An Anthology of Jugoslav Poetry; Serbian Lyrics Part 8

For to-day death's summons waits on Damian.

Half thy face veil over, lovely maiden!"

Hardly the prophetic words were utter'd, Ere a gun was heard from the green forest; Damian, wounded, fell amidst the Kolo-- Damian fell, and thus his love address'd him: "O my Damian! O my sun of spring time!

Wherefore, wherefore, didst thou s.h.i.+ne so brightly, Thus so soon to sink behind the mountain?"

"My beloved! O thou rose all beauteous!

Wherefore didst thou bloom so fair, so lovely, And I never can enjoy, nor wear thee?"

S. J. B.

XLV

ELEGY

Konda died--his mother's only offspring.

O what grief was hers the youth to bury Far away from his own natural dwelling, So she bore him to a verdant garden, And 'neath pomegranate trees interr'd him.

Every, every day she wandered thither: "Doth the earth, sweet son, lie heavy on thee?

Heavy are the planks of maple round thee?"

From his grave the voice of Konda answers: "Lightly presses the green earth upon me, Lightly press the planks of maple round me.

Heavy is the virgins' malediction; When they sigh, their sighs reach G.o.d's high presence; When they curse, the world begins to tremble; When they weep, even G.o.d is touch'd with pity."

S. J. B.

XLVI

INQUIRY

A maiden sat on th' ocean sh.o.r.e, And held this converse with herself: "O G.o.d of goodness and of love!

What's broader than the mighty sea, And what is longer than the field, And what is swifter than the steed, What sweeter than the honey dew, What dearer than a brother is?"

A fish thus answer'd from the sea: "O maid! thou art a foolish girl.

And heaven is broader than the sea; The sea is longer than the field; The eye is swifter than the steed; Sugar more sweet than honey dew; Dearer than brother is thy love."

S.J.B.

XLVII

DOUBT

Three young travellers travell'd forth to travel: On their travels met a lovely maiden: Each will give the lovely maiden a present: One presents her with a fresh-pluck'd apple: One presents her with _bosiljak_[21] flowering: One a gold ring for the maiden's finger.

He who gave the maiden the _bosiljak_ Said, "The maid is mine--I claim the maiden."

He who gave the maid the fresh-pluck'd apple Said, "The maid is _mine_--I claim the maiden."

He who gave the gold ring to the maiden Said, "We'll go and seek the Judge together: He shall say to whom belongs the maiden."

So they went and sought the Judge's presence: "Judge, thou honourable, judge between us: We three travell'd forth together, And we met a maiden in our travels, And we gave her--gave her each a present: One of us a green and fresh-pluck'd apple: One presented her _bosiljak_ flowering; And the third a gold ring for her finger:-- Now decide to whom belongs the maiden."

Thus the honourable judge decided: "We present _bosiljak_ for its odour: As a pledge of love we give an apple: But to give a ring is a betrothing;-- He who gave the ring must have the maiden."

S. J. B.

XLVIII

THE SULTANESS

Listen! I hear a cry, a cry!

The bells are ringing l.u.s.tily; And the hens are cackling all in riot.

No! no! no! the bells are quiet; The hens at rest with one another: 'Tis the sister calls the brother: "Brother! I am a Moslem slave!

Tear me from my Turkish grave.

Small the price which sets me free: Of pearls two measures--of gold but three."

In vain she calls her brother.--'O no!

My treasures to my apparel go: The gold my horse's bridle must deck: My pearls must grace my maiden's neck; Must buy a kiss--must buy a kiss.'

The maid her brother answer'd with this: "I am no slave! I am no less Than the sultan's chosen sultaness."

S. J. B.

XLIX

BETROTHING

Here there is a maiden, Young, and yet a virgin: Give her then a husband, Or give us the maiden, And we will betroth her To Ivan the student.

He's our parson's nephew-- He has art to write[22] on Pinions of the eagle.

What shall be his subject?

What--but bright-eyed maidens And the brows of heroes?

S. J. B.

L