The Knights of the Cross

The Knights of the Cross (or,
Krzyzacy) (tr Samuel A. Binion)
[with accents]

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Title: The Knights of the Cross
Author: Henryk Sienkiewicz
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THE KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS
or, KRZYZACY
Historical Romance
By HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ
Author Of "Quo Vadis," "The Deluge," "With Fire And Sword," "Pan
Michael," Etc., Etc.
Translated From The Original Polish By Samuel A. Binion
Author Of "Ancient Egypt," Etc. Translator Of "Quo Vadis," Etc.

[Illustration: BUST OF HENRYK SIENKIEWICZ]

HON. WILLIAM T. HARRIS, LL.D.
Commissioner of Education
My Dear Doctor:--
This translation, of one of the greatest novels of Poland's foremost
modern writer, Henryk Sienkiewicz, I beg to dedicate to you. Apart for
my high personal regard for you, my reason for selecting you among all
my literary friends, is: that you are a historian and philosopher, and can
therefore best appreciate works of this kind.
SAMUEL A. BINION,
New York City.

To the Reader.
Here you have, gentle reader--old writers always called you
gentle--something very much more than a novel to amuse an idle hour.
To read it will be enjoyable pastime, no doubt; but the brilliant
romance of the brilliant author calls upon you for some exercise of the
finest sympathy and intelligence; sympathy for a glorious nation which,
with only one exception, has suffered beyond all other nations;
intelligence, of the sources of that unspeakable and immeasurable love
and of the great things that may yet befall before those woes are atoned
for and due punishment for them meted out to their guilty authors.
Poland! Poland! The very name carries with it sighings and groanings,
nation-murder, brilliance, beauty, patriotism, splendors, self-sacrifice
through generations of gallant men and exquisite women; indomitable
endurance of bands of noble people carrying through world-wide exile
the sacred fire of wrath against the oppressor, and uttering in every
clime a cry of appeal to Humanity to rescue Poland.
It was indeed a terrible moment in history, when the three military
monarchies of Europe, Russia, Austria and Prussia, swooped down
upon the glorious but unhappy country, torn by internal trouble, and
determined to kill it and divide up its dominions. All were alike guilty,
as far as motive went. But Holy Russia--Holy!--since that horrible time
has taken upon herself by far the greatest burden of political crime in
her dealings with that noble nation. Every evil passion bred of
despotism, of theological hatred, of rancorous ancient enmities, and the
ghastliest official corruption, have combined in Russian action for more
than one hundred and fifty years, to turn Poland into a hell on earth.
Her very language was proscribed.
This is not the place to give details of that unhappy country's woes. But
suffice it to say, that Poland, in spite of fatuous prohibitions, has had a
great literature since the loss of her independence, and that literature
has so kept alive the soul of the nation, that with justice Poland sings
her great patriotic song:
"Poland is not yet lost As long as we live...."
The nation is still alive in its writers and their works, their splendid
poetry and prose.
It is a pity that so few of these great writers are widely known. But
most people have heard of Jan Kochanowski, of Mikolaj Rey, of

Rubinski, of Szymanowicz, of Poland's great genius in this century, one
of the supreme poets of the world, Adam Mickiewicz, of Joseph Ignac,
of Kraszewski, who is as prolific in literary and scientific works as
Alexander von Humboldt, and of hundreds of others in all branches of
science and art, too numerous to mention here.