Part 5

O maiden, mother's golden treasure! Purest gold of perfect pleasure! Do they beat thee, and ill-treat thee, That I meet thee all alone? Do they beat thee, that I meet thee All too often, all too late, After nightfall, at the gate Of the garden, all alone? Tell me, tell me, little one, Do they do it? If I knew it, They should rue it! I would come Oftener, later, yet again, (Hail, or snow, or wind, or rain!) Oftener, later! Nor in vain: For if mother, for my sake, Were to drive thee out of home, Just three little steps 'twould take (Think upon it, little one!)-- Just three little steps, or four, To my door from mother's door. Love is wise. I say no more. Ponder on it, little one!

O. M.

XCIX

ISOLATION

The night is very dark and very lonely: And as dark, and all as lonely, is my heart: And the sorrow that is in it night knows only: For the dawn breaks, and my heart breaks. Far apart From my old self seems my new self. And my mother And my sister are in heaven,--so they say: And the dear one dearer yet than any other Is far, far away. The sweet hour of his coming ... night is falling! The hour of our awakening ... bird on bough! The hour of last embraces ... friends are calling "Love, farewell!" ... and every hour is silent now.

O. M.

C

FATIMA AND MEHMED

Beneath a milk-white almond tree, Fatima and Mehmed be. The black earth is their bridal bed; The thick-starred sky clear-spread Is their coverlet all the night, As they lie in each other's arms so white. The grass is full of honey-dew; The crescent moon, that glimmers through The unrippled leaves, is faint and new: And the milk-white almond blossoms All night long fall on their bosoms.

O. M.

CI

MORAVA HORSES[32]

On the banks of Morava, Sleek black horses danced, "Could not we," one horse did say, "Over this river swim to-day?" But the second cried, "Beware, Deep flows the stream, beware, beware! 'Twas by these banks of Morava, At set of sun a knight was drowned, And dawn had broke ere he was found. If mother this poor knight had had, Within a day his fate she'd know, And him to seek next day would go; The third day, finding him, would weep, And who knows how long sad heart keep?" To which a third black horse replied "No mother mourns him as lost son, But mother-in-law the knight has one! She in one year would surely cry: 'What has my daughter's husband done?' And in two years find time to go Toward the place where he lay low; And when there should have passed years three, His grave, perchance, she then might see-- Where long since green grass had grown, The peacock preened himself and flown."

J. W. W.

CII

THE GIRL AND THE GRASS

In the green grass a girl fell asleep; When she awoke the grass was red, And her ruddy cheeks were green instead. Before the Kadi the girl sued the grass: Give me, O grass, my color red!" And to the girl the red grass said: "Thy color red, I'll give it thee, When my color green thou dost give me." Then before the Kadi they exchanged color And became bosom-sisters for ever and ever.

J. W. W.

CIII

THE SUN AND THE GIRL

To the great sun a radiant maiden cried: "Bright sun, thy beauty cannot equal mine!" Whereon the burning orb complained to God: "Let me bring low her pride, and scorch her face." To which request his mighty Maker said: "The burden that she bears is weight enough; Her father and her mother, both I've taken; One simple, smiling youth alone is left to her; Touch not their joy, let him be fond of her."

J. W. W.

CIV

CURSE AND BLESSING

To the river ran the mother, To her Mary by the water, Dreaming there, the pretty daughter: "Have you washed the linen, Mary?" "Why, mother dear, not yet begun; A naughty youth did come my way, And muddy made the silvery water." "I'll curse him, then; I'll curse him, daughter! 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 God 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, God 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!

J. W. W.

CX

HER DREAM

The girl awoke at dawn of day, Aroused by trilling roundelay; "Nightingale, oh, stop thy singing! Stop thy singing, pray! Cease thy songs, and fly away To Cattaro, down by the bay.

To Cattaro now speed thy flight, To tell the dream I've dreamt this night: I found me in his garden gay, Gathering fair roses; With his eye he followed me, As I passed from tree to tree.

I brought him then red roses fair, And tied them in his steed's black hair. Smiling, then a ring he gave me; Ah, a ring so rare! And he kissed me where I stood; A kiss that made to me all good.

Smiling, yes, a kiss he gave me! Than golden ring with diamond bright More precious far in my heart's sight. Stop singing, bird! This is my dream; go, tell him so, Go! wing thy way to Cattaro."

J. W. W.

CXI

TROUBLE WITH THE HUSBAND

I married last year, This year I repent. Bad husband have I, With temper like nettle: My lot I resent.

The frost kills the nettle, But this husband of mine, He thinks the frost fine: By the stove all day long He does nothing but sit, And says that the frost He minds not one bit!

In Celovec 'tis market-day, 'Tis market-day to-morrow; I will take my husband there, And will either there him change, Or else will sell him at the fair. Not too cheap I'll let him go, Because he was so hard to get; Rather than too cheaply sell him, Back home again I'll take the man, And love him--howsomuch I can!

