The Deluge · Chapter
LXXX explained
The chapter details the ongoing siege of Warsaw, with heavy fighting and the arrival of reinforcements including Pan Yan Zamoyski and Pan Charnyetski.
What happens
The chapter details the ongoing siege of Warsaw, with heavy fighting and the arrival of reinforcements including Pan Yan Zamoyski and Pan Charnyetski. Kmita is praised by the king for his defense of a key position. Meanwhile, Hassling (Kettling) recounts the story of Prince Boguslav Radzivill's obsessive pursuit of Olenka Billevich, her refusal of his marriage proposal, and the subsequent intrigue at Taurogi involving Panna Anusia Borzobogati.
Themes in this chapter
- Love and Sacrifice
Prince Boguslav's obsessive love for Olenka and her steadfast refusal, highlighting the tension between personal desire and honor.
- Political Intrigue
The machinations at Taurogi, including the proposed marriage alliance between the Radzivills and the Billevich family, and the subsequent fallout.
- War and Destruction
The ongoing siege of Warsaw, with heavy fighting, casualties, and the deployment of heavy artillery.
Characters to notice
- Andrei Kmita
Praised by the king for his defense of the intrenchment; learns of the king's plan to send him to Lithuania; listens to Hassling's story about Olenka.
- Pan Michael Volodyovski
Congratulates Kmita; attends council of war; reacts to Hassling's mention of Anusia Borzobogati.
- Zagloba
Comments on the siege and the story; teases Volodyovski about Anusia.
- Prince Boguslav Radzivill
Subject of Hassling's story: his obsessive love for Olenka, his proposal and refusal, and his subsequent illness.
- Olenka Billevich
Refuses Prince Boguslav's marriage proposal; protected by Hassling; remains resolute.
- Anusia Borzobogati
Captured and sent to Taurogi; causes many to fall in love with her, according to Hassling.
- Stefan Charnyetski
Arrives at Warsaw with reinforcements to take part in the general storm.
- Yan Zamoyski
Brings heavy infantry and guns from Zamost to Warsaw.
Key passages
“He dressed himself as a Greek shepherd, as Philemon; special couriers were flying to Königsberg for patterns of shepherd’s garments, for ribbons and wigs. He feigned despair, he walked under her windows, and played on a lute.”
Prince Boguslav adopted a theatrical pastoral disguise, sending couriers to Königsberg for shepherd costumes and accessories, and pretended to be heartbroken by serenading Olenka under her windows.
Hassling describes Prince Boguslav's elaborate and manipulative courtship tactics.
“The most fortunate event of the day was the arrival of Pan Yan Zamoyski and Pan Charnyetski. The first brought very excellent infantry and guns from Zamost, so heavy that the Swedes had nothing like them in Warsaw.”
The day's best news was the arrival of Pan Yan Zamoyski and Pan Charnyetski, with Zamoyski bringing superior infantry and massive cannons from Zamost that outclassed Swedish artillery.
The arrival of reinforcements and heavy guns shifts the balance in the siege.
