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diff --git a/38571.txt b/38571.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c058160 --- /dev/null +++ b/38571.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15347 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, by +Woislav M. Petrovitch + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians + +Author: Woislav M. Petrovitch + +Illustrator: William Sewell + Gilbert James + +Release Date: January 14, 2012 [EBook #38571] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HERO TALES AND LEGENDS OF *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project +Gutenberg (This file was produced from images generously +made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + HERO TALES AND LEGENDS OF THE SERBIANS + + By + + WOISLAV M. PETROVITCH + + Late attache to the Serbian Royal Legation to the Court of St. James + + With a preface by + CHEDO MIYATOVICH + Formerly Serbian Minister to the Court of St. James + + And thirty-two illustrations + In colour by + WILLIAM SEWELL & GILBERT JAMES + + + + + + + + To that most Eminent Serbian + Patriot and Statesman + + His Excellency + Nicholas P. Pashitch + + This book is + respectfully inscribed + by the author + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +Serbians attach the utmost value and importance to the sympathies of +such a highly cultured, great, and therefore legitimately influential +people as is the British nation. Since the beginning of the twentieth +century there have been two critical occasions [1]--the annexation of +Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria and the war against the Turks--when +we have had opportunities to note how British sympathies, even when +apparently only platonic, can be of great practical importance for +our nation. It is quite natural that we should desire to retain and +if possible deepen and increase those sympathies. We are proud of our +army, but we flatter ourselves that our nation may win sympathy and +respect by other than military features of its national character. We +wish that our British friends should know our nation such as it is. We +wish them to be acquainted with our national psychology. And nothing +could give a better insight into the very soul of the Serbian nation +than this book. + +The Serbians belong ethnologically to the great family of the +Slavonic nations. They are first cousins to the Russians, Poles, +Czechs, Slovaks, and Bulgars, and they are brothers to the Croats +and Slovenes. Since the Church has ceased to be the discordant and +disuniting element in the life of the nations, the Orthodox Serbians +and the Roman Catholic Croats are practically one and the same +people. But of all Slavonic nations the Serbians can legitimately +claim to be the most poetical one. Their language is the richest and +the most musical among all the Slavonic languages. The late Professor +Morfill, a man who was something of a Panslavist, repeatedly said to +me: "I wish you Serbians, as well as all other Slavonic nations, to +join Russia in a political union, but I do not wish you to surrender +your beautiful and well-developed language to be exchanged for the +Russian!" On one occasion he went even so far as to suggest that the +future United States of the Slavs should adopt as their literary and +official language the Serbian, as by far the finest and most musical +of all the Slavonic tongues. + +When our ancestors occupied the western part of the Balkan +Peninsula, they found there numerous Latin colonies and Greek towns +and settlements. In the course of twelve centuries we have through +intermarriage absorbed much Greek and Latin blood. That influence, and +the influence of the commercial and political intercourse with Italy, +has softened our language and our manners and intensified our original +Slavonic love of what is beautiful, poetical, and noble. We are a +special Slavonic type, modified by Latin and Greek influences. The +Bulgars are a Slavonic nation of a quite different type, created by +the circulation of Tartar blood in Slavonian veins. This simple fact +throws much light on the conflicts between the Serbians and Bulgarians +during the Middle Ages, and even in our own days. + +Now what are the Serbian national songs? They are not songs made by +cultured or highly educated poets--songs which, becoming popular, +are sung by common people. They are songs made by the common people +themselves. Up to the middle of the nineteenth century the Serbian +peasantry lived mostly in agricultural and family associations called +Zadrooga. As M. Petrovitch has stated, the sons of a peasant did +not leave their father's house when they got married, but built a +wooden cottage on the land surrounding the father's house. Very often +a large settlement arose around the original home, with often more +than a hundred persons, men and women, working together, considering +the land and houses as their common property, enjoying the fruits of +their work as the common property too. All the members of the Zadrooga +considered the oldest member of such family association as their chief, +and it was the usual custom to gather round him every evening in the +original house. After questions of farming or other business had been +disposed of, the family gathering would be enlivened by the chieftain +or some other male member reciting an epic song, or several such songs, +describing historic events or events which had lately happened. At +the public gatherings around the churches and monasteries groups of +men and women would similarly gather about the reciters of songs on +old kings and heroes or on some great and important event. + +In Hungarian Serbia (Syrmia, Banat, Bachka) poor blind men often make +it a lucrative profession to sing old or new songs, mostly on old +heroes and historical events or on contemporary events. But in other +parts of Serbia (Shumadiya, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Montenegro, Dalmatia) +very often well-to-do peasants recite the hero songs to crowds of +listeners of both sexes. It is a curious fact noticed already by Vouk +S. Karadgitch that the reciters of the heroic songs are hardly ever +young men, but generally men of middle age, and still more frequently +old men. It is as if old men considered it their duty to acquaint the +young generation with the principal events of the nation's history +and their principal heroes. You may find still many an illiterate +person in Serbia, but you will not find one who would not be able to +tell you something about Stephan Nemanya, the first king of mediaeval +Serbia, about his son St. Sava, Tsar Doushan, his young son Ourosh, +King Voukashin, the Royal Prince Kralyevitch Marko, Tsar Lazar, and +the heroes who fell in the famous battle at Kossovo (1389). It can +be said that the Serbian peasants wrote their own national history +by composing and reciting it from one generation to another in the +rhythmical ten-syllabic blank verse. The gooslari and the monks kept +the national political consciousness and the national Church fully +alive through the five centuries in which they were only Turkish Rayah, +a mass of common people doomed to be nothing better than slaves to +their master, the Turk. We would to-day not have known anything about +the persistent guerilla war, which the best and boldest men of the +nation were relentlessly carrying on against the nation's oppressor +since the beginning of the sixteenth century until the first rising +of Shumadia under Karageorge in 1804, if we had not the so-called +Haidoochke Pesme (the Songs on Haidooks). Long before the history of +The Resurrection of the Serbian National State had been written by +Stoyan Novakovich, the learned President of the Serbian Academy, the +bard Vishnyich described that resurrection in songs of great beauty +and power. And the victories of the Serbian army over the Turks and +Bulgars in the war of 1912-13 are already sung by the improvized +bards in the inns and at the great gatherings of the people at the +village fairs and around the churches on great church festivals. Of +course, a Serbian who has heard on hundreds of occasions national +songs recited learns to recite them himself, although he may not be +able to accompany his recitation on the goussle. Nor does he find +it difficult, by using many stereotyped lines of old and well-known +songs, to tell the story of a recent event. When in 1873, as Minister +of Finance, I was defeated in the Budget debate at the Skoupshtina, +my defeat was recited to the people in blank verse the same evening, +and the next day. + +Besides the songs which relate, more or less accurately, actual events, +many a national song relates a legend or a tradition. They have been +created, no doubt, under the influence of the priests and monks, +and are appropriate recitations to the crowds who come to the church +festivals. I am glad to see that M. Petrovitch has included in his +collection the song which is probably the oldest among all Serbian +songs. It is called "The Saints partition [or divide] the Treasures," +and it gives expression to an evidently very old tradition, which +remembers a sort of catastrophe which befell India, and which probably +was the cause of the ancient ancestors of the Slavs leaving India. It +is most remarkable to find an echo of an Indian catastrophe in the +national songs of the Serbians. + +That the Serbians had national songs in which they described the +exploits of their national heroes was noted in the fourteenth +century. Nicephoras Gregoras, sent by the Byzantine Emperor on a +diplomatic mission to Serbia, relates having heard the Serbians sing +their national songs on their heroes. The records of several diplomatic +missions, going from Vienna or Buda to Constantinople during the +sixteenth century, relate that the members heard people sing heroic +songs. In that century we have the first attempt to reproduce in +print some of those national songs, as, for instance, by the Ragusan +poet Hectorovich. In the eighteenth century fuller efforts were made +by the Franciscan monk Kachich-Mioshich and by Abbe Fortis. But it +is to the self-taught founder of modern Serbian literature, Vouk +Stephanovitch Karadgitch, that the greatest honour is due, as has +been shown by M. Petrovitch in his Introduction and elsewhere. + +M. Petrovitch must have experienced what the French call embarras +de richesses. It was not so easy to select the songs for an English +translation. But he has given us some of the finest Serbian epic +songs as samples of what the Serbian national poetry is capable of +creating. I regret only that he has not included a few samples of +what the Serbian village women and girls are able to produce in the +way of lyrical poetry. Perhaps on some other occasion he will make +an amende honorable to our countrywomen. + +I wish to add yet a few words to what M. Petrovitch has said about our +greatest national hero, the Royal Prince (Kralyevitch) Marko. As he +has pointed out, Marko is a historical personality. But what history +has to say about him is not much, and certainly not of the nature to +explain how he became the favourite hero of the Serbian people. He +was a loyal and faithful vassal of the Sultan, a fact hardly likely to +win him the respect and admiration of the Serbians. Yet the Serbians +throughout the last five centuries have respected, admired, loved +their Royal Prince Marko, and were and are now and will ever be proud +of him. This psychological puzzle has stirred up the best Serbian +and some other historical students and authors to investigate the +matter. It is evident to all that most of the songs on Marko must have +been composed under the mighty influence of his personality upon his +contemporary countrymen. Dr. Yagich, Dr. Maretich, Professor Stoykovich +and St. Novakovich all believe that his athletic strength and personal +appearance were responsible for much of the impression he made. All +agree that his conduct in everyday life and on all occasions was that +of a true knight, a cavaliere servente, a chevalier sans peur et sans +reproche. Even his attachment and unfailing readiness to serve the +Sultan was counted in his favour, as proof of his absolute loyalty of +character. Probably that very loyalty was appreciated by the Sultan +and enabled Marko not rarely to appeal to the Sultan in favour of his +people, especially when some prisoners or slaves were to be liberated +and saved. He was certainly the protector of poor and suffering men +and women, and went to their rescue at all and every personal risk +and cost. He must have given real proofs of his devotion to the cause +of justice; that is what endeared him to his generation as well as +to the generations which followed. He must have been known during +his life for his fear of God and his respect and tender love for +his mother. The Serbians painted him from the model which his own +personality and his actual deeds offered to the nation. One of the +most beautiful features of his knightly character as described by +the national bards is his love of and pity for suffering animals. I +regret that my friend Petrovitch did not give a sample of the songs +which glorify that feature of our national hero, as, for instance, +the song "Marko and the Falcon" (Vouk. ii. 53), or "Marko and the +Eagle" (Vouk. ii. 54), in each of which it is described how when once +Marko fell ill on a field, an intense thirst tormenting him and the +scorching sun-rays burning his face, those birds out of gratitude for +the kindness Marko showed them once, brought to him water in their +beaks and spread their wings to shade his face against the sun. + +By far the best study on the Serbian national hero has been written +by the Russian professor M. Halanski, who explains the puzzle by the +natural sympathy of the people for a 'tragic hero.' The historical +Marko was certainly a 'tragic hero.' Nothing proves that better than +his last words before the battle of Rovina began (1399), and which +M. Petrovitch quotes in the text. + +I ought to add that there is also a theory that the Serbian nation, +so to say, projected itself in the Royal Prince Marko, depicting its +own tragic fate, its own virtues and weaknesses, in the popular yet +tragic personality of Marko. No doubt Marko must have been in some +way the representative type of a noble Serbian, otherwise he could +not have found the way to the soul and heart of his people. Yet that +theory is hardly modest, for my taste. + +It may interest our British friends to know that a relation of the +dynasty of which Marko was the last representative, a certain Prince +John Mussachi, in a historical memoir stated that Marko's father, King +Voukashin, was the descendant of a certain nobleman named Britanius +or Britanicus! [2] We should be proud if it could be proved that +the ancestors of our national hero were in some way connected with +the Britons. + + +Chedo Miyatovich +Member of the Royal Serbian Academy of Sciences + +Belgrade +June 28, 1914 + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + Introduction xvii + I Historical Retrospect 1 + II Superstitious Beliefs and National Customs 13 + III Serbian National Epic Poetry 54 + IV Kralyevitch Marko; or, the Royal Prince Marko 59 + V Banovitch Strahinya 119 + VI The Tsarina Militza and the Zmay of Yastrebatz 129 + VII The Marriage of Maximus Tzrnoyevitch 134 + VIII The Marriage of Tsar Doushan the Mighty 150 + IX Tsar Lazarus and the Tsarina Militza 170 + X The Captivity and Marriage of Stephan Yakshitch 177 + XI The Marriage of King Voukashin 186 + XII The Saints Divide the Treasures 195 + XIII Three Serbian Ballads + + 1. The Building of Skadar 198 + 2. The Stepsisters 206 + 3. The Abduction of the Beautiful Iconia 210 + + XIV Folk Lore + + 1. The Ram with the Golden Fleece 213 + 2. A Pavilion neither in the Sky nor on the Earth 220 + 3. Pepelyouga 224 + 4. Animals' Language 230 + 5. The Stepmother and her Stepdaughter 235 + 6. Justice and Injustice 240 + 7. He who Asks Little Receives Much 243 + 8. Bash Tchelik or Real Steel 247 + 9. The Golden Apple-tree and the Nine Pea-hens 267 + 10. The Bird Maiden 280 + 11. Lying for a Wager 283 + 12. The Maiden Wiser than the Tsar 287 + 13. Good Deeds Never Perish 291 + 14. He whom God Helps no one can Harm 300 + 15. Animals as Friends and as Enemies 305 + 16. The Three Suitors 316 + 17. The Dream of the King's Son 322 + 18. The Biter Bit 328 + 19. The Trade that no one Knows 340 + 20. The Golden-haired Twins 353 + + XV Some Serbian Popular Anecdotes 362 + Glossary and Index 371 + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +More than once in the following pages I have lamented my inability +to translate into English verse the spirited ballads of our national +bards; never until now have I realized the error involved in the +dictum of my teachers of literature--true as it may be from one point +of view--that beautiful thoughts are to be more freely expressed in +prose than in a poetic form, which is necessarily hampered by rules +of prosody and metre. Undoubtedly, good prose is worth more than +mediocre verse, but how if the author be a master poet? + +Serbian epic poetry undoubtedly deserves the attention of the English +literary world, and I venture to express the hope that some day another +English poet will be attracted as was Sir John Bowring by the charm +of our ballads, and like him will endeavour to communicate to readers +of English the alluring rhythmic qualities of the originals. + +In the first half of the nineteenth century various German poets +transversified some of our national ballads, and I cannot but boast +that among the number was even Goethe himself. Alas! he was compelled +to use Italian versions, for he was ignorant of the Serbian language, +unlike his worthy countryman Jacob Grimm, who, after having learnt +our musical tongue that he might acquaint himself with the treasures +written in it, wrote: "The Serbian national poetry deserves indeed a +general attention.... On account of these ballads I think the Serbian +will now be universally studied." + +A Tcheque [3] writer, Lyoodevit Schtur, speaking of the Slav poetry, +wrote: "The Indo-European peoples express each in their own manner what +they contain in themselves and what elevates their souls. The Indian +manifests this in his huge temples; the Persian in his holy books; the +Egyptian in pyramids, obelisks and immeasurable, mysterious labyrinths; +the Hellene in his magnificent statues; the Roman in his enchanting +pictures; the German in his beautiful music--the Slavs have poured +out their soul and their intimate thoughts in ballads and tales." + +I think that it is not too much to claim that of all the Slavs, +Serbians have most profusely poured out their souls in their poetry, +which is thoroughly and essentially national. So much could not safely +be said about their tales and legends, which, to my mind, seem less +characteristic. Indeed, by their striking analogy with the folk lore +of other nations they help to demonstrate the prehistoric oneness +of the entire Aryan race. For example, it would be ridiculous for +any nation to lay exclusive claim, as 'national property,' to such +legends as "Cinderella" [4] and certain others, which are found more +or less alike in many languages, as is well known to those who have +any considerable acquaintance with European folk lore. + +From time immemorial the Serbian has possessed an exceptional natural +gift for composing heroic ballads. That gift was brought from his +ancient abode in the North; and the beautiful scenery of his new +surroundings, and contact with the civilized Byzantine, influenced +it very considerably and provided food for its development, so that +it came to resemble the Homeric epic rather than any product of the +genius of the Northern Slav. The treasure of his mental productions was +continually augmented by new impressions, and the national poetry thus +grew opulent in its form and more beautiful in its composition. The +glorious forests of the Balkans, instinct with legend and romance, to +which truly no other forests in Europe can compare; the ever-smiling +sky of Southern Macedonia; the gigantic Black Rocks of Montenegro +and Herzegovina, are well calculated to inspire even a less talented +people than the Serbian inhabitants of those romantic regions for +the last thirteen centuries. + +The untiring Serbian muse pursued her mission alike upon the +battlefield or in the forest, in pleasant pastures amid the flocks, +or beneath the frowning walls of princely castles and sacred +monasteries. The entire nation participated in her gracious gifts; +and whenever a poet chanted of the exploits of some favourite +national hero, or of the pious deeds of monk or saint, or, indeed, +of any subject which appeals closely to the people, there were never +lacking other bards who could make such poetic creations their own and +pass them on with the modifications which must always accompany oral +transmission, and which serve to bring them ever more intimately near +to the heart of the nation. This characteristic of oral transmission +explains the existence of varying versions of some of the most +popular songs. + +Through many centuries, and more especially during the blighting +domination of the Turk, Serbian national literature was limited to +a merely oral form, save that the untiring monks, inviolable within +the sacred walls of their monasteries, spent their leisure, not +in inscribing the popular ballads and lyric songs of their nation, +but in recording the biographies of other monks or of this or that +princely patron. + +Those Serbians who could not endure the oppressive rule of the +Ottoman, and who in the seventeenth century emigrated with their +Patriarch Arsen Tcharnoyevitch to the level fields of Southern +Hungary--there to adopt in the course of the two subsequent centuries +the pseudo-classicism of the West--considered it infra dignitatem to +write about such vulgar subjects as popular poetry and tradition. The +gifted descendants of those lamentable slaves of the cunning Austrian +and Pan-Russian influences wasted their talents in vain and empty +imitation of pseudo-classic productions from Italy and France, and, +by conjugating zealously the Serbian and Old-Slavonic verbs in the +Russian fashion they created a monstrous literary jargon which they +termed Slavyano-Serbski (i.e. Slavo-Serbian). And if any Serbian +author should have presumed to write in the melodious and genuine +Serbian as universally spoken throughout his fatherland, he would have +been anathematized by those misguided Slavo-Serbian 'classicists' who +fondly believed that by writing in a language hardly comprehensible +even to themselves, because of its utter inconsequence and arbitrary +changes, they would surely become distinguished in the history of +their nation's literature. + +The 'classicists' received their deserts in the first half of the +nineteenth century, when they were overwhelmed by the irresistible +torrent of the popular movement headed by the self-taught Serbian +peasant, Vouk Stephanovitch-Karadgitch, whose name will remain for +ever great in the history of Serbian literature. Karadgitch has been +called justly "the father of Serbian modern literature." His numberless +opponents, who began by heaping upon him every opprobrious epithet +which their pens or tongues could command, ended, after more than +fifty years of fruitless resistance, by opening wide their arms to him. + +Karadgitch framed a grammar of the popular Serbian language, banishing +all unnecessary graphic signs and adapting his thirty-lettered +alphabet to the thirty sounds (five vowels and twenty-five consonants) +of his mother tongue--thus giving it an ideal phonetic orthography, +and establishing the golden rule, "Spell as you speak and speak as you +spell." [5] He also travelled from one village to another throughout +Serbia, zealously collecting and inscribing the epic and lyric poems, +legends, and traditions as he heard them from the lips of bards and +story-tellers, professional and amateur. + +In his endeavours he was powerfully seconded by the Serbian ruling +princes, and he had the good fortune to acquire the intimate +friendship of those distinguished philologers and scientists of the +last century, Bartholemy Kopitar, Schaffarik, and Grimm. Helped by +Kopitar, Karadgitch succeeded in compiling an academic dictionary of +the Serbian language interpreted by Latin and German equivalents. This +remains to this day the only reliable Serbian dictionary approaching +to the Western standard of such books. His first collection of Serbian +popular poems was published in Vienna in 1814. It contained 200 lyric +songs, which he called zenske pyesme (i.e. 'women-songs'), and 23 +heroic ballads, and the book created a stir in literary circles in +Austria, Serbia, Germany, Russia, and other countries. Seven years +later Karadgitch published at Leipzig a second edition in three +books. This contained 406 lyric songs and 117 heroic poems. From this +edition Sir John Bowring made his metrical translation of certain +of the lyric and epic poems, which he published in 1827 under the +title Servian Popular Poetry. He dedicated the book to Karadgitch, +who was his intimate friend and teacher of Serbian. + +I have reproduced three of Bowring's ballads in this book that +English readers may have a better idea than they can obtain from a +mere prose rendering of the original verse. As to the poetic merits of +these metrical translations I will not presume to offer an opinion, +but I may be permitted to say that I have not seen a more faithful +translation of our national ballads and lyric songs in English or in +any other language. Considering the difficulties to the Anglo-Saxon +student of any Slavonic language (more especially Serbian) it is +surprising that there should be so few defects in Bowring's work. Sir +John must have possessed an uncommon gift for acquiring languages, +as he has also translated from each of the other Slavonic tongues +with--so I am informed--similar accuracy and precision. + +The third edition of Karadgitch's work appeared in Vienna at intervals +between the years 1841 and 1866. It had now grown to five volumes and +contained 1112 lyric songs and 313 heroic ballads. It is from this +edition that I have selected the hero-tales in this book; and if I +should succeed in interesting a new generation of English readers in +the literature of my country it will be my further ambition to attempt +the immeasurably harder task of introducing them in a subsequent +volume to our popular lyric poetry. + +It remains only to tender my most grateful acknowledgment to my +esteemed friend M. Chedo Miyatovich for his invaluable advice and +encouragement, and for his generous willingness to contribute the +preface which adorns my book. + + +W. M. P. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER I: HISTORICAL RETROSPECT + + +The Coming of the Serb + +Prior to their incursion into the Balkan Peninsula during the +seventh century, the Serbians [6] lived as a patriarchal people +in the country now known as Galicia. Ptolemy, the ancient Greek +geographer, describes them as living on the banks of the River Don, +to the north-east of the sea of Azov. They settled mostly in those +Balkan territories which they inhabit at the present day, namely, +the present kingdom of Serbia, Old Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and +Herzegovina, Montenegro, Dalmatia, Batchka, Banat, Croatia, Sirmia +and Istria. The ancient inhabitants of those regions, Latins, +Illyrians, Thracians, Greeks and Albanians, were easily driven by +the newcomers toward the Adriatic coast. Their Emperor, Heraclius +(A.D. 610-641), unable to oppose an effective resistance, ceded to +the Serbians all the provinces which they had occupied, and peace +was thus purchased. The pagan and uncultured Serbian tribes now came +into constant intercourse with the civilized Byzantines, and soon +were converted to Christianity; for it is an almost invariable fact +that when one people conquers or subjects another people, the more +civilized of the two, whether the vanquished or the victorious, must +necessarily impose its civilization and customs on the more barbarous. +But the Serbians only embraced Christianity to any large extent with +the beginning of the ninth century, when the two brothers Cyrillos and +Methodius--the so-called Slavonic apostles--translated and preached +the teaching of Christ in the ancient Slav language, then in common +use among all southern Slavs of that time. + + + + +Early Struggles + +As the Serbians, during the seventh and eighth centuries, were divided +into tribes, they became an easy prey to the attacks of the Byzantines, +the Bulgars and the Francs, although they never were subjugated by +any of those neighbours. The Serbians, however, were forced to realize +that only by concentration of their power could they offer resistance +as a nation, and a serious effort was made to found a State on the +banks of the River Morava, with Horea Margi (now called Tyoupriya) +as its capital, in the early part of the ninth century. Owing to +Bulgarian hostility, however, this proved abortive. + +A fresh attempt to form an independent State was made by the Djoupan +(Count) Vlastimir, who had succeeded in emancipating himself from +Byzantine suzerainty. This province was called Rashka and extended +around the Rivers Piva, Tara, and Lim, touching the basin of the +River Ibar in the east and that of Vrbas in the west. But in the +very beginning of its civil life there were dissensions amongst the +leaders which facilitated the interference of the Bulgarian Tsar +Simeon. Tchaslav, the djoupan of another Serbian tribe, though he +possessed no rights to it, claimed the throne, and was supported +by Simeon, who successfully invaded Rashka. The Bulgarians retained +possession of the country for seven years (924-931), when Tchaslav +succeeded in wresting from them a new state which comprised, +together with Rashka, the territories of Zetta, Trebinye, Neretva +and Houm. After his death, great disorder reigned in this principality. + +In the course of the next century the Byzantine Empire, having +again brought the now enfeebled Bulgaria within its rule, also +overpowered Rashka, whose Grand Djoupan fled. The ruler of Zetta, +Stephen Voislav (1034-1051), son of Dragomir, djoupan of Trebinye, +took the opportunity of declaring himself independent of his suzerain +the Grand Djoupan of Rashka, and appropriated Zahoumlye (Herzegovina) +and some other regions. His son Michaylo (1053-1081) succeeded further +in bringing Rashka under his authority, and obtained the title of +king (rex Sclavorum) from Pope Gregory VII in the year 1077. Under +the rule of King Bodin, the son of Michaylo, the Serbia of Tchaslav +was restored; furthermore Bosnia was added to his state. But after +Bodin's death new disorder ensued, caused mainly by the struggles +amongst the several pretenders to the throne. + + + + +Internecine Strife + +Internecine strife is an unfortunate feature to be noticed throughout +Serbian history, and constantly we see energy wasted in futile +dissensions among various members of ruling families, who criminally +and fatally neglected national interests, in pursuit by legitimate +or illegitimate means of their personal ambitions. This has at all +times hindered the Serbian nation from becoming a powerful political +unit, although efforts were made by many of the rulers to realize +this policy. + +In 1169 a dynasty destined to rule Serbia for more than two centuries +(1169-1372) within ever-changing political boundaries, was founded +by the celebrated Grand Djoupan Stephan Nemanya (1169-1196) who was +created Duke (grand djoupan) of Serbia by the Byzantine Emperor after +he had instigated a revolution, the result of which was favourable +to his pretensions. By his bravery and wisdom he succeeded not only +in uniting under his rule the provinces held by his predecessors, +but also in adding those which never had been Serbian before, and he +placed Ban Koulin, an ally, upon the throne of Bosnia. Furthermore he +strengthened the orthodox religion in his state by building numerous +churches and monasteries, and by banishing the heretic Bogoumils. [7] +Feeling the weakness of advanced age, and wishing to give fresh proof +of his religious faith to his people, the aged Nemanya abdicated in +1196, in favour of his able second son Stevan, and withdrew into a +monastery. On his accession in the year 1217 Stevan assumed the title +of King of Serbia. + +When the crusaders vanquished Constantinople, Sava, Stevan's youngest +brother, obtained from the Greek patriarch the autonomy of the Serbian +Church (1219), and became the first Serbian archbishop. + +Stevan was succeeded by his son Radoslav (1223-1233), who was dethroned +by his brother Vladislav (1233-1242), who was removed from the throne +by his third brother Ourosh the Great (1242-1276). Ourosh increased his +territory and established the reputation of Serbia abroad. In his turn, +he was dethroned by his son Dragoutin (1276-1281), who, owing to the +failure of a campaign against the Greeks, retired from the throne in +favour of a younger brother Miloutin (1281-1321), reserving, however, +for himself a province in the north of the State. Soon afterward +Dragoutin received from his mother-in-law, the queen of Hungary, +the lands between the Rivers Danube Sava and Drina, and assumed the +title of King of Sirmia. Dragoutin, while still alive, yielded his +throne and a part of his lands to Miloutin, and another part remained +under the suzerainty of the King of Hungary. Miloutin is considered +one of the most remarkable descendants of Nemanya. After his death the +usual discord obtained concerning the succession to the throne. Order +was re-established by Miloutin's son, Stevan Detchanski (1321-1331), +who defeated the Bulgarians in the famous battle of Velbouzd, and +brought the whole of Bulgaria under his sway. Bulgaria remained a +province of Serbia until the Ottoman hordes overpowered both. + + + + +Doushan the Powerful + +Stevan Detchanski was dethroned by his son Doushan the Powerful +(1331-1355), the most notable and most glorious of all Serbian +sovereigns. He aimed to establish his rule over the entire Balkan +Peninsula, and having succeeded in overpowering nearly the whole of +the Byzantine Empire, except Constantinople, he proclaimed himself, +in agreement with the Vlastela (Assembly of Nobles), Tsar of +Serbia. He elevated the Serbian archbishopric to the dignity of the +patriarchate. He subdued the whole of Albania and a part of Greece, +while Bulgaria obeyed him almost as a vassal state. His premature death +(some historians assert that he was poisoned by his own ministers) +did not permit him to realize the whole of his great plan for Serbia, +and under the rule of his younger son Ourosh (1355-1371) nearly all +his magnificent work was undone owing to the incessant and insatiable +greed of the powerful nobles, who thus paved the way for the Ottoman +invasion. + +Among those who rebelled against the new Tsar was King +Voukashin. Together with his brother and other lords, he held almost +independently the whole territory adjoining Prizrend to the south of +the mountain Shar. [8] + +King Voukashin and his brother were defeated in a battle with the +Turks on the banks of the River Maritza (1371), and all Serbian lands +to the south of Skoplye (Ueskueb) were occupied by the Turks. + + + + +The Royal Prince Marko + +The same year Tsar Ourosh died, and Marko, the eldest son of King +Voukashin, the national hero of whom we shall hear much in this book, +proclaimed himself King of the Serbians, but the Vlastela and the +clergy did not recognize his accession. They elected (A.D. 1371) Knez +[9] (later Tsar) Lazar, a relative of Tsar Doushan the Powerful, to be +the ruler of Serbia, and Marko, from his principality of Prilip, as a +vassal of the Sultan, aided the Turks in their campaigns against the +Christians. In the year 1399 he met his death in the battle of Rovina, +in Roumania, and he is said to have pronounced these memorable words: +"May God grant the victory to the Christians, even if I have to perish +amongst the first!" The Serbian people, as we shall see, believe that +he did not die, but lives even to-day. + +Knez Lazar ruled from 1371 to 1389, and during his reign he made +an alliance with Ban [10] Tvrtko of Bosnia against the Turks. Ban +Tvrtko proclaimed himself King of Bosnia, and endeavoured to extend +his power in Hungary, whilst Knez Lazar, with the help of a number +of Serbian princes, prepared for a great war against the Turks. But +Sultan Amourath, informed of Lazar's intentions, suddenly attacked +the Serbians on June 15 1389, on the field of Kossovo. The battle +was furious on both sides, and at noon the position of the Serbians +promised ultimate success to their arms. + + + + +The Treachery of Brankovitch. + +There was, however, treachery in the Serbian camp. Vook (Wolf) +Brankovitch, one of the great lords, to whom was entrusted one wing +of the Serbian army, had long been jealous of his sovereign. Some +historians state that he had arranged with Sultan Amourath to betray +his master, in return for the promise of the imperial crown of +Serbia, subject to the Sultan's overlordship. At a critical moment +in the battle, the traitor turned his horse and fled from the field, +followed by 12,000 of his troops, who believed this to be a stratagem +intended to deceive the Turks. This was a great blow to the Serbians, +and when, later in the day the Turks were reinforced by fresh +troops under the