Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/190

 That living fire flashed from his hoofs, And a blue flame went from his nostrils. In wrath rode Marko athwart Kossovo, Tears ran down the hero's face, And wrathful through his tears he spake: "Ah me! Thou Kossovo plain, What ills are come upon thee now, Since the days of our illustrious prince, That Moors should sit in judgment over thee! But this shame I may not suffer, Nor endure the heaviness thereof, That the Moors do us this great despite, And lie with our brides and young maidens! This day, my brethren, I shall revenge you, I shall revenge you, or I will perish!" Right so Marko went towards the tents, And the Moorish guard perceived him, And said to the black Moor: "Lord and master, Moor from beyond the sea! A marvellous knight rideth down to Kossovo, On a passing great piebald horse, And he hath spurred him to fury, That living fire flasheth from his hoofs, And a blue flame goeth from his nostrils. This knight is surely minded to make onfall on us." But the black Moor made answer: "My children—my forty henchmen, There is no knight that dareth to make onfall on us, It is like that he hath found a damsel, And hasteth to us bearing the marriage-tax: He is grieved that he must needs yield up the gold, And for that cause is he wroth out of measure. Go ye out now before our courtyard, And receive the knight well and seemly, And do humble obeisance before him. Take from him his good steed,