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THE JOURNAL OF COUNTESS
FRANCOISE KRASINSKA
GREAT GRANDMOTHER OF VICTOR
EMMANUEL
TRANSLATED FROM THE POLISH
BY
KASIMIR DZIEKONSKA
EIGHTH EDITION
[Illustration]
CHICAGO
A. C. McCLURG & CO.
1907
COPYRIGHT,
BY A. C. McCLURG & CO.
A.D. 1895.
THE JOURNAL
OF
COUNTESS FRANCOISE KRASINSKA
IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
IN THE CASTLE OF MALESZOW,
_Monday, January 1, 1759_.
One week ago--it was Christmas day--my honored Father ordered to
be brought to him a huge book, in which for many years he has
written with his own hand all the important things which have
happened in our country; also copies of the notable pamphlets,
speeches, manifestoes, public and private letters, occasional
poems, etc., and having placed everything in the order of its
date, he showed us this precious collection and read to us some
extracts. I was much pleased with his idea of recording
interesting facts and circumstances; and as I know how to write
pretty well in Polish and in French, and have heard that in
France some women have written their memoirs, I thought, "Why
should not I try to do something of the kind?"
So I have made a big copy-book by fastening together many sheets
of paper, and I shall note down, as accurately as I am able,
everything which may happen to me and to my family, and I shall
also mention public affairs as they happen, as far as I may be
acquainted with them.
To-day is New Year's Day and Monday, a very proper season to
begin something new. I am at leisure; the morning Service is
finished, I am dressed and my hair is curled; ten is just
striking on the castle clock, so I have two hours till dinner
time. Well, I begin.
I was born in 1742, so I am just past my sixteenth birthday. I
received at the christening the name of Francoise. I have heard
more than once that I am pretty, and sometimes looking in the
mirror, I think so myself. "One has to thank God, and not to
boast," says my gracious Mother; "it is He that hath made us
and not we ourselves." I have black hair and eyes, a fair
complexion and rosy cheeks. I should like to be a little taller,
but they frighten me by saying I shall not grow any more. I am
descended from the not only noble, but very old and illustrious
family of Korwin Krasinski. God forbid I should ever tarnish the
glorious name I am fortunate enough to bear! on the contrary I
should like much to add to its fame, and I am often sorry I am
not a man, as I should then have more opportunities.
The Count, my honored Father, and the Countess, are so sensible
of the grandeur of the Korwin Krasinski family, and they so often
speak of it,--not only they, but our courtiers and our guests as
well,--and it is thought by all to be such a great reproach not to
know precisely about our ancestors, that we all have our heads
full of that kind of information. I can recite the genealogy of the
Krasinskis and the history of each of them as perfectly as my
morning prayer, and I think that I should have more difficulty
in telling the names of our Polish kings in chronological order
than in telling those of my ancestors. The pictures of the most
illustrious are in our hall,[1] but it would take too long to write
about each of them. The first of whom we know anything was
Warcislaus Korwin, from the old Roman family of Corvinus, who,
in the eleventh century, came from Hungary to Poland and was
appointed the Hetman (General-in-chief) of the army of King
Boleslaus II.
[1] They are still in Count Adam Krasinski's palace
in Warsaw.
Having espoused a noble lady of the name of Pobog, Korwin united
his crest--a raven holding a ring--to that of the Pobogs--a hand
grasping a sabre--and such is still our cognizance. His grandson
was the first to take the name Krasinski, that is, _of Krasin_,
from an estate bestowed upon him by the King as a reward for his
bravery; and from that time forward many hetmans, castellans,
woivodes,[2] bishops, etc., made the Krasinski name famous in
Polish history.
[2] Governors of provinces.
One of them, Alexander, in this very same Maleszow Castle where
I am now quietly writing, resisted so bravely a great Tartar
army, in one of its plundering excursions from Asia, that the
chief was obliged to retreat; but before leaving, he sent to the
valorous castellan, as a token of his admiration, the most
precious thing he possessed,--namely, a clock, of very simple
construction, it is true, but a great wonder at that time. This
curious relic, this gift from an enemy,--and he a Tartar, more
accustomed to take than to give,--is still preserved with great
care in our family; I have seen it but twice in my life, my
honored Father keeping it so carefully, and I am sure he would
not exchange it for ten Paris clocks with all their chimes.
This valiant ancestor of mine was killed in a war with Russia,
and left no son. His nephew John built in Warsaw a magnificent
palace in the Italian style, which is said to be more beautiful
than the King's Castle; but I have not seen it, as I have never
been in our capital.
John's brother, Alexander, the castellan of Sandomir, was my own
grandfather. His son, Stanislaus, the Staroste[3] of Nova Wies
and Uscie, is my honored and beloved Father; he married Angela
Humiecka, the daughter of the famous Woivode of Podole, my
honored and beloved Mother. But, to my great sorrow, this line
of the Krasinski family will become extinct with the Count, my
Father, as he has four daughters, but no son: Basia (a pet name
for Barbara) is the eldest; I am the second; then comes Kasia
(Katherine); and Marynia (Mary) is the youngest.
[3] Honorary judge.
The courtiers tell me often I am the handsomest, but I am sure I
do not see it; we all have the bearing becoming young ladies of
high station, daughters of a Staroste; we are straight as poplars,
with complexions white as snow and cheeks pink as roses; our
waists, especially when Madame ties us fast in our stays, can be,
as they say, "clasped with one hand." In the parlor before guests
we know how to make our courtesy, low or _degage_, according
to their importance; we have been taught to sit quiet on the very
edge of a stool, with our eyes cast down and our hands folded,
so that one might think we were not able to count three or were
too prim even to walk out of the room easily. But people would
think differently if they saw us on a summer morning, when we
are allowed to go to the woods in morning gowns and without
stays, puffs, coiffures, or high-heeled shoes: oh! how we climb
the steep hillsides, and run and shout and sing, till our poor
Madame is quite out of breath from running and calling after us.
As yet I and my two younger sisters have seldom left home:
Konskie, the home of our aunt, the Woivodine[4] Malachowska,
whom we visit twice a year; Piotrowice, where my honored Father,
after his return from Italy, built a beautiful chapel, like the
one in Loretto; Lisow, where stands our parish church,--these
bound all our experiences in travelling. But Basia, as the
eldest, has already seen a good part of this world: she has been
twice to Opole, visiting our aunt, the Princess Lubomirska,
Woivodine of Lublin, whom my Father loves and venerates as a
mother rather than as an elder sister. Basia has spent also one
year in the convent of the Ladies of the Visitation at Warsaw,
and so, of course, she knows more than any of us: her courtesies
are the lowest, and her manners the most stately.
[4] Wife of a woivode.
My honored Parents are thinking now of sending me also somewhere
to finish my education; I am expecting every day to see the
carriage drive up to the door, and then my gracious Mother will
tell me to sit beside her, and she will take me either to Warsaw
or to Cracow. I am perfectly happy at home, but Basia liked the
convent very much, so I hope that I shall; and then I shall
improve in the French language, which is now indispensable for a
lady; also in music and in dancing, and besides that I shall
see a great town, our capital.
As I have not seen many castles besides Maleszow, I cannot
judge whether it is pretty or not. I only know that I like it very
much. Some people think that our castle, with its four stories
and its four bastions, surrounded with a moat full of water
crossed by a drawbridge, and situated amidst forests in a rocky
country, looks rather gloomy, but I do not think so at all. I am
so happy here that I should like to sing and dance all day long.
I hear my honored Parents complaining sometimes that they are
not quite comfortable here. It is true that, although on each floor
there are besides the parlor, six large rooms and four smaller
ones in the bastions, we cannot all be accommodated on the same
floor, as we are a very numerous family. The dining-rooms are on
the first, the dancing hall on the second, and we girls have to
occupy the third floor. My honored Parents are no longer young,
and it fatigues them to go up and down every day, but for me
these stairs are just my delight! Often, when I have not yet all
my puffs on, I grasp the stair-rail and I am down in one second
without my foot once touching the steps. Oh! it is such fun!
It is true our many guests may sometimes be crowded a little in
their sleeping rooms, but nevertheless, they visit us often, and
I do not know that we could amuse ourselves better in a more
spacious palace. I think the Maleszow Castle, if three times as
large, could not be more magnificent; it is so gay and lively
that the neighbors often call it little Paris. We are especially
gay when winter comes; then the captain of our dragoons does
not lift up the drawbridge until night, so many people are
continually driving in and out, and our court-band has enough
to do playing every day for us to dance.
But I ought not to forget to speak about the retinue of our
Castle, which, in accordance with the rank of my honored
Parents, is very numerous and stately.
There are two classes of courtiers,--the honorary and the
salaried ones, all alike nobles, with the sword at their side.
The first are about twenty in number; their duties are to wait
in the morning for the Count's entrance, to be ready for any
service he may require, to accompany him when visiting or
riding, to defend him in case of need, to give him their voice
at the Diet, and to play cards and amuse him and his guests.
This last duty is best performed by our Matenko (Mathias), the
fool or court jester, as the other courtiers call him; but he
does not at all deserve that sobriquet, as his judgment is very
correct and his repartees are very witty. Of all the courtiers
he is the most privileged, being allowed to speak whenever he
chooses and to tell the truth frankly.
To the honorary members of our court belong also six girls of
good family, who live on the same floor with us under the
superintendence of our Madame, and also two dwarfs. One of the
latter is about forty, but of the size of a four-year-old child;
he is dressed as a Turk. The other, still smaller and very
graceful and pretty, is eighteen years old, and they dress him
as a Cossack. Sometimes, for sport, my honored Mother orders him
to be put on the dinner table, and he walks about among the
bottles and the plates as easily as if he were in a garden.
The honorary courtiers receive no pay, almost all of them being
the sons and daughters of rather wealthy parents, who send them
to our castle for training in courtly etiquette. The men
receive, nevertheless, provision for two horses, and two
florins[5] weekly for their valets. These servants are dressed,
some as Cossacks, some as Hungarians, and stand behind their
masters' chairs at meals. There is no special dinner table for
them, but they must be satisfied with what their masters leave
on their plates, and you should see how they follow with a
covetous eye each morsel on its way from the plate to the
master's mouth! I do not dare to look at them, partly from fear
of laughing, and partly out of pity.