command of the Sultan's son, Bajazet, the Turkish +victory was complete. Knez Lazar was taken prisoner and beheaded, +and the Sultan himself perished by the hand of a Serbian voivode, +[11] Milosh Obilitch. + +Notwithstanding the disaster, in which Brankovitch also perished, the +Serbian state did not succumb to the Turks, thanks to the wisdom and +bravery of Lazar's son, Stevan Lazarevitch (1389-1427). His nephew, +Dyourady Brankovitch (1427-1456), also fought heroically, but was +compelled, inch by inch, to cede his state to the Turks. + + + + +The Final Success of the Turks + +After the death of Dyourady the Serbian nobles could not agree +concerning his successor, and in the disorder that ensued the Turks +were able to complete their conquest of Serbia, which they finally +achieved by 1459. Their statesmen now set themselves the task of +inducing the Serbian peasantry in Bosnia, by promises of future +prosperity, to take the oath of allegiance to the Sultan, and in +this they were successful during the reign of the King of Bosnia, +Stevan Tomashevitch, who endeavoured in vain to secure help from the +Pope. The subjugation of Bosnia was an accomplished fact by 1463, and +Herzegovina followed by 1482. An Albanian chief of Serbian origin, +George Kastriotovitch-Skander-Beg (1443-1468), successfully fought, +with great heroism, for the liberty of Albania. Eventually, however, +the Turks made themselves master of the country as well as of all +Serbian lands, with the exception of Montenegro, which they never +could subdue, owing partly to the incomparable heroism of the bravest +Serbians--who objected to live under Turkish rule--and partly to the +mountainous nature of the country. Many noble Serbian families found +a safe refuge in that land of the free; many more went to Ragusa as +well as to the Christian Princes of Valahia and Moldavia. The cruel +and tyrannous nature of Turkish rule forced thousands of families to +emigrate to Hungary, and the descendants of these people may be found +to-day in Batchka, Banat, Sirmia and Croatia. Those who remained +in Serbia were either forced to embrace Islam or to live as raya +(slaves), for the Turkish spahis (land-lords) not only oppressed the +Christian population, but confiscated the land hitherto belonging to +the natives of the soil. + + + + +The Miseries of Turkish Rule + +We should be lengthening this retrospect unduly if we were to describe +in full the miserable position of the vanquished Christians, and so +we must conclude by giving merely an outline of the modern period. + +When it happens that a certain thing, or state of things, becomes +too sharp, or acute, a change of some sort must necessarily take +place. As the Turkish atrocities reached their culmination at the +end of the XVIIth century, the Serbians, following the example of +their brothers in Hungary and Montenegro, gathered around a leader +who was sent apparently by Providence to save them from the shameful +oppression of their Asiatic lords. That leader, a gifted Serbian, +George Petrovitch--designated by the Turks Karageorge ('Black +George')--gathered around him other Serbian notables, and a general +insurrection occurred in 1804. The Serbians fought successfully, +and established the independence of that part of Serbia comprised +in the pashalik of Belgrade and some neighbouring territory. This +was accomplished only by dint of great sacrifices and through the +characteristic courage of Serbian warriors, and it was fated to endure +for less than ten years. + + + + +Serbia again Subjugated + +When Europe (and more particularly Russia) was engaged in the war +against Napoleon, the Turks found in the pre-occupation of the Great +Powers the opportunity to retrieve their losses and Serbia was again +subjugated in 1813. George Petrovitch and other Serbian leaders left +the country to seek aid, first in Austria, and later in Russia. In +their absence, Milosh Obrenovitch, one of Karageorge Petrovitch's +lieutenants, made a fresh attempt to liberate the Serbian people +from the Turkish yoke, and in 1815 was successful in re-establishing +the autonomy of the Belgrade pashalik. During the progress of his +operations, George Petrovitch returned to Serbia and was cruelly +assassinated by order of Milosh who then proclaimed himself hereditary +prince and was approved as such by the Sublime Porte in October +1815. Milosh was a great opponent of Russian policy and he incurred the +hostility of that power and was forced to abdicate in 1839 in favour of +his son Michel (Serbian 'Mihaylo'). Michel was an excellent diplomat, +and had previously incorporated within the independent state of Serbia +several districts without shedding blood. He was succeeded by Alexandre +Karageorgevitch (1842-1860) son of Karageorge Petrovitch. Under the +prudent rule of that prince, Serbia obtained some of the features +of a modern constitution and a foundation was laid for further and +rapid development. But an unfortunate foreign policy, the corruption +existing among the high dignitaries of the state and especially the +treachery of Milosh's apparent friends, who hoped to supplant him, +forced that enlightened prince to abandon the throne and to leave his +country. The Skoupshtina (National Assembly) restored Milosh but the +same year the prince died and was succeeded once again by his son +Michel (1860-1868). At the assassination of this prince his young +cousin, Milan (1868-1889), ruled with the aid, during his minority, +of three regents, in conformity of a Constitution voted in 1869. + +The principal events during the rule of Milan were: the war against +Turkey (1876-1878) and the annexation of four new districts; the +acknowledgment of Serbian independence by the famous Treaty of Berlin; +the proclamation of Serbia as a kingdom in 1882; the unfortunate war +against Bulgaria, which was instigated by Austria, and the promulgation +of a new Constitution, which, slightly modified, is still in force. + +After the abdication of King Milan, his unworthy son, Alexander, +ascended the throne. Despite the vigorous advices of his friends and +the severe admonishments of his personal friend M. Chedo Miyatovich, +he married his former mistress, Draga Mashin, under whose influence +he entered upon a period of tyranny almost Neronian in type. He went +so far as to endeavour to abolish the Constitution, thus completely +alienating his people and playing into the hands of his personal +enemies, who finally murdered him (1903). + + + + +King Peter I + +The Skoupshtina now elected the son of Alexander Karageorgevitch, +the present King Peter I Karageorgevitch, whose glorious rule will +be marked with golden letters in modern Serbian history, for it is to +him that Christendom owes the formation of the league whereby the Turk +was all but driven from Europe in 1913. But, alas! the Serbians have +only about one-half of their lands free, the rest of their brethren +being still under the foreign yoke. + + + +Brief as is this retrospect it will suffice to show the circumstances +and conditions from which sprung the Serbian national poetry with +which we shall be largely concerned in the following pages. The +legends have their roots in disasters due as much to the self-seeking +of Serbian leaders as to foreign oppressors; but national calamities +have not repressed the passionate striving of a high-souled people +for freedom, and these dearly loved hero tales of the Balkans express +the ideals which have inspired the Serbian race in its long agony, and +which will continue to sustain the common people in whatever further +disappointments they may be fated to suffer ere they gain the place +among the great nations which their persistence and suffering must +surely win in the end. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER II: SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS & NATIONAL CUSTOMS + + +General Characteristics + +The Serbians inhabiting the present kingdom of Serbia, having been +mixed with the ancient indigenous population of the Balkan Peninsula, +have not conserved their true national type. They have mostly brown +visages and dark hair; very rarely are blonde or other complexions +to be seen. Boshnyaks (Serbians inhabiting Bosnia) are considered +to be the most typical Serbians, they having most strongly retained +the national characteristics of the pure Southern-Slavonic race. The +average Serbian has a rather lively temperament; he is highly sensitive +and very emotional. His enthusiasm is quickly roused, but most emotions +with him are, as a rule, of short duration. However, he is extremely +active and sometimes persistent. Truly patriotic, he is always ready +to sacrifice his life and property for national interests, which he +understands particularly well, thanks to his intimate knowledge of the +ancient history of his people, transmitted to him from generation to +generation through the pleasing medium of popular epic poetry composed +in very simple decasyllabic blank verse--entirely Serbian in its +origin. He is extremely courageous and always ready for war. Although +patriarchal and conservative in everything national, he is ready +and willing to accept new ideas. But he has remained behind other +countries in agricultural and industrial pursuits. Very submissive in +his Zadrooga [12] and obedient to his superiors, he is often despotic +when elevated to power. The history of all the Southern Slavs pictures +a series of violations, depositions, political upheavals, achieved +sometimes by the most cruel means and acts of treachery; all mainly +due to the innate and hitherto inexpugnable faults characteristic of +the race, such as jealousy and an inordinate desire for power. These +faults, of course, have been most apparent in the nobles, hence the +decay of the ancient aristocracy throughout the Balkans. + + + + +Paganism and Religion + +There is available but slender material concerning the pre-Christian +history of the Southern-Slavonic races, and their worship of Nature has +not been adequately studied. Immediately after the Slavonic immigration +into the Balkan Peninsula during the seventh and eighth centuries, +Christianity, which was already deeply rooted in the Byzantines, easily +destroyed the ancient faith. The last survivors of paganism lived +in the western part of the peninsula, in the regions round the river +Neretva, and these were converted to Christianity during the reign of +Basil I. A number of Croatians had been converted to Christianity as +early even as the seventh century, and had established an episcopate +at Agram (Zagreb). In the course of some thousand years Graeco-Oriental +myths and legends, ancient Illyrian and Roman propaganda and Christian +legends and apocryphal writings exercised so great an influence upon +the ancient religions of the Southern-Slavonic peoples that it is +impossible to unravel from the tangled skein of such evidence as is +available a purely Southern-Slavonic mythology. + + + + +The God Peroon + +Of Peroon, the Russian God of Thunder, by whom the Russian pagans +used to swear in their treaties and conventions concluded with the +Byzantines during the tenth century, only a few insignificant traces +remain. There is a village named 'Peroon' near Spalato; a small number +of persons in Montenegro bear the name; [13] and it is preserved +also in the name of a plant, 'Peroonika' (iris), which is dedicated +to the god. There is hardly a cottage-garden in the Serbian villages +where one does not see the iris growing by the side of the house-leek +(Tchuvar-Koutchye). The Serbians say that the god lives still in the +person of St. Elias (Elijah), and Serbian peasants believe that this +saint possesses the power of controlling lightning and thunder. They +also believe that St. Elias has a sister 'Ognyena Maria' (Mary the +Fiery One), who frequently acts as his counsellor. + + + + +The God Volos + +From the Russian God of Cattle, 'Volos,' the city 'Veless' has obtained +its name; also a village in the western part of Serbia, and there +is a small village on the lower Danube called 'Velessnitza.' But +the closest derivative appears in the Serbian word 'Vo,' or 'Voll' +(in the singular) 'Volovi' (in the plural) which means 'Ox.' + + + + +The Sun God + +Other phenomena of Nature were also personified and venerated as gods. +The Sun god, 'Daybog' (in Russian 'Daszbog,' meaning literally 'Give, +O God!'), whose idols are found in the group of idols in Kief, and +whose name reappears as a proper name of persons in Russia, Moldavia +and Poland, is to the Serbians the personification of sunshine, +life, prosperity and, indeed, of everything good. But there have +been found no remains of idols representing the god 'Daybog' among +the Southern-Slavonic nations, as with the Russians, who made figures +of him in wood, with head of silver and moustache of gold. + + + + +The Veele + +The Serbian legends preserve to this day interesting traces of the +worship of those pagan gods and of minor deities--which still occupy +a considerable place in the national superstition. The "nymphai" +and "potami" mentioned by the Greek historian Procope, as inferior +female divinities inhabiting groves, forests, fountains, springs +or lakes, seem to have been retained in the Serbian popular Veela +(or Vila--in the singular; Veele or Vile--in the plural). There +are several fountains called "Vilin Izvor" in Montenegro (e.g. on +Mount Kom), as also in the district of Rudnik in Serbia. During +the Renaissance the Serbian poets of Ragusa and other cities of +Dalmatia made frequent reference to the nymphs, dryads, and oreads +beloved by them as "veele." The Serbian bards or troubadours from +the early fourteenth century to our day have ever glorified and sung +of the veele, describing them as very beautiful and eternally young, +robed in the whitest and finest gauze, with shimmering golden hair +flowing down over snow-white bosoms. Veele were said to have the most +sweet voices and were sometimes armed with bows and arrows. Their +melodious songs were often heard on the borders of the lakes or in +the meadows hidden deep in the forests, or on high mountain-peaks +beyond the clouds. They also loved to dance, and their rings are +called 'Vrzino (or Vilino) Kollo.' In Mount Kom in Montenegro, +there is one of these rings which measures about twenty metres +across and is called 'Vilino Kollo.' The Treaty of Berlin mentions +another situated between Vranya and Kuestandil, through which ran +the Serbo-Bulgarian frontier. When veele were dancing nobody dare +disturb them, for they could be very hostile to men. Like the Greek +nymphs, veele could also be amicably disposed; and on occasions they +assisted the heroes. They could become the sisters of men and of women, +and could even marry and have off-springs. But they were not by any +means invulnerable. Prince Marko, the favourite hero of the Serbians, +was endowed with superhuman strength by a veela who also presented +him with a most wonderful courser, 'Sharatz,' which was, indeed, +almost human. A veela also became his possestrima (Spiritual sister, +or 'sister-in-God') and when Marko was in urgent need of help, she +would descend from the clouds and assist him. But she refused to aid +him if he fought in duels on Sundays. On one occasion [14] Marko all +but slew the Veela Raviyoyla who wounded his pobratim (brother-in-God) +Voivode Milosh. The veele were wise in the use of herbs, and knew +the properties of every flower and berry, therefore Raviyoyla could +heal the wounds of Milosh, and his pierced heart was "sounder than +ever before." They believed in God and St. John, and abhorred the +Turk. The veele also possessed the power of clairvoyance, and Prince +Marko's 'sister-in-God' prophesied his death and that of Sharatz. [15] +Veele had power to control tempests and other phenomena of nature; they +could change themselves into snakes or swans. When they were offended +they could be very cruel; they could kill or take away the senses of +any who threatened them with violence; they would lead men into deep +waters or raze in a night magnificent buildings and fortresses. [16] + +To veele was attributed also the power of deciding the destiny of +newly born children. On the seventh night after the birth of a child +the Serbian peasant woman watches carefully for the Oossood, a veela +who will pronounce the destiny of her infant, and it is the mother +only who can hear the voice of the fairy. + + + + +Predestination and Immortality + +The Serbians believe firmly in predestination, and they say that +"there is no death without the appointed day" (Nema smrti bez soodyena +dana). They believe universally in the immortality of the soul, +of which even otherwise inanimate objects, such as forests, lakes, +mountains, sometimes partake. After the death of a man, the soul delays +its departure to the higher or lower spheres until the expiration of +a certain period (usually forty days), during which time it floats in +the air, and can perhaps enter into the body of some animal or insect. + + + + +Good and Evil Spirits + +Spirits are usually good; in Montenegro the people believe that each +house has its Guardian-Spirit, whom they call syen or syenovik. Such +syens can enter into the body of a man, a dog, a snake, or even a +hen. In the like manner every forest, lake, and mountain has each +its syen, which is called by a Turkish word djin. So, for example, +the djin of the mountain Riyetchki Kom, near the northern side of +the lake of Scutari, does not allow passers-by to touch a branch or a +leaf in the perpetually green woods on the mountain side, and if any +traveller should gather as much as a flower or a leaf he is instantly +pursued by a dense fog and perceives miraculous and terrifying visions +in the air. The Albanians dread similar spirits of the woods in the +region round Lurya, where they do not dare touch even the dry branches +of fallen firs and larches. This recalls the worship of sacred bushes +common among the ancient Lithuanians. + +Besides the good spirits there appear evil spirits (byess), demons, +and devils (dyavo), whom the Christians considered as pagan gods, +and other evil spirits (zli doossi) too, who exist in the bodies of +dead or of living men. These last are called vookodlaks or Vlkodlaks +(i.e. vook, meaning 'wolf,' and dlaka, meaning 'hair'), and, according +to the popular belief, they cause solar and lunar eclipses. This +recalls the old Norse belief that the sun and moon were continually +pursued by hungry wolves, a similar attempt to explain the same natural +phenomena. Even to-day Serbian peasants believe that eclipses of the +sun and moon are caused by their becoming the prey of a hungry dragon, +who tries to swallow them. In other parts of Serbia it is generally +believed that such dragons are female beings. These mischievous +and very powerful creatures are credited with the destruction of +cornfields and vineyards, for they are responsible for the havoc +wrought by the hail-carrying clouds. When the peasants observe a +partial eclipse of the moon or the sun, believing that a hailstorm is +imminent, they gather in the village streets, and all--men, women, +and children--beat pots and pans together, fire pistols, and ring +bells in order to frighten away the threatening monster. + +In Montenegro, Herzegovina, and Bocca Cattaro the people believe that +the soul of a sleeping man is wafted by the winds to the summit of a +mountain, and, when a number of such has assembled, they become fierce +giants who uproot trees to use as clubs and hurl rocks and stones at +one another. Their hissing and groans are heard especially during the +nights in spring and autumn. Those struggling crowds are not composed +merely of human souls, but include the spirits of many animals, such as +oxen, dogs, and even cocks, but oxen especially join in the struggles. + + + + +Witches + +Female evil spirits are generally called veshtitze (singular, +veshtitza, derived obviously from the ancient Bohemian word ved, which +means 'to know'), and are supposed to be old women possessed by an evil +spirit, irreconcilably hostile to men, to other women, and most of all +to children. They correspond more or less to the English conception of +'witches.' When an old woman goes to sleep, her soul leaves her body +and wanders about till it enters the body of a hen or, more frequently, +that of a black moth. Flying about, it enters those houses where there +are a number of children, for its favourite food is the heart of an +infant. From time to time veshtitze meet to take their supper together +in the branches of some tree. An old woman having the attributes of +a witch may join such meetings after having complied with the rules +prescribed by the experienced veshtitze, and this is usually done by +pronouncing certain stereotyped phrases. The peasants endeavour to +discover such creatures, and, if they succeed in finding out a witch, +a jury is hastily formed and is given full power to sentence her to +death. One of the most certain methods used to discover whether the +object of suspicion is really a witch or not, is to throw the victim +into the water, for if she floats she is surely a witch. In this case +she is usually burnt to death. This test was not unknown in England. + + + + +Vampires + +The belief in the existence of vampires is universal throughout the +Balkans, and indeed it is not uncommon in certain parts of western +Europe. Some assert that this superstition must be connected with +the belief generally held in the Orthodox Church that the bodies of +those who have died while under excommunication by the Church are +incorruptible, and such bodies, being taken possession of by evil +spirits, appear before men in lonely places and murder them. In +Montenegro vampires are called lampirs or tenatz, and it is thought +that they suck the blood of sleeping men, and also of cattle and other +animals, returning to their graves after their nocturnal excursions +changed into mice. In order to discover the grave where the vampire +is, the Montenegrins take out a black horse, without blemish, and +lead it to the cemetery. The suspected corpse is dug up, pierced +with stakes and burnt. The authorities, of course, are opposed to +such superstitious practices, but some communities have threatened +to abandon their dwellings, and thus leave whole villages deserted, +unless allowed to ensure their safety in their own way. The code of +the Emperor Doushan the Powerful provides that a village in which +bodies of dead persons have been exhumed and burnt shall be punished +as severely as if a murder had been committed; and that a resnik, that +is, the priest who officiates at a ceremony of that kind, shall be +anathematized. Militchevitch, a famous Serbian ethnographist, relates +an incident where a resnik, as late as the beginning of the nineteenth +century, read prayers out of the apocrypha of Peroon when an exorcism +was required. The revolting custom has been completely suppressed in +Serbia. In Montenegro the Archbishop Peter II. endeavoured to uproot +it, but without entire success. In Bosnia, Istria and Bulgaria it +is also sometimes heard of. The belief in vampires is a superstition +widely spread throughout Roumania, Albania and Greece. [17] + + + + +Nature Worship + +Even in our own day there are traces of sun and moon worship, and +many Serbian and Bulgarian poems celebrate the marriage of the sun +and the moon, and sing Danitza (the morning star) and Sedmoro Bratye +('The Seven Brothers'--evidently The Pleiades). [18] Every man has +his own star, which appears in the firmament at the moment of his +birth and is extinguished when he dies. Fire and lightning are also +worshipped. It is common belief that the earth rests on water, that +the water reposes on a fire and that that fire again is upon another +fire, which is called Zmayevska Vatra ('Fire of the Dragons'). + +Similarly the worship of animals has been preserved to our times. The +Serbians consider the bear to be no less than a man who has been +punished and turned into an animal. This they believe because the +bear can walk upright as a man does. The Montenegrins consider the +jackal (canis aureus) a semi-human being, because its howls at night +sound like the wails of a child. The roedeer (capreolus caprea) is +supposed to be guarded by veele, and therefore she so often escapes +the hunter. In some parts of Serbia and throughout Montenegro it is +a sin to kill a fox, or a bee. + +The worship of certain snakes is common throughout the Balkans. In +Montenegro the people believe that a black snake lives in a hole +under every house, and if anybody should kill it, the head of the +house is sure to die. Certain water-snakes with fiery heads were also +considered of the same importance as the evil dragons (or hydra) who, +at one time, threatened ships sailing on the Lake of Scutari. One +of these hydras is still supposed to live in the Lake of Rikavatz, +in the deserted mountains of Eastern Montenegro, from the bottom of +which the hidden monster rises out of the water from time to time, and +returns heralded by great peals of thunder and flashes of lightning. + +But the Southern Slavs do not represent the dragon as the Hellenes +did, that is to say as a monster in the form of a huge lizard or +serpent, with crested head, wings and great strong claws, for they +know this outward form is merely used as a misleading mask. In his +true character a dragon is a handsome youth, possessing superhuman +strength and courage, and he is usually represented as in love with +some beautiful princess or empress. [19] + + + + +Enchanters + +Among celebrants of the various pagan rites, there is mention of +tcharobnitzi (enchanters), who are known to have lived also in +Russia, where, during the eleventh century, they sapped the new +Christianity. The Slavonic translation of the Gospel recognized +by the Church in the ninth century applies the name 'tcharobnitzi' +to the three Holy Kings. + +To this same category belong the resnitzi who, as is apparent in +the Emperor Doushan's Code referred to previously, used to burn the +bodies of the dead. Resnik, which appears as a proper name in Serbia, +Bosnia and Croatia, means, according to all evidence, "the one who +is searching for truth." + + + + +Sacrificial Rites + +From translations of the Greek legends of the saints, the exact +terminology of the sacrificial ceremonies and the places where they +had been made is well known. Procopius mentions oxen as the animals +generally offered for sacrifice, but we find that calves, goats, +and sheep, in addition to oxen, were used by the Polapic Slavs and +Lithuanians, and that, according to Byzantine authorities, the Russians +used even birds as well. In Montenegro, on the occasion of raising a +new building, a ram or a cock is usually slaughtered in order that a +corner-stone may be besprinkled with its blood, and, at the ceremony of +inaugurating a new fountain, a goat is killed. Tradition tells of how +Prince Ivan Tzrnoyevitch once shot in front of a cavern an uncommonly +big wild goat that, being quite wet, shook water from its coat so that +instantly a river began to flow thence. This stream is called even +now the River of Tzrnoyevitch. The story reminds one of the goats' +horns and bodies of goats which are seen on the altar dedicated to +the Illyrian god, Bind, near a fountain in the province of Yapod. + +It is a fact that Russians and Polapic Slavs used to offer human +sacrifices. Mention of such sacrifices among the Southern Slavs +is found only in the cycle of myths relating to certain buildings, +which, it was superstitiously believed, could be completed only if a +living human being were buried or immured. Such legends exist among +the Serbians and Montenegrins concerning the building of the fortress +Skadar (Scutari) and the bridge near Vishegrad; with the Bulgarians +in reference to building the fort Lidga-Hyssar, near Plovdiv, and the +Kadi-Koepri (Turkish for 'the bridge of the judge') on the river Struma; +and again among modern Greeks in their history of the bridge on the +river Arta, and the Roumanians of the church 'Curtea de Ardyesh.' It +seems very likely that certain enigmatic bas-reliefs, representing +oval human faces with just the eyes, nose and mouth, which are found +concealed under the cemented surface of the walls of old buildings +have some connexion with the sacrificial practice referred to. There +are three such heads in the fortress of Prince Dyouragy Brankovitch +at Smederevo (Semendria), not far from Belgrade, on the inner side of +the middle donjon fronting the Danube, and two others in the monastery +Rila on the exterior wall close to the Doupitchka Kapiya. + + + + +Funeral Customs + +During the siege of Constantinople in the year 626, the Southern Slavs +burnt the bodies of their dead. The Russians did the same during the +battles near Silistria, 971, and subsequently commemorative services +were held in all parts of Russia, and the remains of the dead were +buried. + +The Slavs of north Russia used to keep the ashes of the dead in a +small vessel, which they would place on a pillar by the side of a +public road; that custom persisted with the Vyatitchs of southern +Russia as late as 1100. + +These funeral customs have been retained longest by the Lithuanians; +the last recorded instance of a pagan burial was when Keystut, +brother of the Grand Duke Olgerd, was interred in the year 1382, +that is to say, he was burnt together with his horses and arms, +falcons and hounds. + +There are in existence upright stones, mostly heavy slabs of stone, +many of them broken, or square blocks and even columns, which +were called in the Middle Ages kami, or bileg, and now stetyak or +mramor. Such stones are to be found in large numbers close together; +for example, there are over 6000 in the province of Vlassenitza, +and some 22,000 in the whole of Herzegovina; some can be seen also in +Dalmatia, for instance, in Kanovli, and in Montenegro, at Nikshitch; +in Serbia, however, they are found only in Podrigne. These stones +are usually decorated with figures, which appear to be primitive +imitations of the work of Roman sculptors: arcades on columns, plant +designs, trees, swords and shields, figures of warriors carrying +their bows, horsemen, deer, bears, wild-boars, and falcons; there +are also oblong representations of male and female figures dancing +together and playing games. + +The symbol of the Cross indicates the presence of +Christianity. Inscriptions appear only after the eleventh century. But +many tombstones plainly had their origin in the Middle Ages. Some +tombs, situated far from villages, are described by man's personal +name in the chronicles relating to the demarcations of territories, +for example, Bolestino Groblye (the cemetery of Bolestino) near Ipek; +Druzetin Grob (the tomb of Druzet). In Konavla, near Ragusa, there +was in the year 1420 a certain point where important cross-roads met, +known as 'Obugonov Grob.' Even in our day there is a tombstone here +without inscription, called 'Obugagn Greb.' It is the grave of the +Governor Obuganitch, a descendant of the family of Lyoubibratitch, +famous in the fourteenth century. + + + + +Classic and Mediaeval Influence + +When paganism had disappeared, the Southern-Slavonic legends received +many elements from the Greeks and Romans. There are references to the +Emperors Trajan and Diocletian as well as to mythical personages. In +the Balkans, Trajan is often confused with the Greek king Midas. In +the year 1433 Chevalier Bertrandon de la Broquiere heard from the +Greeks at Trajanople that this city had been built by the Emperor +Trajan, who had goat's ears. The historian Tzetzes also mentions +that emperor's goat's ears otia tragou. In Serbian legends the +Emperor Trajan seems also to be confused with Daedalus, for he is +given war-wings in addition to the ears. + +To the cycle of mediaeval myths we owe also the djins (giants) who dwelt +in caverns, and who are known by the Turkish name div--originally +Persian. Notable of the divs were those having only one eye--who +may be called a variety of cyclops--mentioned also in Bulgarian, +Croatian and Slovenian mythology. On the shores of the river Moratcha, +in Montenegro, there is a meadow called 'Psoglavlya Livada' with a +cavern in which such creatures are said to have lived at one time. + + + + +The Spread of Christianity + +When the pagan Slavs occupied the Roman provinces, the Christian +region was limited to parts of the Byzantine provinces. In Dalmatia +after the fall of Salona, the archbishopric of Salona was transferred +to Spalato (Splyet), but in the papal bulls of the ninth century it +continued always to be styled Salonitana ecclesia, and it claimed +jurisdiction over the entire lands as far as the Danube. + +According to Constantine Porphyrogenete, the Serbians adopted the +Christian faith at two different periods, first during the reign of +the Emperor Heraclius, who had requested the Pope to send a number of +priests to convert those peoples to the Christian faith. It is well +known, however, that the Slavs in Dalmatia even during the reign of +Pope John IV (640-642) remained pagans. No doubt Christianity spread +gradually from the Roman cities of Dalmatia to the various Slav +provinces. The Croatians already belonged to the Roman Church at the +time when its priests were converting the Serbians to Christianity +between the years 642 and 731, i.e., after the death of Pope John IV +and before Leon of Isauria had broken off his relations with Rome. + +The second conversion of those of the Southern Slavs who had remained +pagans was effected, about 879, by the Emperor Basil I. + +At first the Christian faith spread amongst the Southern Slavs only +superficially, because the people could not understand Latin prayers +and ecclesiastical books. It took root much more firmly and rapidly +when the ancient Slavonic language was used in the church services. + +Owing to the differences arising over icons and the form their worship +should take, enthusiasm for the conversion of the pagans by the Latin +Church considerably lessened. In the Byzantine provinces, however, +there was no need for a special effort to be made to the people, +for the Slavs came in constant contact with the Greek Christians, +whose beliefs they adopted spontaneously. + +From the Slavonic appellations of places appearing in certain official +lists, one can see that new episcopates were established exclusively +for the Slavs by the Greek Church. The bishops conducted their +services in Greek, but the priests and monks, who were born Slavs, +preached and instructed the people in their own languages. Thus they +prepared the ground for the great Slav apostles. + +The Slav apostles of Salonica, Cyrillos and his elder brother +Methodius, were very learned men and philosophers. The principal of +the two, Cyrillos, was a priest and the librarian of the Patriarchate; +in addition he was a professor of philosophy in the University of +the Imperial Palace at Constantinople, and he was much esteemed on +account of his ecclesiastical erudition. Their great work began in 862 +with the mission to the Emperor Michel III., with which the Moravian +Princes Rastislav and Svetopluk entrusted them. + +The Moravians were already converted to Christianity, but they wished +to have teachers among them acquainted with the Slav language. Before +the brothers started on their journey, Cyrillos composed the Slav +alphabet and translated the Gospel. + +Thus the Serbians obtained these Holy Books written in a language +familiar to them, and the doctrines of the great Master gradually, +but steadily, ousted the old, primitive religion which had taken +the form of pure Naturalism. But the worship of Nature could not +completely disappear, and has not, even to our day, vanished from the +popular creed of the Balkans. The folk-lore of those nations embodies +an abundance of religious and superstitious sentiment and rites handed +down from pre-Christian times, for after many years' struggle paganism +was only partially abolished by the ritual of the Latin and afterwards +of the Greek Christian Church, to which all Serbians, including the +natives of Montenegro, Macedonia and parts of Bosnia, belong. + + + + +Superstition + +The foundations of the Christian faith were never laid properly in +the Balkans owing to the lack of cultured priests, and this reason, +and the fact that the people love to cling to their old traditions, +probably accounts for religion having never taken a very deep hold on +them. Even to this day superstition is often stronger than religion, +or sometimes replaces it altogether. The whole daily life of the +Southern Slav is interwoven with all kinds of superstition. He is +superstitious about the manner in which he rises in the morning and +as to what he sees first; for instance, if he sees a monk, he is sure +to have an unfortunate day; when he builds a house, a 'lucky spot' +must be found for its foundation. At night he is superstitious about +the way he lies down; he listens to hear if the cocks crow in time, +and if the dogs bark much, and how they are barking. He pays great +attention to the moment when thunder is first heard, what kind of +rain falls, how the stars shine--whether or not they shine at all, +and looks anxiously to see if the moon has a halo, and if the sun +shines through a cloud. All these things are portents and omens to +his superstitious mind, and they play a considerable part in all his +actions. When he intends to join a hunting expedition, for example, +he decides from them whether there will be game or not; he believes +that he is sure to shoot