text:
Constitution of the Polish People's Republic (1976)

Preamble
The Polish People's Republic follows the finest progressive traditions of the Polish Nation and gives effect to the liberation ideas of the Polish working masses.

The Polish working people under the leadership of the heroic working class, and on the basis of an alliance of workers and peasants, for many decades fought for the liberation from the enslavement imposed upon the Nation by the Prussian, Austrian and Russian oppressors and colonizers, in the same way as they fought for the elimination of their exploitation by the Polish capitalists and landlords. During the occupation, the Polish Nation fought heroically and unflinchingly against the brutal Nazi invasion. The historic victory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics over Fascism liberated Polish soil, enabled the Polish working people to seize power, and provided conditions for the national restoration of Poland within her new and just frontiers. The Regained Territories were permanently restored to Poland. By carrying out the memorable directives of the Manifesto issued by the Polish Committee of National Liberation on July 22, 1944, and by developing its programme, the People's Authorities have accomplished great social changes due to the selfless and creative efforts of the Polish working people in the fight against the bitter resistance put up by the remnants of the former capitalist-landlords system. As a result of revolutionary struggles and transformations, the rule of the capitalists and landlords has been overthrown, the State of People's Democracy has been firmly established, and a new social system has been evolving and growing in power, according to the interests and aspirations of the broadest masses.

The legal principles of this system are laid down in the Constitution of the Polish People's Republic.

The present Government of the people in Poland rests on the alliance of workers and working peasants. In this alliance the leading role belongs to the workers, who are the leading class of society, rooted in the revolutionary achievements of the Polish and international working class movement, and profiting by the historic experience of the victorious building of socialism in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the first State of workers and peasants.

Implementing the will of the Polish Nation, the Legislative Diet of the Polish Republic, in accordance with its purposes, solemnly adopts the present Constitution as the fundamental law by which the Polish Nation and all organs of authority of the Polish working people shall be guided in order

 * to consolidate the People's State as the fundamental force which ensures the fullest development of the Polish Nation, its independence and sovereignty,

 * to accelerate the political, economic and cultural development of the Country and the growth of its potential,

 * to strengthen the patriotic feelings, the unity and solidarity of the Polish Nation in the struggle to further improve social conditions, to completely eliminate the exploitation of man by man, and to put into effect the great ideas of socialism,

 * to consolidate friendship and co-operation between Nations, based on the alliance and brotherhood which today link the Polish Nation with the peace-loving Nations of the world, for the attainment of their common objective: to prevent aggression and to strengthen world peace.

Chapter 1. Political System

 * Article 1.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic shall be a socialist State.
 * 2. In the Polish People's Republic authority shall be vested in the working people of town and country.

 * Article 2.
 * 1. The working people shall wield State authority through their representatives elected to the Diet (Sejm) of the Polish People's Republic and to the People's Councils on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.
 * 2. The people's representatives to the Diet of the Polish People's Republic and to the People's Councils shall be accountable to their constituents and may be recalled by them.

 * Article 3.
 * 1. The Polish United Workers' Party shall be the guiding political force of society in building socialism.
 * 2. The co-operation of the Polish United Workers' Party, the United Peasants' Party and the Democratic Party shall constitute foundations of a National Unity Front.
 * 3. The National Unity Front shall constitute a common platform on which social organizations of the working people operate and all the citizens - members of the Party and political organizations and persons with no party adherence, irrespective of their attitute [sic] toward religion - patriotically unite to promote interests of the Polish People's Republic.

 * Article 4.
 * In the Polish People's Republic it shall be the primary objective of the State activity to develop socialist society in all its aspects, to expand creative forces of the Nation and of each person and to meet the needs of citizens more and more adequately.

 * Article 5.
 * The Polish People's Republic –
 * (1) shall safeguard and expand the socialist achievements of the Polish working people of town and country, their authority and freedom;
 * (2) shall ensure that citizens participate in government, and shall promote various form of self-government by the working people;
 * (3) shall develop the productive forces of the country and the national economy through a planned use and increase of its material resources, sound work organization, and continuous progress of science and technology;
 * (4) shall strengthen social property as the mainstay of the economic power of the country and of national welfare;
 * (5) shall implement the principles of social justice, eliminate the exploitation of man by man, and counteract any infringements of the principles of community life;
 * (6) shall provide conditions conducive to a steady rise in the living standard and to a progressive obliteration of distinctions between town and country, between manual and non-manual labour;
 * (7) concerned about national development, shall protect the family, motherhood and the education of the young generation;
 * (8) shall take care of public health;
 * (9) shall promote and spread education;
 * (10) shall ensure the all-round development of science and national culture.

 * Article 6.
 * In its policy the Polish People's Republic -
 * (1) shall be guided by the interests of the Polish Nation, its sovereignty, independence and security, by the will for peace, and co-operation among nations;
 * (2) shall follow the noble traditions of solidarity with the forces of liberty and progress, shall consolidate friendship and co-operation with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other socialist States;
 * (3) shall base its relations with States of different social systems on the principles of peaceful co-existence and co-operation.

 * Article 7.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall implement and develop a socialist democracy.

 * Article 8.
 * 1. The laws of the Polish People's Republic shall express the interests and the will of the working people.
 * 2. Strict observance of the law shall be the fundamental duty of every organ of State and of every citizen.
 * 3. All the organs of State authority and administration shall work on the basis of the law.

 * Article 9.
 * In their work all the organs of State authority and administration shall rest upon the conscious and active support of the broadest masses and shall have the duty -
 * (1) to account to the people for their work;
 * (2) to examine carefully and comply with reasonable proposals, complaints and suggestions, in keeping with the law;
 * (3) to explain to the working people principal objectives and guiding principles of the policy pursued by the people's authority in various fields of State, economic and cultural activity.

 * Article 10.
 * The Armed Forces of the Polish People's Republic shall safeguard the sovereignty and independence of the Polish Nation, its security and peace.

Chapter 2. Socio-economic System

 * Article 11.
 * 1. The socialist economic system, based on socialized means of production and socialist production relations, shall constitute foundations of the socio-economic system of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 2. The Polish People's Republic shall develop the economic and cultural life of the country in accordance with the national socio-economic plan.
 * 3. It shall be the principal objective of socio-economic policy of the Polish People's Republic to steadily improve the standard of living and social and cultural facilities of society, to constantly develop the productive forces of the country, to strengthen and increase the power, defence capacity and independence of the Country.
 * 4. The State shall have the monopoly of foreign trade.

 * Article 12.
 * 1. The all-national property, especially mineral deposits, primary sources of energy, State-owned land, waters. State forests, mines, State industrial, farming and commercial enterprises. State-owned public utilities, banks, State stock of housing, roads. State-owned means of transport and communications, radio, television and film, State welfare, educational, scientific, and cultural institutions - shall be an object of special care and protection by the State and by all citizens.
 * 2. The Polish People's Republic shall ensure the protection and proper shaping of the natural environment, which is an all-national asset.

 * Article 13.
 * State enterprises, economically managing the part of all national property entrusted to them, shall implement economic and social tasks according to plan. Workers shall take part in running their enterprises.

 * Article 14.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic shall strengthen, in a planned way, the economic union of town and country, founded on the brotherly co-operation between workers and peasants.
 * 2. For this purpose, the Polish People's Republic shall secure a continuous increase in the output of State industry, serving to meet the needs of the rural population in every respect, both as producers and consumers; at the same time the State shall seek to stimulate in a planned manner a steady increase in marketable agricultural production, which supplies industry with raw materials, and the urban population with foodstuffs.

 * Article 15.
 * The Polish People's Republic, anxious to ensure an adequate level of nutrition:
 * (1) shall enable agriculture a steady increase in agricultural production, promoting socialist transformations in country and a higher standard of living for farmers;
 * (2) shall see to the proper use of land, which is an all-national asset;
 * (3) shall protect the individual farms of working peasants, and assist them to increase productivity and to raise the technological level of agriculture, promote the expansion of farming self-management, especially of farming associations and their co-operatives; shall promote co-operation and specialized production; shall expand the links connecting individual farms with the socialist national economy;
 * (4) shall give support and aid to collective farms set up on the principle of voluntary membership, especially to co-operative farms;
 * (5) shall develop and strengthen State farms, which are a form of highly efficient socialist economy in agriculture, and which promote new techniques in fanning and the development of the whole agriculture.

 * Article 16.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall promote the expansion of various forms of the co-operative movement in town and country, and give it every help in the fulfilment of its task; co-operative property as a form of social property shall be an object of special care and protection.

 * Article 17.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall recognize and protect - on the basis of the law - individual property and the right to inherit land, buildings and other means of production owned by peasants, craftsmen and home-workers.

 * Article 18.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall guarantee to citizens full protection of personal property and the right to inherit such property.

 * Article 19.
 * 1. Work shall be the right, the duty, and a matter of honour for every citizen. By their work, by the observance of work discipline, by competitive efforts in work and improving its methods, the working people of town and country shall increase the power of the Country, raise the prosperity of the people and accelerate the full implementation of the socialist system.
 * 2. Work champions and veterans of labour shall enjoy the respect of the whole Nation.
 * 3. The Polish People's Republic shall progressively put into practice the principle: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his work".

Chapter 3. Supreme Organs of State Authority

 * Article 20.
 * 1. A Diet (Sejm) of the Polish People's Republic shall be the highest organ of State authority.
 * 2. Diet as the highest representative of the will of the working people of town and country shall give form to the sovereign rights of the Nation.
 * 3. The Diet shall pass laws, shall adopt resolutions which define basic lines of State activity, and shall exercise control over the work of other organs of State authority and administration.

