The Deluge · Chapter
XIX explained
Volodyovski leads the Lauda men in an attack on Swedish soldiers plundering a village.
What happens
Volodyovski leads the Lauda men in an attack on Swedish soldiers plundering a village. After a brief but fierce battle, the Swedes are defeated. Zagloba proposes a cunning plan to release the prisoners and claim they are Radzivill's men, aiming to sow discord between the Swedes and the traitor hetman. Roh Kovalski is persuaded to renounce Radzivill and serve the country.
Themes in this chapter
- National Identity and Resistance
The Lauda men fight against Swedish invaders and plot to undermine the traitor Radzivill, demonstrating resistance to foreign occupation and betrayal.
- Political Intrigue
Zagloba's plan to release prisoners and claim they are Radzivill's men is a strategic move to create discord between the Swedes and the hetman.
Characters to notice
- Pan Michael Volodyovski
Leads the attack on the Swedish plunderers, defeats them, and later agrees to Zagloba's plan to release prisoners.
- Zagloba
Devises a strategic plan to release Swedish prisoners and claim they are Radzivill's men to undermine the hetman's credit. Also persuades Roh Kovalski to switch allegiance.
- Roh Kovalski
Initially serving Radzivill, he is convinced by Zagloba to renounce the hetman and serve the country instead.
- Yan Skshetuski
Mentioned as advising against hanging prisoners, advocating for a more strategic approach.
- Pan Stankyevich
Praises Zagloba's plan as excellent counsel.
- Mirski
Agrees that Zagloba's plan will disturb the enemy's plans.
Key passages
“You know me as a soldier, know me now as a statesman. We will let the Swedes go, but we will not tell them who we are. We will say that we are Radzivill's men, that we have cut off this detachment at command of the hetman, and in future will cut off whom we meet, for the hetman only pretended, through strategy, to join the Swedes.”
Zagloba proposes releasing the Swedish prisoners and claiming they are Radzivill's soldiers acting on the hetman's orders, thereby undermining Radzivill's alliance with the Swedes.
Zagloba's strategic plan to sow discord between the Swedes and Radzivill.
“I was not taking you of my own will. ... But you were the servant of an executioner, and that for a noble is infamy from which you must purify yourself, or I will renounce you and all the Kovalskis.”
Zagloba rebukes Roh Kovalski for serving Radzivill, calling it disgraceful, and pressures him to renounce the traitor.
Zagloba convinces Roh Kovalski to switch allegiance.
