One of the books, that every Polish person have read, or watched as a movie, is "Pan Wołodyjowski".
I have read it few times, my father practically memorized this large book trilogy.
In it, one of the last scenes is when the heros knights of the 17th century defend the castle that is overrun by the enemy. Before the battle they swear before the God and their own people that they will defend it to the end of their lives and never let it fall into enemy hands. In the turn of the events the king of Poland signs the treaty with the enemy that many consider an act of the traitor and the battle ends. All the soldiers leave the castle in front of the enemy army, but the two knights stay behind and when the castle is empty, they set the ammunition storage on fire and blow themselves together with the castle.
During funeral of the two fallen officers the new king (who later conquered Ottoman Empire in Vienna) and the Polish knights say their goodbyes:
"In name of God, Sir Wołodyjowski, ... they already play alarm, to war! The enemy is in the borders! And you are not getting up? You won't lift your sword? Won't get on your horse? What happened to you dear soldier? Can't you remember your ancestral values? Sir Wołodyjowski, why are you leaving us in tears and fear?"
Sometimes we choose go for slaughter to the battles that others already considered lost -- we do that, or loose dear values, our souls. We pray to God to find the strength in our hearts, the compassion, the forgiveness, and maybe to be able to walk out with the head high.
Trilogy:
- "Potop" ("The Deluge")
- "Ogniem i Mieczem" ("With Fire and Sword")
- Pan Wołodyjowski ("Colonel Wołodyjowski" )
