Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/102

 Marko lighted down from his horse Sharatz, He bound the youth feet and hands, And fastened him to the saddle-bow of Sharatz. Then he hied him back to his wine-skin, He cast the stripling down on the green grass, And sate him down again for to drink wine. All this Velimirovica perceived, And she ran to General Vuča: "A curse on thy wine, Vuča! A curse on thy wine—and a double curse on thyself! All thy horsemen have perished, The knight hath bound Velimir's hands, He hath bound his feet and his hands, And behold he drinketh red wine, And Velimir lieth on the sward!" Vuča made answer: "Be not adread, dear daughter-in-law, Thou wilt see now—when the old man goeth forth!" He caused the castle guns to thunder, He assembled three thousand horsemen, He mounted his Arab mare, And rode out through the castle gate. Down in the meadow he disposed the horsemen, And from four sides they closed in. Marko saw naught thereof, But the war-horse Sharatz saw it; He stamped on the ground with his hoofs, And drew nigh to his master. But anon when Kraljević Marko looked up, The horsemen already encompassed him about! Therewithal he sprang to his light feet, And threw him on the back of Sharatz. Ah, that one had been there to see, How he drave the horsemen across the meadow! His sabre was in his right hand, In his left his battle-spear, In his teeth the bridle;