something if his wife, or sister (or any +other good-natured person) jumps over his gun before he calls up his +dogs. Especially there are numberless superstitions connected with +husbandry, for some of which fairly plausible explanations could be +given; for others, however, explanations are hopelessly unavailing, +and the reasons for their origin are totally forgotten. Nevertheless, +all superstitions are zealously observed because, the people say, +"it is well to do so," or "our ancestors always did so and were happy, +why should we not do the same?" + +The planting of fruit-trees and the growing of fruit must be aided by +charms, and numerous feasts are organized to secure a fruitful year, +or to prevent floods, hail, drought, frost, and other disasters. But +undoubtedly the greatest number of superstitions exist regarding the +daily customs, most of which refer to birth, marriage and death. Charms +are used to discover a future bridegroom or bride; to make a young man +fall in love with a maid or vice versa; also, if it seems desirable, +to make them hate each other. Sorcery is resorted to to ensure the +fulfilment of the bride's wishes with regard to children; their +number and sex are decided upon, their health is ensured in advance, +favourable conditions are arranged for their appearance. Death can +come, it is believed, only when the Archangel Michael removes a soul +from its body, and that can only happen on the appointed day. + +The chief national customs of the Southern Slavs are involved in a +mass of superstition. As the Serbians are the most representative of +the Balkan Slavs, we shall consider a few of their customs in order +to show how little of the true spirit of religion is to be found in +some of their religious observances. + + + + +Marriage + +When a child is born in a Serbian family, the friends congratulate +the parents and wish for them: "that they may live to see the green +wreaths," which means living to see their child married. Marriages +are most frequent in autumn, especially towards Christmas, and more +rare in summer. When parents intend to find a bridegroom for their +daughter or a bride for their son, they generally consider the question +thoroughly for a whole year beforehand. They take their daughter or +son to various social gatherings, in order that they may meet one +suited to become the husband of their daughter or the wife of their +son. When a daughter is informed of her parents' decision she must +hasten her preparations: she must see that the bochtchaluks [20] +(wedding presents) which she has to distribute among the wedding +guests (svati or svatovi) be finished soon. These presents are +articles mostly made by her own hands, such as socks, stockings, +shirts, towels, and rugs. Usually the house is put into good order and +perhaps enlarged before the marriage, and when all the preparations +are ready the rumour of her approaching marriage is allowed to spread +through the village. As marriages are usually settled by the parents, +love-matches, unfortunately, are rare, and elopements are regarded +as phenomenal. There are, however, cases where young people are not +docile to the will of their parents with regard to marriage. If a +girl has fallen in love with a young man, she may have recourse, +besides usual ways and methods, to professional enchantresses. Among +the devices recommended by these friends of lovers are the following: +The maiden looks through the muzzle of a roast sucking-pig (which has +been killed for the Christmas festivities) at her beloved, whereupon +he is sure to grow madly in love with her; her lover is bound to +die of love for her if she sees him through a hole made in a cherry +or certain other fruit; she is equally sure to gain his affection +if she can succeed in finding the trace of his right foot-print and +turns the earth under it. These and many other kinds of sorcery are +usually practised on or about St. George's Day (23rd of April, O.S.). + +Young men, too, have recourse on occasion to witchcraft when they +desire the love of some obdurate maiden. For instance, if at midnight +on a certain Friday the young man goes to the courtyard of the dwelling +of the lady of his heart and there shakes a tree three times, uttering +as many times her Christian name, she is absolutely certain to answer +his call and to reciprocate his love. Another equally infallible +method is for him to catch a certain fish and to let it die near +his heart; then to roast its flesh until it is burnt to a cinder, +then to pound this, and to place the powder secretly in water or some +other beverage. If the girl can be induced to taste of it, she is as +a matter of course constrained to love him. These expedients recall +the famous exploit of the French troubadour Pierre Vidal undertaken +to win the love of his beautiful patroness Donna Azalais de Baux. A +magical recipe for success in love, taken from an Arabic monument, +was given to the poet by Hugues de Baux, a mischievous young knight +and brother-in-law of the fair Donna Azalais; the credulous Vidal +was induced to ride on a pig one moonlight night three times round +the castle of his lady-love, all unconscious that his waggish friend +had brought all the inmates to a terrace to witness his ridiculous +exhibition. + + + + +Marriage Negotiations + +When parents have chosen their son's bride they send to her parents a +fully qualified delegate (navodagjya) to inquire whether or not they +would consent to give their daughter to the young man. As marriages are +rarely concluded without the aid of these delegates there are numerous +persons who make it their regular profession to negotiate marriages, +and they receive a sum of money when their offices are successful. In +addition to this fee the navodagjya receives from the future bride at +least one pair of socks. If the father of the girl is not agreeable +to the proposal, he generally does not give a decisive reply, but +finds some pretext, stating, for example, that his daughter is still +too young, or that she is not quite ready with her preparations for +marriage; but if the young man appears to be eligible and the father is +willing to give his consent, he generally answers that he would like +to see his daughter married to such an excellent man, provided the +couple be fond of each other. Then a meeting is arranged, although +in fact this is merely a matter of form, since the final decision +must come from the parents themselves, irrespective of the mutual +feelings of the prospective husband and wife. The parents ask the +young people if they like one another; usually an affirmative answer +is given, whereupon all present embrace each other, and presents are +exchanged, both between the parents and between the future husband and +bride. This event is often celebrated by the firing of pistols and +guns, in order to make it known all over the village that marriage +festivities are soon to follow. Soon after the ceremony, which may +be called a preliminary betrothal, the parents of the bridegroom, +together with the young man and a few most intimate friends, pay an +official visit to the house of the bride. The visit usually takes place +in the evening, and, after the bridegroom has given the bride a ring, +festivities begin and last until the next morning. A few days later the +bride and the bridegroom go to church, accompanied by a few friends, +and the priest asks them some stereotyped questions, such as: "Do you +wish to marry of your own free will?" to which they are, so to speak, +compelled to answer "Yes." + + + + +The Wedding Procession + +A week before the wedding-day both families prepare their houses for +numerous guests, whom they will entertain most hospitably for several +days. Until very recent times, if the bride lived in some distant +village the wedding procession had to travel for several days to fetch +her, and, in the absence of good roads for carriages, the entire party +had to ride on horseback. The wedding party includes the dever [21] +(that is, leader of the bride), who remains in constant attendance +upon the bride throughout the ceremonies, being, in a sense, her +guardian; the koom (principal witness, who in due course becomes a +sort of sponsor or godfather to the children); and the stari-svat, +who is the second witness of the wedding ceremony. Throughout the +wedding ceremonies the koom has to stand behind the bridegroom and +the stari-svat behind the bride. The stari-svat is also a kind of +master of the ceremonies on the wedding-day; he keeps order among +the guests and presides at the nuptial banquets. With the dever come +also his parents, and the koom and stari-svat must bring one servant +each, to attend them during the ceremony. These two witnesses must +provide themselves with two large wax candles, generally adorned +with transparent silk lace and flowers, which they must present to +the bride in addition to many other gifts. + +Before the procession sets out, the young people fire pistols, sing, +and dance, whilst the elders sit and take refreshment. The appearance +of the bridegroom in his bridal garments, and wearing flowers in his +hat, is the signal for the traditional nuptial songs from a chorus of +girls. When the carriages are ready to start they sing the following: + + + "A falcon flew from the castle + Bearing a letter under its wing, + Drops the letter on the father's knee + See! Father! The letter tells you + That thy son will travel far, + Beyond many running rivers, + Through many verdant forests, + Till he brings you a daughter[-in-law]." + + +The Tzigan (Gipsy) band begins its joyful melodies; the bridegroom, +the standard-bearer, and other young people mount their horses, all +gaily bedecked with flowers, and the procession starts for the bride's +house, the equestrians riding, generally, two and two, firing pistols +and singing. The procession is always led by a frolicsome youth who +carries a tchoutoura (a flat wooden vessel) containing red wine. It is +his duty to offer this to every person the wedding party may meet on +the road, and he is privileged to make, during the wedding festival, +jokes and witticisms at the expense of everybody. He enjoys the licence +of a court jester for that day, and nobody must resent his witticisms, +which are, at times, indelicate and coarse. + +A few steps behind the tchoutoura-bearer ride the voivode (general, +or leader), whose office it is to support the former in his sallies, +and the standard-bearer, who carries the national flag; after +them, in one of the carriages profusely decorated with flowers, +ride the bridesmaids, who are selected from among the relatives of +the bridegroom. With other presents the maidens carry the wedding +dress and flowers which the bridegroom's father has bought for his +future daughter-in-law. Immediately following the bridesmaids rides +the bridegroom between the koom and the stari-svat. Then come other +relatives and guests, two and two in procession. At times these +wedding processions offer a very impressive sight. + + + + +The Arrival + +When the wedding procession approaches the house of the bride, its +arrival is announced by firing off pistols and guns, whereupon a +number of girls appear and sing various songs expressive of sorrow +at the bride's departure from her old home. In some parts of Serbia +there still survives a strange old custom; the bride's father requires +that certain conditions should be fulfilled before the gates of the +courtyard are opened for the procession. For example, he sends a good +wrestler to challenge any or every man of the bridegroom's party, +and one of the wedding guests must overpower the challenger before +the gates are opened. Of course, the wrestling bout is not serious, +as a rule. Another condition, obtaining in ether parts, is that the +newcomers are not be to admitted before one of them, by firing his +pistol, has destroyed a pot or other terra-cotta vessel fastened at +the top of the chimney. + +When such, or other, conditions have been successfully negotiated, +the wedding party is admitted to the house and led to tables loaded +with roast lamb or pork, cakes, fruit, wine and brandy. The bride's +father places the father of the bridegroom in the seat of honour, +and immediately next to him the stari-svat, then the koom and then the +bridegroom. When the guests are seated, a large flat cake (pogatcha) +is placed before the bridegroom's father, and he lays upon it some gold +coins; it may be a whole chain made of golden ducats, which the bride +is to wear later round her neck. His example is followed immediately +by the stari-svat, the koom, and all the other guests. Finally the +bride's father brings the dowry which he has determined to give to +his daughter and lays it on the cake. All the money thus collected is +handed over to the stari-svat, who will give it in due course to the +bride. Next the bridesmaids take the wedding dress to the bride's +apartment, where they adorn her with great care and ceremony. Her +toilet finished, one of her brothers, or, in the absence of a brother, +one of her nearest male relatives, takes her by the hand and leads +her to the assembled family and friends. The moment she appears, the +wedding guests greet her with a lively fire from their pistols, and +the bridesmaids conduct her to the bridegroom, to whom she presents +a wreath of flowers. She is then led to the stari-svat and the koom, +whose hands she kisses. That ordeal concluded, she goes into the +house, where, in front of the hearth, sit her parents on low wooden +chairs. There she prostrates herself, kissing the floor in front of +the fire. This is obviously a relic of fire-worship; now, however, +symbolical of the veneration of the centre of family life. When +she rises, the maiden kisses the hands of her father and mother, +who, embracing her, give her their blessing. Now her brother, or +relative--as the case may be--escorts her back to the bridegroom's +party and there delivers her formally to the dever, who from that +moment takes charge of her, in the first place presenting to her the +gifts he has brought. + + + + +The Return from Church + +After they have feasted the guests mount their horses and, firing +tirelessly their pistols, set out with the bride for the nearest +church. When the religious ceremony is over the wedding party returns +to the bridegroom's home, and the bride has to alight from her horse +(or carriage) upon a sack of oats. While the others enter the courtyard +through the principal gate, the bride usually selects some other +entrance, for she fears lest she may be bewitched. Immediately she +enters, the members of the bridegroom's family bring to her a vessel +filled with various kinds of corn, which she pours out on the ground +"in order that the year may be fruitful." Next they bring her a male +child whom she kisses and raises aloft three times. She then passes +into the house holding under her arms loaves of bread, and in her +hands bottles of red wine--emblems of wealth and prosperity. + +Although the wedding guests have been well feasted at the bride's +house, the journey has renewed their appetites, therefore they seat +themselves at tables in the same order as we have already seen, and +are regaled with a grand banquet. Throughout the meal, as at the +previous one, the voivodes and the tchoutoura-bearer poke fun and +satire at the expense of everybody. These mirthful effusions are, +as we have already said, not generally in very good taste, but no one +takes offence, and everybody laughs heartily, provided there be wit +in the jokes. After this feast, during which the young people perform +the national dances (kollo) and sing the traditional wedding songs, +the dever brings the bride to the threshold of her apartment (vayat) +and delivers her to the koom, who, in his turn, leads her in, places +her hand in that of the bridegroom and leaves them alone. The guests, +however, often remain in the house, until dawn, drinking and singing. + + + + +Slava (or Krsno Ime) + +This custom is considered to be a survival of the times when the +Serbians were first converted to Christianity. Every Serbian family +has one day in the year, known as slava, generally some saint's day, +when there are performed certain ceremonies partly of a religious and +partly of a social character. The saint whom the head of the family +celebrates as his patron, or tutelary saint, is also celebrated by +his children and their descendants. + +A few days before the celebration the priest comes to the house of +every svetchar--the man who as the chief of the family celebrates the +saint--in order to bless the water which has been prepared beforehand +for that purpose in a special vessel; after this he besprinkles the +heads of all the members of the family with the holy water, into +which he has dipped a small sprig of basil. Then he proceeds from +room to room performing the same ceremony in each. + +In order to please their tutelary saint, all the members of the family +fast for at least a week before the feast. On the eve of the saint's +day a taper is lit before the saint's image, and remains burning for +two days. One or two days before the festival the women prepare a +kolatch (a special cake made of wheat-flour) which measures about +fifteen inches in diameter, and is about three inches thick. Its +surface is divided into quarters by being marked with a cross, +each quarter bearing a shield with the letters I.N.R.I. In the +centre there is a circle in which is a poskurnik (monogram of these +initials). Besides the kolatch, another cake of white wheat well +boiled and mixed with powdered sugar, chopped nuts, and almonds, +is made. This is called kolyivo (literally "something which has +been killed with the knife"). This is obviously a relic of the pagan +times when kolyivo was the name given to animals sacrificed on the +altar. When the Serbians were converted to the Christian faith, they +were told that the Christian God and His saints did not call for +animal, and still less for human sacrifice, and that boiled wheat +might serve as a substitute. And it is interesting to find that +kolyivo is prepared only for those saints whom the people believe +to be dead, and not for those who are believed to be still living, +such as St. Elias (Elijah), the patron Saint of Thunder, or the +"Thunderer," the Archangel Michael and certain others, for it is +emphatically a symbolic offering for the dead. + + + + +The Slava Eve Reception + +On the eve of the Slava day enough food is prepared to last for the two +following days, and toward sunset, all the tables are well loaded with +refreshments in readiness for the arrival of numerous guests. Friends +and relations are invited to come by a messenger especially sent out +from the house. There are several stereotyped forms of this invitation, +one of which is the following: "My father (or my uncle, as the case may +be) has sent me to bring you his greetings and to invite you to our +house this evening to drink a glass of brandy. We wish to share with +you the blessings bestowed upon us by God, and our patron-saint. We +entreat you to come!" At these words the messenger hands to the invited +guest a tchoutoura filled with red wine and decorated with flowers, +out of which the guest is obliged to take a little. He then makes +the sign of the Cross, and says: "I thank you, and may your Slava be +a happy and prosperous one!" After tasting the wine, he continues: +"We will do our best to come. It is simple to comply with your wish, +since we are invited to share such an honour." He invariably pronounces +these words whether he really intends to accept the invitation or not. + +In the meantime, while the messenger was away inviting guests, the +women of the household have been making all the preparations necessary +for their reception. Each guest, as he reaches the threshold exclaims: +"O master of the house, art thou willing to receive guests?" Hearing +this the Svetchar rushes to meet the guest and greets him in these +words: "Certainly I am, and may there be many more good guests such +as thou art!" Then the guest enters, embraces the Svetchar and says: +"I wish thee a most pleasant evening and a happy Slava!" And then as +a matter of course the host answers: "I thank thee, and welcome thee +to my house!" In the same manner the other guests are greeted. When +they have all arrived, the host invites them to wash their hands--for +no Serbian peasant would ever sit down to take food without first +doing so. Then the host shows to each one his place at the table, +always strictly observing precedence due to seniority. + +The girls of the house first pass round brandy to the assembled +guests and this, at least in the winter, has generally been warmed, +and honey or sugar has been added. While that is being served all +the guests stand, and in silence wait reverently for the ceremonies +of the Slava to begin. + +The host places in the middle of the table a large wax candle, +which he does not light until he has made the sign of the Cross +three times. Next he takes an earthen vessel containing a few embers, +places in it a few small pieces of incense and then lets the fragrance +ascend to the icon, which is, according to custom, occupying the +place of honour in the room, then still holding the censer he stops +for a few moments before each guest. That ceremony being ended, and +if there be no priest present, the host himself invites his guests +to say their prayers to themselves. A great many Serbian peasants +are gifted with the power of offering extempore prayers and they are +always in request at these ceremonies. The host passes the censer +to his wife, whose duty it is to see that the fumes of the incense +reach into every part of the house. Next the host breaks silence with +the following prayer: "Let us pray, O brethren, most reverently to +the Almighty Lord, our God, and to the Holy Trinity! O Lord, Thou +omnipotent and gracious Creator of Heaven and Earth, deliver us, +we pray Thee, from all unforeseen evil! O, St. George! (here he +adds the name of the saint whose festival they are celebrating), +our holy patron-saint, protect us and plead for us with the Lord, +our God, we here gathered together do pray Thee. Ye Holy Apostles, +ye, the four Evangelists and pillars upon whom rest the Heavens and +the Earth, we, being sinners, do conjure ye to intercede for us," +and so on. When his prayer is finished, the guests make the sign of +the Cross several times and then supper begins. + + + + +Slava Toasts + +During the first two or three courses, the guests continue to drink +brandy, and wine is not served until they have partaken of meat. At +the drinking of the first glass of wine the oldest guest or whoever +enjoys the highest dignity of position (generally it is the village +priest or the mayor) proposes the first toast, of which--as well +as of all the subsequent ones--it may be said that tradition has +ordered the exact programme to be followed in all these proceedings, +and even prescribed the very words to be used. In some parts of Serbia +the host himself proposes the first toast to the most distinguished +of his guests, addressing him with: "I beg to thank you, as well as +all your brethren, for the honour which you graciously show me in +coming to my Slava! Let us drink the first glass to the glory of +the gracious God! Where wine is drunk in His name, may prosperity +always be!" The principal guest accepts the toast, makes the sign of +the Cross and answers in such words as the following: "I thank you, +most kind and hospitable host! May your Slava bring you prosperity, +let us drink this second glass 'for the better hour.'" The third +toast is generally "To the glory of the Holy Trinity!" (In Serbian: +Tretya-sretya, sve u slavu Svete Troyitze!) + +In some parts of Serbia there are commonly seven or even more toasts to +be drunk, but this custom shows, fortunately, a tendency to disappear. + + + + +The Ceremony at Church + +Next morning all the members of the family rise very early in +order to restore order in the house, and the Svetchar goes to the +nearest church, taking with him the kolyivo, the kolatch, some wine, +incense and a wax candle. All these things he places in front of the +altar where they must remain during the morning service, after which +the officiating priest cuts the Slava cake from underneath so that +his cuts correspond with the lines of the cross shown on the upper +surface. Then he breaks the cake and turns it in a circle with the help +of the Svetchar, while they pronounce certain prayers together. This +ceremony ended, the host takes one half of the cake home and leaves the +other half to the priest. If it happens that the church is far away, +and time does not allow the host to absent himself long from home, +the Slava cake may be cut in halves by him in his own house with +the help of his male guests, chanting all the while certain formal +prayers: and standing in a circle they hold the cake so that a thumb +of each guest should be placed on the top of the cake, whilst they +each support it with four fingers. + + + + +The Slava Feast + +Toward noon, a few minutes before the sun reaches his zenith, a part +of the Slava cake is placed upon the table together with a lighted +wax candle. To this midday meal many more guests are usually invited +than had attended the supper on the previous evening; furthermore, +on this day even a stranger--whatever his religion may be--has the +right to enter the house and to claim hospitality. For instance, +the Royal Prince Marko had many friends amongst the Turks, and they +would invariably come to him as guests on his Slava day. All the +guests rise together, cross themselves with great reverence, and, in +perfect silence, with glasses filled, they await the address to be made +by the Svetchar. Again three, or perhaps more, toasts are proposed +and accepted, and, of course, as many times are the glasses again +emptied and re-filled before the 'midday' meal is even begun. Eating +and drinking, in all cases, "to the glory of God, the Holy Trinity, +to the Holy Slava" and so forth continue till late at night, when the +guests remember that it is time to go home. Many, however, remain in +the house all night and for the next day. Some devotees of good wine +used actually to remain, on occasions, for three whole consecutive +days and nights. This very extreme devotion to the saints has been +practised more especially at Nish, and in that neighbourhood, and +has furnished the celebrated Serbian novelist Stefan Strematz with +abundant material for one of the finest, as it is undoubtedly one of +the wittiest, novels that have been written in Serbian. + + + + +Christmas Eve + +Another festival, which the Serbians, like other nations, conduct +with many rites and customs of unmistakably pagan origin and which +fills the hearts of all with joy, is Christmas. It is a saying of +the Serbian people that "there is no day without light--neither is +there any real joy without Christmas." + +The Serbian peasant is, as a general rule, an early riser, but on +Christmas Eve (Badgni dan) everybody is up earlier than usual, +for it is a day when each member of the household has his hands +full of work to be done. Two or more of the young men are sent out +from every house to the nearest forest [22] to cut, and bring home, +a young oak tree, which is called Badgnak. (The etymology of this word +is obscure, but it is probably the name, or derived from the name, of +a pagan god.) When the young man who is to cut the tree has selected +it, he kneels down, and murmuring words of greeting and uttering a +special prayer, he throws at it a handful of wheat or corn; then he +makes the sign of the Cross three times and begins carefully to cut +in such a direction that the tree must necessarily fall toward the +East, and at just about the moment when the sun first shows himself +above the horizon. He has also to see that the tree does not touch, +in falling to earth, the branches of any tree near it, otherwise +the prosperity of his house would most surely be disturbed during +the ensuing year. The trunk of the tree is now cut into three logs, +one of which is rather longer than the others. + +Toward evening, when everything is ready and all the members of the +family are assembled in the kitchen, the chief room in the dwelling, +a large fire is lit, and the head of the family solemnly carries in +the Badgnak, and, placing it on the fire, so that the thicker end is +left about twelve inches beyond the hearth, he pronounces in a loud +voice his good wishes for the prosperity of the house and all within +it. In the same way he brings in the other parts of the Badgnak, +and, when all are in a blaze, the young shepherds embrace across the +largest log, for they believe that by doing so they will ensure the +attachment of the sheep to their lambs, of the cows to their calves, +and of all other animals to their young. + +At this point of the proceedings the oldest member of the family +brings in a bundle of straw and hands it over to the housewife, to +whom he wishes at the same time "a good evening and a happy Badgni +dan." She then throws a handful of corn at him, thanks him for the +straw and starts walking about the kitchen and the adjoining rooms, +scattering straw on the floor and imitating the clucking of hens, +while the children gleefully follow her and imitate the sounds made +by young chicks. + +This finished, the mother has next to bring a yellow wax candle and an +earthen vessel filled with burning coal. The father again reverently +makes the sign of the Cross, lights the candle and places some incense +on the embers. Meanwhile the rest of the family have already formed +themselves into a semi-circle, with the men standing on the right and +the women on the left. The father now proceeds to say prayers aloud, +walking from one end of the semi-circle to the other and stopping +in front of each person for a short space of time that the fumes of +smoking incense, in the censer, held in his right hand, should rise +to the face of every one in turn. The prayers which they utter on +these occasions last for about fifteen or twenty minutes, and vary +in nearly every district. + +After the prayers they all sit down to supper, which is laid, not +upon a table, but on the floor, for it is considered a good orthodox +custom to lay sacks over the stone or clay of which the floor is +formed, and to use cushions instead of chairs, on Christmas Eve. +During supper, at which no meat is served, the father of the family +enthusiastically toasts the Badgnak, expressing at the same time his +wishes for their common prosperity for the new year, and pours a glass +of wine over the protruding end of the log. In many parts of Serbia +all the peasants--men, women, and even small children--fast for the +forty-five days immediately before Christmas. They abstain from meat, +eggs, and milk-food, and eat simply vegetables and fruit. + +When the supper is over the whole family retires to bed, except one +of the young men, who remains near the fire to see that the Badgnak +does not burn off completely, and that the fire is not extinguished. + + + + +Christmas Day + +It is generally believed that the rites and customs concerning this +Church festival, which we Serbians call in our own language Bojitch, +meaning 'the little God,' is nothing but the modified worship of the +pagan god Dabog (or Daybog), to whom we have already referred, or +perhaps represents several forms of that worship. Our pagan ancestors +used to sacrifice a pig to their Sun-god, and in our day there is +not a single house throughout Serbia in which "roast pork" is not +served on Christmas Day as a matter of course. The men and boys of +each household rise very early in the morning that day to make a big +fire in the courtyard, and to roast a sucking-pig on a spit, for which +all preparations are made on Badgni dan. The moment each little pig +is placed at the fire there is a vigorous firing of pistols or rifles +to greet it, showing by the sound of shot after shot that the whole +village is astir. As nearly all the houses in a village practise the +same custom most zealously, and as naturally every youth considers +it a part of his duty to fire a pistol, the neighbouring hills echo +again and again as if persistent skirmishing were going on. + +Still early in the morning one of the maidens goes to the public +well to fetch some drinking water, and when she reaches the well she +greets it, wishing it a happy Christmas, throwing at the same time +into it a handful of corn and a bunch, or perhaps merely a sprig, +of basil. She throws the corn in the hope that the crops may be as +abundant as water, and the basil is to keep the water always limpid +and pure. The first cupful of the water she draws is used to make a +cake (Thesnitza) to be broken at the midday meal into as many pieces +as there are members of the household. A silver coin has been put +into the dough, and the person who finds it in his piece of cake is +considered as the favourite of fortune for the year to come. + +During the morning every house expects a visitor (polaznik), who is +usually a young boy from a neighbouring house. When the polaznik +enters the house he breaks off a small branch of the Badgnak's +smouldering end, and while he is greeting the head of the house with +'Christ is born!' and all the others are answering him with a cry +of 'In truth He is born!' the mother throws at him a handful of +wheat. He then approaches the hearth, and strikes the Badgnak with +his own piece of tree repeatedly, so that thousands of sparks fly up +into the chimney, and he pronounces his good wishes: "May the holy +Christmas bring to this house as many sheep, as many horses, as many +cows, as many beehives, [and so forth,] as there are sparks in this +fire!" Then he places on the Badgnak either a silver or a gold coin, +which the head of the family keeps to give to the blacksmith to smelt +in with the steel when making his new plough--for, as he believes, +this cannot fail to make the ground more fertile and all go well. The +polaznik is, of course, made to stay and share the meal with them, +and afterwards he is presented with a special cake also containing +a coin, sometimes a gold one, sometimes silver. + +After the repast all the youths go out of doors for sports, especially +for sleighing, while the older people gather together around a gooslar +(a national bard), and take much, even endless, delight in listening +to his recitals of their ancient ballads. + + + + +The Dodola Rite + +The disasters which Serbian peasants most fear are of two +kinds--drought and very violent storms. In pagan times there was a +goddess who, it is believed, ruled the waters and the rain. When +the Serbians were first converted to Christianity, the power of +controlling the ocean, rivers, and storms, and the sailing of ships +at sea, was attributed to St. Nicholas, and the Dalmatians, sea-going +men, still pray only to him; whereas in the heart of Serbia, where +the peasants have no conception of what large navigable rivers are, +still less of what seas and lakes are like, recourse is taken to the +favourite goddess Doda or Dodola whenever there is an unduly long +spell of dry weather. + +The Dodola rite is a peculiar one. A maiden, generally a Gipsy, is +divested of her usual garments and then thickly wrapped round with +grass and flowers so that she is almost concealed beneath them. She +wears a wide wreath of willow branches interwoven with wild flowers +around her waist and hips, and in such fantastic attire she has to +go from house to house in the village dancing, while each housewife +pours over her a pailful of water, and her companions chant a prayer +having the refrain, Oy Dodo, oy Dodole, after every single line: + + + Fall, O rain! and gentlest dew! + Oy, Dodo! Oy, Dodole! + Refresh our pasture-lands and fields! + Oy, Dodo! Oy, Dodole! + + +In each verse that follows mention is made of a cereal or other plant, +imploring Doda that rain may soon be shed upon it. Then the cottage +women give them presents, either food or money, and the maidens sing +other songs for them, always in the same rhythm, give their thanks, +offer good wishes, and are gone. + + + + +Whitsuntide + +During the Whitsuntide festivities, about fifteen young girls, mostly +Christian Gipsies, one of whom personates the Standard-bearer, another +the King, and another the Queen (kralyitza), veiled and attended by a +number of Maids of Honour, pass from door to door through the village, +singing and dancing. Their songs relate to such subjects as marriage, +the choice of a husband or wife, the happiness of wedded life, the +blessing of having children. After each verse of their songs follows +a refrain, Lado, oy, Lado-leh! which is probably the name of the +ancient Slavonic Deity of Love. + + + + +Palm Sunday + +"In winter, just before Lent, the great festival in honour of the Dead +is celebrated, at which every one solemnizes the memory of departed +relations and friends, and no sooner does Palm Sunday arrive than +the people join in commemorating the renovation of life. + +"On the preceding Saturday the maidens assemble on a hill, and recite +poems on the resurrection of Lazarus; and on Sunday, before sunrise, +they meet at the place where they draw water and dance their country +dance (kolllo), chanting a song, which relates how the water becomes +dull by the antlers of a stag, and bright by his eye." [23] + + + + +St. George's Day + +On St. George's Day, April 23rd (Dyourdyev Dan), long before dawn, +all the members of a Serbian family rise and take a bath in the +water, in which a number of herbs and flowers--each possessing its +own peculiar signification--have been cast before sunset the preceding +day. He who fails to get up in good time, and whom the sun surprises +in bed, is said to have fallen in disgrace with St. George, and he +will consequently have little or no luck in any of his undertakings +for the next twelve months. This rite is taken as a sign that the +Serbian peasants yield to the many influences of newly awakened nature. + +It will be seen by anyone who studies the matter that each season +in turn prompts the Serbians, as it must prompt any simple primitive +people, to observe rites pointing to the mysterious relation in which +man finds that he stands to nature. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER III: SERBIAN NATIONAL EPIC POETRY + + +The Importance of the Ballads + +That the Serbian people--as a distinct Slav and Christian +nationality--did not succumb altogether to the Ottoman oppressor; that +through nearly five centuries of subjection to the Turk the Southern +Slavs retained a deep consciousness of their national ideals, is due +in a very large measure to the Serbian national poetry, which has kept +alive in the hearts of the Balkan Christians deep hatred of the Turk, +and has given birth, among the oppressed Slavs, to the sentiment +of a common misfortune and led to the possibility of a collective +effort which issued in the defeat of the Turk on the battlefields of +Koumanovo, Monastir, Prilip, Prizrend, Kirk-Kilisse, and Scutari. + +Who has written those poems? We might as well ask, who is the author +of the Iliad and the Odyssey? If Homer be the collective pseudonym +of an entire cycle of Hellenic national bards, 'The Serbian people' +is that of the national bards who chanted those Serbian epic poems +during the centuries, and to whom it was nothing that their names +should be attached to them. The task of the learned Diascevastes +of Pisistrate's epoch, which they performed with such ability in +the old Hellade, has been done in Serbia by a self-taught peasant, +the famous Vouk Stephanovitch-Karadgitch, in the beginning of the +nineteenth century. Vouk's first collection of Serbian national poems, +which he wrote down as he heard them from the lips of the gousslari +(i.e. Serbian national bards), was published for the first time at +Vienna in 1814, and was not only eagerly read throughout Serbia and +in the literary circles of Austria and Germany, but also in other +parts of Europe. Goethe himself translated one of the ballads, and +his example was quickly followed by others. + +Those poems--as may be seen from the examples given in this +volume--dwell upon the glory of the Serbian mediaeval empire, lost +on the fatal field of Kossovo (1389). When the Turks conquered the +Serbian lands and drove away the flower of the Serbian aristocracy, +these men took refuge in the monasteries and villages, where the +Turkish horsemen never came. There they remained through centuries +undisturbed, inspired by the eloquence of the Serbian monks, who +considered it their sacred duty to preserve for the nation behind +their old walls the memory of ancient kings and tzars and of the +glorious past in which they flourished. + +Professional bards went from one village to another, chanting +in an easy decasyllabic verse the exploits of Serbian heroes and +Haidooks (knight-brigands), who were the only check upon the Turkish +atrocities. The bards carried news of political and other interesting +events, often correct, sometimes more or less distorted, and the +gifted Serbians--for gifted they were and still are--did not find +it difficult to remember, and to repeat to others, the stories thus +brought to them in poetic form. As the rhythm of the poems is easy, +and as the national ballads have become interwoven with the spirit of +every true Serbian, it is not rare that a peasant who has heard a poem +but once can not only repeat it as he heard it, but also improvise +passages; nay, he can at times even compose entire original ballads +on the spur of inspirational moments. + +In Serbian Hungary there are schools in which the blind learn these +national ballads, and go from one fair to another to recite them before +the peasants who come from all Serbian lands. But this is not the true +method. In the mountains of Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina +there is no occasion to learn them mechanically: they are familiar to +all from infancy. When, in the winter evening, the members of a Serbian +family assemble around the fire, and the women are engaged with their +spinning, poems are recited by those who happen to know them best. + + + + +The Goussle + +The ballads are recited invariably to the accompaniment of a primitive +instrument with a single string, called a goussle, which is to be met +with in almost every house. The popular Serbian poet, Peter Petrovitch, +in his masterpiece, Gorsky Viyenatz ('The Mountain Wreath') uttered +the following lines, which have become proverbial: + + + Dye se goussle u kutyi ne tchuyu + Tu su mrtva i kutya i lyoudi. + + (The house in which the goussle is not heard + Is dead, as well as the people in it.) + + +The old men, with grown-up sons, who are excused from hard labour, +recite to their grandchildren, who yield themselves with delight to the +rhythmic verse through which they receive their first knowledge of the +past. Even the abbots of the monasteries do not deem it derogatory to +recite those ballads and to accompany their voices by the monotonous +notes of the goussle. But the performance has more of the character +of a recitation than of singing: the string is struck only at the +end of each verse. In some parts of Serbia, however, each syllable +is accentuated by a stroke of the bow, and the final syllable is +somewhat prolonged. + +The heroic decasyllabic lines have invariably five trochees, with +the fixed caesura after the second foot; and almost every line is in +itself a complete sentence. + +There is hardly a tavern or inn in any Serbian village where one could +see an assembly of peasants without a gousslar, around whom all are +gathered, listening with delight to his recitals. At the festivals +near the cloisters, where the peasants meet together in great numbers, +professional gousslars recite the heroic songs and emphasize the +pathetic passages in such an expressive manner that there is hardly a +listener whose cheeks are not bedewed with copious tears. The music +is extremely simple, but its simplicity is a powerful and majestic +contrast to the exuberance of romance manifested in the exploits and +deeds of some favourite hero--as, for example, the Royal Prince Marko. + +There are many bold hyperboles in those national songs, and little +wonder if they are discredited by Western critics, especially in the +ballads concerning the exploits of the beloved Marko--who "throws his +heavy mace aloft as high as the clouds and catches it again in his +right hand, without dismounting from his trusty courser Sharatz." Now +and then an English reader may find passages which may seem somewhat +coarse, but he must bear in mind that the ballads have usually been +composed and transmitted from generation to generation by simple +and illiterate peasants. Most of those concerning the Royal Prince +Marko date from the early fourteenth century, when the customs, +even in Western Europe, were different from those prevailing +now. My translations have, however, been carefully revised by +Mrs. C. H. Farnam, who has taken a great interest in this book, and +has endeavoured to do no injustice to the rugged originals. Having +passed some time in Serbia--as many noble English ladies have +done--nursing the wounded heroes of the Balkan War, of 1912-13, +and softening their pain with unspeakable tenderness and devotion, +she was attracted by the natural, innate sense of honesty and the +bravery which her cultivated mind discovered in those simple Serbians +and her interest has since extended to their history and literature. + +It is worthy of consideration that the history of the Serbian and +other Southern Slavonic nations, developed by its poetry--if not +even replaced by it altogether--has through it been converted into a +national property, and is thus preserved in the memory of the entire +people so vividly that a Western traveller must be surprised when he +hears even the most ignorant Serbian peasant relate to him something at +least of the old kings and tsars of the glorious dynasty of Nemagnitch, +and of the feats and deeds of national heroes of all epochs. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER IV: KRALYEVITCH MARKO; OR, THE ROYAL PRINCE MARKO + + +The Marko Legends + +Marko was, as we have already seen, the son of King Voukashin; and +his mother was Queen Helen, whom the Serbian troubadours called by +the pleasing and poetic name Yevrossima (Euphrosyne) in their songs +and poems. + +According to the popular tradition, the Prince was born in the castle +of Skadar (Scutari), and his mother, being the sister of that most +glorious and adventurous knight Momchilo, fortunately transmitted +much of the heroism, and many of the other virtues, characteristic +of her own family, to her son. + +But there is also another tradition, equally popular, which +maintains that Marko was the child of a veela (fairy-queen) and a zmay +(dragon). The fact that his father was a dragon is believed, by those +who accept this tradition, to explain and in every way to account for, +Marko's tremendous strength and his astonishing powers of endurance. + +Truly Prince Marko possessed a striking and extraordinarily attractive +personality: he so vividly impressed the minds of the Serbian people, +people of all ranks and localities, that he has always been, remains to +this day, and promises ever to remain, our most beloved hero. Indeed +there is no Serbian to be found, even in the most remote districts, +who has not a great love for Kralyevitch Marko, and who cannot tell +his story. + +This Prince's brave deeds and all his exploits have luckily been +immortalized by the national bards, who are never weary of describing +him in their ballads and legends as a lover of justice, the hater +of all oppression, and the avenger of every wrong. He is always +represented as the possessor of great physical strength: his principal +weapon was his heavy war-club (it weighed one hundred pounds--sixty +pounds of steel, thirty pounds of silver, and the remainder was pure +gold) and it must be borne in mind that the swords and clubs wielded +by the merely human hands of his antagonists can never kill him; they +never injure him, for they scarcely ever even touch this hero. Marko +is always thought to have had much of the supernatural in him. + +Marko, who was often rough and ready in his behaviour, and more +especially so to the Turks, whose very Sultan, indeed, he mightily +terrified with the tales he told of his many bloodthirsty and warlike +deeds, was invariably a most dutiful, loving and tender-hearted son to +his mother: and there were occasions when he willingly consulted her, +and followed the advice she gave him. + +Prince Marko was fearless: It was said that "he feared no one but God"; +and it was his rule to be courteous to all women. In Serbia it was +the usual custom to drink a great deal of wine, the red wine of which +we so often hear, and this custom was one which Marko upheld: but it +is always said, and universally believed, that he was never drunk. + +The ballads also sing of King Voukashin. Voukashin had been the +Councillor of State during the reign of Doushan the Powerful. The +capital of the Empire was Prizrend, and Marko was brought up then +at the Court, by his father Voukashin. According to the generally +accepted belief it was Marko who, a little later on, attended the +Emperor as secretary and councillor of State, and was entrusted by +Doushan, on the approach of death, with his young son Ourosh. + + + + +The Bad Faith of Voukashin + +One ballad relates that the Emperor Doushan had bequeathed the crown to +Voukashin and stipulated in his will that that monarch should reign for +seven years, and at the end of that time he should give up the rule to +the Tsarevitch Ourosh. King Voukashin not only prolonged his haughty +rule to sixteen years, but absolutely refused to yield the sceptre +even then, and moreover proclaimed himself sovereign Tsar. The ballad +further depicts the incessant struggles which were in the end to cause +the downfall of the Serbian mediaeval State. And so tradition, earnestly +sympathizing with the just anger felt by the people against the rebels, +and their lamentation over the lost tsardom, charges Voukashin with all +the blame and responsibility--curses him as a usurper and a traitor, +and execrates him for his cunning and inconsistency: whilst on the +other hand tradition ever extols and glorifies his son Marko as the +faithful defender of Prince Ourosh, as the great avenger of national +wrongs, and praises him at all times for his good heart, his generous +foresight in politics and private affairs, his humanity, and above +all his readiness to perish in the cause of justice. + + + + +The Horse Sharatz + +The story of Marko cannot be told without some account of Sharatz, +his much-loved piebald steed, from whom he was never parted. + +Sharatz was undoubtedly unique. There are several versions of the story +as to how Marko became possessed of him: Some of the bards assert +that Sharatz was given to Marko by the same veela who had from the +first endowed him with his marvellous strength; but there are others +who affirm that Marko once bought a foal suffering from leprosy, and +that the Prince tended him himself and completely cured him, taught +him to drink wine, and finally made him the fine horse that he became. + +And there are others again who say that at one time, in his youth, +Marko served a master for three years, and that for his sole reward +he asked permission to choose a horse from among those then grazing +in the meadow. His master gladly consented, and Marko, according to +his custom, tested each horse in turn, by taking it by the tail and +whirling it round and round. + +At last, when he came to a certain piebald foal he seized it by the +tail: but this animal did not stir, and Marko, with all his vast +strength, could not make it move one step. Marko chose that foal, +and it became his beloved Sharatz. The Serbians of Veles still call a +great plain near Demir-Kapi 'Markova Livada' (Marko's meadow). Sharatz +means 'piebald,' and it is said that the skin of Marko's horse was +more like the hide of an ox in appearance than like the skin of an +ordinary horse. The Prince called him by various endearing names, +such as Sharin or Sharo, and was devoted to him for the hundred and +sixty years they were together. + +This wonderful beast was the strongest and swiftest horse ever known, +and he often overtook the flying veela. He was so well trained +that he knew the very moment when to kneel down to save his master +from an adversary's lance; he knew just how to rear and strike the +adversary's charger with his fore-feet. When his spirit was thoroughly +roused Sharatz would spring up to the height of three lengths of a +lance and to the distance of four lance-lengths forward; beneath his +hoofs glittering sparks shone forth, and the very earth he trod would +crack and stones and fragments fly in all directions; and his nostrils +exhaled a quivering blue flame, terrifying to all beholders. He often +bit off the ears of enemies' horses and crushed and trampled to death +numbers of Turkish soldiers. Marko might peacefully doze, and sometimes +even go to sleep, when riding through the mountains; and all the time +he was safe, for Sharatz would keep careful guard. Therefore the Prince +would feed his steed, with bread and wine, from the vessels that he +used himself and loved him more than he loved his own brother; and +Sharatz shared, as he deserved to share, the glory of many a victory +with his master. Marko never rode upon another horse, and together +they were described as "a dragon mounted upon a dragon." + +There are in existence about thirty-eight poems and perhaps +twice as many prose-legends containing detailed descriptions of +Marko's thrilling exploits, and there is hardly a Serb or a Bulgar +anywhere to be found who cannot recite at least a few of them. In +the Balkans-Turkish War, 1912-13, a gouslar, when not fighting, +would take his goussle [24] and recite to his comrades heroic poems +of which the greater number related to Marko. The intense veneration +felt by Serbians for this beloved Prince proves an unfailing bond +between them in their own country and in all parts of the world. + +There are, naturally enough, various accounts of the death of +Marko. The story that has most appealed to his countrymen and taken +a specially firm hold of their poets' imaginations is that he never +died. It is believed that he withdrew to a cave, near his castle at +Prilip, which is still standing, to rest, and that he is there, now, +asleep. From time to time he awakes and looks to see if his sword +has yet come out of a rock into which he had thrust it to the very +hilt. When the sword is out of the rock Marko will know that the +time has come for him to appear among the Serbians once more, to +re-establish the mediaeval empire, lost at the battle of Kossovo. [25] + +As for Sharatz, he is still feeding, but he has now nearly finished +his portion of hay. + + + + +PRINCE MARKO TELLS WHOSE THE EMPIRE SHALL BE + +Four tabors [26] met together on the beautiful field of Kossovo +near the white church Samodrezja: [27] One tabor was headed by King +Voukashin; the second by Despot Ouglesha; [28] the third by Voivode +Goyko, and the fourth by Tsarevitch Ourosh. + +The first three of these were disputing over the inheritance of the +Empire and were ready to stab one another, so eager were they all to +reign. They did not know who had been appointed the Tsar's successor +and who was the rightful heir to the throne. King Voukashin announced: +"The Empire was left to me!" Voivode Goyko cried out: "Not so! The +Empire is mine!" and Despot Ouglesha interposed angrily, "You are +both wrong, for know that the Empire is mine." + +The youthful Tsarevitch remained silent, for he was not bold enough +to proffer a single word in the presence of his haughty elders. + +King Voukashin prepared a message and sent it by a faithful servant +to the Archdeacon Nedelyko, at Prizrend, summoning him to come at +once to the field of Kossovo and state without delay to whom the +Empire had been left--for he must surely know, having received the +last confession of the illustrious Tsar Doushan the Mighty and been +in attendance upon him up to his death. Besides, it was known that +the Archdeacon had the archives under his care, and could at least +produce the Emperor's will. Despot Ouglesha also sent a missive to the +Archdeacon by his swiftest messenger; a third was written by Voivode +Goyko, who dispatched it by his special courier, and a fourth was +inscribed and sent off by Ourosh. + +The messages were all dispatched secretly, but the couriers reached +Prizrend and met at the gates of Nedelyko's dwelling. But Nedelyko +had gone, as Court Chaplain, to officiate at the morning service in +the Cathedral. The men were enraged at the delay, and without even +alighting from their horses, they rushed infuriated, into the sacred +edifice, raised their whips and brutally struck the good Archdeacon, +commanding him: "Behold, O Archdeacon Nedelyko! Hasten now, this very +hour, to the plain of Kossovo. Thou must state to whom the Empire +belongs, for thou hast received the confession from the illustrious +Tsar and administered the last sacrament to him, and it is thou who +hast the state records in thy care. Hasten, hasten, lest we, in our +fierce impatience, do sever thy head from thy body!" + +Archdeacon Nedelyko wept with grief and mortification and thus replied: +"Begone, ye servants of the most mighty princes! Begone from the +House of God! Suffer first that we end God's service, then will I +make known into whose hands the Empire is to fall!" + +The couriers then went out and awaited the coming of the +Archdeacon. Presently the Archdeacon came to them and spake in this +wise: "O my children, messengers from the King himself, and from the +Princes! I received the last confession of our glorious Tsar, and +gave him the sacrament; but about the Empire and affairs of state he +spoke never a word, for we were concerned only with the sins that +he had committed. Ye must go to the city of Prilip, for there is +the castle of the Royal Prince Marko. Marko, as ye may remember, +learned from me how to read and write; later he was secretary to +the Emperor and he was then entrusted with the care of the records, +and he will surely know to whom the empire was entrusted. Call Marko +to the field of Kossovo to say who is now the Tsar. Marko will tell +the truth, for he fears none but God!" + + + + +Marko is Summoned + +The messenger set out at once, and, arriving at Prilip, they smote +on the portals of the castle. The knocking was heard by Yevrossima, +and she spoke thus to her son: "O Marko, my dearest son! who are they +who knock at the gates below? They may be messengers from thy father!" + +Marko commanded that the gates should be opened, and when the +messengers entered they bowed with profoundest respect, and said: +"May God always help thee, O noble Lord Marko!" + +The Prince laid his hand upon their heads with kindness and said: +"Be welcome, ye my dear children! Are the Serbian knights in good +health? And is all well with the glorious Tsar and King!" + +The couriers again made humble obeisance, saying: "O noble Lord, +thou most Royal Prince Marko! All are well, though not, we fear, upon +friendly terms together! The King, thy father, and other princes are +seriously contending for the Empire upon Kossovo, that vast field +which is near the church Samodrezja; they are ready to stab each +other at any moment with their blades, for they know not to whom the +Empire rightly belongs. Thou art now called upon, O noble Prince, +to proclaim the heir to the Imperial crown." + +The bard goes on to narrate how Marko went to Yevrossima and asked +her advice, and although it was well known that Marko himself loved +the truth, his good mother implored him with the following words: +"O Marko, thy mother's only son! May the food on which thou wert +nourished be not cursed! Speak not falsely either to please thy father, +or to satisfy the ambitions of thine uncles, but tell, I beg of thee, +the truth before God lest thou shouldest lose thy soul. It were better +that thou shouldst perish than sin against thy soul!" + +Marko took the ancient documents, mounted Sharatz and rode forthwith to +the plain of Kossovo. As he approached his father's tent King Voukashin +saw him and exclaimed: "Oh, how fortunate am I! Here is my son Marko; +he will say that the Empire was left to me, for of course he knows +that it will pass from father to son!" + +Marko heard this, but said not one single word, neither would he turn +his head towards the King's tent. + +When Despot Ouglesha saw Marko, he spoke in this wise: "Oh, what a +lucky thing for me! here is my nephew Marko; he is certain to say +the Empire is mine! Say, O Marko, the Empire is mine! We would reign +together, you and I, like brothers!" Marko still kept silent and did +not even turn his head in the direction of his uncle's tent. + +As Voivode Goyko perceived his coming, he exclaimed: "Oh, here is a +stroke of good fortune for me! here is my dear nephew Marko: he is +sure to say that the Empire was left to me. When Marko was a little +child I used to caress him fondly, for he was dear to me as a golden +apple, and always most precious. Whenever I rode out on horseback I +always used to take Marko with me. O Marko! dear Marko, thou must say +that the Empire is mine! It will be virtually thou who shalt reign as +Tsar, and I shall be at thy right hand, at all times ready, as thy +counsellor!" Marko, still without a word, and completely ignoring +Voivode Goyko, went straight on to the tent where Tsarevitch Ourosh +was, and there he alighted from his Sharatz. + +When the young Ourosh saw him, he sprang from his silken couch, +and exclaimed: "Hurrah! Behold my godfather Marko! Now he is going +to tell us who the true Tsar is!" They embraced each other, inquired +after each other's health, and seated themselves upon the couch from +which Ourosh had just risen. + + + + +Marko tells the Truth + +Some time elapsed and the sun had set, the night passed, morning +dawned, and church bells called all to morning prayers, and after +the service the King, the Princes and great Lords went out into the +churchyard, where they took their places at tables, and ate sweet-meats +and drank brandy. Marko at last opened the ancient documents, and said +aloud: "O my father, thou King Voukashin! Art thou not content with +thy Kingdom? May it be turned into a desert if thou art not. Oh! that +thou shouldst wish to seize another's Empire! And thou, my uncle, +Despot Ouglesha! Art thou not satisfied within thine own territory? Is +it indeed too small for thee that thou must struggle for the Empire +that belongs to another? May it also turn into a desert! And thou, +my uncle, thou Voivode Goyko! Is thy Dukedom not vast enough for +thee? May it likewise become a desert if it is not! Oh that thou +too shouldst strive for another's Tsardom? Do ye not all see and +understand? If ye fail to see may God not see ye! It is clearly stated +in the records that the Empire was left to Ourosh. From father shall +it pass to son. To this youth now belongs the Imperial Crown of his +ancestors. It was Ourosh whom our late Tsar, on his dying day, named +as his successor!" When King Voukashin heard this, he sprang to his +feet, drew out his golden yatagan and would have pierced his son with +it. The Prince, pursued by his father, fled, for, indeed, it would have +been unseemly for Marko to fight with and perhaps mortally strike his +own father. Marko ran round the church Samodrezja, his father closely +following, till they had run round the building three times, and then, +when Voukashin was on the point of getting within reach of his son, +all at once a mysterious voice from within the church uttered these +words: "Run into the church, O, thou Royal Prince Marko! Seest thou +not that otherwise thou shalt perish by thy father's hand, because +thou hast spoken the truth so dear to God?" The doors suddenly +opened of themselves and Marko passed inside; then they closed and +interposed themselves between the two men. King Voukashin began to +strike violently upon the doors with his short hanging sword until +he noticed that there were drops of blood trickling down the beam, +whereupon he was seized with remorse and sighed in lowly penance, +saying: "Alas! Unfortunate man that I am! O, thou infinite and divine +God! Hear me! I have killed my son Marko!" But the mysterious voice +from the church answered: "Behold! Voukashin thou most mighty King! Lo, +thou hast not even wounded thy son Marko, but thou hast injured the +angel of the true God!" + +At these words the King grew again enraged with Marko and cursed him +in these words: "O Marko, my only son, may God kill thee! Mayest thou +never be entombed! Mayest thou have no son to come after thee! May +thy family end with thee! And, worse than all, may thy soul depart +not from thy body before thou hast served as vassal to the Turk!" In +these bitter words the King cursed Marko, but the new Tsar, Ourosh, +blessed him, saying: "O my beloved god-father, Marko! May God ever +support thee! May thy word be always respected and accepted by all +just men for ever in the divan! [29] May thy bright sabre prosper +in all battles and combats! May there never be a hero to overpower +thee! May it please God that thy name shall at all times be remembered +with honour, for so long as the sun and the moon continue to shine." + + + + +PRINCE MARKO AND A MOORISH CHIEFTAIN + +A great and powerful Moorish chieftain had built for himself a +magnificent castle, rising to the height of twenty storeys. The place +he had chosen for the castle was by the sea, and when it was quite +completed he had panes of the most beautiful glass put in for windows; +he hung all the rooms and halls with the richest silks and velvets and +then soliloquized thus: "O my koula, [30] why have I erected thee? for +there is no one but I who is there to tread, with gentle footsteps, +upon these fine rugs, and behold from these windows the blue and +shining sea. I have no mother, no sister, and I have not yet found a +wife. But I will assuredly go at once and seek the Sultan's daughter +in marriage. The Sultan must either give me his daughter or meet me +in single combat." As soon as the Moor, gazing at his castle, had +uttered these words, he wrote a most emphatic letter to the Sultan at +Istamboul, [31] the contents of which ran thus: "O Sire, I have built +a beautiful castle near the shore of the azure sea, but as yet it has +no mistress, for I have no wife. I ask thee, therefore, to bestow upon +me thy beloved daughter! In truth, I demand this; for if thou dost +not give thy daughter to me, then prepare thyself at once to meet me +face to face with thy sword. To this fight I now challenge thee!" + +The letter reached the Sultan and he read it through. Immediately he +sought for one who would accept the challenge in his stead, promising +untold gold to the knight who would show himself willing to meet the +Moor. Many a bold man went forth to fight the Moor, but not one ever +returned to Istamboul. + +Alas! the Sultan soon found himself in a most embarrassing position +for all his best fighters had lost their lives at the hand of the +haughty Moor. But even this misfortune was not the worst. The Moor +prepared himself in all his splendour, not omitting his finest sabre; +then he proceeded to saddle his steed Bedevia, securely fastening the +seven belts and put on her a golden curb. On one side of the saddle +he fastened his tent, and this he balanced on the other side with +his heaviest club. He sprang like lightning on to his charger, and +holding before him, defiantly, his sharpest lance, he rode straight +to Istamboul. + +The instant he reached the walls of the fort, he spread his tent, +struck his lance well into the earth, bound his Bedevia to the lance +and forthwith imposed on the inhabitants a daily tax, consisting of: +one sheep, one batch of white loaves, one keg of pure brandy, two +barrels of red wine, and a beautiful maiden. Each maiden, after being +his slave and attending on him for twenty-four hours, he would sell +in Talia for large sums of money. This imposition went on for three +months, for none could stop it. But even yet there was a greater evil +to be met. + + + + +The Entrance of the Moor + +The inhabitants of Istamboul were terrorized one day when the haughty +Moor mounted upon his dashing steed entered the city. He went to the +Palace, and cried loudly: "Lo! Sultan, wilt thou now, once and for +ever, give me thy daughter?" As he received no answer he struck the +walls of the Palace with his club so violently that the shattered +glass poured down from the windows like rain. When the Sultan saw +that the Moor might easily destroy the Palace and even the whole +city in this way, he was greatly alarmed, for he knew that there was +no alternative open to him in this horrible predicament but to give +up his only daughter. Although overwhelmed with shame, therefore, +he promised to do this. Pleased with his success, the Moor asked for +fifteen days' delay before his marriage took place that he might go +back to his castle and make the necessary preparations. + +When the Sultan's daughter heard of her father's desperate resolution, +she shrieked and exclaimed bitterly: "Alas! Behold my sorrow, O +almighty Allah! For whom have I been taught to prize my beauty? For a +Moor? Can it be true that a Moor shall imprint a kiss upon my visage?" + + + + +The Sultana's Dream + +That night the Sultana had a strange dream, in which the figure of +a man appeared before her, saying: "There is within the Empire of +Serbia a vast plain Kossovo; in that plain there is a city Prilip; +and in that city dwells the Royal Prince Marko who is known among +all men as a truly great hero." + +And the man went on to advise the Sultana to send, without delay, a +message to Prince Marko and beg him to become her son-in-God, and at +the same time to offer him immense fortune, for he was without doubt +the only one living likely to vanquish the terrible Moor and save +her daughter from a shameful fate. The next morning she sped to the +Sultan's apartments and told him of her dream. The Sultan immediately +wrote a firman [32] and sent it to Prince Marko at Prilip, beseeching +him to journey with all speed to Istamboul and accept the challenge of +the Moor, and if he should succeed in saving the Princess the Sultan +would give him three tovars [33] of pure golden ducats. + +When Marko read the firman, he said to the Sultan's young courier, +a native of Tartary: "In the name of God go back, thou Sultan's +messenger, and greet thy master--my father-in-God--tell him that I dare +not face the Moor. Do we not, all of us, know that he is invincible? If +he should cleave my head asunder, of what avail would three tovars, +or three thousand tovars, of gold be to me?" + +The young Tartar brought back Marko's answer which caused the +Sultana so much grief, that she determined to send a letter to him +herself, once more beseeching him to accept the challenge and this +time increasing the reward to five tovars of pure gold. But Marko, +though generally so chivalrous and courteous to all women, remained +inexorable, replying that he would not meet the Moor in combat even +if he were to be presented with all the treasure the Sultan possessed; +for he did not dare. + + + + +The Princess appeals to Marko + +When the broken-hearted bride heard that this answer had come from +Marko she sprang to her feet, took a pen and some paper, struck her +rosy cheek with the pen and with her own blood traced the following: +"Hail, my dear brother-in-God, O, thou Royal Prince Marko! Be a true +brother to me! May God and Saint John be our witnesses! I implore thee, +do not suffer me to become the wife of the Moor! I promise thee seven +tovars of pure gold, seven boshtchaluks, which have been neither woven +nor spun, but are embroidered with pure gold. Moreover, I shall give +thee a golden plate decorated with a golden snake, whose raised head +is holding in its mouth a priceless gem, from which is shed a light +of such brilliance, that by it alone you can see at the darkest hour +of midnight as well as you can at noon. In addition to these I shall +present thee with a finely tempered sabre; this sabre has three hilts, +all of pure gold, and in each of them is set a precious stone. The +sabre alone is worth three cities. I shall affix to this weapon the +Sultan's seal so that the Grand Vizir may never put thee to death +without first receiving his Majesty's special command." + +When he had read this missive, Marko reflected thus: "Alas! O my dear +sister-in-God! It would be but to my great misfortune if I came to +serve thee, and to my still greater misfortune if I stayed away. For, +although I fear neither the Sultan nor the Sultana, I do in all truth +fear God and Saint John, by whom thou hast adjured me! Therefore I +now resolve to come and, if necessary, to face certain death!" + + + + +Marko prepares to succour the Princess + +Having sent away the Princess' messenger without telling him what he +had resolved to do, Marko entered his castle and put on his cloak and +a cap, made of wolves' skins; next he girded on his sabre, selected +his most piercing lance, and went to the stables. For greater safety +he fastened the seven belts under the saddle of his Sharatz with his +own hands; he then attached a leathern bottle filled with red wine on +one side of his saddle and his weightiest war-club on the other. Now +he was ready and threw himself upon Sharatz and rode off to Istamboul. + +Upon reaching his destination he did not go to pay his respects either +to the Sultan or to the Grand Vizir, but quietly took up his abode in +a new inn. That same evening, soon after sun-set, he led his horse to +a lake near by to be refreshed: but to his master's surprise Sharatz +would not even taste the water, but kept turning his head first to +the right, then to the left, till Marko noticed the approach of a +Turkish maiden covered with a long gold-embroidered veil. When she +reached the edge of the water she bowed profoundly toward the lake +and said aloud: "God bless thee, O beauteous green lake! God bless +thee, for thou art to be my home for ever more! Within thy bosom am I +henceforth to dwell; I am now to die, O beauteous lake; rather would +I choose such a fate than become the bride of the cruel Moor!" + + + + +Marko greets the Princess + +Marko went nearer to the maiden and spoke thus: "O, thou unhappy +Turkish maiden! What is thy trouble? What is it that has made thee +wish to drown thyself?" + +She answered: "Leave me in peace, thou ugly dervish, [34] why dost +thou ask me, when there is nought that thou canst do to help me?" + +Then the maiden related the story of her coming marriage with the +Moorish chieftain, of the messages sent to Marko, and finally she +bitterly cursed that Prince for the hardness of his heart. + +Thereupon Marko said: "O, curse me not, dear sister-in-God! Marko is +here and is now speaking to thee himself!" + +Hearing these words the maiden turned toward the famous knight, +embraced him and earnestly pleaded: "For God's sake, O my brother +Marko! Suffer not the Moor to wed me!" + +Marko was greatly affected, and declared: "O dear sister-in-God! I +swear that so long as my head remains upon my shoulders, I shall never +let the Moor have thee! Do not tell others that thou hast seen me +here, but request the Sultan and thy mother to have supper prepared +and sent to the inn for me, and, above all things, beg them to send +me plenty of wine. Meanwhile I shall await the Moor's coming at the +inn. When the Moor arrives at the Palace, thy parents should welcome +him graciously, and they should go so far as to yield thee to him in +order to avoid a quarrel. And I know exactly the spot where I shall +be able to rescue thee, if it may so please the true God, and if my +customary good luck, and my strength, do not desert me." + +The Prince returned to the inn, and the maiden hastened back to +the Palace. + +When the Sultan and the Sultana knew that Marko had come to their aid, +they were much comforted, and immediately ordered a sumptuous repast +to be sent to him, especially good red wine in abundance. + +Now all the shops in Istamboul were closed, and there was silence +everywhere as Marko sat drinking the delicious wine in peace. The +landlord of the inn came presently to close his doors and windows, +and, questioned by Marko as to why the citizens were all shutting +up their dwellings so early that day, he answered: "By my faith, +you are indeed a stranger here! The Moorish chieftain has asked +for our Sultan's daughter in marriage, and as, to our shame, she is +to be yielded to him, he is coming to the Palace to fetch her this +day. Therefore, owing to our terror of the Moor, we are forced to close +our shops." But Marko did not allow the man to close the door of the +inn, for he wished to see the Moor and his gorgeous train pass by. + + + + +The Moor in Istamboul + +At that very moment, as they were speaking, Marko could hear from +the city the clangour caused by the Moorish chieftain and his black +followers, numbering at least five hundred, and all in glittering +armour. The Moor had roused his Bedevia, and she trotted in such +a lively manner that the stones, which she threw up with her hoofs, +whizzed through the air in all directions, and broke windows and doors +in all the shops she passed! When the cavalcade came up to the inn, +the Moor thought: "Allah! I am struck with wonder and astonishment! The +windows and doors of all the shops and houses throughout the entire +city of Istamboul are closed from the great fear the people have of +me, except, I see, the doors of this inn. There must either be nobody +within, or if there is anybody inside, he is assuredly a great fool; +or perhaps he is a stranger, and has not yet been told how terrible +I am." The Moor and his retinue passed that night in tents before +the Palace. + +Next morning the Sultan himself presented his daughter to the Moorish +chieftain, together with all the wedding gifts, which were known to +weigh twelve tovars. As the wedding procession passed the inn where +Marko waited, the Moor again noticed the open door, but this time he +urged Bedevia right up to it to see who might be there. + + + + +Sharatz and Bedevia + +Marko was seated at his ease in the most comfortable room the inn +could boast, leisurely drinking his favourite red wine; he was not +drinking from an ordinary goblet, but from a bowl which held twelve +litres; and each time he filled the bowl he would drink only one +half of its contents, giving, according to his habit, the other half +to his Sharatz. The Moor was on the point of attacking Marko, when +Sharatz barred his way and kicked viciously at Bedevia. The Moor, +meeting such unexpected resistance, promptly turned to rejoin the +procession. Then Marko rose to his feet, and, turning his cloak +and cap inside out, so that to the first glance of those who saw +him he presented the terrifying appearance of a wolf, inspected his +weapons and Sharatz's belts carefully, and dashed on his charger after +the procession. He felled horsemen right and left, till he reached +the dever and the second witness, and killed them both. The Moorish +chieftain was immediately told of the stranger who had forced his way +into the midst of the procession, and of those whom he had killed, also +that he did not look like other knights, being clad in wolves' skins. + + + + +Marko and the Moor + +The Moor astride his Bedevia, wheeled round and addressed Marko thus: +"Ill fortune is indeed overtaking thee to-day, O stranger! Thou must +have been driven here by Satan to disturb my guests and even kill my +dever and second witness; thou must be either a fool, knowing nothing +of to-day's events, or thou must be extremely fierce and hast gone +mad; but maybe thou art merely tired of life? By my faith, I shall +draw in the reins of my Bedevia, and shall spring over thy body seven +times; then shall I strike off thy head!" Thereupon Marko answered: +"Cease these lies, O Moor! If God, and my usual luck, do but attend me +now, thou shalt not even spring near to me; still less can I imagine +thee carrying out thy intention of springing over my body!" But, +behold! The Moor drew in his Bedevia, spurred her violently forward +and indeed he would have sprung over Marko, had not Sharatz been +the well-trained fighter that he was, and in a trice he reared so +as to receive the adversary against his forefeet and swiftly bit +off Bedevia's right ear, from which blood gushed forth profusely +and streamed down over her neck and chest. In this way Marko and +the Moor struggled for four hours. Neither would give way, and when +finally the Moor saw that Marko was overpowering him, he wheeled +his steed Bedevia round and fled along the main street of Istamboul, +Marko after him. But the Moor's Bedevia was swift as a veela of the +forest, and would certainly have escaped from Sharatz if Marko had +not suddenly recollected his club, and flung it after his adversary, +striking him between his shoulders. The Moor fell from his horse and +the Prince severed his head from his body. Next he captured Bedevia, +returned to the street where he had left the bride, and found, to his +astonishment, that she with her twelve tovars of presents, was alone, +awaiting him, for all the wedding-guests and the retinue of the Moorish +chieftain had fled at full gallop. Marko escorted the Princess back +to the Sultan, and cast the head of the Moorish chieftain at his feet. + +The hero now took his leave and started at once on his journey back +to Prilip, and the following morning he received the seven tovars of +gold which had been promised to him, the many precious gifts which +the Princess had described, and last of all a message thanking him +for the marvellous deeds he had done, and telling him that the vast +stores of gold belonging to his father-in-God, the Sultan, would for +ever be at his disposal. + + + + +PRINCE MARKO ABOLISHES THE WEDDING TAX + +Early one morning the Royal Prince Marko rode across the plain of +Kossovo. When he reached the river a maiden from Kossovo met him, +and Marko greeted her in the usual Serbian custom: "May God aid thee, +O maiden of Kossovo!" + +The maiden bowed very profoundly, and answered: "Hail! thou unknown +hero!" + +Marko, after having looked for a while at her, said: "Dear sister, +thou maiden of Kossovo, thou art beauteous, though thou mightest well +be a little younger! Thou art tall, strong and graceful; thy cheeks +look healthful and thou hast a pleasing and dignified appearance. But, +alas! dear sister, thy hair is grey and becomes thee not. Who caused +thy sorrow? Tell me, is it thyself, thy mother or thy aged father." + +The maiden shed many bitter tears, and amidst her sobs answered Marko +thus: "O dear brother, thou unknown knight! I am not the cause of mine +own misfortune, and it is neither my mother nor yet my father who has +brought great trouble upon me; but I have lost all happiness through +the evil-doing of a Moor who dwells beyond the sea. He has taken +possession of the whole field of Kossovo and has imposed, among other +extortions, a terrible tax of thirty ducats to be paid by all brides, +and thirty-four ducats by all bridegrooms. My brothers are poor and +have not the money necessary to pay my tax, therefore I am unable +to wed my sweetheart and have thus lost all happiness. Merciful God, +should I not go and take my life?" + +Thereupon Prince Marko said: "Dear sister, thou maiden of Kossovo! Do +not trifle with thy life; abandon every such idea, else thou shalt +bring sin upon thy soul! Tell me, where is the castle where the +Moorish Lord may be found? I think I have something to say to him!" + +To this the maiden answered: "O my brother, thou unknown knight! Why +dost thou inquire about his castle? How I wish it could be razed to +the ground! Thou hast, perhaps, found a maiden according to thy heart +and thou goest now to pay the wedding tax, or art thou the only son +of thy dear mother? I fear for thee, O brother, for thou mayest perish +there, and what then would thy sorrowful and lonely mother do?" + +Marko plunged his hand into his pocket, took out a purse and handed it +to the maiden saying: "O sister! take these thirty ducats, go home and +await in peace for what may befall thee; [35] only kindly point out to +me the castle of the Moor, for I am going to pay him thy wedding tax!" + +Thereupon the maiden, glowing with unexpected happiness spoke thus: +"It is not a castle, but tents (and may they be cursed!). Seest thou +not upon the plain where flutters that silken flag? There is the +Moor's own pavilion; around it grows a pleasant garden which he has +dared to decorate with the heads of seventy-seven Christian heroes, +and he has forty servants, who are, day and night, on guard near by." + + + + +Marko visits the Moor + +Upon hearing these words Marko took leave of the maiden and rode +toward the tents. He urged his steed so violently that under his +hoofs living fire shone, and from his nostrils appeared a bright +blue flame. Mad with anger Marko rode fiercely across the camp and, +with tears streaming from his eyes which were fixed upon the plain of +Kossovo he exclaimed: "Alas, O plain of Kossovo! Oh! to think that +thou shouldst have remained to see this day! And, after the reign +of our great Emperor, [36] that thou shouldst be here to witness the +tyranny of a Moor! Can I endure such shame and sorrow: Oh! that the +Moors should be allowed to ravage thee! Now shall I either avenge thee, +or perish!" + +The sentinels observed Marko's arrival and went to inform their Lord: +"O Master, thou Moor! A strange and fierce hero, riding a piebald +steed, is approaching; and it is plain that he intends to attack us." + +But the Moor answered indifferently: "O my children, ye forty true +servants of mine! That hero will not attack us. He is undoubtedly +bringing his wedding tax and, because he regrets the amount of money +he has to give up, he is impatiently urging on his charger. You +had better go forth and welcome him; take his steed and his weapons +from him and show him to my tent. I do not care for his treasure, +but I am quite willing to cleave his head and seize his courser, +which would suit me well!" + +The servants went forth to obey, but when they saw Marko near, they +were so terrified that they did not dare face him, but fled to hide +themselves behind their chieftain, concealing their yataghans under +their cloaks at the sight of Marko. + +As the fierce Prince came up, he alighted in front of the opening of +the tent and spoke aside to his trusty courser: "Walk about alone, +my Sharo," said he, "for I am going into this tent to see the Moor; +go not too far from this spot, as should evil happen I may have need +of thee!" Then Marko entered the pavilion. + +The Moorish chieftain sat enjoying cool wine which was poured out for +him by a Christian woman and a maiden. The princely Marko saluted the +Moor: "May God help thee, my Lord!" The Moorish chieftain answered: +"Hail, thou unknown knight! Be seated, that we may drink wine together +ere thou dost tell me why thou hast come hither!" + +Prince Marko answered: "I have no time to drink with thee; but I have +come with the intention of seeing thee. I have found a maiden after my +own heart, my guests and their horses await me a little way down the +road, while I came to pay thee my wedding tax. I shall at once give +thee the gold so that nothing may hinder my happiness. Tell me now, +what must I pay?" + +The Moor answered in a very friendly manner: "Well, thou oughtest +to have known that long ago: it was thirty ducats for brides +and thirty-four for bridegrooms; but as thou appearest to be a +distinguished knight, it would not hurt either of us if thou gavest +me a round hundred ducats!" + +Prince Marko took out of his pocket three ducats and laid them before +the haughty Moor, saying: "Believe me I have no more money; I should +be grateful if thou wouldest wait till I reach my bride's house, +for there we shall certainly receive many rich presents. I shall give +thee all the presents and will retain the bride only for myself!" + + + + +Marko pays for All + +Thereupon the mighty Moor shouted out, bitterly enraged: "I allow +no credit, thou wretch! Thou art bold enough to laugh at me!" Then +he sprang to his feet, raised his club and struck Marko's shoulders +three or four times. + +Marko smiling, said: "Heroic Moor, dost thou strike in earnest or +dost thou merely strike in jest?" + +The Moor, continuing the assault, hissed: "I beat thee in earnest!" + +Marko smiled again, and remarked: "Oh, then, I pity thee! Since +thou art striking with serious intent, know then that I too have a +club. Now I shall smite thee as many times as thou hast struck me, +no more than that! Let us make it a fair fight!" With this, Marko +raised his mace and smote the Moor with such force that his head fell +from his shoulders! + +At this Marko burst into laughter: "Merciful God, mayest thou be +thanked! How quickly the Moorish hero's head was cleft asunder! It +now lies just as if it had never been upon his shoulders!" + +He now unsheathed his sword, and caught the Moor's bodyguard, cleaving +also their heads one after the other, except four of their number, whom +he left to tell the tale to all who wished to hear the truth. Then he +took down the heads of the Christian heroes and carefully buried them, +that wolves and vultures might not devour them. He next instructed +the four remaining servants to run across the field of Kossovo, +north, east, south, and west, and to proclaim to all that maids and +youths were henceforth free to marry without paying the hated tax, +for had not the Royal Prince Marko come and paid once for all? + +When the oppressed Christians learned the news, they all, young and +old, joined in the joyful cry: "May God grant Royal Prince Marko long +life! For Marko has freed our land of a monster! We pray to God that +his soul may be purified of all sin." + + + + +PRINCE MARKO AND BOGDAN THE BULLY + +Early one morning three Serbian knights rode out from Kossovo; +one was Prince Marko of Prilip; the second was Relya of Bazar, and +the third was Milosh of Potzerye. They were bound for the seashore, +and their way lay through the vineyards of Bogdan the Bully. Relya +of Bazar was a joyous young knight, and he encouraged his steed to +prance gaily through the vineyard, whereby he broke some of the tall +vines loaded with sweet grapes. + +Marko admonished his friend thus: "Thou hadst better leave these +vineyards alone, O my Relya! If thou only knewest whose they are +thou wouldst keep thy courser under careful control: for they belong +to Bogdan the Bully. Once I, myself, was riding through these very +vineyards, and as I was young then, I also made my Sharatz prance +along, as thou art doing. But, alas! I was seen by Bogdan riding on +his slender mare Bedevia. I knew that I was at fault and, as the true +God does not support guilty men, I dared not face him, but fled up the +rocky coast. He pursued me, and if I had not had my trusty Sharatz +he would indeed have caught me. But thanks to Sharatz I at last got +farther and farther from him. When Bogdan saw that at the rate I was +fleeting he could never reach me, he swiftly threw his club after +me and just touched my back with its handle, so that I fell forward +over on the ears of my Sharatz and regained my seat only by a great +effort. However, I did escape him. This happened some seven years ago, +since when I have not come this way until to-day." + +As Marko said this, the three knights noticed in the distance a +cloud of dust, in the midst of which they recognized Bogdan with +twelve attendants on horseback. Marko exclaimed: "Hark ye, my two +brothers-in-God! Here he is! and he will surely kill all three of us +if we do not make our escape." + +To this Milosh of Potzerye answered: "O my brother-in-God, thou Royal +Prince Marko! The whole people believe that there are no greater +heroes living than we three Serbian knights; it would be far better +for us all to perish than shamefully to flee!" + +When Marko heard this, he said: "Listen to me, my +brothers-in-God! Since that is so, let us divide the enemy. Will ye +face Bogdan alone or his twelve knights?" + +Milosh and Relya chose to fight Bogdan alone, leaving Marko to meet +the twelve followers. This division was quite agreeable to Marko, +and it was hardly arranged than Bogdan came up at the head of his +troop. He was immediately engaged by Milosh and Relya, while Marko +turned his attention to the twelve attendants. Swinging his heavy +mace he urged Sharatz against his foes, and in a very short time +all were hurled to the ground. Marko then alighted from his horse, +bound their hands behind them, and drove them through the vineyards. + +He had gone but a little distance when he saw Bogdan driving toward +him his two friends, their arms bound in the same manner as those of +Bogdan's followers. At this Marko was seized with fear and looked +around for a means of escape. The next moment he remembered that +the three brothers-in-God had sworn faithfulness one to another, +and that they were pledged at all times to help one another. So +tightening Sharatz's reins he drew his helmet over his forehead, +furiously unsheathed his trusty sabre, and cast one fierce, dark +glance at Bogdan. + + + + +The Bully fears to meet Marko + +When the Bully saw the terrific fury and determination in Marko's eyes +his legs shook beneath him, and he turned his mare away, not daring +to meet Marko face to face. He could not, however, hope to escape the +vengeance of the Prince, and so after a short silence he called out: +"Come, O Marko, let us be reconciled. Wilt thou release my twelve +attendants? If thou art willing to do that I shall in turn set free +thy brothers-in-God." + +Marko agreed to this, and alighting from Sharatz, he unhooked from his +saddle a skin of wine, and they all sat down to refresh themselves +with the cool wine and to partake of freshly gathered grapes. When +they had rested, the three friends mounted their horses and prepared +to depart. As they were about to ride off Marko thus addressed Bogdan: +"Mayest thou prosper with God's help, O Bogdan! And may we meet again +some day in good health and once more drink together!" + +To this Bogdan replied: "Farewell! and may God ever help thee, O thou +Royal Prince Marko! But may my eyes never again behold thee! Seeing +how thou hast terrified me this day, I do not think that I shall wish +ever to meet thee again!" + + + + +PRINCE MARKO AND GENERAL VOUTCHA + + +Hark! Is it thunder or is it an earthquake? Neither, but guns are +roaring from fort Varadin: General Voutcha is feasting in triumph, for +he has captured three Serbian heroes; the first is Milosh of Potzerye, +the second is Milan of Toplitza, and the third is Ivan Kosantchitch. +The General has thrown them into the deepest dungeons of his castle, +noisome holes where stagnant water lies knee-deep and the bones of +warriors lie piled as high as the shoulders of a hero. + +Milosh of Potzerye is of noble lineage, unaccustomed to privation and +suffering, and he bitterly laments and deplores his fate, as he peers +anxiously through the grating of the massive door into the dark passage +by which alone succour might come. And, indeed, after three days he +saw a messenger, to whom he called: "O, my brother-in-God! Bring me +that whereon I may inscribe a missive!" + +The man was pleased to be called a brother-in-God of such a famous hero +and swiftly brought a roll to Milosh, who inscribed on it the following +words: "To the Royal Prince Marko of Prilip: O brother-in-God, thou +princely Marko! Either thou dost not want to hear more of me or thou +hast ceased to care for me! Fate has been hard, and I have fallen, +O brother, into the hands of a foe. The Magyar Voutcha has captured +me and my two brothers-in-arms. We have been immured in this vile +dungeon for three whole days, and it is impossible that we should +remain for another three days and live. Therefore, if thou wouldst +see us again, rescue us, O brother, either by heroic deeds or by +ransom!" Milosh scratched his cheek and sealed the missive with his +blood; he then handed it to the man, together with twelve ducats, +and implored him to hasten with it to Prilip. The messenger rode with +all speed, arriving at the city of Prilip on a Sunday morning. Prince +Marko was coming out of church when the courier dashed up to him with +the missive. As the Prince read of the terrible straits in which his +friends found themselves tears ran down his cheeks, and he swore that +he would save his noble brothers-in-God. + +The bard here describes Marko's preparations in much the same manner as +in the ballad, "Prince Marko and the Moorish Chieftain." Next he tells +of the journey from Prilip to Varadin, but not without exaggerating +as a matter of course, the wonderful alertness of Sharatz, who, +on this occasion, swam across the Danube. + + + + +The Arrival of Marko + +Arrived on the plain before the castle of Varadin, Marko spread his +tent, unhooked his skin of wine, the contents of which he drank +from a bowl 'containing twelve okas' (about forty-eight pints), +never forgetting to have half the quantity of wine each time he +filled the bowl, for his beloved Sharatz. This action was observed +by a fair Magyar lady, the wife of General Voutcha's son Velimir, +and being alarmed at seeing such a strange hero, she was suddenly +seized with a fever ('which will torture her for three years') and +hastened to tell the General what she had seen, and described to him +every detail of Marko's attire. + +But General Voutcha, feigning indifference, comforted his beloved +daughter-in-law, promising that he would capture him as easily as he +had captured the three knights already lying in his dungeons. Voutcha +called his son, whom he ordered to take three hundred horsemen, +and seize the haughty stranger immediately. + +Marko sitting and enjoying his wine, did not see the approach of +Velimir, but the faithful Sharatz began striking the earth with his +right forefoot, thus warning his unobservant master. Marko understood, +turned his head, and saw that a whole squadron was surrounding him; +so he drank one more bowl of wine, threw the vessel on the grass, +sprang on to his horse and fiercely attacked the army, 'as a falcon +attacks the timid pigeons.' One portion he cut to pieces, the second +he ran down with his Sharatz, and the third he drowned in the Danube. + +But Velimir nearly escaped him, thanks to his own speedy charger. When +Marko saw that Sharatz, tired out, could not possibly come up with +Velimir's horse, he remembered his mace, which he now hurled so +skilfully that the heavy handle only touched the youth with sufficient +force to fling him to the earth. Marko was by his side immediately +and he had Velimir securely bound, whereupon he threw him down on to +the soft, green grass, and went on drinking more of his wine. + +Velimir's wife had witnessed the whole of the proceedings, and she +now ran swiftly to the General, who was furious at the intelligence +and ordered all the siege-guns to be fired. Then he collected three +thousand warriors and mounting his mare he led this host against Marko. + +The Magyars completely surrounded the hero, but Marko saw nothing of +it as he went on sipping his wine. Sharatz, however, was watchful and +came to the side of his master, who, realizing his critical position, +sprang to the saddle and, more furious than before, rushed fiercely at +the Magyars, with his sabre in his right hand, his lance in his left, +and Sharatz's reins held firmly in his teeth. Those whom he struck +with his sabre, he cut in two; those he touched with his lance, +were thrown over his head. + + + + +Marko captures General Voutcha + +After three or four encounters Marko had killed so many Magyars that +those who were left, filled with horror, fled in disorder. Marko next +captured General Voutcha in the same manner as he had his son, and +after tying his hands, bound him to his Sharatz's saddle and carried +him off to where Velimir lay groaning. Making the two of them fast +to the General's mare, he proceeded to Prilip and cast them prisoners +into a dungeon. + +A few days later he received a letter from Voutcha's wife, beseeching +him not to destroy Velimir and his father, and offering him vast sums +of gold as ransom. And Marko sent the following answer: "Behold! thou +faithful consort of General Voutcha! If thou desireth that I should +release my prisoners, thou hast but to release my old friends Milan of +Toplitza and Ivan Kosantchitch and give to each three tovars of gold +to compensate for the time he has wasted in prison; and thou must also +give me a like sum, for I have had to overwork my good Sharatz. And +there is still my friend Milosh of Potzerye within your castle, +but I authorize him to settle his own affairs with you in person, +for I agree to whatsoever he may arrange." + +The wife of the General lost no time in sending the required quantity +of gold. Then she took the keys of the dungeons, and released the +heroes; sent for a number of barbers to shave their beards, and to +attend to their hair and nails. She next ordered a large quantity +of the finest wines and most costly dishes to be served to the noble +Serbians, and after the feast, she narrated to them Marko's wonderful +deeds, beseeching Milosh of Potzerye to use all his influence and +persuade the princely Marko to have mercy on her husband and her +son. Thereupon Milosh promised that her wish should be gratified, +and that she had no need to fear. Only he requested her to give him: +first, the best horse from General Voutcha's stables, the one that +Voutcha rode once a year to go in state to the church at Tekiye; +secondly, the gilded coach, harnessed with twelve Arabian coursers +used by General Voutcha when travelling to Vienna on his visits to +the Emperor, for in that carriage Milosh wished to drive home the +aged hero, Milan of Toplitza. And finally he asked that his friend +Toplitza might be allowed to wear the fine attire which the General +wore on Easter day. To all this Voutcha's wife agreed and, moreover, +she gave each of the friends one thousand ducats in order that they +might not be short of wine on their journey to Prilip. + +Marko greeted the knights in a warm brotherly manner, and then +released General Voutcha and his son Velimir, ordering a powerful +convoy to escort them to Varadin. When the noble Serbian voivodes had +enjoyed Marko's hospitality for several days (consuming during that +time a formidable quantity of his red wine) they embraced and kissed +each other on the cheek; the friends, in addition, kissing Marko's +uncovered hand. Then each proceeded in peace to his own domains. + + + + +PRINCE MARKO'S WEDDING PROCESSION + +One evening as Prince Marko sat at meat with his aged mother, she +requested him to seek a maiden of his heart, that she might enjoy +the companionship and support of a daughter-in-law. Thereupon Marko +answered: "May God be my witness, O mother dear! I have journeyed +through nine kingdoms and through the whole Turkish empire, and +whenever I found the maiden I wished to make my bride, I never found +that thou wert of the same mind with me. Sometimes it was that thou +didst not feel friendly toward her family; and when I chanced to find a +family to thy liking there was never the maiden thou didst desire for +me! Howbeit, when I was wandering through Bulgaria I once reined my +Sharatz near a well, and lo! there I saw a maiden so fair and gentle, +that all at once it seemed to me as if the grass near where we stood +were turning round us again and again. Later I learned that this maiden +was the daughter of King Shishman of Bulgaria: assuredly this would +be the very maiden for me and a family which would please thee! If +thou approvest, therefore, I will at once go and ask her in marriage." + +Marko's mother, delighted with this choice of her son, hastened to +prepare the usual presents that very night, for she feared her son +might change his mind before the morrow. Next morning, however, Marko +ordered Sharatz to be saddled, and slinging the necessary skin of +wine on one side of the saddle and his war-club on the other, he took +leave of his mother and rode straight to the castle of King Shishman. + +The Bulgarian sovereign saw Marko while he was still a long way +off, and walked forth to greet him. When he was quite close, Marko +alighted from Sharatz, stretched out his arms and the two embraced, +each inquiring after the state of the other's health. The King then +led Marko into the castle while Sharatz was taken by the grooms to +the royal stables. + +A little later, in the course of the gorgeous banquet which had been +immediately arranged in honour of the princely guest, Marko sprang to +his feet, bowed deeply before the King and asked his daughter's hand +in marriage. The King was so pleased to have such a noble and valiant +son-in-law that he consented without hesitation. Marko expended +three tovars of gold on the ring to be worn by his future bride, +for her wedding-robe and other presents. Next he asked if he might +return to Prilip to gather his wedding guests and friends, and as he +was on the point of leaving the Palace, the Queen specially advised +the Prince not to select as the bride's leader one whom he could not +trust implicitly, but rather to choose his own brother or at least +a cousin, for, said she, a stranger might possibly prove a rival, +so charming and beauteous was her daughter. + +When Marko came near to Prilip, his mother walked forth to greet him, +and, after embracing him warmly on both cheeks and giving him her +fair hands to kiss, she inquired if he had had a prosperous journey +and had become betrothed to the Princess. Marko narrated all that had +happened, and did not forget to repeat the Queen's words at parting, +complaining of his great misfortune in that his brothers were dead, +neither had he a cousin. His mother, filled with joy, advised Marko not +to lament because of that, but to send at once a message to the Doge +of Venice, inviting him to come with a company of five hundred and to +act as koom; also to send to Styepan Zemlyitch, asking him to join the +wedding party with five hundred followers and to be the bride's leader. + +Marko thought the counsel good and dispatched couriers forthwith, +as his mother advised. The Doge soon appeared with his five hundred +horsemen and Styepan Zemlyitch likewise. Marko welcomed them cordially +and hospitably, and there was no lack of good red wine. + +The company now proceeded to the court of the Bulgarian King, who +received them most heartily and feasted them for three days. On the +fourth day the wedding party prepared to return for it was evident +that if the guests were to remain for another three days the King +would have no wine left. Shishman presented all with royal gifts: to +some he gave silks, to others costly shirts, to others again golden +dishes and plates; to the bride's leader was presented a special shirt +embroidered in gold. When the bride was mounted, her royal father +presented her to the bride's leader with these words: "Here are now, +in thy keeping, the bride and her horse till thou arrivest at Marko's +castle; once there thou shalt give Marko the bride, but her courser +thou mayst retain for thyself!" + + + + +The Wedding Procession + +The procession rode on through the Bulgarian woodland and meadows, and +as there is no happiness without some misfortune, a gust of wind blew +aside for a moment the bride's veil. The Doge of Venice, riding close +by her side, beheld the maiden's fair face and was so fascinated by +her wondrous beauty that he fell violently in love with her. When the +whole party of wedding guests halted for the night, he went unperceived +to the tent of Styepan Zemlyitch, addressing him thus: "O thou bride's +leader! Wilt thou yield to me thy charge that we may flee together: I +will give thee a bootful of golden ducats!" Styepan Zemlyitch answered +indignantly: "Keep silent, thou Doge of Venice! Mayest thou be turned +to stone! Hast thou made up thy mind to perish!" + +When they reached the halting-place on the second day, the Doge again +went secretly to the tent of Styepan Zemlyitch and once more asked for +the bride, but this time he offered two bootfuls of ducats. Again the +bride's leader refused, saying: "Begone, O Doge! Lest thou shouldst +have thy head cleft asunder! Has anybody ever heard of a koom taking +his kooma from her bridegroom?" + + + + +The Unfaithful Koom + +When the third night came, the Doge offered to the bride's leader three +bootfuls of pure golden ducats. This enormous sum of money was too +great a temptation for the bride's leader, and he gave up the bride to +the Doge, who conducted her to his own tent. Then he declared his love +to the maiden, and in impassioned tones implored her to fly with him +to Venice, where he could offer her all that heart could desire. But +the Bulgarian maiden turned from him with loathing. "For pity's sake, +O thou Doge of Venice!" said she, "the earth under us would surely +crack to swallow us and the skies above us would burst asunder if a +kooma should thus be false to her bridegroom." + +But the Doge persisted: "Oh do not be so foolish, my sweet kooma! I +have kissed and caressed many koomas, but never once did the earth open +under us, or the heavens burst asunder. Come, let us embrace!" The +maiden thought it well to dissemble, and she replied: "O my koom, +thou Doge of Venice! My aged mother told me that I should have her +curse if I ever kissed a bearded hero; and I swore to her that I +should love only a shaven knight such as is the Royal Prince Marko." + +Upon this the Doge called two barbers: one to shave his beard and the +other to wash his face clean. As they were thus engaged the maiden +stooped and gathered up, unnoticed, the Doge's beard and wrapped it +in the folds of her silken robe. + +The Doge now dismissed the barbers and endeavoured afresh to make +love to the bride, who feigned coyness and said that she feared that +they both would surely perish when Marko learned of what had taken +place. But the Doge protested: "Oh do not be so foolish. I have five +hundred followers with me! Marko's tent stands far away. Dost thou +not see it in the distance? On its top is fixed a golden apple. In +the apple are placed two large diamonds which shed a light so far +and wide that the neighbouring tents need no candles at night." + + + + +The Escape of the Maiden + +The maiden pretended that she wished to have a clear view of this +wonder, and the Doge gallantly raised the hanging at the door that +she might see more clearly. The next moment she was running swiftly +as a deer toward Prince Marko's pavilion. + +Marko was sleeping, and was greatly astonished when suddenly he +was awakened by the entrance of his unexpected visitor. When he +recognized in the maiden his future wife he addressed her angrily: +"Thou maiden of low birth! Is it seemly that thou shouldst visit me +contrary to all our Christian customs?" + +The maiden bowed low and replied: "O my Lord, thou Royal Prince +Marko! I am not a girl of low birth, but of most noble lineage. Thou +hast brought with thee guests of most evil dispositions. Know then, +that my leader Styepan Zemlyitch sold me, thy bride, to the Doge of +Venice for three bootfuls of gold! If thou canst not believe this, +look! Here is the Doge's beard!" and she unfastened her robe and took +out the Doge's beard and showed it to him. + +Marko's wrath was now directed against his perfidious friends, and +at break of day, wrapping himself in his wolf-skin cloak, and taking +his heavy mace, he went straight to the bride's leader and to the +koom, saying: "Good morning to ye, O bride's leader and koom! Thou +leader, where is thy sister-in-law? And thou, O koom, where is thy +kooma?" Styepan Zemlyitch kept as silent as a stone, but the Doge said: +"O thou Royal Prince Marko! There are such strange people about that +one cannot even make a joke without being misunderstood!" + +But Marko answered: "Ill is thy joke, O thou Doge of Venice! Where +is thy beard? It is a very strange joke to shave one's beard!" The +Doge would have answered, but before he could do so Prince Marko had +unsheathed his sabre and cleft his head in twain. + +Styepan Zemlyitch attempted to escape, but Marko rushed after him +and struck him so neatly with his keen sabre that he fell to earth +in two pieces. + +This