[5] The Polish florin is worth twenty cents.
The salaried courtiers are much more numerous. They do not
come to our table, except the chaplain, the physician and the
secretary. The marshal and the butler walk around the table
watching if anything is wanted; they pour the wine into the
glasses, often replenishing for the guests, but only on feast
days keeping the glass full for the courtiers. The commissary,
the treasurer, the equerry, the gentleman usher, the masters of
the wardrobe, all dine at the marshal's table. To tell the truth,
those who sit at our table have more honor than profit, for they
do not always have the same kind of food that we have, although
it comes from the same dish. For instance, when the meats are
brought in, there will be on the dish game or domestic fowl on the
top, and plain roast beef, or roast pork, underneath. Each course
is brought on two enormous dishes, and it seems almost impossible
such heaps could disappear; yet the last man served gets often
but scanty bits of food, and whether there are four courses, as
on week days, or seven, as on Sundays, or twelve, as on festivals,
I do not remember having seen anything left on our table.
The salaried courtiers receive quite high pay, from three
hundred to a thousand florins annually, also provender for two
horses each, and the livery for their valets; but then the Count
expects them all to present themselves well dressed. When he is
especially pleased with one of them he rewards him generously,
and every year on the Count's birthday, rich presents in dresses
and money are distributed.
But this is not our whole retinue; there are also the
chamberlains,--young boys from fifteen to twenty years of age,
of noble families, who perform a kind of novitiate in our
service. Their duties are to be always in attendance, to
accompany our carriage on horseback, and to be ready for all
kinds of errands; thus if my honored Parents have letters to be
carried in haste, or presents or invitations to be sent, they
always send the chamberlains. One of them, Michael Chronowski,
will finish his novitiate on Epiphany, and then will come the
ceremony of liberation, which I shall describe in its place.
As for other people belonging to our retinue, it would be
difficult to enumerate them; I am sure I do not know how many
there are of musicians, cooks, linkboys, cossacks, hostlers,
valets, chamberlains, and boy and girl servants. I know only
there are five different dinner tables, and two stewards are
busy from morning till night, giving out the provisions for the
meals. Very often, especially when fresh supplies are brought
in, my honored Mother is herself present in the storeroom; she
also keeps the keys of the medicine closet, where spices,
dainties, and sweet liquors are kept. Every morning the marshal
brings to her the dinner and supper menu, which she, with the
advice of my honored Father, either changes or approves.
The arrangement of our day's occupation is as follows: we rise at
six o'clock in summer, at seven in winter. All four of us sleep in
the same room with Madame, and each has an iron bedstead with
curtains around it. Basia, as the eldest, has two pillows and a silk
coverlet; we, the younger, have but one pillow and a woollen blanket.
Having said a French prayer with Madame, we begin our lessons at
once. At first the chaplain taught us the catechism, and with our
tutor we learned how to read and write in Polish; but now he teaches
only my two younger sisters, for Basia and I study with Madame only.
We learn vocabularies, dialogues, and anecdotes by heart from a
text-book. At eight we go downstairs to wish our honored Parents
good-morning and to have breakfast. Then we go to the chapel, where,
after the mass, the chaplain reads Latin prayers, which we all
repeat after him aloud. Returning to our room, we learn German
vocabularies, we write letters and exercises, and Madame dictates
to us the verses of a French poet, Malesherbes. We have a spinet and
are taught to play upon it by a German teacher, who directs our
orchestra; for this service he receives three hundred florins
annually. We all study music and Basia plays not badly at all.
When our lessons are over we put on wrappers and the coiffeur
comes to dress our hair, beginning with the eldest. This is a
long and often painful operation, especially when he is
inventing some new coiffure. As my hair is the thickest and the
longest (it drags on the floor when I am sitting before the
dressing-table), it is on my head that he generally makes his
experiments. It is true that he does make very beautiful and
wonderful coiffures; for instance, the one I have to-day, is so
pretty, having a _laisser aller_ effect: all my hair is lifted
up very high; half of it is arranged in puffs on the top of the
head, and the other half falls in loose curls on the neck and
the shoulders; there must have been at least a half-pound of
powder used in it. Our dressing takes two or three hours, during
which Madame reads to us a new French book, the "Magasin des
Enfants" by Madame Beaumont.
At noon, at the Angelus bell, we go down to dinner, and then, our
honored Parents allow us to remain with them for the rest of the
day. We sit generally two hours at table; after that if the
weather is favorable we take a walk; if not, we always have some
needle-work on hand for our church in Piotrowice. We sit at our
embroidery frames as long as we can see, and when the lights are
brought in, we make netting or do some such light work. There are
always many wax tapers burning in silver candelabra, and although
they are rather yellow, being home-made from our own wax, they
give a very bright light.
Supper is at seven, and afterwards the evening is given to
amusement. Sometimes we play cards, "Marriage" or "Drujbart,"
and it is such fun to see the faces Matenko makes, according as
he gets a seven or a trump!
Once a week a chamberlain goes to Warsaw to bring the newspapers
and letters, and then the chaplain reads aloud the "Gazette" and
the "Courier." At times my honored Father reads the old
chronicles to us; sometimes they are very dull, and sometimes
very interesting. During the Carnival, there is seldom any
reading, but there are games, music, and dances. I cannot
imagine how they can amuse themselves better at the court in
Warsaw; how can it be anywhere gayer than in our Maleszow?
Still, I should like so much, if only out of curiosity, to have
just a taste of that court life. But what do I hear? There is
the noon bell! I must say the Angelus in haste, see if my
coiffure is in order, and run downstairs, leaving for to-morrow
all that I intended to write to-day.
_Tuesday_, January 2.
Yesterday, I wrote about myself and my home; to-day I want to
write about my country. I should not be a worthy Pole if I were
not interested in what happens in my own land. People in our
house talk much about Poland, and I have always listened
attentively, but much more so since I resolved to write this
journal.
Our present king is Augustus III., Elector of Saxony, son and
successor of Augustus II. On the seventeenth of this month, it
will be twenty-five years since the Bishop of Cracow crowned him
King of Poland and Lithuania.[6] It is said that he was rather
indifferent to the Polish crown, when by his father's death the
chance was opened to him; but he was persuaded to become a
candidate by his wife, Marie Josephine, daughter of the German
Emperor Maximilian. This royal lady was very much beloved by the
Poles: she had a very good influence over the king, her husband,
and never meddled with any court intrigues; she was charitable,
beneficent, pious, a good wife and a good mother, and fully
deserved to be called a model of feminine virtues. She died in
Dresden two years ago, and I remember well the great sorrow
caused by the news of her death. In all the churches there were
grand funeral services, also in our Piotrowice, and all the poor
people cried and lamented, having lost in her a real mother. She
had fourteen children, of whom eleven are living: four sons and
seven daughters.
[6] At the end of the fourteenth century these two
countries were united by the marriage of Hedvig,
queen of Poland, with the prince of Lithuania Jagellon.
The king is said to be of a kindly but rather weak character,
and he has the greatest confidence in his minister Bruehl, who in
reality is the ruler both of Poland and Saxony. It is said
affairs are going all wrong in Saxony, and not much better in
our country. I have often heard people say: "We need a Frederic
the Great, with a strong head and an iron will;" and as our king
is old, they are all looking forward and planning already for
his successor. There are two prominent candidates for the
throne: one is Stanislaus Poniatowski, who was educated in
France, spent four years in Russia as the envoy of Poland, and
there became the favorite of the Empress Catherine II. The other
candidate is Duke Charles, twenty-six years old, the most
beloved of the sons of our present king. People say he has a
real gift for attracting all hearts to him; he is very handsome,
very stately in figure, and very courteous in manner; and having
spent almost his whole life in Poland, he knows our language
perfectly. I have heard so much of his good qualities that my
best wishes are for him, although Poniatowski is my countryman.
This day will be a memorable one for Duke Charles. A few weeks
ago he was elected Duke of Courland, which is a tributary of
Poland, and to-day occurs the "investiture," that is, the giving
possession. The king is so happy about the good fortune of his
beloved son, that he is said to look ten years younger. What
festivals there will be in Warsaw! How I should like to be there
now, and to see the grand doings, but especially to see the
royal prince. We shall, at least, drink his health here and cry,
"Long life to Duke Charles!"
January 3.
Yesterday, just when we were drinking to the health of the Duke
of Courland, and our band was doing its best, and our company of
dragoons were firing salutes,--at that very moment the chamberlain,
who had been sent to Warsaw, returned with the news that on account
of the indisposition of the duke, the ceremonies of the investiture
had to be postponed. "Bad omen," said Matenko; "as the mitre slips,
so the crown will slip." I felt like crying, but there was no time
for that, as many guests were present; among others, the Woivode of
Craclaw, Swidinski, with his nephew Father Albert, a Jesuit, whom
my honored Parents like and respect greatly. Basia is his special
favorite; he brought her a rosary and a prayer book,--"La Journee
du Chretien,"--and he spoke several times to her at supper. But then,
Basia is the eldest; no wonder everybody pays most attention to her.
_Friday_, January 5.
The Woivode and Father Albert are still here, and to-day the two
sons of the former are expected. I am very anxious to know them,
as they have both been educated in France, at Luneville, at the
court of Stanislaus Leszczynski.[7] This nobleman, although his
country has proved faithless to him, tries to be useful to it,
and he has always some young Poles at his court, where they
receive the best education. The sons of our first families court
this great honor, and there is not a better recommendation for a
young man than to say of him: "He has been brought up in the
court of Luneville." He is sure then to be refined, to speak
French well, and to dance the minuet gracefully; therefore all
gentlemen brought up at that court are great favorites of the
ladies. Oh! how curious I am to see these two!
[7] Stanislaus Leszczynski, surnamed the "most virtuous
of men," king of Poland before Augustus II., was
dethroned by the Saxon party. He had Lorraine
allotted to him, and is still remembered there as
the "good King Stanislaus." His daughter Maria was
married to Louis XV. of France.
_Saturday_, January 6.
