The Miracle Of St. Nicholas : Sacred-Texts Legends where the midst of the board was spread, Were Mriya and Sava; at the bottom of the board Were Holy Friday and Sunday. To the glory of Christ the Lord To drink, and begin the festival, St. Nicholas stood up, But he fell asleep in a little and in slumber dropped the cup. It fell...
Fragments Of K'osovo Ballads : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 68 FRAGMENTS OF KSOVO BALLADS I MURAD the tsar hath come in war down upon Ksovo; He sent a letter to Krshevats that the tsar his will might know: "Ho, Lazar, lord of Servia, with sense it scarce accords, That there should be one empery 'neath...
Urosh And The Sons Of Marny'ava : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 111 UROSH AND THE SONS OF MARNYVA IN the fair field of Ksovo were four pavilions pight By the fair church of Ksovo, Samdrezha the white. Vukshin lay in one fair tent, and Lord glyesha was nigh; Goyko the duke and Urosh, the tsar's son, lay...
Prince Marko And The Vila : Sacred-Texts Legends Vovoda Milosh and Marko were the two heroes there. Side by side the steeds did they ride as they bore the spears that day; One kissed the face of the other: such loving brothers were they. Then Marko on Dapple yearned to sleep; he spake to his brother sworn: "Vovoda Milosh...
Prince Marko And Bey Kostadin : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 165 PRINCE MARKO AND BEY KOSTADIN PRINCE MARKO and Bey Kostdin, brothers in God were they; They rode their steeds together. Outspoke Kostdin the Bey: "Prince Marko, now I prithee, thou art my brother sworn; Come to me in the autumn, on St...
Untitled : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Heroic Ballads of Servia translated by George Rapall Noyes and Leonard Bacon 1913 Title Page PREFACE CONTENTS HEROIC BALLADS OF SERVIA INTRODUCTION A BALLAD OF SERVIA BEFORE THE TURKISH CONQUEST THE BUILDING OF SKADAR BALLADS OF KSOVO FIELD THE BUILDING OF RAVNITSA B...
The Building Of Skadar : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 15 THE BUILDING OF SKADAR1 ONCE there were three born brothers, a hold that had begun-- The three sons of Marnyva. Vukshin the king was one, The second was Vovoda glyesha, and Goyko the third was he; And Skadar on the Byana were they building...
The Head Of Tsar Lazar : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 105 THE HEAD OF TSAR LAZAR WHEN the Turks smote off Tsar Lazar's head in Ksovo, the fair, No Serb came forth to find it, but a young Turk found it there; He was a Turk that a Servian slave to a Moslem master bore. And the young soldier thereup...
Prince Marko And The Daughter Of The Moorish King : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 168 PRINCE MARKO AND THE DAUGHTER OF THE MOORISH KING HIS mother asks Prince Marko: "Marko, my little son, So many monasteries wherefore hast thou begun? Hast thou sinned before God? Or by good hap hast thou won the gold abroad?" Marko of Prilip...
A Montenegrin Ballad : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 223 A MONTENEGRIN BALLAD p. 224 Next
Title Page : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Next HEROIC BALLADS OF SERVIA TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH VERSE BY GEORGE RAPALL NOYES AND LEONARD BACON BOSTON SHERMAN, FRENCH, & COMPANY 1913 Next
Tsar Lazar And Ts'aritsa M'ilitsa : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 60 TSAR LAZAR AND TSRITSA MLITSA TSAR LAZAR sat at dinner; and with him at the wine Sat Mlitsa, the Tsritsa, beside her lord to dine. Unto her lord said Mlitsa: "O Servia's king and crown, To-morrow unto Ksovo the army goeth down, Thy vovod...
Prince Marko And Mina Of Kostur : Sacred-Texts Legends On the dry bread they feasted, and they drank the yellow wine. And unto the prince Marko came letters three that day: One was from Bajazt the tsar, in white Stamboul that lay; One from the town of Budim, from the king ther had come; And one from Yanko the vovoda, in Sibin th...
Ballads Of K'osovo Field : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 25 BALLADS OF KSOVO FIELD p. 26 Next
How Milosh 'obilich Slew The Sultan Murad : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 81 HOW MILOSH BILICH SLEW THE SULTAN MURAD TSAR MURAD sat beneath his tent with the pashas of his power And his viziers, and counsel took what way to smite the Giaour And win with least disaster; when lo there came from afar The vizier Osm...
