Page:Lectures on The Historians of Bohemia by Count Lutzow (1905).djvu/17

seeing his brother, this chosen soldier of God thanked him and embracing and kissing him, greeted him, saying, “I salute you, my brother, may you be rich in the goods of this world and of the next, and may Christ admit you to His eternal banquet, you who have yesterday feasted so lavishly me and my followers.” Then said Boleslav with proud spirit and fierce eyes, drawing his sword, which he had concealed under his cloak: “That was yesterday according to the circumstances, but this is the cheer which to-day one brother will give to the other.” Then brandishing his sword he struck at his brother’s head, but through the favour of the Lord he scarcely drew blood; for the horror which he felt at the greatness of his crime was so strong that even when he attacked his brother a second time, he could not carry out his evil intent. Then, the Holy Wenceslas endeavoured to seize his bare sword, saying, “How evilly dost thou act by wounding me.” But when he saw that he by no means abandoned his evil purpose, he—as some say—seized him and threw him down at his feet, saying, “Behold, thou seest, O man who knowest thyself lost, that I can destroy thee like the meanest of beasts; but never shall the hand of a servant of God be stained with the blood of his brother.” Then he returned to his brother the sword that he had taken from him, and with bleeding hands hurriedly proceeded from the church. But the wretched Boleslav followed him, and cried out with a loud voice; “My friends, my friends, where are you? evilly indeed do you aid your lord, and little help do you give him in his trouble.” Then the whole band of conspirators rushed from their hiding-place with many swords and spears, and wounding him with