Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/214

 "For I have seen where Jerina abideth." They went up into the slender tower, And found the damsel Jerina, And led her down out of the slender tower. With that the Latin stripling cried from the wall: "Hearken ye, Starina Novak, There be now closed against you Seven and seventy gates." Upon that Marko Kraljević spake a word: "Grujica," quoth he, "bring me my charger Sharatz, For on him are the keys of the gates." And when Marko was mounted on Sharatz, He drew his heavy mace, And so did his anger rage, That each door as he smote it, Brast altogether in sunder, Till he was come to the gate of the citadel, A mighty gate it was, God's curse upon it! And when Marko smote it with his heavy mace, The whole castle shook to its foundations, And stones fell down from the walls. Upon that the King lift up his voice, In Dubrovnik castle where the adventure was— "Marko," saith he, "smite no more!" Then he hasted and ran and brought the keys, And opened the doors of the gate. Marko stood by the doors of the gate, And counted his thousand wedding-guests, Till the tale was complete and they were gone forth every one. Then said Marko to the King: "Come hither, friend and king, Come hither that we may give thee gifts, And also that we may ask pardon For any scathe that haply hath been done." The King of Dubrovnik went to him, For he thought and expected,