Ban Strahin : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 32 BAN STRAHIN STRAHIN was ban of Banska that by Ksovo doth stand; And such another falcon there is not in the land. He rose up in the morning: "Ho, all my knaves, give heed! Get ye down to the stables and saddle me my steed. Deck him out fair...
Predrag And Nenad : Sacred-Texts Legends also the second son Nenad she named, that is to say, "the Sudden, Unlooked-for one." Predrag grew strong to wield the spear and the steed to ride upon: He ran away from his mother; unto the wood he sped, To the hayduks and the outlaws. Nenad his mother bred; Nenad forgot his...
How Star'ina Novak Became A Hayduk : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 191 HOW STARNA NOVAK BECAME A HAYDUK NOVAK and Rado drank the wine near Bosna the river cold, With Bgosav. When they had drunk as much as they could hold, Prince Bogosav began to speak: "Starna Novak," said he, "My brother sworn, now speak...
The Serpent Bridegroom : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 260 THE SERPENT BRIDEGROOM I WILL tell you a marvel, brethren, how the King of Budim was wed, And nine full years passed over, yet there was no child to his bed. Forth issued King Miltin; he went to the forest-close; But God and fortune granted...
The Marriage Of Stoyan Y'ankovich : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 202 THE MARRIAGE OF STOYAN YNKOVICH WHILE still men dreamed not of the dawn, the gates were opened wide In dbina, and from the town a squadron forth did ride. Four and thirty friends are there; before them is Mustay Bey, The lord of Lika;1...
Ts'aritsa M'ilitsa And Vl'adeta The Vo'yvoda : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 97 TSRITSA MLITSA AND VLDETA THE VOVODA MLITSA the tsritsa went walking up and down Below the wall of Krshevats and the ramp of the white town, And also Vkosava and Mara, her daughters dear, When Vldeta, the vovoda, on a charger brown drew near...
Prince Marko And The Eagle : Sacred-Texts Legends by his head was planted his spear. By the spear stood Dapple, but on it a great white eagle stayed; It spread its wings above the prince and gave the hero shade, And water in its beak it bore, the wounded hero, to slake. But a vila of the mountain unto the eagle spake: "...
Heroic Ballads Of Servia : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. v HEROIC BALLADS OF SERVIA p. vi Next
The Death Of The Mother Of The Y'ugovichi : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 94 THE DEATH OF THE MOTHER OF THE YGOVICHI DEAR God, a mighty marvel is fallen at Ksovo! In the host were Yug's nine children and their father the tenth also. The mother of Yug's children she prayed God in her pain For the eyes of a hawk...
Prince Marko's Plowing : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 172 PRINCE MARKO'S PLOWING WITH his mother, Yvrosima, his thirst did Marko slake On the red wine. When they had drunk, to him his mother spake: "O thou, Prince Marko, prithee cease from the ravage and the raid; Never on earth is evil with a good...
The Maiden M'argita And Rayko The Vo'yvoda : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 187 THE MAIDEN MRGITA AND RAYKO THE VOVODA1 NOT yet the dawn had whitened, nor the day star shown its face; Men thought not of day--forth Mrgita the maid walked in the place, In Sriyem over Slnkamen;2 barefoot the damsel sprang Over the stone so...
Ballads Of Marko Kr'alyevich : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 109 BALLADS OF MARKO KRLYEVICH p. 110 Next
Muyo And Aliya : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 254 MUYO AND ALIYA MUYO and liya were brothers, and nobly did they live; Their very steeds and armor to each other would they give. They came unto a turbid lake, and a duck went swimming by, With golden wings; and Muyo let his gray falcon fly...
The War Of The Montenegrins With Mahmud Pasha : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 225 THE WAR OF THE MONTENEGRINS WITH MAHMUD PASHA1 VIZIER MAHMUD on Byana in Sctari the white Hath gathered his viziers and the captains of his might, Picked Turkish chiefs. When they were come, he spake unto them then: "Here is a chance for us...
Star'ina Novak And The Bold R'adivoye : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 195 STARNA NOVAK AND THE BOLD RDIVOYE STARNA NOVAK drank the wine on Romniya the green hill, And Rdivoye, his brother, drank with him with a will; And Gritsa, Strina's son, Rdivoye sat before; With Gritsa was Ttomir and thirty hayduks more. When...