J. W. W.

CXII

THE PEACOCK AND THE NIGHTINGALE

How beautiful it is this evening-time! The noblemen, they quaff the cool wine, And to their knee there comes a little stag, With golden peacock proudly on one shoulder, While on the other, perching there as neighbour, Behold a silver-throated nightingale! Upon whom gazing, saith the peacock golden: "How now, my silver-throated friend! If mine it were to trill thy liquid note, To every noble knight I'd sing a song, And honour each in turn from my clear throat." Answered the nightingale in silver voice: "List, lustrous peacock in thy blue and gold! If mine it were, that sheeny fan of thine, Its golden feathers all I would pluck out, And decorate these nobles round about."

J. W. W.

CXIII

THE FIRST TOAST

Rising at the banquet table, Now acclaim we our first toast, To our God's high honour drink we, Only of His glory think we-- No first place to human boast! To celebrate the Lord's great glory-- What equal duty to be found? Say, all ye who sit around, Save truly to have earned the dinner!

J. W. W.

CXIV

THE HOD[vZ]A[33]

In Mostar was a sheker-meyteph,[34] Thirty young ladies were learning there, Omer-effendia was their hod[vz]a, And pretty Maru[vs]a their kalfa.[35]

One day Maru[vs]a opened the Koran: "Tell us now, hod[vz]a, tell what is written!' Hod[vz]a reads silently, then he speaks loudly: "First page--The hod[vz]a is going to marry!

"Willeth so Allah, so willeth hod[vz]a--thus on page two! And on page three--Whom will he marry, whom will he marry? Thus on page three--He'll marry the pretty Maru[vs]a."

J. W. W.

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 cock 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 God, If thou wouldest serve thy God, 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 God's my guard till all things end.

J. W. W.

CXIX

VISION BEFORE SLEEP

To sleep I laid me down, Making my prayer to God; 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

Yesternight was born a Child, But it passed from earth at morn, Unbaptized to heaven's door. "Open, heavenly watchman, open!" "Nay, foolish babe, thou must away! Sinful thou art, away, away!"

"Foolish I am--but sinful, nay; Born yesternight, I died to-day; In the green forest I was born, Where no sponsor, where no priest; Therefore unbaptized I come!"

Then the heavenly watcher answered: "Go thou yet a short way on; Go on, my babe, and thou shalt find Three watersprings; from one to drink, From one to wash, the third a font of blessing. The first shall breast-milk be to thee; The second is thy mother's tears, And from the third thou shalt baptized be, And joyful entrance gain to heaven."

J. W. W.

CXXII

CHRISTMAS

Why trembleth so the earth, Set in this sphere of blue? Christ our God was born hereon, He, the Virgin's Holy Son, Christ Who heaven and earth created, And us sinners on the earth. In awe when He shall come to judge, We all shall stand before Him then, Both righteous and unrighteous men.

J. W. W.

CXXIII

CHRIST THINKS OF HIS MOTHER

On angel wing in upward flight Rise soul and body of our Lord, When piercing heaven with high gaze, He calleth for one down to go, Down to darksome Golgotha, Where Mary bending near the Cross, Weepeth in bitter agony: "Let herald hasten now to tell her I am risen unto heaven." Great Michael heard, two angels sent, Swift to convey the tidings glad: "O thou of women all most blest, Let not thy heart with fear be filled; From the tomb thy Son is risen, Risen to the Father's throne, Saving men from Death's dominion."

J. W. W.

CXXIV

THE BLESSED MARY AND JOHN THE BAPTIST

The Blessed Mary sent an angel Unto John the Camel-girdled-- "God's wish it is, and my wish too, That thou shouldst now my Son baptize." John went responsive to the river, Down into Jordan with the Christ, And there upon him with his Lord, Open wide the gate of heaven, The roseate sun did light the east, Sign of that Spirit-first of which spake John, Whose purging heat doth purify from sin, And in Jordan's flowing river Man's sin was taken all away! Our salvation is in heaven! Save, O God, all trusting souls, Save them from the devil's toils.

J. W. W.

CXXV

THE HOLY MOTHER

Sadly walked the Holy Mother On the Holy Mountain. Suddenly espied she something Brightly shining in the dust: The Cross, it was, of her own Son. With gentlest hands she caressed it, She did wash it with her tears, And after dried it with her hair. Kneeling then she uttered prayer. Speaking to the Holy Cross: "O sweet Cross, thou Cross of honour, Upon thee my Son has died, Hellish pains on thee He suffered, Hellish pains from those hot nails, To redeem our sinful souls. When He did upon thee bleed, His blood it fell in priceless seed, Whence there sprang all lovely flowers, And angels, coming down to gather, Made them into wreathes and garlands That they might adorn all heaven."

