6 Poland^ Paul and Present. [\!AN. 



The conqueror could now have no competitor at home, and he was 

 soon after chosen Duke of Poland. 



On his death the Palatines, those ceaseless disturbers, were again in 

 arms, each struggling for the crown. To prevent the usual effusion of 

 blood, an expedient was adopted which displays the Tartar origin of the 

 people. The crown was to be the prize of a trial of speed on horseback. 

 The trial was open to the whole body of the youth. On the day ap- 

 pointed, a multitude of gallant horsemen appeared; but soon after 

 starting, many of their horses fell lame ; to the astonishment of the 

 spectators, more were lamed every moment. Two alone at length con- 

 tended for the prize ; the whole multitude of riders had fallen behind, 

 with their chargers broken down ; " Witchcraft," and " the wrath of the 

 gods," were exclaimed in a thousand furious or terrified voices. But 

 the two candidates still held on fiercely, and it was not till after a long 

 display of the most desperate horsemanship that the conqueror, Lefzek, 

 reached the goal. 



When he galloped back to lay his claim before the chieftains, and 

 was on the point of being chosen, he was startled by a voice proclaim- 

 ing that he had won the prize by treachery. Lefzek turned pale, but 

 haughtily denying the charge, demanded to be confronted with the ac- 

 cuser. The accuser was his rival in the race, who demanded that the 

 horses of both should be brought into the circle. Lifting up the hoof 

 of Lefzek's horse, he shewed that it was completely covered with iron. 

 " Thus/' said he, " did the traitor's horse escape the treachery/' Then 

 lifting up the hoof of his own horse, and shewing it also covered with 

 iron, " Thus," said he, " was I enabled to follow him." While the 

 assembled warriors were gazing on the discovery, the Pole grasped a 

 handful of the sand, and shewing that it was full of nails, exclaimed, 

 " Thus were your horses lamed. The traitor had sowed the sand with 

 iron spikes, and covered his horse's hoofs that he alone might escape 

 them. I saw the artifice, and shod mine that I might detect him. Now, 

 choose the traitor for your king." 



Lefzek vainly attempted to defend himself. His crowd of rivals, 

 doubly indignant at their defeat and the injury to their horses, rushed 

 on him with drawn sabres, and he was cut to pieces on the spot. Wild 

 admiration succeeded wild justice ; they raised his detector on their 

 shoulders, and instantly proclaimed him king by the title of Lefzko the 

 Second. 



In the reign of his successor, Lefzko the Third, the casual evils of an 

 unsettled government were made perpetual by the most fatal of all insti- 

 tutions. The king had a number of illegitimate sons, for whom he pro- 

 vided by giving them Fiefs, held of Popiel, his heir. Those Fiefs were 

 originally but manor-rights ; the people had freeholds in their lands, and 

 voices in the election to the throne : but debt, usurpation, and fraud 

 rapidly converted them into tyrannies, and the people into slaves. The 

 institution of Fiefs, thus commencing in royal vice, ended in national ruin. 



A new revolution now raised the most celebrated dynasty of Poland 

 to the throne. The son of Popiel had died, execrated by the nation for 

 hereditary crimes. Poland was once more the prey of the Palatines. 

 The great holders of the Fiefs crushed the people. All was misery, 

 until all became indignation. The people at length remembered the 

 freedom of their birthright, and, inspired with the warlike spirit of their 



