man stature of Pashko Zlodye, the stern face of Voitseh of Vodzinka, and the beauty of Dobko of Olesnitsa, who in the tournament at Torun had finished twelve German knights, and Zygmunt of Bobova, who made himself famous in like manner in Hungary at Koshytse, and Kron of Koziglove, and Lis of Targovisko, terrible in hand-to-hand combat, and Stashko of Harbimovitse, who could overtake a horse at full speed. General attention was roused also by Matsko of Bogdanets with his pallid face; he was supported by Floryan of Korytnitse, and Martsin of Vrotsimovitse. It was supposed generally that he was the father of the condemned.
But the greatest curiosity was roused by Povala of Tachev, who, standing in the first rank, held on his powerful arm Danusia, dressed in white altogether, with a garland of rue around her bright hair. People did not understand what that meant, and why that maiden dressed in white was to witness the execution. Some said that she was Zbyshko's sister, others divined in her the lady of his thoughts; but even those could not explain to themselves her dress, or her presence at the scaffold. But in all hearts her face, like a blushing apple, though it was covered with tears, roused emotion and sympathy. In the dense throng of people they began to murmur at the unbendingness of the castellan, and the sternness of the law; these murmurs passed gradually into a roar which was simply terrible. At last here and there voices rose, saying that if the scaffold were torn away the execution would be deferred of necessity.
The crowd became animated and swayed. From mouth to mouth the statement was sent that, were the king present, beyond doubt he would pardon the youth, who, as men affirmed, was not guilty of any crime.
But all became silent, for distant shouts announced the approach of the bowmen and the king's halberdiers, in the midst of whom marched the condemned. Indeed the retinue appeared soon on the square. The procession was opened by the funeral brotherhood dressed in black robes which reached the ground, and with face coverings of similar material with openings for their eyes. People feared those gloomy figures, and at sight of them became silent. Behind those marched a detachment of crossbowmen formed of select Lithuanians, wearing coats of elkskin untanned. That was a detachment of the royal guard. Behind this were seen the halberds of another detachment; in the centre of this, between the court secretary, who had read the sentence,