The Building Of Rav'anitsa : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 27 THE BUILDING OF RAVNITSA To celebrate the holy tide, Tsar Lazarus is gone To Krshevats, the fortress of many-colored stone; To the birthfeast of St. Amos he summons all the lords By letter and salutation that with their rank accords. And all...
The Maid Of K'osovo : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 99 THE MAID OF KSOVO UP rose the Maid of Ksovo before the break of day, On a Sunday morn, ere the bright sun had risen on his way. Unto her milk-white elbows she drew the white sleeves up; She bore three loaves in a basket, and in either h...
The Marriage Of Prince Marko : Sacred-Texts Legends No more can she prepare for thee the meal whereon to dine; She cannot light a torch for thee or serve the ruddy wine. Marry, my son, a woman forthwith to take my place." Marko unto his mother shortly he spake apace: "In God's name, my ancient mother, I have been nine realms...
Introduction : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 1 INTRODUCTION The ballads of Servia occupy a high position, perhaps the highest position, in the ballad literature of Europe. Of them Jacob Grimm wrote: "They would, if well known, astonish Europe," and "in them breathes a clear and inborn...
Prince Marko And Alil Aga : Sacred-Texts Legends through Tsrigrad1 rode they: The one is the Prince Marko, the other Kostdin the Bey. Said Marko: "Bey Kostdin, sworn brother of mine own, Now that I ride in Tsrigrad some woe may strike me down. Mayhap they will summon me to the lists; a sickness will I feign, Heartache...
The Battle Of K'osovo : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 77 THE BATTLE OF KSOVO A GRAY hawk from Jerusalem, with a swallow in his beak, Flew onward into Servia, Tsar Lazarus to seek, Nay, it was never a great gray hawk with a swallow that flew so far, But Elijah, our Lady's messenger, with her tidings...
Musich Stevan : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 88 MUSICH STEVAN IN Maydan white as silver, in his fair lordly house, Idle sits Musich Stevan, on the good wine to carouse. The servant Vistina poured it forth his thirst to slake, And Stevan drank his fill ther, and to the henchman spake: "My...
The Wife Of Hasan Aga : Sacred-Texts Legends Sore wounded was he. His mother and sister to him went; For very shame his wife came not.2 When his wounds were healed aright, p. 272 He charged his faithful wife withal: "Come not into my sight; Await me never, woman, my fair white house within; Nor yet do thou abide me...
The Death Of Ivo Of Senye : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 199 THE DEATH OF IVO OF SENYE1 Ivo's mother dreamed that darkness was risen Senye around, That the clear sky was broken and the bright moon fell to the ground On Rzhitsa church in Senye, and the stars fled far and wide, And the daystar rose up...
The Death Of Marko Kr'alyevich : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 178 THE DEATH OF MARKO KRLYEVICH PRINCE MARKO rose up early on Sunday before the sun, On Mount rvina by the seacoast. And as he rode thereon, Dapple the stallion staggered sore; from his eyes ran bitter tears. Marko it grieved. He spake...
Marko Drinks Wine In Ramaz'an : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 174 MARKO DRINKS WINE IN RAMAZN THERE was an edict sent abroad by the Tsar Suleymn That none should drink the yellow wine in the month of Ramazn, That none should wear green tunics, nor silver-inlaid dirks, And that none should dance, moreover...
Sister And Brother : Sacred-Texts Legends She reared them up till they were grown and the sons were ready to wed, And the maiden ripe for marriage. And straightway asked for her Three suitors, a ban, and a marshal, and a neighbor villager. To the neighbor the mother would give her, but her brethren to the m...
Preface : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. i PREFACE The purpose of the present volume is to give specimens of the best portions of a ballad literature that is among the most remarkable in Europe. For the translation of the ballads from the Servian, and for the introduction and notes, I...
Prince Marko And The Sword Of Vuk'ashin : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 125 PRINCE MARKO AND THE SWORD OF VUKSHIN THE sultan with an army is come to Ksovo; An hundred thousand men had he where Stnitsa doth flow. With a saber of Damascus his herald goeth forth, And full three hundred ducats the naked blade is worth;...
The Captivity Of Stoyan Y'ankovich : Sacred-Texts Legends & Sagas Index Previous Next p. 216 THE CAPTIVITY OF STOYAN YNKOVICH WHEN the Turks took Kotri, great havoc did they make With the house of Ynkovich liya Smlyanich did they take And likewise Stoyan Ynkovich; bereft was liya's bride Of fifteen days; ungently from his wife's...