They arrived yesterday, but I cannot say they are quite as I
expected, especially the elder, the Staroste of Radom. I thought I
should see a fine young cavalier, like the Prince Cheri, so
beautifully depicted by Madame de Beaumont, but the Staroste is not
at all like him; first, he is not very young,--he is about thirty;
then he is rather stout, and therefore, perhaps, he is not fond of
dancing. As to his Parisian accent, I cannot judge about that, as
he did not say one French word, but mixes his Polish and Latin
quite as the old gentlemen do. His brother, who is a colonel in the
king's army, pleased me a little more; he has, at least, a fine
uniform. To-day, the ceremony of liberation of the Chamberlain
Chronowski will take place. Besides that, as it is customary on
Epiphany, they are baking an enormous cake with an almond in it,
and whoever gets the almond will be the Twelfth Night king or
queen. Oh! if it only came to me! A crown would be put on my head
and I should have all the ordering of the dances; then what dancing
there would be! Still, I think, there will be enough in any case,
for many guests are expected. Our old butler, Peter, was muttering
to himself this morning that around the church in Piotrowice there
are said to be ever so many coaches and curricles. Poor man! he is
expecting more work, so he grumbles; but I feel my heart jumping,
and my feet are dancing already. How often in this world the same
thing brings trouble to one and joy to another!
_Sunday_, January 7.
Well, yes, they did come, and many of them are still here. Old
Peter has two wrinkles more on his forehead, but we amused
ourselves royally. Basia, not I, was the queen, but it was just
as well. When at the end of the dinner the cake was cut, Basia
glancing at her piece became red as a pink, and Madame, sitting
next to her, announced: "Mademoiselle Basia has the almond!"
Then all the people cried, "Long live the queen!" and Matenko
added, smiling: "The almond is here, the husband is near." Would
it not be nice to have a wedding in our house!
Decidedly I do not like the Staroste; he is so grave! Yesterday
he danced the Polonaise only. He never looks at us girls, nor
speaks a word to one of us; he converses with my honored Parents
only, or plays cards, or reads the "Gazette;" so, really, I
cannot find him very entertaining.
But I am forgetting to speak about Michael Chronowski's
liberation. Soon after dinner we went to the banquet hall with
our guests, and all sat around in a large circle, my honored
Father in the middle, on a higher chair. The folding doors were
thrown open, and the marshal with other courtiers led in the
young man, dressed no more in livery, but in a rich Polish
costume. He knelt down before the Count, who gave him a light
blow on the cheek in token that he has been novitiate boy here,
then a sword was fastened to his side and his health was drunk
in a cup of wine. The Count made him a present of a purse filled
with gold, and of two horses which were already waiting in the
courtyard for their new master. Invited to remain here as a
guest till the end of the carnival, Chronowski accepted the
invitation with gratitude, and having saluted my honored Parents
and kissed the hands of all the ladies, was admitted to our
society and danced with us the whole evening.
January 8.
The prophecy of Matenko proved true, for Basia will be married
before the carnival is over. Last night the Staroste Swidinski
asked my honored Parents for her hand; they sent for her this
morning, told her about it, and the betrothal will take place
to-morrow. Basia came back in tears to our room, telling us that
she dreaded the marriage, and would always regret her old home,
but that it was not possible to refuse such a match, as both
our honored Parents wished it, and told her she would be very
happy. The Staroste is, they say, a most honorable man,
religious, and of a kind disposition; his family is also old and
very wealthy. His father has allotted him a large estate,
"Sulgostow," with a beautiful palace, and the king has given him
the appointment of staroste with the expectation of being soon
named castellan. For a long time the Woivode and Father Albert
had been planning this marriage, and they came here for the
purpose of effecting it.
And so we shall have a wedding here, in Maleszow Castle, on the
25th of February, at the very end of the carnival. Will there
not be dancing! Basia will become Madame Starostine; only, it is
a pity we shall not be allowed to call her "Basia" any more. I
am very sorry to have written about the Staroste as I did, but
then it is not I that is to marry him, and if he pleases Basia,
that is enough. She says she has always been afraid of young
men, she likes serious ones better; and our honored Mother
tells her that those make the best husbands. Perhaps so, but as
for me ... well, it is of no use to think about it at present.
Oh! but I must not forget: the investiture of Duke Charles will
certainly take place in Warsaw to-day. Colonel Swidinski, who
knows him personally, has not words enough to tell how charming
he is. I wonder if I shall ever see him.
January 10.
The betrothal took place yesterday. In the morning, when we came
down, my honored Mother gave Basia a skein of tangled silk to
wind.[8] The poor girl, with flushing cheeks, began the task,
not daring to look up from her work, for she knew that all eyes,
especially those of the Staroste, were fixed upon her; and
besides, that mischievous Matenko was teasing her without end,
making all the people laugh.
[8] An old Polish custom, by which a young girl was to
prove whether she was patient enough to meet the
trials of married life.
After dinner, when she sat again before her winding-frame, the
Staroste came near and asked in a voice loud enough for all to
hear: "May I believe that your ladyship's will is favorable to
my desires?" "The will of my honored Parents," answered Basia,
with a trembling voice, "has ever been a sacred law to me." And
that was the whole of the conversation between the betrothed.
