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^7c?3/.?X
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V
HEROIC BALLADS
OF SERVIA
nuKSLATSD INTO BNOUSH VBIUB
ST
GEOBGE RAFALL JtpYES /
AMD
LEONARD BACON
r
BOSTON
SHZBUAN, FBEN'CH » COMFANT
l»]f
V ' ^ »^ y > ^^A>
NOV
ins
PREFACE
The puqM)e(c of the prenent Tolumc i« to give
upcrimcns of the bcHt portions of a ballad litera-
ture that in among the moiit remarkalile in Europe«
For the translation of the Imllack from the
Scr^'inn, and for tlie introduction and notes, I am
responsible ; Mr. Bacon has transformed mj prose
texts into English verse. Each of us, however,
has of course made suggestions as to the work of
the other.
Most of the material in the introduction I have
taken from Karajich (see lielow, pp. 10, 11),
and from the concise SJcctch of Servian LUrmturt
(in Servian) of Professor Popovich (Belgrade,
1909). For various minor details in the book as
a whole I am indebted to several previous transla-
tors from the Servian and writers on Servia and
its literature; to ho exact, to Bowring, Sewiam
Popular Poetry (London, 1887); Elodie Lawton
Mijatovich, Kommovo (London, 1881) ; D*AvriI, La
BataUU de Кошшото (Paris, 1868) ; Vogl, MaiAco
Kraljcviti (ЛЧеппа, 1851); Chedo Mijatovichf
Senna and the Servums (Boston, Page, 1908);
Lazarovich-Hrcbelianovich, Tk€ Servian PeopU
(New York, Scribner, 1910); W. Miller, Tkg
Balkam (New York, Putnam, 1806); ЛшЛшџ
Sffhkn nnd die Turkei im neunxehnten Jahrhun-
iert (Leiptig, 1879; also translated bj Kerr,
London, 1847). To Meters. Charles Scribner*s
Sons and 6. P. Putnain*s Sons I am indebted for
their courteous permission to reprint passages of
some length from the copyright works published
hj them*
Next to KarAjich and PAporich, howercr, I owe
most to Mr. Mih*n>j S. Stanojerich, a graduate
of the UniTersitj of Belgrade, who has aided me
in 'Tarious wajs, noCabljr in the selection of the
later ballads, in the translation of difficult pas-
■agea, and in the accentuation of the Servian
папма. Without his kindlj help this volume would
be Modi waort imperfect than it is at present
O. R« NoTBS.
CONTENTS
Introduction 1
I
A BALLAD OP SERVIA BEFORE THE
TURKISH CONQUEST
TiiK Building or Skadar 15
BALLADS OP K6S0V0 FIELD
The Building or RatAnitsa Vt
Ban Straiiin M
Tsar Lazar and Tiaritsa M/litsa .... 90
Fraomcnts or KoaoTO Ballads вв
vThb Battlk or Кбаотр 77
I'How MiLotii 6riuch Slkw ТНЖ Sultan Murad ei
Mvsicii Stktan ee
Tifs DiATH or THK Mothrr op ТНЖ Y6ooTiCHi 94
TsiRiTtA MIlitsa and VlXdrta ТНШ VofrooA 97
.Tiik<Maid OP Кбаото «99
Тнж Hrad op TtAR Laiar 105
\ BALLADS OP MARKO KRALYEVICH
Uroih AND ТНЖ Sons OP MarntIta . • . .Ill
Princr Marko and ТНЖ Vila IffO
Princr Marko and thr Sworo op VukJUhin lt5
Princr Marko and thr Eaolr . • • • .190
Thr Marriagr op Princr Marko • • • • 199
Princr Marko and Aul Aoa 145
>r
РАОЖ
PstwcB Masko АПи MiNA 0Г KotTUS . . .158
РиНСЖ MaSKO and BbT KotTAOIlf .... 165
РиМСЖ MaRKO and THS DaUOHTBS or THS
MooattH Kino 168
SINCE Mahko's Plowino 172
Makbo Dbinki Winb in RamabAn . . • .174
Tub Dbath op Marko Kraltbticii .178
/11
BALLADS OP SERVIA UNDER TURKISH RULE
Thb Maidbn Maroita and Ratko thb VofroDA 187
How STARfNA Notak Bbcamb a Hatduk . .191
StArIn A NOTAS AND THB BoLD RAdITOTB
Tmb Dbath or I to or Sbntb . . .
Thb Mabriaob or Stotan Yankotich
t /Тив CAPTiviTT or Stotan YAnkotich
195
199
SOS
S16
A MONTENEGRIN BALLAD
Thb War or thb Montbnborins with Mah-
MVD Pasha 225
BALLADS WITHOUT HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Prbbrao and Xbnad S41
Swtbr and Brothbr 249
MOTO AND AuTA 254
iThb MnucLB or St. Nichola« 258
гГнв вввгвнт Bridboboom 260
Thb Wirs or Haban Aoa 271
НВЖ«1в BALLADS OF SERVIA
INTRODUCTION
The ballads of Scrvia occupy a high positioni
perhaps the highest position, in the ballad litera-
ture of Europe. Of them Jacob Grimm wrote:
**They would, if well known, astonish Europe,**
and **in them breathes a clear and inborn poetry
such as can scarcely be found among any other
modem people." ^ The origin of this popular lit-
erature goes back to a period of which no written
record exists; its known history dates from the
fourteenth century, since which time it is absolutely
continuous. And in Servia, unlike England and
Spain, ballads still survive as an important part
of the nation^s intellectual life ; they are still sung«
and still composed, by peasant poets who have re-
ceived their training fnim oral tradition instead
of from the printed page«
According to their subjects the Servian ballads
may be divided into two very unequal divisions«
the first, and by far the larger, being based on
the national history, while the second lacks any
such historical foundation« Yet the line between
the two groups cannot be strictly drawn; well-
known folk-lore motives or mere popular jests an
iQMted by Vogl, Jferte fraljftttff, p. UL
[1]
eofitinuallj attached to historical heroes. Such
ballads as Prince Markovs Plamng and Marko
Drinks Wine •» Ramazdn can be called ^historical**
only in the most ultra-catholic interpretation of
the term.
The historical ballads may again be divided
into more or less definite cycles. First in order of
time come those dealing with the kings of the
Ncmanich dynasty (1168-1367). This royal line
made less impression on the popular mind by its
heroic exploits than by its piety in founding
churchet and monasteries (cf. p. Ш). The sur-
viving ballads of the cycle, which arc few in num-
ber« are represented in this volume by Urosh and
ike Sons of Mamyava ^ and The Building of
Skadar, After the death of the great tsar Stepan
Dushan in 1356, his son, the weak Urosh,
came to the throne, but was unable to preserve
his authority intact. The leader of the revolting
chieftains was King Vukilshin, who defeated his
lawful superior and caused him to be slain. Of
the rivalry of the two men the ballad Urosh and the
Sons of hiamy6va preserves a distant echo ; to the
historic brothers Vukdshin and Cglyesha it adds
a third, Goyko, unknown outside of folk-lore.
Another glimpse, still more legendary, of the three
brothers is preserved in The Building of Skadar.
The cycle of the battle of K6eovo forms the
classic center of the Servian ballads. After the
death of Vukishin, being hard pressed by the
inris bdkd Is hers printed as the flrst of those dealing
with Priaet Marker with which also It тлу be dassed..
Turks, the Scrvinne in 1371 elected as their tsar, •
Lazar, a leader who had served under Dushan and
was connected with him bj marriage. His efforts
to save the country were vain; on June 15 (SL
Vitus' day), 1389, his armies were crushed by
those of Murad I. Both rulers fell on the battle-
ficldy Murad being killed by a Servian to whom
one of tlio contemporary accounts gives the title
of '*a faithful servant of Lazar« by name Milosh.**
About 1431 Constantine the Philosopher, a Servian *
biographer, states that the ''great noble** who
killed Murnd was 'Slandered to his lord by envious
tongues as wishing to betray him.** An anony*
mous Italian writer (about 1500) tells how on the
eve of battle I^zar reproached Milosh with wishing
to betray him, and how Milosh replied that the
event would prove his truth or treason ; the same
source states that on the battlefield there was a
report of the treachery of a voy voda * named Dh(-
goslav Pribishich. Finally Maufo Orbini in his •
liegno d€ gli Slavi (1601) for the first time
ascribes the betrayal of Lazar to his son-in-law
V4ik Brfinkovichf whose fair fame is thus wTon|^
fully besmirched. Orbini makes Milosh, like Vuk,
the son-in-law of Lazar, and tells of the origin
of the enmity of the two men in a quarrel between
their wives Mara and VCikosava; in other words, he
gives the K6sovo legend in practically its complete
form« as it is found in the ballads here printed.'
It is, however, probably the product of popu-
>Dukc» lord.
* The stoty of the quarrel of Mais and Vdlnsam Is Ml«
however, included la this volume.
*0 thou young wife of Goykcs do thou harken
BOW to me!
It is this — ^good health to thee, lister! — my head
beginneth to ache;
I cannot conquer the pain. Do thou the meal to
the masons take.**
Goyko*s young wife gave answer: '^I would
do it gladly, O queen;
But all unbathed is my little child, and the linen
not washed clean.**
A ns w er ed the queen: *^ith the dinner to
the masons do thou go.
Let our sister bathe thy baby; I will whiten the
linen like snow.**
Then the young wife of Goyko thereto would
say no more;
Forthwith unto the masons their midday meal she
bore.
By BAyana Goyko saw her, and sad was his heart
that day.
Sad for his wife and the little lad that in the
cradle lay.
That should be without his mother ere his first
month was told;
And down upon the hero*s face the bitter tears
they rolled.
Tilt slender girl looked on him; gently she walked
nlong,
Untfl she was come to Goyko, and she spake as
soft as a song:
"Wlsst aOeth thee, Goyko, that on thy cheeks
the Utter tears have ixilled?**
[fO]
always bravct always kind to the weak and f riend-
Icsst whether they be fair maidens or mere birds
of prey« and, above all, always a devoted son to his
old mother Y^vrosima. The historic Marko» the
son of King Vuk^hin, was not of great importance.
After his fathcr*s death he ruled over a portion
of Macedonia, with Prilip as his capital; in 1385 *
he submitted to Turkish sovereignty ; and in 1894
he perished, fighting for the Sultan Bajazet against
the Voyvoda Mircha of Wallachia. But he must
have endeared himself to the nation by his personal v
qualities, for he became by far the best known and
the best beloved hero of the ballads. In one re-
spect, at least, the ballads about him are true to
history. Although Marko is associated with
Milosh as his sworn brother, and although he visits
the field of K6sovo after the defeat of the Servians
(see pp. 130-82), he is assigned no part in the bat-
tle itself; as to the cause of his absence from the
fray the ballads are silent.
From the great days of heroic conflict with the
Turks to the dark ages of oppression, the ballads
of The Maiden ifdrgiia and Rayko the Vo^txfda.
with its lament over fallen champions, forms a
natural transition. The time of Turkish rule
lacked great exploits and great personalities; its
heroes were the hayduks, or robber outlaws, of
whom the most famous was Starfna Novak, who
with his band of followers, including his sworn
brother, the bold Ridivoye, lived in Bosnia late
in the sixteenth century. Though they use mus-
kets instead of bows, these worthies, as Uiey appear
They built unto her girdle with the heavy wood
and ftone.
She saw what wae come on her; with a тегу bit-
ter groan.
And writhing like a serpent, she prayed her breth-
ren there:
^An you tru«t in God, wall me not up, so tender
and so fair.**
So prayed she. They looked not on her; no way
her prayer did aid.
But she overcame disgrace and shame, and to her
lord she said:
''Let me not now, my dearest lord, be walled
up in the hold.
But send unto my mother, that hath a treasure
of gold,
And purrhase thou a slave girl with her money in
that hour.
And wall the slave girl into the foundations of
the tower.**
So spake the slender girl in vain; the prayer
could not aid.
When she found no help, to Rado, the master
builder, she prayed:
^¥or my iMMom, builder Rado, leave a space
at my behest,
TImU Yovo when he cometh may be suckled at my
breast**
Rado, the master builder, was well pleased with
her prayer.
And for her milk-white bosom he left a window
tliere,
[tt]
ion the wars of the Montcncgrim with the Turin;
they celebrate onlj real personst and when they
mention even unimportant actors« always preserve
the topography of their doings accurately and
consistently. In them women play no part«** ^
The ballads lacking historical foundation are
of the most varied sort. Thus The Serpent Bride*
groom and Sitter and Brother arc versified fairy
talcs, dealing with familiar folk-lore motives.
Prcdrag and Kenad is ostcnsfbly a haj'duk story«
but its plot is not purely Servian; it is known to
English readers from Malory's tale of Bidin and
Balan^ or Tennyson's modem version of it. f I.
lfieh4Лaш is a naive popular legend« while Muyo
and Aliya tells of the misdeeds of an unusually
wicked vila, or mountain nymph. On the other
hand« The Wife of Нашап Aga b a simple, powei^
ful tragedy of domestic life.
The Servian heroic ballads are now all composed
in one measure« an unrimed line of ten syllabfet,
with a crsura after the fourth syllable. There it no
regular arrangement of accents ; but, as no Servian
word (except of course monosyllables) is accented
on the ultima, the eflTect of the verse« when read
or recited« is of an irregular trochaic rhythm.
I рбпШ tri tovXrX bligX
Yftkidtik« svidbiiftr€dlsh&
When the ballads are mn^, the prose accents are
set aside« and the lines become regular trochaic
pentameter.'
sKoff^Mi, Preface to second cditkm of ffsrvfaa
Kmii^mui ВФт§9, IftM (in gofe mm c ut edition, 18tl),
[7]
bmstt «m eapo i wi llowt a eerUin moletiife^ which collecto
the wall M limei and women who have no rallkt or
hmstt pain them« lake thii and drink It In water.
J oat people It li tald even now that no great hulld«
li^ can be conttraeted ш|1ем iome perton be walled Into
Ml and tberefore all who are able retire from fadi plaece»
II le tald that even a pereoo't shadow majr be walled
be allcfwardf dice." (Note by KatdJIdk)
[«•]
Senria. In these places even to^ay almost every
house has its gusle« and it is hard to find a man
who does not know how to play it, and many
women and girls know how.** ^ In the lower re-
rgions the gusle grows less common, until it finally
; becomes the peculiar possession of blind bcggarsy
\ who sing the songs at fairs and church festivals.
The anonymous authorship of these songs may
excite surprise among a people of bookish training
and habits like ourselves. It will be readily under-
stood that a singer knowing some fifty of the bal-
lads by heart can without great difficulty compose
new songs on any passing event of village lifet
even as a cultivated gentleman, well versed in even
one of Shakespeare's plays, can find fitting quota-
tions for an after-dinner speech on any imaginable
topic. Kariljich gives an example of such a jest-
ing song composed upon a village wedding. Bal-
lads of this type have no value in themselves, and
disappear from memory along with the trifling
] event that occasioned them. But **juet as wa|^
gisli old men and youths compose these jocose
songs, so others compose serious ballads of battles
and other notable events. It is not strange that
one cannot learn who first composed even the most
recent of the ballads, to say nothing of the older
ones; but it is strange that among the common
people nobody regards it as an art or a thing to
, be proud of to compose a new ballad ; and, not to
spMk of boasting of doing so, everyone, even the
V real author, refuses to acknowledge the ballad* and
undertake the gathering of popular tonga and bal-
lads. In 1814-15 he published the first fruiU of
his labors, a small collection in two volumes; a
second, enlarged edition appeared in four volumett
1824-ad; and a third edition, with still further
additions, followed in 1841--вв, in six volumes, of
which the last two were printed posthumously.
Finally the Servian government has reissued the
great work, with additions from Kanijich's manu-
scripts, in nine volumes, 1891-1 9М, containing«
besides two volumes of folk-songs, nearly five hun-
dred ballads.
Kanijich also published a collection of popular
talcs and one of proverbs. But his activity as a
folk-lorist was only one side of his labors. In
1814 he published the first edition of his Servian
Grammar^ and in 1818 he published the fint edi-
tion of his Servian Dictionary^ with translations
in Gemmn and Latin, which, in a revised fonn, is
still a standard work. lie prepared a translation
of the New Testament into the living speech of
the people. Finally, not to speak of his less im-
portant writings, he revised on a phonetic basis
the alphabet and spelling of his native language«
and his system, after years of persecution, partly
owing to his introduction of the letter j from the <^
hated ^'Catholic'* Latin alphabet, has long since
been adopted as the Servian official orthography«
Few writers of books have had so great an influ-
ence, or an influence so purely beneficent, on the
life of their nation as had Vuk StefdLnovich Kahir
jich.
£11]
Some explanation is needed of the pronunciation
of the Servian proper names. No simple trans-
literation can correctly indicate the native pro-
nunciation; that here adopted seems open to as
few .objections as any other. The vowels and
diphthongs should be given their regular **conti-
nentaP values: roughly, father^ ca/e, machine,
flioir, пЛеџ ЛЈС^ 6cy, 6oy« / never forms a diph-
thong with a preceding vowel: VMn^ Fd-wtKno.
Y is always eitlwr a consonant or the second ele-
ment of a diphthong; a consonant followed by y
plus a vowel forms one syllable with them: Ni-
wutrnjfo. The consonants and consonantal di-
graphs have their ordinary English sounds; the
following arc apparently all in regard to which
there could be ambiguity. G is always **hard,** at
in gift; j is pronounced as in jetty ^ the j of the
Servian alphabet being here rendered by y
( Ymg) ; # is always surd, as in ioft, passing; x and
ek are pronounced as in zebra and church, not
with their German sounds ; zk represents the sound
of # in pleasure. Ch and j, it should be added,
each transliterate two Servian sounds, only one of
which corresponds to the English value of the
ktter used for it The Servian Vocalic r,** at in
Srja, has been rendered by rs Srija, C has not
been used in the transliteration; thus, Tsitinye
(Cetinje). The accent of words of two syllables
10 alwayt on the first syllable; on words of three or
more syDablet the accent is always marked. No
attempt hat been made to indicate the quantities
^ the Scrviaa vowelt or the tccondary accentt.
[It]
No churches hast thou founded* jet a treasure of
gold hast thou.
The treasure ayaileth nothing to help us or to
heal ;
NeiUicr for soul or body will treasure work our
weal.''
Then rose up Lazar the glorious:
**Mj great
lords, harkcn je
What saith mj queen« that nowhere a church
buildcd have we!
RaviLnitsa in Rcsava bj the Ravan will I rear«
For treasure in my treasuries whate*er I need is
here.
Leaden shall be the comer stones^ and the waUs of
silver white;
I will cover the walls of it with the gold burnished
bright.
And moreover, by God*s mercy, shall pearls be
set thereon,
And the gateways of the chapels shall glow with
precious stone«**
The Servian lords rose lightly; they bowed
down one and all:
**Build for the sake of thine own soul and the health
of Stevan the Tall.** >
But Milosh 6bilich sat there at the table foot to
dine,
I'The popttlsr Bsmc of the mmi of Prince Ittut, wlia
ralcd after the battle of К^мтч and who buttt the
tcfj of МааАађга.** Karijkh, g ert fa a DCtfiMory.
Ам1 Bftoght he md; aad Lanjr nw, aad pkjgcd
huB ia the wine:
^HAatothce^MikMhthemyTock! Whatthes
to ше wilt thou saj?
For I think to build to our Lonl God a might j
church this daj.**
Miloeh rose up and doffed the cap with the
plumes and sable fine.
And he made obeisance to the tsar, and thej gave
him the cup of wine.
Milosh took up the golden cup, and gare his health
again:
*4SIorj to thee, prince, for thj speech, but for
building of the fane —
This is no time for building. In faith, it cannot
be!
Mj lord, but look in the ancient book what it shall
saj to thee.
The last hour is upon us ; swift it cometh apace.
The Turks will take the kingdom and rule it in
our place.
Thej will sack church and conTent, and RaWbitsa
likewise.
ТЋе foundations of RavAnitsa, thej will dig them
for a prise.
And melt them into cannon balls, to beat and batter
down
ТЋе bulwarks of our churches and the rampart of
the town.
For trappings the white silver walls shall be molten
in the flames;
[80]
Thej will overthrow the church roof for necUctt
for their dAmei;
For these same necklaces, I wot« thej wiU wrench
away the pearls;
For their sword hilts will thej take the gems, and
for rings for Turkish girls.
But hark to mc, Tsar Lasar! Let us quarrj out
the stone
And build a church of maible« For the Turks
will seize the thronci
And our church shall serve forevery unto God's
Judgment Daj!
There is no profit in the stone« to carrj it awaj."
Then spake the great Tsar Laiarus, when ht
that speech had heard:
^Now glory to thect Milosh« for truth b in thy
wordr
[81]
BAN STRAHIN
Втшдшх wfts ban of Banska thai by Кбвото doth
stand;
And such another falcon there is not in the land.
He rote up in the morning:
**Ho, all mj knavesi
give heed!
Get je down to the stables and saddle me mj
steed.
Deck him out fair and seemly, and gird him with
the girth;
For hark and hear me, gallants, I go roving o*er
the earth.
WcMj shall be the milk-white steed, before I shall
alight
Where dwell mj wife's good kindred in KrAshevata
the whit^—
Her brave old father Yug Bogdan and her good
brothers nine.
Her gallant kin shall take me in and dieer me
with the w! e.**
Then forthwith all the servants unto the ban
gave heed.
And from the lordly stable led the white fakon
steed.
And then the brave Ban Strahin himself the steed
arrayed;
He oct on him a saddle of velvet and brocade,
Baddcr than ounset water, more shining than the
!
[M]
So the good ban put on the steed that rich eapari-
•on.
So rode he forth that morning, nor етег did alight
Till he came in to his wife's kin in KrAshevats the
white.
Where late the realm men stablished. And him
Yug Bogdun saw,
And with his nine gray hawks came on to greet
his son-in-law.
They waited little for him, but clasped him one
and all;
And while the servants took the steed, they
brouglit the ban to halL
Down sat they at the ready board« and spake
fair words and fine;
And man and maid came in apace to senre or pour
the wine.
Then all those goodly Christians their thirst be-
gan to quench;
Yug Bogdan set Ban Strahin beside him on the
bench;
Upon his right he set him, his sons on the other
hand;
But the remnant of his people at the table-fooi
must stand.
The servants served before them« Nine daughters
had that lord.
And each fair daughter in her turn served deftly
at the boaid.
They served before their father; they served their
lords that tide;
Bui wmmi of all But SlnluBt for tlidr tklcr
hit bride.
One •crroBt stood befoR tlmi to •crve the led
wine up;
la a gold cup he meuured it — nine mcosures held
thot cop.
Much courtcs J was there to see and guests from
near and far;
Brothers as man j came as to a banquet of the
Long was Ban Stnhin*s tarrying; long« long
he abide*
Dwelling among his wife her kin in pleasure and
in pride.
The guests that were in KrAshevats a bitter
cry ihey made.
And came to old Yug Bogdan and unto him they
prayed:
**We kiss thy silken garments, thou art our
lord and chief;
We therefore pray thy kindness to do us this re-
lief.
Bring Strahin thy good son-in*law to our eastles
and our courts,
Ћшк we may do him honor as with his worth
consorts«**
Before that mirth was over was long enough,
I trow.
Long the ban tarried, ere came forth the tidings
of his woe.
But lo, in the fair morning, when the warm sun
beat down,
A lad bore a white letter from Banska, the littk
Tidings from his old mother! He set it on his
knee;
Therein was manj a bitter and dreadful thing
to see.
For there her curse is written most plain in
Strahin*s sight:
'* Where art thou, son? Foul fall the wine in
Krushcvats the white!
Evil is the wine and full of shame for thee and
thj wife's kin.
Behold what woes against thee are written down
herein!
From Ycdren * with an army is come the TVirkish
tsar
To KisoTo, and his Tizicrs are with him in the
war;
And he hath taken K6sovo with his accurst
▼listen.
The whole strength hath he brought along of all
the Turicish spears;
Along the land of K6sovo hath he ta*en either
flood —
Lab and Sftnitsa onward from the marble to the
woody
From the maple drj to SdLslija bridged over hj
the archt
Through Zvechan and Chechan to the wood round
K6soTo they march,
lAdrlsnople
[M]
The гшЈку of their capture; thereto they haste
along.
AmI the t«ar hath one anny an hundred thou-
sand strong«
That one lone lord hath lent him who hath a fief
of the tsar.
Many lords eat of the tsar's bread, and ride his
steeds of war.
Few arms those chieftains carry ; nay^ but a single
Made!
And yet another army is for the tsar arrayed—
The Turks and janissaries in Yedren*s milk-white
tower;
And yet an hundred thousand they say are in that
power.
Tok and Manjuk an army for the tsar lead as
well.
And death is in their onslaught and slaughter in
their yell.
But yet there is one army of all from far and
near —
Vlah Aliya*s, that feareth not for sultan nor
▼isier«
Nor all within the armict save as ants upon the
hiH
'"Such is the Turkish battle, nor departs he
without ilL
He smote on little Banska; by the kft-hand way
he came;
He stormed the hold of Banska, and burned it
with the flame.
He hath o'crturncd the lowest stone ; th j senraiits
fled perforce;
And o*er thy mother's body hath he ridden on his
horse;
With thy wife upon his saddlebow thiough
K6sovo he went|
And he kisses thy belovid in the shadow of his
tent
And I above burned ruins bewail this fate of mine«
While thou drink'st wine in KrfisheTats, God
send His Death his wine!**
When the ban read the letter« Grief took him
in her grip;
Down drooped upon his shoulder the black beard
of his lip;
He ground his teeth togetheri and was тегу nigh
to weep;
And old Yug Bogdan saw himt as he rose up from
his sleep.
Yug's voice flashed up like fire; he spake after this
wise:
''God help my son ! and wherefore dost thou so
soon arise?
And wherefore art thou troubled, good son-in-law
of mine?
Have thy brave brothers laughed at thee or mocked
thee at the wine?
Have not thy sisters served thee? Is there cvQ
among thy kin?
Tell roe, my son, and straightway: what shame is
found herein ?**
[87]
The bftii flaahcd up before him and to his father
•aid:
Tather, I find no fault at aU in the kin of her
I wed«
And mj good brothen with me deal pleasantlj
withal ;
The noble ladies speak me fair and serve roe in the
hall:
Among mj wife's good kindred no fault at all doth
stand«
Mj mother out of Banska sends this letter to mj
hand.'*
He tells unto his father in the fair morning-tide
How all of his possession is wasted far and wide ;
How that the Turks have scattered his servants*
knight and knave.
And trampled on his mothert and his wife ta*en for
a slave:
^And O thou oU Yug Bogdan, if she be dear to
me.
Also she is thy daughter and shame to me and
thee!
And if thou ever thoughtest a gift to me to give.
Give it not after I am dead, but now while yet I
live.
I pray thee and I kiss thy hand: give me thy chil-
dren nme.
And wc wiU go to K6sovo to seek this foe of
Yea, this red traitor to the tsar, that hath enslaved
my wife
Bt not afraid, my father, nor sorrow for their life;
[M]
They shall wear Turkish raimentt turban« as white
as milk
And good green mantles, and also broad trousen
wrought of silk.
And at the belt long sabers as flashing as a flame*
And I will call my servantSf and order them by
name,
To saddle up the horses and draw the saddlebelts«
And cover o'er the horses with the strong black
bear-pelts.
Strong janissaries shall they be; my counsel shall
they know,
What time through the tsar*s army we ride in
K6eovo.
And I will be their captain, who hare their sister
wed.
That they may heed my counsel, and have it still
in dread.
And if a soldier of the tsar shall challenge us in
speech,
Turkish, mayhap, or Arabic; why, I can speak in
each.
And Manor too, and Amaut, enough to senrc that
tide.
To seek my foe through Кбвото, so lightly will we
ride—
This Turk Vlah ЛНуа that enslaved my love by
might and main.
For though alone among the Turks I might perish
or be ta*en.
My brethren and I, we shall not die nor be smitten
down in vain Г*
When old Yug Bogdan heard thitf he flashed
like living fire ;
He spake unto Ban Strahin in words of wrath and
ire:
^ thou, mj son Ban Strahin, witless art thou
and rash!
wot thou lead my sons to K6soto for these same
Turks to slash?
Saj nothing more, mj son-in-law ! Mj sons shall
not be slain«
Though thj fair wife, my daughter, come never
home again.
Kay, nevermore, Ban Strahin, unloose thy wrath
at me,
For wit thou well, my son-in-law — may the plague
light on thee!—
If she have been his paramour but one night in
the tent.
So may she be no longer the bride of thy content;
God hath slain her forever; accumid shall she be!
And a worse thing. Ban Strahin, him she prefers
to thee.
Go to! The Devil Uke her! And for this love
of thine
I win give thee a better, and with thee drink the
wine.
I will be thy friend forever, but my children shall
not go
Riding amain аслми the plain with thee to
Ktaovo!**
But when Ban Strahin heard it, he flashed Vkt
living flre;
[40]
L/
Seeking the strong Vkh Alija, but he could sot
find hie tent.
