Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/207



Pjuro of Smederevo married him, He wooed a king's daughter afar off, In the fair city of Dubrovnik, Whereof Michael was king, And his daughter's name was Jerina. Djuro wooed her, the King gave her to him. In his wooing of the fair damsel, Djuro spent three charges of gold; In gifts also for the mother and sister of his bride, He spent a thousand golden ducats. When he began to talk of the wedding-day, Then the King answered Djuro, saying: "Hearken to me, Djuro of Smederevo, When thou art come to thy castle of Smederevo, And goest about to gather thy wedding-guests, See that thou ask not Serbs as wedding-guests, For overmuch do the Serbs love drinking, And of brawling also are they overfond. They would get drunken, they would raise strife and tumult, And if thou mightst not stay the strife, Small hope were thine to lead forth my daughter! Therefore do thou summon Greeks and Bulgars, Gather of them as many as ye will, And come for the damsel when it pleaseth thee." When Djuro of Smederevo heard it, He made him ready to go forth of the white palace, And took his journey toward Smederevo: But on his way thither a letter overtook him, From Jerina the fair damsel: "Hearken to me, Djuro of Smederevo, When thou art come to white Smederevo, And goest about to gather thy wedding-guests,