Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/37

 When Marko drinks he gives Šarac an equal share of the wine—"pola pije, pola Šarcu daje "—and the startled observer cries truthfully that this knight is not as other knights nor this horse as other horses.

All things considered Marko's character is a surprisingly good one. He has his evil moments, and he does certain deeds which cannot be commended, but these are few in number and are not to be measured against his predominating honesty of purpose, his self-sacrificing loyalty and the fundamental goodness of his nature. Let us look for a little at these unworthy deeds of his and consider their implication. His treatment of Leka's sister appears at first sight to be horrible and revolting to the last degree. It might be the act of a Sir Breuse Saunce Pité. Yet when we remember what the status of woman was, it is evident that in the preliminaries Marko had made Leka an offer which was more than generous. The damsel had been given the unique privilege of choosing as her husband one of the three most famous warriors of the day. How does she respond to this signal mark of honour? She heaps scorn and insult on the three heroes. Relja she calls a bastard, Obilić a mare's son, and Marko she flouts as a Turkish spy. The situation is impossible, beyond belief intolerable, and a tragic outcome is inevitable. It is the detail of the execution that shocks the modern mind. But although on broad lines we may allow Marko to plead justification in this particular case, what are we to say of his dealings with the daughter of the