Page:Poet Lore, volume 34, 1923.djvu/28

 Stojmir.—I am sorry to disturb your sport. You gaze upon us in surprise. This is a day of triumph for us. This youth whom you see in fetters is the son of the king of Magura, therefore my enemy and yours.

Runa. And do you know what that villain has done? In his wantonness he has killed the consecrated stag which we thought had gone astray into the forest and was still roaming there.

Mahulena (To herself).—Poor dumb beast! How cruel men are!

Runa.—Confess that thou didst that evil deed. Is this thy sword?

Radúz.—It is my sword. If I had held it when you came upon me I should have sold my life dearly. That I killed the poor beast I reckon as one of my sins. But I did not know that it was yours and that it was consecrated.

Runa.—But, believe me, thou wilt rue that sin bitterly. But thy greatest sin is that thou art the prince of Magura. Thou art silent? So thou wishest to deny that? Look, I will believe thee, that thou art not the son of Queen Nyola, if without delay thou wilt curse her!

Radúz.—Woman, thou art terrible! I am too proud of the name of my father to deny it for an instant. I am Prince Radúz.

Runa.—Thou valiant fool! What hast thou sought here? Art thou a spy? Thou hast come in hatred, confess!

Radúz.—Having lost my way, I came here only unawares. Of great hatred for you I know little. I have always heard that we were enemies, we of Magura and you of Tatra, but I have never felt any malice in my heart. King Stojmír, we should really love each other, since in the wide world so much hatred rages round about us.

Stojmír.—Leave sweet words alone; thy gentleness is forced upon thee by thy misfortune.

Radúz.—That is true; for a man in fetters pride is the one thing becoming.

Runa.—I will humble thy pride, thou wilt soon see. O thou wilt know tortures!

Radúz.—The purple of thy robe is like a stream of blood in which thou swimmest with a face pale from hatred, and thine eyes are as of steel.