olga is now my fiancee."
I
would like to convey details
further
conversation Gavrila and Werner,
but
we will not succeed,
For
the Knights, voicing mutual accusations and reproaches,
frequently
used expressions,
worthy
carpenters or sailors *
but
not of noble birth people,
and
such expressions are not suitable for our sublime songs.
"I saved you, a German dog, at the mouth
of the Narva,
you
were not ashamed to withdraw my bride? "-
screams
Werner Gabriel Aleksic.
Baron
is not lost:
"I
would be ashamed, Russian barbarian,
if
because of your treacherous act with the royal letter
I
have not been disgraced and deprived komturstva!
"
"No
you, Latins, I did not call to attack our land!
And
if gathered treacherous attack,
so
be prepared to
that
someone can be smarter and more agile you are,
and
intercept your message! "- strongly objects to Russian.
At
some point, even it may seem,
that
Gabriel drew his sword and kill Werner
but
my lord is still too noble,
to
kill an unarmed,
and
causing the Baron to a duel.
Werner
receives a call,
But
the generosity did not allow him to immediately fight
with
his rival, still very weak after being wounded,
and
it offers first find Olga,
He
disappeared as he had time to tell Gabriel,
together
with Count Leopold von Rieneck,
and
then they will find the perfect Maid of Pskov,
I
have to go into battle with each other.
Gabriel
understands that without Werner Olga
the
Latins it is hard to find,
therefore
agrees with the Baron.
But
the Knights had to postpone the search,
because
the war Livonian Order
by
Prince Alexander Nevsky continues
and
the Russian army, barely rested in Pskov,
It
appears in the campaign.
Gabriel
is sent with his thousands,
Werner
also together with other prisoners transported to Novgorod.
Our
song - about the beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
but
still we have to tell in detail
the
last campaign and the last battle of this war,
So
much in the fate of the heroes of our songs.
*
In the original - "sailors of lower rank", but for simplicity we will
refer to them sailors.
XLI
The
Battle of Lake Peipus ice * or ice battle
which
took place in early April
1242
from Christmas,
and
that the Russian name "Battle on the Ice"
we
are well known.
About
her run a variety of rumors -
for
example, that each of our soldier had
a
huge number of Russian - not less than sixty
that
killed twenty of our knights,
and
they have fallen not from enemy weapons,
and
failed under the thawing spring ice.
Perhaps,
if it were so,
and
then talk about this battle would be nothing,
and
the memory of it would have been not so long.
I
think we should tell her the truth,
no
matter how bitter it may be.
The
army of the Livonian Order
numbered
about twelve thousand people.
Russian
was fifteen thousand - seventeen
and
could be even more if not for the terrible loss
incurred
by the capture of Pskov.
In
that year the spring was unusually cold even for Russia,
and
ice at Lake Peipus was still strong,
no
one under it is not falling down.
Falls
through the ice our knights in another battle with the Russian,
which
occurred much earlier -
in
1234 from the Nativity, at Embach River.
On
this battle we have already mentioned:
it
took place before the arrival to Russia of Batu Khan.
Jaroslav Vsevolod, who was then still
It
was not the Grand Duke and the rules in Novgorod,
attacked
the Order of the Sword near Dorpat,
troops
met at the River Embach ice
and
the Lord turned away from us:
ice
could not resist our knights,
It
had a much more heavy weapons than the Russian.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of the almost forgotten the Battle of the Embach,
after
which Russian then moved
a
considerable part of the bishopric of Dorpat,
so
back to the infamous Battle of the Ice.
*
Lake Chud.
XLII
Shortly
before the Battle of the Ice vanguard of Alexander,
sent
to ravage and plunder the land allied to us Estonians,
He
met with the Order's troops and was defeated.
But
Nevsky, still indifferent to the loss,
I
prefer not to go to his aid,
a
retreat for the decisive battle on the ice of Lake Peipus,
Russian
name is Lake Peipsi.
I
wanted a decisive battle
and
Vice-Master of the Livonian Order Andreas von Felfe,
Instead
of remaining in Riga Dietrich von Gruening,
and
also led his army into the lake space.
Now,
I am thinking about this battle,
usually
respond very disrespectful
the
late Andreas von Felfene -
that
he had not owned a martial art,
because
I got into the same trap,
which
still gave Hannibal the Romans at Cannae:
Andreas
Knights built their "boar's head" -
wedge
formation, unifying peshtsev and cavalry,
He
pressed the enemy army in the center,
and
Russian hit right and left,
and
good Catholics to avoid the full environment
could
only begin to retreat,
transformed
into a rout.
But
in fact, Andreas von Felfe well remembered,
What
happened at Cannes,
and
his idea was far more subtle:
well,
he thought, knowing his opponent
Alexander
Nevsky and his manner of attack recklessly,
Andreas
hoped that the prince will arrive and at this time,
and
was about to strike forward,
to
cut in half the attacking army and destroy piecemeal.
Nevsky is deceived expectations
Vice-Master:
slightly
moved his army forward,
lured
order to counter punch,
but
immediately she stopped and took up defensive positions,
thrusting
archers regiment.
The
prince left behind their regiments,
standing
on a high cliff above the low and the deserted shore of the lake,
in
order to see everything that happens in the battle,
and
time to file his troops the necessary signals.
Vice-Master
also stood behind their regiments,
but
not on the dais, and lake ice,
and
from his seat I could not see the battlefield,
did
not realize that the Russian
They
were not going to attack and defend,
and
he did not have time to stop and rebuild the Order army
Apparently,
Andreas And this led error
to
the memorable "Gangnam on Lake Peipus"
sent
by the Lord only as a punishment
for
our grievous sins.
And
now the Russian chase on the ice good Catholics,
chopping
them up and taking prisoners.
Killed
not twenty or thirty noble knights,
and
several hundred.
Dorpat and Riga militia - even more,
about a thousand.
Hundreds
of our soldiers taken prisoner.
Vice-Master
Andreas with most of the troops
with
God's help, I was able to escape,
escaped
and zegevoldsky provincial commander Johann von merengue,
but
among the prisoners were
and
former Pskov provincial commander Heinz von Meyershtadt,
and
the old Count Adolf von Rozenkampf,
and
one of the heroes of our songs - Count Leopold von Rieneck.
As
Leopold was on the ice of Lake Peipus, we learn later,
in
the meantime, we note only that his Russian captivity
it
is very important to our story,
why
are we so told in detail about the Battle of the Ice,
despite
the fact that our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights.
XLIII
"Triumph!
Glory to the winner! Triumph!"
These
cries of huge crowds do not sound in ancient Rome,
and
in Novgorod, where Alexander Nevsky returns
with
his army.
We
are not just remembered Ancient Rome:
Prince
decided to spend his triumph after the Battle of the Ice
namely
Latin.
So
he enters the city on a richly decorated white horse,
him
riding his boyars, including Gavrilo Aleksic,
bravely
fought on the ice of Lake Peipus
ahead
of their thousands, in the heart of the Russian troops,
on
the edge of the impact of the Livonian Knights,
and
thus the grace of God remained unharmed.
For
moving the boyars princely retinue,
and
then led a huge crowd of prisoners
led
by the most noble
and
senior knights,
among
them Count Leopold.
Baron
Werner in this crowd there:
those
who were captured before the Battle of Lake Peipus,
It
has long been in Novgorod,
and
they did not withdraw from the city,
so
then enter the following triumphant.
And
without them in the procession of prisoners abound.
We
can assume that Werner was lucky:
he
Baron and former provincial commander could get
among
the most notable prisoners,
unwillingly
involved in the triumphal procession,
and
his fate would be the same had been so terrible.
Talking
about the terrible fate, we mean
do
not need to go through the main street of Novgorod
under
the shouts and jeers of the crowd,
but
that Nevsky decided following the example of the
ancient Romans
the
most notable of prisoners put to death,
and
the execution was scheduled for the next day after the triumph.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not on what the customs of pagan Rome
our
sinful Christian times,
and
which are pleasing to God.
XLIV
Notable
prisoners still do not know what in store for them.
They
were placed in an area of Mound -
princely
castle near Novgorod.
The
rest of the prisoners, including Werner,
They
are in the same area, just a little distance away.
Everywhere
lit bonfires, the prisoners are heated,
For
frost although it ended, but still cold.
And
in the evening after the triumph of Werner von Endorf
Count
Leopold afar sees and runs to him.
Sentinel
does not come close to Baron, but he shouts:
"Count,
where Olga? What with her?"
Leopold
did not deign to answer him, and proudly looks away.
"Well,
you do not want to talk to me,
so
maybe a boyar Gavrila talk "-
Werner
decides and asks the chief guard
Gavrila Alexits track on an important and urgent matter.
The
chief refuses, saying that he had no time.
Werner
takes away the sin of the petty lies and says,
that
this thing - a great national importance.
Then
the head of the promises that the morning will look nobleman.
On
the morning of the most illustrious captives somewhere gone,
and
later in the morning in the courtyard appears Gavrila
Aleksic:
"Well,
what happened, a Latin?
You
should have reminded me of a smaller
bogomerzkih of its
existence "
"Boyar,
these words to anything.
Our
fight will take place during that whatever the cost,
so
come to behave honorably in front of him.
I
called you because I saw Count Leopold von Rieneck.
"
"Where?"
-
"Here,
in the Settlement, including the most illustrious prisoners,
and
now all of them taken away, where - I do not know. "
"On
the execution of their taken away! Quickly there! Maybe even have time!
Warden,
I take this for a German state business!
Give
him a horse! "
The
guards do not dare to argue tysyatskogo,
and
now Gabriel and Werner furiously jumping on the Novgorod bargaining,
where
a crowd of thousands gathered,
present
the prince with all his retinue,
and
prepared a terrible punishment for the shells.
It
is in ancient Rome, notable prisoners
just
cut the head,
in
Novgorod have decided to do is barbaric -
arrange
miserable captives Catholics penalty is not easy,
a
fierce and painful.
Death
waited seven noble knight,
and
for each of them it was prepared by a special kind of penalty:
quartering,
impalement,
burning
at the stake, breaking bones on the wheel,
cooking
in boiling water, hanging upside down,
tearing
horses.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
we will not talk about the Russian barbarism,
the
more that the painful punishment often occur
and
in our imperial city.
XLV
Related
victims have already supplied to the high platform,
which
are terrible penalty guns,
and
then pushed through the crowd and Werner Gabriel.
"Here
he is!" - Shouts Baron von Endorf Boyar,
pointing
to Count Leopold.
"Where
Olga Glebovna, German dog?" -
hear
a powerful voice Gavrila.
Graf,
despite the desperation of their situation,
quickly
realize what was happening, and shouts back:
"I'll
tell you where Olga, if you save from penalty!"
Gabriel
turns to Alexander of Kostroma:
"God-loving
prince, I ask mercy of this German".
The
crowd transfixed, listening to an angry response Nevsky:
"Boyar
Gavrila Aleksic, I remind
you that there is a war,
and
generosity to his enemies be early, and the bad. "
But
Gabriel never retreated before any enemies,
nor
to anger the prince:
"And
yet, Prince, I insist.
You
recently said that there is no reward,
that
would be worthy of my labors.
