Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/152



's mother asked a question: "Ah, my son, Kraljević Marko, Wherefore dost thou build so many pious buildings? Hast thou sinned greatly against God? Or doth gold come to thee without labour ?" Marko of Prilep answered her: "I'faith, old mother mine, Once that I was in the land of the Moors, I arose early and went to the cistern For to water my Sharatz. And when I was come to the cistern, Lo, twelve Moors were there. And before my turn, mother, I would have watered my Sharatz. But the twelve Moors would not so, And there was strife betwixt us. I took my heavy mace, And smote a black Moor, I smote down one, and there smote me eleven; I smote down two, and there smote me ten; I smote down three, and there smote me nine; I smote down four, and there smote me eight; I smote down five, and there smote me seven; I smote down six, and there smote me six; And these six put me to the worse! They bound my hands behind my back And took me to the Moorish King. The King cast me into the depths of a dungeon, Where for seven years I languished. I knew not when summer came,