In abundance and superfluity of luxury my days were passed, the
richest dishes and the sweetest wine were my food. And to what end was
it all? What was it all for? In order that I might at last die a death
more cruel than that of the meanest beggar in the kingdom? And it was
not enough that I should be condemned to so horrible a fate; not
enough that before my own end I should behold my father and mother
perish in intolerable torment, when I would have willingly given my
own life twenty times over to save them; all this was not enough, but
before my own death I must hear words of love such as I had never
before dreamed of. It was necessary that he should break my heart with
his words; that my bitter lot should be rendered still more bitter;
that my young life should be made yet more sad; that my death should
seem even more terrible; and that, dying, I should reproach thee still
more, O cruel fate! and thee--forgive my sin--O holy mother of God!"

As she ceased in despair, her feelings were plainly expressed in her
face. Every feature spoke of gnawing sorrow and, from the sadly bowed
brow and downcast eyes to the tears trickling down and drying on her
softly burning cheeks, seemed to say, "There is no happiness in this
face."

"Such a thing was never heard of since the world began. It cannot be,"
said Andrii, "that the best and most beautiful of women should suffer
so bitter a fate, when she was born that all the best there is in the
world should bow before her as before a saint. No, you will not die,
you shall not die! I swear by my birth and by all there is dear to me
in the world that you shall not die. But if it must be so; if nothing,
neither strength, nor prayer, nor heroism, will avail to avert this
cruel fate--then we will die together, and I will die first. I will
die before you, at your beauteous knees, and even in death they shall