J. W. W.

CXXVI

DREAM OF THE HOLY VIRGIN

The Holy Virgin dreaming slept, And in her dream a great tree grew, Its branches from her own heart crept, O'er spreading earth, north, south, east, west, And piercing, spire-like, heaven's blue. Sore troubled by her dream she rose And sought straightway a saintly brother; "Hear Saint Basil, my brother hear! Let me tell my vision wondrous I dreamed and lo! a great tree grew, Its branches from my own heart crept, O'erspreading earth north, south, east, west, And towering up through heaven's blue. What saith this vision Saint, to you?" Then Basil answered to the Virgin: "O sister dear, thy vision's clear: 'A tree did spring from thy warm heart?' To bear the Christ shall be thy part. 'Those spreading branches covering all?' Sinners He'll save from evil's thrall. 'That height spire-piercing heaven's blue?' To God the Father Christ shall rise Passing from earth and fleshly view."

J. W. W.

CXXVII

MOTHER AT THE TOMB OF HER SON

Alas! my son, how fareth it with thee, In thy new dwelling, new and strange and dark? Strange thy dwelling without windows! At daybreak, Vinko, thy sad mother rose, Her earliest thought as but of thee, Her first thought, Vinko; Vinko her first call! Thorns are growing at the house-door, Cuckoos mourn around the house, Downcast thy brothers wait for thee, To talk with thee, to walk with thee-- But now that ne'er can be. With head bent down and brow o'ercast, They make their way--for where art thou! In ashes our hearth fire is hidden, And when I saw the sun this morning, I thought: It is the moon, When thy sisters said to me: "Dim thine eyes, it is the sun!" "For me no sun," said I to them, "Pale in the dust now is my sun, No light have I above the earth." Down in thy dwelling, oh my son, Say, is it cold, my Sun, my Sun; If it be cold as is my breast It is too cold, too cold to rest.[37]

J. W. W.

CXXVIII

MOTHER OVER HER DEAD SON

Where art thou flying? Where, oh where? My falcon? To what silent land and lone? Say, hero mine! Around thy friends and brothers ask me: How shall I answer them! "Where goes Perko? Tell us, Mother!" Woe to me, oh woe to me! If I answered, I might blame thee! How blame _thee_? Alway thou askedst me: May I go here--or should I stay? I knew thy way! But now thou askedst not; nor may I give thee "Yea" or "nay,"-- O blank, blank day! Better, child, I went to thee, than to stay As mother here Having lost the light of day!

J. W. W.

CXXIX

MOTHER'S LAMENT FOR HER SON

Wherefore do I marvel, wherefore need I wonder? Traveller the dearest! That through this lower world already thou hast sped, Ray of light the fleetest! Together we'd a little talk, but we looked for more, Thou my golden store! To the realms of heaven thou from earth art gone, Thou my heaven and earth! Thou thy flight hast taken, sure, to a land of flowers, Dearest of my flowers! Thy journey leadeth up to God, unto the blest in Paradise, Thou my Paradise! Thou shalt behold the Judgment Place, Merciful my son! Soon shalt reach those halls of rest, Thou who gav'st me labour! There shalt find the noble dead, Thou my sweetest life! Greet them all, the rich and poor, Best of all my riches! Salute the noblemen and princes. Thou my prince of princes!

J. W. W.

CXXX

GREATEST GRIEF FOR A BROTHER

O'er Neven woods the sun went down, The sun went down behind the forest, As came the heroes off the sea. The young wife counted anxiously, The wife of George the Hospodar, Counted the warriors, found them all, Save her three treasures who were missing. She could not find her Hospodar Nor the best man at their wedding, And the third treasure was not there; This treasure was her dearest brother. For her brave lord she cuts her tresses, For her best man she wounds her cheeks, And for her brother puts out both her eyes. She cuts her hair, it grows again; She wounds her cheeks, the wounds do heal; But none can heal those hurt blind eyes, Nor yet her heart for her lost brother.

J. W. W.

CXXXI

THE DEATH CHAMBER OF HER FATHER-IN-LAW

Why art thou thus attired? My more than father! Why art thou thus bedight, so knightly armed? My fearless knight! Thou art departing for the city? My shining city! In order there to meet the lords and knights, O my wise lord! Or go'st thou to a marriage feast? My pride, my noble guest! --But why! thine eyes are closed to me! O closed, O closed to me! And--can it be!--thy mouth is bound! This black, black morning! If thou art gone, and com'st not back-- How empty is the house! How is it thou couldst leave us so? To us, O woe, O woe! Far, far thy journey, and the end not here! 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.

CXXXII

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.

CXXXIII

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 grass down to its root, And drink the water dry as stone, While thou dost leave me here alone."

J. W. W.

CXXXIV

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."