When the courtiers had left the room and we were alone with our
guests, the Woivode and Father Albert arose, the former taking
by the hand the Staroste, and standing before my honored Parents
he thus addressed them: "For a long time my heart has been
filled with the most sincere affection and profound veneration
for the illustrious family of Korwin Krasinski; for a long time
I have desired fervently that my modest name be united with your
glorious one, and I cannot express the great satisfaction which
I feel in knowing that your Grace is willing to grant me this
favor. You have a most honorable daughter, Barbara; I have this
son, Michael, who is my comfort and my pride; are you willing to
renew to-day your promise to join this young pair for their
lifetime? Here is the ring which I received on a like occasion
from my honored Parents, in order to give it to my wife, who is,
alas! no more in this world, but who still lives in my heart.
Will you allow my son to offer it now to your daughter as a
pledge of a closer tie?" Saying this he laid a costly diamond
ring on a little silver tray which Father Albert was holding.
The latter also made a speech, but he used so many Latin words
that I could not make anything of it.
My honored Father rose and answered: "I repeat now what I told
you yesterday, that I consent to the marriage of my daughter
with the most honorable Staroste; I give her to him with my
sincere blessing, and I transfer to him all my rights as a
Father." "I do the same, and with my whole heart," added my
honored Mother. "Here is a ring, the most precious jewel in my
house; my Father, the Woivode of Podole, received it after his
victory over the Turks, from the hands of our late king,
Augustus II. This was my betrothal ring, and I give it now to my
eldest daughter, with a Mother's blessing, and with a prayer to
the Almighty that she may be as happy as I have been." She then
placed on the tray a ring with a very large diamond, which,
being raised, disclosed the miniature of the late king.
"Basia! come here, my girl," said my honored Father. She rose
and advanced, but was so confused and trembling that I wonder
how she ever reached the spot. Father Albert blessed the rings,
and gave the first one to the Staroste, who, having kissed my
sister's hand, placed the ring on her fourth finger; Basia, in
her turn, gave him the ring with the portrait, and had her hand
kissed once more. Then the Staroste fell at the feet of my
honored Parents, thanking them, and calling God to witness that
he would do all in his power to make their daughter happy; in
the mean time the Woivode kissed the trembling Basia on the
brow, while Father Albert and the colonel paid her many fine
compliments.
At the end my honored Father took a large cup, filled it with
old Hungarian wine, and drank the young couple's health; and all
the gentlemen did the same.
The whole ceremony was so solemn and so touching that I could
not keep back my tears. "Do not weep, Frances," said Matenko,
who still remained in the room and for once was serious, "do not
weep; in less than one year it will be your ladyship's turn." In
one year? ... no, that would be too soon, but in a few years,
perhaps....
Everybody in the house is now paying so much attention to Basia!
My honored Parents kissed her on the cheek when she wished them
good-night, and all the people are congratulating her and
recommending themselves to her, as many wish that she would take
them to her new court.
My honored Father brought out a bag containing a thousand
ducats, which he gave my honored Mother for the trousseau, and
during several hours they discussed together its details.
To-morrow Mlle. Zawistoska, a very respectable woman, who has
been brought up in our castle and will be Basia's lady's maid,
is going with the commissary to Warsaw to make the necessary
purchases.
In our store-house there are four big trunks with silver plate,
one for each of us. The Count ordered the one which is designed
for Basia to be opened; examined each piece himself, and those
which need repairs or alteration are to be sent to Warsaw.
The letters to announce the approaching marriage are already
being written, and the chamberlains will take them to all parts
of Poland, to all relatives and friends, inviting them to the
wedding. But the most stately of our courtiers, the equerry,
will go to Warsaw with letters to the king, the royal princes,
the primate, and the chief senators. In these missives the Count
gives notice of his daughter's intended marriage, but sends no
invitations, as the presence of those persons will depend upon
their own pleasure. Oh! if one of them, for instance the Duke of
Courland, should come here, what grandeur would be added to the
wedding; but more probably they will send their envoys only,
who, in that case, receive all the honors due to those they
represent.
The Staroste gave handsome tokens of remembrance to each of us
sisters. I received a costly brooch with turquoises; Mary, a ruby
cross; Kasia, a Venetian chain. Also he offered presents to my
honored Parents, which they deigned to accept,--the Count, a golden
cup; the Countess, a work-box, in which all the implements are of
mother-of-pearl and gold. He did not forget even our Madame, who
found this morning a lace shawl on her bed; so she also highly
praises our Polish generosity.
Last night we had a grand supper. The music was beautiful, the
dragoons fired salutes, and the captain gave to the guard for a
watchword the names Michael and Barbara.
This morning there was given a great hunting-party, for Basia's
good luck, and it was unusually successful; they brought home one
boar, two deer, four hinds, and many hares. The boar was killed by
the Staroste himself, who laid his trophy at Basia's feet. I have
learned to-day what a brave man the Staroste is. My honored Father
ordered for the hunters all the horses from the stables, and among
others there was one, a great beauty, but very wild; even the
equerry does not dare to ride him. The Staroste said, however, that
he would try him, and notwithstanding all the remonstrances, he sat
upon him with ease and held him with such a clever and strong hand
that, in spite of all the animal's prancing and jumping, he rode
three times around the castle. It was beautiful to see. Basia
turned pale at first, but when she saw how he was able to manage
the horse, and when loud bravos began to resound, then deep blushes
covered her cheeks, especially when all eyes turned towards her.
By this act the Staroste quite gained my favor; one who is so brave
and so strong, can be pardoned even if he does not like to dance
the minuet. The Count presented the horse to his future son-in-law,
adding a rich equipment and a groom; he deserved it.
To-morrow the Woivode and the Staroste are going away, in order
to prepare the Sulgostow house for its new mistress.
_Sunday_, January 20.
During more than a week I have not opened my diary, for we are
very busy. The afternoons and evenings are spent with our
guests, and the mornings are given to work, as each sister
wishes to make something with her own hands for Basia's
trousseau. I am embroidering a dishabille with flowers in
lace-stitch, and I have to get up very early in the morning and
work even by candle-light in order to be ready in season. Mary
is making a very pretty scarf; it will have an arabesque
embroidered on fine muslin in dark silks and gold; Kasia is
knitting a cover for the dressing table; so all the lessons are
put aside, and even Madame de Beaumont is forgotten.
From the early morning, my honored Mother is busy, unlocking the
trunks, the drawers, and the cupboards,--taking out linen,
silks, furs, carpets, rugs, curtains, etc. She has many things
still remaining from her own trousseau, and many others bought
later, as during all these years she has been gathering all
kinds of beautiful things for our marriage outfits; really they
are well worth seeing. Sometimes she deigns to call me to assist
her, and it is quite touching to see her anxiety to do right by
each of us; she divides all these treasures in four portions,
and sometimes she even asks my honored Father and the chaplain
to give their opinion whether the shares are quite of equal
value.
A tailor and a furrier have come from Warsaw, and there is so
much to be done that they will not have finished for a month.
Fortunately, almost all the linen is ready, our sewing-girls
having worked upon it for these last two years, and now they
are marking it with blue cotton.
Basia wonders what she will do with all the new dresses they are
making for her; until now we had never more than four at the
same time, two dark woollen ones for every day, and two white
ones, one in cotton for Sundays, another in batiste for great
occasions. But my honored Mother says that what is good enough
for a young girl would not be proper for a married lady.
Basia has wound the tangled silk with such patience that,
although green, it has not in the least changed its color; even
Matenko acknowledges that she is fit to be married. She is now
knitting from that silk a purse for the Staroste by my honored
Mother's direction.
The equerry and the chamberlain are gone with the invitations.
On the 8th of January the investiture of the royal prince took
place at last. The night before, my uncle the Prince Lubomirski,
Woivode of Lublin, who is also the marshal to the royal prince,
gave a great ball; other festivals, dinners, and balls followed
for more than a week. The new duke made a speech in the Polish
language, which pleased immensely; he is now treated quite as a
crowned prince. In the "Courier" there is a full account of the
ceremonies. It is very interesting; I should like to copy it
here, but I have not the time.
January 25.
The Staroste arrived last night, and this morning Basia found on
her work-table two large silver baskets with oranges and
bonbons, which she distributed among us and our court ladies.
Our work is progressing rapidly and my _neglige_ is half done.
Basia will be provided with feather-beds from her own household,
for to each of us daughters has been allotted for many years a
certain number of geese and swans. There is among the servants a
poor, stupid girl who is not able to do anything but pluck the
feathers, and each of us has a separate barrel for feathers and a
bag for down. Basia, out of her share, will have two feather-beds,
eight big pillows filled with goose-down, and four small ones of
swan's-down. The pillows will be made of red silk, and the cases of
Holland linen lawn embroidered.
February 2.
The Staroste stayed nearly a week and departed yesterday; the
next time he will not go away alone, but Basia will go with him.
It seems to me quite impossible that she will leave us and go
alone with a man! Basia's friendship and esteem for the Staroste
grows every day, although he never speaks with her; all his
conversation is with my honored Parents, and all his attentions
are paid to them. They say it ought to be so in an honorable
courtship, for is there a better way of gaining the heart of the
daughter than by pleasing the Parents?
The wedding will be in three weeks; we shall have new dresses as
well as the court ladies; all these will be Basia's gift.
Many of the invited guests have already replied that they are
coming, but the king and the royal princes will send only their
envoys. It is doubtful, also, if my aunt, the Princess Woivodine
of Lublin will be able to come, but she is much pleased with
Basia's choice, and she wrote a beautiful letter with her
blessing,--which made my honored Father very happy.
I am hurrying with my embroidery, but I must rise early and work
by candle-light, for my honored Mother is so gracious toward me
that she often wants my help and service. Before this, only
Basia, as the eldest, was so fortunate, but now, my honored
Parents want me to have some practice in order to take her place
when the Staroste takes her away. Twice already I have had the
key of the medicine closet intrusted to me, and I really think
since then I have grown more serious.
February 12.
The preparations for the wedding are going on, and our visitors
begin to arrive. Almost all the guest-rooms are already
occupied, and the farm-house, the parsonage, even the better
peasant-cottages will be wanted for the later comers. The cooks
and the confectioners are already preparing all kinds of
delicacies and sweetmeats for the coming event.
To-day the beds have been sent to Sulgostow and two enormous
chests with mattresses, pillows, carpets, curtains, etc. The
bedsteads are of carved oak with blue covers, curtains, and
canopies; on the four corners there will be bunches of blue and
white ostrich-feathers. Almost every moment Basia has good
reason for embracing the hands and the feet of our honored
Parents, they are so generous toward her. The Count is writing
with his own hand, in a large book, the contents of the
trousseau, beginning with these words:--
"Inventory of the wedding outfit which I, Stanislaus Korwin
Krasinski, Staroste of Nova Wies, etc., etc., and Angela, born
Humiecka, my honored wife, are giving to our eldest and beloved
daughter Barbara, promised in marriage to the honorable Michael
Swidinski, Staroste of Radom; and imploring for this daughter of
ours the favor of Heaven, we bestow upon her our parental
blessing, _in nomine Patri et Filii et Spiritu Sancto_. Amen." I
should like to copy here the whole inventory, but first, I have
no time, and secondly, I expect to receive a trousseau like this
sometime myself, and what is still better, such a blessing of my
own.
February 20.
Three days more and then the wedding. The Staroste arrived
yesterday; Basia shook like a leaf when the chamberlain brought him
into the parlor. To-day we are expecting the Woivode, Father
Albert, the colonel and the Woivodine Granowska, sister of the
Staroste, with her husband. Basia is entering into a fine
family,--all religious and worthy people. The trousseau is quite
finished, and what has not already been sent to Sulgostow is packed
in trunks, of which Mademoiselle Zavistoska has the keys. Besides
this mademoiselle, Basia will take with her two young girls, her
goddaughters, well trained in all kinds of needle-work, and as
companion, one of the six damsels who have been brought up with us.
When I am married I shall take still more; I have already solemnly
promised three girls that they shall go with me; one of them is the
daughter of our Peter. In his grateful joy, the old man bowed to my
feet, and for the first time his forehead was free from wrinkles.
_Sunday_, February 22.
The wedding will be to-morrow. Our guests are numberless, and all
the envoys are here. The king's envoy is the Secretary Borch; that
of the Duke of Courland, his confidant the Castellanic[9]
Kochanowski, a very handsome and polite cavalier; the proverb is
right: "As the master, so the valet." I cannot possibly describe
all the others; they arrived, as if by appointment, at the same
hour yesterday, and their entrance was quite imposing. Before every
one of them our dragoons presented arms, while the cannons were
firing and the music playing. The greatest honors were shown to the
king's envoy; the Count, having been informed of the hour of his
arrival, was waiting with head uncovered on the drawbridge, and all
our guests, courtiers, and servants stood in a double row up to the
entrance door. As soon as the secretary stepped on the bridge they
all shouted "Vivat!" and bowed low in salutation.
[9] Son of a castellan.
To-day, in the presence of the whole company, and before
appointed witnesses, the marriage contract was written, but I do
not know what it contains, as I have not understood a single
word of it. I know only that the bride received many beautiful
presents: from the Staroste three strings of oriental pearls;
from the Woivode a rich diamond cross and an aigrette with
diamond pendants; from the colonel an enamelled watch and chain;
from Father Albert many relics; and from each relative a
souvenir. Basia can hardly believe that all these riches belong
to her; until now, her only jewel, besides her betrothal ring,
was a small ring with the picture of the Holy Virgin on it, and
I am sure Basia will not discard her old friend for all the
costly jewels which she now receives.
The maid has just brought my _neglige_, washed and pressed; it
looks very nice. There are twenty-five different kinds of
lace-stitch in it; I am sure it will be becoming to Basia.
_Shrove Tuesday_, February 26.
All is over, and as Matenko says, "with a hundred horses one
could not catch Mademoiselle Barbara any more;" she is Madame
Starostine. I have much to tell.
Yesterday, very early in the morning, we rode to our parish
church in Lisow, where the bride and the bridegroom went to
confession and to communion. As it was cold the bride wore a
white cloak of brocade silk, lined with white fox fur, and on
her head a long lace veil.
When we returned breakfast was served, and soon afterwards the
dressing of the bride commenced; twelve noble ladies headed by
my honored Mother undertook that important task. The dress was
of white satin, with watered silk stripes, a frill of Brabant
lace with silver ornaments at the bottom, and a long train; a
rosemary bouquet fastened the front of the corsage. On her head
the bride wore a rosemary wreath held in place by a gold circlet
on which was engraved the date of the wedding and good wishes in
rhyme. According to the old Polish custom, my honored Mother
fastened in the wreath a ducat with the date of Basia's
birth-year, and a bit of bread for good luck; she also added to
the above a lump of sugar in order to sweeten the married life,
which they say has many difficulties. No jewels were allowed,
for it is said that for each precious stone worn on the wedding
day, one has to pay afterwards with a vial of tears. As it is,
Basia has wept enough, so that her eyes are red and swollen.