He tore a handful of hair from his head, and cried: "Hetman and leaders! Commit no such womanish deed.

Trust not the Lyakhs; slay the dogs!" When the secretary presented the agreement, and the hetman put his hand to it, Taras drew a genuine Damascene blade, a costly Turkish sabre of the finest steel, broke it in twain like a reed, and threw the two pieces far away on each side, saying, "Farewell! As the two pieces of this sword will never reunite and form one sword again, so we, comrades, shall nevermore behold each other in this world.

Remember my parting words." As he spoke his voice grew stronger, rose higher, and acquired a hitherto unknown power; and his prophetic utterances troubled them all.
"Before the death hour you will remember me! Do you think that you have purchased peace and quiet?
do you think that you will make a great show?
You will make a great show, but after another fashion.

They will flay the skin from your head, hetman, they will stuff it with bran, and long will it be exhibited at fairs.

Neither will you retain your heads, gentles.