Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/25

 Vratko.—Not in the forest. But a short while ago I saw a lad who was as kind as he was handsome.

Runa.—That was he, the villain!

Vratko.—That he was not, truly. May the sun and the earth reward him! He gave me three coins; they are of gold. I got such a fright at the glitter and the wealth of it that I almost fell off my feet! I have never seen anything like it. (Gazes at the coin in his hand.)

Přibina.—And in which direction did he go?

Vratko (Potinting)—He disappeared yonder. I have a remembrance of him! And on these coins is a picture of his father; he said so himself.

Stojmír.—Let me see thy treasure closer.

Vratko.—With great joy, my lord king. (Shows the money.)

Stojmír.—A coin of the King of Magura! Runa, look!

Runa.—His son here! O, follow him! Blood and vengeance! The cursed enemy is in our hands!

Stojmír.—Přibina, divide up the men; let us encircle the forest: he is ours, he is ours!

Runa.—Even if thou wert as cunning as a winged bird, thou wouldst not now escape, Prince of Magura, but wouldst feel our heavy hand! (All depart swiftly in the direction which Radúz has taken.)

Vratko.—Woe on me, what have I done! O, my free spoken joy, thou hadst ninefold treason beneath thy tongue! That gold now burns my palm. Away from me, traitorous coins! With you misfortune would enter beneath my roof! (Throws the money into the spring and goes out.)

Music is heard behind the scenes; then, ''and a company of maidens and youths come in. All are bedecked with wreaths of many-colored flowers from the meadows.''

Prija.—Here it is cool and fragrant, a wide open space with tall, soft grass: here it will be good to hold our sports. We have already twined enough of these wreaths.

Ziva.—And here is the appointed spring where we were to meet our father and mother. It is strange that they have not yet come. They took the shorter path.

Prija.—O, do not fret; they will come in due time. These old forests are not so deep that they should lose themselves in them. So now let us be merry. But why art thou standing apart, Mahulena?