done, Marko returned to his tent, ordered the procession to +advance, and arrived without mishap at Prilip. + + + + +PRINCE MARKO AND THE MOORISH PRINCESS + +One day the mother of Prince Marko spoke thus to her son: "O, +my darling son, thou Royal Prince Marko! Why dost thou erect +so many churches and shrines? Either thou hast sinned gravely +before God and thou art in lowly penance, or thou must have piled +somewhere superabundant wealth?" Then Marko of Prilip answered her: +"My beloved, aged mother! I will tell thee the truth. Once while I +travelled through the Moorish country I rose early one morning in +order to go and refresh my Sharatz at the well. When I arrived there +I found twelve Moors who had come for the same purpose, and, as I, +in my pride, would not await my turn, the twelve Moors opposed me +because they had come first. At once we began to quarrel. I lifted my +heavy club and felled one of the Moors, to the earth; his companions +attacked me and I struck another to the ground; ten assailed me and I +killed a third; nine engaged me and a fourth bit the dust; the other +eight rushed on me and I knocked down the fifth; seven strove with +me and I sent to eternity the sixth; but I had to face the remaining +six, who overpowered me; they bound my arms to my back and carried +me to their Sultan, who flung me in prison. There I dwelt for eight +years knowing nothing of the seasons, save that in winter girls would +play with snow-balls and sometimes fling them through my prison bars, +wherefore I knew that it was winter; or maidens flung me bunches of +basil, and thus I knew when it was early summer." + + + + +The Moorish Princess + +"When the eighth year broke upon me, it was not my dungeon that +distressed me so much as a Moorish maiden, the beloved daughter +of the Sultan. She annoyed me by coming every morning and every +evening and calling to me through my dungeon-window: 'Why shouldst +thou perish in this prison, O Marko? Give me thy word that thou art +willing to marry me and I will release thee, and thy Sharatz too, +I would take with me, also, heaps of golden ducats; as much, O Mark, +as thou canst ever wish to have.' + +"At that time I was in very great misery and despair, O my mother, and +so taking off my cap and placing it upon my knee I addressed it thus: +'By my firm faith! I shall never abandon thee; neither shall I ever +forget thee, upon my soul! The sun itself has often changed, shining +not in winter as in summer, but my promise shall be unbroken for ever!' + +"The maiden believed, in pleasant delusion, that I had sworn +faithfulness to her, and so at dusk one evening she opened the doors +of my prison, led me along to my spirited Sharatz, having got ready +for herself a fine noble charger. Both steeds bore on their backs +bags filled with ducats. The Moorish maiden brought in addition my +best tempered sabre and we sped swiftly through the Moorish lands. + +"When darkness came upon us and I flung myself on the ground to +slumber, the Moorish princess did likewise, and lo! she threw her arms +around me. And I looked at her, O my mother, and I saw how black her +face was and how white were her teeth! I shuddered with horror and +hardly knowing what I did, I sprang to my feet, mounted my Sharatz, +and galloped away madly, leaving her alone. The maiden called after +me in anguish: 'O my brother-in-God, thou Royal Prince Marko! Leave +me not thus!' But I would not stay my flight. + +"Then and there, O my mother, I sinned before God! Then it was that +I obtained gold in profusion, and therefore is it that I have built +numberless churches and shrines to expiate my sin!" + + + + +PRINCE MARKO AND THE VEELA + +Prince Marko and Milosh of Potzerye rode early one morning across +the beauteous mountain Mirotch, carrying their lances and trotting +their steeds. They loved each other so dearly that they would now +and then embrace. Suddenly Marko began to doze on his Sharatz, and +tried to persuade his companion to sing something in order to keep +him awake. Thereupon Milosh answered: "O dear brother-in-God, thou +Royal Prince Marko! I would gladly sing a song for thee, but last +night when I was with veela Raviyoyla, I drank far too much wine, +and she threatened, in truth she promised, to pierce both my heart +and my throat with arrows if she ever heard me sing again." + +But Marko insisted: "Oh do sing, brother dear! Fear not the veela as +long as I, Prince Marko, live; and as long as I have Sharatz and my +six-edged club!" + +So Milosh to please his pobratim, began to sing a beautiful song +telling of their valiant and virtuous ancestors; how they had held +kingdoms and ruled in succession over the much-honoured land of +Macedonia; and how every one of those good sovereigns had erected a +shrine or a church. + +The song pleased Marko so much that, lulled by Milosh's melodious +voice, he fell asleep. But it happened that the veela also heard +the song, and began to sing in turn with Milosh, doing all the time +her very best to show him that she sang better than he did. Milosh +really sang better, for he possessed a magnificent voice, and this +fact much irritated the veela; she took two slim arrows, twanged her +bow, and transfixed first Milosh's throat and then his heart. + +Milosh uttered a piercing cry: "Alas, O my mother! Alas, Marko, +my brother-in-God! The veela has shot me with her arrows! Did I not +tell thee, O pobratim, that I must not sing on the mountain Mirotch?" + + + + +The Pursuit of the Veela + +This lamentation awoke Marko at once. He leaped lightly from the +saddle, tightly fastened his Sharatz's girths, embraced him, and thus +whispered in his ear: "Lo, Sharo, thou on whom I depend for speed! Oh, +thou must overtake, now, the veela Raviyoyla; and I shall shoe thy +hoofs with pure silver and gild them with the finest gold; I shall +cover thee with a silken cloak reaching to thy knees, and on it I +shall fasten fine silk tassels to hang from thy knees to thy hoofs; +thy mane shall I intertwine with threads of gold and adorn it with +rare pearls. But, woe to thee if thou reachest not the veela! Both +thy eyes shall I tear out; thy four legs shall I break; and I shall +abandon thee here and thou shalt for ever creep from one fir-tree to +another, exactly as I should do if I lost my dear brother Milosh!" + +Then Marko sprang upon Sharatz, and rode swiftly after the +veela. Raviyoyla was already flying over the mountain top, and when +Sharatz caught sight of her he bounded fiercely forward, leaping to +the height of three lances in the air, and covering the length of +four lances at each bound. In a few moments Sharatz came up with the +veela, who, greatly affrighted, flew upward to the clouds. But Marko +pitilessly hurled his far-reaching club and struck her between the +white shoulders, and she fell instantly to the earth. Marko struck +her several times as she lay on the earth, exclaiming: "O Veela! May +God requite thee! Why didst thou pierce my dear pobratim's throat and +heart? Thou hadst better give him healing herbs, else thou shalt not +carry thy head much longer upon thy shoulders!" + +The veela implored Marko to forgive her, and to become her +brother-in-God. "For God's sake, O my brother Marko, and by the memory +of St. John," she cried, "spare my life, and I will go through the +mountain and gather herbs to heal thy pobratim's wounds!" + +Marko was very easily moved by the mention of the divine's name, +and he released the veela, who went at once, but never out of hearing +and answering to Marko's frequent calls. + +When the veela had collected herbs she brought them to Milosh and +healed his wounds; his voice was not only quite restored, but it was +finer than before and his heart was sounder. Then the brothers-in-God +rode straight to the district of Poretch, where they crossed the +River Timok, and soon arrived at the town of Bregovo, whence, after +tarrying awhile, they departed to the district of Vidin. When the veela +rejoined her sisters she admonished them, saying: "Hark, ye veelas, +my sisters! Do not shoot any heroes in the mountains with your bows +and arrows, so long as the Royal Prince Marko and his Sharatz are +alive. Oh, what I, much to be pitied, have suffered at his hands +to-day! I marvel, indeed, that I still live!" + + + + +PRINCE MARKO AND THE TURKISH HUNTSMEN + +Amouradh, the grand Vizir once arranged a hunting party of twelve +Turkish warriors to which he also invited Prince Marko. They hunted +for three days and found nothing in the mountain-forest. But, +behold! they suddenly discovered a green-bosomed lake upon which a +team of wild ducks was swimming! The Vizir let loose his falcon and +bade him pounce upon a gold-winged duck, but the duck did not even +allow the falcon to see it, so swiftly it flew toward the clouds; +as for the falcon it fell on the branches of a fir-tree. + +Then Prince Marko spoke thus to the Vizir: "Am I permitted, O Vizir +Amouradh, to release my falcon and try to secure the gold-winged +duck?" "Surely you may, Prince Marko," answered the Vizir. Then the +princely Marko let loose his falcon, and the bird ascended to the +clouds, sprang upon the gold-winged prey, and bore it down to the +foot of the green fir-tree. + +When Amouradh's falcon saw this it became greatly excited and, +according to its natural habit of seizing others' spoil, it turned +violently upon its rival and tried to pluck the duck from its claws. + +But Marko's falcon was exceedingly valiant, worthy of its master, and +would yield its well-earned trophy to none but its master. So it turned +sharply on Amouradh's falcon and vehemently tore at its proud feathers. + +When the Vizir saw this, he too became excited and in great rage +rushed to the combatants and flung Prince Marko's falcon fiercely +against a fir-tree so that its right wing was broken. He then took +horse with his followers and fled from the scene of his violence. + +The noble falcon, as it lay upon the ground, wailed in its pain and +Prince Marko ran quickly and caught it to his breast, for he loved +it very dearly. Then very tenderly he bound its wounded pinion and +addressed the bird with emotion: "Woe to me and to thee, my falcon, +that ever we went hunting with the Turk without our dear Serbians, +for the Turk must ever violate the rights of others!" + +After having bound his falcon's wing, Marko sprang upon Sharatz and +sped through the forest swift as a veela. Soon he left the mountain +behind and he observed the fleeing Turks in front of him. The Vizir +turned in his saddle and saw Marko in the distance, wherefore he +spoke thus to his twelve valiant companions: "Ye, my children, +ye twelve valiant heroes! See ye yonder mountain-mist approaching, +and in it the Royal Prince Marko? Hark! how fiercely he enrages his +Sharatz! God alone knows, what will befall us!" + + + + +The Vengeance of Marko + +He had barely uttered these words when Prince Marko came up flourishing +his bright sabre. Instantly the twelve Turks dispersed like a flock +of sparrows startled by a vulture. Marko made for the Vizir and with +one thrust of his sabre cleft his head asunder. Next he pursued the +twelve Turkish warriors, each of whom he cut in two, striking them +through their Turkish sashes. Then he stood for a while in doubt: +"Oh, what am I to do now? Ought I to go to the Sultan at Yedrenet or +had I perhaps better return to my white castle at Prilip?" After long +thought he decided that it would be far better to go to the Sultan +and give an account of what had happened than to give an opportunity +to his foes to calumniate him to the Padishah. + +When Prince Marko arrived at Yedrenet he was at once received in +divan by the Sultan. + +A poet describes Marko's eyes as being as bright and fierce as those of +a hungry wolf; and the Sultan was terrified by the lightning flashing +from his eyes. He deemed it well to temporize and so spoke gently to +the hero: "O my dear son Marko, why art thou so enraged to-day? Art +thou, perchance, short of gold?" + +Prince Marko narrated to the Sultan what had happened to his Vizir +Amouradh, not omitting to mention one single incident. When he had +heard the tale, the Sultan, convulsed with laughter, comforted Prince +Marko: "May Blessings fall upon thee, my dearest son Marko!" said +he. "If thou hadst not behaved thus, I would no longer call thee +a son of mine; any Turk may become Vizir, but there is no hero to +equal Marko!" With these words the Sultan plunged his hand in his +silk-lined pocket, drew out a purse containing one thousand ducats and +proffered it to Prince Marko, exclaiming: "Accept this as a gift from +me, O my dearest son Marko, take some wine and go in peace!" Marko, +nothing loth, accepted the purse and left the divan. + +The Sultan, however, was not moved to this seeming generosity by +friendliness to Marko; on the contrary he feared him exceedingly and +was anxious only for his speedy departure. + + + + +PRINCE MARKO AND MOUSSA KESSEDJIYA [37] + +"Moussa Arbanass [38] was one day drinking wine in a white tavern in +Istamboul. Presently, when he had drunk a good deal he began to talk +thus: 'It is just about nine years since I entered the service of +the Sultan at Istamboul, yet he has never given me a horse, or arms, +or even a velvet cloak! By my faith, I shall rebel! I shall go down +to the coast, seize the harbours and all the roads leading to them: +and then build myself a koula, around which I shall erect gibbets +with iron hooks and hang his hodjas (priests) and hadjis (pilgrims) +upon them.'" + +The threats the Albanian made in his drunkenness he actually carried +out when he became possessed of his senses. He turned rebel, seized the +sea-ports and the main roads, captured and robbed the rich merchants, +and hanged the Sultan's hodjas and hadjis. When the Sultan heard of +all these misdeeds, he sent the Grand Vizir Tyouprilitch with three +thousand men to undertake a campaign against Moussa. But, alas! no +sooner had the Turkish army reached the sea-coast than Moussa dispersed +it and took the Grand Vizir prisoner. Next he bound the Vizir hand and +foot and sent him back thus ignominiously to his master at Istamboul. + +Now the Sultan, in despair, published a proclamation all over his vast +empire, promising untold riches to any knight who would vanquish the +rebel. And many a brave knight went to fight the rebel, but, alas! not +one ever returned to Istamboul to claim the promised gold! This +humiliation threw the Sultan into unspeakable distress and anxiety. + +At length the Grand Vizir Tyouprilitch came to him and said: "Sire, +thou Glorious Sultan! If only we had now with us the Royal Prince +Marko! He would surely overcome Moussa the Bully!" + +The Sultan cast at his Vizir a reproachful glance, and, with tears in +his eyes, said: "Oh, torture not my soul, by speaking of the princely +knight Marko! His very bones must have rotted long before this day, +for at least three years have flown since I threw him into my darkest +dungeon, the door of which has remained fast bolted." Thereupon the +Vizir asked: "Gracious master, what wouldst thou give to the man who +could bring Marko into thy presence alive?" And the mighty Sultan +answered: "I would give him the vizirate of Bosnia, with power there +to remain for nine years without recall, and I would not demand from +him even a dinar of the revenues and taxes which he might collect." + + + + +Marko is Sent for + +Hearing this, the cunning Vizir hastened to the prison, opened the +door of the dungeon, brought out the Royal Prince Marko and led him +before the Sultan. Marko's hair had grown to the ground, one-half +of it he had used to sleep upon, and with the other part he covered +himself at night; his nails were so long that he could plough with +them; the dampness and dirt in the dungeon had changed him so that +he was as black as a black stone. + +When the Sultan saw him, he exclaimed: "Dost thou still live, +Marko?" "Yea, I am still alive, but hardly can I move my limbs," +the hero answered. + +And the Sultan went on to tell Marko about the evil doings of Moussa, +and asked him: "Couldst thou undertake, O Marko, to go to the sea-coast +and kill Moussa Kessedjiya? If thou wouldst do this, I would gladly +give thee as much gold as thou canst desire." + +Thereupon Prince Marko answered: "Alas, O Sire! The dampness of the +stone dungeon has ruined my bones and much hurt my eyes. How could I +venture to fight a duel with Moussa? But, if thou wishest me to try +that feat, place me in a good inn somewhere, supply me with plenty of +wine and brandy, fat mutton and good white bread, that I may perhaps +regain my strength. I shall then tell thee as soon as I feel myself +able to fight a duel." + +Hearing this, the Sultan summoned attendants to wash Marko, to cut his +hair, to shave him and to trim his nails. Then he had him conducted +with honour to the New Inn, where there was abundance of everything +to satisfy his needs. + +Marko remained in the inn for three months, zealously eating and +drinking, and he had thus considerably restored his strength, when +the Sultan asked him: "Dost thou yet feel thyself able to go and +overcome Moussa, for my poor subjects are incessantly sending me +complaints against that accursed brigand?" And Marko answered the +Sultan thus: "Let a piece of perfectly dry wood of a medlar-tree, +which has been cut off nine years be brought to me, that I may test +my strength!" When the piece of wood was brought, Marko took it in +his right hand and squeezed it so hard that it broke in three. "By +my faith, Sire, it is not yet time for me to venture a duel with such +a dangerous adversary as Moussa!" + +So Marko remained in the New Inn for another month, eating, drinking, +and resting, till he felt a little stronger. Then he asked again for +a dry stick from a medlar-tree. When the wood was brought to him, +he squeezed it with his right hand till it broke in pieces, and this +time two drops of water came from it. Then Marko said to the Sultan: +"Sire, now I am ready to fight the duel." + + + + +Marko orders a Sword + +From the palace Marko went straight to Novak, the famous maker of +swords. "Make me a finer sword than any thou hast ever made before, O +Novak!" said Marko, and he gave the smith thirty ducats and went back +to the inn. There he stayed to drink red wine for the next few days, +and then went again to the smith's. "Hast thou finished my sword, +O Novak?" And the swordsmith brought forth the blade and gave it to +Marko, who asked: "Is it good?" "There is the sword and here is the +anvil; thou canst try on it the quality of thy sword!" answered Novak +timidly. Thereupon Marko lifted his sword and struck the anvil with +it so hard that he cut right through it. "O Novak, the swordsmith, +tell me now, truthfully--and may God help thee--hast thou ever made a +better sword?" And Novak answered: "Since thou didst call upon the name +of the true God, I must tell thee truthfully that I did once make a +better sword; yea, and it was for a better warrior. When Moussa turned +rebel and went to the sea-coast, he ordered me to make him a sword, +with which he cut right through the anvil as thou hast done, and +through the trunk of an oak-tree upon which it was standing, as well." + +This enraged Marko. "Hold out thy hand, Novak, that I may pay thee +for my sword!" No sooner had the man stretched forth his right arm, +than Marko by a swift stroke cut it off from the shoulder. "Now, O +Novak, from this day thou shalt not make either a better or a worse +sword than mine! And take these hundred ducats as thy reward!" + + + + +Marko meets Moussa + +Then Marko mounted his Sharatz and rode off to the sea, seeking and +inquiring all the way for Moussa. One morning early he rode up the +defile Katchanik, when suddenly he saw Moussa Kessedjiya, calmly seated +on his black steed with his legs crossed, throwing his mace to the +clouds and catching it again in his right hand. When the two knights +met, Marko said to Moussa: "Knightly Moussa, move aside and leave +the path free for my Sharatz to pass! Move aside or bow before me!" + +To this Moussa answered: "Pass on quietly, Marko, do not start +a quarrel. Better still, let us dismount and take refreshment +together. I shall never move aside to make way for thee. I know well +that thou wert born of a queen in a palace, and wert laid upon silken +cushions. Doubtless thy mother wrapped thee in pure silk, and fastened +the silk with golden thread, and gave thee honey and sugar; my mother +was a poor, wild Albanian, and I was born on the cold rocks near the +sheep she was tending, and she wrapped me in a rough, black cloth, +tying it on to me with bramble twigs; she fed me on oatmeal--but +above all things she always made me swear that I should never move +aside for anybody." + +Hearing this, Marko of Prilip aimed his lance at Moussa's breast, but +the fierce Albanian received it on his warrior-mace, and it glanced +off, whizzing high above his head. Then Moussa threw his own lance, +aiming at Marko's breast, but the princely hero received it on his +club and it broke in three. They next unsheathed their swords and +attacked each other at close quarters. Marko gave a great stroke, +but Moussa interposed his mace and the sword was shattered. Instantly +Moussa raised his own sword to strike his adversary, but Marko, in +the like manner, received it upon his club and the weapon snapped in +two near its hilt. Then they began labouring each other with their +maces until these broke too. They next dismounted and seized each +other fiercely. The famous heroes were equally matched for once, +the knightly Moussa against the princely Marko. Moussa could neither +throw Marko down, nor could Marko overcome Moussa. For a whole summer's +morning did they wrestle together. At about noon, white foam rose on +Moussa's lips, and Marko's lips were covered with blood and foam. Then +Moussa exclaimed: "Do throw me down, O Marko! or, if you cannot do +it, let me throw you down!" Marko did all he could, but his attempts +were vain. Seeing this, Moussa exerted his last remnants of strength +and, lifting Marko from the ground, he threw him on to the grass and +pressed his knees on his breast. + +Marko, in great danger, exclaimed: "Where art thou now, my +sister-in-God, thou Veela? Where art thou to-day, mayst thou live no +longer! Now I see thine oath was false when thou didst sware to me +that whenever I should be in distress, thou wouldst help me!" + +The veela appeared from behind the clouds, saying: "O my brother, +Royal Prince Marko! Hast thou forgotten my words: That thou shouldst +never fight on Sunday? I cannot help thee, for it would not be fair +that two should fight against one. Where are thy secret poniards?" + +Moussa cast a glance to the clouds to see where the voice came from, +and this was his undoing, for Marko seized the moment, drew out a +secret blade, and with a sudden fierce stroke cut Moussa so that his +body was opened from his waist to his neck. + +Marko disengaged himself with difficulty from the embraces of +the horrible Moussa, and as the body lay upon its back the Prince +discovered through the gaping wound that his adversary had three rows +of ribs and three hearts. One of the hearts had collapsed; another +was still beating excitedly; on the third a serpent was just awaking, +and as it saw Marko it hissed: "Praise God, O Royal Prince Marko, +that I still slept while Moussa was alive--for a three hundred fold +misfortune would surely otherwise have befallen thee!" + +When Marko heard this, tears poured down his cheeks and he lamented: +"Alas! Gracious God forgive me, I have killed a better knight than +I am!" + +Then he struck off Moussa's head with his sword, put it into Sharatz's +nose-bag and returned triumphantly to Istamboul. When he flung the +head of Moussa before the Sultan the monarch was so horrified that +he sprang to his feet. "Do not fear the dead, O gracious Sultan! If +thou art frightened by the sight of Moussa's head, what wouldst thou +have done if thou hadst met him alive?" + +The Sultan gave three tovars of gold to Marko, who returned to his +castle at Prilip. + +As for Moussa the Bully, he remained on the top of Katchanik Mountain. + + + + +THE DEATH OF PRINCE MARKO + +In the early dawn of a Sabbath morning Prince Marko paced the +sea-shore. Soon he came to a bridle path that led up the slopes of +the Ourvinian mountain, and as he got near to the mountain top, his +faithful Sharatz suddenly stumbled and began to shed tears. His moans +fell sadly upon Marko's heart and he addressed his favourite thus: +"Alas! dear Sharo, my most precious treasure! Lo! we have dwelt happily +together these many summers as beloved companions; till now thou hast +never stumbled, and to-day for the first time thine eyes do weep: +God alone knows what fate awaits us, but I can see that my life or +thine is in great peril and that one of us is surely doomed to die." + +When Marko had spoken to his Sharatz thus, the veela from the Ourvinian +mountain called to him: "My dear brother-in-God! O Royal Prince +Marko! Knowest thou not, brother, why thy horse is stumbling? Thy +Sharatz is grieving for thee, his master. Know that ere long ye must +be divided!" + +Marko answered: "O thou white veela! May thy throat cause thee pain +for speaking thus: How in this world could I ever part from Sharatz, +who through many a land and many a city hath borne me from dawn till +sunset; better steed never trod our earth than Sharatz, and Marko +never better hero. While my head is on my shoulders, never will I be +severed from my beloved steed!" + +And the veela called again: "O my brother, Royal Prince Marko, there is +no force which can tear thy Sharatz from thee; thou canst not die from +any hero's shining sabre, or battle-club, or lance of warrior; thou +fearest no hero on earth--but, alas! thou must die, O Marko! Death, the +ancient slayer, will smite thee. If thou wilt not believe me, hasten +to the summit of the mountain, look to the right and to the left, and +thou wilt presently see two tall fir-trees covered with fresh green +leaves and towering high above the other trees of the forest. Between +those fir-trees there is a spring; there alight, and bind thy Sharatz +to one of the fir-trees; then bend thee down and the water will mirror +thy face. Look and thou shalt see when death awaits thee!" + + + + +Marko learns his Fate + +Marko followed the veela's instruction, and when he arrived upon +the mountain top, he looked to the right and to the left, and truly, +he saw the two tall straight fir-trees just as she described them, +and he did everything she had counselled him to do. When he looked +into the spring he saw his face reflected in the water, and lo! his +fate was written on its surface!... + +Then he shed many bitter tears, and spoke in this wise: "O thou +treacherous world, once my fairy flower! Thou wert lovely--but I +sojourned for too short a time with thee: yea for about three hundred +years! The hour has come for me to depart!" Then he drew his sabre +and hastened to Sharatz; with one stroke he smote off his head. Never +should he be mounted by the Turk; never should a Turkish burden be +placed upon his proud shoulders; never should he carry the dyugoom +[39] from the well for the hated Moslem! + +Marko now dug a grave for his faithful Sharatz and interred him with +more honour than he had buried Andreas, his own brother. Then he +broke his sabre in four that it might not fall into the hands of a +Moslem, and that the Turk might not brandish it with something of his +own power, lest the curse of Christendom should fall upon him. Marko +next broke his lance in seven pieces throwing the fragments into the +branches of the fir-tree. Then he took his terrible club in his right +hand, and swiftly flung it from the Ourvinian mountain far into the +dark sapphire sea, with the words: "When my club returns from the +depths of the ocean, then shall come a hero as great as Marko!" When +he had scattered thus all his weapons, he drew from his belt a golden +tablet upon which he inscribed this message: "To him who passes over +this mountain, and to him who seeks the spring by the fir-trees and +finds Marko's body: know that Marko is dead. There are here three +purses filled with golden ducats. One shall be Marko's gift to him +who digs his grave: the second shall be used to adorn churches; the +gold in the third shall be distributed among the blind and maimed, +that they may wander in peace through the land and with hymns laud +Marko's deeds and feats of glory!" + +When Marko had thus written he bound the tablet to a branch that it +might be seen by the passers-by. He spread his cloak on the grass +beneath the fir-trees, made the sign of the holy cross, drew over +his eyes his fur cap and laid himself down.... + + + + +The Finding of Marko + +The body of Marko lay beside the spring day after day till a whole +week had passed. Meanwhile many a traveller passed over the broad +path and saw the knightly Marko, but one and all believed him to be +slumbering and kept a safe distance, fearing to disturb or awake the +sleeping hero. Fortune is the leader of misfortune, as misfortune +often leads to fortune: and it befell that Vasso the igouman (abbot) +of Mount Athos, rode that way from the white church Vilindar attended +by the youthful Issaya his deacon. When the igouman noticed Marko, +he beckoned to Issaya. "O my son," he said, "be cautious, lest thou +wake the hero, for Marko is furious when disturbed and may destroy us +both." Then he looked anxiously round and saw the inscription which +Marko had fixed above his head. He drew near cautiously and read the +message. Then he dismounted hastily from his horse and seized Marko's +hand--but the hero moved not! Tears rushed from the eyes of Vasso, and +he lamented loudly the fate of Marko. After a time he took the three +purses from the hero's girdle and hid them beneath his belt. Long he +pondered as to where he should entomb Marko; at length he placed the +hero's body on his horse and brought it to the shore. In due course +he arrived safely with it at the white church Vilindar, and having +sung the customary hymns and performed those rites which are fitting +he interred Marko's body beneath the centre of the church. + +There the aged igouman buried Marko but he raised no monument over +the tomb, lest foes should learn the whereabouts of the hero's grave +and take vengeance on the dead. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER V: BANOVITCH STRAHINYA + + +Historical Data + +The ballad relating to Banovitch Strahinya is one of the finest and +most famous which the anonymous Serbian bards composed during the +Middle Ages. The author was probably a dependent of the descendants of +Banovitch, and utilized a few historical and biographical data, which +he must have found among the manuscripts and other records belonging +to his lord or in the other castles he visited from time to time. + +Prince Ourosh (of the Nemanya dynasty) married Helen, a French princess +of the house de Courtenay, and through her he kept up friendly +relations with the French Court of Charles of Anjou in Naples, and +he endeavoured to negotiate an alliance between Serbs and French for +the overthrow and partition of the Byzantine Empire. + +Some Serbian historians believe that Banovitch Strahinya was really +the glorious Strashimir Balshitch-Nemanyitch (who reigned conjointly +with his two brothers from 1360-1370 in Skadar, the capital of Northern +Albania) and a descendant of the old Provencal family of des Baux. + +In early local records the name Baux is latinized Balcius, and members +of the family who attended the Court at Naples changed the name, in +Italian fashion, into Balza. And it is supposed that these Italianized +Seigneurs des Baux, who were permitted to marry into the Royal House +of Nemanyitch, and who settled in Serbian lands, then further changed +their patronymic to Balsha or Balshitch--itch, or ich, or ic being +the characteristic termination of most Serbian family names. + +It may here be stated that Skadar was at that time still the capital +of Zeta (the Montenegro of modern times). The valiant Nicholas I +Petrovitch, the present King of Montenegro, and an indirect descendant +out of Balshitch, was obliged by the Great Powers to evacuate the town +after he had obtained possession of it by the heroism of his troops, +and Serbian bards throughout the kingdom are now improvising ballads, +in which they may transmit to future generations the story of the +sad events of the present time, just as their ancestors recorded the +exploits of Strahinya. But let us turn to the story of Banovitch as +it was given in the old ballad. + + + + +The Falcon Banovitch + +In the opening verses the bard describes the hero and eulogizes him as +"a falcon without equal." He tells of the orders given by Banovitch +to his servants and pages relative to the preparations to be made +for himself, Dyogo his faithful steed, and the greyhound Caraman, +his inseparable companion. He is not going to the hunt, however; he +intends to visit the aged Youg Bogdan, and is clad in pure silk and +velvet embroidered with fine gold. Bogdan, his beloved father-in-law, +resides at his sumptuous castle in Kroushevatz. The old man rejoiced +to see him, and his nine sons and their wives, as well as Bogdan's +sons-in-law, of whom one was a direct descendant of King Nemanya, +greeted him warmly. + +As they were feasting, a letter was brought from Banovitch's mother, +telling him that innumerable hordes of Turks had encamped on the field +of Kossovo. Strahinya seized the letter and read in horror his mother's +malediction: "Woe to thee and thy feasting in the accursed castle of +thy wife's father!" The letter went on to say that a certain chieftain +named Vlah-Ali, proud, haughty, and independent not only of Mehmed, the +Grand Vizir, but of Sultan Amourath himself, had attacked, conquered, +and pillaged his castle, captured his servants, and taken his wife +away to his tent on a mountain near the field of Kossovo, where she was +seemingly quite content to remain. Youg Bogdan, observing Strahinya's +grief, asked him in alarm what was amiss, if he lacked anything in +his castle, or if any one of his family had offended him. Banovitch +thanked his father-in-law, and assured him that other misfortunes were +troubling him, and he read the letter aloud. Banovitch then begged Youg +Bogdan to allow his sons to accompany him to the field of Kossovo, +as he had resolved to rescue his wife from the hands of the foe. But +Youg Bogdan, thinking that it would be foolish for so few to go and +face the many thousands of bloodthirsty Turks, disapproved altogether +of this, and strongly advised Banovitch to abandon the idea. He even +promised to find him a bride fairer and more worthy of him than his own +faithless daughter. But Strahinya remained unshaken in his resolution, +and convinced of his father-in-law's lack of chivalry, ran hurriedly +to the stables, refusing in scorn the help of Bogdan's servants, +saddled Dyogo, and indignant and sorrowful mounted forthwith. As he +was riding out of the courtyard he suddenly remembered Caraman, so +he whistled, and instantly Caraman ran to his master and comforted him. + + + + +Banovitch seeks the Turk + +So over fields and over mountains, straight to Kossovo, Banovitch +rode forth with courage and gladness, for his dog was even dearer to +him than his steed. At Kossovo he saw the plain crowded with tents +and soldiers, and as he looked he felt something like dread within +him; nevertheless, he called on the name of the true God and taking +the precaution of disguising himself as a Turk, he rode over the +plain. For several days he sought, but alas! in vain, the tent of +Vlah-Ali. At last from the banks of Sitnitza, he beheld a spacious +green tent upon the pole of which a golden apple shone; before the +entrance stood an Arab steed stamping sharply with his forefeet upon +the ground. Strahinya thought that this must surely be the tent of +Vlah-Ali, and he fiercely spurred on his Dyogo. Reaching the tent +in a moment, spear in hand, he boldly drew aside the silken curtain +which veiled the entrance. To his disappointment he saw that the only +occupant of the pavilion was an old dervish with a white beard reaching +to his knees. The old man was drinking wine, a thing forbidden to him +by the laws of his order, and he returned the greeting of Strahinya, +who spoke good Turkish, with a profound salaam. Then, to Strahinya's +astonishment, the dervish said: "Hail! O Banovitch Strahinya, Lord +of Little Banyska near Kossovo!" Banovitch was taken aback, but he +tried to put a good face upon it and asked in apparent surprise: "Who +is the man thou hast called Banovitch Strahinya?" The half-drunken +dervish laughed aloud. "Thou canst not deceive me," said he, "I +would instantly recognize thee, yea, even wert thou on the top of +the mountain Goletch." Then he told Banovitch how that he had been a +captive in his castle a few years previously, and had been treated most +humanely, even receiving a daily measure of wine. Finally Banovitch +had let him go to his estates to collect his ransom. Upon reaching +his home he discovered that his estates had been appropriated by the +Sultan, and his house and other possessions had been given to Pashas' +daughters as dowries. All was dreariness and desolation; he had lost +his fortune--and, he added bitterly, consequently all his friends--so +he was reduced to ride to Yedrenet [40] to offer his services to the +Sultan. The Vizir, he continued, told the Sultan that he looked as +if he might quite likely be of use as