So
here it is, the reward is this: Give this man to me. "
"Gabriel,
I have in the army of many brave soldiers,
and
many of them do not deserve less reward than you,
I
just always delighted to see you.
but
after such a strange request to spare a Latin
my
grace will stop! "
"I
am ready to accept the loss of your favor, Prince."
"Suppose
he takes his German" -
Alexander
said to the guards, and turns away from the nobleman.
Count
untie and push to Gavrila Aleksic,
remaining
six doomed to death
continue
their sorrowful way to the scaffold,
even
dying without receiving absolution.
Besides
Leopold von Rieneck,
happily
I managed to escape the monstrous death-agony
Only
the old Count Adolf von Rozenkampfu,
whose
heart just broke when hanging upside down,
and
another knight,
whose
name, unfortunately, it remains unknown:
He
fainted in horror for a moment before,
his
limbs began to stretch
four
powerful horses,
and
no longer feel anything.
All
other full drank the cup of suffering.
We
could tell you,
how
many hours of suffering on the stake Heinz von Meyershtadt,
they
could not restrain cries of pain
other
noble knights:
who
- varyas in boiling water, one - grief over low heat,
who
- looking at his severed hands and feet.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
we omit the details of the monstrous,
which
can hurt humanity any good Christian *.
*
The fact that the Russian prisoners tortured six knights, with reference to the
German chronicler wrote SM Solovyov in "History
of Russia since ancient times."
XLVI
"Are
you happy, a Latin? I saved you from death with a price!
Now
tell me, where Olga! "- Refers to the Count Gabriel.
"Right
here talking?
Do
not you see that I'm barefoot and dressed only in a shirt?
I'm
cold! "- Is responsible Leopold, shivering,
and
perhaps suffering from terror.
"Okay,
come to me!" - Says the lord
both
knights and leads to his house.
The
servants bring food and wine, clothing for the graph,
and
these three noble and brave knight
They
sit and talk,
if
you can call a conversation the conversation,
full
of hatred and vicious accusations.
"Yes,
I took Olga from Pskov!
As
she took the true faith,
it
would be very hard when Russian sovereignty ", -
Earl
begins his story.
"You're
lying, German dog! - Gabriel interrupts. -
And
your faith is not true,
and
Olga took her not a good life!
Then
he would repent and return to Orthodoxy! "
"If
I am a German dog, you - Russian dog.
And
about why Olga took our faith -
it
is a question to Baron Werner, not me.
I
was not even familiar with this then the beautiful Maid of Pskov ".
"This
is a thing of the past, we have already talked about it with Gavrila,
and
we will fight for Olga to fight,
when
we find it - rumors Werner. -
Then
dare to what her faith abide. "
"Yes,
we have agreed with Baron,
so
tell me where Olga,
Then
promise me to forget about it
and
when the war is over, go on all four sides, "-
Earl
says Gabriel.
"Wait
a minute, Russian! Do you think
I'm
so easy to give in excellent Maid of Pskov
you
or Baron?
I
love her and I'm going to marry her!
And
she loves me, I'm sure! "
"Why
are you so sure?" -
chorus
and ask Gabriel Werner.
"Because
she chose me to Baron Werner,
and
before the preferred Werner Gavrila.
So,
all the laws of logic,
that
she chose me! "
"The
logic of a woman's heart and incompatible,
but
I'm ready to be with you, Count, to fight for Olga,
before
or after the fight with Russian Boyar -
I
do not care!" -
yells
the Baron Werner, forgetting about humility,
befitting
a member of the monastic order of knights.
"And
I do not care, and I will kill you, Baron,
and
this self-satisfied impudent Leopold! "-
He
echoed Gabriel.
"Yes,
I'll kill you both! Who are you against me
and
my martial arts?
Give
me a sword, do take swords, and get started!
Who's
first? "- Jumps up from his seat count.
But
Werner Gabriel, and it was stopped:
"We
first need to find Olga,
and
then we will fight each other to death!
Where
Olga, Earl? Only you know it! "
"I'll
tell you, but first let us give the word of knighthood,
that
will not cause any harm to each other,
until
we find Olga.
And
then let it be, as the LORD judge
and
solve our faithful swords. "
"You
have my word," - says the Baron Werner.
"You
have my word," - says the lord Gabriel.
"And
I give you my word," - says the Count Leopold.
Our
Lord Jesus Christ commanded us not to swear,
but,
as we can see, this is my covenant noble knights bypassed,
not
giving the oath, and the word.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than on the interpretation of the covenants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
XLVII
"And
if anyone of us will go himself to seek Olga -
?
secret from the other two "-
Gabriel
asked, looking at the graph:
Of
course, he is referring to him.
"Yes,
these things is considered a violation of this word,
and
let the offender is responsible for it before the Lord,
and
in front of people.
Lord
neispovedim court,
and
upon the earth, those of us who will be deceived,
so
find a way to punish the offender, "-
said
Werner, too, looking at the graph.
"Yes,
of course" - he hissed through his teeth Leopold
and
grimly continued his story:
"So,
I offered to go to Olga from Pskov together
and
she agreed.
Time
to pack there was very little,
because
it was necessary to leave the city until the evening:
then
it had to enter Russian barbarians. "
"Be
careful in expressions, German heathen" -
She
warns him Gabriel.
"Let
us behave nobly, chivalrous,
and
not to offend each other: we're given the word, "-
Werner
says.
"Well,
not barbarians, but just Russian.
I
got a horse for my ladies,
and
we together with our troops went in Izborsk.
They
settled at the inn.
Soon
Izborsk approached the main forces of the Livonian
Order,
with
them was my boss at the Imperial Embassy
Duke
Heinrich von Bamberg
and
he ordered me to go to the Order's army
in
the long march to the lake Peipus instead,
because
he cruelly cold. "
"Well,
you have flimsy, Latins, bosses - inserts Gavrila -
our
princes, "or whether the case.
"Not
surprising. Barbara has always been famous
!
power and health "-
Count
grins and continues his story,
ignoring
the indignant glances Gavrila
and
disapproving glances Werner. -
"Whatever
it was, I had to go in the campaign,
Olga
left at the inn.
Before
the battle on Lake Peipus
Vice-Master
Andreas offered me to stay
behind
the troops in his entourage,
but
I found it unworthy of a valiant warrior
and
fought in the front ranks,
and
when the flight began,
my
horse slipped on ice and fell and crushed my leg.
So
I was taken prisoner. You know the rest. "
Of
course, my lord and baron like to ask the Count,
Is
Olga retained girlish honor
but
both as agreed, do not,
because
they understand that the graph does not miss a chance
hurt
them in any way say,
that
honor lovely Maid of Pskov lost, and it was with him.
So
why suffer unnecessarily?
Instead,
Gabriel asks:
"Do
you know, Count, why burned the house of Olga?" -
"I
know of course. He set fire to my squire
on
my orders.
When
we Pskovityanka already hit the road,
I
quietly told his faithful servant Ilmar
go
back and do it.
Then
Ilmar reported to me in the presence of Olga,
that
house somehow caught fire,
and
he allegedly tried to put out, but could not.
Olga,
of course, wept bitterly. "
"What
you're low man and a criminal!
Why
did you do it? "- Asks Earl Baron Werner.
"So
that Olga had nowhere to return to,
and
she rather agreed to become my wife.
Then
it will be the home of my family castle "-
Count
answers.
Werner
Gabriel and look at each other:
them,
despite their mutual hatred and a different faith,
so
I want to deal with the insidious Leopold!
But
the word is the word, they can not break it.
After
all, our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
a
noble and brave knights
it
should keep his word.
XLVIII
So,
Werner Gabriel and Leopold are in Novgorod,
and
Olga - in Izborsk, occupied by the troops of the
Livonian Order.
So
before making peace our heroes
can
not meet with the beautiful Maid of Pskov.
Gabriel
behaves truly chivalrous:
It
makes for Werner and Leopold pledged through foreclosure,
who
should receive for them the princely treasury
both
for prisoners
and
leaves them to live in his house,
he
himself goes to led them to a thousand:
whatever
his relationship with Prince Alexander,
Acting
tysyatskogo a nobleman has not been removed.
House
Gavrila Alexits large,
Werner
Baron and Count Leopold live in different rooms
and
with each other is not talking.
Only
almost a month Gavrila
He
invites them to talk in the common room
and
he says that the Livonian Order sent ambassadors
with
a request to end the war,
and
peace is concluded.
Order
is forced to return to Novgorod
all
the conquered land.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than the details of the conditions of peace,
put
an end to a long and bloody war
for
the true Catholic faith against the Byzantine.
XLIX
After
the conclusion of peace, our heroes are forced to
more
months to stay in Novgorod for two,
while
princely officials are not discharged security certificates
for
Werner and Leopold:
because
of the abundance of prisoners is done for a long time.
Gabriel
urges officials
but
they are not eager to serve tysyatskogo,
who
fell out of favor with the prince.
It
was only in mid-summer, the German knights, finally free.
Gabriel
announces to Prince Alexander,
the
wound, resulting in the capture of Koporye allegedly
opened
and
he needs to leave Novgorod for the correction of health.
Prince
gives permission.
And
here are three brave and noble knight
sent
in Izborsk,
under
the terms of the world returned Russia
and
already occupied by Russian troops.
The
money sent from the Livonian Order,
Werner
and Leopold returned Gavrila
paid
for their bail,
hired
servants, and good horses.
Gabriel
also takes with him on a journey of two servants.
In
short, anything, our heroes need not suffer.
They're
coming, hardly talking to each other:
what
to talk about?
Everyone
knows that he will fight to the death,
everyone
understands that the opponents are experienced and skilled,
and
everyone wants to reward -
hand
and heart of the beautiful Maid of Pskov.
Should
the summer heat,
Russian
road completely impassable in spring and autumn,
dried
out, and the way to Izborsk is easy.
Gabriel
on the road all the time humming something in Russian.
"What
is this song?" - Asks the Baron Werner.
"Oh
my beautiful country."
"And
what it meant?" - Wondered Count Leopold.
Boyar
takes:
"Oh,
the light is bright and beautifully decorated Russian land!
Many
beauty glorified you
lakes
much fame, rivers and springs revered,
mountains,
steep hills, high oak forests,
clean
fields, marvelous beasts,
a
variety of birds, countless great city,
nice
villages, monastery gardens,
temples
of God, and the princes of the terrible,
boyars
honest, many princes.
All
of you is committed, the Russian land,
on
the Orthodox Christian faith! "*
"What
nonsense! - Says Leopold.
All
this and we minnesingers about our land
more
beautiful singing! "
Gavrila offended
silent,
and
the rest of the way, our heroes go in silence.
but
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not in what disgusting spirits
and
a mutual hatred
travel
passes.
*
In the original manuscript recognized the famous "Tale of the Ruin of the
Russian Land" is translated into German, so we here do not translate word
for word, and give the corresponding Russian text.
L
In
Izborsk our heroes waiting for bad news:
at
the inn, where Count Leopold left Olga,
it
does not exist.
The
owner of the inn tells them:
"When
peace was concluded
and
the city learned that the Russian will soon come,
most
residents exulted,
but
many who took the Latin faith,
feared
retribution for apostasy
and
went after the Order's outgoing army.
Gone
from Izborsk and your Maid of Pskov ".
"Gone?
I do not leave? I left her a horse! "-
Count
Leopold surprised.
"By
order of the Master, this minion of Satan,
All
the horses were taken for the needs of the passing troops,
Olga
and took the horse.
I
also chose two horses,
Yes
Livonian heathen be damned forever. "
"The
army of the Order moved to Riga,
hence,
Olga, likely somewhere in there, "-
Baron
says Werner, ignoring
to
curse innkeeper.
Our
heroes frowning at each other
and
nod: "We're going to Riga? - Yes, in Riga. "
And
they go into this glorious city.
Passing
military posts on the border of Russia and the Order
in
peace is simple,
and
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than what is presented letters of these knights at the border.
LI
On
the way to Riga Count Leopold uluchaet Minute
and
whispers Baron Werner:
"Let's
get rid of the slowly nobleman Gavrila:
the
Russian us with you only a hindrance.
Excess
rival us to anything,
and
for good Catholics to kill infidels -
venial
sin, and can, and do not sin.
One
stab and ready. "
"But
how can you offer it to me!
Firstly,
my lord Gabriel - not heathen!
It
belongs to the Byzantine faith
which,
like ours, we have apostolic succession!
Secondly,
he also saved you in Novgorod from the painful death!
Third,
do not mean anything to you
given
all of us the word "? -
so
it meets Werner.
"Yes,
I'm just kidding," - muttered the count,
It
pretends that nothing happened,
and
they go on.
And
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not the road of Izborsk in Riga
the
more that the path has not been anything else
worthy
of our attention.
LII
On
arrival in Riga Count Leopold
immediately
sent to the Bishop's Castle
and
thanks to its high position
a
member of the Imperial Embassy
It
is arranged in one of the rooms for the guests of honor.
Werner
Gabriel and lodge at an inn near the castle.
Fair
to say that the graph was prepared to intercede,
to
Werner and Gabriel also housed in the castle,
but
Leopold refused proudly satellites,
so
as not to feel obligated to the hated rival.
Soon
Baron von Endorf found
with
their brothers in the Order
and
gets the message, in a sense, a sad, in some not:
Bavaria
gave up the ghost
Uncle
Werner, aged Baron Heinrich von Fussing
and
leave a legacy to our hero
all
his immense fortune
Fussing
and a large castle near Passau.
His
children have not had the noble old man,
and
of all the sons of his sister, Baroness Ilsa von Endorf
he
most loved young - Werner
and
he always paid to him in return.
So
suddenly the Baron Werner
of
the poor knight became rich
and
received the right to call, in addition to background Endorf,
Fussing
background.
Werner
von Endorf background Fussing
which
for brevity
Yet
we call the old way - background Endorf
orders
at the Dome Cathedral funeral prayer for his uncle,
but,
to be honest, the thought of Baron occupied by others:
immediately
upon arrival to Riga
three
noble and brave knight
begin
searching for a great Maid of Pskov.
In
search of taking part and their servants,
Riga
and many friends Werner and Leopold.
More
than once our heroes have raced at one time or another inn,
where
someone saw a woman named Olga,
or
women like appearance,
although,
of course, it is not so amazingly beautiful.
And
every time it turned out that it is not the same.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than the details of the search of Olga in Riga.
LIII
A
few weeks later our heroes finally smiles luck:
Ilmar, servant of Count Leopold,
He
speaks with an old widow-merchant's wife Agafia,
previously
lived in Pskov,
but
immediately after the capture of the city by our valiant knights
accept
the truth of the Catholic faith and moved to Riga.
Agatha
says Ilmar,
knew
that the late governor Gleb
He
knows and his daughter,
and
not so long ago, a month ago, I met her
at
the Riga trading:
Olga
Glebovna bought just a cheap bread
She
was dressed very shabbily, and generally looked like himself.
She
told Agafya that recently came to Riga
after
the Order's retreating army
and
lives at the inn "The Peter".
The
money she is almost there, because on the way it is if robbed,
whether
they robbed.
The
old merchant's wife even suggested
Olga
herself lost money
and
shy to admit it.
According
to the widow said she wanted to take part in the fate of Olga
and
even invited her to come somehow,
in
order to think together about what to do next.
But
Olga did not come.
Clever
and supervisory Ilmar seemed
Agatha
that Olga really did not invite:
widow
and so hard life was in Riga,
and,
as they say, to hang around your neck
daughter
of the late magistrates she was nowhere.
But
most importantly - accurately remembered the widow,
Olga
lived at the inn "The Peter".
There
and in a hurry, our heroes, after hearing the story Ilmar.
And
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
not
whether to actually was prepared
Pskov
old merchant's wife to help his compatriot.
LIV
At
the inn "The Peter"
Located
in Riga harbor
and
so poor that it soon m ozhno called a flophouse,
Groin
servant Gavrila, a week earlier already asked
The
Fair Maid of Pskov, Olga,
and
a host of Biburga Peter said that this did not know.
Perhaps
these things discrepancy in the host words and widow Agafya
It
could alert our heroes,
but
they do not attach any importance to this:
maybe
Pahom something not explained Peter
or
misunderstood the answer,
For
this very bad servant says in Latin,
and
German and he does not own.
And
here are three brave and noble knight
They
come to the inn on the harbor,
It
says they should live here Olga,
marvelous
beauty woman from Pskov,
and
describe her appearance.
"I
do not know this", - says the owner.
"Well,
of course you do not know! She told a merchant's wife,
that
lives here "- insist noble knights.
"Yes
Yes! - Recalls, finally, Peter. - Lived here I am,
But
recently, about a week ago, I had gone. "
"Where?"
Peter
is thinking long, then he said:
"In
Palestine".
"She
did not have the money, how could she leave?"
"She
hired Hospitaller Order to care for the sick,
and
this award just sent a ship to the Holy Land
with
godly mission support there the hospital,
and
it is sailed on it. "
"I
Could not find a hospital close?" -
surprise
says Baron Werner.
"Probably
not found. She waited for some knights,
but
it does not seem to wait. I do not have it? "
"What's
your deal, commoner?" - Angry Count Leopold.
"You
do not confuse anything, Peter?" - Asks Gabriel,
but
the owner stands firmly on its:
"If
in doubt, ask in the Order of the Hospitallers,
it
will tell you exactly when the ship sailed. "
Our
heroes tsedyat through his teeth thanks
and
sent to the big house,
occupied
Riga Hospitaller brotherhood.
We
could tell a lot about the glorious activities
Military
Order of
better
known as the Order of the Hospitallers, or Knights of
but
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of pleasing to the Lord and the Holy Virgin Mary
Order
of Hospitallers.
In
noble
knights soon find out,
A
week ago, the ship sailed to
under
the command of Baron Joachim von Fersen
with
those who wished to make a pilgrimage to
and
care for the sick, orphans, homeless,
the
elderly and the wounded
in
there the charitable institutions of the Order.
He
was among Send Pskovityanka Olga,
could
not be found:
Many
pilgrims boarded the ship on the last day,
even
without going to the residence of the brotherhood of the Hospital,
and
contract directly with Baron von Ferzenom.
It
is regrettable that in our time
Many
may be surprised that in 1242 the birth of Christ
Hospitallers served in
they
say, is the
even
half a century before the events described by us?
Was
not he captured infidel Sultan Saladin
even
in 1187?
This
forgetfulness is regrettable.
Recall
that memorable effort
Friedrich
von Hohenstaufen,
Holy
Roman Emperor
and
King of Germany and Sicily,
in
the twenty-ninth year he was returned to Jerusalem
holy
crusade host,
and
almost without bloodshed, through the use of
contradictions
between the infidels Mohammedan rulers.
The
Emperor Frederick on arrival in Palestine
there
were only three thousand soldiers,
but
he happily escaped the great battles,
He
was crowned King of Jerusalem
in
the Temple of the Holy Sepulchre.
Almost
all Mohammedans voluntarily left the city,
and
Jerusalem once again became a Christian,
except
in a few places,
that
the followers of Mohammed blasphemous
presumptuous
and unfair to their revered shrines.
However,
far from Palestine Catholic countries
Then,
it seems, not even quite believe
in
return, the Holy City
and
almost did not support the tremendous efforts of Frederick.
Yes,
and the Emperor, to be honest,
soon
he sent all the forces
on
the barren and ungodly fight
His
Holiness the Pope and Ligoyu Lombardy in Italy.
The
fight was so acute that the primate of the Holy See
in
the thirty-ninth year of his Majesty excommunicated from the church,
and
seven years later Ecumenical Council
He
declared deposed Emperor Frederick.
We
should not forget that at the same time, in the early forties,
the
borders of the Holy Roman Empire
threatened
godless Tatars -
the
ones who conquered Russia.
In
short, his Majesty was not to Jerusalem.
But
Catholics was lost soon the Holy City,
will
be discussed in due time,
because
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not the thorny history of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
LVI
Upon
learning that the ship of the Hospitallers,
which
should be a great Maid of Pskov,
a
week ago left for the Holy Land,
three
noble and brave knight looking at each other
and
nod: "We go to Jerusalem? - Yes, in Jerusalem. "
"Maybe
we can catch this Joachim von Fersen
still
on the way, "- said Gabriel Aleksic.
"Yes,
but we must hurry and sail tomorrow" -
adds
Werner von Endorf.
"I
agree, let us now conclude our business in Riga
and
in the meantime let us hire a servant of the ship ", -
concludes
Count Leopold von Rieneck.
Maybe
the decision of our heroes
It
was too hasty,
maybe
it would be worth to verify the words
innkeeper,
try
to find someone who could know exactly
who
exactly went to Palestine with the knight Joachim,
rather
than rush headlong into distant lands.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble, brave
and,
most importantly, the young knights,
instead
of three years of seasoned elders
and
three master detective cases.
LVII
So,
the next day scheduled departure.
In
the evening lord Gabriel writes
and
sends a letter to the Russian merchants carriageways
his
Prince Alexander Nevsky.
In
the family letter he declares that he considers it his duty
make
a pilgrimage to Palestine,
in
order to thank the Lord for healing
from
heavy wound received under Koporie,
and
therefore resign from the duties tysyatskogo.
That
evening Count Leopold sent
to
his superior, the imperial ambassador
Duke
Heinrich von Bamberg,
and
he announced that he was going to Palestine,
in
order to worship the Holy Sepulchre
and
thank the Lord for salvation
from
a painful punishment in Novgorod.
Duke
encourages these things will,
but
asks the graph on the way stop in Speyer *
where
at this time it is the Emperor Frederick,
in
order to convey the message of His Majesty
and
to report on the work of the Embassy.
Count
promises to do so and says goodbye to the Duke.
That
night the Baron Werner sent
to
the Master of the Livonian Order Dietrich von grüningen.
Masters
generally should not immediately take the Baron,
since
according to the order's discipline
must
apply to the supervisor before -
Zegevoldskomu komtur Johann von Merengenu,
but
there is a special case:
Master
would not mind
get
at the disposal of his order
such
a huge state,
Werner
left some of his late uncle.