 * Article 21.
 * 1. The Diet shall be composed of 460 deputies.
 * 2. The validity of the election of a deputy shall be confirmed by the Diet.
 * 3. No deputy may be prosecuted or arrested without the consent of the Diet, and when the Diet is not holding its meetings, without the consent of the Council of State.

 * Article 22.
 * 1. The Diet shall meet in sessions. A session of the Diet shall be convened by the Council of State at least twice a year. The Council of State shall also convene a session on a written motion by one-third of the total number of deputies.
 * 2. The first session of a newly-elected Diet shall be convened within a month from the date of the election.

 * Article 23.
 * 1. The Diet shall elect from among its members a Speaker (Marszałek), his Deputies and Committees.
 * 2. The Speaker or his Deputy shall preside over the debates and supervise the course of the work of the Diet.
 * 3. The debates of the Diet shall be open to the public. The Diet may vote the holding of a secret meeting should this be required in the interests of the State.
 * 4. The order of work of the Diet, the type and number of Committees shall be defined by rules of procedure adopted by the Diet.

 * Article 24.
 * 1. The Diet shall adopt the national socio-economic plans for a period of several years.
 * 2. The Diet shall annually adopt a State budget.
 * 3. The Diet shall grant approval to the Government regarding the execution of the State budget and of the national socio-economic plan for the preceding year.

 * Article 25.
 * 1. The right to propose legislation shall be vested in the Council of State, the Government and the deputies.
 * 2. Acts passed by the Diet shall be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Council of State. Such acts shall be published in the Journal of Laws (Dziennik Ustaw) by order of the Chairman of the Council of State.

 * Article 26.
 * The Diet may appoint a commission to examine a specified matter. The terms of reference and procedure of the commission shall be established by the Diet.

 * Article 27.
 * The Premier or individual ministers shall answer an interpolation put up by a deputy within the time-limit and in the manner fixed by the Diet.

 * Article 28.
 * 1. The Diet shall be elected for a term of four years.
 * 2. The Council of State shall make orders to hold elections not later that one month before the expiry of the term of office of the Diet, the polling day to be fixed on a day free of work within two months after the expiry of the Diet's term of office.

 * Article 29.
 * 1. At its first sitting the Diet shall elect, from among its members, a Council of State composed of -
 * the Chairman of the Council of State four vice-Chairmen
 * the Secretary of the Council of State eleven Members.
 * 2. The Speaker and Deputy Speakers of the Diet may be elected to the Council of State as vice-Chairmen or as Members.
 * 3. After the expiry of the term of office of the Diet, the Council of State shall act until the election of a Council of State by the newly-elected Diet.

 * Article 30.
 * 1. The Council of State shall have power -
 * (1) to make orders to hold elections to the Diet,
 * (2) to convene sessions of the Diet,
 * (3) to watch over the constitutionality of laws,
 * (4) to establish universally binding interpretation of laws,
 * (5) to issue law-decrees,
 * (6) to appoint and to recall plenipotentiary representatives of the Polish People's Republic in other States,
 * (7) to receive letters of credence and of recall of diplomatic representatives of other States accredited to the Council of State,
 * (8) to ratify and denounce international treaties,
 * (9) to appoint to civilian and military posts specified by law,
 * (10) to award orders and decorations, and to confer titles of honour,
 * (11) to exercise the right of pardon,
 * (12) to exercise other functions vested in the Council of State by the Constitution or assigned to it by other laws.
 * 2. The Council of State shall be accountable to the Diet for all its work.
 * 3. The Council of State shall act as a body.
 * 4. The Council of State shall be represented by its Chairman or a vice-Chairman.

 * Article 31.
 * 1. In the intervals between sessions of the Diet, the Council of State may issue law-decrees. The Council of State shall submit such law-decrees for approval to the Diet at its next session.
 * 2. Law-decrees issued by the Council of State shall be signed by the Chairman of the Council of State and its Secretary. Law-decrees shall be published in the. Journal of Laws by order of the Chairman of the Council of State.

 * Article 32.
 * The Council of State shall exercise ultimate supervision over the People's Councils. Specific powers of the Council of State in this respect shall be defined by law.

 * Article 33.
 * 1. A decision concerning the declaration of a state of war may be adopted only in the event of armed aggression having been committed against the Polish People's Republic, or when, in pursuance of international agreements, joint defence against aggression should be necessary. Such a decision shall be adopted by the Diet, or, when the Diet is not holding its meetings - by the Council of State.
 * 2. The Council of State may proclaim martial law in parts or in the entire territory of the Polish People's Republic, should this be required by considerations of the defence or security of the State. For similar reasons the Council of State may proclaim partial or general mobilization.

Chapter 4. Supreme Board of Control

 * Article 34.
 * 1. The Supreme Board of Control shall be appointed to supervise the economic, financial, organizational, and administrative activities of the central and local organs of State administration, of social and co-operative organizations and of the units subordinate to them, as regards legality, the implementation of the socio-economic plan, efficient management, expediency, and fair dealing.
 * 2. The Supreme Board of Control shall also inspect units of non-socialized economy with respect to the tasks commissioned to them by State organs, or by units of socialized economy; it shall also check whether the activities of such units are consistent with the law and public interest.

 * Article 35.
 * 1. The Supreme Board of Control shall serve the Diet, the Council of State, and the Council of Ministers, in the exercise of their functions.
 * 2. The Premier shall supervise the Supreme Board of Control.
 * 3. The Supreme Board of Control shall perform control as ordered by the Diet and by the Council of State, inform about its findings, and submit periodical reports to the Council of State.

 * Article 36.
 * 1. The Chairman of the Supreme Board of Control shall be appointed and recalled by the Diet on the recommendation of the Premier with the concurrence of the Chairman of the Council of State.
 * 2. The structure and mode of work of the Supreme Board of Control shall be defined by law.

Chapter 5. Supreme Organs of State Administration

 * Article 37.
 * 1. The Diet shall appoint and recall the Government of the Polish People's Republic - the Council of Ministers or its individual members.
 * 2. In the intervals between sessions of the Diet, the Council of State, on the recommendation of the Premier, shall appoint or recall members of the Council of Ministers. The Council of State shall submit its decision for approval to the Diet at its next session.

 * Article 38.
 * 1. The Council of Ministers shall be the supreme executive and administrative organ of State authority.
 * 2. The Council of Ministers shall be responsible and accountable for its work to the Diet, or, when the Diet is not holding its meetings, to the Council of State.

 * Article 39.
 * 1. The Council of Ministers shall be composed of
 * the Premier, who presides,
 * the vice-Premiers,
 * the Chairman of the Supreme Board of Control,
 * Ministers,
 * Chairmen of Boards and Committees specified by law, who exercise the functions of the supreme organs of State administration.
 * 2. The Premier and vice-Premiers shall constitute the Government Presidium. The Council of Ministers may appoint its other members ' to join the Government Presidium.

 * Article 40.
 * 1. The Premier shall direct the work of the Council of Ministers and of the Government Presidium.
 * 2. The Premier shall issue orders and regulations in pursuance of laws and for their execution.

 * Article 41.
 * The Council of Ministers -
 * (1) shall co-ordinate the activities of ministries and other bodies under its jurisdiction, and issue directives as to their work;
 * (2) shall annually adopt and submit to the Diet State budget estimates, adopt and submit to the Diet a draft of the national socio-economic plan for a period of several years;
 * (3) shall adopt annual socio-economic plans;
 * (4) shall ensure the execution of laws;
 * (5) shall supervise the execution of the national socio-economic plan and the State budget;
 * (6) shall submit to the Diet an annual report on the execution of the State budget;
 * (7) shall ensure the protection of public order, of the State interests, and of the rights of citizens;
 * (8) - in pursuance of laws and in order to put them into effect - shall issue regulations, adopt decisions, and supervise their execution;
 * (9) shall exercise general guidance in the sphere of relations with other States;
 * (10) shall exercise general guidance as to the defence capacity of the country and the organization of the Armed Forces of the Polish People's Republic, and specify the annual contingent of citizens to be called for military service;
 * (11) shall direct the work of the local organs of administration.

 * Article 42.
 * 1. Ministers shall direct relevant branches of State administration.
 * A ministerial office shall be set up by statute.
 * 2. Ministers shall issue orders and regulations in pursuance of laws and for their execution.
 * 3. The Council of Ministers may rescind an order or a regulation issued by a minister.

Chapter 6. Local Organs of State Authority and Administration

 * Article 43.
 * 1. The People's Councils in communes, towns, urban districts of larger cities, and in provinces (województwo), shall be local organs of State authority and basic organs of social self-government of the working people of town and country.
 * 2. A joint People's Council may be an organ of State authority and of social self-government in two units of territorial division at the same level.
 * 3. The term of office of the People's Councils at particular levels shall be defined by law.

 * Article 44.
 * The People's Councils shall express the will of the working people and shall develop their creative initiative and activeness in order to increase the power, welfare and culture of the Nation.

 * Article 45.
 * The People's Councils shall consolidate the links between State authorities and the working people of town and country, drawing increasing numbers of the working people to participate in governing the State, and shall co-operate with the inhabitants' self-government.

 * Article 46.
 * The People's Councils shall direct the over-all socio-economic and cultural development and exert an influence on all the units of administration and economy in their areas, initiate and co-ordinate the activities of such units and exercise control over them. The People's Councils shall connect local needs with all-national objectives and targets.

