Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/55

 Tears rolled down the hero's cheeks; From Čilaš his horse he sprang, In three bounds he gained the Castle, But the Castle doors were bolted, Bolted and barred. Now when Momčilo perceived his straits, He cried to his sister Jevrosima: "Jevrosima, dear sister mine, Let down to me a length of linen, That I may escape into the Castle." Through her tears, sister to brother answered: "Brother, Vojvoda Momčilo, How shall I let down a length of linen, When my sister-in-law Vidosava, My sister-in-law—thy faithless wife, Hath bound my hair to a beam?" Yet the sister's heart was compassionate, Anguish was hers for her born brother, She hissed like an angry snake, She swung her head with all her strength, That the hair was torn from out her head, And remained on the beam; She took a length of linen cloth, She threw it down from the Castle wall, Momčilo seized the end of linen, And thus he scaled the Castle wall; Yet a moment and he had leaped within, But the faithless wife sped thither amain, In her hands she bore a sharp sword, And she severed the linen sheet above his hand; Momčilo fell down from the Castle wall, The King's henchmen await him, And on swords and war-spears he fell, On clubs and battle-maces, At the feet of King Vukašin; The King thrust at him with a war-spear, And pierced him through the living heart.