Therefore
Dietrich welcomes knight von Endorf,
She
invites him to forget past grievances
The
commanders and become one of the new locks on the ground Estonians.
But
Werner is firm in its decision:
"Master,
you promised,
that
let me leave the order at the end of the war,
and
now, when the war is over,
I
want to return to secular life,
And
in order to atone for the sin of adding to oneself
monastic
vows,
I
have to go to the Holy Land. "
On
this background grüningen nothing to argue,
and
he let von Endorf with the world.
And
here are three brave and noble knight free.
As
befits a caring sons
they
write letters to parents
that
they will be pleasing to God pilgrimage
in
the Holy Land.
The
next day, our heroes sail from Riga to Lübeck.
The
way overland from Livonia in the Holy Roman Empire,
unfortunately
not possible,
since
blocked a hostile pagan Lithuania
and
Catholic, but not very friendly Poland.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about how difficult are the relations
Livonian
Order with neighboring countries.
*
Also Speyer.
LVIII
The
ship once again Gabriel sings his favorite song
about
light and beautifully decorated Russian land,
many
renowned beauties.
This
time Werner and Leopold
listen
more carefully.
Baron,
a little mastered the Russian language during captivity,
He
draws attention to the words at the end of the song:
"And
in those days - the trouble Christians"
and
asks: "What is it about"
"On
the Tatar conquest" - meets Gabriel.
"You
are Russian, are to blame for that,
that
you have won the Tatars - enters conversation count. -
For
a long time to accept the truth of faith
and
opposed the pagan at the same time with us,
good
Catholics!
Our
forces would be incalculable,
and
we have been together invincible!
Now,
bear with, Russian, Tatar yoke,
crawl
before vile pagans on their knees! "
"Nobody
knows what is best -
to
crawl on his knees in front of Khan or before the Roman Pope -
Boyar
objects. -
As
you Latins behaved forty years ago
the
capture of Constantinople, that is, Constantinople?
How
to behave in the conquered Russian cities, in the same Pskov?
Tatars
even the Orthodox faith is not touched,
and
you are right all our churches in Latin develops,
and
people are forced to pay Latinism.
That's
my fiancée Olga paid.
Now
it is necessary to look for, and all your fault.
That
hey, you win and the Tatars,
and
you are sad songs sing a different tune. "
"I
do not win - proudly says Count Leopold,
which
I have learned from the Duke Heinrich von Bamberg
all
the latest news. -
Capturing
Russia, Khan went further,
devastated
many cities in Poland, Moravia, Hungary and Croatia,
He
reached the borders of the Holy Roman Empire,
but
then the power of God's grace nasty dried up,
fiends
turned back
and
we had to be content
full
subordination of Russia. "
Werner,
in spite of the hatred of Count Leopold,
I
agree, as a Catholic with a Catholic:
"Yes,
the Lord judged indeed true:
no
country professing the true faith,
not
captured and does not become a vassal of the godless Batu.
And
I think that is God's punishment
it
was sent to Russian
for
distorting the Christian faith,
just
as it was once sent punishment Byzantines
a
valiant crusading armies,
who
took Constantinople. "
Gabriel
hissed through clenched teeth, not defrocked monk
judge
the inscrutable ways of the Lord,
and
he goes to his cabin.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of reasoning now Knights
about
deserved God's punishment
for
apostates from the true Christian faith.
LIX
God's
ways are, of course, the mysterious,
but
then I thought of itself suggests,
that
the Lord himself is opposed to that,
to
our heroes caught pilgrims Hospitallers
led
by the knight Joachim von Ferzenom.
In
August, the East Sea is already the weather is unstable,
and
suddenly sharply colder,
It
rises a strong north wind.
Taught
by bitter experience, Baron von Werner
and
he had no objection to the ship's captain
take
shelter in the nearest harbor - the Polish city of Gdansk,
and
convinces a need Gavrila and Leopold.
Count
first calls Baron coward
in
response Werner says,
that
match them in any case have to fight,
and
the main reason for the future of the fight -
beautiful
Maid of Pskov -
It
added one more - an insult.
Gabriel
stands on the side of Werner,
says
that Baron extensive experience in maritime navigation,
that
he saved it in the mouth of the Narva River after the
storm,
and
ready to believe apprehension and captain, and Werner.
It
is foolish to sink all at once, not finding Olga.
Count
reluctantly concedes.
In
Gdansk, travelers have to spend
a
few days,
until
the weather improves.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not on whether we should consider
such
a delay in the path of God fisheries,
or
only reasonable care on the part of the knights now.
LX
However,
the delay in Gdańsk is not the last.
Arriving
in Lübeck, our heroes sit on the horses
and
the magnificent imperial roads
go
to Speyer.
It's
a bit away from the direct route to Italy,
where
they will sail to Palestine,
but
Count Leopold said to his companions,
that
first he must perform a task
Duke
Heinrich von Bamberg
and
receive an audience in Speyer
his
Imperial Majesty,
and
it may take several days or even a week.
"How
is it per week? We were not exactly catch up with the Hospital! "-
resent
Gabriel and Werner.
"We're
unlikely to catch up with them after
How
to lose so much time in Gdansk
because
of the cowardice of Baron von Endorf.
Another
delay it does not matter,
and
I do not want to ruin his career at the court of His Majesty:
such
a beautiful lady, as Olga,
to
be the wife of a prominent imperial lord
instead
fallen into disfavor, and nobody wants a loser
tysyatskogo like the
former or the former provincial commander. "
Werner
Gabriel and gnash their teeth with rage,
especially
Gabriel,
once
rescued ungrateful graph from a painful punishment
at
the cost of his position at the princely court,
but
do nothing they can do, because chivalry associated word.
And
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not on how far from the first time,
Count
the words of Leopold severely wounded soul
Baron
Werner and nobleman Gavrila.
LXI
In
Speyer, our heroes spend a week or even more.
Werner
and Gavrilo again reject the proposal of Count
to
stay in the house for the guests of honor
and
live at the inn.
Count
settles at the imperial palace, solves the case,
and
finally comes to his rivals
in
good spirits:
"You
can go on!
I
received an order of His Majesty Friedrich
to
go to the Holy Land
not
only to thank the Lord for his miraculous escape
from
the monstrous atrocities of Russian barbarians,
but
also to get acquainted with the local situation
and
return it to report to the emperor!
His
Majesty himself said,
that
the hot climate of Palestine will be useful to me
after
severe frosts of Russia,
and
with an affectionate smile he remembered the words of the prophet Zechariah:
"Flee
from the north, saith the Lord!"
That's
right, losers!
I
find in the Holy Land the perfect Maid of Pskov,
then
I do the godly deed,
Russian
barbarian killing Gavrila and defrocked monk Werner
then
back to the Empire and become prominent nobles
and
my wife, the Countess Olga von Rieneck,
It
will shine in the royal court! "
Listening
unrestrained boasting Leopold,
Werner
Gabriel and trembling with rage,
but
again do nothing can not.
And
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than on how the words of Count Leopold
again
severely wounded soul
Baron
Werner and nobleman Gavrila.
LXII
On
the way from Speyer to Venice to our heroes
The
grace of God is accompanied by beautiful weather,
they
successfully elude Alpine passes
and
stop for the night
in
the South Tyrol town of Bozen *.
"They
say women here are hot! -
Count
Leopold said to his companions,
I
am sitting with them at dinner. -
I
agreed with the owner of our inn,
he
lead me some beauty.
Would
you like to join?
It
can result in three and,
it
will not prevent the extra money! "
"But
how can you offer us this!
Are
not you ashamed of whoredom Tyrolean girl,
when
your heart has to be beautiful Maid of Pskov! -
outraged
and lord Baron. -
Why
do you Olga, if you do not observe fidelity to her?
And
the more you why because of her
risk
their lives in the battles,
if
you have enough beautiful women? "
"It
is strange that you are at such a noble origin
so
obscure and ignorant! - Meets the graph. -
Olga
- a lovely lady,
which
should be at each knight,
and
everything else - the call of sinful flesh,
from
it can not escape.
And
I will kill you, not only because of Olga,
but
also because I was deeply disgusted such hypocrites as you.
Okay,
do not want tirolek beauties - what you like, do your
worst.
Yes,
there is already a host like some.
All
I went. Till tomorrow!"
Werner,
deeply disturbed behavior Leopold,
Gavrila says:
"We
have to sail on the ship,
and
slowly push this brazen libertine in the sea
It
will be easy. Maybe you do it?
You're
Russian, that you our honest word chivalry? "
But
Gabriel Aleksic says:
"You,
German, vain think,
that
we, Russian, unfamiliar concepts such
a
knightly honor and decency.
I
gave my word and I will keep it.
Who
knows how behaves Count!
He
told me, of course, deeply disgusted,
and
you, frankly, disgusted no less:
I'm
not going to forgive you,
that
you, using his position invader Pskov,
I
stole my bride Olga
and
turned it into bogomerzkih Latin faith. " -
"You
stole my letter to the Swedish king
to
the Master of the Livonian Order
and
certainly he was in his forgery!
Is
this a decent act? "- Asked Werner.
"I
have heard this saying francs:
In
war as in war.
I
told you that no one has called you, the Latins,
attack
my country,
and
in that letter it was said about the attack.
Upset
plans of the enemy - it is pleasing to God,
and
it's not dishonesty and stratagem. "
Werner
knows that the object
in
bitterness leaves the table and goes to sleep,
even
without finishing dinner.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about which of our heroes
I
could not sleep that night and for what reasons.
*
Also Bolzano.
LXIII
The
next day Gabriel and Werner
repeatedly
knocking on the door of Count Leopold,
but
in response to hearing that delays an extra day
no
longer has any value,
and
he wants before a long journey
fully
satisfy their carnal desires.
Driven
to fury Gavrila
even
he is going to break down the door,
but
Werner does not allow him to do so,
respecting
modesty although harlots,
but
still ladies.
Only
the next day, the young,
but,
unfortunately, the selling Tyrol
quietly
slips out of the room count.
And
now he is ready to leave.
Four
days' journey from Bozen,
and
three noble and brave knight
enter
the glorious city of Venice.
How
well they look
in
the prime of youth and beauty,
on
their magnificent horses,
surrounded
by servants and squires!
Count
Leopold dressed in a blue cloak with golden lion
family
crest landgraves Wartburg.
Boyar
Gabriel - in a scarlet cloak,
Welcome
Prince Alexander Nevsky
for
heroism in the Battle on the Neva.
At
Baron Werner - white cloak
with
images of the red cross and the sword,
symbol
of the Order of Livonian Knights of Christ.
Such
a cloak he is entitled to wear, although it left the order,
and
these things right given to him for life:
This
parting gift Master Dietrich,
made,
I think, not without ulterior motive,
that
the valiant and rich knight Werner, wearing this cloak,
will
most remember about the Order
and
perhaps one day will want to again
take
monastic vows and return to the ranks
Knights
of Christ of Livonia,
Order
donating his huge castle Fussing.
On
the streets of Venice, few passers-by do not turn
and
watched the cavalcade
led
by the "white", "scarlet" and "blue" knights.
