Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/163

 "Son-in-God, Kraljević Marko! Come to me to white Stamboul; Slay me this black Arab, That he take not my daughter from me, And I shall give thee three charges of gold." The firman went to Kraljević Marko, And when he received the firman, And when he saw what was writ therein, He said to the Sultan's courier : "God be with thee, thou royal messager, To the Sultan my father, greeting. I dare not adventure me against the Moor, For the Moor is a full perilous knight, And if he should take the head from my shoulders, Of what avail were three charges of gold?" The courier went back to the illustrious Sultan, And told what Marko had spoken. When the Sultana heard it, She indited another letter, And sent it to Kraljević Marko: "Son-in-God, Kraljević Marko, Give not my daughter to the Moor, And thou shalt have five charges of gold." Marko Kraljević received the letter, And when he saw what was writ therein, He said to the imperial courier: "Hie thee back, thou royal messager! Hie thee back, and tell my mother-in-God I dare not adventure me against the Moor. The Moor is a full perilous knight, He will take the head from off my shoulders, And I prefer mine own head Before all the treasure of the illustrious Sultan." The courier went back and told the Sultana The words that Marko had spoken. When the Sultan's daughter heard it,