Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/136

 Put off his shoon and sate him down by the Kadi. He drew forth twelve ducats, And set them under the knees of the Kadi. "Effendi," saith he, "here be ducats, Give not unto Marko a true judgment." Now the Turkish tongue was understanded of Marko, But he had no ducats, So he set his mace across his knees And, "Hearken to me," saith he, "Kadi-Effendi! Give thou me true judgment. For thou seest my gilded six-ribbed mace. An I go for to smite thee therewith No leech shall do thee none avail, But thou shalt forget thy judgment seat And nevermore shalt thou behold ducats!" An ague gat hold on the Effendi When he looked upon the golden-studded mace. He gave true judgment and his hands shook. Now when the heroes departed to the field, With the Aga went thirty janissaries, But there followed none after Marko, Save only certain Greeks and Bulgars. And when they were come to the field Alil-Aga, the Sultan's man, saith to Marko: "Fair Knight, come, loose thine arrows, Thou vauntest thyself for a good knight of prowess, Thou didst boast in the Sultan's Divan How with an arrow thou mayst smite the eagle-bird ,