Wichmann

Wid III.69


III.69. Hearing that the burg had been captured and his comrades punished, Wichmann turned toward the east, again immersed himself among the pagans, and spent time with the Slavs who are called Vuloini.1 How they had been provoking the emperor’s friend Mieszko to war, that was by no means hidden from him. He [Mieszko] sent to Boleslav, king of the Bohemians—for he was his son-in-law—and recieved from him two units of cavalry. When Wichmann had led an army against him, he first sent in foot soldiers against him. And when, by order of the dux, they were gradually fleeing before Wichmann, he was drawn further from his encampment; then, with the cavalry having been sent in from the rear, [Mieszko] gave those fleeing a sign to reverse against the enemy. Since he was being pressed from the rear and the front, Wichmann attempted to enter into flight. But he was accused of wickedness by his comrades, because he himself had urged them to the fight, and then, trusting his horse,2 he easily entered into flight, when it became necessary. Thus compelled, he gave up his horse, entered the battle with his comrades on foot and, fighting courageously that day, was defended by [his] arms. But now exhausted with hunger and the long way, on which he fought armed through the whole night, in the early morning, with just a few men, he entered the place of a certain man. When leading men of the enemy discovered him, they recognized from his arms that he might be a distinguished man. Asked by them who he might be, he acknowledged himself to be Wichmann. They encouraged him to lay down his arms. Next they gave their faith that he would be presented safe to their lord and that, at his place, he would bring it about that he would restore him uninjured to the emperor. He, though he might be situated in his final need, was not unmindful of his former nobility and strength and disdained to give his hand to such men. But he nevertheless asked that they relate this to Mieszko from him: that he wished to lay down his arms to him, that he wished to give him his hand. While they were going to Mieszko, an innumerable crowd surrounded him and assailed him violently. But, although exhausted, having vanquished many of them, nevertheless he grasped his sword and gave it, with these words, to one of the enemy more capable: “Take,” he said, “this sword and bring it to your lord, so that he may hold it as a sign of victory and send word to his friend the emperor, so that he [the emperor] might know for sure to mock a dead enemy or lament a dead kinsman.” Having said these words, turned toward the east, insofar as he was able, he prayed to the Lord in the speech of his fatherland and poured out his soul, replete with many miseries and troubles, to the mercy of the Creator of all things. This was the end for Wichmann, and so it might be for all those who took up arms against your father the emperor.