The
fact that our heroes are not hiding their wealth,
and
will soon play with them a cruel joke,
for
they are very attracted the attention of others,
including
those whose attention would be better not to draw.
Yes,
to be so luxurious, prosperous,
wholesome
our
heroes have little time.
If
they were in charge, what privations they will
very
soon!
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
but
not about why the Lord did not let people know,
what
awaits them in the future.
LXIV
The
Venetian harbor, our heroes find out
the
ship of the Order of St. John
under
the command of Baron Joachim von Fersen
She
sailed to Palestine, just three days ago:
I
had to wait very long for a favorable wind.
"If
you had not delayed us all first in Speyer,
and
then in Bozen,
We
have already met with Olga! "-
Count
has been criticized Baron and lord.
But
Leopold answers them:
"You
what, hypocrites,
You
do not want to fulfill their Christian duty
and
to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land?
And
as long as we still go there,
and
the meeting with the beautiful Maid of Pskov let take place there.
Take
a good harbor and fast ship
and,
God willing, we will arrive in Palestine
even
before the Hospitallers.
Pray
in the temple of the Holy Sepulcher all their sins,
and
I can in good conscience marry Olga,
and
you - with a clear conscience to fall from my trusty sword.
So
everything that God does is for the better. "
To
object to the word count of the pilgrimage to Palestine
Werner
and Gavrila nothing,
and
to unrestrained boasting of his companion
they
have become accustomed.
And
our heroes are hiring a small, light and fast galley
and
they are going to go the next day.
This
time, thanks to the Lord,
Earl
did not detain them,
satisfying
his carnal desires low
with
some young Venetian.
Werner
advises to wait for the departure of the merchant caravan
and
join him,
because
he knows that in the Adriatic and Mediterranean Seas
many
pirates
and
alone it is difficult, if not impossible,
protect
yourself from them.
But
Leopold Baron again accuses of cowardice,
and
this time Gabriel stands on the side of the graph:
"The
caravan departs only a week,
Why
waste so much time?
*
Perhaps the pirates will not meet,
besides
our fast galley, and the villains are unlikely to catch up with her. "
The
word "random" is difficult to translate into our language,
but
it is often used Russian,
when
to take risks, anger merciful Lord.
The
captain, a native of Venice,
also
agree to take the risk.
Perhaps,
when we know what will happen soon,
the
very next day after the departure,
we
seem suspicious,
that
middle-aged and experienced captain
so
readily agreed to take the risk,
not
even need to increase fares
and
the passage of numerous horses:
horseback
riding because not only our heroes,
and
their servants and squires,
and
several horses were taken considerable luggage.
We
seem suspicious and then,
that
this captain, when everything is ready for departure,
suddenly
remembers that he has not repaired a torn sail,
and
asks to postpone the departure of the day.
But
then our heroes, of course, do not think about it.
And
of course, they can not know,
that
on the eve of their departure from a small cove
near
Venice
It
leaves large, well equiped, Fleet
Military
Gallery, where there are no flags,
and
her team, though armed,
but
did not like the brave soldiers of His Majesty
or
any of the orders of chivalry.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than concerning this strange ship,
where
our heroes will be soon.
*
In the manuscript and it is written: «Avos».
LXV
The
day after the departure of this strange vessel
raises
the sail and the ship of our heroes.
Rowers
approximately flap their oars,
helping
the weak, but the tailwind.
Werner,
Gavrila and Leopold,
could
possibly alert,
Captain
leads them do not ship on the high seas,
and
in view of the Italian coast, though at a great distance,
and
he always looks towards the land,
as
if waiting for something.
But
brave knights do not pay attention to it,
sit
in the great cabin, drink fine Tuscan wine
and
idly quarreling.
"Olga
has to be the wife of a rich man
and
in no way to deny themselves,
therefore
the Lord is on my side, "-
As
you might imagine, this is another bragging
Count
Leopold.
"Stop
it, finally! - Irritated Baron Werner. -
Since
the will of God, I received an inheritance
my
kind uncle Heinrich von Fussing
I
hardly poorer than you. "
"Well,
now it began to show off! - Gabriel is angry. -
Yes
Prince Alexander I granted so much land
after
the Battle on the Neva,
as
you, the Germans, and did not dream
your
small landholdings!
My
country is great and rich, it has a lot of land,
not
what your German!
And
I can provide Olga Glebovna
decent
life, even by the standards of Count Leopold! "
That's
what they say are three brave and noble knight,
not
being afraid to anger the Lord such a conversation,
praising
vanity wealth.
But
not for nothing that our Lord Jesus Christ said:
"Do
not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where
moth and rust doth corrupt,
and
where thieves break in and steal. "
And
here it is, the confirmation of the prophetic words of the Lord:
shoot
in the cabin servant Ilmar and Groin
and
excitedly say:
"For
us chasing some big ship!"
Knights
quickly climb onto the deck.
'There
is a military vessel without flags is to intercept us,
it
has much more speed, it catches up with us,
and
our captain had not even ordered the rowers
increase
the pace. "
Our
heroes rush to the captain:
"What's
the matter? What kind of ship? "
"I
do not know, noble knights."
"But
it's a big war galleys,
unlike
the imperial.
What
do these things have to ship from us? Is not it a pirate?
If
it catches up with us, we can not be good for:
team
there are several times larger than ours.
Veli rowers to increase the tempo,
Captain! "
Team
captain,
but
if the ship began to move faster, then only slightly.
"You
have not the rowers, and sleepy flies!" - Shouting our heroes.
Captain
justified:
"They
are tired after a previous voyage
and
did not have time to relax.
Yes,
this great ship will still catch up with us, as no oars! "
"Then
- to fight!"
"Which
fight?
I
will not sacrifice themselves and their sailors!
Fight,
noble knights, if you like, and we thank you! "-
so
says the captain, trembling with fear,
or
just pretending to tremble.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about the strange behavior of the captain.
In
addition, we have now realize that his behavior -
It
is not strange,
just
this Venetian likely to conspiring with pirates.
LXVI
When
a large galley approaching closely,
rowers
both ships folded oars, so as not to break them,
Pirates
throw hooks interlock court
and
dozens of villains jump on the ship's deck,
in
which our heroes are sailing.
Leopold,
Werner and Gabriel, as well as their servants and squires
already
put on armor, take weapons
and
stand on the deck, lined up in a circle,
hiding
behind shields and exposing long swords.
Some
pirates immediately rush down to the cabins,
in
search of what you can profit.
But
the majority of robbers surrounds our heroes.
Not
a treacherous-Venetian captain nor his sailors
no
one even pays any attention.
The
captain of a pirate ship,
short
and stout, middle-aged Lombard,
from
the height of his deck
loud
voice offers our heroes
surrender
to the winner.
The
noble and brave knights look at each other,
then
they say in unison: "No!"
"Then
die," - rumors captain
signs
to their villains, and fight to the death begins to boil.
Of
course, if it was in an open field,
then
our knights could not resist
against
a variety of pirates,
some
of which are also quite adept at battle.
But
luckily for the graph, Baron and nobleman,
deck
is narrow and uneven, preventing the mast and rigging,
and
at the same time of the attackers may approach them
Only
about ten people,
and
this is just a little more than three to one,
and
believing servants and squires - and even less.
All
are fighting tooth and nail,
but
in spite of the desperate situation,
our
heroes are looking at each other:
how
to hold the sword in the fight against rivals
the
hand and heart of the beautiful Maid of Pskov?
Suddenly,
the Lord will save them from the pirates,
they
get to Palestine, find Olga
and
will fight a duel with each other?
Then
the knowledge of the favorite methods of fighting opponents
very
able to come in handy.
However,
do not forget them and strike the attackers,
and
even in a few minutes
It
grows around the mountain of bloody corpses,
but
from the defenders killed only two servants.
Then
the main pirate
seeing
that it turns against him
and
he loses nothing of its people,
recalls
robbers and tells him to shoot
its
many archers.
Powerful
armor these arrows do not pierce,
but
all the servants and squires,
including
the familiar and Ilmar Groin,
die
immediately.
Give
rest to the souls of the Lord died heroically
good
Catholics with the saints,
and
may God have mercy on the misguided souls He those
who
belongs to the Byzantine faith.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not on the commemoration of the prematurely deceased.
LXVII
A
few minutes later the captain of a pirate ship
orders
to stop shooting and turns to our heroes:
"Sooner
or later the boom fall into the joint of your armor
or
in the slot in your visor, and you will perish!
It
is better to surrender, gallant knights
and
I promise to keep you alive! "
"And
freedom?" - He cries Gabriel,
from
head to toe drenched someone else's blood.
"Okay,
I promise, and freedom,
respecting
your martial arts! "
"Well,
we give up?" - Asks the lord of his companions,
also
filled with blood from head to head,
and
also, thanks to the Lord, a stranger.
"Yes,
you have to give up, - said sadly Count Leopold. -
otherwise
we then just shoot like mad dogs, and everything. "
"The
idea of surrender gives me disgust,
but
fight on would be suicide,
and
our Holy Church considers suicide a sin "-
these
are the words of Baron Werner.
"Well,
if even our bravest of mortals do not mind putting,
it
really necessary to give "- grins Gavrila,
retain
the ability to joke,
in
spite of the desperate situation.
However,
the love of a good joke, as you know,
generally
distinguished Russian,
they
can even laugh at themselves,
which
often helps them to endure adversity.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of the distinctive features of the Russian people,
which,
looking at Gavrila Aleksic,
it
is very difficult to call barbarians.
LXVIII
The
noble and brave knights, with a sigh of regret
raised
visor, kiss their swords
and
put the gun on the deck.
For
Leopold, Werner and Gavrila immediately pounce
enemies
grabbed
by the arm and lead to the pirate ship.
"I
did not think the losers that you are strong fighters -
Count
Gavrila says calmly and Werner. -
With
you it will be difficult to handle in a fight for Olga. "
"Can
you say the same thing - Gabriel nods graph -
and
about a martial art, and about the losers.
It
seems that you, too, turned out to be a failure,
German
valiant knight. "
"Well,
we'll see," - grins Leopold. -
You
have not forgotten that we promised freedom? "
"Not
very much, I believe the promises of the pirates," -
Werner
sighs.
And
our heroes appear
the
captain of a pirate ship.
Pirates,
meanwhile, continue fumble in their cabins
and
take away all the things and money that has not yet had time to pick up.
Weapons,
of course, too.
According
thrown gangplank
on
a pirate ship gone all chivalrous knights.
Ships
are disengaged and swim in different directions.
Note
that none of the villains
even
I never touched any captain-Venetian,
nor
his sailors, or their property.
Is
not this the best proof that the wily Venetian
I
was in cahoots with the pirates?
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of when and where this bogomerzkih Judas
He
received his thirty pieces of silver.
LXIX
"Who
are you, noble brave?" - Asks the main pirate
surrounded
by his villainous team.
"Count
Leopold von Rieneck."
"Baron
Werner von Endorf".
"Boyar
Gavrila Aleksic from Pereslavl-Zaleski."
"You're
Russian, or what? I did not think that Russian friends with the Germans.
And
I'm Cesar from Como, - says the captain. -
Want
Knights, do to my ship?
