"Since you made a vow to her, you must serve her, because such is the knightly custom."
Zbyszko hesitated; but after awhile, he began to say with evident uneasiness:
"Do you know that she covered my head with her veil? All the knights and also the Franciscan who was with me holding the cross, heard her say: 'He is mine!' Therefore I will be loyal to her until death, so help me God!"
Having said this, he kneeled, and wishing to show that he was familiar with the customs of chivalry, he kissed both of Danusia's shoes with great reverence. Then he arose and having turned to Jurand, asked him:
"Have you ever seen another as fair as she?"
Jurand suddenly put his hands behind his head, and having closed his eyes, he said loudly:
"I have seen one other; but the Germans killed her."
"Then listen," said Zbyszko, enthusiastically; "we have the same wrong and the same vengeance. Those dog-brothers also killed my people from Bogdaniec. You cannot find a better man for your work. It is no new thing for me! Ask my uncle. I can fight either with spear or axe, short sword or long sword! Did my uncle tell you about those Fryzjans? I will slaughter the Germans for you like sheep; and as for the girl, I vow to you on my knees that I will fight for her even with the starosta of hell himself, and that I will give her up neither for lands nor for herds, nor for any other thing! Even if some one offered me a castle with glass windows in it but without her, I would refuse the castle and follow her to the end of the world."
Jurand sat for awhile with his head between his hands; but finally he awakened as from a dream, and said with sadness and grief:
"I like you, young man, but I cannot give her to you; she is not destined for you, my poor boy."