An Anthology of Jugoslav Poetry; Serbian Lyrics Part 21

CXV

WOES

Woe to the wolf that eats not flesh, Woe to the knight who drinks not wine, Woe to the maid who counteth love No gift divine.

Woe to legs with a foolish head, And woe to gilt on an unclean bed.

Woe to satin on humped shoulders.

Woe to the gun in a fearsome hand, Woe to the strong in that village where But cowards stand.

Woe to the mother-in-law in the house of her son-in-law.

Woe to the wolf whom the ravens feed, And to the knight who children doth need Him to defend.

Woe to the c.o.c.k who strutteth on ice, Woe to the nightingale singing in the mill; In such a din, far better to be still!

J. W. W.

CXVI

HARD TO BELIEVE

A man ne'er born once told a tale To seven stout ghosts so hearty and hale; A ship went sailing 'mid greenwood trees, While the burning sun her crew did freeze.

A horse danced o'er the billowy sea, From him a duck with hoofs did flee.

From an empty cup two knights did quaff, Served by a maid whose head was off.

Two wingless geese flew up in the sky, As a legless hero ran hard by; While near him scampered two roasted hares, Hotly pursued by three dogs in pairs.

Then to the deaf man the dumb man spoke: "What a monstrous lie! but I hope it's a joke."

J. W. W.

CXVII

THE CONDITIONS

Listen, listen man of G.o.d, If thou wouldest serve thy G.o.d, In thy lifetime do thou good, And revere thine elder brother, So thy younger thee revere.

Neither boast when fortune smileth, Nor complain in days of trouble; Grasp not an another's good; For when death befalleth man, Nought he takes from out the world, Save his deeds and crossed white hands-- When he goeth to the Judgment, Where king's rank is unaccounted, Rich men can no more be proud, Poor men be no more despised.

J. W. W.

CXVIII

PRAYER BEFORE GOING TO BED

With a cross I lay me down, With a cross I get me up, All day long it doth protect, And angels in the night are near; Archangels, they shall ward my death, And G.o.d's my guard till all things end.

J. W. W.

CXIX

VISION BEFORE SLEEP

To sleep I laid me down, Making my prayer to G.o.d; I called upon His angels; Heaven was unveiled to me; The Seraphim, they worshipped there, And prayed this prayer to Christ our Lord: "While he doth rest, all through his sleep, Frome visions dark do Thou him keep."

J. W. W.

CXX

PRAYER IN THE FIELD

We pray unto the Heavenly Lord, Koledo, Koledo![36]

Dew to send upon our fields, Koledo!

To give grain to wheat and maize, Koledo, Koledo!

To give fruits in all the glades, Koledo!

To give colours to the flowers, Koledo, Koledo!

To give health to sheep and cattle, Koledo!

And pardon, joy and song to all, Koledo, Koledo!

J. W. W.

CXXI

A CHILD IN HEAVEN