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 "Yes!" suddenly interrupted Zbyszko, "it's true. But afterward, the people said that Ryngalla regretted being the wife of the bishop (because he, although married, did not want to resign from the priesthood) and, feeling that God's blessing could not be over such a marriage, poisoned her husband. When I heard that, I asked a pious hermit to absolve me from that vow."

"He was a hermit," answered Macko, laughing, "but was he pious? I don't know; we went to him on Friday, and he was splitting bear's bones with an ax, and loudly sucking the marrow."

"But he said that the marrow was not meat, and besides, he had received permission to do it, because after sucking marrow, he used to have marvelous visions during his sleep and the next day he could prophesize until noontime."

"Well, well!" answered Macko. "And the beautiful Ryngalla is a widow now, and she may call you to her service."

"It would be in vain, because I am going to choose another lady, whom I will serve till death, and then I will find a wife."

"First, you must attain a knighthood."

"There will be plenty of tournaments. And before that, the king will not dub a single knight. I can measure myself against any. The duke could not have thrown me down if my horse had not reared."

"There will be fighters far better than you are."

Here the noblemen began to shout:

"For God's sake! Here, in the presence of the queen, will fight not people like you, but only the most famous knights in the world. Here will fight Zawisza of Garbow, Dobko of Olesnica, Powala of Taczew, Paszko of Biskupice, Jasko Naszan, and Abdank of Gora. Andrzej of Brochocice, Krystyn of Ostrow, and Jakob of Kobylany! Can you measure your sword against the swords of those, with whom neither the knights here, nor of the Bohemian court, nor of the Hungarian court can compete? What are you talking about? Are you better than them? How old are you?"

"Eighteen," answered Zbyszko.

"Every one of them could crush you between his fingers."

"Will see."

But Macko said:

"I have heard that the king rewards handsomely those knights who are returning from the Lithuanian war. You live here, is it true?"

"Yes, it is true!" answered one of the nobles. "King's generosity is well known, but it will be difficult to get near him now because the guests are swarming to Krakow. They are coming for the queen's child delivery and then christening, wishing to show reverence to our lord or pay homage to him. The king of Hungary is coming. They say that the Roman emperor will be here also, with plenty of dukes, counts, and knights, and neither of them expects to leave empty-handed. They even say that Pope Boniface himself will arrive because he also needs a favor and help from our lord against Avignon's adversary. Therefore, with so many dignitaries, it will be difficult to be seen by a king; but if one could pay his respects and deserves a reward, he will get one."