An Anthology of Jugoslav Poetry; Serbian Lyrics Part 2

S. J. B.

XI

THE KNITTER

The maiden sat upon the hill, Upon the hill and far away, Her fingers wove a silken cord, And thus I heard the maiden say: "O with what joy, what ready will, If some fond youth, some youth adored, Might wear thee, should I weave thee now!

The finest gold I'd interblend, The richest pearls as white as snow.

But if I knew, my silken friend, That an old man[11] should wear thee, I The coa.r.s.est worsted would inweave, Thy finest silk for dog-gra.s.s leave, And all thy knots with nettles tie."

XII

ROYAL CONVERSE

The king from the queen an answer craves; "How shall we now employ our slaves?"

The maidens in fine embroidery, The widows shall spin flax-yarn for me, And the men shall dig in the fields for thee.

The king from the queen an answer craves, "How shall we, lady, feed our slaves?"

The maidens shall have the honey-comb sweet, The widows shall feed on the finest wheat, And the men of maize-meal bread shall eat.

The king from the queen an answer craves; "Where for the night shall rest our slaves?"

The maidens shall sleep in the chambers high, The widows on mattress'd beds shall lie, And the men on the nettles under the sky.

S. J. B.

XIII

ROSA

Under roses slept the maiden Rosa, And a rose fell down and waken'd Rosa; To the flower-rose, said the maiden Rosa-- "Rose of mine! O fall, not on the maiden, I am in no tune of soul to love thee, For a heavy grief o'erwhelms my spirit; Youth would have me--but old age hath won me.

An old bridegroom is a worthless maple; When the wind is up it faints and trembles; When the rain descends, decay decays it: But a young bride, is a roselet budding; When the wind is up, its fair leaves open, When the rain descends, it shines in beauty,-- When the sun comes forth, it smiles and glories."

S. J. B.

XIV

THE MAIDEN AND THE SUN

A maiden proudly thus the sun accosted: "Sun! I am fairer far than thou,--far fairer; Fairer than is thy sister[12] or thy brethren,-- Fairer than yon bright moon at midnight shining, Fairer than yon gay star in heav'n's arch twinkling, That star, all other stars preceding proudly, As walks before his sheep the careful shepherd."

The sun complain'd to G.o.d of such an insult: "What shall be done with this presumptuous maiden?"

And to the sun G.o.d gave a speedy answer: "Thou glorious Sun! thou my beloved daughter![13]

Be joyous yet! say, why art thou dejected?

Wilt thou reward the maiden for her folly-- Shine on, and burn the maiden's snowy forehead.

But I a gloomier dowry yet will give her; Evil to her shall be her husband's brother; Evil to her shall be her husband's father.

Then shall she think upon the affront she gave thee."

S. J. B.

XV

THE MAIDEN'S WISH

If I had, ah Laso!

All the emp'ror's treasures, Well I know, ah Laso!

What with these I'd purchase; I would buy, ah Laso!

Garden on the Sava; Well I know, ah Laso!

What my hands would plant there; I would plant, ah Laso!

Hyacinths, carnations.

If I had, ah Laso!

All the emp'ror's treasures, Well I know, ah Laso!

What with these I'd purchase; I would buy, ah Laso!

I would purchase Laso, He should be, ah Laso!

Gardener in my Garden.

S. J. B.

XVI

THE FALCON

The falcon soars both far and high, He spreads his pinions in the sky, Then from his cloudy heights he lowers, And seats him on the city's towers: He sees a laughing girl of grace, In crystal water bathe her face; And looks with open, eager eye Upon her neck of ivory: White as the snow upon the mountain; And there he hears a youth recounting His tale of love.--"Now bend thy head Upon thy snowy neck," he said; "Its whiteness is too bright for me: And 'neath it sorrowing heart may be."

S. J. B.