Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/73



one morn three Serbian Vojvodas Journeyed from Kossovo toward the rocky sea-coast. One was Marko of Prilep, The second was Relja of Pazar, The third Miloš of Pocerje. They took their way near by a vineyard, That 'longed unto Bogdan, a full perilous knight. Now Relja of Pazar spurred his horse, And urged him through the vineyard, And brake and did scathe in the rich vineyard. Therewithal spake Marko to him, saying: "Get thee forth of the rich vineyard, Relja! Hadst thou known whose is this vineyard Thou hadst ridden thy horse a great way round, For it 'longeth unto the Perilous Bogdan. Once afore I passed this way, I brake and did scathe in the rich vineyard, And the Perilous Bogdan perceived and saw me, On his slender Arab mare he rode, And I durst not await Bogdan, But fled by the rocky shore; The Perilous Bogdan pursued after me On his slender Arab, And but for my war-horse Sharatz, Of a surety had he taken me. But my Sharatz drew ever forward, And the mare began to fall behind. And when the Perilous Bogdan saw it, He drew his heavy mace, And hurled it after me by the rocky shore, And smote me on the silken girdle. With the mace-handle, pobratim, he smote me,