An Anthology of Jugoslav Poetry; Serbian Lyrics Part 19

Cold be his heart as ice is cold."

"As cold as the sun o'er the corn-fields, mother!"

"May his face be black before all men!"

"As black as the snow on the mountains, mother!"

"May he be hanged!--Dost hear, my daughter!"

"But hanged upon my neck, dear mother!"

"From grievous wounds he then shall suffer!"

"Let my own teeth, then, cause them, mother!"

"May the wild torrent take him, daughter!"

"And bring him home to me, my mother!"

J. W. W.

CV

THE NICEST FLOWER IN THE WORLD

A yellow orange by the sea Vaunted much his beauty, This boast the red, round apple heard, Scolded the orange for his word, "See my superiority!"

The apple's boast the meadow heard, The meadow rich beflowered: "Boast not, thou smooth, round apple red, But see how I am carpeted, So green and richly dowered!"

The meadow's boast the maiden heard: "Deem'st flowery mead, so great thy worth!

Though sweetly thou art sure bedight, Yet still I am the sweetest sight, That can be found in all the earth."

These vaunts heard all a daring youth: "This maid, I see she is in truth, She is by far the sweetest flower That can be found in all the earth.

That orange, I will bring it down, That apple-tree, I'll root it up, That meadow's flowers shall all be mown, And thou, fair maid, shalt be mine own!"

J. W. W.

CVI

THE PRETTY TOMB

"Wait, my girl, I want to talk, Though my talk will wound thee!"

"Speak, O Youth; I'll listen, speak!

Even though thou wound me"

"Well, I am about to die."

"Die! Where will they bury thee?"

"I pray to rest upon thy breast."

"Ah! blind and foolish is thy prayer!

That were unseemly cemet'ry.

My bosom is no graveyard lone, An apple orchard is my breast Where fruits do ripen, birds do rest!"

J. W. W.

CVII

TODA AND HER FATE

Many youths paid court to Toda, She, the blithesome shepherd girl; So with mirthful laugh she cried: "The youth on whom my apple falls, 'Tis henceforth he my heart enthralls."

Then Toda threw her apple red, Which fell upon a grey-haired head.

Toda had not wished such love, So sent him off to draw her water.

She sent him thus unto the river, That no more trouble he might give her!

But safely back the old man came, Brought the water, smiled and spake: "O love me, Toda, love me, Toda."

Toda did not want to love him, So sent him off to cut down branches, Not caring should they fall upon him; But safely back the old man came, Brought the wood, and smiled and spake: "O love me, Toda, little Toda!"

Toda did not want to love him, So sent him to the war to fight, Not caring what might be his plight: But safely back the old man came, Back from the war, and spake the same: "O love me, Toda, Toda, love me!

That which must be, let it be."

J. W. W.

CVIII

THE VILA

Under the clouds there's nought to me So handsome as a falcon bird.

A falcon I did wish to be, And my wish by G.o.d was heard.

High to the clouds I flew, And over the clouds too!

Then to a nut-tree I shot down.

Under the tree a vila sleeping!

Or else some being strange to me!

Oh, G.o.d Himself, and He alone, can say, But she was fairer than the fairest summer day.

J. W. W.

CIX

THREE ROSES

Red Sun! too quickly art thou hasting down; A little while prolong thy stay, Smile from thy evening gate on me, Till I've adorned with roses three-- Roses of silk in purest gold-- My darling's garment that I hold: The first rose, a rose for my own country dear, The second, a rose for sweet mother, The third, the rose of my own bridal crown.

O stay, glad Sun! too quickly art thou going down!