 * Article 47.
 * The People's Councils shall constantly attend to everyday needs and interests of the population, shall combat any manifestations of an arbitrary or bureaucratic attitude toward citizens, shall exercise and promote social control over the activities of offices, enterprises, establishments, and institutions.

 * Article 48.
 * The People's Councils shall ensure the maintenance of public order and watch over the observance of the people's rule of law, shall protect social property, shall safeguard the rights of citizens, and shall co-operate in strengthening the defence capacity and security of the State.

 * Article 49.
 * 1. The People's Councils shall make full use of all local resources and potentialities to attain the all-round economic and cultural development of their area, to meet to an increasing degree the needs of the population as regards supply with goods and services, and to expand institutions and facilities in the field of public utilities, education, culture, sanitation, and sports.
 * 2. On the motion of respective local organs of administration, the People's Councils shall adopt socio-economic plans and budgets for provinces, towns, urban districts and communes.

 * Article 50.
 * 1. The People's Councils shall meet in sessions.
 * 2. The People's Councils shall elect, from among their members, presidia to direct the preparation of sessions and to conduct the business of the assembly, to co-ordinate the work of committees and to aid councillors in their work.

 * Article 51.
 * Chief Executive Officers in provinces, does, towns, urban district of larger cities, and communes, shall be local organs of State administration as well as executive and administrative organs of respective People's Councils.
 * A local organ of State administration shall be responsible to the competent body of State administration of a higher level; it shall be accountable to the competent People's Council as regards the performance of tasks assigned by the Council.

 * Article 52.
 * 1. The Chief Executive Officers in provinces, dries, town, urban districts of larger cities, and communes, shall exercise State administration on the basis of the law and directives issued by relevant superior organs.
 * 2. The Chief Executive Officers in provinces and in the cities with the status of a province shall be representatives of the Government in their respective areas.

 * Article 53.
 * The People's Councils shall appoint committees for particular spheres of their activity. The committees of the People's Councils shall maintain regular and close links with the population, shall stimulate the people to co-operate in the implementation of the Council's tasks, shall exercise social control on behalf of the Council and shall submit proposals to the Council or its organs.

 * Article 54.
 * The People's Council shall rescind a decision of a People's Council at a lower level if such a decision is contrary to the law or incompatible with the basic line of State policy.

 * Article 55.
 * Particulars of the composition, terms of reference and rules of procedure of the People's Councils and their organs shall be established by law.

Chapter 7. Courts and the Public Prosecutor's Office

 * Article 56.
 * 1. The administration of justice in the Polish People's Republic shall be carried out by the Supreme Court, Province Courts, Divisional Courts, and special Courts.
 * 2. Boards for the Adjudication of Petty Offences shall settle judicially the cases of petty offences.
 * 3. The structure, jurisdiction and procedure of the Courts and of the Boards for the Adjudication of Petty Offences shall be defined by law.

 * Article 57.
 * The Courts shall pronounce judgement in the name of the Polish People's Republic.

 * Article 58.
 * The Courts shall be custodians of the social and political system of the Polish People's Republic, they shall protect the achievements of the Polish working people, they shall safeguard the people's rule of law, social property and the rights of citizens; they shall punish offenders.

 * Article 59.
 * 1. People's lay-judges shall take part in the hearing of cases and in the pronouncement of judgement, except in so far as regulations provide otherwise.
 * 2. When adjudicating upon cases in Courts, the people's lay-judges shall have the same rights as professional judges.
 * 3. People's lay-judges shall be elected by relevant People's Councils.
 * 4. The mode of the election of people's lay-judges in Province, Divisional and Special Courts and their respective terms of office shall be defined by law.

 * Article 60.
 * 1. Judges shall be appointed and recalled by the Council of State.
 * 2. The mode of the appointment and recall of judges shall be defined by law.

 * Article 61.
 * 1. The Supreme Court shall be the highest judicial organ and shall supervise the work of all other Courts with respect to the pronouncement of judgement.
 * 2. The mode of exercising supervision by the Supreme Court shall be defined by law.
 * 3. The supreme Court shall be appointed by the Council of State for a term of five years.
 * 4. From among the Supreme Court judges, the Council of State shall appoint the First President and Presidents of the Supreme Court. It may also recall them.

 * Article 62.
 * Judges shall be independent and subject only to the law.

 * Article 63.
 * 1. Cases in all Courts of the Polish People's Republic shall be heard in public. The law may specify exceptions to this rule.
 * 2. The accused shall be guaranteed the right to defence. The accused may have defence counsel, either of his own choice, or appointed by the Court.

 * Article 64.
 * 1. The Public Prosecutor General of the Polish People's Republic shall safeguard the people's rule of law; shall watch over the protection of social property; shall ensure that the rights of citizens be respected.
 * 2. The Public Prosecutor General shall, in particular, supervise the prosecution of offences which endanger the social and political system, security and independence of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 3. The scope and mode of activity of the Public Prosecutor General shall be defined by law.

 * Article 65.
 * 1. The Public Prosecutor General shall be appointed and recalled by the Council of State.
 * 2. The mode of appointing and recalling Public Prosecutors subordinate to the Public Prosecutor General and the principles of organization and procedure of the organs of the Public Prosecutor's Office shall be defined by law.
 * 3. The Public Prosecutor General shall be accountable to the Council of State for the activity of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

 * Article 66.
 * The organs of the Public Prosecutor's Office shall be subordinate to the Public Prosecutor General of the Polish People's Republic and in the exercise of their functions they shall be independent of local organs.

Chapter 8. Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens

 * Article 67.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic, by consolidating and multiplying the achievements of the working people, shall strengthen and extend the rights and liberties of citizens.
 * 2. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall have equal rights irrespective of sex, birth, education, trade or profession, nationality, race, religion, social origin and status.
 * 3. It shall be the duty of the citizens of the Polish People's Republic to conscientiously perform their duties toward the Country and contribute to its development.

 * Article 68.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall have the right to work: that is, the right to employment paid in accordance with the quantity and quality of the work done.
 * 2. The right to work shall be ensured by: the socialist economic system, the planned growth of productive forces, economical use of all factors in production, a steady promotion of scientific and technological progress in the national economy, the system of education and raising of professional qualifications. Proper implementation of the right to work shall be ensured by the socialist labour legislation.

 * Article 69.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall have the right to rest and leisure.
 * 2. The right to rest and leisure shall be assured to workers by the statutory reduction of work time through the application of the eight-hour working day or shorter work time in cases specified by law, by statutory days free of work, and annual paid holidays.
 * 3. The organization of workers' holiday schemes, the development of tourism, health resorts, sports facilities, community centres, clubs, recreation rooms, parks, and other leisure time facilities shall provide opportunities for sound recreation to an increasing number of working people in town and country.

 * Article 70.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall have the right to health protection and to aid in the event of sickness or disability to work.
 * 2. This right shall be put into effect on an increasing scale through -
 * (1) the development of social insurance to cover sickness, old age and disability to work, and of various forms of social assistance;
 * (2) the development of State-organized protection of health and the raising of-health standards of the population, free medical service for all working people and their families, a steady improvement of safety conditions, protection and hygiene of work, extensive prevention and treatment of diseases, and care for the disabled;
 * (3) the development of hospitals, sanatoria, out-patient clinics, medical aid centres, and sanitation facilities.

 * Article 71.
 * Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall have the right to benefit from the natural environment and it shall be their duty to protect it.

 * Article 72.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall have the right to education.
 * 2. The right to education shall be ensured on an ever increasing scale by -
 * (1) free education,
 * (2) universal and compulsory elementary education,
 * (3) spreading of secondary education,
 * (4) the development of higher education,
 * (5) the aid of the State in raising the skills of citizens employed in industrial establishments and other places of employment in town and country,
 * (6) the scheme of State scholarships, the development of hostels, boarding schools and students' hostels, as well as other forms of material aid for the children of workers, working peasants and intelligentsia.

 * Article 73.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall have the right to benefit from cultural achievements and to creatively participate in the development of national culture.
 * 2. This right shall be ensured, on an increasing scale, by developing and making available to the working people of town and country libraries, books, press, radio, cinemas, theatres, museums and exhibitions, community centres, clubs, and recreation rooms; by the extensive promotion of the cultural creative activity of the people and by the stimulation of creative talents.

 * Article 74.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall foster the all-round development of science based on the achievements of the most advanced thought of mankind and of progressive Polish thought, that is, science in the service of the Nation.

 * Article 75.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall promote the development of literature and arts which express the needs and aspirations of the people, and which are in keeping with the best progressive traditions of Polish literary and artistic output.

 * Article 76.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall extend comprehensive protection to the veterans of struggles for national and social liberation.

 * Article 77.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall extend special protection to the creative intelligentsia - to those working in the field of science, education, literature and an, as well as to pioneers of technological progress, rationalizers and inventors.

 * Article 78.
 * 1. Women in the Polish People's Republic shall have equal rights with men in all the fields of public, political, economic, social, and cultural life.
 * 2. The equality of rights of women shall be guaranteed by -
 * (1) equal rights with men to work and pay according to the principle "equal pay for equal work", the right to rest and leisure, to social insurance, to education, to honours and decorations, to hold public offices;
 * (2) mother-and-child care, protection of expectant mothers, paid leave before and after confinement, the development of a network of maternity clinics, creches and nursery schools, the extension of a network of service establishments, restaurants and canteens.
 * 3. The Polish People's Republic shall consolidate the position of women in society, especially of gainfully-employed mothers and women.

