Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/62

 Despot Uglješ wrote a letter, He wrote a letter and sent a messenger To the white town of Prizren, To protopope Nedeljko. A third letter wrote Vojvoda Gojko, And sent likewise an ardent messenger. A fourth wrote Tsar's son Uroš, He wrote a letter and sent a messenger. All four wrote letters, And despatched swift messengers, Each keeping secret from the others what he did. The four envoys met together, In Prizren, the white city, Before the dwelling of protopope Nedeljko. But the priest was not there, He was in church at morning service, At morning service and the reading of the Liturgy. Overweening were the ardent envoys And froward of the froward; They would not dismount from their horses, But urged them into the church. They drew their pleated whips And smote protopope Nedeljko: "Come hence, and quickly, protopope Nedeljko! Hence, and quickly, to the plain of Kossovo, To declare who is to receive the empire. Thou didst administer the Sacrament to the illustrious Tsar, Thou wert his confessor also, And in thy hands are the ancient books. Do thou hasten or thou wilt presently lose thy head!" Protopope Nedeljko shed tears, He shed tears and answered to them again: