An Anthology of Jugoslav Poetry; Serbian Lyrics Part 24

But better is it there!

Mother and father, they will greet thee there, Among the Blest!

Thy brothers, too, and children in celestial light,-- O blessed, blessed sight!

Thee will they greet: we in their thoughts shall be, O heavenly harmony!

But thou wilt stay, and ne'er return to us, O woe, O woe to us!

J. W. W.

Cx.x.xII

KOLEDO

The king came to court our Margaret fair, Koledo, Koledo!

And mother sang clear to our Margaret fair: Koledo, Koledo!

"Oh, Margaret, haste! my daughter dear, Koledo, Koledo!

The King, he has come to court you here, Koledo, Koledo!"

Then thus sweet Margaret to mother's call: "Koledo, Koledo!

I told you, mother mine, I told you, Koledo, Koledo!

I want not kings, I want not knights, Koledo, Koledo!

'Tis Jesus Himself alone doth bind me, Koledo, Koledo!

I've vowed to Him, true shall He find me, Koledo, Koledo!"

J. W. W.

Cx.x.xIII

A HORSE'S COMPLAINT

A horse left his knight on Kossovo, On a dreadsome place on Kossovo.

Finding his steed, the knight put question: "O horse of mine, my greatest treasure, Why hast thou left me here so lonely, In this deadsome place on Kossovo?

What have I done thus to displease thee?

Say, horse of mine, why didst thou leave me?

Did press my saddle hard upon thee?

Thy jewelled bridle, was it heavy?

Or have I ridden thee too far?"

To his knight the horse made answer: "Thy saddle pressed not hard upon me, Thy jewelled bridle was not heavy, Nor hast thou ridden me too far.

But this it is that doth displease me: So oft thou tarriest at the tavern, While I am tethered at the door.

Three maidens fair are dwelling there, Whose beauty makes thee all forgetful, While I am out here cold and fretful; Then angrily I paw the earth, And eat the gra.s.s down to its root, And drink the water dry as stone, While thou dost leave me here alone."

J. W. W.

Cx.x.xIV

A DANCE AT VIDIN

One day at Vidin they did dance the Kolo: "Oh, let me, mother, go and see!"

"There is thy brother, go with him!"

"My brother! he can stay at home, I do not want to go with him."

One day at Vidin they did dance the Kolo: "Oh! let me, mother, go and see!"

"There is thy father, go with him!"

"Oh, let my father stay at home, I do not want to go with him."

One day at Vidin they did dance the Kolo: "Oh! let me, mother, go and see!"

"There is thy darling, go with him!"

"Oh, come, my sweetheart, come with me!

I'll dance the Kolo there with thee!"

J. W. W.

Cx.x.xV

THE PRICE

How many towns from here to the coast?

Seventy-seven sunlit towns, And villages green a thousand!

And all of these I'd give for the street Where I my sweetheart first did meet, And e'en the street I'd give as the price To meet him again--aye, but for a trice!

J. W. W.

Cx.x.xVI

PREFERENCES

Three maids were talking on a night, Upon a silvery moonlight night.

They walked and talked of many things, They asked what each preferred to have.

Two did listen to the eldest: "A castle white is what I'd like."

Then two did hear the second say: "'Tis velvet blue with gold I like."

Then two listened to the youngest: "A sweetheart true I would prefer.

Should the castle all be ruined, My darling would rebuild it up; The velvet would with time wear out, My darling he could buy me more-- A sweetheart true is richer store!"