By the waters of the Sitnits« a m*nrcl there was
seen,
By the shore of the Sftnits« was pitched a tent of
green.
The tent of green was тегу fair; it hid the grassy
lawn.
The golden apple on the pole shone brighter than
the dawn«
A spear is set before the door« and by the spear a
steed.
With his head deep in the nose-bag upon the oata
to feed.
The steed pawed fierce upon the gnmnd with the
off hoof and the near,
And the ban thought unto himself: **Vlah
Aliya's tent is here«**
And forward rode the hero upon the milk-white
steed;
He took his spear from shoulder, all ready to his
need.
He threw the tent door open, and looked within the
tent;
But it was not Vlah Aliya, the strong and insolent;
But a dervish, to whose girdle the white beard
sweeps from the chin.
Lies in the shadow of the tent, and no one else
therein.
A luckless denrish is the Turk, but he drinks wint
in a cup;
He poun the wine out for himself and forthwith
drinks it up.
Btui Strahin looked on the dervish that was bloody
to the ejes«
And made salam unto him, after the Turkish wise.
The drunken Turk looked on himy and spoke a
word of woe:
''Hail to thee, ћгате Ban Stndiin of Banska by
K6soTor
Now flashed up the Ban Strahiny and answered him
in dread;
In the fair-spoken Turicish a bitter word he said:
''Foul fall thy mothert thou denrishf that drink-
est here this hour!
Thou art so drunk thou canst not tell a Moslem
from a Giaour.
Wherefore dost thou speak of him? for here is
found no ban ;
There is none here but I, and I am the tsar's true
fighting man«
All of the tsar's good horses are scattered near
and far,
AmI the warriors run quickly to catch them for the
tsar.
If I go with this thy insult to the tsar and the
riiier,
Kaow well, thou sorry derrish, thy words shall cost
thee dear.**
Langfacd the denrish:
''Thou a Turic, StrahbP
Good fottune go with thetl
[♦♦]
Were I upon Mount Golech, uid should haply
chance to tee
Thee afar in the hoit of the tiar, well I should
know thee, ban—
Thee and that milk-white steed of thine, and the
hound KAraman,
Whom aye thou lovest better than the strong stal«
lion white.
And know, thou ban of Banska, I read thy brow
aright
And I know the eyes thereunder and the blade
beard of thy lip.
Know, ban — and may good fortune be of thy fd«
lowship ! —
That when thy guardsmen took me and made of
me a slave.
To thee in St&hara of the mount me miserable they
gave.
To the bottom of that prison didst thou cast me at
that tide.
And there a slave to thine and thee nine years did
I abide.
Nine fearful years past over, yea! and the tenth
began.
When filled with deep compassion thou thoaghtcst
on me, ban.
Thou badcst Rado, the jailer, unbar the doon
withal.
And forthwith bring me upward a captive to the
hall.
And dost thou know. Ban Strahin, what words thy
fierce lips said:
«*Skve! Turkish snake! Now would that
thou within my hold wert dead!
Gust thou then, like a hero, redeem thee with a
fee?'
**8o ran thy question to me, and I told the
truth to thee:
^ *My life now could I ransom, could I come to
my hall.
To my father's land and my birthplace and my
fiefs one and all —
My many farms and freeholds, the price of lib-
erty.
But thither to go, too well I know, hardly thou
trustee! me.
I wiU giTe thee a good bondsman, even God who
does not feign.
And another bondsman, his good faith, that I bring
that ransom again.'
''Thou garest thy trust to me that tide to go to
my white hall.
To my father's land and my birthplace, and my
fiefs one and all.
I came to my sad birthplace; no more I knew good
luck;
On my houses and my birthplace the pestilence had
struck«
It SMMle the men and women; in my bouses none
had stayed.
And my whole house had perished and my whole
p oes t ssion strayed.
Fast-bancd was all my sire's cstatCf and bolted
was the door.
The Turks took fann and freehold for their own
forevermore«
And when I taw mj houses all closed against mt
stand«
That I had neither friend nor goods* then a good
plan I planned«
I rode post unto Yedren, to the Tisier and the
tsar.
And the vizier boasted me for a hero in the war.
The tsar's vizier clothed me and gave a toit to
me.
And the great raven charger and shining panoply.
For the tsar's man forever in his book my name
thcj set«
And thou hast come to me to-day to claim of mt
th J debt
But, ban, I have not a penn j ; and woe is on thee
this day.
That thou comcst to die in folly amidst the tsar^i
array."
The ban looked on the dervish. Forthwith the
man he knew;
From the steed he vaulted, and clasped him, and
to his bosom drew:
^'Brother in God, oU dervish, no ddit is due to
me.
I seek no money, brother, nor any ransom fee.
I seek the strong Vlah Aliya, who hath overthrown
my hall.
And hath taken my belovM to be his bownden
thralL
TcD шм of hiniv thou denrithf and do not me be-
tmj
Unto the Turkish annj, who are jearning me to
•laj.**
**Bj God,** then said the denrish, «4hou ban»
thou falcon-one.
The strength of this mj faith to thee is firmer than
the stone.
Shouldst thou with the sword*s edges smite half
the armj dead,
Yet would I not bctraj thee, nor trample on thy
bread.
Thoo|^ I ate of it in prison, thou gavest me store
of wine;
Thou gavest the milk-white loaves to me that I
miglit f reel J dine;
Ofl in the sun's light glorious I wanned me in the
TImmi didst set me free upon my word, wherein I
am forsworn.
I could not keep my word to thee, returning to
thj hall:
Faith it was hard for me to keep without the where-
withal!
And for the Turk, Ban Strahin, Vlah Aliya in-
solent —
On the lii|^ mount of Golech he pitches now his
tent
But« Strahin, go from Kosovo, or a fool's death
dicst thou here.
l^vsl not thy handf nor the sharp brmndt nor the
of the spear.
To past that Turk in the mountainy it it a hefo*s
deed;
In his anna alive will he take thee, thy wcapoM
and thj steed.
He will break thine arms asunder; he will blind
thee living, O ban.**
Laughed Strahin: ^^Denrish« pitj me not be-
cause of anj man,
But to the Turkish armj betraj me not this tide.**
And thereupon the dervish unto the ban replied:
*'Mj faith is firmer than the stone, and pli|^tcd
thee indeed.
For even shouldst thou madden the anger of thy
steed.
And riding on the armj the half thereof shottldBt
slaj.
Yet I will not at any time thee to the Turks be-
tray,**
The ban spoke and departed, but he turned oc
the stallion white:
**Dcrvish, thou waterest thy steed at daybreak
and at night
In the waters of Sftnitsa. Say where the fords
arc found —
The fords in the cool water — that my horse may
not be drowned.*'
Said the dervish: **Thou Servian falcon, a ford
shalt thou find indeed,
Where'er thou enterest the water, for thy valor
and thy steed.**
The ban forded that water; on the milk-white
steed he sped
C49]
Over the moimt of Golcch with the great tun отег-
head.
II wamis aU thingi beneath it, both the near and
the far,
And it shines down on K6sovo and the army of
the tsar«
And now behold \1ah Alija, the strong and in-
solent.
Baa 8trahin*s bride that kisses in the shadow of
the tent
He hath an eWI custom, for етег does he fall
In slumber of a morning, when the sun beats отег
alL
He dmuned a dream upon that tide, and hearj
kj his head
On the breast of the beloTid that SthUiinya had
wed.
At the tent door she fondled him, but her ejes
went to and fro
Of«r the Turkish armj on the field of K6sovo.
She sec« what manner arc the tents, what steeds
the heroes ride.
And by mischance towards Golech she turned her
eyes aside. **
She skpped the Turk on the right cheek; and,
"Master,** did she cry,
*Raae op, Vkh Aliya! stir thyself! or forthwith
mayst thou diet
Nov belt thou on thy war-belt and thy fair mail
likewisel
Stndim comet that will cut off thine head, or
hliad thine eyes.**
(50]
Vlah Alija wakened fitmi his dream and flashed
up like the fire ;
His eje was proud, he laughed aloud:
•TThhi
Strdhinja*s desire,
Thou art afraid, Wallachian maid; thou fearest
him eachwhere!
When I bear thee unto Yedren, yet wilt thou see
him there!
Yon captain is not Strahin; a tsar's man rideth
here:
Either the tsar hath sent him, or Mehmet, the
vizier.
He bids that I submit me, nor smite the host of
the tsar.
Tsar and vizier, mayhap they fear to feel my
scimitar«
Fear not, what time I smite him with the keeUf
shining sword
That no more captains of the tsar come hither for
their lord.*»
But the ban's bride spake unto him :
''My mas-
ter, prithee see!
That is no Turkish captain — a blindness light on
thee!—
Nay, but my master Strahin, that did my body
clip.
Do I not know both eye and biow and the bladi
beard of his lip?
Do I not know his milk-white horse with the spot
of brown and tan,
[ei]
And tbe tawny hound beside him, the good hound
Пптап?
Jest not with life« mj gallant lord.^
But when
Vlah Alija heard«
The wrathful Turk leaped to his feet and straight
began to gird
His girdle with the poniards and the scimitar
thereto.
And he giTcth heed to the black steed« while the
ban nearer drew.
The ban is very careful, but he cursed him, nor
bowed his head
After the Turkish fashion; and unto him he said:
''Art thou then there, thou dastard — ^thou
traitor to the tsar?
Whose women hast thou taken that round thy
camp-fires are?
And whose belovM hast thou kist in the shadow
of the tent?
Come out to battle against me, thou strong and
insolent,**
The Turk was тегу angry. He sprang with
might and main
Unto the shoulder of the horse, and caught the
bridle-ftin.
Tht ban bode not his coming, but straight against
him drove;
He lifted the iron spear on hi|^, and hurled it
from above*
And the strong Turk, Vlah Aliya, reached out and
canght the spear,
[M]
And he spake unto Strahin :
"DasUrd, what dott
thou here?
Here arc no maids of Shumadin to scatter with a
But who fears not vizier or tsar, Vlah Ali ja am 1 1
And I dread not anj hero in the army of the tsar;
To me as ants upon the grass all in that armj are.
And thou thinkest in the lists this tide to battle
with me here P*
He spake and very suddenly he cast the battle-
spear,
Eager to wound. But the good God aided Bun
Strahin well.
His white steed« when the spear flew by, down on
his knees he felK
High overhead the great spear flashed, and broke
on a stone in three.
Up to the boss that guards the hand was it broken
utterly.
Now when the spears were broken, each champion
drew his mace;
Ylah Aliya smote on Strahin and beat him from
his place.
Forward from out of the saddle on the white neck
of the steed.
Now the good God aided Strahin in the moment of
his need.
Nor Turk, nor Serb a steed doth curb of half that
worth to^ay.
The beast swung head and shoulder in the middk
of the fray,
[M]
And his lord out of that danger to the saddletree
threw back;
And opon that Turkish devil the ban made his
attack.
Bat the Turk out of the saddle would neither fall
nor flee,
TImmi|^ *neath the blows his horse had sunk in the
black dust to the knee.
The spiky maces in their hands were shattered left
and right.
And forth they drew the sabers, and anew they
fought the fight
Bat lo, the great Ban Strahin at his belt had such
a blade
That a pair of smiths must forge it with three men
there to aid!
Fhim Sunday unto Sunday till the steel was waxen
cold
Had those same craftsmen cooled it within the
earthen mold;
And thereafter had they sharpened it by laying
on the sledge.
Snole the Turk, but Strahin waited edge against
saber-edge.
Tin be smote hard against it, and the Turk's
blade broke in half.
Has saw the baa and in he ran, and in his heart
did laugh
As he prest in upon him, smiting on either hand.
To strike his head from his shoulden with the
•dgcs of the brand.
Hero f mote against hero ; the Turk good wafd he
made,
He kept his head and shoulders with the truncheon
of the blade.
With the remnant of his weapon he beat the saber
back;
And bit bj bit as he smote on it to pieces did he
hack
The saber of Ban Strahin. Two blades in fra^
mcnts lay.
Then leaped they from the horses, and hurled
the hilts away.
They gripped each other by the throat like
dragons at that tide;
All day till noon they wrestled upon the moun-
tain side;
Till on the Turk's pale lips the foam like snow
new-fallen stood.
And the white foam on Strahin's Up was flecked
with drops of blood;
The blood upon his garments and on his jad(*
boots ran.
But when the pain had gripped him, at last out
spake the ban:
**My love, God's curse upon thee I What
travail dost thou seep
Take up a splinter of the sword, and strike the
Turk or me.
Think which of us, belovM, is dearer unto thee.**
But thereto the Turk spake fiercely:
^'Bdofid
of the ban.
Strike him, for thoa sh< nerer more be dear unto
the man;
But aje his sharp reproaches against thee shall be
bent.
Because thou once wast with roe in the shadow of
the tent.
But I will love thee always, nor ever thee disdain«
In Yednm thirty serving-maids shall bear thy
sleeves and train;
8ttg!sr and honey ever more shall be set for thee to
cat;
With ducats will I dedc thee from thy head unto
thy feet:
Strike now the ban.**
All womankind are lightly
led astray.
She leaped and grasped a splinter of the sword-
blade where it lay.
She wmpped it in a napkin, lest it should wound
her hand.
And she sought to smite her wedded lord with the
fragment of the brand.
And guard Vlah Aliya*s head. She cut the silver
plume in twain;
She dove the milk*white tuihan that guarded him
in vain;
The bkod flowed down the hen>*s face, and was
like to blind his eyes,
Aad the ban draulcd sore that tide to die in foolish
Bui suddenly within him the thoughts together
[вв]
v/
i
/
7
!
And out of his white throat he called on the hound
Kiraman —
A hound trained to the hunting. He called the
hound bj name,
And with a bound the tawnj hound to help hit
master came.
And bit the ban^s belovM. A dog all women fear;
She threw the blade upon the ground, and cuffed
the hound on the ear.
Screaming she fled acroes the mount; afar they
heard her crj;
But the strong Turk looked after to see where the
did flj.
And new strength burst upon the ban, and courage
great and new.
And hither and yon he droTe the Turk, and wret>
tling overthrew.
Howe'cr so hard the Turk might guard, he ttnick
from underneath,
And, leaping in under the chin, he fastened with
his teeth.
As the wolf throttling a lamb. Then he leaped up
from the ground,
And with a mighty voice he called after the tawny
hound.
That the beast should cease pursuing the maid
the ban had wed ;
And swift along the mountain to the Turkish host
she fled.
But the ban would not let her; he cau|^t her by
the hand;
[57]
He brooght her back unto the place where the
dappled ttecd did stand.
He took tiie hone bj the shoulders ; he threw her
on behind;
Tien rode he deriously along, the homeward waj
to find.
Awaj from the tear's army he turned the bridle-
Till he came in to his wife's kin at KrdsheTats on
the plaint
And old Yug Bogdan and his sons rose, when they
saw him come;
They took him to their bosoms, and gave him wel-
come home«
But when Yug Bogdan saw hie plight his tears ran
down amain:
''Now fair be all thy fortune, that thou art home
again«
Strong are the Turkish heroes, the soldiers of the
tsar;
A fi|^ting man to wound the ban they must hare
sought afar.**
But the nine brothers feared him, till the ban to
them spake:
**]>read nothing, my good brethren, nor be
troubled for my sake.
With the tsar there was no hero to conquer me in
fight
Would ye then hear who wounded me, and whose
hand did me smiteP
When with the Tbik I battled, O thou good father
Then mj belovM smote ше^— this deareit child ot
thine ;
She set aside my love that tide, and to the Turk
gave aid."
Yug flashed up like a living fire, and to his sons
he said:
**SIash the she-wolf in pieces with the nine blades
of the brands !"
The strong sons heard their father, and upon her
set their hands.
But Strahin will not let them. He speaketh to
them apace:
*'My nine good brethren, wherefore do ye your-
selves disgrace P
Why are your knives unscabbardcd? Heroes ye
are, I know!
But why were not your sabers with me at Кбшогоџ
To do great deeds against the Turk when danger
ran irost high?
And harkcn this, my brethren; your sister shall
not die.
Without your aid already, an I wished, she had
been slain.
Yet, should I slaughter all her kin, no сотгмк
then would drain.
Reveling with me deliciously, the cool cups of the
wine.
So now have I given my pardon unto this bride of
mine."*
There are not many on earth to match him«
man to man.
And scanty are the heroes as gallant aa the ban.
TSAR LAZAR AND TSARITSA MfUTSA
TiAS Lasab sat at dinner, and with him at the wine
Sat Mflitea, the TsariUa, betide her lord to dine.
Unto her lord said Mflitta :
**0 Senria't king and
crown«
To-morrow unto Кбвото the armj goeth down*
Thy Toyvodas and captains. No man thou kavest
at home
With a letter to go to Кбвото and hither again to
come.
Thou leadcst mj nine brethren, Yug Bogdan*t
children nine. —
Leave me one brother of them all to cheer this heart
of mine."
To her spake Lazar of the Serbs : **Which wilt
thou hare with thee
la the palace?** And she made answer: ^'Let
Boshko staj with roe.**
Then spake Tsar Lazar:
*7^jr, to-morrow, when
daj comes on,
And the white dawn breaketh, and the world is
warmed of the great sun,
And they open the gates of the city, go thou
unto the arch,
Wbcrrthrough unto the muster my hosts begin to
march.
The spears shine over the chargers: before them will
Boshko ride,
[в01
And he carries high the ttandanl with a great спма
glorified.
Bless him ! Let gire the standard to whomsocrer
he will ;
But let him back to the palace, abiding with thee
still.''
Now when the gates were opened, what time the
morning shone«
Then forth unto the gateway Queen Mflitsa cama
down.
And stood beneath the portal in the shadow of the
arch.
What time unto the muster the host began to
march.
The spears shone over the chargers: before them
Bosliko rode
On a bay steed, and his rich weed with shining
goldwork glowed.
And the standard that he carried swept round him
fold on fold;
Over the steed it bellied ; thereon was an apple of
gold;
From the apple rose gilded crosses, and tassels
from them did hang.
And brushed against his shoulders as in the wind
they swang.
Queen Mflitsa sprang forward to the bay stallion's
head.
And she clasped arms round her brother, and unto
him she said:
. **My brother Boshko, thou art become the tsar
his gift to me*
[61]
Thoa shalt not go to K6toyo; he giTes his bletting
to thee;
Лмт »halt give the golden banner to the hero of
thy will.
And be my bf4>ther in KrAsheTats, that I may have
thee still**
Boshko answered her straightway:
'4ktback
to thy hall this tide I
I would not turn nor give up the flag with the great
cross glorified,
Though the tsar should give me Kriishevats for
ever and a day ;
For the remnant of the anny concerning me would
say:
^IVhere is the captain, Boshko-— that same
that dared not go
To perinh for Christ his Cross and Faith on the
lleU of К690Г0Г **
And forthwith he rode the stallion abroad be-
neath the arch;
And IO| Yug Bogdan and seven sons began thereby
to march!
She stopped each of the seven to whom her heart
did yearn.
But none of an the seven aside for her would turn.
With the tsar's chargers Voin, her brother, came
that way ;
An covered with a panoply of shining gold were
they.
She seiMd the dun steed under him, and took him
by the bead;
She took her brother in her armt, and unto him she
said:
**Mj brother Voin, thou art become the tsar hit
gift to me;
Thou shalt not go to K6toTo ; he gires hit bletting
to thee.
Thou thalt give the ttar't war hortet to the hero of
thy will,
And be my brother in KriitheTatt, that I may haTt
thee ttill.*'
Voin answered her ttraightway:
"HSet back to
thy hall this tide!
I would not turn nor give отег the steeds that the
tsar shall ride;
What though in wisdom I foresaw all of my over-
throw,
I would ride to death for the Crou and the Faith
on level K6SOVO.''
Forthwith right through the gateway he spurred
the charger well ;
And when the queen that sight had seen, on the
stone in a swoon she fell*
And when King Lasar saw it, the tears ran down
his face;
And he looked and csUed Goliiban, his henchman«
from his place:
*47oluban, my good henchman, dismount thee In
this hour.
And bear thy lady in thine arms up to the slender
tower«
For Ihie the deed of my command God*s pankm
•halt thou find;
Thoo shah not go to Кбмто, but linotr here be-
hind.*'
Weeping, Goluban heard it He dismounted in
that hour;
He bore hie Udj in his arms up to the slender
tower;
But his will he could not overcome, nor bear to
linger so,
But steed bestrode, and hard he rode away to
Кбвото.
When rose up the white morning, from Kdsovo
tliere wheeled
A pair of great black ravens from the broad battle-
field;
They perched on the white pahure whence Laiar
issued forth;
The one cawed loud and vainly, the one spake words
of wortli:
•*I§ this Tsar Lasar*s pafa^e, where he was wont
to dwell?
Is there no man or woman within the citadel?**
None heard but the Queen MOiUa; she came be-
fore the wall.
And unto those two ravens her voice aloud did call:
•I conjure you, black ravens, sitting upon the
coign,
F^om whence come ye this morning? Did ye set
the armies join?
Havo the armiea smitten together in the field of
Ktefo?
In God his name I conjuR you, who hath the ото^
throw ?•»
And the black ravens answered:
''At K^TO,
O queen,
Two hosts that smote at K6soyo^ we saw them fight
jcstreen.
Both tsars are down ; and of the Turks a rarmant
doth remain,
But all the Serbs are slaughtered, or wounded on
the plain.^
They spoke; and lo, Mildtin came before tho
queen to stand!
Wounded full sore, the henchman bore one hand
in the other hand;
Seventeen wounds were on him ; his steed with blood
was red.
And unto him the weeping queen rough words in
anger said:
''What trcncherj, Miliitin, is this unto the tsarP*
But he said :
"Help me down, lady, from the
great steed of war;
Lave me with the cool water, and with the ruddy
wine,
Do thou, O royal lady, anoint these wounds of
mine.**
Queen Mflitsa she lifted him down from the steed
of war;
She laved him with white water, and red wint from
the jar.
Aad when he was himself againt she questioned him
withal:
<«Ah, what betid at K6eavo? Did the Tsar
I^asar fall?
My father and my brethren* are they fallen on the
plain?
Lord llilonh« and Vuk Brinkovicht and Strahin,
are thej slain?**
The senrant spake:
**»f J ladj, they are dead at
Кбиото,
Where Laiuir the tsar glorious fell in the over*
throw.
The Turk and Scnrian lances lie shattered етегу-
where«
But many more of Christian s|K*ani| alas, were
broken there«
Defending good T^ar I^xar in the fury of the fray*
But Yug Bogdan рспм1нч1« lady, in the fight of Uio
first day;
Eight of his sons, thone diampions, were slaugh-
tered side hy side;
For they would not use treachery, and by each
other died.
StiD BoMhko*s banner of tite cross hurled bade the
Turks in droves.
To and fro over Кбеото, as ^ falc on harries doTes. ^ "
Where the blo od flowed u£. to the knee died %\xir ^
hinya tfie ban;
By Sftnitaa fell Milosh, where the eool waters ran.
TVre perished many Turks amain ; and Miloeh ta
hk irt
[вв]
Hath slain the Sultan Murad— -God be gracious to
his sire !—
And a good twelve thousand Turks that tide. And
aye the Serbs will know
His deeds of war while men are left to tell of
K6sovo.
But ask not of the cunid Vuk i Maj God's dain*
^ nation burst —
Upon his sire and all his tribe, and the whole house
accurst 1
Twas he betrayed the tsar in war unto the Tuikish
spear,
And fled with his twelve thousand men, the timitor
cavalier P*
[вТ]
FRAGMENTS OF K6S0V0 BALLADS
I
MvBAD the tsar hath come in war down upon
K6tovo;
He tent a letter to Krdshcirate that the tsar hU will
might know :
'*Ho^ Lazar» lord of Senria, with sense it scarce
accords,
That there should be one empery 'neath the power
of two lords,
One rajah that pays double tax ! We cannot both
rule here!
So fender me up your cit j keys and the taxes for
seven year«
But if thou wilt not send them, abide at Кбеото,
TImiI to our hand we may sunder the land with a
keen saber blow*"
When the fine-written letter Tsar Lasanis had
ruAf
He looked upon the letter and bitter tears he shed.
t«i
II
Bitter was the tsar's curse to hear ; aje ! and a word
of woe:
**Who comes not to the battle with me at
K680VO|
Let nothing grow beneath his hand in the field that
he shaU till ;
Let not the white wheat spring in the fieldt nor the
Tine shoot on the hill Г*
[eo]
ш
ЈјшжшГџ the Тмг of Senria, holds hie high holiday.
la the MCitt place, in KriiiheTatiy with all hit lords
he lay.
An of the loida and lordbgs were come with him to
dine:
At hie right hand sat Yug Bogdan and Vug's
strong children nine ;
Ob hk left sat Vuk BrAnkorich; at the far end of
the board.
With two more Servian Toyrodas, was Milosh the
joung lord;
Ivan K6sanchach was the one, the other of the
twain
Was Milan TAplitsa. And the tsar arose a health
to drain
Unto the Senriaa nobles; he lifted the beaker up:
*4> To^Todas and captains, to whom shall I
pledge this cup?
If I pledge it onto the oldest, to Yug shall I drink
this hour;
I shaD pledge it to Vuk Brinkorich, if I drink be-
cause of power;
If I pledge to whomsoever is dear to me and mine,
FD Лппк to my good brethren, Yug Bogdan*s chil-
dm nine;
For beauty to Ivan K^sandiich, and to Milan for
his height;
But unto Milosh tibilich for the glory of his might
Tb MM other win I drink it, while I hate strength
and breath:
[TO]
A health unto Milosh 6bilich, and faith and broken
faith!
Faith first and treason to foUow! To-momnr at
Kosovo
Thou slialt betray me, and after to the t«ar of the
Turks shalt thou go.
Hail to thcH*, and a health to thee, and the cup*s
delight be thine !
Rise up, Miloiih the voyvoda, and lightly drink the
wine !'•
Milosh rose swiftly to his feet, and bowed to the
black earth:
^'Praise to thee, Lazar the glorious, and a greet-
ing to thy worth !
Praise for thy gift and greeting, but for thy speech
no praise!
Since I was never a traitor, by my faith, in all my
days.
Nor ever will work treason. But at K6eovo to-
mom
Belike for the Cross of Christ and his Faith shall I
be overborne«
But treachery is at thy knee, and drinketh before
thy face;
There sits the traitor Bninkovich, of the accunM
race.
To-morrow on St. Vitus' day, on the field of
Kdsovo,
Who of us twain is true or false, all men shall
clearly know.^
1 As Mijatoffch ranarks (5#r9i» mmd UU Stnimmi, IfOSk
p. Itt), tlien is here In the оНфпвХ *a llae piqr en the
[71]
An God me speed, will I ride indeed to K6eovo in
the dawn.
To ЛиЛг the throat of Murad the tear and set my
foot thereon«
An God give me good fortune, eafelj returning
here,
I win hiy hand on BrinkoTich, and bind him to
this spear.
As Ааж on the long distaff is bound by a woman's
hand.
And to and fro in Кбеото will I bear him through
the land.**
vUL* wych ВИШМ both VUwe sad el^U The Utena
Isi "TMMrfow Is the fslr dmj of 8t Vitas (er
of а1|И)| ws ihdl sceea the Held of KtefOb etc«
£71]
She took her brother in her arms, and unto him iht
said:
**Mj brother Voin, thou art become the tsar hit
gift to me;
Thou shalt not go to K6sovo ; be gives his blessing
to thee.
Thou shalt give the tsar's war horses to the hero of
thy will,
And be mj brother in Kriishe?ats, that I may haTt
thee still/'
Voin answered her straightway :
<43et back to
thy hall this tide!
I would not turn nor give over the steeds that the
tsar shall ride;
What though in wisdom I foresaw all of my over-
throw,
I would ride to death for the Cross and the Faith
on level K6SOVO.''
Forthwith right through the gateway he spurred
the charger well ;
And when the queen that sight had seen, on the
stone in a swoon she fell*
And when King Lazar saw it, the tears ran down
his face;
And he looked and called Goliiban, his henchmaii«
from his place:
*47oluban, my good henchman, dismount thee in
this hour,
And bear thy lady in thine arms up to the slender
tower«
For th» the deed of my command God*e pankm
shalt thou find;
Thoa shalt not go to Кбвоуо, but linger here be-
hind.*'
Weeping, Goluban heard it. He dismounted in
that hour;
He bore his ladj in his arms up to the slender
tower;
But his will he could not overcome, nor bear to
linger so,
But steed bestrode, and hard he rode awaj to
Кбвото.
When rose up the white morning, from Kdsovo
there wheeled
A pair of great black ravens from the broad battle-
field;
They perched on the white palace whence Laiar
issued forth;
The one cawed loud and vainlj, the one spake words
of worth:
''Is this Tsar Laiar^s palace, where he was wont
to dwell?
b there no man or woman within the citadel?**
None heard but the Queen Mflitsa; she came be-
fore the wall.
And unto those two ravens her voice aloud did call:
**! conjure jott, black ravens, sitting upon the
coign,
Пот whence come je this morning? Did je set
the armies join?
Havo the armict smitten together in the field of
Ktevo?
And lightly overcome them, for no hoet of battle
thcj are,
But priests and pilgrims and merchantSf and knaves
that know not war.
That are oome abroad together to eat Tsar Miirad's
bread.
And for the royal army, the half are well-nigh
dead
From the grievous ill of heartache, that is a bitter
pain,
And the good steeds of that army are i^aadered
on the plain.*'*
[7в]
''Who ie the great hero that lifted once hia hand.
And sanderal well twelve Turkish heads with the
edges of the brand?**
'That is the brave Ban Strahin.**
•What hero
Cometh here.
That spittcth the Moslems two and two on the
edges of his spear.
And drivcth them before him to Sftnitsa's graj
tider
'"That is Srija the champion, whom men call the
Angry-Eyed.**
''What hero on a white steed bears the flag of
the cross in his hands,
And all along he harries the flying Turks in bands,
And chases them in his anger to Sftnitsa tho
floodr
"That is Boshko the captain, of old Yog Bog^
daa*s blood.**
IT*]
THE BATTLE OP K6S0V0
A ОЖАГ hawk from Jerusalem, with a swallow in
his beak.
J Flew onward into Scnria, Tsar Lazarus to seek«
Naj» it was never a great gray hawk with a swalkiw
that flew so far»
But Elijah, our Ladj*s messenger, with her tidings
to the tsar.
Tsar Lazar read the letter:
*4> king whom the
Serbs revere,
Wilt thou choose for thine own the Kingdom of
God or an earthlj empire hereP
For if, instead of a heavenlj rule, thou ehoosett an
earthlj realm,
Leap astride of the steed this tide and do on halt*
berk and helm;
Belt about thee the girdle of war and look to saber
and dirk.
Tighten at need the girth of the steed — and here
shalt thou slaughter the Turk.
But if thou choosest the Elropire of Christ, and a
kingdom of God*s own.
Build him a chureh bj Кбеото^ but not of marble
stone;
But found it on silk and satin and its eomcn ш
scarlet fine.
Therein shall thine armies take of Christ the white
bread and the wine.
Thou shalt marshal the army of the Scibs» and
upon that dreadful day
[77]
In tiie ran of the war thou ehalt die, O tsar* with
the whole of thine arraj.**
When the tsar heard the holj word, his thoughts
came two and two:
*Фсаг God, what in the whole of thine heart» and
what is the deed to do?
Which shall I hold for the better realm? Man's
sovereigntj may die*
But the Kingdom of the Living God, its power
goes on for aye.**
Tsar Lazarus has chosen at last God*s King-
dom for his own ;
And be built a church at Кбвото, but not of marble
stone;
On satin and on velvet lie made the walls to stand.
And be summoned our lord the patriarch, and
bishops twelve to hand.
The armies came before him, what time the prayers
were said.
And the good priests gave to them Christ's wine
and milk-white bread.
And when on level K6sovo that army up was
drswn.
The Turks smote against K6sovo at the breaking
of the dawn.
Yttg Bogdan with the vanguard came up against
their line;
The young gray hawks were with him, his gallant
children nine;
And after every standard came thrice three thou-
•and men,
£78]
But bj Yug Bogdan*! banner were thouiands two
and ten.
They came upon the infidel, that army of renown«
And slashed and slew among them; seven pashas
smote they down.
The eighth gave way before them; Yug Bogdan
there was slain ;
His nine gray falcons and their host came never
home again.
The children of Mamydlva moved on with their
array;
Vukiishin, Goyko, Cglyesha were marshals of the
fray ;
And the ninth Turkish pasha before their charge
fell back,
But Cglycsha and Goyko were slain in the attack«
Two of MamyAva*s children ; and terriblyt indeed«
Was King Vukibhin wounded« and trampled by the
steed.
Now smitten was the center and smitten was the
van«
And Ertseg Stepan with the rear into the battle
ran.
Brave warriors had Ertseg« full sixty thousand
men;
They trampled through the tumult and smote the
Turks again.
Nine pashas fell before them« the tenth drew back
in dread;
But Ertseg and his army were numbered with the
dead*
[7»]
And now rode out Tiar Lazarus with hia whole
host along,
Scventj thousand gallant Seibt and se^en thou-
•and ttnmg.
Thej fcattercd the Turki by Кбвото; thej tcaroe
would let them etand
To look upon the ainij for the lilting of the brand.
Then would the tsar have won the war for Servia
bj God^s aid — •
God*! cune be on Vuk Brilnkorichy the dastard
that betrajed
The father of hit wife that tide^-the tMr of all
the land!
The INirki nnote down Tsar Lasarus with the
edges of the brand«
Seven and seventy thousand men lay dead upon the
tod.
All gaOaat Seibs, and their purs blood was dear
imto their God.
[eo]
HOW MILOSH 6BILICH SLEW THE SUL-
TAN MURAD
TiAB MiTBAD sat beneath hit tent with the padiM
of hii power
And his vizien, and counsel took what way to tmite
the Giaour
And win with leaet diiaeter; when lo there came
from afar
The Tizier Oeman running to claim reward of the
tsar.
He kissed the hand and the garment, himself to the
earth he bowed«
And thus to Murad, the Turkish tsar, the mier
spake aloud:
**Murad, the Sun of all the East, holy Ma-
homet*s heir!
Rejoice! the Servian empire thou hast conquered
everywhere !
Here come three Servian vo^vodas that have chiefly
made us fear;
They come hither to surrender, for down have thqr
turned the spear.**
It pleased the Sultan Murad ; it was pleasant in
his ears;
Woes plagued him not. He spake unto the pashas
and visiers:
''Brave pashas, glorious viiiers, my captains of
command.
Shall I reach to the Wallachians my foot or my
handr
UU
Said the vizien : *4> glorioui lord, put not thy
hand to ehame;
Shame were it to reach out to one of the Wallachian
name!
Stretch out thy foot unto them, and let them kiM
it ewcet«
And let them be forever at all timet 'neath thy
fcet.^»
OuUpake Vizier Unhti'igliya: **T8ar Murad,
our crown of gold,
ShaD we go out before them?** Then answered
l^Iurad the bold:
''Go out to the field before thenif and three
great cloth« unfold ;
Stretch one of recK the second of whitCf the third
green glorious.
When the Nlavcs drive on their hones, if they come
to fight with us,
All three of the cloths beneath their feet will they
trample under here.
If they bring me tlie keys of the cities and the
taxes for seven year,
Ob the red cloth will they trample, the red and the
white beside.
But the green will they lift on their lances and
thereunder will they ride.**
When the tsar*e troopers heard it« before the
three they flew;
Before the Servian vo/vodas the three great cloths
they drew.
Wliea the vojfvodas drove on the steeds, they tram*
pled the cloths all three;
And when UshtiSgliyA taw it, to Murad the tsar
•Aid he:
*^0y tflftr, the eervante of Lazar have trampkd
evcrj doth !
Under foot have thej trampled them» for a lign
that they are wroth.
And desire to-day their quarrel to undertake with
thee,
Tear I^Iurad; they bring not hither of any rity
the key.**
The bold Tear Murad answered:
^Not to, my
children brave!
Had they been eager to quarrel, long eince had they
drawn the glaive;
Drunk are the Giaoum, and in drunkenncM have
trampled the cloth amain.**
Meanwhile with his brethren was Miloth come, on
his steed, the Crane.
Down he got from the charger, and out the tsar's
grooms flew
To hold the Crane for Milosh ; no rein to them he
threw.
He gave him to Ivan K6sanchich. To the tent of
Murad the strong
Forthwith Milosh the voj^voda went hastily along.
Murad stretched out his foot to him over the tapes-
tries.
And spoke, for he deemed that Milosh desired hit
face to kiss:
**Now fair and soft, now soft and fair, O Latar's
follower;
[88]
TVunple not on mj gannent^ edge, but kiM my
boot and spur.**
Miloeh flashed like a living fire» like a wolf on
Murad he sprang ;
Over him like a hayduk the biting blade he ewang;
From the midriff to the milk-white throat the tsar
alive he rent«
Muiad gaped wordiest on the ground; and under-
neath the tent
Flashing like lightning hither and yon the blade of
Milosh went.
He slaughtered all the tsar's viriers, Ushtdgliya he
slew;
He smote the tsar's twelve guardsmen and the
tent ropes clove in two.
The bodyguaid from Yedren, all of them had he
slain;
Bevcnty heads had he smitten off ere he mounted
his stcedv the Crane.
Then mounted the three sworn brethren and
charged through K6sovo.
Dear God« their onulaught on the Turk was no
dieap overthrow!
When blood began a-flowing« 4was good nearby to
stand
And see how the Turkish heads split wide beneath
the Servian brand.
Ficree slashed the Servian vo^vodas, they slashed
the Turks like grass:
Whither went Milan Tdplitsa, was room for a wain
topasi;
[M]
Whither went Iran Kdeanchich, Vghtlj had two
moved on ;
Whither went Milosh 6bilich, abreast could three
have gone.
The whole of the Turkieh host boiled up, ruihing
to bar their track;
The voj'vodae trampled the army like the earth
hard and black.
Shame to the Turks not to have ta*en their venge-
ance for the tsar!
*Neath the standard of Mahomet the whole host
came in war;
The pashas and fierce warriors, thej flew into the
fight
Upon their faery chargers, the heroes good to
smite.
But Milosh and his comrades with the keen blade
cut their way.
A saber cuts not a mountain down in the swift
course of a day,
Nor the voyvodas all the army — and Milan T6p-
litsa cried:
''Avenge me, Milosh! At K6eovo have I failed
to-day at thy side.**
But Milosh answered softly : ''I forgive thee read*
My brother Milan; quickly shall I lie there by
thee.**
Furiously the Turks set on, till Ivan K6saachich
cried:
Tarewell, Milosh! At Кбшочо have I perished
at thy side.
[8в]
Avenge п№, Milosh» who swarest mj brother iwom
tober
But Miloth the good vo^'voda, O softlj answered
he!
""Mj brother« 1гкп^ for thie gift I hope in per-
fect faithy
For never jet was gallant man but yearned for a
gallant death.**
And the faery iteed he goaded, the battle-
charger« the Crane ;
He maddened on the maddened steed and smote the
Turks again.
Like a dragon over K6110V0 the vo^oda did pass«
With the hot blood of the cunM Turks he reddened
all the grass.
nirious and shamefaced was the host« yet un-
avenged for the tsar
*Neath the standard of Mahomet the whole host
came in war
On MSosh the weary hero. Of wounds he got no
lack;
They beat him from his steed and bound his hands
behind his back.
And unto the Tsar Murad« Milosh they led along:
''Here is Milosh the voyvoda for thee« Tsar
Murad the strong!
Do thou tell us« Loid Glorious, in what wise we
shall him sky.**
Murad still lived ; unto them in a soft voice did
he say:
''Be ye not ^ngrj with him, and do not strike
[86]
For that he ilew me; fortune of battle brcraght it
on
That a good hero ilew me« Now draw up the hoet
to war.
And imite the Giaour! Let not hit power
the Serriaa tsarP
£87]
&IUSICH STEVAN
I« Majdan white as silver, in his fair lordly house.
Idle sits Musich Steran, on the good wine to ca-
rouse.
The servant VAistina poured it forth his thirst to
slake.
And Stevan drank his fill thereof, and to the hench-
man spake:
''My good son VAistina, I will lie down to sleep.
Do thou then eat thy dinner, and of the wine drink
deep.
And then look forth on the open sky because of my
behestt
To see if the day-star stand in the east, or the clear
moon in the west;
To see if the time be come at last for us to gird
and go
To the meeting place that the tsar hath set on the
field of K6sovo.
Thou knowest the oath we took, my son, and the
curse that then was laid
Ob the vo/voda or henchman that Tsar Lasarus
betrayed :
^ nVho springcth of a Servian house, in whom
Serb blood doth run.
Who Cometh not to battle at K6sovo, may he never
have a son.
And BO child of his heart whatever! May naught
grow under his hand,
Ncithtr the yellow Ikiuor, nor the white wheat in
Uwlandl
[88]
May he like iron be rutted, and hu itock dwindle
alwaj !• ••
And thereupon brave Steran on the boliter eoft
he la J.
Viiifltina the henchman« he litteth him down to dinCf
And at his good lord's table he hath hia fill of the
wine,
And he gocth to look at the open iky beeauae of
his lord's behest.
To see if the day-star stand in the east, or the clear
moon in the west.
And he seeth it is the season for them to gird and
Unto Tsar Lazar's meeting place in tht field of
K680VO.
He went unto the stables and led the horses forth;
He saddled the steeds, and on them set caparisona
of worth.
One for himself, and the other is for his lord that
tide.
And he bringcth a flag from the palace, with a great
cross glorified;
Silk is the flag and golden are the crosses wrought
thereon.
And the icon of Stefan's patron, the icon of St*
John.
He set the banner against the wall, and went unto
the tower
To wake his lord, but his lady came to htm in that
hour.
And she greeted and embraced him:
[89]
<<Brothcr in
God,** said ihct
*Mj servant VAiitinav by God I conjure iheei
And bj St. John moreover. A faithful knave art
thout
Henceforth shalt thou be my brother; but awake
not thy master now,
Binee an evil dream of a flock of doves this night
is come to me.
With falcons twain from my lord his place to
K6sovo did they flee;
Amid the camp of Murad they lighted nor came
again:
Tliat is your omen, brother. So ponder lest you
be slain.**
But the servant VAistina, unto the dame said he:
**Sisterf I cannot break my faith with the lord
of thee and me,
For thou wast not at the swearing, nor knowest
what curse was laid
Ob the vo^voda or henchman that Tsar Lazarus
betrayed:
^ nVho springeth of a Servian house, in whom
Serb blood doth run.
Who Cometh not to battle at K6sovo, may he never
have a son.
And no diild of his heart whatever! May naught
grow under his hand,
NeiUier the yellow liquor, nor the white wheat in
tbekndl
May ht like iron be nisted, and his stock dwindle
alwnyP
[•0]
^And I dare not break my plighted faith to t^y
lord and mine thii daj.**
And he went to his lord in the tower: **Rite
up, it ii time to goP*
StcTan stood up before himt and washed his neck
and brow,
And put on lordly raiment and an inlaid laber
fine;
To the fair glory of hii God he drank the yellow
wine,
And to his own good journey and the fair croea
did he drain
The wine at his own table: he drank not there
again.
They mounted the two good diargert» they
spread the banners abroad ;
Tlie drums beat and the flutes blew loud, and the
chiefs rode forth with God«
Over the field of K6soto did the white morning
/ stand ;
^The Maid of Kdsovo met them with a cup in either
hand.
The cups are golden and empty« On her arm is a
tire for the headi
A cap with milk-white feathers that are wound with
silver thread.
And all about the midst thereof is it wrought with
golden braid.
And a row of pearls, moreover. Unto her Stevan
said:
'^God's aid be with thee, my sister I And where
hast thou seen the fight?
CM]
Who« foond^tt thoa the cap? Qirt unto mc the
•iftcn cap so whiifty
Thftt I тлЈ find whose it the cap, what marshal's
it maj be«
And be luckj upon mj journej. And I will keep
faith with thee.**
Answered the if aid of Кбеото:
**Thoa lord of
kinglj mien,
Mj mother roused me at dajbreak; at no fight
have I been.
I would draw water in Sftnitsa. He had over-
flowed his banks ;
And, brother, he bcareth the horses and the heroes
in their ranks,
And turbans, and Turkish feies, and the Serb
caps white as milk.
I plunged into the Sftnitsa, and seiicd the cap of
silk.
And I bear to mj little brother the fair cap silken
and white.
For I am joung, and the feathers are pleasant in
mj sight.**
She gave the cap to the marshal ; I wot he knew
itweD!
Vt smote himself, and the sad tears down from his
dieeks thej fell
The goUen buckle on his slccvt rent the satin on
his knee:
"Grief unto God I The priact^ cunt hath faDcn
vpoB шеГ
[••1
He gave her the cap, and royally out of hit pouch
he told
In the hand of the Maid of Кбвото three ducata of
yellow gold :
'^Такс, sister! I go to Кбвото and the battle
on the plain.
By Christy I will give thee a better gift* if I come
back again!
But if I die in the fight thereby, aye keep my gift
in mind."
They spurred the steeds and hard away they
galloped like the wind;
Tliey forded the flood of Sftnitsa, to the tiar'a
camp they drew.
Three Turkish pashas Stevan smote down and
overthrew ;
Against the fourth was he storming* but the Turks
overwhelmed him then.
With him died VAistina and twelve thousand of hit
men.
There did the folly of the Serbs make as of noth-
ing worth
The glory of Tsar Lasar and the Kingdom of tha
Earth.
[M]
THE DEATH OF THE MOTHER OF THE
YCGOVICHI
DsAB God, a might j marvel is fallen at Кбвото!
lo the Koet were Vug's nine children and their
father the tenth also.
Hie mother of Vug's children she prayed God in
her pain
For the ejes of a hawk and a swan's white wing to
flj along the plain,
To see her nine strong children and Yug her lord
And what she prajed for, Terily, God granted her
that tide.
God gave her eagle eyesight and the swan's pinion
white.
And she found low in K6sovo her diildmi slain
in fight.
And old Vug Bogdan with them, and beside them
nine good spears.
And on the goodly spearshafts there perched nine
fakons fierce;
Roaming about the lances the chargers nme did
•tray;
Amid them were nine lions. And the steeds began
to neigh.
And the lions roared together, and the falcons
screamed aloud;
But the proud heart of the mother I wot it waa
unbowed*
Bui the lions and tho bones sbt took them by
the ofowtp
Anid the good falcons with them, and brought them
to the house«
The wives of her strong children afar they saw her
come.
And calling like to cuckoos went out to lead her
home.
Moaning before the neighing steeds and the loud
beasts thereby
Wept the nine noble ladies, and the hawks took
up their cry.
Yet wept not that stem mother« and her heart was
undismayed.
About the middle of the night the steed of Dam-
yan neighed.
Then spake tlie mother to Damyan's wife:
•Ttfy
daughter, what is this?
And wherefore neighs in the nighttide that dajH
pled steed of his?
Is he hungry for the milk-white wheat? Doth ht
thirst for Zvechan's wave?^
And the fair wife of Damyan in this wise an-
swer gave:
**My mother, Damyan's mother, no wheat tha
steed doth crave,
Nor in the darkened nighttime doth he thirst for
Zvechan*s wave;
But aye hath Damyan taught him, and bidden him
abide
To champ his oats till midnight, thereafter forth
to ride«
Now he loiTowt that hti maiter mounU not hit
back this tide.**
Yet wept not that ttcrn mother, and her heart
was undismajcd«
That mom flew by two гатепву unto the shoul-
ders red.
Upon the Uackncss of their beaks the milk-white
froth it shone;
And thej bare the hand of a hero and a golden
ring thereon.
In the bosom of the mother, the dead hand they let
fall;
And unto her dauglitor, Damyan's wife, in a loud
Toice did she call:
''My daughter« wife of Damyan, what hero's hand
is thisr
And the daughter made her answer: '4)ur Dam-
yan*s hand it is;
Shall I not know the ring I gave the day that we
were wed?*'
The mother lifted the hero's hand, and fondled
lU and said:
**0 hand, who plucked thee off, and where apple-
like didst thou grow?
TboQ grewest in my bosom; thou wast plucked in
KdsOYO.**
Tlien swelled lier heart within her, and her soul
was rent in twain
For her children and their father that at K^soro
were slaia.
t»e]
/
TSARTTSA MiLITSA AND VLADETA THE
VOtVODA
MiUTtA the tsiLritea went walking up and down
Below the wall of KhithcTats and the ramp of the
white town,
And also Vdkoeava and Mara, her daughter! dear»
When VUdcta, the To^Toda, on a charger brown
drcif near.
Sweated that steed had been, indeed, and the white
foam stained his side«
^God aid thee, marshal of the kingP* Queen
Mflitsa she cried ;
^УЉј sweats the stallion? Hast thou not come
from Кбеото this daj?
Sawest thou not my lord and thine?**
AndVU-
dcta did saj:
*4}od aid me, Tsiritsa Mflitsa! I come from
K6eovo.
I saw not the tsar, but hi s white ste ed the Tuiki
drove to and fro,
Up and down bj K6soto» and I dread that the tsar
is slain.**
When Queen Mflitsa had heard it, on her diceks
the tears did rain.
And anew she asketh the vo^roda:
""What tidingi
of the tsarP
Sawest thou Yug^s nine children at K<eofo that
[W]
And the tenth, Yug Bogdan, their father?**
And
Vlideta replied:
**! rode by level Kisovo^ and I taw them in that
tide—
Yttg and hie nine strong children at Кблого have
I teen.
Tlieir arms were red to the thouldergy and red were
the sabers keen ;
Weary were their arms at KUoro with cutting the
Moslems down.**
Yet again unto the Tofvoda the tsiriisa spake
on:
"^west thou Milosh and BWLnkoTich, my
daughters* lords that are?**
VUdeta answered:
"At K6soTO, in the center
of the war.
There saw I Milosh 6bilich that leaned on his
broken spear;
He is dead ere now, for the Moslems pressed on
hun Tefy near«
Vok BWLnkondk I saw not Never may sun him
seel
llial same betrayed Tsar Lasar, the lord of thct
and me«**
[вв]
THE MAID OF K6S0V0
Up rose the Maid of Кбвоуо before the break of
daj,
On a Sunday mom, ere the bright tun had risen
on his way.
Unto her milk-white elbows she drew the white
sleeves up;
She bore three loaves in a basket, and in either
hand a cup ;
Two beakers very beautiful, of hammered gold
and fine;
The one held silver water, and the other ruddy
wine«
She came to level K6eovo in pity and in ruth.
And weeping walked along the place of the battk
of the youth,
The places of the slaughter, where the good Tsar
Lazar stood;
And with her hands she lifted up the heroes in their
blood.
The gallant lads she found alive, she washed with
water fine«
She gave them of the milk-white loaves, and cheered
them with ruddy wine«
To Pavle 6rIovich she came, the ensign of his lord:
As yet he was alive, although sore smitten by the
sword;
But by a shred of flesh his arm at the red shoulder
hung.
And the wound showed hb shattered rib and the
white ghastly lung.
[99]
Sht moTcd him from the pool of blood, the washed
him with water fine;
She gave him of the milk-white loaves and of the
niddj wine.
Gasping for breath he leaned to her, and trem-
blingly he said:
''If J sister, wherefore tamest thou the bodies of
the dead?
What hard doom is upon thee, thou Maid of
K6sovo,
That thou liftest up the heroes whose crests are
fallen low?
Seekest thou then for some joung man, whose last
good da J is done?
For thj father, or thj brother, or thy dear broth-
er's son?**
Answered the Maid of K6soto:
*4) champion
unknown!
I sedi not father, nor nephew, nor a brother of
mine own*
Kaowcst thou, O my brother, how the good Tsar
Lasar went
With the squadrons of the army to take the sacra-
ment?
By the fair church in Sani6dresha the thirty mass-
priests stood
For three weeks, with the offering of Christ his
flesh and blood.
Iliereby there came three captains, thai to eoro-
авшиоп passed,
[100]
Miloth and Ivan K6eanduch, and Milan Tdplitsa
last
Miloeh, the hero of the earth, through the gate be*
fore me strode;
The clanking saber at his side rattled along the
road;
His silver plume flashed on his cap, of silk was his
raiment fair;
His scarf and his spotted mantle, likewise of silk
thej were.
And forth and round about him his ejes went wan-
dcringlj,
Glancing in pride from side to side, untQ thej fell
on me.
He doffed the spotted mantle ; aloud to me did he
cry:
^^Take now the spotted mantle, to remember
me thereby.
Lo, I go to perish, dearest, in the leaguer of the
tsar!
Pray for me, now, belovid, that I ride back from
the war.
Returning from the battle with a great victory
home.
Pray now for me, belovM, that the good hap may
come.
To Milan, my brother sworn to me by God and by
St. John,
I will give thee to plight thy troth, when the good
mom comes on ;
To my brother, my sworn comrade, of the living
and the dead,
[101]
■ ч
For I shall be hit groomsman whene'er he shall be
wed.'
^Aflcr him Ivan, the hero of the earth, before
me strode;
The clanking saber at his side rattled along the
road;
His silver plume flashed on his cap, of silk was his
raiment fair;
His scarf and his spotted mantle, likewise of silk
thej were«
On his hand he wore a golden ring, and his eyes
went wanderinglj.
Glancing in pride from side to side, until thej fell
on me«
He took the ring from his finger; aloud to me did
he cry:
^*Take, maiden, now the golden ring, to re-
member me thereby«
Lo, I go to perish, dearest, in the leaguer of the
tsar!
Pray for me now, belovM, that I ride bade from
the war.
Returning from the battle with a great victory
home.
Pray now for me, belovM, that the good hap may
come«
To Milan, my brother sworn to me by God and by
St John,
I will give thee in marriage, when the good mora
It is my right m all men's sight before the prictt
to stand,
[lOf]
And like a brother gire thee for a bride into his
hand.'
^'After him Milan, the hero of the earth, before
me strode;
The clanking saber at his side rattled along the
road;
His silver plume flashed on his cap, of silk was his
raiment fair;
His scarf and his spotted mantle, likewise of silk
they were.
On his shoulders was a golden cloak, and his ejes
went wanderinglj,
Glancing in pride from side to side, until they fell
on me.
He took the cloak from his shoulders, and aloud to
me did he cry:
'''Take, maiden, now the golden cloak, to re-
member me thereby.
Lo, I go to perish, dearest, in the leaguer of the
Uar!
Pray for me now, belovid, that I ride back fromt
the war.
Returning from the battle with a great victory
home.
Pray now for me, belorM, that the good hap may
come —
A fair and lovely fortune in the season when I shall
ride
Hither again from the slaughter and the battle to
my bride.'
''They went out of the dty and the altan where
they kneded.
And through the broken battle I seek them o*er
the field"*
Quoth Pavle to the maiden:
**SiBter9 incline
thine ear!
Sceti thou jonder, titter, the tplendor of that
tpcar?
To the ttimips of the ttalliont the brave blood
flowed thereby.
And the horset of the heroes were drenchM bridle-
high;
Stained was the thining armor, their girdles and
their greaves«
They are dead, sister. In their blood dip not thy
milk-white sleeves.
But get thee from the battle to thy home of the
white hall.*«
And the maid heard, and with a cry upon her
love did call.
She eame unto her white-walled home, wecpii;g and
wild and pale,
And there she mourned her lost alone, with moan-
ing and with wail:
''Ah mttertUe! If I reach forth to touch the
good green pine.
So will the green bough wither in thit tad hand of
(104]
THE HEAD OP TSAR LAZAR
When the Turk« emote off Tsar Laiar't head in
K6eovo9 the fair.
No Serb came forth to find it, but a joong Turk
found it there ;
He was a Turk that a Servian slave to a Moslem
master bore.
And the young soldier thereupon he spoke his
friends before:
"Brethren, most shameful would it be before God
who is One,
That this lord's head should the eagles tear, and
the steeds trample thereon.
And the legions of the heroes."
In the skirt of his
spotted cloak
He bore Saint Lazar's head where forth a spring
of water broke.
Into the spring of water he lowered the hoij head.
And there it lay in the cool spring till forty yean
were sped.
But the fair body at Kosovo, that was so white and
wan,
The eagles did not tear it, nor the steeds trample
thereon.
Nor the legions of the heroes«
Now praise to the
Lord God*s might!
There were young carters that went forth from the
town of Skupi the white;
To Nissa and to Vidin had they set out to go
[105]
With Greeks And Bulgan; and they camped one
night at Кбвото.
The carters ate their dinner, and thirsty they be-
came;
And the candle of their lantern they lighted at the
flame;
Orer Кбвоуо up and down a water-spring they
sought«
And them their fortune at that hour to the spring
of water brought
One of them spake: **A shining moon behold in
the water fairP*
And the second answered: ^^Brother, no shining
moon is there.*'
The third was silent and nothing saidf but he
turned his eyen abroad
To the east, and called on Saint Nicholas, and on
the very God:
**0 God and Father Nicliolas, succor me nowP* he
saidf
And he stepped into the spring therewith, and
forth he drew the head
Of lAsar the Saint of Senria, and threw it on the
grass;
Tlicn he drank the water in a cup, for a thirsty
man he was.
Before the thirsty lads had drunk, they looked
where the head had been
Ob the black earth, but no head at all on the green
Forth went the sacred head alone, on the way
the plain,
[106]
Till it came to the holy body and was one with it
again.
And when was risen the morning that broke to free
and fair.
To the priests their tidings the carters bore, and
many priests came there.
There were full three hundred ancient priests and
twelve great bishops more.
And likewise at that season there came the patri-
archs four;
In Pech ^ the one was ruler, and one of Tsirigrad,'
One in Jerusalem, and the last the earth for his
province had.
And they put on the sacred robes with monks* hats
for the head,
And with them took the holy book, and mighty
prayers they said.
And three days that great Tigil and three nights
did they keep;
They sat not down, nor rested, nor laid them down
to sleep.
But aye they prayed Saint Lasar, that he would
grant them to know
What church he loved: Would he Rtt in
Knish6dol or 6povo,
Dcsh^novo, or Yasak, or perchance he fain would
lie
In Shfshatovats or lUkovats, Kuvkhdin, or Jifsha
thereby,
Upck.
• Hm ti^i eU$, ConsUnUnopla
[107]
Or hap] J in Macedonia? He will have no church-
ing there ;
He wiU go to the church that he foundedy RardL-
nitsa, the fair.
Under Kucha J he stablithed it, the mountain theer
and dread;
He built it here among us with his treasure and his
bread;
And because of it no wretched tears bj the father-
less were shed.
[IW]
BALLADS OF MARKO KRALYEVICH
UROSH AND THE SONS OF MARNYAVA
In the fair field of Кбвото were four ратОкпш
pight
By the fair church of KdeoTo» Sain6dresha the
white.
Vukishin lay in one fair tent, and Lord t^i^yetha
was nigh;
Goyko the duke and Uroeh, the tear's eon, lay
thereby.
The tsart rob one another of the empire of the
tsarsy
And they yearn to slay each other with the gilded
scimitars.
They know not whose is the empire. ''It is minet**
Vukdshin saith,
But the great Lord t^glyesha answers: ''It is
mine, upon my faith.**
And Goyko, the proud To^Toda, saith likewise:
"It is mine**;
But the son of the tsar. Prince Urosh, in sifenct
must he pine.
For he dares not break his silence before those
angry ones.
Before the three great brDthers, MaraydlTa's
mighty sons.
Vukishin writeth a letter, and a herald doth lie
send,
To N<delko» the archpriest, in the city of Prisrend ;
And he bids him come to Кбеото, that he may there
decide
£111]
To whom of the four princes the realm belongs, this
tide;
For he had given the sacrament unto the glorious
tsar«
And shriven him ; and the ancient books» with the
archpricet they are.
Cgiyesha writcth a letter and a herald doth he send
To Ncdelko, the archprient, in the cit j of Prisrcnd ;
And Goyko, the great Toyvoda, he writeth yet a
third,
And sendcth a fiery messenger to the archpriest
with his word;
And the son of the tsar, Prince Urosh, sent a letter
likewise away.
In secret the fiery heralds went with their letters
on that day.
By the house of the Archpriest N6delko, In Pris-
rcnd« the white town«
The heralds met« but the archpriest out of his house
was gone«
For he sat at the service in the midst of matin
song.
So fierce were those fierce heralds« so keen the
strong of the strong«
That they came not down from the chargers« but
through the door did dash«
And the good Archpriest NMelko they smote with
the woven lash:
''Come swift« thou priest« to K6sovo» that there
thou mayst decide
To whom of the four prinen the realm belongs, this
tide)
[IW]
For thou didst give the sacrament unto the glorious
tsar.
And shrovcst him» and the ancient booki of learn-
ing with thee they are.
If thou comeet not to Кбвото, forthwith thou ahalt
lose thy head.**
Then wept the Archpriest N4delkO| and unto
them he said:
''Till we are done with the service, get hence» ye
strong of the strong.
And it will be shown hereafter to whom doth the
realm belong.*'
Out rode the heralds straightway. When the
liturgy was done.
Forth came the Archpriest NMelko, and spake to
all and one:
''With me the tsar took sacrament, to me he did
confess ;
But I asked not of his kingdom, but of his wicked-
ness.
But to the house of Marko in the town of Prilip
hie,
For Marko was my pupil to read in charactery;
And the good Marko KrdlycTich was a scribe be-
fore the tsar,
And the books of yore with their ancient lore, this
day with him they are;
And who shall have the kingdom. Prince Marko
shall make known.
He speaketh the truth, for he feareth none save
the true God alone.**
[IW]
To Prilip, to Prince Marko'e house, went on the
henJdt four;
Thftj came unto the milk-white house, and smote
with the ring on the door.
And Y^rosima heard it and called unto her son:
''Do thj father's heralds at the door with the ring
strike thereon?**
Marko arose and opened the door. Thej bowed
where they did stand:
'ЧМ bless thee, Marko P* But Marko, he stroked
them with his hand:
''Now welcome, sons! With the champions and
the tsars are all things well?**
But thereupon the heralds down on their knees
they fell:
"The lords are well. Prince Marko, but they are
not at peace this night;
In K6sovo they quarrel, by 8am6drexha the white ;
The tsars rob one another of the empire of the
tsars.
And they yearn to slay each other with the gilded
scimitars ;
But to whom the reabn belongeth, no man of them
doth know,
Wbeftfore they cite thee to tell them on the ЛМ of
Кбаото.**
Prmct Marko went into the boose:
"My moth*
er of delight,
In K6sovo they quarrel, by SamMreiha the white ;
The tsan rob oat another of the empire of the
[11*1
And thej yearn to slay each other with the gilded
Bcimitars;
But to whom the reahn belongetht no man of them
doth know.
Therefore they cite me to tell them on the field of
K6eovo.»'
Though greatly Marko loTcd the truthi the con*
jurcd him the more:
''Let not my rearing be aecunt in thee, the мт
I borC|
For thy father or hit brethren speak not falec^
whatcVr the utreM,
But according to the living God apeak out his
righteoueness.
Hurt not the spirit, Marko; save thou the souU my
son.
Rather lose life timn that the soul should have a
stain thereon.**
Marko brought forth the ancient books, and
mounted Dapple the gray;
On Dapplc's back he rode the track to K6sovo that
day.
And when he came to tlie king's tent Vukishin
stood thereby:
''Here is my good son Marko, and fortunate am
II
For he will say, I trow, this day, the realm of the
tsars is mine.
Then from the father to the son shall the realm
stand in our line.**
Marko heard, but said naught; from the tent he
turned away.
£116]
Xofrodti Cglycthft saw hiin» and aloud hie thought
did he say:
''Here i« my nephew Marko, and a lucky man
am I!
For I trow he will eay to me thit day that mine it
the einpery*
Say, Marko, that the realm is mine. We will
share the goTemment.**
But Marko the Prince said nothing, nor turned
unto the tent.
GoykOf the To^Toda, saw Мт, what time he went
thereby:
''Here is my nephew Marko, and a lucky man
am I!
He will say that unto me, Goyko, the empire doth
bekmg.
Because I erstwhile lored him, when he was weak
and yoimg.
For I lorcd him vtrj dearly, and in the bosom fold
Of my mantle did I keep him like an apple of red
goU;
WhereVr I went upon my steed was Marko wont
to ride«
Say then. Prince Marko, in this wise, what time
thou shalt decide.
That all the empire of the taars is giTcn unto me.
And thou shalt be the overiord, and I the tsar at
thy knce.^
But Marko aye kept silence, and turned not to
the tent«
To Uroeh* white pavilion upon his way he went;
[lie)
Unto the tsar'e fair tent he rode. Uroeh leaped
up awake
Firom the fair silken cushione, and to the prince he
spake :
"A lucky man am I to-day ; my godfather I aeei
Marko the Prince will say to whom the Serrian
realms shall be.**
Then they embraced each otheri and wished each
other well;
And sate upon the cushions until the evening felL
When the dark night was отег, and the white mom*
ing shone,
They rang the bells for matins, and to church the
lords are gone.
They came forth from the service before the church
to dine,
And then they ate the sugar, and drank the
brandy-wine.
Marko looks on the ancient books, and a great
word saith he:
''0 thou, my sire, Vuk^hin, is thy realm too
small for theeP
May a curse go out and through it, for ye seiae
another's reign!
And Cglyesha, my uncle, too small is thy do-
main?
May a curse go out and through it, for another*!
realm would ye seise!
And thou, my uncle, Goyko, too strait are thy
provinces?
May a curse go out and through them« for an
other's reahn would ye stealt
[Ш]
•Sec — шпЛ may God forget joa! — ^what the book
doth reveal 1
For the realm belongeth to Uroeh, from the father
to the son ;
The child is of the tiar hit houMi and in him the
line goes 0П9
And the tiiar left it to him at the season when he
difd.'^
VukAshin« when he heard it, drew the dagger
from his side;
On his son leaped VukiCshin, to stab him in that
hour«
And Marko fled before himi for he had not will nor
power
In arms against his father to lift the hand and
flght.
Marko ran round about the church, Sam6drezha
the white;
Three times round white Sam6drczha the circle did
thej make;
Hie king well-nigh had caught him, when a mice
to Marko spake:
^Into the church. Prince Marko Г* the roice
from the church did saj,
^or the sake of truth thou wilt perish at thy
father's hand thb day.'*
Marko ran hard into the church as the doors
wide open drew;
Vukishin fell against them as again the doors shut
to.
And smote the beam with his dagger. Therefrom
did the red bh)od drain.
[118]
The king repented: **Ђу the one God, I dread
mj son hare I slain.**
A voice spoke to him from the church: ^ПУоЛ
hear where thou dost stand?
Thou smot'st not thy son, but an angel, with the
dagger in thy hand."
Tlie king was wroth at Marko» and cursed him
thereupon :
"My son, God slay thee ! Mayst thou have nor
sepulchcr nor son !
May the soul go not from thee till thou tervest the
Turk in war!**
His father cursed him, but he won the blessing
of the tsar:
'*0 my godfather Marko, may God thee ever
shield!
May thy face shine in the council ; thy saber slash
in the field !
May none excel thee in battle, and thy name far
and wide
Be everywhere remembered while the sun and moon
abide I**
So spake Vukishin and the tsar, and to did it
betide«
[Ш]
J
/
PRINCE MARKO AND THE УЊА
Two twornbro^cn were riding over Miroch, the
mountain fair;
Vo/roda Miloeh and Marko were the two heroes
there.
Side by tide the itccdi did they ride as they bore
the spears that day;
One kissed the face of the other: sudi loring broth-
en were they.
Then Marko on Dapple yearned to sleep ; he spake
to his brother sworn :
"Vo^Toda Milosh, hearily by sleep am I oYcr-
bome.
Sing to me, brother, and cheer me.**
^•Prince
Marko, brother mine,**
Said liikwh, **! would sing to thee, but, Marko» I
drank the wine
In the mountain with Rarfyoyla, the Tila, yester-
night
She forbade me; if she hears me, my throat and
heart win she smite.**
Prince Marko spake: **Sing brother, nor erer
the Tila fear.
While Dapple and I and the war-club with six gold
knobs are here.**
Then sang Milosh, the то /voda, a great and
beautiful song
Of our eUen and our betters that held the king-
dom long
[ItO]
In famous Macedonia, and the troop that with
each did go.
The eong wae pleasing to Marko, and he bowed on
the saddlebow.
Prince Marko slept in the saddle, and Milosh sang
on the track ;
And the Vila RaYlyoyla heard him, and sang in an-
swer back.
Milosh sang, and the vila again unto him sang.
The better voice had Milosh, and angrilj she
sprang
Away to the mountain Miroch ; with two white ar*
rows she smote
Vo^^voda Milosh through the heart and likewise in
the throat^
Said Milosh:
''Alas, my mother! And woe unto
Markoy too!
Alas, my brother, the vila has shot me through and
through!
Did I not tell thee I must not sing on Mirodi in
our course?"
Marko started from slumber, and sprang from
the dappled horse.
Well did he stretch the girth-straps for Dapple
the good gray ;
He kissed him, and embraced him, and to the steed
did he say:
i "Thtj mmt have had a singing contest before this, and
the Vila have fortriddcn him to sing becaase his foles was
better than hers.** (Note by Kar4}kh.)
[Ш]
^Ahf Dapple the tteed, of all my firengih the
great right wing art thou ;
RaWjojrIa, the vila, do thou oTertake her now.
I wШ shoe thee with pure tilver and gold of the
seventh proof ;
I wiD oorer thee with silk to the knee» with tassels
thence to the hoof;
And all thj mane, тогеотег, shaU be mingled with
the gold;
And I will deck thy trappings with small pearls
manifold.
If thou dost not overtake her, I will put out both
thine eyes;
I wiD break thy legs, all four of them, and leave
thee in evil guise;
And thou shalt struggle from fir to fir, abandoned
and forlorn.
Even as I, Prince Blaiko, without my brother
sworn.*
Prince Marko on gray Dapple*s back forthwith
himself he threw ;
They raced across Mount Bliroch. O^er the trees
the Vila flew.
And desperately Dapple galloped the midst of the
forest through.
At first nowhere could the vila be seen or heard
thereby;
Bui at last, when Dapple saw her, he leaped three
spear-lengths high
Ami a tuU four spear-lengths fonrard« Dapple
gamed oo her swift;
In her distrest she leaped aloft amid the clouds and
lift
Up Marko hurled the golden mace, the weapon of
great worth.
And smote her between the shoulders, and beat her
to the earth.
Left and right he did her smite with the golden
club that day.
"Why shottcst thou mj brother, ▼ilaP May
the good God thee slay!
Give thou herbs for the hero. E^ long thou shalt
lose thine head.**
The vila besought him in God*s name. Implor-
ingly she said:
"Prince Marko, my sworn brother, God and St
John before.
Release me alive in the forest, to search Mount
Miroch oVr
For herbs to heal the hero^ and his fierce wounds
abate.**
Marko barkened her prayer, for his heart was
conipassionate ;
Alive into the forest he let the vila go.
She gathered herbs on Miroch, as she wandered to
and fro.
And she called often : "My brother, I am eoming
from the field.**
The Vila gathered many an heib, and the lienHa
wounds she healed;
And the lordly throat of Milosh was belter than
before,
[lf8]
And the strong heart of the hero was stronger than
of jore.
The Vila went unto Bliroch. With his sworn
brother good«
Went Marko to Porech countrj, and forded Timok
fiood.
Till he came to the great town Br6goTo and the
Vidin country-side.
But Ravfyoyla, the vila, to the other vilas cried:
**Hear ye« my friends, the rilae, and harken»
and gire ear:
Shoot no hero on the mountain when Marko the
Prince IS near.
Or while Dapple and he and the war-club with six
gold knobs are here«
What I have suffSerrd at his hands, I hate not
strength to say.
Ami hanlly out of them at last alive I got away.**
[Ш]
PRINCE MARKO AND THE SWORD OP
VUKASHIN
The sultan with an armj is come to Кбвото;
An hundred thousand men had he where Sftnitsa
doth flow.
With a saber of Damascus his herald goeth forth«
And full three hundred ducats the naked blade it
worth;
And likewise was the scabbard worth ducats fifteen
score«
And the cost of the cord of the scabbard three
hundred ducats more.
No one was found for money to buy that scimitart
But chance brought the Prince Marko on the
herald of the tsar.
Said Marko: '^The Damascus blade, thou herald«
show to me.'*
The herald heard and gave over the blade« but not
a word said he.
Marko said to the herald« as he looked on the
saber cold:
^Torty-five score of ducats will I giTe thee of
yellow gold ;
But barken« herald« let us go to some safe place
hereabout«
That I may count before thee the yellov ducats
out;
For I would not ungird me of the three goU belts
this tide«
I am mudi in the Turkish debt in the camp
on crery side«
[Ш]
And I deem that for the saber they wQl not let me
pay.*'
The Turk would hardly await him» and hastened
on the way,
And ahmg tlie water of Sftnitsa they speedily are
Prince Mnrko there ungirded him *neath the white
bridge of stone;
He spread a mantle of the green, he took the belts
of gold,
And out he shook the golden belts while the Turk
tlie ducats told.
IlailLO looked on the saber, and saw thereon dis-
pkyed
Three Christian words engraren upon the shining
blade;
And first ''The Saint Demetrius,** and next ''The
Archangel** came.
And Ust of all upon the blade stood King Vuki-
shin*s name.
Marko saw and forthwith spake:
«4) herald of the
tsar.
By the one God I adjure thee; whence came the
scimitar?
Was it left by thy father? Did thy wife bring
it to thee?
Or was it won in battle, perchance, from an
епетуГ* ^
The Turk spake unto MmIlo:
^Ву Godf thou
duei овкмипц
[lie]
/
Unto thee now the inwArd of this matter will I
own.
It was not left by my father, my wife brought it
not to me;
Dut, chief unknown, I won it from a single enemy.
\Vlicn with the Servian empire fell both tsari at
Kosovo,
Murad and Laxar, then I won the saber from the
foe.
Early to water my fat steed to Sftnitsa I went«
^ And there my fortune brought me to a greensilkeii
tent.
Within was a wounded warrior most fierc e G od
strike him dead !—
Tlie black beard of his lip that tide over his breast
it spread.
He wore a great green mantle, and by him lay the
sword.
When the wounded one beheld me, by God he me
implored :
**' ^Brother, thou champion unknown, now smite
not off mine head ;
Soon will my soul go from me, for my wounds are
deep and dread.
Wait l.Jf an hour; by Sftnitsa there shalt thou set
my grave.
Three belts of gold are on me, and a Damascus
glaive
That is worth a thousand ducats, and here is my
silken tent«*
''But I would not barken his prayer, and out
with him I went,
[Ш]
Dittgging the wounded hero. My laber then I
drew,
And cut off hit head ; hit leg I grasped, and hit
arm, and straightway threw
The hero into Sftnitsa, where swiftly the waters
run.
There with the manrclous booty this saber for thee
I won.**
When the Prince Marko heard it, to the herald
did he say:
**0 hcnid of the Turkish tsar, may God reward
thee this day !
That was my own dear father, eren Vukishin, the
king.
Hadst thou waited his souFs departure, it had been
a better thing,
And thou, O Turkish herald, wouldst hare had a
better grare«**
He drew, and cut the Turk's head off with the
Damascus glaive.
He grasped the milk-white hand and leg, and in
Sftnitsa he threw
The heraU of the tsar and said: *43o thou my
father untoP*
To the army Alarko wended with the gold and the
scimitar;
Said the janissaries: **Prithcc, where b the her-
ald of the tsarP
Bui to them said Marko: Ч pray you, janis-
sarice, begone!
Ht look his ducat« and решиса to the sea to trade
[W]
Said the Turks one to the other: ^Hard mint the
Moelem ttrivey
Who oometh to Prince Marko a bargain with him
to driTeP*
[if»]
PRINCE MARKO AND THE EAGLE
Иажко lay on the tsar's highwaj, and green was
all his gcan
A silrer cloth was on his face; by his head was
planted his spear.
Bj the spear stood Uapple« but on it a great white
eagle stayed;
It spread its wings above the prince and gave the
hero shade,
And water in its beak it bore, the wounded hero
to slake«
But a vila of the mountain unto the eagle spake:
**In the name of God« white eagle, how hath
Marko stood thine aid.
That thou sprrndc^t thy wings above him to give
the hero shade,
And bringrst water in thy beak, the wounded hero
to slaker
But thereupon the engle unto the vila spake:
**Be silent, vila, and hold thy tongue. >VIiat
good hath come to me.
Hath aye come at Prince Marko*s hands. Keep*
est thou the memory
Of the day the anny perished on the field of
K6sovo,
And both tsars, Laiar and Murad, died in the
overthrow?
Up to the stirrups of the steed that day the red
blood пиц
Unto the silken ginOe of many a fighting man ;
£180]
Horses and heroes swam, steed by steed, and hero
hero by,
And we flew up hungry and thirsty, the Tultures
of the sky;
We fed on human flesh, we drank our fill of human
blood:
My wings were wet. Forth flamed the sun in
heaven where he stood:
My wingA grew stiff; my feathers in flight I could
not wield;
My comrades flew, and I was left upon the lerel
field.
Heroes and steeds rushed onward, and me they
trampled o'er.
Crod sent Marko ; he lifted me up from the heroes*
gore
And put me behind on Dapple. To the green
wood amain
He bore me and tossed me into a fir; and down the
gentle rain
Descended there upon me. My wings were washea
clean,
That I might fly thereafter отег the forest green;
And there I met my comrades.
**One more good deed to me
Did the good Marko KrtUyeTich. Hast thou in
memory
How the town burned at Кбвото? Burnt was
Aj<ga4 tower:
Therein my little eaglets were hidden in that houff
And Marko gathered all of them in his silken
bosom fold,
[Ш]
And л full month he nouriehcd them in the white
house of hie hold«
And let them go to the green woodf when a month
Mid A week wen told«
And thif did Marko for me, that I met mj eaglets
dear.*"
Prinee Maiko ie remembered like a fair day in
the jear.
[IM]
THE MARRIAGE OF PRINCE BiARKO
РжпгсЕ Мажжо with hit mother one ereniog latc
alone.
Said hie mother:
**Markoy mj little toiit old it
thj mother grown;
No more can she prepare for thee the meal whereon
to dine;
She cannot light a torch for thee or tenre the
ruddj wine«
Marry, mj ton, a woman forthwith to take my
place."
Marko unto his mother shortly he spake apace:
'*In Grod's name« my ancient mother, I haTe been
nine realms around.
And a tenth, the Turkish empire. When a girl
to my taste I found.
She would not have been to thy liking; when I
found a friend for thee,
Then she was not to my liking, nor desirable to
me.
Except for one, my mother, in the Bulgarian land ;
I saw her In Shfshmanin's palace; by a cistern did
she stand.
When I looked on her, my mother, the grass swam
under me ;
There is the maid for me, mother, and a dear friend
for thee.
Get me food for the journey; I will ask for the
maiden's hand.**
[Ш]
She waited not, nor abided till the dawn shone
in the land*
But she baked him bread with sugar. When the
dawn broke clear and fine,
Blarko girded himself and the steed and filled a
skin of wine;
He hung it' on Dapple*s saddle« and his mace on
the other hand ;
On Dapple he went to SMshmanin^s house in the
Bulgarian land.
Afar the king perceived him. Blarko he came be-
fore;
Thej embraced and kissed each other, and asked
how thej them bore.
The servant Jo the cellars went with the faithful
steed, .
But the king, the good Prince Marko to his white
house did lead.
Thej sat down at the readj board the dark*red
wine to drain;
When thej had drunk their fill thereof Marko
leaped up again.
He doffed his cap, he bowed to the earth, and he
asked for the maid of the king.
The king said naught, but gave her; on the ground
he laid a ring.
And an apple thcrrbj; moreover for the girl he
let cut a shift«
To her sisters and kinswomen Ilarko gave man j a
He gave three packs of treasure; and there a month
he spent,
[184]
Ere to gather gay-clad wooen to Frilip the wliitt
he went.
The maid's mother bespoke him: ''My loii-iB-
law,** she cried,
**Mj Marko, let no stranger be the bringer of tht
bride.
But rather thine own brother or tome nephew of
thy name,
For the maid is passing loTely and we fear some
open shame«**
There bode Prince Marko of Prilip the remnant
of the night ;
At dawn he saddled Dapple and rode to Prilip the
white.
Near the town his mother saw him, and drew near
a little space.
And in her arms she took him and kissed him on
the face.
And his mother asked Prince Marko, as he kissed
her milk-white hand:
'*My son. Prince Marko, art thou come in peaee
across the land?
And hast thou as yet discovered a daughter dear
for me,
A maid to be my daughter and a true wife to
thee?**
Marko answered:
'*My mother, I am come in
peace through the land;
I have asked and won in marriage a maiden to my
hand.
[Ш]
When I set out for mj white house» then the maid*«
mother cried:
^ *Mj Marko, let no stranger be the bringer of
the bride, Vx
But rather thine own brother or lome nephew of
thj name.
For the maid ii paiwing lovely and we fear tome
open shame.'
*^But, mother, I have not a brother, no nephew
at all have I.**
His mother spake:
'^Son Marko, be troubled
not thereby.
A letter in fine characters, my son, thou shalt in-
dite
Unto the Doge of Venice, and bid him come forth-
right
To be groomsman at thy wedding, with five hun-
dred wooers beside.
Thou shalt write to Stevan Zemlyich to be bringer
of the bride.
With five hundred wooers likewise. No shame at
all shalt thou fear.**
When Marko understood her speech, he bark-
ened his mother dear.
He wrote the letters on his knee, and one to the
doge is borne.
And one to Stcvan Zemlyich« that b his brother
passed; the Doge of Venice came« and fiv«
ццдигоо wooers Dcsiae ,
He went to the slender tower, but they to the fear
land wide.
In a little while came Steran and Are hundred
woocn fine.
They gathered at the slender tower and drank their
fill of the wine.
Then they went to the court of Sh(shmanin in the
Bulgarian land,
And King Shfshmanin receired them, and open was
his hand
To the heroes in the houses and the horses in the
stall,
And three white days he kept them, and they rested
one and all.
When out broke the fourth morning, spake the
heralds in this wise:
^What ho, ye gay-clad wooers, it is time that
ye arise!
Short arc the days, and the delays at nightfall long
are they;
Ye should take thought, ye wooers, to wend the
homeward way.**
King Shfshmanin brought gracious gifts. Fair
hose he gave to one.
To another he gare a gallant cloth with embroidery
thereon;
He gare unto the groomsman a table of gold well-
tried.
And he gave a golden garment to the bringer of
the bride.
And a great war-steed furthermore, and charged
him with the maid;
[Ш]
And to the bringer of the bride the king moreorer
eaid:
''Here is the ntced and the maid likewise to take
to Marko*s place:
Give him the maid; the steed is thine, a gift of
honor and grace.**
Forth marched the gay-clad wooen through the
Bulgarian land.
Where comes good fortune, also ill fortune is at
hand;
For on that tide both far and wide the wind blew in
the fieM,
The wind stirred lightly the maiden*s veil and the
maiden's face was revealed.
The Doge of Venice saw her. His head for grief
adied sore.
He scarce could wait till evening the land had
fallen o*er.
When they came to the night encampment, the
Doge of Venice sped
To the tent of Steran Zemlyich, and soft to him
he said:
**0 Slevan, the bringer of the bride, gire me thy
sister dear
Om night for my lore, and thou shalt hare this
bootful of treasure here.
Loi Steran, the yellow ducats Г*
But Bteran to
шт ша €гу«
*Vt tilcnftt doge, mayst thou dtange to stone i Has
it entered thy mind to dieP*
z'
The Doge of Venice turned him back. At the
second camp he went
And spoke to Steran Zemlyich in the midst of the
white tent:
**I prithee, Steran Zemlyich, gire me thy sitter
dear
One night for my lore. Thou shalt hare therefor
two bootsfuU of treasure here.
Lo, Stevan, the yellow ducats P*
Said Steran
thereupon :
**Go, doge! Mayst thou perish stimightwajl
Shall my sister be undone?^
J To his tent went the doge. When the third
/ camp was pitched at eventide.
The doge went unto Stcnm, the bringer of the
bride :
''O thou, the bringer of the bride, gire me thy
sister dear
One night for my lore. Thou shalt have therefor
three bootsfuU of ducats here.**
Thereupon Steran Zemlyich was finally cajoled
To give the doge his sister for three bootsfuU of
yellow gold.
Steran took up the ducats and the doge led the
maid
By the white hand within his tent and softly to her
said:
**Sit down, sweet bride, that thou and I may foadk
each other now.**
But answered the Bulgarian bride:
[W]
<*A shame-
ful grooiiuman art thou I
Doge of VcQicet beneath uf the earth will open
wide.
The heaTvn will crack abore uf t What man shall
fondle a brider
The Doge of Venice answered:
''Speak not like
a fool confessed!
1 have already, dearest, nine christened brides ca-
ressed.
And of wives four and twenty. The earth it gaped
not wide.
Nor did the heaven crack o*er us. Sit down^ let
me fondle thee, bride f*
But the bride said:
''Doge of Venice, mj
groomsman, barken this.
My mother dear adjured me no bearded man to
kiss.
But a joung and beardless hero, such as Prince
Marko is.*»
When the Doge of Venice heard it, he called
swift barbers there;
One bathed him, and the second he shaved him
dean and fair.
And the lovely bride bowed over m the place where
she stood.
And picked up the beard and wrapped it in a piece
of Itncn good.
llMreaftcr the Doge of Vcnies the barbers drove
[140]
And said unto her Mottiji **Noir sit thee down,
sweet bride P*
Then answered the Bulgarian girl:
*<WlienMaiko
of this shall hear.
Three heads, O Doge, my groomtman, from our
bodies he will shear."
The doge said unto the sweet bride:
""Speak
not so foolishly !
Tliere in the midst of the wooers b Marko plain
to see.
Where his fair white parilion he did himself un-
fold.
Upon the summit of the tent is an ap^e of red
gold,
With gems so bright that by their light are half
the wooers seen clear.
But at my side sit down, bride, that we may
fondle here.**
The bride said:
"'Wait in the tent a space«
thou dearest groomsman of mine.
Till I look on the sky aboye the ckmds, if it bt
foul or fine.'*
When she had come without the tent, she fled
to Marico in fear;
The girl sprang through the wooers like a fawn
of a single year,
To the tent of the Prince Marko^ that down to
sleep had lain;
[141]
And the ^rl stood before himt and her tears ran
down like rain.
Then Marko leaped to his feet and spake to the
Bulgarian bride:
''What a wretch, Bulgarian, art thou I Couldst
thou not e*en abide
Till we came to my white dwelling, and in Christian
guise were wed?**
He seized the saber silver-wrought, but the bride
bowed down and said:
''Marko, mine is no wretch's line, but a house of
power and pride!
The wretches arc thine, thy groomsman and the
bringer of the bride I
Thine own bride Steran Zcmlyich to the Doge of
Venice sold
For three bootsfull of treasure, ducats of yellow
gold.
Prince Marko haply wiD not beliere— if thou be-
lievcst not me.
The beard of the Doge of Venice, I have brought
it unto thee.**
And thereupon she opened the cloth that held
it wide.
When the Prince Marko saw it, he spoke unto the
bride:
^it down« fair bride ; on the morrow I wiD look the
matter o*er.**
Then Marko laid htm down again to slumber there
[Ш]
But when on the moirow morning the mightj fim
outbroke,
Marko leaped nimbly to hie (tet, and fastened back
his cloak;
In his hand he took the heavy mace, and then away
he hied,
To bid the groomsman good morrow, and the
bringcr of the bride.
**Grood morrow, bringer of the bride, and grooms-
man mine,'* said he;
'^Bringcr of the bride and groomsman, say, where
now the bride may be.**
Still was the bringer of the bride, no answer
would he make;
But unto the Prince Marko the Doge of Vemce
spake :
**How now, friend Marko the bridegroonit of
such strange whims men are.
That hardly a man may make a jest without be*
getting a war!**
•"Evil is the jest of thine, O dogeP tbeivto did
Marko say,
'^No jest is a sharen beard I Where now is thy
beard of yesterday?**
Yet more to him in answer had the Doge of Ven-
ice said;
Marko swung the great saber, and cut off the
dogc*s head.
Forthwith fled Steran Zemlyich, but Marko ran
amain.
And smote him with the saber, and cut him Ti^it
in twain«
[148]
In Uie tent himidf he ginkd« and saddled Dapple
aright;
Forth went the gaj-dad wooen, and came to
Frilip the white«
[ШЈ
PRINCE MARKO AND ALIL AGA
Тнвжв onoe were two sworn brothen; ihxough
Tsdrigrad ^ rode they :
The one is the Prince Marko, the other Koetidin
the Bey.
Said Marko:
'^Веу KosUUint sworn brother of
mine own,
Now that I ride in Tsdrigrad some woe may strike
me down.
Mayhap they will summon me to the lists ; a sick«
ness will I feign.
Heartache, the eril ilhiess, that is so fierce a
pain.''
So Marko feigned a sickness, though none ha
had indeed;
Of his grievous cunning he bowed him on the back
of Dapple the steed;
He leaned his breast on the saddlebow, throo|^
TsArigrad he rode.
Good meeting befell him. Before him one АШ Aga
strode.
The tsar his man, and thirty were his janissarks
there.
Said Alii Aga to Marko:
'*To the lists now kt w
fare.
Thou hero good. Prince Marko; with the shafto kt
us make play.
1 l%s MeK# stty, OoastaaUiiopla
[146]
And if God and good hide Mire lhee» and thoa
•Kootcst beyond roe this day*
Be there ^ven thee my white hoiiect, that heritage
of mine.
And the Turi(ith matron, my faithful wife. But
if my shot pam thine.
To thy houict and thy faithful wife faith I wiU
pay no heed;
I only hope to hang thee hi|^ and teixe on Dimple
the steed.**
Said Marko:
''Let be, thou Tuik accurst, how
shall I shoot with thee.
When such a bitter sickness has taken bold of roe,
Heartache, the evil illness, that is so fierce a pain?
I cannot hoM myself on the steed: how shaD we
shoot amain?**
Bat the Turk, Alii Aga, he will not let hun
alone.
The right skirt of Marko*s tunic, he set his hand
thereon;
Marko drew from his belt the knife and cut the
skirt away:
*43o to, wretch. Alii Agat May a plague strike
thee this day P
But the Turk Alii Aga he will not let him alone.
The left skirt of Marko*s tunic, he set his hand
thereon •
Marko drew the knife from his bdt and cut the
skirt away:
•Чк) to, wretch, АШ Agal May Ood in heaven
thceslayP
[146]
But the aga will not let him be. With hie right
hand Dapple*e rein
He seized ; his left hand thrust therewith in Marko's
bosom amain«
Marko flashed like the living fire ; straight he rose
on the steed;
He grasped the reins, and Dapple pranced as he
were mad indeed.
Hero and horse ran the wild course. He calkd
Kost^din Bey:
**To the cloth market, KoeULdin, mj brother,
take thy way;
Bring thence a Tatar arrow with nine hawk-
feathers white.
I will go forth with the aga, that the cadi may
judge aright.
And no matter arise hereafter, sufficient cause for
a fight.«
The bey went to the cloth market; with the aga
Marko hied
To the cadi. The aga his slippers doffed and sat
at the cadi's side ;
And out he took twelre ducats that he laid oa the
cadi's knee:
**Set no just terms for Marko ; and here are ducats
for thceP'
But Marko knew the Turkish tongue« No eoia
had he in the place;
Forthwith before his bosom Prince Marko held hit
mace:
**Dost thou hear me, master cadi; set thou just
terms for me I
[1*7]
Since my club with the nix tpikc* of gold thou
eAJiily miiytt ме.
If I strike thee with the wnr club« thou wilt need
no plfiflter therefor;
Thou wilt forget the courtroom, nor want the
ducatn more.'*
Fever foil on the mniiter« the cadi« to behold
The great war club before him, with the tiz spikes
of gold.
He straightway wrote the terms for them, but his
hands shook for dread.
Then out to the single combat at once the heroes
sped;
And thirty janissaries with Alii Aga strode.
But none but Greeks and Bulgars on Marko*s part
abode.
When they came to the lists spoke Alii, the aga of
the tsar:
'^hoot, captain, thyself that Tauntest«^for a
great man of war.
With thy brag in the txar's council that thy shoot-
ing is so strong
Thou canst hit an eagle of the cross,* that leads
the clouds along.**
Said Marko:
**l am a hero good, but older than
I art thou;
For« hero, thine is the lordship, and thine is the
empire now;
iSfaHS чвлрФплтВџ wMcn ass a sort av cross aa lis
CfFsafisa (eoeoisa| ^foMoaofy.
[Ш]
Thine is the right of the elder, and since thou hast
summoned me,
Shoot now, Turk, in the order of thy seniority.**
Thereupon ЛН1 Aga his first white arrow shot;
An hundred yards and twenty was it measured
from the spot.
Marko his first white arrow two hundred yards ha
drave ;
The Turk a full three hundred hath sent his second
stave.
Prince Marko the second arrow fire hundred yards
he sent.
But the Turk's third white arrow a full six hun-
drcd went.
Meanwhile the Bey KostAdin by Maiko did alight«
And bore the Tatar arrow with nine hawk-feathers
white.
Marko unloosed the Tatar shaft ; through the dust
and mist it blazed,
And forthwith vanished from them, however hard
they gazed;
Nor could it e*cr be measured. Hot tears the aga
shed;
With Marko, calling on God*s name, in his despair
he pled:
''Marko, who art my brother sworn, in the name
of God and St. John,
By thy good law; my house is thine, for thee to
seize thereon.
And the Turkish matron, my true wife, is thine to
lead away:
Only I prithee, brother, hang me not up this day Г
But Marko spake :
''May God on high forth-
with destroy thy life !
If thou callett me bftither, wherefore Ami thou
oflTer me thy wife?
Thy wife in not needful to me. We arc not as the
Turks in this;
With us the wife of a brother even as a sister is.^
t "An oM SrnrUn rtiMom sUll uurrirtnf^ in manj dhtricts
is the sdoplioa bjr two men or boyn of earh oUirr м 1>rotlirr/
or hj itlrls as *»1Мег/ or Mimrtiinrfi lijr two of diflrrrmt мх
as brother and tiller. The brothrrt in that гпкг, wouid he
a rrlatiTc of the irfrl, too near bi Mond, acrordinn to Senrinn
•МЦГГ« to marfy or admit of »nj Init fraternal afTcTtlmui
betwgf n the twa It wouUI be sarrileKe and ilieipil for them
to marfjr. This qrstem is and was tlie literal applieation
of the Christian principle of ImHIierliood/ devrlotied into
an hi«titothM dorinf the bitterriit timei of opprexftlon bjr a
foreign foe. Two young men fninn into battle Imund them-
selfcs as bmlhers in ties of rlouc fealty which endarrd
thro«|ch all trials. The oath of Adelity for life was sworn
before the altar in the eborrh and mnserrated by the prient,
•ad often sealed by the ехНмпце of a drop of blood drunk
In a evp of red wine. If one died the sunrivinn one was,
In all respeetfl, like a true brother to the family of his desd
*pohratlm.* lids tie Is eonsiderrd most sacred by Serrlan«
and eannol be brokent no matter bow teverrly It may lie
tried by any drcumstances that may arise. It Is recognised
by a law conferring right of inheritance as weU as family
obligations. MikMh Obrmorich, of the war of Serrhin
Ubeintlon, was the pobraUm of the Turkiiih commander All
Aga flerlchesma, a MohaoMiedan Senrlan« who was after-
ward oppote d .to him hi battle. Wbra the aga*s army was
vanquished. Milo4i was a brother to hhn and protected his
llfs^ Ubertyt and property, as he In similar drcmn-
Mcas pwtoclad MlhMh*s Ufc.*" Lasarorich-Hrebellanorich,
U Uf^im ^9Фри (NccYori^aaiOH vot I, pp. TS^ T4.
Jwl Ф99% ЛШ Aea Us ndd rts sad Marko as *>w9m
[HO]
I have * faithful wife ai home, eren YflitM noUj
born.
And I would forgive thee all« broUiert but mj tiinio
hftut thou torn;
Give me three load« of monej to patdi my ikirti
apace P*
Merrily then the Turk leaped up and kiMed
Prince Marko*e face.
Marko for three white days he kept withia tbt
lordly hallt
And gave him three loads of money ; and hit lady
therewithal
Gave to the prince a mighty shirt sewn with a
thread of goldt
And aleo a silver toweL Three hundred horsemen
bold
The aga gave him for escort, when he rode to his
house afar.
Long they abode thereafter, and held the land for
the tsar:
When the foe invaded, Marko and АШ beat them
back;
Wherever fortresses were ta*en, they marshaled the
attack.
[Ml]
PRINCE MARKO AND MINA OF KOSTDR
pAurcB Makko and hit mother had eat them down
to dine;
On the drj bread they feasted, and they drank the
yellow wine.
And unto the Prince Marico came letters three that
day:
One was from Bajazit the tear, in white Stamboul
that lay ;
One from the town of Budim» from the king thereof
had come;
And one from Yanko the To^oda, in Sibin that
had hit home«
The ktter from Stamboul city, that wat written
of the ttar.
To the army tummont Maiko for the keen Moorith
In the letter out of Budim, the tecond of the
three.
The king with the woocn bidt him that the grooms-
man he may be,
niat the king may lightly marry the queen of
whom he it fain.
Tlie letter from Sibin the city, it beareth a mettage
plain,
niat at godfather he thai! christen the children
of Yanko twain.
Marko tpeakt to hit mother :
*^y mother, old art thou s
СошмЗ me, mother, thall I go to the tear*t army
f
[let]
u
Shall I go among the wooers, to marry the king
amain?
Or unto Yanko of Sibin, to christen his chiUrcB
twain?"
His mother speaketh to Marko: ^^My littk
eon," saiih she,
A man goes unto the wooers because of jollity;
As a godfather a man goes forth because of the
law of God ;
But a man goes to the army because of the fear of
the rod.
Go, my son, to the army, for God will hoU his
hand;
But the Turks, an thou come not thither, they will
not understand.**
Marko obeyed his mother. To the host he
marched away;
He took Gohiban the servant; to his mother did he
say:
'*Hear, mother I Of my fortress do thou early
shut the gate.
And when ariseth the morning, do thou throw it
open late;
Since with Mina accurst of Kostur at odds am If
and I fear.
Mother, that my white houses the rogue will phm*
der here.**
Marko to the tsar's army with GoMban the
servant went
On the third evening of the march, when they had
pitched the tent,
[IM]
Marico tupped, and Goliibaii tcnrcd out the yellow
wine«
Marko took up the goblet, and slumber fell on hie
eyne ;
He dropped the cup on the table, but the wine
•pilled not on the board.
GoUban the servant waketh him ; **Prince Marko,**
he saith, ^^my lord.
Ere this hast thou gone to the army, but thou hast
not slumbered so deep.
Nor dropped the cup from thy fingers.**
But
^larko started from sleep.
And said:
'4}oluban, my senrant, thou art faith-
ful, as I deem.
I closed mine eyes for a little, and I dreamed a
wondrous dream.
Exceeding strange was the dream, and exceeding
strange the hour.
A tuft of mist blew outward from Kostur the white
tower:
The mist enveloped Prilip ; in the white mist Mina
came.
He win plunder my white houses and bum them
with the flame;
Ovtr my mother's body will he trample with the
steed;
My faithful bride upon that tide a captive will
helcMi;
My bofM« f ram the stables, he will drive them all
•way;
[154]
The money in my treasury he will carry off that
day.**
To Marko said Goluban: ''Fear not, Prince
Marko. In sooth,
Good heroes ever dreamed good dreams. Dreams
lie, but God is truth.**
When they were come to Tsdrigrad,' the tsar
sent forth his host.
Over the blue sea went they forth to the fieree
Moorish coast;
And four and forty cities have they ta*en over sea.
They came under Kara Okan, and years they
fought there three;
Okan they smote, and never could they storm it m
the war.
Marko smote down the Moorish diiefs and bore
their heads to the tsar.
The tsar gave bakshish to Marko, and wroth the
Turks did it make;
And they came in anger to the tsar, and unto him
they spake:
''Tsar Bajazet, this Marko, no hero at all is he;
He cleaveth and bringeth for bakshish the heads of
the slain to thee.**
Marko heard it, and forthwith to the great tsar
did he pray:
"My father by adoption, to-morrow is the day
Of St George, my own good patron, and let me*
tsar, withdraw
To hold my patron's festival by custom and by
law;
iThe iMf^f d^r, CoMtantSiioplc.
[lee]
And АШ Aga, my brother twom, likewite do thou
release,
That he and I together may drink the wine in
peace.**
The tear sent forth Prince Marko, for naught
else could he do^
To hold hii patnm*t festiTal, and released hit
brother too.
And bto the green forest forthwith Prince Marko
sped,
Nor far from the tsar^s army his white pavilion
spread;
To tipple on dark liquor he sat him on the grass.
And with him Alii Aga, his brother sworn that
And the Moorish watdi disoorered, when the fair
daybreak shone,
How forth from the tsar's army Marko the Prince
was gone.
Then shouted all the Moorish watch: 'Ч) furious
Moors, set on!
Hie hero on the great gray steed — the terrible is
gooeP*
The Moors set on, and of the host slew thirty
And the tsar wrote a letter unto Prince Marko
then:
^lij good son by adoption, come quickly hers
again.
Fir thirty thoosaad men of вше havt been in battle
[Ив]
But Marko said: ''How then maj I come
quickly, father mine?
For as yet I have not drunken my fiU of the yelloir
wine.
And much less have I started my holiday to hold.**
And lo» upon the morrow, when broke the morn-
ing cold,
Then shouted all the Moorish watch: **0 furioos
Moors, set on !
The hero on the great gray steed — the terrible is
goneP'
The Moors set on, and of the host slew sixty thou-
sand men;
Once more the great Tsar Bajaift wrote to Prince
Marko then:
**My good son by adoption, come quickly here
again,
For sixty thousand men of mine have been in battle
slain r*
But Marko said: *'My father, a little must
thou wait;
I have not yet regaled my friends as well befits their
state/'
On the third day shouted the Moorish watch:
''O furious Moors, set on!
The hero on the great gray steed— the terrible it
goneP*
The Moors set on, and slaughtered an hundred
thousand men;
And the tsar wrote a letter unto Prince Maiko
then:
[Ш]
**Before God for mj foster diOd thee, Магко«
will I own;
Come тегу quidilj, for the Moore my camp have
overthrown P*
Ifarko mounted on Dapple, he rode to the tear's
array;
When day broke, the two armies they clashed in
the melfe«
When the Moorish watch saw Marko, they cried:
^^Ye Moors, begone!
The hero on the great gray steed — ^the terriblct
comes опГ*
Maiko smote on the Moorish host ; three ways their
host he drave.
He slashed throughout one anny with the edges of
the glaive,
Tlie second of the armies on D^ple he trampled
o^er,
And herded the third before the tsar. But Marko
was wounded sore;
Seventy wounds at the Moors* hands on Marko*s
body there are.
On the tsar's breast f alleth Mariio, and to him saith
*Varko, my good foster child, by thy wounds
now art thou slainf
Ckn the doctors with their wrappings recover thee
again?"
Prince Marko then made answer: *7fo deadly
wounds they are,
And I deem that I shall rseovtr.** Andthempon
ttelsor
Thrust hand into pouch and to him a thouiand
ducats gave,
That the Prince Marko might go forth his woands
to heal and lave ;
And the tsar sends forth two faithful lads, lest
Marko the Prince should die.
But Marko sought not a doctor; from inn to inn
did he hie.
And ever sought Prince Marko where the best wine
was to drain.
Scarce had he drunk his fill thereof, when his
wounds were healed again«
But a fine-written letter to the Prince Marko
came,
That his houses all were plundered and ravaged
with the flame,
And the body of his mother trampled over hj the
steed,
And his faithful wife a captive his enemy did kad.
Then Marko mourned and to the tsar, his foster
father, said:
**Mj foster father, my white house is ravaged in
the raid;
My faithful bride upon this tide a captive do they
lead;
Over my mother's body have they trampled with
the steed;
The money in my treasury is stolen from me this
day:
Mina of Kostur, he it was who carried it away.**
The tsar spake comfort:
[189]
*Toeier ton, my Marko,
do not fear.
If Ibcw thine houses have been burned, I ^ill buQd
thee better here;
Beside my houses and like to mine shall they be
built for thee.
If thy gold is stolen, a fanner of my taxes shall
thou be.
And thou shalt gather treasure. If thy wife is led
away,
I win give thee a better lady upon the wedding
day.*'
SaidMarko:
''My foster father, glory to thee
again!
When thou buiUest the houses for me, orphans will
curse me then,
Saying: This rascal Marko, his houses were
burned of late ;
Now may these new-built for him be likewise deto-
kter
If thou makrst me farmer of taxes, till I bind poor,
needy men«
I cannot gatlirr the taxes, and orphans will curse
me then.
Baying: This rascal Marko, what gold he had of
late
Was stolen ; what he hath presently, may it too be
desolate!*
To another how wilt thou wed me, while yet ray
wife doth ЦтеГ—
Пт himdffd janissaries I prithee to ше give;
[leo]
Forge for them crooked pninbg hooka and of slei-
der hoes no lack;
And to white Kostur will I go, if perchance I may
win her back.*'
Three hundred janissaries were his at the tsv't
command ;
The tsar forged crooked pruning hooks and slender
hoes to their hand.
To the three hundred Marko his counsel gate
aright :
^Go, my three hundred brethren; go now to
Kostur the white.
When ye arc come to Kostur, the Greeks will be
merry thus:
*Here are laborers ; cheap enow will they tend our
vines for us Г
But do ye naught, my brethren. Abide in Kostur
the town ;
Drink the clear wine and brandy, till thither I oome
down.**
The three hundred janissaries they went to Kos-
tur the white.
But Marko to Mount Athos, unto the holy height;
And there he took communion and moreorer did
confess
For the blood he had shed, then clad him in a black
dUoyer's ' dress;
He let his beard to the girdle grow, and a monk's
hat put on his head.
1 Monk of tht Gntk diaidii see Bfrao, <ШШ§ ИтгШ,
Hi 4^
[W)
Then h« leaped to the back of Dapple, to Koetur
the white he sped.
When he came to Mina of Koetur, thei« Mina eat
to dine,
Aod Marko*s wife eenred Mina the cups of yellow
wine:
••In God*e name, thou black ctiojer,** did Mina
to him saj,
•Tell mc, prithee, where gottest thou the little
dapple graj?**
Prince Marko said:
••Friend Mina, hj the true
God do I swear.
In the fierce Moorish country, with the tsar's host
was I there.
There was a fool. Prince Marko, that dying then
I saw.
And I buried him according to our custom and our
law.
A gift for his sours salvation Ihey gave this steed
to me.**
When Mina of Kostur heard it, he leaped up
joyfully.
And said:
••Nine years have I waited until these
tidings came !
Por МагкЛ house hare I plundered and raTaged
with the flame; *
His faithful wife have I made a slave, but I would
not break her vow.
Black priest, tin Marico perished, and thoo shalt
шагту ase nowP*
Up Marko took the holy book, and thereupon
did wed
Mina unto the woman he had ta*en to hit own bed.
Then sat they down to ipeak fair words and drink
the yellow wine.
Said Mina:
''Hearest thou, Y^litM, O heart
and soul of mine?
Till now wast thou Markovs lady ; henceforth thou
art Mina*s wife !
Go now to the treasure house below, I prithee, soul
of my life,
And bring three cups of ducats to give the ctfoyer
black/*
Y^litsa brought from the treasure three cups of
ducats back;
She took not Mina*s money, but Marko*s. A rusty
glaive
She brought up with the money, and to the priest
she gave:
'^Here is for thee, black dtloyer, a gift for Maiko*s
sake.**
Marko took up the saber, and looked at it, and
spake:
"Mina, the lord of Kostur, is it seemly in thiao
eyes,
To dance here at thy wedding after the monkish
wise?**
Quoth Mina of Kostur to him : **Black c^y^,
to thee
Surely it is permitted. Wherefore should it not
be?**
[168]
Marko leaped on hit nimble feet twice and thrice
him about;
The tower^s foundations trembled at he drew the
taber out
He drew the rutty saber, he twung it left and right ;
The head from Mina*t thoulders at one ttroke did
he tmite.
F^«n hit white throat he thouted : *Xord Mina*t
dayt are done ;
Ho, all my janittariet ! my laborers, come on Г*
Three hundred janittariet through Mina*t man-
tiont came;
They plundered hit white palace and raraged it
Marko brought home hit faithful wife and Mina*t
horde along.
And went unto white Prilip with chanting and with
[Ш)
PRINCE MARKO AND BET KOSTADIN
Pkincb Makko and Bej KoeUdin, brothen in
God were they ;
Thej rode their steeds together. Outspoke Kot-
tidin the Bey :
^'Prince Marko, now I prithee, thou art mj
brother sworn ;
Come to me in the autumn, on St. Demetrius* шопц
The feast day of my patnm saint Much honor
wilt thou see,
And a fair feast and a welcome becoming my do*
gree."
Said Marko:
''Boast not of thy feast f When
I sought for my brother bom,
Andriya, I dwelt in autumn with thee« On St.
Demetrius* morn.
The feast day of thy patron saint, I saw the feast
of thy pride.
And also in the selfsame hour three cruel deeds be*
side.**
Said Bey KosUidin: ''Marko, my brother
sworn art thou ;
Say to me of what cruel deeds thou speakest to me
now.**
Said Marico:
"The first cruel deed after this
wise befell.
There came two orphans unto thee that thou
mightst feed them well
[165]
With the white bread, and give them the ruddy
wine to drain.
But thou Midst: 'Ye mere scum of the earth,
now get you hence amain !
Ye shall not defile the wine before mj gentlefolk
this day.*
Bey, I pitied the orphans and with them went
away;
And I took them to the market and fed them on
white bread,
And gave them to drink of the ruddy wine, and
clad them in satin red.
And in green silk moreover. Unto thy house again
I sent them, and looked to see thee, how them thou
wouldst entertain.
One thou tookest on either hand ; to the table thou
leddest them then :
*Eat and drink,* thou saidst, 'ye sons of gentle-
men Г
*Thy second cruel deed was this. When ancient
•quires forlorn
Came there, who had lost their money, and whose
scarlet was outworn.
Thou evermore did«t set them at the foot of the
table there;
But whoso of the younger squires at thy festival
that were.
Who had gained new hordes of money, and whoae
scariet was frrnh and new,
Evwswre thou broughtest them the head of tht
board onto;
[IW)
Thou didst pour the wine And bnndj before them
fast and free;
There was a feast and weloomet befitting thj de-
gree«
''This is thy thiid cruel deed, O be j. Father
and mother are thine;
Neither is erer at thj board nor draineth fint tht
wine«**
£Ш]
PRINCE Sf ARKO AND THE DAUGHTER
OF THE MOORISH KING
Нш mother Atks Prince Marko :
^'Marko, my little
•on«
So many monAsterics wherefore hast thou begun?
Hast thou ftinncd before GodP Or by good hap
ha^t thou won the gold abroad?**
Marko of Prilip answered:
•*I wiU ten in the
name of God.
Once, when I wan in the Moorish land, at dawn to
a rislcm fair
I went, that Dapple might drink thereof; and be-
hold, at tlie water there.
Were twclre Moors. Out of my due time I wished
to water the steed;
The twelve Moors would not let me, and a battle
did we breed.
Thereat I drew the heavy mace, and smote a black
Moor down.
We smote against each other, eleren against one.
Two I smote down, and ten of them came furiously
at me.
Then nine of them must I abide, for I had stricken
three.
Tilt fourth fell ; eight were the champions against
me that did drive.
But I struck again ; on the red ground lay ruddy
Ave«
[lee]
I slew the sixth, but was taken bj the six that were
left alive.
They bound me, and they bore me to the Moorish
king along;
And the king of the Moors threw me into the dun-
geon strong.
Seven years was I in it: when summer was at hand
I knew not, nor when winter had oome across the
land;
Except that, when in winter the girls the snowballa
cast.
Then would they toss a snowball into the dungeon
fast;
And then I knew it was winter, as I lay within the
tower.
In the summer, they would throw me a sprig of
basil flower,
And I knew it was summer. The eighth year in
prison that I was,
I wearied not of prison, but of a Moorish lass.
Unto the Moorish Sultan the daughter dear was
she;
Night and mom to the window of the tower she
summoned me:
** 'Marko, poor lad, in the dungeon I prithee rot
not here,
But give true pledge thou wilt take me to be thy
true love dear.
If I free thee from the dungeon, and thy Dappk
from the hold.
Marko, unto thy heart's desire will I gather diieata
of gold.*
[169]
^Whcn I eaw that might was against me, and
strength compelling me^
I took my cap from off my head, and swore to it
on my knee,
A Лпп pledge to the cap I swore:
rrheel wiU
never leave ;
A firm pledge, and moreover, ne*er will I thee de-
ceive.
E*en the sun is false; he warms not winter. as sum-
mertide —
Never will I renounce the pledge; thereby will I
abide.*
'^Iien thought the ^loorish maiden that unto
her I swore.
One aightt at fall of darkness, she opened the dun-
geon door
And led me out of the dungeon, and Dapple from
the hold.
And a better hone for herself. On both were hol-
sters full of gold;
She brought a silver-hilted sword. On the horses
we laid hand.
And forthwith galloped onward over the Moorish
land.
When the dawn shone, my mother, I sat me down
to rest;
And the Moorish maid, with her black anns she
clasped me to her breast.
Wbcft I looked oo her, my mother, she was black
and her teeth were white«
[170]
And it was л thing unpleasing and dreadful in mj
eight.
The eilvcr-hiltcd eaber forth from the theatk I
drew;
r I smote her under her silken belt; the blade cut
through and through.
I seized on Dapple; still the head of the Mooriah
maid spake on :
*Mj brother Marko, wretched lad, leatc me not
here alone.*
Then, mother, I sinned in the sight of God« but
gained much gold and gear,
Whereby the monasteries and churchet fur I rear.**
[171]
PRINCE MARKO'S PLOWING
With hit mother, Y^YnMimA, his thint did Maiko
•lake
Ob the red wine. When they had drunks to him
his mother spake:
*4> thou. Prince Marko, prithee cease from the
ravage and the raid;
Never on earth b evil with a good deed repaid.
Weary is thy mother of washing from thy shirts
the crimson stain.
Bat do thou now yoke ox to plow, and plow tht
hill and the plain.
Sow thou the white wheat, little son, that thou
and I may sup.**
Haiko harkened his mother, and he yoked the
oxen up;
He plows not the hill, nor the valley ; but he plows
the tsar*s highway.
Boost janissaries came thereby ; three packs of gold
had they:
*Plow not the tsar his highway. Prince Marko^**
said they then.
^c Turks, mar not my plowingf* be answered
them again.
Tlow not the tsar his highway, Prince Marko,**
they said anew.
*ПГе Turks, mar not my plowingP be answered
thereuntow
Bui Ifarko was vext; in anger be lifted ox and
plow,
[171]
And the Turkish janiMarict he dew them at a
blow.
And their three packs of treasure to his mother be
bore away:
**Loy mother, what my plowing hath won for thee
to-dayP*
[ITS]
MARKO DRINKS WINE IN RAMAZAN
Тнжжж WM an edict acnt abrtMid by the Тмг Sule j-
min
Thai none ihould drink the jellow wine in the
month of Remaiin,
Tlinl none should wear green tunics, nor silTei^
inlaid dirks,
And that none shouU dance, тогеотег, with the
women of the Turks.
But If arko dances among them, and inlaid wil
silver wan
Is his blade, and green is his tunic, and he ti]
in Ramasin«
And the Turkish priests and pilgrims, he maketh
them drink likewise.
And the Turks go to the palace unto 8ulejro<n*s
father and mother of us all art thou. Tsar
Suleym^ /
Saath not thine edict: none shall drink liquor in
Ramaiiin i
And that none shall wear green tunics, nor sflver-
inlaid dirks;
And that none shall dance, m oftov er, with the
women of the TNirksf
NcAr Ifarko dances among them; and inlaid with
•ilver wan
Is Ui Made; and green is his tonic; and he tipples
Wine he mnj drink and wckooM^ if it seem good
inUierjee,
cm]
i
But the Turkish prieste and pilgrimt, he makcth
them drink likewise.'*
When the tsar heard their story, he summoned
his heralds twain:
**0оџ heralds, to Prince Marko^ bid him come
hither amain.**
Forth issued the two heralds ; upon their way they
went,
And they found Prince Marko drinking in the
shadow of his tent.
And a cup that held twelve measures is ready to
his hand.
The heralds twain gave unto him the word of the
tsar*8 command:
*'Do8t thou then hear, Prince Marko? It is
good in the tsar's eyes
That thou come to his council, and the court of
his assize.**
O, angry was Prince Marko ! He snatched the
goblet up.
And he smote the tsar*s two heralds in his anger,
with the cup.
Hie cup rang and the head rang; the blood and
wine ran free.
And Marko went to the tsar's assise, and sat at
the tsar's right knee.
And the black cap of sable fur he puDed across
his face.
And he laid his saber across his breast, and his
hand upon his mace:
"•My foster chOd, Prince Marko," said the Tsar
Suleymin,
[m]
Mine edict smith: none ihall drink wine in the
month of Raniazin;
And none shall wear green tunics, nor silver^in-
laid dirks.
And none shall dance, тогеотег, with the women
of the Turks.
Now here be worthy Moslems that hate spoken
evillj.
Alas, mj poor son Afarko, I wot they have slan-
dered thee!
lliat thou danccut with Turkish matrons, and in-
laid with silver wan
Is thy blade; and green is thy tunic; and thou
tipplcst in Ramas^n;
And the Turkish priests and pilgrims, thou mak-
est them drink likewise!
Now wherefore pullest thou, my son, thy cap
across thine eyes?
Why is thy mace beside Ihee, and thy saber across
thy breast?**
And forthwith strong Prince Marko Tsar
Suleymin addressed:
*4) thou, my foster father, the great Tsar Suley-
It is permitted of my faith to drink ш Ramaiin.
And for the priests and pilgrims, my honor would
be gone.
If they sbmild look upon me, and I should drink
alone*
If I wear a good green tunic, I am young; it bt-
my youth.
[Пв]
If I gird an inlaid saber, I paid my monej in
sooth*
If I dance with the Turkish women, O tsar, I am
jet unwed,
And once, O tsar, a woman had come not to thj
bed.
If I pull mj cap on mj forehead, it bums, for I
speak with the tsar.
And for the freeing of mj mace, and drawing the
scimitar,
O tsar, in my heart I fear me that battle is hard
at hand:
It is ill in battle the nearest to Marko, the Prince,
to stand.**
The tsar looked in all quarters another шаа to
see.
But nearer to Prince Maiko there was no man tbaa
he;
Nearest was the Tsar Suleymin. He drew bade
in the hall.
But Marko followed coward, and droTe him to tbt
wall.
From his pouch drew Tsar Suleymin an hundred
ducats fine.
And gave them to Marko, saying: *Varko, go
drink the wine.**
£177]
THE DEATH OF UARKO KRALYEVICH
Рилсж Maixo rote up earlj oo SaiuUy before
the sun,
Ob Mount tJrnuA bj the seecoftsL And м he
rode thereon,
Dtpple the stallion staggered sore; from his eyes
ran bitter tears.
Marko it griered. He spake to the steed:
••A
hundred and sixtj years«
Dappk, my gallant stallion, are gone since I came
on thee.
Never hast thou staggered; yet to-day hast thou
^^ЧЖ^^ under roe.
And thou sheddest tears« God knoweth there is
no good from the sign:
The one of us is in danger; thy life it is or mine.**
While Marko spake, a rila on Cnrina*s steep
side
In sonunons to Prince Marko lifted her Toice and
cried:
^novest thou« Marko, my brother sworn, why
stumbles Dapple, thine horse?
He eorrows for thee, hb master, since soon wiD ye
part perforce.
Sttd ЊЛо Њ ttM vOa:
'OiffAj th J thnMt adM
fortUtl
Ibv •hoold I pMt with DapplcF Gtict aad cm-
(17S]
Have I not pAescd оу€г and trATened, from tlit
east unto the west?
And Dapple, my steed, was erer of all good itccdi
tiie best;
And I was the best of the heroes. He shall not
from me be led.
While upon Markovs shoulders remaineth Markovs
head."
Said the vila:
**Marko, mj brother swonif
none shaO take Dapple so.
Neither shalt thou die at a hero*s hands bj anj
saber blow.
Nor by the shock of the heaTj maoe, nor pierdny
of the spear;
For any hero of the earth, Prince Marko, have no
fear.
But Marko, God shall slaj thee, the ancient slajer
of men.
If thou wilt not believe me, go up to the mountain
then.
Aloft shalt thou see two slender firs on the left
and on the right;
Thej have overhung the mountain with the sum-
mits of their might
And all the air is spicy with their fair needks
green;
And there runneth a spring of water the slender
trees between.
There turn and dismount from Dapple; to a tnt
the steed shalt thou tie.
[179]
Raite thjielf отсг the irAter;spring timt bubbici
up hard by,
And look At thj face in the water. Thou shalt
see when thou thalt die.**
Marko obejc«L Aloft he looked on the left and
on the right
At the fim that orerhung the mount with the tum-
mits of their might,
And all the air was spicj with the fair needlei
green.
There Marko halted Dapple in a little space be-
tween.
And to a fir tree in the midst the charger did he
tie.
He raised himself o*er the waternipring that bub-
bled up hard bj ;
And when Marko looked on the water, he saw when
he should die.
He wept apace and spake apace:
••Ah, Ijing
world, fair flower —
Pair wast thou and too little have I roamed thee
in mj hour,
Thrse hundred jears; and now must part from
thj pleasure and thy power Г*
From his girdle the Prinoe Marko drew out the
iron i^ve.
And be went to the steed Dapple, and Dapple*s
neck he clave.
That Dapple might come never to a Turk, a prise
of war,
[leo]
And do him bitter »ervice bearing water in the
jar.
When he had slaughtered Dapple, he buried Dap-
ple the eteed;
A better grave the horse he gave than to Andrew,
his brother, indeed.
The mighty glaive, thereafter, he broke in piecet
four,
Lest it should come into Turkish hands, and the
Turks should be glad therefor.
And rejoice for the sword of Marko to their hand
that had fallen then;
And lest, moreover, he should be curst bj anj
Christian men.
When he had broken the saber, in seven the spear
broke he.
And threw it among the fir twigs. The rough
mace mightily
He grasped, and from t^rvina buried it into the
thick blue sea;
And Marko said : ** When that club of mine aria-
eth out of the main,
Then will there be a hero upon the earth again.**
When he had ruined his weapons, then pen and
ink he drew
From his belt, and from his pocket white paper
fresh and new.
And he writes a letter:
"Whoever over (Уппаа
shall fare
To the cold spring between the firs, and finds brave
Marko there,
[181]
Let him know forthwith that perished at last ia
Marko the bold.
About him arc three monej-belts. What trcaiure
do the J holdP
Therein it a lordlj treasure of ducats of jeUow
gold.
One belt will I give with my blessing to him who
buries me;
With the second belt let churches be sculptured
splendidly ;
And the third belt I bequeath it to the maimed and
to the blind,
That thej may sing of Afarko and his fame be
kept in mind.**
When the letter was written* he thrust it upon
a twig of the fir,
Whence from the road it might be seen by any
wayfarer«
The golden writing-set tlicrewith into the spring
he threw.
And his good mantle of the green from off his
shoutden drew.
He spread the mantle beneath the fir, and the sign
of the cross made then;
He pulled the sables отег his eyes, and lay there,
nor rose again*
Dead was Marko beside the spring* For a week,
from day to day.
Whoever saw Prince Marko that traveled along
that way.
Deemed that the good Prince Marko asleep was
lying there;
[Ш]
And, fearing to awake him» a long way round
would they fare.
Where'er is found good fortune, roitfortuiM
Cometh apace.
And wherever evil hap is found, good oometh toon
in the place.
Abbot Basil of Athoe from the church ViUndar the
white,
He it was spied Prince Marko^ with Isaiaa his
acolyte.
He held his hand : ^Xightly, my son, see that thou
wake him not.
After sleep is Marko moody; he may kill us on the
spot"
But the monk saw how Marko slept The letter
he espied,
And he read throughout the letter that told how
Marko died.
The monk dismounted from the steed, and raised
up Marko the bold.
Marko was dead. The bitter tears down Basil's
check they rolled.
And he sorrowed sore for Marko. The belts of
golden pelf
He ungirdcd from the hero, and belted on himself«
On many a grave he pondered, where to bury
Marko dead.
He chose ; and got him on the horse, and to the sea«
shore sped.
In a ship he laid Prince Marka And to Athoe
the Holy Height
[185]
Ht bore him, to VOfadar, the itately and the
white*
And there the funeral liturgj over the prince he
read
And likewiie tang the requiem before they graved
the dead.
That the old man buried Marko. No mark he
pUccd him o'er,
That none might aay where the hero lay, and mock
at htm thciefore.
[Ш]
BALLADS OF SERVIA UNDER TURKISH
RULE
THE MAIDEN MARGITA AND RAYKO THE
VOtVODA »
Not yet the dawn had whitened« nor the day star
shown ite face;
Men thought not of day — forth Mirgita the maid
walked in the place.
In Sriyem over Sltokamen ; ' barefoot the damid
sprang
Over the stone so early. In delicate wise the tang«
But Rayko in the song she cursed:
*lUyko»
may God thee slay !
The Turks have plagued ui grievouily in Sriyenif
since the day
When thou becamest vo^voda« When Mirko mlcd
the land«
We heard of no Turk« nor ever saw one before at
stand;
But now they plague us grievously. Their hortct*
feet are sore
For riding night and morning in our country cvcf^
more.
The very fields on their horsehoofs are lifted and
stolen away«
And the air is full of javelins and their throwiai^
darts to-day.**
1 In the translation of this balled slightly
third of the original has been omitted. Пм
gi^c the names and dwdUng-plaem of ш
vofvodas not mentioned dsewbero la this vsli
tTbatis. "Salt-stOM"
[Ш]
So tang the giri of Sriyem, and deemed that none
could hear«
Bat Vo^'Toda Rajko eaw her« and the cune came
to hit ear;
And he called the maiden M^gita:
•^SiBter,** he
Mith, ''do thou
No more cume Rayko the го^-годл. What more
can he do now?
What ma J he do for himself? And what for
Srijcm in thit hour?
What shall he do in Srijem against the Turlcish
power?
WhDe Mirko was the vo^Yoda, in our cities in their
turn
Were man J Yofvodas. Stay thou; their number
thou shalt learn.
At F6tscrje on Sava his dwelling Milosh made.
He was visicr of Latar in many-towered Belgnuk.
In Krusherats, the white city« glorious Lasar had
his hall.
With his fair son beside him, the good lad Stcraa
the Tail
Yog Bogdan, the old hero, with the nine sons of
his might,
Dweh m another city, Ihrdkuplye the white.
At the white town of Kurshimliya was Strahint
the great ban;
At Tiplitsa, Milan T«pUtsa, wbeiw the duD wa-
ten fan.
[lee]
J
At flat Kdeaynitea, Iraii K6tancluch, the might/
man.
In Travnik, the white, Vuk Brdnkovich was Lasar^i
high Yizier;
Duke Stepan ^ in Herzegovina ruled the country
without fear.
At Skadar on tlie B6jana, Vukithin was the king.
With his brethren Goyko and 6glyetha, to help
in governing.
And in Prizrend, where the plowland reacheth м
fair and far,
With his little ton, Prince Uroah, was Stepaa the
Servian tear.
Starfna Novak ' held the rule on Stara, the moun-
tain old;
And with him Ridivoye, hi« brother, called the
bold,
And TAtomir and Ghiitsa dwelt with them in the
hold.
And, moreover, Bey KoetiUlin dwelt in KAmanovo
white.
And Prince Marko in white Prilip, in the mansion
of his might.
^Harken thou, sister Margita, our vo^vodas
were they;
1 Ertsef Stepan.
■ Hm Introduction Into this bdlod of a hero of Iht bis
iixtccDth ecntoiy Is of eoane sa
[189]
An of them were among us« and aU h*Tt poMcd
awaj.
Some died in their beds* litter, and tome in battk
were slain ;
To-day doth Rajko alone of them in Srijem yet
mnain»
like a dry tree in the mountain grove. What
shall he do in this hour?
What shall he do in Sriyem against the Turkish
power?**
From his belt he drew a dagger — through his
live heart it sped;
On the black earth Rayko of Sriyem, the To^voda,
lay dead«
And MArgita ran to him; with a wailing cry she
said:
''Ify brothers, Servian TO^Yodas; you have been
and have passed away I
How have you left your children and your faithful
wives this day?
Are they not now a footstool, that Turkish feet
may restf
Am not your monasteries become a Turiiish jest?**
8ht snatched the dagger of Rayko, through her
live heart smote it well.
And dead the wittcfacd maiden by the dead Rayko
fefl.
[190]
HOW STARf NA NOVAK BECAME A
HAYDUK
Not AX and Rado drank the wine near Boma the
river cold,
With B6goeav. When thej had drunk ai much
as they could hold,
Prince B6gosay began to speak:
'^Starbia
Novak,'* said he,
**My brother ewom, now speak the truth, to may
God prosper thee!
Why didst thou join the outlaws? What еов-
straint on thee was laid
To go to the wood to break thy neck* and to ply
a wretched trade?
And in thine age, moreover, when thy season waa
past and sped?**
Starina Novak spake to him:
••Prince B6-
gosav,'* he said,
**My brother sworn, since thou askest me, I will
even tell thee the truth;
But it was through a hard constraint that I ficdt
in very sooth.
Thou mayst remember, when YMna did SmMeiwo
rear,
She made me a day laborer. I labored there thitt
year.
Wood and stone did I haul for her with my
and my wain,
[191]
1
And m the tpace of full three yean not a penny
didl gam;
Not even bark tandab for my feet couU I win my
labor by*
And that I should have pardoned her. When the
town wae builded hight
She would build towers and gild the doors and
windows of the hold.
Eadi houne in the vilayet she taxed three measures
of gold.
That is three hundred ducats. Who gave« in the
place might Utc;
But I was poTerty-stricken« and had no gold to
give.
With the mattock« wherewith I had labored, to the
outlaws I fled amain.
I could not stay where Y^rina, the accursM one,
end ragn,
Bat ran to the coU Drina, and to rocky Bosnia
oeo«
When I came near Rominiya, there Turkish
wooers led
A Tlifkish damsel homeward. In peace they
passed by me.
That remained the Turkish bridegroom; on a
great brown steed was he.
In peace that Turkish bridegroom he would not
let me pass,
Bui forth he drew a triple whip with three knobs
of yellow brass.
Titfict he smote me on the shoulders. Thrice I
prayed him m God*s
a «1
'I praj thee, Turkish bridegroontiy nuiytt ihoa
have courage and fame!
Majst thou have a happj marriage, but past me
by in peace!
Thou seest how poor a man am I.*
''But the
bridegroom would not cease;
But rather in his anger began to imite the
more«
Then at last was I angry, for my shoulders were
waxen sore.
With the mattock on my shoulder, the bridegroom
did I smite
With one blow from the brown steed's back, though
the stroke was passing light«
And then I leaped upon him, and smote him where
he lay.
Twice or thrice, till his spirit from the body fled
away.
I reached my hand in his pockets, and there found
purses three;
I put them in my bosom, and girt his saber on me^
I left the mattock at his head that the Turks
might have withal
Something to bury him with ; the steed I mounted,
brown and tall.
To the wood of Rominiya I went; the wooen saw
me there;
But wished not to pursue me, or haply did aol
dare.
*'It is forty year. The forest is better known
to me
[198]
Пмш the hootc of mj habiUiioD wm cfer wont
to be.
The loads аагом the mountAini I watch than and
IhohL
Worn the jouthe of Sirayevo I take their nlvcr
and gdd»
And their linen and yelvet for roe and mine; and
I can go abroad
And stand in the place of dangert for I fear none
bill God."
[Ш]
STARfNA NOVAK AND THE BOLD
RADIVOYE
StaeIna Notax drank the wine on Rom^iya the
green hilly
And RiLdivoje, his brother, drank with him with a
wiU;
And Gruitsa, Star(na*t son« RAdivoye sat before;
With Griiitsa was TAtomir and thirty hayduks
more.
When the hayduks in good fellowship had drunk
the liquor cold.
Then spake unto his brother R^Toye, called the
bold:
'^Hearest thou, brother Novak P I will 1еате
thee behind me now.
Thou canst not go a-raiding; top grievous oU art
thou.
Thou dost not love to gallop on the highway any
more.
To lie in wait for traders that come from the sear
shore.'*
So spake bold Riidivoye. He leaped from the
ground to his feet.
He seized on Breshka by the waist; the thirty fol-
lowed fleet.
Rado ^ went over the blade mount; 'neath a green
fir Novak lay.
With his two young sons. Brave Rado came to
a crossing in the way.
^Ав abbrefiatioB for Ridifoje
[Ш]
A wi H c l >cd chance befell him, for Mehmed the
Moor rode there ;
With thirty heroes and three great pack« of treat-
ure the Turks did fare«
When Mehmed taw the hajdukt, he shouted to hif
men;
The champions drew their sabers and rushed on
the outlaws then.
They had no chance in that short time their mus-
kets to let drive.
The Turks smote thirty heads o(P» and Rado seiicd
alive;
They bound his hands behind him; they led him
oVr the hill.
With insult, but bold Rado sang to them with a
will:
*4Sod slay thee. Mount Rominiya! Dost thou
breed no hawk in theeP
Flew a flock of doves with a raven before their
company;
A white swan led they, and treasure beneath their
wing« had they.**
Child Ghlitsa heard Rado as he sang on the
highway.
He spake to Starfna Novak :
"^ly father, haiken
thou.
For out on the broad highway is some one singing
And speaks of Mount Rom^iya and the шмит-
taan*faleoa gray.
£1«в]
It is like our Uncle lUdo. He ћм gained « trcn*-
ure this day,
Or else he has fallen on evil. Lei us go to give
him aid.'*
He seized on his Damascus gun and went to the
ambuscade
On the tsar's highway, and after him young
Tatomir lightly ran;
And after the children followed Novak the ancient
man.
On the highway in the ambuscade, there Novak
took his ground;
And beside him his two children. 0*er the moon*
tain came a sound,
And presently thirty champions before them did
appear.
And every champion carried a hayduk*s bead on
his spear.
And Mchmcd the Moor before him drove the
bound Rado still.
And likewise three loads of treasure on the high
road over the hill.
Till into the ambuscade he marched with the
squadron of his might.
Novak shouted to his children. They fired the
muskets light;
Mehmcd the Moor they hit in the belt. He did
not yell one yell-
Dead was Mehmed the mighty Moor, ere to the
ground he fell.
The Moor fell there on the green grass. Starfna
Novak sped,
[Ш]
And twung his eaber in the air, and ftraighi cut oiP
his head.
And then he rushed to Rado; frcmi his hand he cut
the cord
And gave htm the saber of a Afoor. Now glorj
to God the Lord I
Thej made a rush upon the Turks, they cut them
into bands,
And pursued them hither and yonder. Who
*scapcd from Rado*s hands
Young TAtomir awaited FVom him who got
away,
Them awaited child Ghiitsa in eagerness to slay;
And them who 'scaped from Ghiitsa old Novak
waited for.
They slew the thirty champions, and spoiled the
Turks in war;
They won in that same hour three packs of treas-
ure впе.
Then sat they down together to drink the yellow
wine.
Said Novak : ^ell me truly, Rado, my brother
boU,
Which is better— thirty hayduks, or SUHna
Novak the oldr
To him said Rado: **Mj brother, the thirty
better were they—
The good friends; but thy fortune they had it not
this day."*
It is ill for the hero who hears not what his eUcrs
havt to say.
(19в]
N
THE DEATH OP IVO OP SENYE *
Ivo's mother dreamed that darkneet wai rifen
Senye around.
That (he clear eky was broken and the bright moon
fell to the ground
On Riizhitsa church in Senye, and the ttan fled
far and wide.
And the daystar roee up bloody, and the cuckoo
to her cried—
In Senye*fl midst on the h<rfy roof of RfiihitM di
he perch.
The woman am-oke and took her crutch and h
tcned to the church.
And told the Archpriest N^elko what dream
come to her.
And to her the priest made clear the dream ai an
interpreter:
^riearcnt thou, mother I 111 hait thou dreamed
and evil soon will be.
In that darkness rose round Senye, 4will be deto*
late for thee.
In that the sky was broken and the bright moon
fell to the ground
On Riizhitaa, Ivo will perish ; he hath readied hit
term and bound.
In that the stars fled far and wide, will many a
widow moan.
In that bloody rose the daystar, thou wilt be at a
cuckoo alone.
iZcngg.
[199]
la that it tang on the R6ihitsa, the Turks will
overthrow
RAshitM, and, though old I be, the Turks will lay
me low.**
Hardly had he done speaking, when before them
Ito stood.
The great black steed he rode upon was soaked
with the dark blood ;
He had seventeen wounds ; in his left hand his cleft
right hand he bore.
He droTe the bUck steed onward the great white
church before«
To his mother he spake: **From the black steed
take me down« mother mine,
And wash me with cold water and purify with
wine.**
Swift she obeyed: she took him down from the
steed fierce and fine;
She washed him with cold water, and o*er him
poured the wine.
His mother asked him: ''What, my son, in Italy
befell r
Ito spake:
"Mother, in Italy all things went
swift and well;
Enough slaves we took, mother, and enough of
treasure bright;
Safe we turned home. When we were at the camp
of the first night,
A first pursuit overtook us, Uack warriors that sped
Upoa Uack steeds ; black tuiiMUis they wore about
the head.
[too]
We fired one volleji mother, we slew them all m
fight;
Of us none perished, mother. At the camp of the
second night
The second pursuit o*erto<A us; the furious heroes
sped
Upon white steeds, white turbans they wore about
the head.
We fired one volley, mother; we slew them all in
fight
Of us none perished, mother. At the camp of the
third night
The third pursuit overtook us; black cloaks, long
guns did they bear.
We fired a single volley, and began to fight them
there;
Of them none perished, mother; of us all fell in
the fray.
Excepting thy son Ivo, at last that got away.
And he is wounded ; in his left hand his right hand
hath he brought**
So Ivo spake, and forthwith with his dear soul he
fought ; »
He breathed, and released from prison thereby was
the spirit light
He died, and his ancient mother — evil was her
plight !
May God give him a dwelling place in pleasant
paradise.
And health to us, my brethren, and merriment like-
wise!
[tOl]
THE MARRIAGE OP STOYAN YANKOVICH
While still men dreamed not of the dawn* the gntee
were opened wide
In Cdbina, and from the town a equadron forth
did ride.
Four and thirty friends are there; before them is
Mustay Bey,
The lord of Lika; ' to Kunor wood he went to
hunt that day.
For half a week he hunted, but nothing came to
hand;
To t)dbina and Lika he went homeward through
the Und;
When down through the fir forest to a spring he
turned aside,
To drink and rest. He cast hb eye *neath a green
fir that tide;
But when Mustay Bey of 1Ла came, the twigs of
the fir tree shone.
A drunken warrior lay asleep in tlie fir wood alone;
All in the pure gold was he clad and in the silver
fine;
On hb head he wore a splendid cap with silver
feathers nine,
And set beside the feathers a great wing silver-
wrought;
t Lflto Is a dirtfkt In CmOJ«. Mestaj IW7 Is the favorite
neve or «hs мамммпмнт s^fve 01 Doshm« hi viioflc popvisf
^oftty he eervplei a place like that of Pritiee Mariio la the
haUads of thdr Orthedos Uiimm. 8ee MariM^JDIe
Valnepft der hsialirhiw Mnhsi— иЈааегГ la g«<l#fAfVl
4$$ Гт/Шт /ir ГМЛтЛф. BeHIa, ISO«, pp. 19-aOi
[tot]
For A thousand ducats and no less the sOyer wbg
was bought.
On his shoulders the hero weareth a mantle great
and green,
And thirtj knobs of yellow gold thereon are to be
seen,
EUich one of a golden measure; and one Vieath the
neck is worn,
Three measure weight with a screw that opes, and
brandy that hdds in the mom.
On the mantle are three golden plates, of the
weight of four good pound ;
Two were of twisted goldwork, and one did the
smelters found.
His breeches had golden buckles ; and yellow, ridi
to see.
Were his legs as any falcon's from the ankle to the
knee.
IVom the buckles hung fine golden chains, and
from them trinkets fair,
Such as the slender maidens aye at their sweet
throats wear.
At his splendid belt were pistols of the Damascttt
gold,
Silver^inlaid was the great blade, with three gold
hilts to hold;
In them are set three precious stones; it is worth
three towns of the tsar.
On his breast was a musket, and golden the thirty
hoops of it are,
And eadi hoop worth ten ducats, and thirty, one
by the sight;
[tOS]
Here wai more of gcid on the mufket than ol
ftteel hammered and bright.
When the hero rose upward from the grus, the
fir twigs crackled then*
But the Bey of Lika pinned him down with hie
four and thirt J men.
When the hero looked up from the grus with a
bUck and lowering eje»
He saw that the Turks had pinned him down, and
his weapons were not by.
One of his foes with his great anna he gripped at
with a girth;
The liring heart was burst in the Turk at be
hurled him to the earth ;
And seren others, тогеотег, he slaughtered of the
band«
Before the Turks could master the strength of the
white hand.
But they capturrd him« and forthwith the white
hand did they bind«
And drove him to white Cdbina with his weapons
tied behind«
That great and small might marrd how Mustay,
of Lika the Bey«
Such a warrior with his weapons had taken in the
fray.
And Mustay sp«ke to him as through the opes
field they came:
*4}od*s love! Whence coroest thou, lord aa-
knownP What do men call thy nameP
Whither wast thou going« and whither have thy
co m r ad ee gone awayf**
[tM]
Saith he:
''What saysi thou, MusUjt of Lika
that art Be J?
Hast thou heard of the Latin seaooast, and Ko-
tiri ^ set thereon,
And of Stoyan, the son of Yanko? I am Stoyant
Yanko*s son.
And I had no other comrade than God and myself
alone;
And I had taken counsel to descend beneath thy
toweri
And the slender maiden, Ha^kuna, to lure her in
that hour,
And take her to Kot^ri — but it was not God's de*
cree;
The thrice accursM liquor it overmastered теГ*
Said Mustay, the Bey of Lika: '^Stoyan, wdl
mayst thou speed !
Tliou hast fallen into a hero's hands who will find
thee a wife indeed P*
Amid their speech to Cdbina at last they made
their way,
Beneath the tower of Mustay, of Lika that was
Bey;
And great and small came out to gaae on the
squadron in that hour.
And Ha^kuna, Mustay's sister dear, looked down
from the slender tower.
At the tambour frame of coral a needle of glass
doth she hdd,
t Not Csttarob bvt a town In Dorthem Dslmatia.
[«05]
And she wcAveth through the linen white « gmllMit
thread of gold.
And when ihe saw the equadron forth from the
f omt comef
That led a fettered hero with hit shining weapona
home,
The tambour frame before her with her hand the
thrust away —
Two of its legs were shattered — and to herself did
she say: t
^Dear God, a mighty manrelt a hero in eril
stead!
By what guile did they bind him, for he is not
wounded nor dead?**
But when she reckoned Ihe squadron, were lack-
ing seven men.
When the squadron came *neath the white tower,
she took his weapons then,
And bore away his weapons in the treasury to
keep.
Stoyan they cast in a prison that was Cfty fathom
deep;
Therein to the knees of the heio the water doth
And the bones of captive Christians to his shoulder
reach likewise.
ТЂе bey went unto the new inn, with his men the
wine to drain.
And to boast to Ihe T^rks of tfdbina what a cap-
tive he had ta*en.
TIm fair maid went to the dungeon door with a
bttckei of wine that tide;
(toei
She lowered it with a strong ooidt and unto the
hero cried:
*^0 heroy God protect thee, nor ilaj thee bcro
in shame!
Whence art thou? what is thy country? what dost
thou call thy name?
How did the Turks deceive thee^ when thine aims
behind they tied?**
Stoyan drank of the yellow wine, and to tha
damsel cried:
**Who calls from tlie white dunge<m? My throat
hath drunken full.
With the windlass half way up the hold the hero
ehalt thou pull;
From thence will I tell the story.*'
The maiden
harkened thereto;
The rope with hooks of steel let down, and half
way up she drew
Stoyan the son of Yanko. He questioned her and
said:
**Who calls from the white dungeon?** Then ap-
peared the Turkish maid:
**Even I9 unknown hero^ the sister of Mustay Bey.**
Stoyan answered:
''O Ha^kuna, may God in
heaven thee slay !
I am Stoyan the son of Yanko, and in prison be-
cause of thee.
The Turks beguiled me when I was drunk, and
bound have they taken me.**
The IHirkish maid spake to him :
[Ш]
•Ч) Stoyant of
Yanko born,
Fkm would the Turks destroy thee They will
question thee tomom
Whether to be a Moslem thy faith thou will put
aside.
Beeome a Moslem, Stojan; aad I will be thy
bride.
My brother, the Bey of Lika, two treasure towers
hath he.
One his, one mine ; if he dieth first, mine and thine
shall they be.**
Spake Stoyan:
^ '^Thott damsel, Ha^kuna, no
more like a mad girl rave!
Tliough Cdbina and Lika into my hand they gave.
By God I would not turn Moslem! In Kotiri my
treasure lay,
Mof« than the Turiis*, and a hero better am I than
they.
If God it grant, fair damsel, before the noon hour
ring,
ТЂе captains of Kotiri over t^dbtna shall spring,
Over and roundabout it, and hence shall they
rescue me.**
Said the maid:
^peak not like a madman ;ers
thai they wiD skughter thee.
Bui to take me to be thy wedded wife, firm will thy
faith ranaaat
If I fret thee out of the dungeonr
[MM]
And Stoyaa
answered again:
''Firm ie my faith, fair damsdi I will take thee
before all;
Verily on mine honor I will not deceive thee at alL**
When the damsel heard, in the prison she low*
ercd him in that hour,
And she wended her own way forthwith unto the
slender tower.
A little time went after this; from the inn came
forth the bey,
And the maiden staggered before him, as a fit were
on her that day.
Mustay the Bey asked of her : ''What aOeth thee^
sister dear?**
She said:
"A pain of the head and the heart is
fallen upoii me here;
A chill is come upon me; 4were better, brother, to
die.
But seat thee on the soft cushions, that I on thy
breast may lie,
And there at last surrender my spirit in its sin.**
Mustay the Bey was sorry, for he had no other
kin.
And oyer his white features the bitter tears he
shed.
He sat upon the cushions, on his bosom she drooped
her head ;
One hand she laid on his bosom, with the other dad
she seise
[t09]
In her dcmr brother*« pocket the stable шпЛ prifon
keji,
And the kej of the treasure likewise. Then tossed
she where she lay
On the cushion, and to his sister made question
Mustaj the Bey:
^Has not God granted thee, sister, that the pain
should pass away?**
**Brother, he has, may God be thanked I** And he
went to the roof outside,
To counsel with them of Cdbina how Sloyan should
die that tide.
But the maiden leaped to her feet, and wide the
treasury door she threw;
And saddlebags of ducats and Stoyan*s armor, too.
She gathered in that hour from the dungeon white
and cold.
She let out Stoyan, and led him from the cellars of
the hdd;
And irlcascd tlte steeds from the stables: the good
white steed of the bey.
That eirer more he rode upon in the heroic fray,
And the black steed of his lady; swifter is none
in the land.
The damsel mounted the white, but the black is
under Btoyan*s hand.
And forthwith over the broad fleld swiftly they got
tliem gone
Over Og6ryelitsa« and from Kunor the wood, and
Fro« Kunor to Kotiri. Then the son of Yanko
ftlO]
*4yricvauslj am I weary, Ha^kuna the maidl
Dismount from the white charger; of sleep I have
sore need.''
But she said :
**Bj thy courage, Stoyaa 1 Drive
forward the black steed
On unto flat Kot^ri ; sleep cometh with little aid.
But for some squadron of the Turks yet am I sere
afraid r
But he harkened not. From the horses they
descended on the grass;
With his head on her bosom Stoyan slept ; like a
foolish lamb he was.
But the maiden cannot slumber. Before the white
day's hour
The bey's wife rose to visit the girl in the slender
tower.
Very sick was the damsel, when darkness fell yet*
trccn.
But now in the slender tower no more the girl is
seen;
And the money from the treasury is gathered up
and gone.
And no longer in the dungeon lieth Btoyan,
Yanko's son.
Forthwith came back the woman into the slender
tower;
She fired the great alarum gun suddenly in that
hour.
On the green roof the bey heard it ; what was come
to pass he knew.
And swiftly with his fingers he searched his pockets
through.
And found that from his pockets the keys were
stolen away.
**]kly brothersv men of tjdbinar* then shouted
Mustay Bey,
**Stoyan9 the son of Yanko, with the maid is fled
abroad.
Up on your feet, my brethren, as ye beliere in
GodP*
Strange is the Turkish use. Their steeds were
ready saddled there;
They seised their steeds and orer the wide field
did they fare.
They reached the Kunor wood, and through the
forest did they pass
Unto KotXri. Ha^'kuna looked up from the green
grass;
Often she looked to Kunor. A crest rose far
•way,
The dust of horses and heroes, and she knew her
brother, the bey«
And the thirty men of t^dbina. Stoyan she dares
not wake.
But abore the face of Stoyan she weepeth for his
sake.
When Stoyan started from slumber, he bespake
her in this wise:
nniat ails thee, Turkish damsel, that the tears
run from thine eyes?
Doit thou weep for thy brother, Mustay Bey,
aad his great treasury^
[iH]
Or haply if it thai Sioyan no longer pleam theer*
Quoth the maiden :
^'Sorrow-stricken may thy
mother be this tide !
I weep not for my brother nor the treasure of his
pride.
We have brought the treasure vith us, in the midst
of my heart art thou;
But the bey with the thirty of Cdbina is hard upon
us now.
Ride the black to Kotiri; our lives are thrown
away r
When Stoyan heard the damsel, unto her did he
say:
''By God, I will not, maiden ! They have stirred
my anger up;
They pinned me down on the grass when I had
drunken of the cup.
Now will I make exchange of gifts with thy brother,
dear indeed!
Do thou ride the black charger, and give me the
white steed;
The white is a little better, when I go thy brother
to meet,"
Stoyan leapt on the good white steed ; the Uack
she mounted fleet.
And galloped to white Kotiri ; but Stoyan against
the bey.
And it were worth the trouble, to sit and watdi
the fray.
And behold a mighty marvel, how thirty smote at
one:
[«15]
The pftlare thiit tent thirty forth waits the return
of none.
Stojan smote off the thirtj heads, and he seised
on Mustay Bey;
Hands bound behind« he drove him to where the
damsel lay.
He sjiake to the damsel as he drew the silver-
hilted blade:
*niius« HaVkuna, 4wixt brothers exchange of gifts
is made!**
He swung the silver-hilted swoid, but she threw
her arms on high:
**By thy courage« leave a sister a brother for
swearing by !
For thee aluo a sister might weep« and be full of
Turn him now back to Cdbina« and give him leave
logo.**
Stoyan turned back the saber; tighter he bound
the bey«
And set his face towaid Cdbina« and unto him did
say:
*Wben thou comest unto Cdbina« to drink with
the men thereby«
Tell thou the whole truth to them« nor ever speak
And here will I grant thy life to thee in the вегм
single fray.**
Forth in his bonds to t^dbina alone went back
the bey;
flU]
But to flat Kciixi Stoyan the Tuikish ЛлзтА
takeSf
And his christened vife he kisses vhensoevcr he
avakes.
[«15]
THE CAPTIVITY OP 8T0YAN YANKOVICH
Whbm the Turks took KoKri, grtst havoc did
they make
Vnth the house of YAnkorkh. f lija Smfljanich
did they take
And likewise Stoyan Yinkorich ; bereft vas f liya*s
bride
Of fifteen days ; ungently from his wife's youthful
side
Was Stoyan taken abo^ ere a week they had been
wed.
The T^rks to Stamboul city captive the husbands
kd
To the tsar whom all men honor, with the prisoners
of their spears
Came the Turics ; and the two were hoUen for the
space of nine hmg years
And seren months. And Moslems the tsar hath
made them there,
And likewise built them houses beside hb palace
fair.
Spake fliya Smflyanich: ^Stoyan, dear broth-
er,** did he say,
**To-m o r r ow will be Priday, the Turitish holiday ;
The tsAritsa walks with the Turkish dames and
the tsar with the Turks at heel.
Do thou steal the key of the treasury, and the
stable key will I steal ;
Let us gather the guardless treasure and take two
steeds amain.
And run to level Kotiri and see our wives agaist
[tie]
That never enemy careMcd nor foenuui ctfricd
away."
They barkened each other. On the mom of the
Turkish holiday
The tsaritsa walked with the Turkish dames and
the tsar with the Turks at heel.
One stole the treasury key, and one did the key
of the stable steal;
They took much treasure and two good steedsy
and to flat Kotiri fled.
When they were near Kotiri, Stoyan Tinkovieh
said:
^0 f liya, my dear brother, unto the white hoaat
go;
And I will unto the vineyaid that mine own hand
did sow,
That I may look on the vineyard, to see who binds
the vine
And prunes it — ^in whose possession the place has
gone from mine.*'
To the white house went fliya, to the vineyaid
Stoyan came;
In the vineyard he found his mother, the weary aad
ancient dame.
And standing in the vineyard she cut the stnnds
of her hair.
And with them to the stanchions she bound the
grapevines there,
And with tears she watered the vine sprouts aad
the tendrils where they twined.
And ever her own son Stoyan was present in her
mind:
[Ш]
'^tojativ my golden apple, is forgot of his
mother old ;
But I will remember Yela hie wife, fair as the on«
worn goldr*
Stojan in God*f name greeted her: *4)Id dame,
whom God defend !^
Hast thou none jounger than thjself for thee the
▼ines to tend?
Thoa totterest wretched and feeble.** But brsTelj
she replied:
**Live wen, thou unknown champion, and all
good thee betide!
I have none jounger save Stoyan, sole son of my
desire.
The TNirks took him with f liya, the nephew of his
sire;
And in that bitter hour bereft was fliya*s bride
Of fifteen days ; ungently from his wife's youthful
side
Was Stoyan taken also, ere a week they had been
wed.
lly daughter of Adam waited until nine years
were sped,
\^ And seven months of the tenth year; she weds an-
other to-day.
And I — I eottU not endure it; to the vineyard I
ran away f*
When Stoyan understood it, he went to the white
And шЛ the wooers welcomed him with revel and
[tie]
J
He went from the steed to table, his thirst with
wine to slake;
When he had drunk his fill of it, softly to them
he spake:
^^My brothers, gay-clad wooers, to sing is H
granted me?**
Said the wooers: ^It is, thou heix> unknown;
wherefore should it not be?**
Then Stoyan sang unto them in a high Toicc and a
clear:
**A swallow plaited her fair nest ; she plaited her
nest nine year;
To-morrow will she unplait it. But there flew to
her from afar
A mighty falcon green and gray, from the city of
the tsar;
And the mighty falcon green and gray lets her not
unplait the nest"
In all this to the wooers was nothing manifcst»
But the inward of the matter the wife of Stoyan
spied.
Thereupon she departed from the bringer of tbt
bride;
She went to the lookout place and spoke to Sto>
yan*s sister dear:
**Sister-in-law, my sister, thy brother my lord is
heieP'
When the sister of Stoyan heard it, she ran from
the lookout place;
Thrice she looked round the table, till she saw her
brother's face.
mm^f^im^m
УПтк the mv the face of her brother, vide then
their arms thej spread;
They kissed each other on the face, and the sweet
tears thej shed;
One washes the cheeks of the other with the tears
of their desire.
But the ртјг -clad wooers said : ^^Stojan, what get
we for our hire?
For we spent a deal of monej ere we won thj
wife to wed."
**Stand aside« gaj-cUd wooers," Stojan Ydbiko-
rich said,
**Until I have gated on my sister! We will look
to jour money tlien;
Easily shall we pay it« if we in truth be men.**
When lie had gased on her, gifts he gave unto
the wooers there;
A kerchief to one, to another a shirt of linen fair;
To the bridegroom he gave his sister: and the
wooers went their way.
Wailing came home the mother at the ending of
the day.
Wailing even as a cuckoo the hawthorn leaves be- ,
hind.
And ever her son Stoyan was present in her mind:
''etoyan, my goUen apple, is forgot of hie
mother old ;
But I will r eroei n be r YtU his wife, fair as the
unworn gold!
Who will wait for the ancient mother^ Who will
forth for me.
And eay to the veary voman, 'Hath thy toQ
wearied thee?* •*
When the wife of Stoyan heard it, before the
house fhe sped;
She took her mother in her sweet arms, and to the
dame she said:
**Wail not, ancient mother! On thee has the
warm sun shone.
For returned unto thy bosom is Stoyan, thy only
son.**
She looked on her son Stoyan, and dead on the
earth she fell.
And Stoyan buried his mother most royally and
weU.
[Ш]
A MONTENEeRIN BALLAD
mr,
/
J
THE WAR OF THE MONTENEGRINS
WITH MAHMUD PASHA ^
VuiBE Mahmud on Вбуапа in Scdtari the vhitc
Hath gathered his visiert and the captains of his
might,
Picked Turkish chiefs. When thej vers come,
he spake unto them then :
**Here is a diance for us at last, my gallant
fighting men,
1 "I am confident thftt both iMlIsde [of which the preiait
if onej on the war of the Montcne|(i1nt with Mshnrad Psaha
were composed by the Prince-Bishop of MoBtenefro^ Pctsr I
(now canoniied м St Petar), and that later they bceame
current among the people, and« passing from SMMth t«
mouth, were asslmOatcd to the folk ballads." (Note by
Karijich.)
Mr. WllUam MiUer gives the following accomit of the
events treated in this ballad i
*The people of Trebinje in the Henegovina, long noted
for their independence and intolerance of Tlirkish rule, hod
been driven from their homes by the ravages of the Turks*
and sought shelter among the Bcrda [Brida]. The four
iioAi# of that mountainous district, which had been virtaally
united to Montenegro under Danllo I, were now formally
combined with it Into one state. . . • This Important aeeco-
sion of territory did not fail to arouse the Jealousy of the
Turks. Kara Mahmoud resolved to prevent the unkm, and
entered Montenegro at the point where the river Zcta s epa
rates it from the Berda. But his eiforts were In vain.
After a sanguinary engagement near the fortress of Sp«l^
the pasha retired wounded from the flekl, and a su b se que nt
eipedition cost him his life The ^ladUuk [prince-bishop|»
posting one half of his forces in one of those monn t al n oas
deflles which are so common in his country, and Isatlaf
a number of red Montenegrin caps upon the rocks to ddnde
the Turks into the Mea that his whole %twif was la IWoHt,
surprised them with the other half In ths icar« Tsken «и
bskwosB ths hPO flra^ the lavadsn fett by hvdiadsi
[tse]
mn
To win the greftt Black Mountain and the flat
coast of the sea
That we have long desired. Some friends of mine
there be,
Black llountaincers that I will bribe ; their coim-
trj thej will sell.
And I will do thereafter whatever seemeth weQ.
But the men of Brida have closed the roads, and
there mj wound is found,
And I cannot gather an annj all Bosnia around.
Or in Herzegovina either or the Albanian bound«
Let us stir up Albania, that our fiery winds may
faU
On the Pipcri and also on the Children of White
Paul.*
Let us bum everything with fire and capture great
and small.
Till we come to Nikshich, brethren ; there our pa-
vilion white
Kara MalMMNid wm tlsln« snd when Sir Gsrdner WnkliH
ion vlfiM CcUnJe [TWUoye), Afly yran later, be found
tho paths*« iliall itiU stuek, м a irrfia tropbjr of victory« oo
Uie bottlmroU of the famoiM Tarks* Tower.* The effects
of the TliriUeh drfcsl were UsUniri the miIob of UM Moat»-
acffo sad the Bcrda wm Mcvrct the herrdltaiy foes of the
Black Moaatabi coseed for тшлЈ jrcare f гаш trottbllaf. • . .
The sahaa ao loager dcoMiided trilwte from a aatloa whkh
hasw so wtU hov Is defend itjdf. By a cnifoas coiad*
dsae^ the vtelorj took plaee esoctly one himdrcd years after
the seloriioa of ОмАо I os prftacc-Mdiop (L a« la ITM).*
ГМ Bottoae, Nov Yotk, ISM, pp. 410^ 4U.
' Tho ByeMpavlMrf rthel Sfatawl Ea^pish oMtsr os swat^
OS Ih^ oaca mislsd ТшМА epprsirioai
Ш twiiinii la ths lirt iMlni of
[вв]
We will pitch, and we will gather the amy of our
might
From the land of Herzegorina and from the eoim-
trj roundi
And from the land of Bosnia and the Albanian
bound.
We will divide the host in three, and one of tboee
three powers
We will send unto white Not! that in ancient time
was ours ;
When we come to Ragusa we will choose a Tioeroy
of the tsar,
Ibrahim m j brother for pasha, that the wonder be
heard afar.
The second host shall travel by the fords along
the sea.
With food and shell and powder and the artillery.
That they may fight, nor to parley of any peace
delay.
There is not left a single youth about Cattiro Bay;
They are gone to Italy, Venice from the French*
men to defend.
And over the Black Mountain must the third army
wend.
To win the great Black Mountain and the flat coast
of the sea.
That by the coast we may water our horses easily.
Till we are come to CatUro. When at the town
we are.
There, friends, my nephew Mehmed shall be viee-
roy of the tsar;
[Ш]
A lord and pasha shall he be that the Latana
thereof may know.
It ia my very strong desire that thus should the
matter go.**
So Mahmud spake, and nimbly to his feet sprang
the Tisier;
Quickly he seised a writing-set and wrote a letter
clear:
To Petar the Bishop > in Ts^tinye the letter doth
he send:
^'Prince-Bishop of Montenegro, if thou still wilt
be my friend,
The champions of Brida in no way shalt thou re-
lieve.
Nor ia little Montenegro their families receive ;
For now in my displeasure the fiery winds shall fall
On the Pfperi and also on the Children of White
Paul
I shall bum everything with fire and capture great
and small.
And either I shall perish or drive out utteriy
The men of Brida to Ostrog the mount. And
harken yet to me !
Prince-Bishop of Montenegro, if thou shalt them
rrlieve;
If in Montenegro their families haply thou shalt
receive.
Into my own Albania will I betake me then,
80 that thou shalt not be able to give aid unto the
• PMar I, wto r«ltd ITSa-IMOi and lo wImb Каг^Јкк
•rUrftbaUsd.
[238]
The TUrk said not, ''If God peraiit" ; he tnutod
in his might;
God only giveth strength, and he will aid no Tuik
in fight.
When the letter reached the bishop, he looked
thereon and read;
And when he knew its import, the bitter tears ha
shed.
The chiefs of the Black Mountain, the choaen of
the land.
The heroes of Ts^tinje by chance were ready to
his hand.
Said the bishop:
''Ye Black Mountain mcBf
hath come a letter here,
From Mahmud, my dear brethren, the terrible
vizier.
He hath boasted he will scatter all Brida hither
and yon
To Mount Ostrog. Our Black Mountain youth,
with bribes they shall be won;
They will take the bribe of Mahmud, and be toor
quered by his fee.
And sell him the Black Mountain and the flat eoast
of the sea
Unto Ragusa. His will will he do ! But ye, dear
brothers, know
How the cursM Turks reproach the Serbs beeauie
of KdsoTO,
The woful fray; Vuk BrAnkorich betrayed the
nation there:
May he know eternal torment for his treaeon er-
erywhere!
Are any wounds more terrible or deadlier found
than when
An arrow out of heaven strikes down a king of
men?
There is not any arrow or any flying dart
Like unto such reproach and shame, to tear a hero's
heart
Your fathers fought their battles for faith and
freedom's sake.
That петег Turkish overlords should them for
bondmen take.
With men it were reproach and shamCt and with
God a mighty sin.
To forsake the men of Brida, that are our nearest
kin;
But, brethren, as you trust in God, to the Children
of Paul the White
Lei us go; the heroes of Brida we will succor in
the fight
Had not the Turks made themselves strong, when
here before they came.
Scatheless the church of Ts6tinye they had not
burned with flame.
Nor without a wound have ruined our monasierict
fair;
They had not known K6shchelitsa,* nor would thus
our entraik tear.** '
• Thm mmm e# a snwiUla la Meolcncfra
• "Ho IPMsr I| iMd Mffwij ratvrnsd fi
of MMiwiMis |lal1tt| si llM Inn^ oriN вМ% yotfftaitl^
[180]
When the Black Mountain youth had heard, to
the bishop then swore they,
That the champions of Brida they never would
betray,
But along with them would perish. When the
bishop had seen the sight
Of their good will and freedom, a letter did he
write
All in the fine-penned character; to Mahmud he
sent it on:
^'Mahmud Vizier! in Brida let the fatherless
alone !
Tear not the fierce wounds, pasha, that thy strong
right hand gave!
God will soon grant them, haply, that a vengeance
they will have.
And if thou grewest strong, pasha, when here thino
army came.
When scatheless the church of Ts6tinye thoa
bumedst with the flame.
And without a wound couldst ruin our mooastcriea
white —
When thou bumedst the church, then all our youth
in their live hearts didst thou smite.
As for burning our monasteries, sore didst thou
wound us there,
And through knowing K6shchclitsa our entrails
dost thou tear.**
• . . when he wu compelled to f«ee a TtorUsb lavasloa.
Ksra Mahimnid, Puha of ScAUri, and a deseendaat e# llis
renegade Montenegrin Prince SUnlcha. was lav^^lBg IN
Black Mountain, and set Are to the oMoasteiy at Ш1цЈе^ as
|ds pte d ecss s ofs bad done.** Miller, op. dLf pp^ Ш^ 401^
When tlmt the bishop*8 letter to the Tisier wm
brougiit.
And he knew thereof the purport, he gave it not a
thought.
But he stirred up all Albania and to level IMlyani
went;
0*er P6dgorit8a in Zlititsa the viner pitched his
tent.
And far and wide on trerj side his camp abroad
he spread.
And the гипммг rmn to the bishop. Then forth the
bishop sped
To the green Mount Vritijelka, and flred the can-
non of war,
And gathered somewhat of the host from Ts^tinye
and afar.
Then over the DIack Mountain he marched with one
and all.
Till he was come to the houses of the Children of
White Paul;
In the fair house of BAshkoTich the bishop spent
the night.
And when upon the morrow the dawn brake fair
and bright.
They crossed cold Zeta and they came where 8U-
tina water ran,
Before the church of the Leeches, Cosmas and
Damian;
And there the bishop made his camp, and there the
tents were pighL
And Mahmud saw it, and nearer diww fi
SpQib the dty white ;
Oyer Spuzh« against DeitUmesi, under the moun-
tain green.
There Vizier Mahmud made hie camp, and there
his tenit were seen.
When the Bishop of Ta6tinje saw it, then letters
fine he penned;
To the chiefs of the Black Mountain the letters
did he send.
But when the letters had crossed the hilb and to
the chiefs had come.
And the captains knew their purport, they kft
their wires at home ;
The shepherds left their flocks of sheep in the
upper grazing land.
And up they took the knapsack and the musket in
the hand;
They went o*er the Black Mountain ; in haste went
every man.
Asking of the prince. They found him where SUr
tina water ran,
Before the church of the Leeches, Coemas and
Damian.
There at the church was gathered a flerec and
stalwart host;
With the bishop scarce an anny, flf teen hundred at
the most,
But indeed of the little army that by the bishop
stood,
All the soldiers in it were blaiA wdvea of tbt
wood;
The generals of the army, wingM eagles were tb^ ;
[«S]
And tbc ymmg cniiignt along the lines were even
ЛЧ fAlcont gray.
' rii .Mnhnnid »cnt his herald his army through
that Raid:
**l\lio Imd^ the bishop to me alive or brings roe
the binhop's head.
To him shall be given forthwith all ZeU's level
land.
And three white cities in Zeta, and three packs of
gold in hand.**
Yakup Aga SerdArevich and Mehmed Kok6tliya
said
Boastingly they would take him alive or bring the
bishop*s head.
But the Turks said not, "^If God permit**; they
trusted in their might ;
God only giveth strength, and he will aid no Turk
in fight.
For three weeks stood the armies ; drew near the
time and the day ;
They yearned for fight^4m Thursday they got
ready for the fray ;
The Turks will strike on Friday. But the bishop,
the prudent man.
Before the church of the Leeches, G>smas and
Damian,
Gathered his host, and gave them the blessing of
God thereby.
And co mm e nd ed all the aimy to the care of tbt
most bi|pi,
Tlmt God for a great captain might with the van«
guard go^
[Ш)
And swiftlj all the annies of the Turk might ofcr>
throw.
And when on Friday morning the fair dawn ekarly
shone,
Then against the Montenegrins the Turks rushed
fiercely on.
The annies charged on the battlefield till thf mid-
dle of the day.
But by noon the Turks had turned their backs and
begun to run away.
It was worth the while of any man a bit thereby
to stand.
And watch Mahmud, the great risiery ike fast
across the land;
Hardly about the heavy lout once dared to tuin
his heady
Till to Spuzh, the milk-white city» in his terror ht
had flcdy
And to gay-decked MArtiniche. Of the Тткм
there died the flower,
Of all of their foot soldiers and champions in that
hour,
And pashas and siUktars, and heralds quick thai
ran.
And the agas and spahis, the remnant of Ushchup
and Albasan,
And likewise from Alesso and Durano on the
coast,
From Катау and from Oblom the heroes of thar
boast.
From Tiran and from Dibran, the chosen of tbt
town,
[«S5]
From Prixrend and from Vddiiirin, tlieir best that
had icni down ;
SjteitftA, MftroTitsa their fomnoet had lent there,
And the three good friends died with them; they
fair,
(Morats and Ocha, Pech and As supplied the war.
And GAsinje and VAtsinye, and the white town of
Bar;
And the men of Lyeshkopolye, the heroes of great
fame.
And the chiefs of Spush the Uoody, and the cham-
pions that came
Proas gay-decked P6dgoritsa to Visier Mahmud^s
side.
Were dead with the lords of Scutari. Mehmed
Kok6tliya died.
Likewise Yakup Serdirendi, who boastingly had
That they would take the bishop alive^ or else would
bring his head
AU of the visier^s army was slaughtered there and
then.
But of the bishop*s army there fell but eighteen
And many champions were come from JAovitsa
were a trusty three:
Kritsun Savo was one of them, from Byflitsa was
he;
And Stanko of Lyub6tin, ensigns worth standing
And Bct» Vo^TodidM— thtir boMT win Bot ditt
[tse]
God gare them haUtatioiis in the peace of para*
dise,
But to the rest he giveth health and mcrrimcBt like-
wise*
[ШЈ
BALLADS WITHOUT mSTORICAL
FOUNDATION
PREDRAG AND NENAD
A MOTHEm reared two tender tona, in a hungry
time and jear«
At her left and right. And Predng, that if to
eaj, ^Most Dear,**
She named the first with a fair name; also the le^
ond son
Nenad she namcd» that is to sajt 'Hhe Sudden«
Unlooked-for one.**
Predrag grew strong to wield the spear and the
steed to ride upon:
He ran awaj from his mother; unto the wood ha
spedf
To the hayduks and the outlaws. Nenad Us
mother bred;
Nenad forgot his brother« nor pondered him upon.
Nenad grew strong to wield the spear and the
steed to ride upon:
He ran away from his mother; unto the wood ht
sped.
To the hayduks and the outlaws. Time years
that life he led.
He was a hero fortunate and lucky amid the
spears;
His comrades made him their captain; he was their
chief three years.
But woe was him for his mother; to his conuadca
all he spake:
'^Comrades,** said he, 'Hiow woe is mo for ny
dear mother's sake!
[Ml]
Let us divide our treMuret and go to our mothers
dear.**
Gladlj hie comrmdet thereunto barkened and .
gaTe an ear.
When thej took out their treafuret, each man a
great oath sware.
For one eware bj hie brother and one b j hia titter
fair.
But when Nenad took hit treature, he tpake to hit
oomradet bj:
'ЧЗотп^ее, my brothers, brother nor titter at
aUhavel;
But — ao may the one God hear me! — may this
arm be withered and lean.
May the mane of the ttallion faQ, may rutt de->
Tour the taber keen.
If any of the treature I have kept from other
тепГ*
When they had divided the treature, he mounted
hit charger then.
Hie little and the nimble; to hit mother forth he
went.
And well did the receive him, and they featted an
eontent
When they tat down at dinner, taid Nenad to the
dame:
*Vy gentle mother, turely before all men ш it
thamei
I would tay thou wert not my mother, *fore Ood
were it not a tin.
Why didtt thou bear me no btother, or tatter of
my kmf
[lit]
When mj eomradee divided the treaeuret ^B^h »ма
among them eware
A great oath, by his brother or bj his sitter fair;
Butt mother, by myself I sware, and my weapons
fair to see.
And also in that hour by the good horse under
me*
**Spcak not foolishly, Nenad!** his mother
laughed in his face;
*^A brother indeed, and one *Most Dear,* have I
borne unto thy race.
