Pagina 349 di 788

Gerwazy shuddered, he had recognised the Pantler; he began to

cross himself, and, the more surely to drive away his terrible

visions, he recited the litany for souls in Purgatory. Again his

eyes closed fast and his ears rang-he sees a throng of mounted

gentry; their sabres glitter: "The foray, the foray against

Korelicze, and Rymsza at the head!" And he beholds himself, how

he flies on a grey horse, with his dreadful sword uplifted above

his head; his taratatka,101 opened wide, rustles in the breeze;

his red plumed hat has fallen backward from his left ear; he

flies on, and upon the road overthrows both horsemen and

foot-travellers, and finally he burns the Soplica in his barn.

Then his head, heavy with its musings, drooped upon his breast,

and thus fell asleep the last Warden of the Horeszkos.

BOOK VI.-THE HAMLET102

ARGUMENT