I
need these brave warriors, like you. "
"First
of all, God forbid anyone be friends like we are,
and
secondly, you promised us freedom, Lombard! "-
Leopold
tells him.
"Nobody
in the world is not free us of the pirates!" -
exclaims
the chief pirate by cheers
their
nefarious slave.
"Well,
what kind of freedom - to rob and kill?
No,
maybe someone like that,
but
we are not one of those "- proudly says Gabriel.
"You
do not speak for others, Russian,
especially
since you, as it turns out, not friends at all!
You
do not want - so maybe the Germans will want. "
"I
do not want to!" - Almost in unison say the Count and Baron.
"Well,
so much the worse for you.
I
just do not have enough slaves at the oars.
Send
so stubborn on rowing deck to Murad. "
"But
you promised us freedom!
Did
you, did not keep her promise? "- Outraged graph.
But
the wily Captain is ready to answer -
apparently,
he is not the first time such a perfidy:
"I
promised you freedom,
but
he did not say when you get it!
So
you get it through five years. No, in ten. "
Pirates
happily laughing, one of them adds:
"They
killed a lot of our,
so
let them get on the freedom of the world!
Let
vzdernem them from the yardarm or drown! "
"No,
I promised to spare their lives,
besides,
we need strong and healthy rowers
For
a large campaign "to be -
She
stops him captain.
"And
do not you ashamed, Cesar,
loot
and to enslave their fellow believers?
Or
are you not a Catholic? "- Accuses the captain Werner.
"Of
course, I am a Catholic, and a good Catholic.
Every
time he passed the temple of our faith,
I
come back to donate a lot of money,
and
the priest lets me all my sins,
without
asking questions about my craft.
So
I have nothing to be ashamed of. "
"Wait,
wait, Lombard! We are rich and noble people,
and
you can get a large ransom for us! "-
Count
Leopold offers.
"Redemption
- it's good,
but
for this you will have to contact with his,
it
takes a lot of time,
and
we do not stand a long time in any harbor,
and
winter in remote and secret places.
So
with the repayment is unlikely to succeed. "
"Since
we sell in any slave market,
and
we agree to buy back from the new owner, "-
Gabriel
does not calm down.
"But
what I sense to sell you?
Slaves-rowers
I need to!
Besides,
if I'm selling you, then break a promise
give
you the freedom to ten years! - Captain laughs. -
All
clear? This is the last of our conversation:
Not
my rules to speak of low slaves.
By
Murad them! "- Is the main pirate
and
he goes to his cabin.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of the tricky and treacherous Captain-Lombardi.
LXX
Pirates
of the tear with our heroes
armor
and clothing until the underclothes,
and
drag the Knights on a rowing deck,
where
they met Murad, tall and fat-Egyptian Arabic:
with
a face like a mask knight's helmet.
He
gives Werner, Gavrila and Leopold
some
dirty pieces of canvas - cover nakedness,
with
two guards he puts them on his feet
and
tightly Rivets heavy chains,
and
sat on the oars in different parts of the ship,
so
that they are not even able to communicate among themselves.
But
maybe it's for the best,
For
when they hate each other
communication
would only worsen their already grave share.
A
share-rower servant truly great.
Food
- at best a rough chowder,
at
worst - moldy biscuits.
Water
- often musty, with a disgusting smell.
Sleep
- a few hours a day on the bare boards,
and
he often interrupted shouts of overseers,
if
it is necessary to urgently take up the oars.
Clothes
- same in all weather conditions:
shred
canvas around the hips.
The
work - hard,
because
the rower is only to delay and lose the pace,
which
discourages drummer -
and
first in his back hits the paddle, which is behind him,
and
then it falls upon the lash of a whip of the overseer.
Our
heroes - strong young warriors,
hardened
in battles and campaigns,
but
one thing - without tiring ride on the horse,
wear
a heavy armor and swing your sword,
and
quite another - to roll a huge paddle.
In
addition, before they all respected,
they
were servants, money, home,
house
as a servant-rower - galley
and
the attitude of the slave about the same,
as
stray dogs, and sometimes worse.
Many
times it happens that our heroes, as well as other rowers,
fall
from exhaustion and overheating,
Murad and treats them differently -
effusions
of a large tub of sea water,
and
then raises the kicks and blows of the whip.
Not
surprisingly, the three noble and brave knight
in
a month look frayed and skinny.
Their
hands - bloody blisters, back - scarred by the whip.
However,
the same look and the rest of the slaves,
which
on a large pirate ship more than fifty.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of a heavy share-galernika slave.
LXXI
September
in the Mediterranean in the year was hot.
Werner
tolerate heat better than Leopold and Gabriel,
for
he is a native of Bavaria,
which
is warmer than in the Wartburg and Pereslavl-Zaleski,
but
Baron extremely hard.
A
haggard and emaciated Count Leopold
soon
forgets about chivalry
and
asked Murad to pass the captain,
he
agreed to go to the pirates.
The
graph does not speak Arabic,
Murad and does not know any other
language,
or
pretends not to know,
and
did not transmit the captain.
Leopold
starts screaming,
trying
to attract the attention of Cesar Lombardi,
which
is far from the rowers - on the aft superstructure.
Then
Murad, do not understand what was going on,
either
very good understanding,
but
not wanting to be left without a strong rower,
caves
on Count terrible blow fist.
Leopold
falls unconscious.
Average
"medicine" in the form of tubs with sea water,
then
a few strokes whip -
and
the once proud Count Leopold von Rieneck
It
comes to life and humbly take up rowing,
wiping
the blood from his broken face.
And
everything goes on as before.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about how many merchant ships of the pirate galley
I
managed to rob before winter.
LXXII
Remember
them only about a robbery attempt,
which
led to a severe injury of the main pirate.
In
fact, a cunning Lombard Cesar risked wasting
and
I preferred to attack only those ships,
the
capital of which warned him in advance,
that
float travelers with rich and valuable cargo,
while
the weak protection.
After
Judas-Venetian, who passed the pirates of our heroes,
I
was in fact insidious treachery
not
the first and not the last.
But
here Cesar, sailing near Malta
He
notices a lone merchant nave, going forward,
and
can not resist the temptation to attack.
Catch
the big slow-moving ship fails quickly,
especially
because the wind is very weak,
and
the nave is almost not moving.
But
when a pirate galley coming to him
The
thieves are already preparing to land on it,
there
begins this shooting from heavy crossbows,
that
a good quarter of the strikers immediately falls
either
dead or wounded.
Falls
and captain Cesar, which does the same,
what
was once a Gavrila under Koporie:
arrow
hits in the neck.
Bleeding
Lombardi referred to the cabin,
Location
Captain intrudes his assistant, the Jew Isaac
galley
turns and rushes away from the ship,
which
was so powerful protection.
What
drove the nave for pirates remain a mystery,
it
does not matter for us,
because
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not that carry the Mediterranean
merchant
ships.
LXXIII
While
Captain Cesar slowly and painfully recovering,
our
heroes are not even any hope of escape
from
the fate of the slaves-rowers:
Even
if they manage to find a way to bypass Murad
notify
the mate of their wish to become pirates,
Isaac
still has the right to liberate slaves.
And
do not feel such a desire and Werner Gabriel:
They
rightly believe that it is better to be a slave
bloody
blisters on his hands,
than
to engage in predatory godless affair.
As
for Count Leopold, it is decided to be patient
and
wait some cases convenient,
the
more so because the fate of the galley slave
still
better servant of fate, for example, in a quarry:
because
the speed is very important for a pirate ship,
does
not give weaken the rowers,
Only
some can not stand the heart,
but
our heroes, thank God, with the heart is all right,
because
they have spent in the galley or ten years,
when
their bodies have time to completely wear out,
and
less than six months.
Several
times even Murad suits their rowers
"dances":
so
called vile orgy
flare
up when the captured ships, a lot of women,
and
pirates, to satisfy his lust low,
give
some of them slaves.
Most
often, after the "round dance" of women either die,
either
maimed for life,
because
they have to know not only the rough intercourse
with
dozens of lustful men,
stoskovavshihsya for female
flesh,
but
also all sorts of abuse by now men -
hitting,
pinching, biting, strangling, wringing hands
and
more about what is better to keep silent.
Skinned,
broken fingers, torn chest,
bulging
eyes, ears bitten off, broken teeth -
all
this in addition to a strong internal damage,
obtained
with such multiple carnal intercourse,
often
it reduces poor women to the grave,
they
are right there - in the waves of the sea.
Of
course, not all the rowers take part in the "dances"
this
disdain even Count Leopold,
not
to mention the Baron Werner and nobleman Gavrila,
but
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of unsightly details of life-galernikov slaves.
LXXIV
Do
the three noble and brave knight
The
Fair Maid of Pskov Olga
while
when they turn their heavy oars
or
look at what they get up to fellow rowing
with
the unfortunate captives during the "round dance"?
To
say that our heroes are not up to Olga's -
would
be to sin against the truth.
Of
course, they are about it and think, and remember,
and
looking eyes on the spacious deck rowing
their
rivals on the future possession of it,
But
all of this, including the upcoming matches,
now
is not important,
For
the purpose of our other heroes - just to survive.
And
it is that, thanks to the Blessed Virgin, alive.
Come
winter - the storms,
and
Isaac takes the ship
in
a secluded cove somewhere in Cyprus
galley
hauled ashore and clean the bottom of the shell.
Of
course, it is done by slaves,
Pirates
simply rest and gain strength
before
new campaigns.
Although
Cyprus winter and soft, but still cold,
even
sometimes the snow falls,
Murad and willy-nilly give slaves
warm
coats, so they do not freeze to death.
at
the bottom of the cleaning work is not as hard as rowing,
and
three brave and noble knight,
finally,
are able to communicate with each other.
"You
should have seen who you like" -
grins
Count Leopold,
looking
at the lean and bearded
Baron
Werner and nobleman Gavrila.
"Yes,
you look at yourself," - Knights meet him.
"You
should see, but sorry, no mirrors."
It's
nice that our heroes do not lose their presence of mind
and
in the soul of even welcome the opportunity to talk to each other:
because
the people on the ship side by side with them
much
lower origin.
Knights
said that it would be necessary to run,
Only
it is not clear how to do it:
on
their feet are still heavy chain
and
the supervisors do not reduce an eye on them.
"What
you could not become a pirate?" -
sarcastically
asks Count Gavrila.
"Wait,
Russian galernik,
I
did not become a pirate - so become a supervisor.
Arabic
I've learned:
beside
me to paddle sits Arab
I
do not disdain to speak to him.
Soon
I will be able to negotiate with Murat,
and
as soon as the overseer place available, take his.
But
supervisors often get free,
sooner
or later, I get it, and I,
And
you, losers, and will die at the oars,
Olga
and I will get even with no fights. "
"To
me, to be the overseer -
worse
than a pirate -
Werner
says glumly. -
And
why do you hope to take this place, Earl?
Do
Not wanting? "
"Because
I'm tall and strong,
supervisors
must be exactly such,
in
order to be respected and feared. "
"Would
you at your height and strength a bit more modest,
so
the price you would have had no "- grins lord Gabriel.