 * Article 79.
 * 1. Marriage, motherhood and family shall be safeguarded and protected by the Polish People's Republic. The State shall extend special protection to families with several children.
 * 2. It shall be the parents' duty to bring up their children to become law-abiding citizens of the Polish People's Republic, aware of then-duties.
 * 3. The Polish People's Republic shall ensure the implementation of the rights and obligations of maintenance.
 * 4. Children born out of wedlock shall have equal rights with those born in wedlock.
 * 5. Regardful of the interests of the family, the Polish People's Republic shall strive to improve housing conditions, and in co-operation with citizens it shall develop and promote various forms of house building, especially those conducted by co-operative societies; importance shall be attached to proper management of the housing resources.

 * Article 80.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall pay special attention to the education of youth and shall afford it great opportunities of development and provide conditions for active participation of the young generation in public, political, economic, and cultural life, teaching the youth to be co-responsible for the progress of the Country.

 * Article 81.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic, irrespective of nationality, race or religion, shall enjoy equal rights in all fields of public, political, economic, social, and cultural life. Infringement of this principle by any direct or indirect preferences or restrictions of rights on account of nationality, race or religion shall be punishable.
 * 2. The spreading of hatred or contempt, the provocation of disputes, or humiliation of man on account of national, racial or religious differences, shall be prohibited.

 * Article 82.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic shall guarantee freedom of conscience and religion to its citizens. The Church and other religious societies and organizations shall freely exercise their religious functions. Citizens shall not be prevented from taking part in religious activities and rites. No one may be compelled to participate in religious activities or rites.
 * 2. The Church shall be separated from the State. The principles of the relationship between Church and State, and the legal and patrimonial position of religious societies shall be defined by law.

 * Article 83.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic shall guarantee its citizens freedom of speech, of the press, of meetings and assemblies, of processions and demonstrations.
 * 2. To put these freedoms into effect, the working people and their organizations shall be given the use of printing shops, stocks of paper, public buildings and halls, means of communication, the radio, and other necessary material means.

 * Article 84.
 * 1. In order to promote the political, social, economic, and cultural activities of the working people of town and country, the Polish People's Republic shall guarantee to its citizens the right of association.
 * 2. Political organizations, trade unions, associations of working peasants, co-operative associations, youth, women's, sports and defence organizations, cultural, technical and scientific societies, as well as other social organizations of the working people, shall unite citizens for their active participation in political, social, economic, and cultural life.
 * 3. It shall be prohibited to set up and to participate in associations whose objective or activities menace the socio-political system or the legal order of the Polish People's Republic.

 * Article 85.
 * Trade Unions shall play an important pan in the Polish People's Republic as a mass organization which takes pan in the formulation and implementation of tasks aimed at the socio-economic advancement of the country; the Trade Unions shall represent the interests and rights of the working people, and shall be the school of civic activeness and involvement in the building of socialist society.

 * Article 86.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic shall participate in exercising social control, in consultations and discussions on key issues concerning the development of the country, and shall submit their suggestions.
 * 2. Citizens shall have the right to approach all organs of the State with appeals, complaints and grievances.
 * 3. Appeals, complaints and grievances of citizens shall be examined and settled without delay and justly. Those guilty of protraction or an indifferent and bureaucratic attitude, shall be called to account.

 * Article 87.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic shall guarantee to its citizens the inviolability of the person. A citizen may be deprived of his freedom only in cases specified by the law. A detained person shall be set free unless a warrant of arrest issued by the Court or by Public Prosecutor has been served on him within forty-eight hours from the moment of his detention.
 * 2. The inviolability of the home and the privacy of correspondence shall be protected by law. The home may by searched only in cases specified by law.
 * 3. Property may be confiscated only in cases specified by law, by virtue of a final judgement.

 * Article 88.
 * The Polish People's Republic shall grant asylum to nationals of other countries persecuted in connection with defending the interests of the working people, the struggle for social progress, activities in defence of peace, the struggle for national liberation, or as a result of scientific activities.

 * Article 89.
 * Polish citizens staying abroad shall enjoy the protection of the Polish People's Republic.

 * Article 90.
 * It shall be the duty of every citizen of the Polish People's Republic to abide by the provisions of the Constitution and laws, to maintain socialist work discipline, to respect the principles of community life, and to do his duty toward the State conscientiously.

 * Article 91.
 * It shall be the duty of every citizen of the Polish People's Republic to safeguard social property and to strengthen it as the firm foundations of the State's development and a source of the wealth and power of the Country.

 * Article 92.
 * 1. It shall be the sacred duty of every citizen to defend the Country.
 * 2. Military service shall be an honourable patriotic duty of citizens of the Polish People's Republic.

 * Article 93.
 * 1. It shall be the duty of every citizen of the Polish People's Republic to exercise vigilance against enemies of the Nation and to guard State secrets carefully.
 * 2. High treason: espionage, subverting the Armed Forces, desertion to the enemy - shall be punished as the gravest of crimes, with all severity of law.

Chapter 9. Principles of Electoral Law

 * Article 94.
 * Elections to the Diet and to the People's Councils shall be universal, equal, direct, and by secret ballot.

 * Article 95.
 * Every citizen who has attained the age of eighteen years, irrespective of sex, nationality and race, religion, education, length of residence, social origin, profession or property, shall have the right to vote.

 * Article 96.
 * Every citizen who has attained the age of eighteen years shall be qualified to be elected to the People's Council, and every citizen who has attained the age of twenty-one years shall be qualified to be elected to the Diet.

 * Article 97.
 * Women shall have all electoral rights on equal terms with men.

 * Article 98.
 * Citizens serving in the Army shall have all electoral rights on equal terms with civilians.

 * Article 99.
 * Electoral rights shall be denied to persons of unsound mind, and to persons deprived of public rights by a Court decision.

 * Article 100.
 * Candidates to the Diet and candidates to the People's Councils shall be nominated by political and social organizations in town and country.

 * Article 101.
 * It shall be the duty of Deputies to the Diet and of members of the People's Councils to report to the electors on their work and on the activity of the body to which they have been elected.

 * Article 102.
 * The procedure for the nomination of candidates and for holding elections, as well as the procedure for the recall of Deputies to the Diet and members of People's Councils, shall be defined by law.

Chapter 10. Coat-of-arms, Colours, National Anthem, and Capital of the Polish People's Republic

 * Article 103.
 * 1. The image of a white eagle on a red field shall be the coat-of-arms of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 2. White and red shall be the colours of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 3. Dąbrowski's Mazurka shall be the national anthem of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 4. Particulars shall be specified by law.

 * Article 104.
 * The coat-of-arms, colours, and national anthem of the Polish People's Republic shall enjoy respect and be an object of special protection.

 * Article 105.
 * Warszawa, the city which embodies the heroic traditions of the Polish Nation, shall be the capital of the Polish People's Republic.

Chapter 11. Procedure for Amending the Constitution

 * Article 106.
 * The Constitution may be amended only by an Act passed by the Diet of the Polish People's Republic by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes, not less than half the total number of Deputies being present.


text:
Constitution of the Polish People's Republic (1952)

Preamble
The Polish People's Republic is a republic of the working people.

The Polish People's Republic carries on the most glorious progressive traditions of the Polish Nation and gives effect to the liberation ideals of the working masses.

The Polish working people, under the leadership of the heroic working class, and on the basis of the alliance between workers and peasants, fought for many decades for the liberation from national enslavement imposed upon the Nation by the Prussian, Austrian and Russian conquerors and colonisers, just as they fought for the abolition of exploitation by the Polish capitalists and landlords.

During the Occupation, the Polish Nation waged an unflinching heroic fight against the murderous Nazi invasion. The historic victory of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics over fascism liberated Polish soil, enabled the Polish working people to take power into their own hands, and established conditions for the national re-birth of Poland within new and just frontiers. The Recovered Territories were restored to Poland forever.

By carrying out the memorable directives of the Manifesto of the Polish Committee of National Liberation of July 22nd, 1944, and by developing the principles laid down in the programme of that Manifesto, the People's Authority — thanks to the selfless and creative efforts of the Polish working people in the fight against the bitter resistance of the remnants of the old capitalist-landlord system — has accomplished great social changes. As a result of revolutionary struggles and transformations, the power of the capitalists and landlords has been overthrown, a State of People's Democracy has been firmly established, and a new social system, in accord with the interests and aspirations of the great majority of the people, is taking shape and growing in strength.

The legal principles of this system are laid down by the Constitution of the Polish People's Republic.

The basis of the People's Authority in Poland to-day is the alliance between the working class and the working peasants. In this alliance, the leading role belongs to the working class — the leading class of the people, the class based on the revolutionary gains of the Polish and international working class movement, and on the historic experience of victorious socialist building in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the first State of workers and peasants.

Implementing the will of the Polish Nation, the Legislative Seym of the Republic of Poland, in accordance with its purpose, solemnly adopts the present Constitution as the fundamental law by which the Polish Nation and all organs of authority of the Polish working people shall be guided, in order:

To consolidate the People's State as the fundamental power assuring to the Polish Nation the highest degree of prosperity, its independence and sovereignty;

To accelerate the political, economic and cultural development of the Fatherland, and the growth of its resources;

To strengthen the patriotic feelings, the unity and solidarity of the Polish Nation in its struggle still further to improve social conditions, to eliminate completely the exploitation of man

by man, and to put into effect the great ideals of Socialism;

To strengthen friendship and co-operation between nations, on the 'basis of the alliance and brotherhood which to-day link the Polish Nation with the peace-loving nations of the world for the attainment of their common aim — to make aggression impossible and to consolidate world peace.

