Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/85

 Gladly he welcomed the Vojvodas. Therewithal came the swift servants, They took the beakers from the sofra, And gave them into the hands of the knights; But first they gave to their own lord and master, To Leka Kapetan their lord. And wine there was out of measure, And the sofra was garnished with all knightly cheer, And with fine meats of every sort. They drank wine, yea, and so they tarried From Sunday again to Sunday, And oft did Marko cast glance of eye Upon his two pobratims, For to know whether of them should speak to Leka, And say the word concerning the damsel. But when Marko looked at them, They cast their eyes on the ground. No light thing was it to speak of this matter to Leka, That was such a great and worshipful knight. When Marko saw himself in this strait, He needs must speak the word to Leka: "Most worshipful Leka," quoth he, "We sit and we drink wine, And we have spoken together of all matters, And ever I look to thee and listen When thou wilt ask me, Leka, Wherefore we are come this far journey, And wherefore we have tired our horses. But thou wilt not ask me, Leka!" And now indeed it was hero against hero, And craft met craft again; And Leka answered him right craftily: "O Vojvoda, Kraljević Marko, How should I ask thee, brother, Since thou, Marko, hast long not honoured me? Why are ye not oftener come to me That each might ask how it fared with other,