The
conversation is interrupted:
Murad is suitable, and the Knights
quickly return to work,
so
as not to deserve a beating.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not that starts in 1243 after Christ,
It
passes the winter,
and
a pirate galley re-sail.
LXXV
It
turns out that the Count Leopold boasted not in vain:
it
immediately after departure from Cyprus
It
does manage to become a supervisor.
A
little before one so unworthy people,
beaten
and humiliated his own kind,
not
only I got free and got it:
using
the fact that supervisors are not chained,
he
escaped from the ship and kill the other supervisor,
who
tried to stop him.
And
Murad and mate Isaac
and
the captain himself-Lombard Cesar,
slowly
recovering after injury,
They
were furious, but what could they do?
Cyprus
- a large island,
look
at the man in it - like a needle in a haystack,
the
more so because the pirates were afraid to deviate far from the coast,
so
as not to fall to the soldiers of the kingdom of Cyprus.
Moreover
- there was a danger that escaped overseer
bring
Cypriot troops into the parking space pirates.
In
short, the villains were forced to immediately turn off all the work,
galley
down on the water and sail ahead of schedule.
And
now we have to look for Murad
two
new supervisors.
One
of them becomes Count Leopold von Rieneck.
He
manages to convince Murad that noble knights -
most
reliable overseers,
because
they can give a word that does not run away, and they will keep it.
But
there is another difficulty.
In
fact, on the pirate galley dominates tolerance:
for
example, the captain - Catholic assistant - a Jew,
and
many adherents of the Byzantine faith
and
Mohammedans and Gentiles.
But
fleeing was a Catholic,
and
Mohammedan Murad then escape requires
to
all his supervisors were of the same faith with him,
otherwise,
he says,
he
can not trust them completely.
And
what do you think?
The
Count, without batting an eye
and,
it seems, without feeling remorse,
alters
the true Catholic faith!
Murad takes away the chain,
and
one of the pirates, who once was a mullah
quickly
conducts the rite.
It
is unlikely that this rite Mohammedan concepts valid,
since
it holds no ordinary mullah, a pirate,
whose
hands are in blood is not something that the elbow and to the shoulders,
but
apostasy Count
this
does not become excused.
Before
pirate-Mullen and all Mohammedans,
that
were on the ship,
Leopold
raises his hand and says three words of the Shahadah
-
the
so-called "chief of the Muslim testimony"
It
sounds something like this:
"I
know, I believe with all my heart, and acknowledge in word,
that
there is no god but the One Creator - Allah,
and
Mohammed - his last messenger. "
That
fell as low Leopold von Rieneck.
But
we are in the galleys, thank God, have not been,
and
we do not know - maybe slave labor-rower
can
really bring good Catholic
to
such extremes.
But
Werner Gabriel, and so did not!
However,
the Lord judge us all.
And
if anyone is interested, whether the column was supplied
vile
diavolova printing - circumcision
then
we say that the cunning Leopold was able to escape her happily:
this
disgusting ritual for Mohammedans desirable
but
not required,
and
Count Murad assured that circumcised later
when
they are present in the mosque, not in the galley.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not what abominable rites accompanied the adoption
godless
faith of the false prophet Mohammed.
LXXVI
It
remains one seat still vacant overseer
and
Count, which can now be called so only conditionally,
For
Mohammedan can not have the title of count,
suddenly
decides to do a good deed - as he understands it.
First,
it is suitable to the Baron:
"If
you want, Werner, I zamolvlyu for you word Murad?
I
am convinced this stupid Egyptian
that
noble knights - the best supervisors.
So
throw paddle accept Mohammedanism,
let
infidels word that you will not escape,
and
all you will be fine! "
"No,
an apostate, I'm not going overseer,
I
do not want to beat and humiliate poor people! "
"So
you'll die the same for this paddle!"
"Better
to die with a clear conscience,
than
to live stained with "! -
proudly
meets von Endorf.
"Well,
in vain, Baron, - says Leopold. -
Okay,
row yet, but we'll see. "
Count
sent to the other end of the rowing deck,
where
works Gabriel Aleksic,
Boyar
makes the same offer as Werner,
and
hears in response to the word,
that
we here can not lead,
because
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
but
Gabriel refuses apostate
in
very rough terms,
not
suitable for our sublime songs.
LXXVII
As
a result, the second space overseer
It
occupies an Arab, who was sitting next to the graph at the oars.
It
takes the spring passes the summer,
our
heroes are working in the galley for a year.
Count
Leopold otelsya overseer, stout,
shouts
on rowers no worse Murad,
and
his scourge - a real storm unfortunate slaves.
Baron
Werner and Boyar Gavrila
It
gets from it beats no less than the others:
Leopold
fears that Murad suspect him in pity
slaves
of noble birth
and
return back for a paddle.
But
then there is something least expected
and
Werner, and Gabriel.
Already
come autumn, pirate galley soon for the winter,
and
suddenly a calm and quiet at night,
when
the galley is sailing in the Mediterranean Sea
and
tired rowers sleep a dead sleep,
Leopold
Werner slowly wakes, give him a piece of a saw,
stolen
somewhere in the ship's big farm,
and
whispers: "Baron, you have two weeks
the
fact that their chain nadpilit
so
that it can be broken.
Keep
it a secret from the neighbors:
Among
them may be traitors. "
Werner
silently hides chip saws
in
the folds of their loincloth.
The
same graph then says Gavrila
and
gives the same chip.
Two
weeks baron and lord sawing their chains.
It
is not easy, because you can only cut,
once
the rowers neighbors are asleep, and overseers far.
But
now, finally, almost sawed with God's help chain
a
jerk - and they will fall.
Two
weeks later, in the same quiet and peaceful night,
Count
on duty again on the rowing deck.
He
goes to Werner and whispers to him:
"All
is ready?"
"Yes".
"As
quietly take off the chain, and follow me."
They
fit together to Gavrila,
and
this lord is also free from the chains.
Leopold
said: "Now let's go to the assistant Isaac.
To
the captain's cabin Cesar difficult to get noticed,
but
we need weapons, lots of it, not only in Cesar,
but
in Isaac. "
Our
heroes make their way to the cabin mate.
The
door is locked. Leopold knocking.
"Who's
there?" - Is heard a sleepy voice.
"Stand
up, Isaac, Captain urgently calls", -
Earl
says in Arabic:
Isaac,
a native of Palestine, knows this language.
Grumbling
that it raises in the night,
Assistant
comes out of his cabin
and
then meets his death:
Gabriel
kicks him in the head with his fist, wrapped a chain scrap.
Three
noble and brave knight come inside,
remove
from the walls there hung sabers and daggers
and
begin to capture the pirate ship.
The
forces they have, of course, is not the same as before,
but
on their side - unforgotten martial art,
suddenness
and the darkness of night.
They
are moving slowly and carefully on the upper deck
and
accurate blows of swords and daggers
kill
everyone who is there.
Then
quietly enter the large room where the pirates sleep tight
and
cut the throat of all sleeping.
The
same did with the overseers and Murad.
From
villains were no survivors,
except
Captain Cesar, whom the Count decided not to kill,
in
order to arrange the execution of the morning.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not a bad show, which now represents the
galley,
drenched with blood like a slaughterhouse.
LXXVIII
All
slaves violently happy emancipation.
Our
heroes give them the tools so that they shot down the chain,
and
here we are all free,
thrown
into the sea pirates corpses
walk
around the gallery, looking for something to eat, what to wear,
Many
are searching for money and valuables.
There
comes the morning.
Captain
Cesar, stretching out of his cabin
and
he did not immediately realize what had happened:
Galleries
run by some people he does not know.
Finally
he smekaet that the ship is captured,
He
rushes back to the cabin for a weapon,
but
he was immediately grabbed.
"Good
morning, Lombard! -
mockingly
says Earl approached. -
How
did you sleep?
I
specifically ordered you not to wake him,
so
that you get a good sleep before
both
go to hell! "
And
Leopold refers to the former slaves:
"What
death will execute the bastard?"
"Hang!
And quartered! Throw in the sea! "- Voices.
"No,
it's all - too easy death.
Let's
give him a "dance"! - Comes up with a graph.
"Shame
on you, you're a gentleman!
Villain
to kill quickly and all! "-
Leopold
tries to stop Gabriel.
"And
the prince Alexander noble you think?
Why
did not you stop him,
when
he was preparing in Novgorod
a
painful punishment for the prisoners of the Knights?
No,
let insidious liar Lombard
will
receive their just deserts! "
"You've
given my word,
When
it becomes a supervisor ... "-
trembling
voice accuses Cesar Leopold.
"Do
you remember what I gave the word? What will not run away!
So
I do not run away!
And
not a word to capture the galley, I did not give!
You,
Lombard, think I'm stupider than you?
Remember
how you promised us freedom
and
he managed not to break his promise,
at
the same time more than a year after keeping us in bondage,
as
long as we do not let go! "-
exclaimed
the Count, and turns to former slaves:
"Proceed
to the" round dance "! Who is first?"
And
Lombardi penalty begins.
Gabriel
and Werner with disgust removed the cabin.
We
will not describe the reasons of humanity,
that
came up with each of the former slaves,
in
order to cause suffering to the former captain.
Our
song - about the beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of by how much time was thrown into the sea
lifeless
and shapeless piece of bloody meat,
which
was recently Cesar from Como.
LXXIX
After
the execution of our heroes come together on deck.
They're
neatly trimmed, clean-shaven, well dressed.
Werner
even tracked down his cloak Livonian Order.
Leopold
and Gavrila their coats have not found:
apparently,
they have already sold, as well as knights' horses.
Swords
owned Boyar, Baron and Count,
also
not found, but they took the other, slightly worse.
"I
did not have time to express to you my deep gratitude,
Count
von Rieneck "-
ceremoniously
says Baron Werner.
"Yes,
Leopold, thank you" - echoes Gabriel.
"Well
you, what thanks here!
I
do something for myself and tried:
than
to swing a whip in the galley,
better
to be the imperial dignitary
with
a beautiful wife, Olga. "
"You
go again!
Win
fights first, and then brag "-
grin
Gabriel and Werner,
I
must say, without the offense:
apparently
accustomed to the style of the graph.
"Yes,
to a meeting with Olga is still far.
For
example, I do not know where we are now,
In
addition, somewhere in the Mediterranean.
Does
anyone of you knows a navigational "? -
asks
Leopold.
"I
heard that the sea determine the location
the
sun and the stars,
but
do not know how to do it ", - says von Endorf.
"And
I do not know" - rumors Gabriel.
"And
I. Let's look, who knows, among the freed. "
They
searched but did not find.
We
decided to just go to the north,
Still
on the northern Mediterranean coast,
almost
all countries - the grace of God Christian.
They
waited for the night, find the North Star,
the
benefit of the sky was cloudless,
and
sailed in that direction.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than on how these knights were the galley in the Mediterranean Sea.
LXXX
And
then, finally, after a few days of leisurely swimming -
leisurely,
because the wind is still weak,
and
paddlers are now no whip
and
they do not tighten -
galley
driven by our heroes,
It
found a large warship Empire of Nicaea.