Chapter 1. Political Structure

 * Article 1.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic is a State of People's Democracy.
 * 2. In the Polish People's Republic the power belongs to the working people of town and country.

 * Article 2.
 * 1. The working people exercise the authority of the State through their representatives elected to the Seym of the Polish People's Republic, and to the People's Councils, on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.
 * 2. The people's representatives in the Seym of the Polish People's Republic, and in the People's Councils, are responsible to their constituents and may be recalled by them.

 * Article 3.
 * The Polish People's Republic:
 * 1. safeguards the achievements of the Polish working people of town and country and secures their power and freedom against forces hostile to the people;
 * 2. secures the development and continuous growth of the productive forces of the country through its industrialisation and through elimination of economic, technical and cultural backwardness;
 * 3. organises a planned economy on the basis of undertakings constituting social property;
 * 4. places restrictions on, gradually ejects and abolishes those classes of society which live by exploiting the workers and peasants;
 * 5. ensures a continual rise in the level of the prosperity, health and cultural standards of the people;
 * 6. secures the development of national culture in all its aspects.

 * Article 4.
 * 1. The laws of the Polish People's Republic express the interests and the will of the working people.
 * 2. Strict compliance with the laws of the Polish People's Republic is the fundamental duty of every organ of the State and of every citizen.
 * 3. All organs of State power and administration act on the basis of law.

 * Article 5.
 * All organs of State power and administration are supported in the exercise of their functions by the conscious and active cooperation of the broadest masses of the people, and they are bound:
 * 1. to account to the Nation for their work;
 * 2. to examine carefully and take into consideration, in accordance with existing legislation, reasonable proposals, complaints and wishes of the citizens;
 * 3. to interpret to the working people the basic aims and guiding principles of the policy of the People's Authority in the various fields of State, economic and cultural activity.

 * Article 6.
 * The armed forces of the Polish People's Republic safeguard the sovereignty and independence of the Polish Nation, its security and peace.

Chapter 2. Social and Economic Structure

 * Article 7.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic promotes, on the basis of socialised means of production, trade, communications and credit, the economic and cultural life of the country in accordance with the national economic plan and, in particular, through the expansion of Socialist State industry, which is the decisive factor in the transformation of social and economic relations.
 * 2.The State has the monopoly of foreign trade.
 * 3. The principal aim of the planned economic policy of the Polish People's Republic is the constant development of the productive forces of the country, the continuous raising of the standard of living of the working people, and the strengthening of the power, defence capacity and independence of the Fatherland.

 * Article 8.
 * The national wealth, that is, the mineral deposits, waters, State forests, mines, roads, rail, water and air transport, means of communication, banks, State industrial establishments, State farms and State machine stations, State commercial enterprises and communal enterprises and utilities, is the subject of special care and protection by the State and by all citizens.

 * Article 9.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic strengthens, according to plan, the economic bond between town and country founded on brotherly co-operation between workers and peasants.
 * 2. For this purpose, the Polish People's Republic secures a continuous increase in the output of State industry, serving to meet the allround needs of the rural population in their capacity as producers and consumers; at the same time exerting a planned influence on the constant growth of production of agricultural commodities which supplies industry with raw materials and the urban population with foodstuffs.

 * Article 10.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic protects the individual farms of working peasants and assists them with a view to safeguarding them against capitalist exploitation, to increasing production, to raising the technical level of agriculture and to improving their welfare.
 * 2. The Polish People's Republic gives special support and all-round aid to the co-operative farms set up, on the basis of voluntary membership, as forms of collective economy. By applying methods of the most efficient collective cultivation and mechanised work, collective farming enables the working peasants to reach a turning point in production, and contributes to the complete elimination of exploitation in the countryside and to a rapid and considerable improvement in the level of its prosperity and culture.
 * 3. The principal forms of State support and help for co-operative farms are the State machine stations, which make it possible to employ modem technology; and State credits on easy terms.

 * Article 11.
 * The Polish People's Republic promotes the development of various forms of the co-operative movement in town and country and gives it every help in the fulfilment of its tasks, while extending special care and protection to co-operative property, as constituting social property.

 * Article 12.
 * The Polish People's Republic recognises and protects, on the basis of existing laws, individual property and the right to inherit land, buildings and other means of production belonging to peasants, craftsmen and persons engaged in domestic handicrafts.

 * Article 13.
 * The Polish People's Republic guarantees to citizens full protection of personal property and the right to inherit such property.

 * Article 14.
 * 1. Work is the right, the duty and a matter of honour for every citizen. By their work, by the observance of work discipline, by work emulation and the perfecting of methods of work, the working people of town and country add to the strength and power of the Fatherland, raise the level of prosperity of the people and expedite the full realisation of the socialist system.
 * 2. Work champions enjoy the respect of the whole nation.
 * 3. The Polish People's Republic gives increasing practical effect to the principle: "From each according to his ability, to each according to his work".

Chapter 3. The Supreme Organs of State Authority

 * Article 15.
 * 1. The highest organ of State authority is the Seym of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 2. The Seym, which is the highest spokesman of the will of the working people of town and country, realises the sovereign rights of the Nation.
 * 3. The Seym passes laws and exercises control over the functioning of other organs of State authority and administration.

 * Article 16.
 * 1. Deputies to the Seym are elected by the citizens in electoral districts, in the proportion of one Deputy to 60,000 inhabitants.
 * 2. The validity of the election of a Deputy is confirmed by the Seym.
 * 3. No deputy may be either prosecuted or arrested, without the consent of the Seym, and when the Seym is not in session, without the consent of the Council of State.

 * Article 17.
 * 1. The Seym meets in sessions. The sessions of the Seym are convened by the Council of State at least twice a year. The Council of State is also bound to convene a session on a written motion by one-third of the total number of Deputies.
 * 2. The first session of a newly elected Seym must be convened within a period of one month after the date of the elections.

 * Article 18.
 * 1. The Seym elects from among its members a Chairman, Deputy Chairmen and committees.
 * 2. The Chairman or his deputy presides over the debates and supervises the course of the work of the Seym.
 * 3. The debates of the Seym are open to the public. The Seym may vote the holding of a secret meeting if the interests of the State require it.
 * 4. The order of work of the Seym, the nature and number of committees, are defined by rules of procedure adopted by the Seym.

 * Article 19.
 * 1. The Seym adopts the national economic plans for a period of a number of years.
 * 2. The Seym adopts every year the State budget.

 * Article 20.
 * 1. The right to propose legislation is vested in the Council of State, the Government and the Deputies.
 * 2. Laws passed by the Seym are signed by the President of the Council of State and its Secretary. Laws are published in the Journal of Laws by order of the President of the Council of State.

 * Article 21.
 * The Seym may appoint a Commission to examine a specified matter. The terms of reference and the procedure of the Commission are deter mined by the Seym.

 * Article 22.
 * The Chairman of the Council of Ministers or individual Ministers are bound to give an answer within seven days, to a question put by a Deputy.

 * Article 23.
 * 1. The Seym is elected for a term of four years.
 * 2. The Council of State orders the holding of elections to the Seym not later than one month before the expiry of the term of office of the Seym, the date of elections to be fixed on a work free day within two months after the expiry of .the term of office of the Seym.

 * Article 24.
 * 1. At its first sitting, the Seym elects from among its members the Council of State, consisting of:
 * the President of the Council of State, four Vice-Presidents,
 * the Secretary of the Council of State, nine Members.
 * 2. The Chairman and Deputy Chairmen of the Seym may be elected to the Council of State as Vice Presidents or as Members.
 * 3. After the expiry of the term of office of the Seym, the Council of State acts until the election of a Council of State by the newly elected Seym.

 * Article 25.
 * 1. The Council of State:
 * i. orders the holding of elections to the Seym;
 * ii. convenes sessions of the Seym;
 * iii. lays down universally binding interpretation. of laws;
 * iv. issues decrees having the force of law;
 * v. appoints and recalls plenipotentiary representatives of the Polish People's Republic in other States;
 * vi. receives letters of credence and of recall of diplomatic representatives of other States accredited to the Council of State;
 * vii. ratifies and denounces international treaties;
 * viii. appoints to civilian and military posts specified by law;
 * ix. awards orders and decorations, and confers titles of honour;
 * x. exercises the right of pardon;
 * xi. exercises other functions vested in the Council of State by the Constitution or assigned to it by law.
 * 2. The Council of State is accountable to the Seym for all its activities.
 * 3. The Council of State acts as a body.
 * 4. The Council of State is represented by its President or his Deputy.

 * Article 26.
 * 1. In the intervals between the sessions of the Seym, the Council of State issues decrees having the force of law. The Council of State submits its decrees for approval to the next session of the Seym.
 * 2. Decrees issued by the Council of State are signed by the President of the Council of State and its Secretary. Decrees are published in the Journal of Laws by order of the President of the Council of State.

 * Article 27.
 * The Council of State exercises ultimate supervision over the People's Councils. Specific powers of the Council of State in this respect are determined by law.

