Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/67

 Ye dispute now an empire that is another's. Look ye now, else may God not regard you! The record saith that the empire goeth to Uroš, From the father it descendeth to the son, To the child the empire belongeth by heritage, To him the Tsar bequeathed it, When he died and went to his rest." When King Vukašin heard this The King sprang to his feet from the ground And drew his golden dagger, For to slay his son Marko. Marko fled from before his father. For it had ill become him, brother, To fight with his own father. Marko fled round the white church, Round the white church of Samodreža. Marko fled and the King pursued after him Until they had thrice made a circle Round the white church of Samodreža. Almost had the King reached him. When a voice spake from the church: "Flee into the church, Kraljevitch Marko, Dost thou not see that thou wilt perish this day, Perish by the hand of thine own father And that because thou hast spoken the judgment of the true God?" The church door opened, Marko fled into the white church; Behind him the door closed. The King rushed upon the church door, He smote the wood with his dagger And lo, blood dripped from the wood. Then the King repented him And spake these words: "Woe is me, by the one God! I have slain my son Marko!" But a voice spake from the church: