Pan Zagloba was describing to the whole table the siege of Zbaraj; and the ardor and daring of the hearers rose till the blood went to their faces and hearts. It might seem that the spirit of the immortal “Yarema”[[20]] was flying above that hall, and had filled the souls of the soldiers with heroic inspiration.
“That was a leader!” said the famous Mirski, who led all Radzivill’s hussars. “I saw him only once, but to the moment of my death I shall remember it.”
“Jove with thunderbolts in his grasp!” cried old Stankyevich. “It would not have come to this were he alive now!”
“Yes; think of it! Beyond Romni he had forests cut down to open a way for himself to the enemy.”
“The victory at Berestechko was due to him.”
“And in the most serious moment God took him.”
“God took him,” repeated Pan Yan, in a loud voice; “but he left a testament behind him for all coming leaders and dignitaries and for the whole Commonwealth. This is it: to negotiate with no enemy, but to fight them all.”
“Not to negotiate; to fight!” repeated a number of powerful voices, “fight! fight!”
The heat became great in the hall, and the blood was boiling in the warriors; therefore glances began to fall like lightning-flashes, and the heads shaven on the temples and lower forehead began to steam.
“Our prince, our hetman, will be the executioner of that will!” said Mirski.