Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/217

 "Son-in-law," saith she, "Stojan Popović! Bring with thee nor Greeks nor Bulgars; Ask none save Serbs only to be thy wedding-guests, For the Latins were ever deceivers, And of some treason thou mayst be well adread." When this letter came to Stojan, He fell on thinking, And in this study drew nigh to his manor. Right so his mother came forth to meet him, And they halsed and kissed each the other, And Stojan kissed his mother's hand. Then Stojan's mother asked him: "Say now, my son Stojan, Art thou come to me in peace? Hast thou won for me a daughter, For me a daughter, for thyself a faithful wife?" Stojan Popović made answer: "In peace am I come, mother, And I have won a daughter for thee, For thee a daughter, for myself a faithful wife. Three charges of gold have I spended, Forby a thousand ducats, For gifts for mother-in-law and sister-in-law: And the King spake to me to this end, That I should bring no Serbs as wedding-guests. But only Greeks and Bulgars. And on the way hither, mother, A letter overtook me from the maid's mother, Bidding me bring Serbs as wedding-guests. Rede me now, mother, Whether of these counsels were better to follow?" Stojan's mother made answer: "It were better, my son, to obey the maid's mother, For the Latins were ever deceivers. As kum take the King of Buda, As stari svat Vuk Mandušić, As vojvoda, Janko of Sibinj,