Now
the empire no longer exists,
and
few people remember about it,
and
in those days it was the most powerful
state
in Asia Minor.
Once
in 1204, the birth of Christ
our
valiant crusading army
It
took Constantinople,
survivors
fled the Byzantine rulers
We
were able to establish and strengthen the new state
with
its capital in the city of Nicea.
I
do not know for what sins the Lord turned
by
good Catholics,
after
two hundred and fourth year ruled Constantinople
and
create around this city of the Latin Empire,
but
nikeytsam using Bulgarian Kingdom
It
managed to win all the wars
with
sim worthy, but, unfortunately, now
no
longer existing Catholic state,
reclaim
Constantinople and Byzantium to recreate,
and
even stronger than it was
up
to two hundred and four.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about the history of Asia Minor states.
LXXXI
Captain
Nicene ship preparing for a fight,
but
from the deck of the galley greeting him waving,
and
he understands that before him are not enemies, but friends.
Having
brought his ship back to back,
he
met with our heroes.
After
hearing the story of the former pirate galleys,
He
landed on her military unit
led
by an experienced skipper
and
tells him to move toward Smyrna * -
largest
seaside town of the Empire of Nicaea.
This
proved to be close, just a couple of days' journey.
In
Smyrna freed slaves are going to go ashore,
but
unexpectedly delayed:
it
turns out that because of the difficult situation,
caused
by the war with the Latin Empire,
freedom
to receive only those
who
profess the faith of the Byzantine,
adopted
in the Empire of Nicaea.
The
rest will have their freedom to work:
they
go to the end of the war at the disposal of the imperial troops
and
will build fortifications, to serve the soldiers,
care
for horses
and
engage in other ancillary works.
Again,
rowing military galleys.
However,
if anyone wants to take the Byzantine faith,
then
immediately get freedom.
Probably
no one would not be surprised if he finds out,
that
Count Leopold von Rieneck immediately agrees
to
accede to this faith,
whose
supporters call themselves "orthodox"
presumptuous
claim
to
the only correct religion.
"Where
a false belief, there is another,
Orthodoxy
and even better than Mohammedanism,
I
have been forced to accept.
Anyway,
sooner or later we will come to Jerusalem,
where
I repent and atone for all their sins:
The
best place for this is not ", -
Count
silently justified before his companions.
Note
justified,
rather
than states in his favorite manner something like:
"I
do what I want, and do not meddle, losers in my business."
And
Werner, and Gabriel
and
they are already looking at each other, and at the count
without
the old hatred.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
instead
of how changed their attitude to each other
our
heroes after the slavery in the galleys.
*
Now Izmir.
LXXXII
But
back to the acceptance or rejection of Byzantine faith.
Gavrila Aleksic and so it professes,
it
does not have any difficulties.
And
here at the Werner von Endorf difficulty appear,
and
very serious,
for
he is faithful to his godly convictions,
He
refuses to take someone else's faith.
Leopold
tells him that there is nothing wrong,
they
will repent and return to the true faith
Met
in the first Catholic church.
And
Gabriel is trying to convince the Baron,
Byzantine
belief that supposedly closer to the precepts
Our
Lord Jesus Christ.
But
even if the count and lord were the greatest
Byzantine
preachers,
instead
malosveduschimi theology warriors
they
failed to persuade the relentless Baron
to
change their faith.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than admirable firmness of opinion
such
a true Catholic, as a background Endorf.
LXXXIII
And
here are three brave and noble knight are separated.
Werner
and other former slaves to pirate galleys,
I
did not want to change their faith,
send
in a large caravanserai near the harbor,
which
contain protected.
Graf
Leopold and several other ex-slaves
also
under the protection lead to the church,
where
they take the Byzantine faith.
A Gavrila Aleksic before the
official Nicene
baptized
by Byzantine and Greek reads "Creed"
then
he gets free and goes somewhere in the city.
But
when Leopold after confession and communion,
accompanying
the transition to the Byzantine faith
without
the guard comes out of the temple,
it
turns out that the outside is waiting for him Gabriel.
"Well,
hello, Orthodox" - jokes lord,
knowing
which of the column "Orthodox"
and
then he says is serious:
"I
see where taken away our Baron. Come help out. "
Perhaps
someone is waiting, Leopold begins to convince Gavrila
Werner
left in Smyrna
and
sent to Jerusalem to search for Olga without it:
say,
one opponent will be less.
But,
oddly enough, the graph does not say anything,
on
the contrary - thanks for the promptness Boyar
and
at the late evening
It
goes through the narrow streets of Smyrna
to
the place of imprisonment of the new baron.
Caravanserai,
where they hold slaves, poorly protected,
only
two guards at the entrance,
but
quietly get close to them is impossible:
A
door leads to a narrow passage between two walls.
Then
count and lord, daggers hidden under the clothing,
walking
leisurely approach to the guards
and
ask the way to the harbor:
say,
get lost in the twilight.
Those
starting to explain,
but
immediately feel that their necks to the charge of daggers.
Count
Leopold whispered in Greek:
"We
need only one person, his name is Werner.
He
wore a white cloak with a red cross and the sword.
Lists
of newly arrived slaves
certainly
has not made up,
and
it is unlikely your boss will notice the disappearance of Werner:
one
servant more, one less.
Will
bring this person - get a good price,
withdraws
- get hit with a dagger. "
The
guards agreed, but they have and there is no other choice.
One
of them is a hostage,
another
comes in and takes the Baron soon.
Gavrila and Leopold
honestly give the guards, almost all the money,
trapped
on the pirate galley.
But
Werner does not want to go,
until
the release of all the others,
who
sits in a caravanserai and suffering for the faith.
Boyar
and Earl say to him:
"We
have too little money to someone else to buy back.
Of
course, we can now kill the guards
and
to release all the prisoners,
but
then tomorrow at Smyrna raised alarm, we will be looking
and
in a strange and unfamiliar city, we will hardly be able to escape. "
Werner
tries to protest, but Gabriel and Leopold
both
sides picked up his arms and gone.
Baron
still too weak after the galley slavery,
to
resist the mighty Count
and
Boyar, who is weak, but not enough
for
Russian generally more hardy,
we
stored the Lord Germans.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
rather
than on how well or badly did the count and lord,
sparing
the guards and rescuing the Baron, but
leaving
many of his comrades in the Galley slavery
to
fend for themselves and Nicene authorities.
LXXXIV
The
pursuit of our heroes, thank God, no,
and
they quietly thinking about how to continue the journey to Jerusalem.
Ships
coming to Palestine,
in
Smyrna not usually stop,
but
pass through the city on foot pilgrimage caravans.
Leopold,
Werner and Gavrila
passers
show a large caravanserai,
where
pilgrims spend the night Catholics.
Despite
the war with the Empire of Nicaea Latin,
Pilgrims
pass freely in both countries:
it
is a tradition from the time of the Byzantine Empire
and
the first crusades.
Our
heroes, skilled and experienced warriors,
happy
to accept the protection of the
first
encountered them pilgrim caravan:
On
the way there are many thieves,
and
although pilgrims are under the protection of the Lord,
but
they themselves also have to think about his defense.
The
caravan has a Catholic priest, and one of them
Leopold
let the sins of apostasy
and
returns the count to the true faith,
imposing
on him a penance in the form of a pilgrimage
in
the Holy Land,
where
the caravan and sent.
There
comes a rainy Anatolian winter
and
pilgrims are moving very slowly,
for
mountain passes in winter are especially dangerous,
road
through them covered with snow,
and
worship the Holy Sepulchre and are crippled,
and
the sick, and the elderly, women and even children.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not about who does and for what reasons
charity
pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
LXXXV
However,
the winter campaign has its advantages:
At
that time, the robbers do not usually attack the caravans,
and
rest and divide the prey.
No
robbery
God's
grace is not experienced and caravan
in
which the characters of our songs are.
These
things all the more gratifying,
because
their way is restless
Iconium, or Rumsky Sultanate.
These
things Mohammedan state arose
after
the conquest of Asia Minor of the Byzantine Empire
wicked
Turks,
and
the time of arrival of the heroes of our
owned
a considerable part of Asia Minor
and
neighboring countries.
However,
this sultanate ten years
before
these events, contact
assaulted
the same pagan Tatars,
who
ravaged and conquered Russia.
At
first it was no more than raids,
but
in the same forty-second year, when there was a
we
described the Ice Battle on Lake Peipus,
Tatar
warlord Baiju
He
started against the Sultanate of Rum big war.
Tatars
have won half of this Mohammedan countries,
and
it became the supreme ruler of the same Batu Khan,
who
ruled and Russia.
The
rest of the sultanate was paying considerable tribute.
famine
in the country,
crowds
of refugees wandering from east to west,
trying
to escape from the terrible invaders.
And
in our time we have all the Sultanate -
Tatar
vassal state.
As
we can see, the Egyptian penalty in the form of incorrect Tatars
sent
not only to those who profess the faith of the Byzantine,
but
also those who profess Mohammedanism.
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
and
not how God is just.
LXXXVI
Tired,
hungry and shivering pilgrims
slowly
moving eastward.
In
front of the caravan goes Turks conductor
and
immediately after him - the Baron Werner von Endorf
Count
Leopold von Rieneck and nobleman Gavrila
Aleksic.
It
is cold and damp. The dampness even weak frosts
transferred
more difficult than the bitter cold in dry weather,
and
when compared with Russian Anatolian winter,
it
is not yet known what is worse.
Our
knights chilly wrap up in coats,
but
gaze forward:
if
there was any danger?
Does
the conductor leads in some den of robbers?
However,
the Turks warned
he
first die in which case,
and
Count Leopold sometimes pricks him with a dagger in the back,
to
convince the seriousness of the warnings.
But,
thank God Almighty, quietly.
Our
heroes, despite the difficult conditions of the campaign,
feel
fine:
after
galley food even scanty meal pilgrims
Werner
and seems Gavrila delicacy,
and
Earl, a former supervisor at the ship
and
Pete is much better,
so
intoxicated with freedom,
that
he does not care, abundant or scarce food.
Gavrila again begins
to sing his favorite song
a
bright and beautifully decorated Russian land,
and
indeed, brave knights can now
relax
a little bit,
dream
about meeting with Olga and talk to each other.
Note
that their conversation is much more friendly,
than
they were before.
For
example, the Count and the Baron with a smile said to Gavrila,
that
the Tatar warlord Baiju,
fulminatory
Sultanate of Rum
and
exciting city in the country -
a
vassal of Batu Khan, the prince Alexander Nevsky,
and
if the servants of God Leopold Werner and fall into the hands of the Tatars,
let
the lord would say a word for them.
Gabriel
answered also laughing:
"Look
at your behavior,
especially
on the noble Earl behavior
sometimes
allow themselves to noble deeds. "
Laugh
laugh, but we knew our heroes,
that
all will be in the near future, so,
Gavrila and will
have to bow to the godless Batu Khan
and
for himself, and for his German companions!
But
our song - a beautiful Maid of Pskov
and
love to her three noble and brave knights,
but
not about why the Lord does not give people know exactly
what
awaits them.
In
addition, we used to have already mentioned
about
the inscrutable ways of the Lord.
Only a part of the poem is
translated.