Page images
PDF
EPUB

their public interment, the bodies were thrown into the Lake of Goplo. But, lo! after a certain time, the bodies thus thrown into the lake produced an innumerable quantity of rats and mice, which attacked the whole princely family, and, though they fled for safety to the highest towers of the chateau, the rats and mice followed them and devoured Popiel, his wife, and children. Thus was the dynasty of Popiel punished for its crimes.

The Slavs, by the fearful death of Popiel and his family, finding themselves once more without a chief, assembled in the city of Kruszwica to elect a new chief.

They deliberated for a very long time without coming to any agreement, but at length by the merest chance, their choice fell upon an individual whose somewhat remarkable history we will narrate in few words.

There was at Kruszwica, a brave but honest peasant named Piast, whose good husbandry and orderly and frugal manner of life had consequently placed him in comfortable circumstances, and withal he was very hospitable. As the concourse of people assembled to elect a chief was very considerable, provisions soon began to fail. Seeing this, Piast took out of his cellars several barrels of honey, and baked enormous quantities of bread, killed pigs and sheep in abundance, and invited

[graphic]

the middle of the ninth century of the Christian era. He is said to have lived 120 years, and that during his lifetime he confided the reins of government to the hands of his son Ziemowit, who though born of heathen parents had already been baptised a Christian by the two travellers, but had not yet been instructed in the Christian faith.

After the death, of Ziemowit his son Leszek reigned for a brief period, and was succeeded by his son Ziemomysl. The latter had a son born blind, who was consequently considered incapable of reigning.

However a miracle is reported to have taken place.

All at once, when seven years of age, this boy Miecislas saw the light, and became eligible to succeed his father on the throne.

Although from the accession of Piast the fabulous history of Poland ceased and the historical commenced, we may yet reckon that one hundred years elapsed from the year 850 to 950 (that is to say until the majority of Miecislas 1st, who embraced Christianity with his people), as still belonging to mythical history, on account of the supernatural events said to have taken place during this hundred years.

[graphic]

legends handed down from generation to generation to the middle of the tenth century, when the people, being converted to Christianity, the real history of the country commences.

However we must notice that, though we deem those times fabulous which furnish no genuine historical records, yet the different acts and events accomplished during the legendary period shew that there is truth mixed with fable; as for example, in the mounds of Krakus and Wanda which exist to this day near Cracow, in the ruins of the castle of Kruszwica in the middle of the lake of Goplo, and in the dynasty of the Kings of Poland to the middle of the fourteenth century, termed the dynasty of Piast,-these among other facts prove that this fabulous history (which preceded historical records) preserved and transmitted by means of legend has left traces which cannot be refuted, and must not be looked upon as altogether mythical.

After the death of Ziemomysl, Miecislas I., though still young, reigned over the different tribes of the Lechites (the ancient name of the Poles). Under Still a heathen his rule he united these tribes. like his ancestors, he had seven wives, but no children. Some Bohemian Christian missionaries, who had arrived near the river Vistula to pro

pagate the true light, advised Miecislas to put

« PreviousContinue »