Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/177

 Get thee out of my way or do obeisance before me!" But Musa the Albanian answered: "Pass on thy way, Marko, and seek not to have ado with me, Or light down if thou wilt, that we may drink wine together. But I will not do obeisance before thee, Albeit a queen bore thee, In a čardak amongst soft cushions, And wrapped thee in pure silk, And bound thee about with thread of gold, And nourished thee on honey and on sugar. But as for me—a wild Arnaut woman bore me, Amongst the sheep on the cold ground. In a rough black mantle she wrapped me, And bound me about with thorns, And nourished me on porridge. Oft did she make me swear, Never to give way to no man." When Marko of Prilep heard it, He cast his battle-spear Between the ears of his Sharatz, At the breast of the bold Musa. Musa caught it on his mace, And turned the spear aside from him. Then took he his own battle-spear, And cast it at Kraljević Marko. Marko caught it on his mace And brake the spear in three pieces. Then they pulled out their sabres, And ran furiously the one against other. Marko Kraljević swung his sabre, But the bold Musa thrust out his mace And brake the sabre in three pieces; Then quickly he pulled out his sword, For to smite Marko Kraljević,