 * Article 28.
 * 1. A decision concerning the declaration of a state of war may be adopted only in the event of armed aggression having been committed against the Polish People's Republic, or if, in pursuance of international agreements, the necessity of common defence against aggression should arise. Such a decision is voted by the Seym or, if the Seym is not in session, by the Council of State.
 * 2. The Council of State may, should considerations of the defence or security of the State so require, proclaim martial law in parts or in the entire territory of the Polish People's Republic. For similar reasons the Council of State may proclaim partial or general mobilisation.

Chapter 4. The Supreme Organs of State Administration

 * Article 29.
 * 1. The Seym appoints and recalls the Government of the Polish People's Republic — the Council of Ministers or its individual members.
 * 2. In the intervals between sessions of the Seym, 'the Council of State, on the motion of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, appoints and recalls members of the Council of Ministers. The Council of State submits its decisions for approval to the next session of the Seym.

 * Article 30.
 * 1. The Council of Ministers is the supreme executive and administrative organ of State Authority.
 * 2. The Council of Ministers is responsible and accountable to the Seym tor its work, and when the Seym is not in session, to the Council of State.

 * Article 31.
 * The Council of Ministers consists of:
 * the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, who presides,
 * the Vice-Chairmen of the Council of Ministers,
 * the Chairmen of such Commissions and Committees as are specified by law, and fulfil the functions of the highest organs of State administration.

 * Article 32.
 * The Council of Ministers:
 * 1. co-ordinates the activities of Ministries and other organs under its jurisdiction and gives directives as to their work;
 * 2. adopts yearly and submits to the Seym the State budget estimates, adopts and submits to the Seym the draft of the national economic plan for a period of a number of years;
 * 3. adopts the yearly national economic plans;
 * 4. ensures the execution of laws;
 * 5. supervises the execution of the national economic plan and of the State budget;
 * 6. presents to the Seym an annual report on the execution of the State budget;
 * 7. ensures the protection of public order, of the interests of State and of the rights of citizens;
 * 8. in pursuance of laws and in order to give them effect, issues regulations, adopts decisions and supervises their execution;
 * 9. exercises general guidance in the sphere of relations with other States;
 * 10. exercises general guidance regarding the defence capacity of the country and the organisation of the Armed Forces of the Polish People's Republic, and establishes the annual contingent of citizens to be called up for military service;
 * 11. directs the work of the Praesidia of the People's Councils.

 * Article 33.
 * 1. Ministers direct specified branches of State administration. The sphere of competence of Ministers is determined by law.
 * 2. Ministers issue orders and regulations in persuance of laws and for the execution of laws.
 * 3. The Council of Ministers may rescind an order or a regulation issued by a Minister.

Chapter 5. The Local Organs of State Authority

 * Article 34.
 * 1. The organs of State authority in rural communities, in towns, in boroughs of larger towns, in districts and voivodeships are the People's Councils.
 * 2. The People's Councils are elected by the population for a term of three years.

 * Article 35.
 * The People's Councils express the will of the working people, and develop their creative initiative and activity in order to increase the strength, prosperity and culture of the nation.

 * Article 36.
 * The People's Councils strengthen the links between the State authority and working people of town and country, drawing increasing numbers of the working people into participation in governing the State.

 * Article 37.
 * The People's Councils direct, within the limits of their jurisdiction, economic, social and cultural activities, linking local requirements with the general tasks of the State.

 * Article 38.
 * The People's Councils take constant care of the everyday needs and interests of the population, combat any manifestations of arbitrary and bureaucratic attitude towards citizens, exercise and promote social supervision over the activities of offices, enterprises, establishments and institutions.

 * Article 39.
 * The People's Councils ensure the maintenance of public order and watch over the observance of | the people's rule of law, protect social property, safeguard the rights of citizens and co-operate in strengthening the defence capacity and security of the State.

 * Article 40.
 * The People's Councils fully exploit all local resources and possibilities for the general economic and cultural development of the area, for meeting to an increasing extent the supply and services' needs of the population, as well as for the expansion of communal institutions and facilities connected with public services, education, culture, sanitation and sport.

 * Article 41.
 * The People's Councils adopt local economic plans and local budgets.

 * Article 42.
 * 1. The People's Councils meet in sessions.
 * 2. The Praesidia elected by the People's Councils are the executive and administrative organs of those Councils.
 * 3. The Praesidium of a People's Council is responsible to the People's Council by which it has been elected, and to the Praesidium of the People's Council of a higher level.

 * Article 43.
 * The People's Councils appoint committees for various spheres of their activity. The committees of the People's Councils maintain constant and close links with the population, mobilise it for co-operation in implementing the Council's tasks, exercise social supervision on behalf of the Council and submit proposals to the Council and its organs.

 * Article 44.
 * 1. A People's Council rescinds the decision of a People's Council of a lower level or of the Praesidium of such Council, if that decision is at variance with the law or incompatible with the basic line of the policy of the State.
 * 2. The Praesidium of a People's Council may suspend the execution of a decision of a People's Council of a lower level and submit the case for decision at the next meeting of its own People's Council.

 * Article 45.
 * The details of composition as well as the terms of reference and the rules of procedure of the People's Councils and their organs are established by law.

Chapter 6. The Courts and the Public Prosecutor's Office

 * Article 46.
 * 1. The administration of justice in the Polish People's Republic is carried out by the Supreme Court, Voivodeship Courts, District Courts and Special Courts.
 * 2. Organisation, jurisdiction and procedure of the Courts are established by law.

 * Article 47.
 * The Courts pronounce judgment in the name of the Polish People's Republic.

 * Article 48.
 * The Courts are the custodians of the political and social system of the Polish People's Republic, they protect the achievements of the Polish working people, safeguard the people's rule of law, social property and the rights of citizens, and punish offenders.

 * Article 49.
 * People's assessors take part in the hearing of cases and the pronouncement of judgment, except in cases specified by law.

 * Article 50.
 * 1. Judges and people's assessors are elected.
 * 2. The procedure of election and the term of office of judges and assessors of Voivodeship and District Courts are established by law.
 * 3. The procedure of appointment of judges of Special Courts is established by law.

 * Article 51.
 * 1. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial organ and supervises the activity of all other courts concerning the pronouncement of judgment.
 * 2. The procedure for the exercise of supervision by the Supreme Court is established by law.
 * 3. The Supreme Court is elected by the Council of State for a term of five years.

 * Article 52.
 * Judges are independent and subject only to the law.

 * Article 53.
 * 1. Cases in all courts of the Polish People's Republic are heard in public. The law may specify exceptions to this principle.
 * 2. The accused is guaranteed the right to legal defence. He may have a defence counsel, either of his own choice or appointed by the Court.

 * Article 54.
 * 1. The Public Prosecutor General of the Polish People's Republic safeguards the people's rule of law, watches over the protection of social property and ensures that the rights of citizens are respected.
 * 2. The Public Prosecutor General supervises, in particular, the prosecution of offences endangering the political and social system, security and independence of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 3. The limits of jurisdiction and the scope of activity of the Public Prosecutor General are established by law.

 * Article 55.
 * 1. The Public Prosecutor General of the Polish People's Republic is appointed and recalled by the Council of State.
 * 2. The mode of appointing and of recalling Public Prosecutors subordinate to the Public Prosecutor General, are, together with the principles of the organisation and procedure of organs of the Public Prosecutor's Office, established by law.
 * 3. The Public Prosecutor General is accountable to the Council of State for the activity of the Public Prosecutor's Office.

 * Article 56.
 * The organs of the Public Prosecutor's Office are subordinate to the Public Prosecutor General of the Polish People's Republic and in the exercise of their functions are independent of local organs.

Chapter 7. Fundamental Rights and Duties of Citizens

 * Article 57.
 * The Polish People's Republic, by consolidating and multiplying the gains of the working people, strengthens and extends the rights and liberties of the citizens.

 * Article 58.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic have the right to work, that is, the right to employment paid in accordance with the quantity and quality of work done.
 * 2. The right to work is ensured by the social ownership of the basic means of production, by the development of a social and co-operative system in the countryside, free from exploitation;
 * by the planned growth of the productive forces;
 * by the elimination of sources of economic crises and by the abolition of unemployment.

 * Article 59.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic have the right to rest and leisure.
 * 2. The right to rest and leisure is assured to manual and office workers by reduction of working hours through the application of the 8-hour working day and shorter work time in cases specified by law, by the institution according to law of days off work and by annual holidays with Pay-3. The organisation of workers' holiday schemes, the development of the tourist movement, of health resorts, sports facilities, houses of culture, clubs, recreation rooms, parks and other leisure time facilities, create possibilities for healthy and cultural relaxation for an increasing number of working people in town and country.

 * Article 60.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic have the right to health protection and to aid in the event of sickness or incapacity for work.
 * 2. Effect is being given to this right on an increasing scale through:
 * i. the development of social insurance for manual and office workers to cover sickness, old age and incapacity for work, as well as through the expansion of various forms of social assistance;
 * ii. the development of the State organised protection of the health of the population, the expansion of sanitation services and the raising of the health standards in town and country, consistent improvement of safety conditions, protection and hygiene of work, a wide campaign for the prevention of and fighting disease, increasing access to free medical attention, the development of hospitals, sanatoria, medical aid centres, rural health centres, and care for the disabled.

 * Article 61.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic have the right to education.
 * 2. This right is ensured on an increasing scale by:
 * i. universal, free and compulsory primary schools;
 * ii. a constant development of secondary schools, providing general or vocational education, and of schools of academic level;
 * iii. the help of the State in raising the skill of citizens employed in industrial establishments and other places of employment in town and country;
 * iv. a scheme of State scholarships, the development of hostels, boarding schools and students' homes, together with other forms of material aid for the children of workers, working peasants and intelligentsia.

