where was a throng, a stir, a bustle, as in a bee-hive. The
most varied costumes and colors were to be seen. There
were present soldiers of the prince from different regiments,
haiduks and Turkish grooms, Jews in black cloaks, peas-
ants, Armenians in violet caps, Tartars in fur coats. The
air was full of the sounds of different languages, of shouts,
curses, cries of children, barking of dogs, and bellowing of
cattle.

The people greeted the approaching regiments joyfully,
for they saw in them assurance of safety and deliverance.
Some went to the castle to shout in honor of the prince
and princess. The most varied reports passed through the
crowd, -- one that the prince would stay in Lubni, another
that he was going far away to Lithuania, where it would
be necessary to follow him; a third, that he had already
defeated Hmelnitski. The prince, after the greeting with
his wife was over, and the announcement of the journey on
the following day, looked with anxiety on those crowds of
wagons and people which were to follow the army, and be
fetters to his feet by lessening the speed of the march.
His only comfort was the thought that beyond Bragin, in a
quieter country, all would disperse, take refuge in various
corners, and be a burden no longer. The princess herself,
with ladies in waiting and the court, were to be sent to Vish-
nyovets, so that the prince without care or hindrance might
move into the fire with his whole force. The preparations
at the castle had been made already, -- wagons were filled
with effects and valuables, supplies were collected, all per-
sons of the court were ready to take their seats in the
wagons and on horseback at a moment's notice. This readi-
ness was the work of Princess Griselda, who in calamity
had as great a soul as her husband, and who, in truth, was
equal to him in energy and unbending temper.

The prince was pleased with what he saw, though his
heart was rent at the thought that he must leave the Lubni
nest in which he had known so much happiness and had
won so much glory. This sorrow, too, was shared by the
whole army, the servants, and the entire court; for all felt
certain that when the prince would be far away in battle,
the enemy would not leave Lubni in peace, but would
avenge on those beloved walls all the blows which they had
suffered at the hands of Yeremi. Cries and lamentations
were not lacking, especially among the women, and among
those whose children were born there, and those who were
leaving the graves of their parents behind.