Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/169



Mirth and dancing, music playing,
 * Song and jest alone are heard;

And the bride with joy is laughing
 * At the bridegroom’s generous cheer.

Listen, servants! men and women!”
 * Cries the bridegroom, wild with joy.

Open pantry, open cellars—
 * Eat and drink without alloy.”

Mirth and dancing, by a table
 * Sits an unknown guest and cries:

Hoj! for one dance with that maiden,
 * Life I’d give, like him who dies.”

Once they danced around the chamber,
 * Lo, the smile died on her face.

Twice they danced and pale her features,
 * Pale like snow in that wild pace.

Ho! Art pale indeed, my loved one!
 * Does thy memory start with pain?

Is it hard to see thy Zdenko,
 * On thy wedding day again?”

On the third round they have entered—
 * In her ear he whispers low;

Senseless from his clasp she swooneth,
 * In the bridegroom’s arms falls slow.