 * Article 62.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic have the right to benefit from cultural achievements and to participate in the development of national culture.
 * 2. This right is ensured on an increasing scale by developing and making accessible to the working people in town and country libraries, books, press, radio, cinemas, theatres, museums and exhibitions, houses of culture, clubs and recreation roams; by a general fostering and promoting of the cultural creative activity of the people and of the development of creative talents.

 * Article 63.
 * The Polish People's Republic fosters the allround development of science based on the achievements of the most advanced thought of mankind and of Polish progressive thought — the development of science in the service of the Nation.

 * Article 64.
 * The Polish People's Republic takes care of the development of Art and Letters, which express the needs and aspirations of the Nation and which are in accord with the best progressive traditions of Polish creative thought.

 * Article 65.
 * The Polish People's Republic extends special protection to the creative intelligentsia — to those working in science, education, literature and art, as well as to pioneers of technical progress, to rationalisers and inventors.

 * Article 66.
 * 1. Women in the Polish People's Republic have equal rights with men in all spheres of public, political, economic, social and cultural life.
 * 2. The equality of rights of women is guaranteed by:
 * i. equal rights with men to work and pay according to the principle "equal pay for equal work", the right to rest and leisure, to social insurance, to education, to honours and decorations, to hold public appointments;
 * ii. mother-and-child care, protection of expectant mothers, paid holidays during the period before and after confinement, the development of a network of maternity homes, creches and nursery schools, the extension of a network of service establishments and restaurants and canteens.

 * Article 67.
 * 1. Marriage and the family are under the care and protection of the Polish People's Republic. The State gives particular care to families with many children.
 * 2. A child born out of wedlock suffers no loss of rights.

 * Article 68.
 * The Polish People's Republic gives particularly careful attention to the education of youth and guarantees them the most extensive possibilities for development.

 * Article 69.
 * 1. Citizens of the Polish People's Republic, irrespective of nationality, race or religion, enjoy equal rights in all spheres of public, political, economic, social and cultural life. Infringement of this principle by any direct or indirect granting of privileges or restriction of rights, on account of nationality, race or religion, is punishable by law.
 * 2. The spreading of hatred or contempt, the provocation of strife or the humiliation of man on account of national, racial or religious differences are forbidden.

 * Article 70.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic guarantees freedom of conscience and religion to citizens. The Church and other religious bodies may freely exercise their religious functions. It is forbidden to prevent citizens from taking part in religious activities or rites. It is also forbidden to coerce anybody to participate in religious activities or rites.
 * 2. The Church is separated from the State. The principles of the relationship between Church and State are, together with the legal and patrimonial position of religious bodies, determined by law.
 * 3. The abuse of the freedom of conscience and religion for purposes prejudicial to the interests of the Polish People's Republic is punishable.

 * Article 71.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic guarantees its citizens freedom of speech, of the press, of meetings and assemblies, of processions and demonstrations.
 * 2. The making available to the working people and their organisations of the use of printing shops, stocks of paper, public buildings and halls, means of communication, the radio and other indispensable material means, serves to give effect to this freedom.

 * Article 72.
 * 1. In order to promote the political, social, economic and cultural activity of the working people of town and country, the Polish People's Republic guarantees to citizens the right of association.
 * 2. Political organisations, trade unions, associations of working peasants, co-operative associations, youth, women's, sports and defence organisations, cultural, technical and scientific associations, as well as other working people's social organisations unite the citizens for active participation in. political, social, economic and cultural life.
 * 3. The setting up of, and participation in, associations the aims or activities of which are directed against the political or social system or against the legal order of the Polish People's Republic are forbidden.

 * Article 73.
 * 1. Citizens have the right to approach all organs of the State with complaints and grievances.
 * 2. Citizens' complaints and grievances are to be examined and settled in an expeditious and just manner. Those guilty of protraction or of displaying a soulless and bureaucratic attitude towards citizens' complaints and grievances will be held responsible.

 * Article 74.
 * 1. The Polish People's Republic guarantees to citizens inviolability of the person. A citizen may be deprived of his freedom only in cases specified by law. A detained person must be set free unless, within forty-eight hours from the moment of his detention, a warrant of arrest issued by the Court or the Procurator has been served on him.
 * 2. The law protects the inviolability of the home and the privacy of correspondence. Search of the home is permissible only in cases specified by law.
 * 3. Property may by seized only in cases established by law, by virtue of a final judgment.

 * Article 75.
 * The Polish People's Republic grants asylum to citizens of foreign countries persecuted for defending the interests of the working people, for struggling for social progress, for activity in defence of peace, for fighting for national liberation or for scientific activity.

 * Article 76.
 * It is the duty of every citizen of the Polish People's Republic to abide by the provisions of the Constitution and of the laws, to maintain socialist work discipline, to respect the rules of social intercourse and to discharge conscientiously their duties towards the State.

 * Article 77.
 * 1. It is the duty of every citizen of the Polish People's Republic to safeguard and strengthen social property, which is the unshakable foundation of the development of the State, the source of the wealth and might of the country.
 * 2. Persons who commit sabotage, subversion, inflict damage or who otherwise injure social property, are punishable with all the severity of law.

 * Article 78.
 * 1. To defend the country is the most sacred duty of every citizen.
 * 2. Military service is an honourable patriotic duty of citizens of the Polish People's Republic.

 * Article 79.
 * 1. Vigilance against the enemies of the nation and the diligent guarding of State secrets is the duty of every citizen of the Polish People's Republic.
 * 2. High treason — espionage, impairing the Armed Forces, desertion to the enemy — is punishable as the gravest of crimes with all the severity of law.

Chapter 8. Principles of Electoral Law

 * Article 80.
 * Elections to the Seym and to the People's Councils are universal, equal, direct and carried out by secret ballot.

 * Article 81.
 * Every citizen who has reached the age of eighteen has, irrespective of sex, nationality and race, religion, education, length of residence, social origin, profession or property, the right to vote.

 * Article 82.
 * Every citizen who has reached the age of eighteen is eligible for election to the People's Councils, and every citizen who has reached the age of twenty-one is eligible for election to the Seym.

 * Article 83.
 * Women have all electoral rights on equal terms with men.

 * Article 84.
 * Citizens serving in the Armed Forces have all electoral rights on equal terms with civilians.

 * Article 85.
 * Electoral rights are denied only to insane persons and to persons deprived by Court decision of public rights.

 * Article 86.
 * Candidates for the Seym and candidates for the People's Councils are nominated by political and social organisations in town and country.

 * Article 87.
 * It is the duty of Deputies to the Seym and of members of People's Councils to report to the electors on their work and on the activity of the body to which they have been elected.

 * Article 88.
 * The procedure for nomination of candidates and for holding elections, as well as the procedure for the recall of Deputies to the Seym and of members of People's Councils, are established by law.

Chapter 9. Coat-of-arms, Colours and Capital of the Polish People's Republic

 * Article 89.
 * 1. The Coat-of-Arms of the Polish People's Republic is the image of a white eagle on a red field.
 * 2. The colours of the Polish People's Republic are white and red.
 * 3. The details are established by law.

 * Article 90.
 * The capital of the Polish People's Republic is Warsaw, the city of the heroic traditions of the Polish Nation.

Chapter 10. Procedure for Amending the Constitution

 * Article 91.
 * The Constitution may be amended only by an Act passed by the Seym of the Polish People's Republic by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes,' not less than half the total number of Deputies being present.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


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quick sagacity of ʿAmr had never been turned to better account than when he proposed that the Ḳorʾān should be the arbiter between the contending parties. To be judged by the Book of the Lord had been the cry of the democrats from the beginning. The sacred text gave countenance neither to the extravagant pretensions of Ḳoreish, nor to their rule of favouritism and tyranny. Its precepts were based on the brotherhood of the faithful; and the Prophet himself had enjoined the absolute equality of all. No sooner, therefore, was the Ḳorʾān proclaimed than, as ʿAmr anticipated, the Arab chiefs, caught in the snare, took up the cry and pledged themselves thereto.

Reflection soon tarnished the prospect. They had forgotten how narrow was the issue which the umpires had to decide. The Bedawīn and democrats were fighting not for one Caliph or the other, but against the pretensions of Ḳoreish at large. It was this that nerved them to the sanguinary conflict. "If the Syrians conquer," cried one of their chiefs, "ye are undone. Again ye will be ground down by tyrants like unto the minions of ʿOthmān. They will seize upon the conquests of Islām as if, forsooth, they were theirs by inheritance, instead of won by our swords. We shall lose our grasp both of this world and the next." Such were the alleged evils for which they had slain ʿOthmān, and from which they had been fighting for deliverance. By 266


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134 But though you never told her she knew well enough who you were, and the thought that you would not be thus secret had you regarded her as more than a mere plaything or idle distraction was very painful to her.”

“What a wretched series of misunderstandings,” said Genji. “For my part I had no mind to put a distance between us. But I had no experience in such affairs as this. There are many difficulties in the path of such people as I. First and foremost I feared the anger of my father the Emperor; and then, the foolish jesting of the world. I felt myself hedged in by courtly rules and restrictions. But for all the tiresome concealments that my rank forced upon me, from that first evening I had so strangely set my heart upon her that though reason counseled me I could not hold back; and indeed it seems sometimes to me that an irresistible fate drove me to do the thing of which I now so bitterly and continually repent. But tell me more about her. For there can now be no reason for concealment. When on each seventh day I cause the names of the Buddhas to be written for her comfort and salvation, whom am I to name in my inward prayer.”

“There can be no harm in my telling you that,” said Ukon, “and I should have done so before, did I not somehow feel it a shame to be prating to you now about things she would not have me speak of while she was alive. Her parents died when she was quite small. Her father, Sammi Chūjō, loved her very dearly, but felt always that he could not give her all the advantages to which her great beauty entitled her; and still perplexed about her future and how best to do his duty by her, he died. Soon afterwards some accident brought her into the company of Tō no Chūjō who was at that time still a lieutenant and for three years he made her very happy. But in the autumn of last year disquieting letters began to arrive from the Great Hall of the Right, and being by nature prone to fits of unreasoning fear she now fell into a wild panic and fled to the western part of the town where she hid herself in the house of her old wet nurse. Here she was very uncomfortable, and had planned to move


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 657–8] the appointment of an umpire, what had they gained? It was a Theocracy they had been dreaming of, and now they were drifting back into the abuses of the past. The umpires would decide simply as between Muʿāwiya and ʿAlī; and, whatever the verdict, despotism would be riveted more firmly than ever upon them. What they really wanted had been lost sight of: nor was there any longer a prospect of its being won.

Angrily arguing thus, a body of 12,000 men fell out from ʿAlī's army on their homeward march, but kept side by side with the rest, at some little distance off. Loud and violent in their speech, they beat about their neighbours in rude Bedawi fashion with their whips, and accused one another of having abandoned the cause of Islām into the hands of godless arbitrators; while others repented of their having betrayed the Caliph on the field of battle, and thus separated themselves from the great body of the Faithful. In this frame of mind they avoided Al-Kūfa, but encamped in its vicinity at the village of Ḥarūrā. Their leaders belonged to the tribes of Temīm, Bekr, and Hamdān in Al-Kūfa. They chose for themselves a temporary leader of the Azd tribe. Their war-cry was, "The decision belongs to God," that is, the question of the Caliph must be left to the arbitrament of the sword. Their resolve, however, was that, when they had gained ascendency, they would no longer have any Prince or Caliph at all, and vest the administration of affairs in a Council of State. Such theocratic dreams were not confined to these schismatics, but had widely leavened the factious and fanatic city Al-Kūfa itself.

ʿAlī, aware of the danger, sent his cousin, Ibn al-ʿAbbās, to reason with the seceding body, but to no effect. He then proceeded in person to their camp, and gained over their leader by the promise of the government of Ispahān. He urged that, so far from being responsible for "the godless compromise," as they called the truce, he had been driven to it against his better judgment by their own wayward and persistent obstinacy; that the umpires were bound by its terms to deliver their decision in accordance with the sacred text, which the Theocrats equally with himself held to be the final guide; and if the umpires' deliverance should after all be in disregard of right, he would without hesitation


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Rh to a certain village in the hills, when she discovered that it would be unlucky, owing to the position of the stars since the beginning of the year, to make a journey in that direction; and (though she never told me so) I think, Sir, it troubled her sorely that you should have come upon her when she was living in so wretched a place. But there was never anyone in the world like my lady for keeping things to herself; she could never bear that other people should know what was on her mind. I have no doubt, Sir, that she sometimes behaved very oddly to you and that you have seen all this for yourself.”

Yes, this was all just as Tō no Chūjō had described. “I think there was some mention of a child that Chūjō was vexed to have lost sight of,” said Genji more interested than ever; “am I right?” “Yes, indeed,” she answered; “it was born in the spring of last year, a girl, and a fine child it was.” “Where is it now?” asked Genji. “Could you get hold of it and bring it to me here without letting anyone know where you were taking it? It would be a great comfort to me in my present misery to have some remembrance of her near me”; and he added, “I ought of course to tell Chūjō, but that would lead to useless and painful discussions about what has happened. Somehow or other I will manage to bring her up here in my palace. I think there can be no harm in that. And you will easily enough find some story to tell to whatever people are now looking after her.” “I am very glad that this has entered your head,” said Ukon, “it would be a poor lookout for her to grow up in the quarter where she is now living. With no one properly belonging to her and in such a part of the town….”

In the stillness of the evening, under a sky of exquisite beauty, here and there along the borders in front of his palace some insect croaked its song; the leaves were just beginning to turn. And as he looked upon this pleasant picture he felt ashamed at the contrast between his surroundings and the little house where Yūgao had lived. Suddenly somewhere among the bamboo groves the bird called iyebato uttered its sharp note. He remembered just how she had looked when in the gardens of that fatal house the same bird had startled her by its cry, and turning to Ukon, “How old was she?” he suddenly asked; “for though she seemed childlike in her diffidence


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268 reject the same, and again go forth to fight with them against their enemies.

For the present they were pacified by these assurances; and so, breaking up their camp, they returned to their homes, there to await the decision of the umpires.


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136 and helplessness, that may only have been a sign that she was not long for this world.” “She must have been nineteen,” said Ukon. “When my mother, who was her first wet nurse, died and left me an orphan, my lady’s father was pleased to notice me and reared me at my lady’s side. Ah, Sir, when I think of it, I do not know how I shall live without her; for kind as people here may be I do not seem to get used to them. I suppose it is that I knew her ways, poor lady, she having been my mistress for so many years.”

To Genji even the din of the cloth-beaters’ mallets had become dear through recollection, and as he lay in bed he repeated those verses of Po Chü-i.


text: Anthology of Japanese Literature/Yūgao

title: Anthology of Japanese Literature/Yūgao


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FTER three days it happened that Tristan, in following a wounded deer far out into the wood, was caught by night-fall, and took to thinking thus under the dark wood alone:

"It was not fear that moved the King he had my sword and I slept  and had he wished to slay, why did he leave me his own blade?  O, my father, my father, I know you now. There was pardon in your heart, and tenderness and pity  yet how was that, for who could forgive in this matter without shame?  It was not pardon, it was understanding; the faggot and the chantry leap and the leper ambush have shown him God upon our side.


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 Also I think he remembered the boy who long ago harped at his feet, and my land of Lyonesse which I left for him; the Morholt's spear and blood shed in his honour. He remembered how I made no avowal, but claimed a trial at arms, and the high nature of his heart has made him understand what men around him cannot; never can he know of the spell, yet he doubts and hopes and knows I have told no lie, and would have me prove my cause. O, but to win at arms by God's aid for him, and to enter his peace and to put on mail for him again but then he must take her back, and I must yield her  it would have been much better had he killed me in my sleep. For till now I was hunted and I could hate and forget; he had thrown Iseult to the lepers, she was no m remore [sic] his, but mine; and now by his compassion he has wakened my heart and regained the Queen. For Queen she was at his side,


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 but in this wood she lives a slave, and I waste her youth; and for rooms all hung with silk she has this savage place, and a hut for her splendid walls, and I am the cause that she treads this ugly road. So now I cry to God the Lord, who is King of the world, and beg Him to give me strength to yield back Iseult to King Mark; for she is indeed his wife, wed according to the laws of Rome before all the Barony of his land."

And as he thought thus, he leant upon his bow, and all through the night considered his sorrow.

Within the hollow of thorns that was their resting-place Iseult the Fair awaited Tristan's return. The golden ring that King Mark had slipped there glistened on her finger in the moonlight, and she thought:

"He that put on this ring is not the man who threw me to his lepers in his wrath; he is rather that compassionate


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 lord who, from the day I touched his shore, received me and protected. And he loved Tristan once, but I came, and see what I have done! He should have lived in the King's palace; he should have ridden through King's and baron's fees, finding adventure; but through me he has forgotten his knighthood, and is hunted and exiled from the court, leading a random life"

Just then she heard the feet of Tristan coming over the dead leaves and twigs. She came to meet him, as was her wont, to relieve him of his arms, and she took from him his bow, "Failnaught," and his arrows, and she unbuckled his sword-straps. And, "Friend," said he, "it is the King's sword. It should have slain, but it spared us."

Iseult took the sword, and kissed the hilt of gold, and Tristan saw her weeping.


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 "Friend," said he, "if I could make my peace with the King; if he would allow me to sustain in arms that neither by act nor word have I loved you with a wrongful love, any knight from the Marshes of Ely right away to Dureaume that would gainsay me, would find me armed in the ring. Then if the King would keep you and drive me out I would cross to the Lowlands or to Brittany with Gorvenal alone. But wherever I went and always, Queen, I should be yours; nor would I have spoken thus, Iseult, but for the wretchedness you bear so long for my sake in this desert land."

"Tristan," she said, "there is the hermit Ogrin. Let us return to him, and cry mercy to the King of Heaven."

They wakened Gorvenal; Iseult mounted the steed, and Tristan led it by the bridle, and all night long they went for the last time through the woods of their


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 love, and they did not speak a word. By morning they came to the Hermitage, where Ogrin read at the threshold, and seeing them, called them tenderly:

"Friends," he cried, "see how Love drives you still to further wretchedness. Will you not do penance at last for your madness?"

"Lord Ogrin," said Tristan, "hear us. Help us to offer peace to the King, and I will yield him the Queen, and will myself go far away into Brittany or the Lowlands, and if some day the King suffer me, I will return and serve as I should."

And at the hermit's feet Iseult said in her turn:

"Nor will I live longer so, for though I will not say one word of penance for my love, which is there and remains forever, yet from now on I will be separate from him."