Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/89

 But never tofore had he been adread, Nor never tofore had he been abashed. Yet now of Rosa had he exceeding great marvel, And in Leka's presence he was sore abashed, That he cast his eyes upon the ground. And Leka Kapetan perceived it. He looked at his sister, he looked at the Vojvodas For to see whether of the knights would speak, Or with him or with the slender damsel. But when he saw how the knights were silent, He made the matter plain to his sister: "Choose, sister," quoth he, "which thou wilt Of these three worshipful knights. And if thou art minded, sister, To take a good knight of prowess, That will make our face to shine with glory On every field of strife, One that cometh forth with worship from every tourney, Take, sister, Kraljević Marko. Go with him to Prilep castle, It will be well with thee there. But if, sister, thou art minded To take the knight of fairest seeming, Whom none may match for strength and comeliness, Nor yet in stature nor in stoutness of countenance In the four ends of the earth, Then take, sister, the knight Miloš. Go with him to the plain of Kossovo, There too it will be well with thee. But if, sister, thou art minded To take a winged knight, That thou mayst embrace him and be proud, Take, sister, the winged Relja, Go with him to Novi Pazar, And there, too, it will be well with thee." When Rosanda the damsel heard it, She smote the palms of her hands together,