But yesterday did I hear of him; with the hayduks
he abides
In the wood of GAreritsa, and chief of them all he
rides/*
Said Nenad:
"Mother* now make me new imi-
ment of the green;
Short shalt thou make it, fitting in the forest to be
seen,
That forth in the wood to find him in this hour I
may go.
And that thus may pass from my spirit the weight
of living woe.**
His mother dear bespake him: ^Speak not like
a fool,** said she;
*'Nenad, my son, in very truth thou wilt perish
miserably.**
But Nenad heard not his mother, nor wooU
barken what she said ;
Whate*er was pleasing in his sight, he did thai
thing instead.
He made himself new raiment; he wrought it of
the green;
And short he made it« fitting in the forest to be
He mounted the steed ; to his brother through the
forest did he go.
That thereby might pass from him his weight of
living woe.
He oiade no sound« he spat not« to the steed he
spake not at all;
When to Giirevitsa wood he came« like a gray hawk
did he call:
^гееп wood of GArevitsa« boldest thou hidden
in thee
The *Most Dear/ my true brother? — My mother^s
son is he I
Kcepcst thou not the hero that will bring my
brother to me?**
*Neath a green fir sat Predrag and drank the
yellow wine.
When he heard the Toice, he spake to his men:
^Hov comrades good of mine!
Go forth to the road in ambush ; for the champion
unknown
Ye shall wait; ye shall not rob him, nor shall ye
strike him down:
Bring him alive to me, hither. Whatever his line-
age shows.
He It kin to me.**
And thereupon full thirty lads
:«♦)
In three places were thej ambushed, in every place
ten men;
But none dared go before him, when he came to
the first ten.
To seize his steed; and forthwith they shot against
him then.
Nenad spake 'mid the arrows: ^^Yood^brethrcn,
shoot me not,
Lest woe for a brother smite you, such as drove me
to this spot."
The outlaws of the ambush, in peace they let him
past.
When he came on to the second ten, the shafts flew
fierce and fast.
Said Ncnad 'mid the arrows: '^Wood-brethren,
shoot me not.
Lest woe for a brother smite you, such as drove
me to this spot.
For sorrow of him hath smitten me." In peace
they let him past.
When he came to the third ambush, the shafts flew
fierce and fast.
Then Ncnad the young was angry; he smote the
thirty then.
With the edges of the saber he smote on the flrst
ten;
The second ten he trampled with the stallion as he
could;
And the third ten he scattered in his anger through
the wood.
Some of them in the forest, and some beside the
flood
[«45]
-^.
Out shouted unto Predrag : *'A plague on thee
alight!
A hero unknown in the forest hath slain thj
friends in fight.**
To his nimble feet leaped Predrag; he took his
arrows and bow;
Down to the road to the ambush behind a fir did
he go.
With an arrow from the staDion he smote down
Nenad the young.
In the heart was he hit ; he shrieked like a hawk ;
to the saddlebow be clung,
Orjing:
''Hero of the greenwood* maj thj right
hand wither and dry!
God slay thee аНте and the right hand the frrow
that IH fly.
May thy right eye be blasted wherewith thou hast
looked on me!
May woe for a brother smite thee, as ent it smote
Which droTc me wretchedly hither, m cnl ludc to
When Predrag heard, he questioned from the
flr tree on high:
*nVho art thou, wounded hero, and of what ract
art thour*
Said Nenad:
Toh! and wherefore thereof dost
thou question nowf
Dost thou seek a maiden in marriagcf la «laith
I win gif« thee none!
[«4в]
I am the hero Nenad» and mj mother liTeth akme*
And I have but one bom brother, a brother bom
•Most Dear/
And in a bitter hour I sought to find him here.
That thereby at last should рам away the wei|^t
of my living woe;
And I came on evil fortune and life*« veiy over-
throw/*
Prcdrag heard, and let fall the thafta; in bitter
terror he was ;
He ran to the wounded hero and laid him on the
grass:
^Is it thou, my brother Nenad? I am Predrag,
thy brother dear.
Canst thou mend of the wound? My raiment I
will rend in pieces here.
And heal thee well, and bandage thee with the
strips of linen fine.**
And the wounded Nenad answered:
•as it
thou, brother mine?
Glory to God the highest, that I have looked on
thee.
The burden of my living woe is passed away from
me.
I cannot mend, but of my hurt bloodguiltleis
mayst thou be!**
So Nenad spake, and thereupon forth his strong
spirit went.
And Predrag lifted up his voioe with a miserabk
lament:
[Ш]
''Ah, Ncnad« my fair splendid sun, early for me
didst thou rise«
And early set ! Ah, basil flower of my green para-
dise«
Early didst thou bloom« and early didst thou
wither here for mef
From the scabbard at his girdle he wrenched
the poniard free ;
Right through his heart he plunged it. The Uood
ran swift and red ;
Down brother fell by brother: the dead lay with
the dead.
[Ш]
SISTER AND BROTHER
NiNB dear sons and a daughter, a mother bore and
bred;
She reared them up till thcj were grown and tht
sons were ready to wed.
And the maiden ripe for marriage« And etraight-
waj asked for her
Three suitors, a ban, and a marshal, and a nei^i-
bor villager.
To the neighbor the mother would give her, but
her brethren to the man
From over sea would give her. Thej said to her;
'^Marry the ban,
The great lord from beyond the sea. In every
month of the year
We will come, and every week in the month, to tee
thee, sister dear.**
The sister obeyed them, and the ban from over
sea she wed«
But behold a marvel ! God's pestilence stnidc her
nine brethren dead.
And the solitary mother was left So passed three
years.
In her grief little Yflitsa the sister mourned with
tears:
'*Dear God, a mighty marvel I What great sin
have I done
To my brethren, that of all of them conieth to me
not one?**
The wives of her lord*s brethren reviled her
sharp enow:
*Ч> wife of our lords* brother, * wanton one art
thou.
Hateful unto thj brethren now hast thou oome to
be.
That not one of thj brethren comes here to Tisii
thee."
And little sister Y^litsa wept much both day
and night;
But the dear God, in mercj, took pity on her
plight,
And sent forthwith two angels:
*43odown, je
angels of mine.
To the white tomb of Yovan, the youngest of the
nine;
Breathe light upon him with your breath; from
the tomb frame him a steed ;
From the earth make cakes for the festival all
ready to hu need;
Of his shroud make gifts, and get him in readiness
to appear
Upon his wedding visit at the house of his sister
dear.**
To the white tomb of Yovan the angeb of God
made speed;
Tliey breathed upon him with their breath; from
the tomb they framed him a steed.
And cakes from the earth for the festival all ready
to his need;
Of his shroud they made gifts, and 'got him in
readiness to appear
[MO]
Upon hie wedding visit at the houae of hie tietcr
dear.
Swiftly went Yovan the feeble. When the home
before him laj
His sister saw, and to meet him came forth a little
waj;
And O her tears fell bitter, all for her sorrow'a
sake!
Thej spread their arms, and each other kissed, and
sister to brother spake:
**Did ye not promise, brother, when ye gate me
in marriage here.
That ye would come to see me every month in the
year.
And every week in every month, to visit your sister
dear?
But ye never came to see me, though three full
years have fled.''
And little Y^litsa further unto her brother said:
**Why hast thou grown so dark, brother? Tis as
though beneath the sod
Thou hadst been.** Said Yovan the feeble: **Be
still, as thou lovest God.
A hard constraint is on me. I have wedded eight
brothers well.
And served eight sisters by marriage; and, sister«
it befeU
That, when my brothen were married, we made
nine houses white.
Therefore, ikiy little sister, am I grown as black ae
night**
[Ml]
And little sister Ytiitsa got rauly. She faeh-
ioned then
Giftn for her brrthnMi and sisters ; silken shirts for
the men
She made, and, for her sisters, fair rings and brace-
lets fair.
And ever Yovan her brother besought her strongly
there:
««Dear little sister Yflitsa, I prithee go not
home.
Till on their wedding visit thj brethren to thee
come.**
But Yclitsa would not turn back ; her fair gifts
she prepared.
Thence Yovan started homeward, and his sister
with him fared.
When thcj were come to tlieir home again, a white
church stood therebj.
Said Yoran the feeble:
''Sister, I prithee tarry
nigh,
Untfl I go l>chind the church ; for here at the mar-
rying
Of the fourth of our eight brethren, I lost my
golden ring.
Let me go to seek it, sister.**
To his tomb went
Yovan straight.
And little sister Yclitsa for Yovan there did wait.
8ht waited and sought him« Nigh the church a
fresh grave she espied;
[tM]
Suddenly she knew in sorrow thai Yoran th« weak
had died.
Quickly elic went to the white house. When she
was come to the hall.
In the hollow rooms of the white house she heard
a cuckoo call.
Nay, it was not a cuckoo blue, but her mother cry-
ing sore.
Y^litsa lifted up her voice as she came unto the
door:
**Open the door, poor mother." Said the mother
thereunto:
**Get hence, thou pestilence of God, nine tons
of mine that slew!
Their ancient mother, also, wilt thou smite ttaik
and dead?'*
And little sister Yflitsa lifted her Toiec and
said:
''Poor mother, open now the door! No pesti-
lence is here;
It is only little Y^litsa, and she is thy daughter
dear."
She opened the door. Each other they clasped
their arms around.
Wailing like cuckoos. Mother and child fell dead
upon the ground.
[«58]
MUYO AND AUYA
If mro and Alija were brothers, and noblj did thej
liTe;
Their тегЈ steeds and armor to each other would
they give.
Thej came unto a turbid lake, and a duck went
swimming bj.
With golden wings ; and Mujo let his graj falcon
And Alija a tame lanneret Them happed the
duck to slay.
Said Muyo: «*The falcon took it** But Aliya
said, ••Nay.
'Twas the lanneret**
Then was Muyo sore cast
down in that place.
They seated them *neath a green fir to drink the
wine apace.
And sleep and the wine overcame them« They
were seen of three vilas ^ white.
Then said the oldest:
**Here be now two nobk
heroes of fight
I win give an hundred sequins to whomsoerer of
you
Shall make the heroes qoarrd*"
Then forth the
youngest flew
tSieaslai^^ ISb Bvt here the vflss sssss to ks is^f
[154]
On her white wings, and settled on the ground by
Muyo's head;
And over face and forehead the bitter tears she
shed.
Burned Muyo's face; as he were mad, he leaped
at his brother's side.
Wlien he looked, he saw the damsel ; to his brother
then he cried:
** Arise now, Alija, mj brother! Let us hasten
home awaj."
Up leaped the Turk: ^^Nay, brother, now may a
plague thee slay !
Now hast thou got two damsels, but there is none
for me/' ^
Muyo was grieved; forth from his belt he
wrenched the dagger free,
And there smote Aliya to the heart He feD on
the green grass;
But Mujo seized the milk-white steed, and threw
behind the lass;
And unto his own homestead o'er the mountain did
he ride.
Neighed the black steed of Aliya, and the wounded
hero cried:
*4> Muyo, brother and kinsman ! turn back upon
the way ;
Take the black steed, lest masterless on the moun-
tain side it neigh^
1 '^uyo iiiiist havebeoi married— or did R sssss Is Al^
thst two dsmids were sUndlng by МцуоГ (Note by
Xsr4Jkh.)
[tee]
But thj fame thall be forerer, м though thou
liAcUt blinded thine ejes.**
Mujo turned back unto him» and took the steed
likewiie.
And threw the girl thereon. Асгом the moun-
tains did they pass ;
And when about the middle of the joumej home
he was.
He came upon a raven with the right wing gone
from the side;
And unto the black raven he raised his voice and
cried:
**Ho, raven! Without the black right wing,
prithee how dost thou fare?**
And with a wail the raven gave answer to him
there:
''Without my wing is it with me as without a
brother to be ;
As without Aliya, Muyo, is it even now with thee.**
Said the Turk to himself: ''Ah, Muyo, alas for
thy might this day!
If even the birds reproach me, what will my breth-
ren say?**
Said the vila to him: "Muyo, return on thy
track again.
Perehanre I might heal thy brother; I was once a
healer of men."
Muyo turned hack upon the track. When at
the lake they were.
He looked behhid at the Uack steed, but the
maiden was not there.
Cteej
By hie friend he knelt, but the spirit hnd bftsted
to depart;
When he saw, he drew hit dagger and thruii ft
through hb heart.
1Ш1
THE MIRACLE OF ST. NICHOLAS
Dbab God, great marvel is it umcen wonders to
behold!
In St Paul's white monastery were tables of the
gold.
And all the saints in order were seated. At the
head
Was the Thunderer Elijah ; where the midst of the
board was spread.
Were Mari.va and Sava; at the bottom of the
board
Were Holy Friday and Sunday. To the glory
of OiriMt the Lord
To drink, and liegin the festival, St. Nicholas
stood up,
But he fell asleep in a little and in slumber dnфped
the cup.
It fell on the golden table, but broke not, nor
spilled the wine.
Elijah then rebuked him :
**Nicholas, brother mine.
We hare not slumbered, brother, though we drank
cool wine ere now.
Nor dropped cups from our fingers. Why dost
thou slumber воГ*
Said St Nicholas:
''Elijah the Thunderer, let be I
I doecd my eyes for a little and a strange dream
to
[US]
There were three hundred eAIoyen ^ tet мЗ on the
blue sea,
And thej bore sacrificial gif te to the famiras Holy
Height
Of Athoe; yellow wax they bore and also incense
white.
The wind arose among the clouds ; the waves of the
sea it smote.
To drown three hundred dLloyers. But they
cried as from one throat:
'Aid us, God and St. Nicholas! Come, whererer
thou mayst beP
And I aided them and the dLloyers came home
again from sea;
Safe home came the three hundred, and O their
hearts were light!
They bore the sacrificial gifts unto the Holy
Height
Of Athos ; yellow wax they bore and white inoense
as well.
At that time did I slumber, and the cup from my
fingers fell."
1 Monks of the Oteek dnuch.
[««9]
THE SERPENT BRIDEGROOM
I wfLL tell you a marvel, brethren« how the King
of Budim was wed,
And nine f uU jean paMed over, yet there wai no
child to his bed.
Forth issued King Milutin ; he went to the forest*
close;
But God and fortune granted him not to strike the
stags and does.
And his thirst was great; to a chillj spring Mi*
lutin went his waj,
And drank the chillj water. Then down *neath a
fir he laj.
Tlree rilas of the hill came then, therebj their
thirst to slake.
And gossip bj the water; and the eldest of them
spake:
''Harken, belovU daughters! Haiken me now,
and hear!
Knee the King of Budim married, now is it full
nine jear;
And jet no child of his heart hath he to cherish and
hoU dear.**
Said the rik also: •%){ anj herb doth either
of jou know,
Bj the virtue whereof, hereafter, his wife with
chiU shall gor
But the jounger twain said nothing. Onlj the
eldest said:
^'If the king knew all mj knowledge, be wouU
gather everj maid
Iteo]
In Budim, and before them the dry goU would he
set,
Until their hands should have woren thereof a
splendid net.
Down on the quiet Danube, he would throw the
fair net in.
In it, a great fish would he take; and golden is
everj fin.
He would take the right fin from it ; then back the
fish would he throw.
And give the fin to the queen to eat. Straightway
with child would she go.**
But King Milutin saw them, and heard whatc'er
was said;
And he went to the town of Budim and gathered
every maid
In Budim, and before them the good dry gold he
set,
Until their hands had woven thereof a splendid
net.
Down on the quiet Danube he threw the fair net
in.
In it he took a mighty fish, and golden was every
fin.
He took the right fin from it; and back the fish
did he throw ;
He gave the fin to his queen to eat Straightway
with child did she gow
A year she carried her burden ; and then the time
came on
Of the bringing forth of the kingly diild, but she
did not bear a son.
[«61 ]
Nay, A fierce eerpcnt was it! On the earth when
it did faU,
Straightway the tcrpent crept away through a
crevice in the wall.
And straight the queen departed ; unto the king she
spake:
^For the child of thy heart, it is hard, O king,
to be merry for his sake.
No son but a serpent! What time on the earth
the snake did fall.
Forthwith the serpent crept away through a crer-
ice in the wall.**
Then said the king: **Now glory to God for
his gift*s sake.**—
ТЋеп seren years passed orer. From the wall the
serpent spiJce:
^'Wherefore, thou King of Budim, findcst thou no
bride for me?**
Sore was Milutin troubled, but at length aloud
said he:
^'My serpent, my evil offspring, who will give a
maid to a snake?**
But thus to him the serpent raised up his voice and
spake:
**My father, the King of Budim, do thou saddle
Swallow, and wend
To the tsar. He will give thee a maid for me in
the city of Pritrend.**
When the King of Budim heard it, he saddled
Swallow, the steed ;
l%crt wtat unto a hero, a hero then indeed!
He came to the citj of Priirend. When he came
'neath the tsar's tower.
The tsar looked down upon him» and saw him in
that hour.
The tsar came down unto him« and in the open
square
The heroes spread out wide their arms, and kissed
each other there.
And each asked how fared the other. Тће tsar
the king did lead
To the palace ; to the new stable the serranta took
the steed.
For three white dajs with jellow wine their thint
the kings did slake,
Till they had U*en their fill thereof, and then tha
brandj spake.
Sore was the King of Budim by his embassy dis-
tressed.
The Tsar of Prizrcnd saw it, and thus the king ad-
dressed :
'*I conjure thee, King of Budim; what tnnibk
troubles thee.
That thou art distressed in spirit before my lords
and me?'*
The king to the tsar spake likewise:
HO tsar
of Prizrend, hear!
When I married, no son of my heart was bom for
the space of full nine year.
When that tiieir term was over, and the nine year
coursa was run.
To me was bom a serpent instead of a little too;
[«68]
And, at its birth« unto the earth did the fierce
aerpent fall.
And forthwith the serpent crept away through a
crevice in the wall.
When seven jcars were over, therefrom did the
serpent call:
^Wherefore, thou King of Budiniv dost thoo find
no bride for mc?*
And unto the fierce serpent I answervd finally:
4fy serpent, mj evil ofTspring, who will give a
maid to a snake?*
But thereupon the serpent lifted his voice and
spake:
"* 'Mj father, the King of Budim, do thou saddle
Swallow and wend
To the titar. lie will give thee a maid for me in
the citj of Prixrend.*
^'And tsar, a wretch am I in this. But I la-
bored and came from afar.**
And unto the king in answer outspake at last
the tsar:
'^Heamt thou. King of Budim P To Budim for
me thou shalt go.
There »halt thou ask the serpent in the wall,
whether or no
He win lead the wooers from Budim to Prisrend
through the land,
80 that no sun shall warm them, nor dew upon
tliero stand ■
If in mch wiM the serpent will venture them to
[164]
Then for a bride to the terpeat I will give the
maid indeed.*'
When the King of Budim heard it, foith was
steed Swallow led.
He threw himself on the back of the steed« and
forth awaj he sped.
Over the level country, like a star in the lucid skj.
And the king thought within him, when Budim ha
came nigh:
''Alas! In the name of God the One, now
whither shall I wend.
To give to the serpent in the wall the greetings
the tsar doth sendP**
Before the gates of Budim but a little space was
he.
Spake the serpent: ''My father, gave the tsar Us
maiden unto meP**
Said the king:
"Mj evil offspring, if thou dar-
est, snake, to wend
With the crowd of gaj-clad wooers from Budim
to Prizrend,
So that no sun shall warm them, nor dew upon
them stand.
The tsar will lightlj surrender the maiden to thy
hand.
But if the crowd of wooers thou wilt not veniovs
to lead.
No maiden of his whatever will the tsar give tliee
indeed.**
But the serpent said:
[«»]
''The irooen» now get
them rcadj to hand.
We will go hence for the maiden ; I will lead them
through the land»
So that no sun shall warm them, nor dew upon them
stand.**
Thej gathered a host of wooers, a thousand
with all speed;
Thej came to the king's courtyard. They
brought forth Swallow the steed;
Alone in the courtyard stood the steed. Then the
quick heralds cried:
''Make ready« gay-clad wooers! Make ready*
groom of the bride Г*
And when in the wall's crevice the serpent heard
the call,
Forthwith crawled down the serpent from the crev-
ice in the wall;
By the knee he gripped the charger; on the saddle
he coiled and lay.
Then out through Budim the city they hastened
on their way.
Fh>m Budim to Prizrend a dark blue cloud drave
o'er them through the land,
So that no sun could warm them, nor dew upon
them stand.
When they came to Prizrend, they led their steeds
through the tsar's courtyard there;
But the serpent guided not Swallow that went
alone through the square.
Gloriously the tsar welcomed them with gifts that
splendid indeed,
[«66)
'
To trtry wooer a •hut of silk, to the groom a hawk
and a liecdy
And moreover the maiden of Prizrend* Then tht
quick heralds cried:
^Маке ready, wooers, and groomsman, and
bringer of the bride!
Make ready, maiden of Prixrend! It is time for
us to ride."
Тће wooers and the maiden, they mounted one
and all.
When the serpent heard it, down he came from
the creyice in the wall ;
He gripped the charger by the knee; on the sad*
die he coiled and lay.
Then out through Prizrend the city they hastened
on their way,
But evermore above them drave on the dark Uue
cloud.
The wooers spurred their horses, until they tnun-
pled proud;
And thereupon the serpent on Swallow that did
ride.
He made the charger trample on the pavement in
his pride*
He goaded him so fiercely, that the steed from end
to end
Hath ruined all the pavement in the city of Fri^
. rend.
Plague strike on itt In twelve full years the ma-
sons scarce will mend
The damage that upon that time unto the tsar
was done.
[Ш]
And mtiTilj and with good kcart to Budim thej
were gOOCf
And anew the marriage festival thej held a Ml
week more.
And »olcmniicd it dulj until the rites were o*er.
Then each returned unto the house, and the ser-
pent to the wall,
And the king remained a season within the council-
hall.
Time came to bring together the bridegroom
and tlie bride.
Thej brougiit her to the tower; to the highest
room thej hied ;
Thej left her in the highest room. At the middle
of the night
There was a sound of voices in the chamber in the
height ;
And the Ladj Queen in the tower stole on from
floor to floor,
Till she reached the highest storj ; then she opened
the chamber door.
What saw she in the chamber? A mightj marvel
therein !
On a cushion in the chamber, there laj a Mrpent-
skin;
On the pillow a good hero in slumber deep was
laid;
And the damsel out of Priirend, he held the lovelj
maid.
A mother has joj of her diildren. She stole the
serpent-skin;
[tes]
She bore it to the liTuig fire, and twiftlj thicw it
in.
To the king, her lord and maetett the ran forth
hastily :
^O king, upon this hour it is well with thee and
me!
I went to the high chamber, and opened the door.
Therein
On a cushion in the chamber there laj a serpent-
skin;
On the pillow a good hero in slumber deep was
laid;
The damsel out of Prisrend, he held the lovelj
maid.
And forthwith from the chamber I stole the ser^
pent-skin,
And took it to the living fire, and quicklj threw
it in.**
**What is this, wife? Maj the serpent now
seize thee and devour!**
And thej hastened forth together to the sum-
mit of the tower.
What saw thej? A might j manrel! On the pil-
low a hero dead;
The maid of Prizrcnd embraced him. She lifted
her voice and said:
''Alas ! In the name of the one God, I am wid-
owed and alone!
My mother, for me — God slay thee! — little cnoiw
hast thou done.
And this woe hast thou brought upon thyself.**
So the mother lost her son.
[«891
W« pwt jott the toDg, but God on high gives
hedth unto the wiw. ^
Our f alhcn lied imlo ue, and we repent their lies«
[troj
V
THE WIFE OF HASAN AGA *
What shows white in the wood? A flock of swani
or a bank of snow?
Swans would have flown and a snow bank would
have melted long ago.
It is not snow, nor a milk-white swan, but Hasan
Aga's tent;
Sore wounded was he. His mother and sister to
him went;
For verj shame his wife came not.' When his
wounds were healed aright,
iThis poem is bued on the life of tbe Mohammedan
Serbs. It is noteworthy not only from its own Utermry
merit, but from being the first of tlie Senrtan ballads to be*
come known to western Europe, and, atiore all, from the
magnlflcent translation of it by Goethe. It was flrst printed
by the Abate Alberto ForUs, in hU Viaygio <• DolaMsk,
Venice, 1774, with an accompanying ItMian translation.
Fortis probably derived the ballad from a manuscript that
is still preserved. In the next year, 177Д, there appeared
a German translation of a portion of Portls*s work (ia-
eluding this ballad) Z>i> Sitttn d«f МоИпскФШ тш9 d«»
IfalUnUchen ilb4r§«tzt, Bern, 1765. Goethe based his own
work, which was prolmbly executed in this same year, IT7S,
on this German translation, but apparently also referred to
Fortis's original work, with iU edition of the original text
His poem was first printed in Herdcr*s VolksK^dtr, In 177«.
KarAJich reprinted this ballad from the text of Fortia, but
with a changed orthography and several conjectural emenda-
tions. Finally, the. manuscript to whidi Fortis was In-
debted was pubUshed by Miklotich In 188S, at Vienna* along
with a full discuttion of the different questions c o n ne rti nd
with the poem (8iUumg$b4rieht0 d«r pkU.'hUtwr. ClaMi 4$f
kaii0rL AkaA, d. W., ciii, 413^490).
> **The wife coald not even in this case ov e rcoeae her drend
of meeting a man. A girl Is praised In a folkaong as
Ing never seen a male being.* " Mikloildw p. 4Ж
[«71]
He charged hie faithful wife
^'ComeMt
into mj tight;
Await me петсг» woiiiaa» mj fair white house
within ; '
Nor jet do thou abide me in the houses of mj kin.**
When the faithful woman heard it, tad was her
heart indeed*
Suddenly from the house she heard the trampling
of the steed*
To the window she ran« to break her neck bj leap-
ing down from the tower;
But the daughters of Hasan Aga pursued her in
that hour:
**Retum to us, dear mother! Our father comes
not,** said thej ;
4t is thj brother, our uncle, Pbt6roTidi the
Bej,**
The wife of Hasan Aga, to her brother's breast
she came:
""Ah, brother, from my children fire doth he send
me! It is shame!**
Naught said the bej ; in his silken pouch forth*
with his hand he thrust
For a bill of divorce tliat granted her her dower
held in trust,>
And bade her go to her mother. When the pur>
port thereof she wist.
t Bjr tlw TMkMi la« a SM« of mmtf to |iiimIii(I la a
««ма at her aMrrtefe brfort the cadit Oito
■i CMS hw IB onvereo sy aer
[«7«1
Forthwith upon the fordiMid her two fair mmis
she kissed,
And on their roej cheeks ihe kieaed her littk
daughters twain.
But the little son in the cradle «he could not leave
for pain.
Her brother took the ladj's hand ; and hard it was
to lead
That wretched woman from her babe« but he threw
her on the steed;
He brought her unto the white house, and theiw
he took her in.
A little while, but scarce a week, she stajed among
her kin.
Good is the matron's parentage, men seek her in
marriage withal;
But the great Cadi of Imoski desires her most of
all.
^So should I not desire it,** imploringlj she
said.
'^Brother, I prithee, give me not to anj to be wed,
That mj heart break not with looking on mj diil*
drcn motherless."
But the bej no whit he cared at all becanse of
her distress;
To the great Cadi of Imoski he will give her to
be wed.
Still the matron with her brother most miserdilj
she pled.
That he a milk-white letter to the cadi ehooU pre*
pare.
And send it to the cadi:
С«в]
**Tlie mAtnm > grceU
thee fair, i
And implores thee: when that thou hast brought
the wooers from етегу side,
And when thou coniest to her white house,' do thou
bring a veil for the bride.
That she see not bj the aga's house her children
motherless."
When the letter came to the cadi, with pomp
I and lordliness
He gathered manj wooers; ah, noblj did thej
come!
And splendidly the wooers thej brought the fair
bride home!
But when thej were by the aga*s house, forth
looked her daughters fair.
And her two sons came before her, and spoke to
their mother there:
^'Return with us, dear mother, to eat with us
again Г'
When the wife of Hasan Aga heard, she spake to
the groomsman then :
**Brother in God, my groomsman, stop the
I steeds, of gentleness.
By my house, that I may give fair gifts to my
children motherless.**
They checked the steeds at the house for her.
She gave her diildren gifts ;
To either son a gilded knife, to her daughters fair
long shifts,
t nfsidcii* In the origfiudr
I ШТШ plmst WM InMficd by Ksr^Jkk
To her babe in the cradle a garment in a bit of
linen tied.^
When Hasan Aga saw it, to his two sons he cried:
^Hither« m J children motherkst i and from her
stand apart!
Pitj and mercy hath she none within her stony
heart r*
She heard. Her face smote on the ground in
the deep of her distress.
And her soul departed as she saw her childrai
motherless.
1 Tliat it, wnpped vp, to be savedv for a later
he li grown vp. But the sense of this line end the preecdiaf
li Teiy doubtful. See Jaglch. hi ^геМе /«r fleeMh« PMW-
ogi§, Ж, вМ» eeo.
[ЈПв]
. A
ТМ MMOWIR WWL М O
PH W TIM 1
МТиМШО TO TM LMIi
TMlLArrDATin
NOM-MCtlPT OP 0\
' ^^^-.
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