a soldier, whereupon the Sultan +had given him good clothes and better weapons and the Vizir added his +name to the roll of warriors sworn to fight for the Sultan. "Now," +he concluded, "I do not possess so much as even a dinar, give me, +I pray thee, time for my fortunes to improve." + +Strahinya was deeply touched by the dervish's misfortunes and, +alighting from his steed, he embraced him and spoke to him in the +following friendly manner: "Thou art my brother-in-God! I forgive +thee gladly thy ransom, neither shall I ever ask even a dinar +from thee, but thou canst repay me! I am now seeking the haughty +Vlah-Ali, who demolished my castle and robbed me of my wife. Tell +me, O aged dervish! Where shall I find my foe? I beseech thee as my +brother-in-God, not to let the Turks know of my presence here, and not +to suffer them to take me by guile." The dervish was glad to become +brother-in-God of such a valiant hero as Strahinya, and he pledged +his unalterable faith that, even if Strahinya should destroy half of +the Sultan's army, he would never betray him; but at the same time, +he tried to persuade Banovitch to give up all intention of attacking +such an unconquerable and terrible foe, whose mere name was enough +to strike terror into the heart of the best and bravest. He went +on to describe the warlike character of the invincible rebel of the +Padishah, and finished by assuring Banovitch that neither his sharp +sword, nor his poisoned spear, nor his steed would avail to protect +him, for the terrible Vlah-Ali would surely seize him alive in his +iron grasp, break his limbs to pieces and pluck out his eyes. + +Strahinya laughed aloud when he heard all this; "O my brother," said +he, "thou aged dervish! Thou needest not warn me against one warrior, +only do not bring upon me the Sultan's whole army! Since thou goest +to water thy horses every evening and every morning at the River +Sitnitza, thou must know where the fords are, and thou couldst save +me from riding my steed into muddy depths!" + +At this the dervish repeated his oath, and exclaimed: + + + Strahni-Bane, ti sokole Srpski! + Tvome Dyogu i tvome junashtvu + Svud su brodi, dyegody dodyesh vodi! [41] + + +Banovitch crossed the river, and rode without haste to mount +Goletch. He was still at the foot of the mountain when the morning +sun shone out upon the field of Kossovo, making the tents and the +soldiers' armour gleam. + + + + +The Faithless Wife + +What was the mighty Vlah-Ali doing when dawn came? The Turk's custom +was to seek slumber only at sunrise. "How very dear to him was his +new slave, Strahinya's wife," recites the bard, "may be understood +when I tell that he had closed his eyes with his head on her ivory +shoulder." The faithless woman was not sleeping; through the door of +the tent she gazed over the sleeping camp. Suddenly she roused her +new lord and pointed in terror to the figure of an advancing horseman +in whom she had recognized her true husband. + +At first the Turk laughed at her fears and said that it was only +an ambassador from the Sultan. "Verily," said he, composing himself +again to rest, "Strahinya will not dare to come near the tent!" + +Presently his companion again roused Vlah-Ali and told him that +the horseman was no messenger from Amouradh, but her own husband, +Banovitch Strahinya himself, and she warned Vlah-Ali that he was in +peril of his life. + +Upon this, the mighty Vlah-Ali leapt to his feet, girded on a long +silken sash, fastened in it a sharp gleaming yataghan, quickly belted +on his shining sabre, and was soon firmly seated in his saddle. + + + + +The Combat + +A moment later Banovitch came up, and a fearful contest began between +the two champions--heroes of almost equal renown, though not equal +in strength. Strahinya addressed his opponent with reproachful and +taunting words, and Vlah-Ali replied in equally offensive terms. But +they did not fight only with words. Banovitch spurred Dyogo and +furiously cast his spear, which the mighty Turk, stretching out +his hands, caught and broke into pieces. "O Strahinya," he shouted +derisively, "thou callest me a poltroon, indeed! Dost thou know to whom +thou didst speak? Here is no woman of thy Serbian land whom thy threats +might alarm; thou hast here to deal with the mighty Vlah-Ali who fears +neither the Sultan nor his Grand Vizir, yea, not even the countless +horde which they command! One and all, they are to me but a swarm of +ants!" Speaking thus, he alertly reined in his sturdy horse and sent +his spear whistling through the air. So straight it went to Strahinya's +breast that he surely would have been stricken had the just God not +helped him. Dyogo, accustomed to duels, knelt swiftly in the nick of +time, so that the Turk's weapon flew over Banovitch's head and struck +against a rock behind him, breaking into three pieces. Their spears +being thus destroyed, the fierce warriors next grasped their heavy +clubs, and rushed to close quarters. Their blows fell thick and fast +until Vlah-Ali struck Strahinya so violently that he was stunned and +fell forward upon Dyogo's neck. Again the true God stood by Strahinya; +his beloved grey steed, trained for such a struggle, moved his head +and his neck so cleverly that he threw his master back into the +saddle. Strahinya, in his turn, now struck his adversary's shoulder +with great force, but the mighty Turk sat unshaken, although by this +time his horse's legs were sunk in the black earth up to the knees. + +And so the battle went on until the combatants broke each other's +clubs, when they took to their sharp sabres, hoping to decide the +combat very soon. But lo! Banovitch's sabre was not a common one; +two strong smiths had spent a week in shaping it and in smelting the +finest of fine steel for its blade. The Turk made a swift slash at +his foe, but Strahinya caught the gleaming steel on his own blade, +and the sabre was instantly severed above the hilt. This pleased +Banovitch greatly, and, fiercely pressing the Turk, he now tried to +hack off his adversary's arms. But the heroes were well matched; +Vlah-Ali guarded his head most deftly with the remaining stump of +his sabre, and, bit by bit, he broke away his adversary's weapon, +until once more the two were on equal terms. They now dismounted, +and grasping each other firmly, they heaved and wrestled with all +their strength. + +Finally Strahinya, feeling that he was almost spent, called upon his +wife to take the other part of the Turk's sabre and to settle the +contest by striking either his head or that of Vlah-Ali. Thereupon +Vlah-Ali called out: "My darling! O thou wife of Strahinya! Strike me +not, but rather strike Banovitch as thou canst never again be dear +to him; he will blame and scorn thee for ever and ever. But thou +shalt be always most dear to me. I will escort thee to Yedrenet, +thirty maids shall there be to wait upon thee: to carry thy robes +and wide sleeves. With sweet-meats will I feed thee and will cover +thee with golden ducats from head to foot!" + +Women may easily be misled by fair words: and so the wife of Strahinya +sprang forward and picked up a piece of the sharp blade, wrapping it +carefully in fine silk, for she feared it might wound her hand. Then +she ran swiftly to the fighting heroes, and taking all care not to +hurt Ali, she violently struck the head of Banovitch, and cut through +the golden crest and the white helmet. The blade but slightly gashed +Strahinya's head, but down rushed the blood over his face fast and +thick and all but blinded him. + +At this bitter moment, Strahinya thought of his faithful Caraman and +called to him twice. The dog rushed furiously at the faithless woman +and held her fast, [42] whereupon she was much terrified and screaming +loudly, she threw the blade afar and seized the dog by its ears. The +Turk, alarmed and distracted, turned round to see what had happened. So +encouraged was Strahinya at this new proof of his dog's intelligence +and faithfulness, that new strength came to him and seizing the +opportunity he threw his adversary on the ground and slew him with +his teeth "as wolves slaughter lambs." Then he carried away his wife +(whom the intelligent Caraman had left unhurt) to her father's castle. + + + + +The return of the Falcon + +When Youg Bogdan and his sons saw Strahinya covered with blood, they +were greatly astonished that there should be a Turk valiant enough +to wound a hero such as Strahinya. But Strahinya narrated to them +the shameful conduct of his wife, and the story made Youg Bogdan so +incensed that he commanded his sons to pierce their sister with their +swords. But the ever chivalrous Strahinya protested, exclaiming: +"O my brothers-in-law, ye nine Yougovitch! Why, O brothers would +ye cover yourselves with shame to-day? On whom would ye draw your +blades? Since ye are, O brothers, so blood-thirsty and so courageous, +where were all your knives and your bright sabres when I went to the +field of Kossovo? Why did ye not accompany me then, and exhibit your +bravery before the fierce Turks? Why did ye not then prove yourselves +to be my friends? I will not let ye kill your sister; without your +help I could have slain her myself. She is but a frail and easily +misguided woman! But I shall not kill her: on the contrary she will +henceforth be dear to me as ever." + +The bard ends his poem: + + + Pomalo ye takiyeh younaka, + Ka' shto beshe Strahinyityou Bane! + + +("Few are the heroes fit to be compared with Banovitch Strahinya!") + + + + + + + +CHAPTER VI: THE TSARINA MILITZA AND THE ZMAY [43] OF YASTREBATZ + + +Militza tells the Tsar + +"O thou one and indivisible God! Mayest thou be glorified!".... Tsar +Lazar sat at supper, and with him sat the Tsarina Militza, sorrowful +and depressed. This unusual aspect of his beloved consort alarmed +the Tsar, and he asked her tenderly: "O Militza, thou my Tsarina! If +I put a question to thee, wouldst thou answer me with the truth? Why +art thou so gloomy, so sorrowful and pale to-night? Is anything thou +desirest lacking in our castle?" The Tsarina replied: "O Tsar Lazar, +thou Serbian golden crown! Verily whensoever thou speakest to me I +answer but the truth. Nothing is lacking in our palace; but truly +a great misfortune has befallen me, for the Zmay of Yastrebatz is +accustomed, ever since last year to come to my tower each night to +embrace me." Tsar Lazar, astounded, said: "Listen to me, O Tsarina +Militza! When thou hast retired to thine apartment in the white +tower to-night and thy magic lover hath come, ask him if there be +any besides God whom he fears, and if there is to be found on this +earth a hero whom he deems superior to himself!" + +Soon after supper the Tsar went to his narrow and many-storied +tchardack, [44] and the Tsarina retired to her tower. And it was +seen how the mountain Yastrebatz glowed suddenly as if on fire, and +how out of the flames flew the Zmay straight over the level plain of +Kroushevo to the Tsarina's tower. + +When he entered the Tsarina's apartment he took off his fairy garment +and looked tenderly upon the fair woman. The Tsarina affected to +welcome her lover, and after a time she said: "I pray thee, O Zmay +of Yastrebatz, since thou comest so daringly to my tower, tell me is +there any besides God whom thou dreadest? and lives there in the whole +world any hero whom thou deemest superior to thyself?" Thereupon the +Zmay answered in surprise: "Keep silent, O Militza! (or mayest thou +remain speechless for ever!) Surely thou askest me this question +because thou hast been instructed by Lazar!" + +But Militza swore to him, saying: "No, not so! May I perish if +I speak not the truth! I ask thee because I see thou art such an +excellent hero." + +When the Zmay heard this he trusted to the false oath (less dangerous +it would have been for him if a viper had bitten him!) and spoke in +this wise: "O Militza, dearest Tsarina! Since thou askest me truly, +truly shall I answer thee. On the whole of this earth I dread none +but God; neither is there hero whom I fear, save only that on a +plain called Sirmia there is a village known as Koopinovo, and in +that village lives a Zmay-Despot Vook; him I fear, for I have known +him ever since our foolish childhood. We often used to play together +on the summit of the high mountain Yastrebatz, and Vook would always +get the better of me in our contests. It is Vook only whom I dread, +for he is the champion Zmay on this earth." + +As the Zmay pronounced the last of these words, Danitza--the morning +star--appeared on the horizon and the Zmay instantly took flight to +his castle. + +The Tsarina hastened to Lazar's tchardack and informed him of what +she had learnt from the Zmay. Hearing the story the Tsar decided to +write in 'slender characters' a message to Zmay-Despot Vook telling +what he had learned beseeching him to come to Kroushevatz and kill +his detested enemy the Zmay of Yastrebatz. For rendering that service +Vook should receive three tovars of ducats and the kingdom of Sirmia +to be his for life. + + + + +Vook as Champion + +The message duly reached the hands of Zmay-Despot Vook, and, having +perused it he considered for a while as to what he should do. He loved +the friend of his childhood, but he could not condone his shameful +conduct. Finally he decided to battle with the Zmay of Yastrebatz, +so he saddled his black steed, presented to him by the veela, and +that very night he reached the plain of Kroushevo; there he alighted; +spread his tent in the wheat-fields of Lazar and drank cool wine. + +Meantime the sun rose and as the Tsar slowly paced his balcony, +he suddenly noticed a tent in his fields, and a strange and very +wonderful knight within it. He immediately called the Tsarina and +pointed out to her what he saw. Militza exclaimed that this must be +none other than Zmay-Despot Vook, for he much resembled her magic +lover the Zmay of Yastrebatz. + +The Tsar immediately sent a messenger to the stranger bidding him come +at once to the palace, where a noble feast awaited him. But Vook sent +word that he desired to remain in his tent and he requested that the +Tsarina should not close fast the doors of her apartments that night +but should quietly await the coming of the Zmay of Yastrebatz and +leave the issue to her new protector. + +Upon receiving Vook's reply the Tsar ordered a fine repast to be +prepared and taken to his tent, not omitting a large quantity of +red wine. + +The day passed uneventfully, and when night came the fair Militza +retired. As usual Mount Yastrebatz burst into its customary light, +and its lord flew from the flames straight to the Tsarina's tower and +stole into her chamber, where he doffed his magic garment. Suddenly he +heard the voice of Zmay-Despot Vook saying: "Thou who hath presumed +to embrace the Serbian Tsarina, come forth this instant from the +white tower!" + +Greatly alarmed, the Zmay of Yastrebatz cursed the Tsarina thus: +"Lo, Militza, may God destroy thee! Thou hast betrayed me to Lazar!" + +Saying this he donned his magic garment and made haste to +depart. Instead of as usual, directing his flight to his castle on +Yastrebatz, he ascended straight into the clouds. Vook pursued him +very closely and coming up with him at an extreme height, he struck +him violently with his heavy club and broke both his wings. Down +fell the Zmay of Yastrebatz, swift as a stone to the earth, where +he lay writhing like a snake and moaning piteously--"May a similar +misfortune befall every hero who entrusts his mistress with his +secrets!" He had not a long time in which to indulge his bitter +reflections for Vook was following and the instant he alighted he +struck off the head of the Zmay. Then he went to Lazar and threw +the head upon the ground before him. The Tsar was so terrified at +the mere sight of the ghastly object that he was seized suddenly by +a severe fever. But he gave the promised gold to Vook as well as an +imperial decree empowering him to rule independently over Sirmia for +the remainder of his life. Moreover, he promised that should Vook ever +be without gold, he need but apply to the Tsar, and he should have his +needs supplied. The bard ends: "And they long lived happily, always +helping each other, as fellow-countrymen should do; and the glory of +the hero became a tradition; we now remember the anniversary of the +slaying of the Zmay of Yastrebatz as the happiest day in the year!" + + + + + + + +CHAPTER VII: THE MARRIAGE OF MAXIMUS TZRNOYEVITCH + + +The Ballad + +This ballad from which the King of Montenegro--Nicholas +Petrovitch--drew inspiration for his drama The Empress of the Balkans +is undoubtedly the finest Serbian national poem ever composed and +chanted in Montenegro. To render it satisfactorily in its poetic +form into another language, compact as it is of intensely national +characteristics, metaphors and other figures of speech, religious +conceptions, customs and superstitions, would be impossible for even +the greatest of our poets. + +A French proverb says quand on n'a pas ce que l'on aime, ou aime ce +que l'on a, and the hope may here be expressed that the philosophic +English reader will make the best of the following prose version, +such as it is, of a most interesting national poem. + + + + +The Story + +Ivan Tzrnoyevitch [45] sailed across the Adriatic to Venice, in order +to pay a visit to the doge and to ask his daughter in marriage for +his son Maximus. He remained there three years, during which he spent +three tovars of gold and upon his departure at the end of this period +he arranged to return the following year with his son and with one +thousand, or more, guests for the marriage festivities. The doge and +his two sons, as well as a hundred of the doge's high dignitaries, +accompanied Ivan to his galley and the Montenegrin prince repeated +his promise to come again the next year with his guests and with his +son, than whom, he averred, no finer hero or handsomer youth could be +found in any gathering of one thousand Montenegrins or one thousand +Venetians. The doge, exceedingly pleased to have for his son-in-law +such a fine hero, embraced Ivan, saying: "I thank thee, my friend, +for such words! How happy I am to have gained such a dear son-in-law, +whose equal should in vain be sought among thousands! I shall love +him more than the sight of my eyes; and shall prepare precious gifts +for him: horses and falcons, helmets with golden crests and round him +cloaks to wrap such as he may be proud to wear. But if he be not as +handsome as thou hast said; woe to thee!" + +After this Ivan sailed for Zablak. As he neared his castle he felt +very happy and urged on his steed Zdral the sooner to reach home. His +faithful consort perceived him from afar, and at once gave orders to +the servants to make the necessary preparations for the arrival of +their lord. She judged from the gay appearance of her husband that +he must have succeeded in his mission. + +When Ivan arrived in the courtyard of his castle, some of his servants +helped him to alight from his steed, others took off his armour +and arms, and his son Maximus brought him a silver settle that he +might be seated and rest. Ivan turned to thank his son, but behold! A +misfortune had befallen him! During his father's absence Maximus had +been stricken with small-pox--that terrible scourge!--and his once +handsome face was so pitted and seamed that it was now horrible to +look upon. The bard assures us that it was hardly possible to find +an uglier fellow than Maximus had become. + +The prince immediately recollected his boast to the doge, that there +could not be found amongst thousands a handsomer youth than his son, +and he felt very sad; his long moustache drooped down on to his +shoulders, [46] and, with eyes fixed on the ground he sat silent and +gloomy. His consort saw with concern her husband's despondency and +she endeavoured to raise his spirits. Gathering up the folds of her +flowing robe and the ends of her long sleeves, she came close and, +bending, kissed his hand. "Pray, my lord," she said, "why art thou +so sad? Hast thou, perhaps, not been successful in thy mission? Hast +thou not betrothed the doge's daughter to our son? Is she perhaps +not fair enough to become thy daughter-in-law? Dost thou regret the +three tovars of gold which thou hast spent?" + +Thereupon Ivan roused himself and replied that it was quite another +misfortune which was troubling him. He told how he had successfully +betrothed the doge's daughter, and that she was so beautiful that +even the veele could not be compared with her; that it was not the +thought of the gold he had spent that tormented him--for his castle +was heaped up with treasure, and the abstraction of three tovars of +ducats had hardly affected the size of the store. No, the real cause +of his misfortune was that he had promised the doge to give him for +his son-in-law a youth who was the handsomest to be found amongst +thousands, and that if he were to present his son Maximus as he now +was, the doge would surely be angry and a war would ensue. + +When the princess heard this, she reproached Ivan with having gone so +far away for a bride, when he could have found in Montenegro itself +a much finer maiden whose family would be worthy of an alliance +with his own. Prince Ivan was persuaded that he had acted unwisely, +and he decided to abandon the betrothal, and forbade his friends to +congratulate him. + + + + +The Message from the Doge + +Nine years elapsed, and it seemed that the betrothal had been forgotten +by all, and that the doge's daughter, having heard nothing from Ivan, +had surely wedded another prince. But one day a message from the doge +arrived, in which he reproached the Montenegrin prince with having +allowed nine years to pass without sending a word to his daughter--who, +"from only a bud, had developed into a beauteous rose." He further +requested Ivan to write to his still patient daughter, and to tell +her plainly what he had decided with regard to the proposed marriage; +for if he did not now deem his son worthy of such a precious maiden, +he must at once tell her so, that a prince deserving of her might +be found. + +The prince was seized with great grief as he read the doge's +message. What could he say or do? After pondering long he sought his +princely consort and addressed her in this wise: "O my sweet-eyed +darling! I pray you counsel me now what to do! Shall I despatch a +message to the maiden and tell her that she is at liberty to seek +another in marriage, or how otherwise shall I write?" + +The princess was a wise woman, and she advised her husband prudently: +[47] "O my lord, thou Tzrnoyevitch Ivo! Has ever any man been +counselled by a wife? This has never been and never shall be. For we +women have long hair, but little brains. But as thou hast asked for my +opinion, I will venture to say that it would be a sin before God, and +before the world a shame, to deprive a maiden of happiness by releasing +her from a suitably arranged betrothal. Listen to me, dear lord! What +an insignificant reason alarms thee! If the small-pox has damaged +thy son's visage, thy distant friends should make allowance for such +misfortune resulting from illness--for who is exempt? Furthermore, +if thou dreadest a conflict when thou comest to Venice, I would +remind thee that thou hast dungeons full of pure golden ducats; in thy +cellars there is old wine in abundance; thy granaries are overfilled +with wheat and other grain; consequently thou art well able to gather +a great number of svats. Thou hast promised the doge to go thither +with one thousand svats, but why shouldest thou not take two thousand +chosen heroes and equerries with thee? When the Venetians see with +how great a force thou journeyest, they will not dare to attack thee, +even if thy son were blind. Therefore, gather the svats, and hasten +to bring the bride. O my lord, lose no more time in vain musing." At +these bold words, the prince expressed his great satisfaction in a +burst of laughter. He immediately inscribed a missive and despatched +it by a speedy courier. Its contents ran thus: "O my friend, thou Doge +of Venice! Thou could'st hear, if thou didst but listen, the roaring +of my thirty cannons, which I am about to fire from my fortress! O +friend, do not lose a single moment, but send at once galleys to meet +me, my son and all our svats. Farewell!" Ivan then sent to Milosh +Obrenbegovitch, inviting him to be the stari-svat and to attend with +as many chosen heroes as he could possibly find within the provinces +of Antivari and Dulzigno. He wrote also to his cousin, Captain Yovan, +inviting him to come to the wedding with as many of his friends as +possible. Couriers were sent to other friends, who received Ivan's +invitation gladly, and before long the plain of Zablak was studded +with their innumerable tents. One morning Ivan noticed Captain Yovan, +the bride's leader, pacing sadly the ramparts of the castle, and +casting frequent glances at the spearmen, equerries and standards +in the encampment below. Prince Ivan would not suffer anybody to +be unhappy in the midst of his festive preparations, and so asked +Captain Yovan the cause of his gloom. Yovan said, that if he might +speak of what was lying upon his heart, he would counsel the prince +to prepare a great feast for those numberless Montenegrins encamped +before his castle, after which couriers should be sent throughout +the camp telling all to return home that their fields should not be +ruined by neglect. Thus the land would not be deprived of defenders +against their persistent foe, the Turk, who might attack the country at +any moment while they were away. Then Yovan went on to relate to the +prince how the previous night he had seen in a dream the sky suddenly +covered with dark clouds; from those clouds a thunderbolt had fallen +upon his princely castle and razed every single stone of it to the +ground; a fire had then broken out and consumed the beautiful capital +Zablak. When the castle fell a tower had struck Maximus but without +doing him serious hurt. "Nevertheless," continued Yovan, "if there +be any truth in dreams, Maximus would either perish or be severely +wounded in Venice, and if I should be offended by a Venetian, all my +followers, five hundred men of Podgoritza, would die in my defence." + +Prince Ivan laughed heartily when Yovan had ended, and said that his +good friend owed his bad dreams to the fact that his pillows were +either too high or too low. Then saying, "dreams are false, but God +is true," he turned away to give orders to fire thirty guns from the +fortress as the signal for departure. + +When the cannon roared, especially the two famous guns Krgno and +Zelenko, the whole valley quaked, the black mountains resounded and +the water of Zetina was stirred to its depths. Some equerries were +shaken from their steeds and those standing fell on their knees on +the grass, for it is no light matter when siege-guns roar! + + + + +The Wedding Procession sets out + +The svats started on the journey in the best of spirits; some urged +and raced their coursers, others were drinking and singing gay wedding +songs as they marched. In their midst rode Prince Ivan on his courser +Zdral, with two proud falcons on his shoulders; on his right rode +Maximus, and on his left Milosh Obrenbegovitch. Prince Ivan glanced +often at his companions, and involuntarily drew a comparison between +the two. All at once he ordered a halt and spake aloud, saying: +"Listen, O my brothers, ye glorious svats! I have a plan to propose, +and hope that you will think it good. We are on the point of embarking, +O brothers, and will soon arrive in Venice. But look upon my son +Maximus, how much spoilt is his appearance by horrible disease; he +is unquestionably the ugliest of us all! Alas! when I was in Venice +nine years ago I praised him as the handsomest youth to be found +amongst one thousand Montenegrins; yea, even amongst one thousand +Venetians. Therefore, O brothers, I am very sad this morning, and +have no pleasure in the thought of meeting the doge. Hear that the +Venetians may attack us, so great will be their disappointment. But +behold! O ye my valiant svats! We have here with us a hero whose equal +in manly beauty must be vainly sought amongst us, as also amongst the +proud Venetians. I speak of Voivode Milosh Obrenbegovitch. Let us, +then, take off the plumed helmet from the head of my son and place +it upon Milosh's head, and thus make him the bridegroom for the time +being, until we have peacefully gained possession of the maiden!" + +The svats were greatly impressed by Ivan's scheme, but they +hesitated to speak, fearing to hurt the feelings of Maximus, who was a +spirited youth and might resent the proposal. But Voivode Milosh said +graciously: "O Ivan, our lord! Why dost thou make vain appeal to the +svats? Rather give me thy hand as a sign of firm faith that the plan +does not in any way offend thy noble son. Swear to me by the true God +that thou hast suggested this after an understanding with thy son, +and I will in return pledge my honour that I shall obtain the bride +for Maximus without a fight. You shall consent, however, to cede to +me as my reward for playing a false part all the presents that may be +given to me as the bridegroom, and I shall not be expected to divide +them with anybody, but shall retain them all for myself!" + +Ivan burst into laughter, and exclaimed: "O Milosh, thou Serbian +Voivode! As to the presents thou namest, I give thee my faith, firmer +and harder than stone itself, that nobody shall seek to have a share in +them with thee! Only secure the bride and honourably escort her till +we reach our city of Zablak, and I promise to give thee two bootfuls +of golden ducats, a golden cup to hold nine litres of wine, a mare +'Bedevia,' the mother of studs like my Zdral, and I shall girdle on +thee a sabre worth thirty purses of golden ducats." + +So they all agreed, and having placed the distinctive hat and ornaments +of the bridegroom on the head of Voivode Milosh they resumed their +journey, and after some tossing upon the waters of the Adriatic they +reached Venice without misadventure. + +There came large numbers of people curious to see the Montenegrins +and especially to discover for themselves if Maximus was really the +fine and handsome prince that they had heard he was. + +When the Venetian princes heard from their servants that their future +brother-in-law was really as handsome as his father had described +him nine years earlier, they came eagerly with outstretched arms +to embrace and welcome him. They showed him the apartments in their +palace which had been prepared for the princely guests, and all were +lodged in comfort. + +The wedding festivities lasted for three days and then came the +hour of departure. At the sound of cannon the svats assembled in the +great courtyard awaiting the commands of Prince Ivan, and his noble +son. They felt uneasy when they saw the gate of the palace closed, +and on each side of it two Moorish and two Venetian soldiers standing +with drawn swords the blades of which, and even their own arms, were +covered with blood. Their uneasiness became alarm when after some time +they saw no sign of their prince and the bride and bridegroom. They +were beginning to murmur loudly when suddenly they heard the sound +of horses' hoofs on the marble pavement and they saw Voivode Milosh +trying to curb his destrier with his bit as he spurred him gently in +order to make him bound and prance. + + + + +The Wedding Gifts + +Behind Milosh rode his two brothers-in-law bringing gifts. The elder +of them led a black steed without a single blemish, bearing a silver +saddle adorned with heavy gold, upon which sat the fair bride holding +a grey falcon. "Accept, O my dear and noble Maximus," said the prince, +"this fair maiden, together with her black steed and her grey falcon as +a token of our love, for thou art in truth the pride of thy brothers!" + +Milosh bowed deeply over his horse's neck as he thanked the prince +for his gracious words and accepted the bride with the gifts which +she brought. The second brother now bestowed upon the bridegroom a +sabre in a golden scabbard, saying: "Wear this, O brother, and be +proud of it!" Next came the father of the bride. What a beautiful +present he placed in his hands! A helmet in the crest of which shone +a precious stone dazzling like the sun so that one could not look at +it long. But the gift which was given to him by the mother of the +bride was more magnificent than all! This gift was a shirt of pure +gold, which was neither woven nor twined, but had been made entirely +with fingers; in its collar, representing a viper ('and a viper will +finally bite him') there was fixed a brilliant diamond shedding forth +such a blaze of light that he would never need a candle when he went +to visit his bride in her bed-chamber. All the svats were astonished +at the magnificence of the present. + +Now came the aged brother of the doge, Yesdimir, with his beard +reaching to his waist, walking slowly and supporting himself with a +golden staff. Bitter tears streamed from his eyes. He wept, it is true, +with good reason. Seven wives he had had in turn during his long life, +but no sons or daughters had been born to him. Therefore he bestowed +all his affections upon his niece, whom he looked upon as a daughter, +and who took in his heart the place of the children he had once hoped +to be blessed with, and now that the beloved maiden was to depart to +a far-away land he was greatly grieved. He had some 'wonder' folded +under his arm, and as he approached the svats, he called the bridegroom +by name. The latter appeared at once and the venerable lord laid upon +the young man's shoulders a magnificent cloak which reached from his +shoulders down to the grass. Indeed when Milosh remounted his horse, +the cloak concealed not only himself, but also his steed down to its +very hoofs. How precious it was! and oh! that it might never be the +cause of anything but happiness to the hero! It was said that thirty +purses of gold had been spent on its lining alone, and what a sum +of money the cloth itself must have cost! Prince Maximus watched and +saw with envious eyes how Voivode Milosh received the presents which +were intended for him, the real bridegroom. When the large gateways +of the courtyard were opened, the svats, passing out in procession, +received from the doge's servants each a piece of precious silk and a +box containing various presents, and then they sailed away in galleys. + +Soon they arrived on the field of Zablak, where they had met +on starting out for their journey, and where they were now to +separate. Prince Maximus had ridden a little ahead with his ten +brothers-in-arms in order to hasten and communicate the joyful news +to his mother and Voivode Milosh, being aware that Prince Maximus +was out of sight, spurred forward his courser and coming up with the +bride and the dever, he boldly took the hand of the noble maiden. The +bride, thinking in her innocence that he was Prince Maximus, removed +her veil and stretched out her hands to the pretended bridegroom. + + + + +The Princess learns of the Deception + +Those who were near feigned not to have noticed the incident, but +Prince Ivan himself happened to see what had occurred and it troubled +him, and he rode up and addressed the bride thus: "Touch him not with +thy hands, O my dear daughter-in-law! or may they be struck with +a palsy! Veil thine eyes! or may thy sight for ever fail thee! How +canst thou act so in the presence of all the svats? Dost thou see +that hero riding his black steed, and holding his lance? Dost thou +see his shining shield and his face disfigured by small-pox? That +is my son Maximus, whom I praised to thy father--when I asked your +hand for him--saying that there was no handsomer youth than he to +be found amongst thousands. But I was afraid to present my son with +his ugly face to you and to your father, and so we had recourse to a +stratagem and made Voivode your groom temporarily in order to succeed +in bringing thee away in peace. For acting so Milosh is entitled to +all the presents which were assigned to the bridegroom!" + +To the noble maiden her father-in-law's words came as a +thunderbolt. She halted her horse and refused to go any farther, +saying: "O my dear father-in-law, thou Prince Ivan! Thou hast +caused thine own son's misfortune by having made Milosh the +alleged bridegroom. Why hast thou done so? May the true God +give thee thy deserts for that! What matters it if his face is +pitted? All are subject to disease, and might have to suffer even worse +consequences. If his face is damaged, his eyes are certainly bright and +his heart is as sound as ever. If thou hadst considered thy son to be +still too young to be my husband, thou shouldest have told me so, and +I would have waited in my father's palace for another nine years--but +even then I would certainly never have caused you to blush with shame +before your own nobles in Zablak. Now thou hadst better give up the +presents to their rightful owner, thy son Maximus, else I shall not +go a step further, even if thou shouldest threaten to put out my eyes." + +Hearing this firm speech, Prince Ivan was greatly disturbed, and +he called friends and Voivodes to counsel him as to what he should +do. But none of them dared say one word, for they well remembered +the arrangement made before sailing across the sea. + + + + +Milosh's Offer + +Voivode Milosh saw that no one would speak, and he spurred his steed +and addressed Prince Ivan in this wise: "O Ivan, thou our lord! Where +is thy firm faith? If it fails now, may you yourself live to be +betrayed! Hast thou not given me thy word that the wedding gifts should +be mine intact? But now you frame a plan to break thy faith! Since +thou art so little to be depended on, I agree--for the sake of peace +among our brothers and svats--to give up the first two presents: +I return to your son the fair bride and her steed with all its gold +and silver trappings. In justice, and according to impartial judgment, +I should be fully entitled even to marry the fair maiden--for she was +presented to me by all, her parents and her brothers--but I shall +say no more about that, and simply cede to you these two presents, +together with the grey falcon. Here! I return to your son even the +golden scabbard and the bright sabre, but I shall never consent to +yield the helmet, the cloak, and the golden shirt; for I am determined +to carry them to my own land, and show them to my friends and brothers, +who, I am certain, will be proud of them. I swear by my faith in the +true God that I shall not give up these three presents." + +All the svats, moved by Milosh's fairness, agreed to the offer, +and thanked him for his noble sacrifice for the sake of peace, but +they were strongly opposed by the bride, who could not reconcile +herself to the loss of the precious gifts, and especially the golden +shirt. So she called aloud for Prince Maximus. This alarmed Prince +Ivan very much, and he tried to quieten the maiden in these words: +"O my sweet daughter-in-law, thou Venetian maiden! Do not call my son, +for we have done him great injustice. Prince Maximus has a high sense +of honour and is a brave man. I dread a fight above everything, and +our festivities may so easily turn into mourning. I possess in Zablak +a dungeon full of golden treasure, which I shall present to thee, +and thou canst do with it whatever pleases thee!" + +But the maiden was not easy to persuade, and she once more called +Prince Maximus, who came with all speed to the scene. "O Maximus, +thou only son of thy mother!" began his bride, "may she lose thee! May +the warriors make a handbier of thy lance and with thy shield may they +cover thy tomb! May thy visage blush with shame on the day of judgment, +as it does to-day at the contest with Voivode Milosh! Why didst thou +agree to yield to another the presents which rightly belong to the +bridegroom? I care nothing for all the other presents, let Milosh take +them away, and may a torrent take him away with them! but I cannot +suffer the loss of the golden shirt, which I made for thee myself, +and which took me three years to make, with three maidens assisting +me. I nearly lost my sight before I finished working at this shirt, +and all the time I was thinking of thee. Thou hadst better recover the +shirt from Voivode Milosh at once, for I swear by the name of the true +God that otherwise I will not take a step forward; but I shall rein +back my steed, and, when I reach the sea-coast, I shall pluck a leaf +of aloe and shall scratch my face with its thorns till blood flows; +then I shall write and send a message by my falcon to my aged father, +beseeching him to call to arms all his force, to come and conquer +and pillage thy Zablak and repay thee thus with mourning for thy +shameful conduct!" + + + + +The Violence of Maximus + +The moment Prince Maximus heard this, he reined back his black courser, +spurred it so vehemently that the skin of his courser's stifle-joint +burst and blood besprinkled its hoofs. The frantic animal sprang +the height of three lances in the air and the length of four lances +forward, so that he sped like lightning. Milosh burst into laughter, +saying: "God be praised! What was suddenly the matter with that +boy!" But his mirth was short-lived, for Prince Maximus now turned +his horse straight toward Milosh furiously throwing his lance at his +head. [48] He struck Milosh so vigorously that both his eyes burst and +he fell from his steed. Maximus rushed in and cleft his head asunder; +then he took his bride from her leader and sped into the castle. [49] + +When Voivode Milosh's warriors saw their chief fall, they fiercely +attacked the followers of Prince Maximus, and a fight ensued from +which but very few returned home. + + + + +Maximus becomes a Turk + +Prince Maximus, it is said, was so disgusted with what had occurred +that he wrote to the doge, inviting him to invade Zablak with a large +force and to conquer Montenegro; as for him, he would go to Istamboul +and embrace Islamism. This he did. + +Now a brother of Milosh, namely, Yovan Obrenbegovitch, suspecting that +Maximus's intention was to obtain from the Sultan a great force with +which to conquer Montenegro, decided to go to the Sultan for the same +purpose. But it was his intention, should he also succeed in obtaining +an army from the Sultan, to use it, not against his fatherland, +Montenegro, but against Prince Maximus. On their way to Istamboul the +two men met and they appeared together before the Sultan, who, knowing +well who they were and deeming that they could be usefully employed +in his service against the Christians, like many other malcontents +from Christian courts, received them most kindly. They adopted the +Mohammedan religion and were given Turkish names: Voivode Yovan was +called Mehmed-Bey Obrenbegovitch, and Prince Maximus, Scander-beg +Ivanbegovitch. Having served as faithful Turks for nine years, the +Sultan, pleased with their conduct, granted them both vizirates: to +Mehmed-bey Obrenbegovitch he gave as fief the plain of Ducadyin, and +Scander-beg (Prince Ivan's son) he granted Scutari on the River Boyana. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII: THE MARRIAGE OF TSAR DOUSHAN THE MIGHTY + + +Doushan sends Theodor to Ledyen + +King Michael of Ledyen had a beautiful daughter, Roksanda, and +when Tsar Doushan asked her hand in marriage the king immediately +consented. The betrothal was arranged by means of couriers, and +Doushan had not seen the princess; he therefore summoned Theodor, +his counsellor of State: "Listen to me, my trusty Theodor!" said he, +"thou shalt go to the white city Ledyen to King Michael, and thou shalt +ask him to fix the date for the wedding festivities. Thou shalt also +settle with him other customary preliminaries and satisfy thyself +that the peerless Roksanda is a fitting tsarina for our Serbian +lands." Theodor promised to fulfil his mission faithfully and, +having made the necessary preparations, he set out for the Venetian +province. When he arrived at the white city Ledyen the king welcomed +him courteously and lavished hospitality upon him for a full week. + +Then Theodor spoke to the king in this wise: "O my master's friend, +thou gallant King Michael! My tsar has not sent me here only that I +should drink thy wine; he desires that I should arrange his marriage; +tell me, when shall my master come? what time of the year will suit +you best to receive him? how many svats shall he bring with him when +he comes to take from thee the beautiful maiden Roksanda? My master +also instructed me that I should desire of thee to be permitted the +happiness of seeing the fair princess." + +To this the king answered: "O my friend, Theodor! take my greetings +to the tsar and tell him that he is at liberty to bring with him +as many svats as he may please; also tell him that he may come for +the maiden whenever he may choose; but request him in my name that +under no circumstances shall he bring with him his nephews the two +Voinovitchs, Voukashin and Petrashin, for indeed I have heard that +they are very quarrelsome when in their cups, and I fear that they +may disturb the harmony of our festivities. As to the princess, she +shall come to thee at due time and receive at thy hands the ring of +thy master, as is the well-established custom." + + + + +The Princess Roksanda + +At nightfall Theodor was conducted into an unlighted room and while +he wondered when the candles would be brought, lo! the princess stood +before him, shrouded in the thick gloom. Theodor was grieved at the +trick played upon him, but he did not despair. He had with him the +magnificent ring of his august master; it was so richly studded with +precious stones that as he produced it the whole room was lighted +up and the rays shone upon the maiden, who seemed to the ambassador +more beautiful than the white veela herself. Theodor presented the +betrothal ring and gave the princess also one thousand ducats; her +brothers then conducted her back to her apartments. + +Next morning Theodor took leave of the king and set out upon his +homeward journey; when he arrived at Prisrend the tsar asked eagerly: +"O my trusty Theodor! Didst thou see the maiden Roksanda and didst thou +give her my ring? What greetings dost thou bring me from King Michael?" + +And Theodor answered: "Yea, my Lord, I saw thy bride and presented her +with thy ring; but words fail me to describe the enchanting beauty +of the Princess Roksanda! Vain would it be to search for her equal +throughout Serbia! And fair and well spoke King Michael: Thou canst +go for the maiden whensoever thou choosest, and thou mayest take as +many svats as thou pleasest. But the king prays this one thing of +thee: that thou shouldest under no circumstances take with thee, the +Voinovitchs, thy two nephews, for they are lovers of the wine-cup and +are quick to take offence; they may enter into drunken quarrels, and +it may be difficult to settle their disputes in a peaceable manner." + +When he heard this the tsar struck his knee with his right hand, +and exclaimed: "Alas! May God help me! Has the ill fame of my nephews +spread as far as that! By my unshakable faith, I shall, immediately +after the wedding festivities, have them both hung on the gates of +their castle Voutchitrn that they may not any longer bring shame to +my name throughout the world." + + + + +The Procession Starts + +Soon afterward the tsar proceeded to call his svats together and +when they had all assembled they presented a brilliant spectacle. The +wedding procession rode on its way through the field of Kossovo and +as it passed by the walls of the castle Voutchitrn, the two youthful +Voinovitchs looked upon the cavalcade and spoke sadly to each other +thus: "Our uncle must be angry with us, otherwise he would surely +have invited us also to join his wedding party? Some churl must have +uttered ill words against us. May a hundred evils befall him who has +done so! Our tsar is going to the Venetian land and has not a single +hero in his train, neither has he any close relative who might be +depended upon in case of dire misfortune. The Venetians are known from +ancient times to be very cunning and sly and they may kill our glorious +tsar! And yet to accompany him uninvited is more than we dare do." + +Thereupon their aged mother spoke thus: "O my children, ye two +Voinovitchs! Ye have a brother in the mountains, Milosh-the-shepherd; +though the youngest, he is the greatest hero of ye all and will find +some way to uphold the honour of our name. The tsar has never heard +about him. I counsel you to send him a message and bid him come to +the castle Voutchitrn, mention not the true reason but tell him that +his mother, being aged, may die at any moment and that she wishes to +give him her blessings. Tell him to make haste if he would find his +mother alive!" + +This advice seemed good to the two brothers. They wrote a missive and +dispatched it with haste to the mountain Shar where Milosh-the-shepherd +tarried with his flocks. + +As Milosh read the message his countenance changed and he shed bitter +tears. His grief was observed by thirty shepherds who were around him: +"O Milosh, our valiant chieftain!" they exclaimed, "Many messages +have reached thee, but never yet have we seen thee shed tears when +thou didst read them. Whence came this letter and what evil tidings +does it bring? Tell us quickly, we beseech thee!" + +Milosh sprang to his feet and addressed his shepherds in this wise: +"Hearken, O shepherds, my dearest brethren! This message comes from +the castle: my mother is on her death-bed and she summons me that +she may give me her blessing, that damnation should not fall upon +my soul. I must hasten to her side and while I am absent from the +mountain I charge ye to watch well the sheep." + +When Milosh came near to his white castle, his brothers saw him +from a tower and sallied out to meet him; their aged mother also +followed. Milosh was astonished to see her and said reproachfully: +"Why, O brothers dear, do ye make misfortune when there is no +reason, and when all is well with ye! May the Almighty forgive your +deception!" And his brothers answered: "Come within, dear brother, +there is nevertheless great misfortune!" + +The young men embraced each other and Milosh kissed his mother's +hand. Then his brothers related the story of their uncle's betrothal +and how he was proceeding to the Venetian land without having invited +his two nephews to ride in the wedding procession, and they besought +him in this wise: "O, our dear brother Milosh! Go thou with the tsar, +yea, although thou art not invited. Misfortune may befall, and haply +thou shalt succour your uncle. Thou canst go and come back again +without making thyself known to anyone!" + +Milosh was no less eager than his brothers, and he answered gladly: "I +will go, O my brothers! Indeed how could I do otherwise? If I were not +willing to help our dear uncle, whom else should I be willing to aid?" + +Thereupon his brothers began to make all the necessary +preparations. Peter went to the stables to saddle his steed Koulash, +while Vankashin remained to see that Milosh was fittingly attired. He +first put on him a fine shirt which was embroidered with gold from +the neck to the waist; downward from the waist it was woven of white +silk. Over the shirt he placed three thin, elegant ribbons; then a +waistcoat adorned with thirty golden buttons; then a golden cuirasse +weighing some fifteen pounds. And in all details he attired him with +garments worthy of a prince. Finally he hung upon his broad shoulders +a coarse Bulgar shepherd's cloak, which entirely enveloped him, and +placed on his head a Bulgarian fur-cap with high point, thus making +him look so like a black Bulgar that his own mother would not have +recognized him. The brothers now fetched a warrior's lance and mace +and the trusty sword of their old father Voin. Then Peter brought +forward Koulash, upon whom he had fastened a bear's skin in order +that the tsar might not recognize the well-known steed. + + + + +Milosh Joins the Procession + +Milosh was now ready to set out, and as he took leave of his brothers +they counselled him thus: "When thou comest up with the wedding-guests +they will ask thee who thou art and whence thou comest. Thou shalt +answer that thou art coming from the Karavallahian land, where thou +hast been serving a Turkish lord, Radoul-bey, who would not pay thee +thy wages, wherefore thou art looking for a more generous master. Say, +moreover, that having received chance tidings of the tsar's wedding, +thou has ridden to join thyself to the servants of the party, not +for any wages, for thou wilt gladly serve for a piece of bread and a +glass of red wine. Thou must, meantime, hold firmly the reins of thy +steed, for Koulash is accustomed to go in the line with the tsar's +own chargers, and he may betray thee!" + +When the brothers had made an end of their counsel Milosh took leave +of them and of his mother and turned his steed in the direction of the +wedding party, and he came up with them in the mountain Zagorye. Upon +seeing the stranger the svats hailed him: "Whence are thou coming, +little young Bulgar?" And Milosh answered from afar as his brothers +had counselled. Then the svats welcomed him readily, saying: "Mayest +thou be happy with us, little young Bulgar! We are always glad to +have one more in our company!" + +The princely company, all aglow with the brilliant colours of the +resplendent uniforms, their lances and cuirasses gleaming in the sun, +rode on until they came to a valley. Now Milosh had a bad habit, +acquired in the mountain Shar while watching his sheep, to slumber +toward mid-day, and as his Koulash stepped proudly on he fell into a +deep sleep and his hand suddenly relaxed on the rein. No sooner did +Koulash feel the curb loosen than he arched his neck and flew like an +arrow from a bow through the ranks of the cavalcade, overturning horses +and riders, till he reached the horses of the tsar, when he ranged +himself in line with them and fell into the same slow, measured pace. + +By this time the whole procession had fallen into disorder, and a +crowd of Lale [50] would have fallen upon the innocent cause of the +commotion, had not Doushan intervened to protect him, saying, "Do not +strike this youthful Bulgarian, he is a shepherd, and shepherds have +a habit of dozing toward noon while watching their sheep; do not be +violent, but awaken him gently." Thereupon the svats awakened Milosh, +shouting: "Rise, O foolish young Bulgarian! May the Almighty spare +thy old mother who could not give thee a better understanding but +thou must needs venture to join the company of the tsar!" + + + + +The Leap of Koulash + +Milosh awoke with a start, and saw the tsar looking upon him with +his deep black eyes, and lo! his Koulash was in the royal line! Not +a moment did he pause, but, gathering the reins firmly in his hand, +he spurred his steed sharply. Koulash for one brief instant quivered +from head to heel, then with a frantic bound he sprang into the air the +height of three lances; for the length of four lances sideways did he +spring, and as for the number of lengths covered by his leap onward, +no one could number them! Fire issued from his mouth and tongues of +blue flame came out from his nostrils! Twelve thousand svats beheld +with awe and admiration the wonderful leap of the Bulgar's steed, and +exclaimed as one man: "Father of Mercies, what a mighty wonder!" Then +some said to others: "O that so good a horse should be possessed by +such a fellow! We have never before seen such a marvel." Others said: +"There was, indeed, one charger like this in the stables of our +tsar's son-in-law and now is possessed by his nephews the brothers +Voinovitchs." + +Among the heroes who admired the steed were Voutche of Dyakovitza, +Yanko of Nestopolye and a youth from Priepolye; these spake one to +another thus: "What a beautiful steed that Bulgar has! There is not +its equal to be found in this wedding cavalcade, not even our own +tsar has one like it. Let us fall behind and seek an opportunity to +deprive him of it." + +As they reached Klissoura the three horsemen were far behind the +other svats, and Milosh was also riding alone in that place. Then +the heroes came near to him and addressed him in seeming courtesy: +"Listen to us, thou youthful Bulgar! Wilt thou exchange thy horse +for a better one? We shall give thee also one hundred ducats as a +bargain-gift, and moreover we shall give thee a plough and a pair +of oxen that thou mayest plough thy fields and feed thyself in peace +for the rest of thy days!" + +But Milosh answered: "Leave me alone, O ye three mighty horsemen! I do +not wish for a better horse than the one I have already; for did ye not +see that I cannot keep even this one quiet? As to your bargain-gift, +what should I do with so many ducats? I do not know how to weigh them, +neither am I able to count as high as one hundred. What should I do +with your plough and your oxen? My father has never used a plough on +his fields and yet his children have never known hunger!" + + + + +The Fight for Koulash + +At this answer the three horsemen said angrily: "Thou hadst better +consider our proposal, O haughty Bulgar, lest we take thy horse by +force!" To this menace Milosh answered: "Truly, by force men take +lands and cities, and much more easily can three men by force take +from me my steed! Therefore I prefer to exchange it, for I am unable +to travel on foot." Saying this, Milosh made a pretence to give up +his Koulash peaceably, and inserted his right hand under his coarse +cloak. They thought he intended to take off his spurs, but they were +greatly mistaken, for in a flash out came his six-angled club, and +before they had gathered their wits Milosh gave Voutche a gentle tap +that tumbled him over and over three times in succession. Milosh then +addressed him ironically: "May thy vineyards in thy peaceful estate +of Dyakovitza be as fertile as thou art brave!" + +Seeing what had befallen his companion, Yanko was in full flight, +but it took scarce a moment for Koulash to reach the flying steed, +and Milosh let fall upon the shoulders of his rider such a blow +that he, too, was hurled to the ground, where he turned over four +times ere finding anchorage. "Hold on! O Yanko!" scoffed Milosh, +"May the apple-trees in thy peaceful estate bear as abundant fruit +as thou art brave to-day!" + +There now only remained the young man from Priepolye who by now had +fled to some distance. But his horse's speed could not avail against +the swiftness of Koulash, and Milosh soon reached him and with his +warrior club gave him a tap that tumbled him over and over no less +than seven times. Whether he could hear or not Milosh called aloud: +"Hold fast, O young man from Priepolye! And when thou goest back to +thy Priepolye, I give thee leave to boast before the fair maidens +there of how thou hast to-day taken away by force a Bulgar's steed!" + +This done, Milosh turned his charger and soon reached the wedding +cavalcade. In due course the procession arrived at the white city +of Ledyen, and the Serbians put up their white tents beneath its +walls. The equerries gave the horses barley, but none did they give +to Koulash. When Milosh saw this he took in his left hand a nose-bag +and went from horse to horse, taking with his right hand from each +a handful until he had filled the bag of his trusty Koulash. Next he +went to the principal wine-keeper and prayed that he would give him a +glass of wine. But the keeper of the wine refused, saying: "Go away, +thou black Bulgar! If thou hadst brought thy rough Bulgarian wooden +cup, I might perhaps have poured in it a draught; but these golden +cups are not for thee!" Milosh turned on the churlish wine-keeper +a dark look and followed it with a tender blow on his cheek that +sent three sound teeth into his throat. Then the man, thoroughly +cowed, besought Milosh thus: "Stay thy hand, O mighty Bulgar! There +is wine in abundance for thee, even if our tsar should thereby go +short." But Milosh paid no attention to the fellow, and proceeded to +help himself. Then, as his spirits mounted with the generous wine, +day dawned and the sun began to shine. + + + + +The First Test + +As Milosh stood drinking in the fresh beauty of the early morning a +page of King Michael called loudly from a tower of the royal castle: +"Listen, O Serbian Tsar Doushan! Behold, in the valley beneath the +walls of the city is the champion of our king! Thou must fight a +duel with him, either thyself or by a substitute. If thou dost not +overcome him thou shalt not go from this place safely, neither shalt +thou take back with thee so much as one of thy wedding-guests! Still +less shalt thou take with thee the princess Roksanda!" + +Doushan heard the haughty message and sent a strong-voiced crier among +the wedding-guests. Here and there he stood shouting loudly the tsar's +message: "Has any mother given birth to a fearless hero who will take +up the challenge in our tsar's stead? To him who is brave enough to +fight the champion the tsar will grant nobility." But alas! when the +crier had gone through the camp no hero had come forward to claim +the honour of doing battle for the tsar. + +When Doushan heard this, he struck his knee with his right hand, +exclaiming: "Woe is me! O mighty Creator! If I had now my darling +nephews, the two Voinovitchs, I should not lack a champion." The +tsar had hardly ended his lamentation when Milosh, leading his steed, +appeared before the tsar's tent. "O my Lord, thou mighty tsar!" said +he, "have I thy leave to fight this duel?" + +The tsar answered: "Thou art welcome, O youthful Bulgar! But, alas, +there is slender likelihood that thou canst overpower the haughty +hector of the king. If, however, thou dost succeed, verily I will +ennoble thee!" + +Milosh leaped to his saddle, and as he turned his fiery Koulash +from the tsar's tent, he carelessly threw his lance on his shoulder +with its point turned backward. Seeing this, Doushan called to him: +"Do not carry, O my son, thy lance so! Turn the point forward, lest +the proud Venetians laugh at thee!" But Milosh answered: "Attend, +O my tsar, unto thine own dignity, and be not anxious concerning +mine! If need arise I shall easily turn my lance correctly; if not, +I may just as well bring it back in this wrong wise!" + +As Milosh rode on through the field of Ledyen, the ladies and maidens +of Ledyen looked upon him, and, laughing, they exclaimed: "Saints in +heaven! a marvel! What a substitute for a Serbian emperor! The young +man has even no decent clothes upon him! Be merry, thou hector of +the king, for hardly shalt thou need to unsheath thy sword!" + +Meantime Milosh reached the tent in which sat the champion of the +Venetian king. Before the entrance he had stuck his lance deep into the +ground, and to this he had tethered his grey steed. Milosh addressed +the hector thus: "Rise up! thou little white Venetian gentleman, we +will fight together for the honour of our masters!" But the hector +answered angrily: "Away with thee, thou ugly black Bulgar! My sword +is not for such as thee! I would not soil my steel on such a ragged +fellow!" + +This remark made Milosh very angry, and he exclaimed: "Rise up, haughty +Venetian! Thou hast indeed richer attire; I shall take it from thee, +and then who will have the finer feathers?" + +At this the hector sprang to his feet and mounted his grey charger, +which he caused to prance and curvet across the field. Milosh stood +quietly looking on until suddenly the Venetian fiercely hurled his +lance straight to the breast of Milosh. The wary Serbian received +it on his golden-headed club and jerked the weapon over his head, +breaking it into three pieces as he did so. This sleight-of-hand +alarmed the hector and he exclaimed: "Wait a minute, thou ugly black +Bulgar! My lance was faulty, wait till I get a better one!" With this +he put spurs to his steed, but Milosh shouted after him: "Stop, thou +white Venetian! Thou shalt not escape me!" And with this he spurred +his Koulash after the cowardly hector and pursued close to the gates of +Ledyen. Alas for the fugitive, the gates were closed! For a moment the +hector paused irresolute and this moment was his last. Milosh let loose +his unerring lance; it whistled though the morning air and the hector +was transfixed to the gate. Then Milosh alighted from his steed, struck +off the Venetian's head and threw it in Koulash's nose-bag. Next he +caught the grey steed and rode with him to the tsar. "Here, O mighty +tsar," said he, "is the head of the king's hector!" + +Doushan was overjoyed at his prowess and gave him much gold. "Go, +my son," said he, kindly, "drink some good wine, and presently I +shall make thee noble!" + + + + +The Second Test + +Milosh had hardly seated himself at his wine when a page again called +loudly from the royal castle: "Behold, O Serbian tsar! In the meadow +below thou mayest see three fiery horses saddled, on the back of +each there is fastened a flaming sword with point upward. If thou +wouldst go in peace from here taking with thee the king's daughter, +thou must thyself or by deputy leap over these flaming swords." + +Again the tsar sent a crier throughout his camp. "O Serbians," he +cried, "has not any mother given birth to a hero who will venture +to leap over the three horses and the flaming swords fixed on their +backs?" + +Again he traversed the entire camp, taking care that his words should +come to the ear of every svat, but again no hero came forward to offer +himself. Then as the tsar was anxiously meditating on the problem +he looked up and, lo! Milosh again stood before him. "O glorious +tsar!" said he, "Have I thy permission to essay this feat?" And the +tsar readily answered: "Thou mayest surely go, my dear son! But first +take off this clumsy Bulgarian cloak! (may God punish the stupid tailor +who made it so!)" But Milosh said: "Sit in peace, O mighty tsar, and +drink thy cool wine! Do not be anxious concerning my coarse cloak. If +there be a heart in the hero his cloak will not be in his way: if a +sheep finds her wool too heavy for her there is no sheep in her nor +any wool!" + +So saying he rode down to the meadow of Ledyen where stood the three +steeds tethered side by side fiercely pawing the ground. The young man +dismounted from his Koulash and stationed him several paces from the +third steed, by his side, then patting Koulash gently on his proud +neck, he said: "Thou shalt stay here quietly until I come again to +the saddle!" He passed over to the first steed and went on a little +distance, then turned, and dancing first on one foot then on the +other, he ran like a swift deer and, leaping high, jumped over the +three steeds, over the flaming swords, and alighted safely on the +saddle of his own Koulash. This done he gathered the reins of the +three chargers and rode with them in triumph to the Serbian tsar. + + + + +The Third Test + +Very soon the page of the Venetian king came again to the tower of the +royal castle and proclaimed: "Hearken, thou tsar of the Serbs! Under +the topmost tower of this castle is a slender lance whereon a golden +apple is stuck; twelve paces distant is set a ring: thou must shoot +an arrow through the ring and transfix the apple--thou or thy deputy!" + +This time Milosh would not wait for the crier to do his errand, but +straightway went to the tsar and obtained his permission to essay the +task. Then, taking his golden bow and arrow, he went to the place +indicated, fixed his arrow on the bow string, and the shaft sped +straight through the ring to the heart of the apple which he caught +in his hand as it fell. Again the tsar bestowed upon him golden ducats +beyond number. + + + + +The Fourth Test + +No sooner was this wonderful exploit completed than the royal page +again proclaimed from the castle turret: "Behold, O tsar of the +Serbs! The two royal princes have brought out in front of the king's +palace three beautiful maidens, all exactly alike and attired in +similar robes. The king bids thee guess which of the three is the +princess Roksanda. Woe to thee if thou touchest other maiden but +Roksanda! Thou shalt not have the princess for thy bride; neither +shalt thou go out with thy head upon thy shoulders; still less shall +thy guests leave this place!" + +When Doushan heard the message he summoned immediately his councillor +Theodor and commanded: "Go, Theodor, and tell which is Roksanda!" But +Theodor declared that he had seen her but for so brief a time that it +would be impossible that he should be able to choose between three +maidens all exactly like the one he had seen by the light from his +master's ring. + +Hearing this the tsar, in despair, struck his knee with his hand, +exclaiming: "Alas! alas! After performing many wonderful exploits, +must we return without the bride and be the shame of our people?" Just +then Milosh, who had become aware of the tsar's difficulty, entered +into the imperial presence and spake thus: "Have I thy leave, O tsar, +to try to guess which of the maidens is the princess Roksanda?" And the +tsar answered joyfully: "Indeed thou hast, O darling son of mine! But +slender is the hope that thou shalt guess rightly, since thou hast +never seen the princess before!" + +Thereupon Milosh answered: "Be not fearful, my glorious Lord! When I +was a shepherd in the mountain Shar watching twelve thousand sheep, +there have been born in a night three hundred lambs and I have been +able to recognize and tell which sheep was dam to each lamb. How +much easier will it be to choose Roksanda by her resemblance to +her brothers!" + +"Go, go then, my darling son! May God help thee to guess rightly! If +thou art successful I shall grant thee the whole land of Skender that +thou be its lord for thy lifetime!" + +Milosh went forth through the wide field until he came to the place +where the three maidens stood waiting. With a swift and sudden +motion he swept the coarse fur-cap from his head and threw from off +his shoulder his heavy cloak, revealing the scarlet velvet and the +golden cuirasse which had been hidden underneath. Truly he shone in the +verdant field like the setting sun behind a forest! Milosh now spread +his cloak on the grass and cast upon it rings, pearls, and precious +stones. Then he unsheathed his finely-tempered sword and addressed +the three fair maidens thus: "Let her who is the princess Roksanda +gather her train and sleeves together and collect these rings, pearls, +and precious stones! If any but Roksanda should dare to touch these +beautiful things, I swear by my firm faith that I shall instantly +cut off her two hands, yea, even as far as her elbows!" + +The three beautiful maidens were terrified, and two of them looked +meaningly at their companion who stood in the middle. This was the +princess, and after a moment's hesitation Roksanda gathered her silky +train and sleeves and began to collect the rings, pearls, and precious +stones. The two other maidens were about to flee, but Milosh took +them gently by their hands and escorted all three to the presence of +the tsar, to whom he presented princess Roksanda together with one +of her companions who might be her lady-in-waiting; the third maiden, +however, he retained for himself. The tsar kissed Milosh between his +fiery eyes, still not knowing who he was or whence he came. + + + + +The Departure of the Serbians + +The masters of the ceremonies now called aloud: "Get ready, all ye +svats! It is high time we should hurry homeward!" And the svats made +ready for the journey, and soon they set out, taking with them the +beautiful princess Roksanda. + +As they departed from the gates of the city, Milosh approached the tsar +and said: "O my lord, thou Serbian Tsar Doushan, listen to me! There +is in the city of Ledyen a terrible hero named Balatchko the Voivode; +I know him and he knows me. Balatchko has three heads: from one of +them issues a blue flame, from another rushes a freezing wind. Woe +to him against whom these are directed! But if a hero withstands +them it is not difficult to slay Balatchko when his wind and flame +have left him. The Venetian king has been training him these seven +years, for it has been his intention to make use of him to annihilate +the royal wedding-party and to rescue princess Roksanda, supposing +that thou shouldst succeed in obtaining possession of her. Now it +is certain that he will send him to pursue us. Go thou thy way and +I will remain behind with three hundred well-chosen heroes, to stop +the monster from pursuing thee." Therefore, while the svats went on +with the beautiful Princess Roksanda, Milosh, with his three hundred +comrades, remained in the verdant forest. + +The svats had hardly struck their tents when King Michael summoned +Voivode Balatchko. "O Balatchko, my trusty servant," said he, "canst +thou rely upon thy valour and go out against the tsar's svats to +bring back my daughter Roksanda?" + +And Balatchko replied: "My lord, thou King of Ledyen! First tell me, +who was that valorous hero who achieved the great feats to which thou +didst challenge the Serbian tsar?" The king of Ledyen answered him: +"O Balatchko, our trusty servant! He is no hero; he is only a youthful +black Bulgarian." And Balatchko replied: "Nay, thou art mistaken; no +black Bulgar is he. I know him well; he is the Prince Milosh Voinovitch +himself, whom not even the Serbian tsar was able to recognize through +his shepherd's disguise. Truly he is no ordinary hero, and not to be +lightly esteemed by any warrior, however fearless." Nevertheless the +king insisted: "Go thou against the svats, O Voivode Balatchko! If +thou dost regain the princess, I will give her to thee for wife!" + + + + +The Contest with Balatchko + +Hearing this promise, Balatchko saddled his mare Bedevia and went in +pursuit of the svats, accompanied by six hundred Venetian cuirassiers. +When they reached the forest they saw Koulash standing in the +middle of the main road and Milosh on foot behind him. Balatchko +addressed the prince, saying: "O Milosh, evidently thou hast waited +for me!" With this he loosed his blue flame, which, however, only +singed Milosh's furs; whereupon, seeing that he had not greatly +harmed the hero, he breathed his freezing wind upon him. Koulash +tumbled over and over in the dust three times, but the wind did not +affect his master. Exclaiming: "There is something thou didst not +expect!" Milosh hurled his six-cornered mace and it gave Balatchko +a gentle knock that tumbled him out of his saddle. Then Milosh threw +his lance and transfixed the fellow to the ground, after which he cut +off all three of his heads and threw them in Koulash's bag. This done, +he mounted his steed and led his three hundred Serbians against the +Venetian cuirassiers and cleft three hundred heads, the survivors +being put to flight. He then hurried on and soon came up with the +tsar, at whose feet he cast the three grim heads of Balatchko. The +tsar rejoiced to hear of his victory and gave him one thousand ducats; +then the procession resumed its march to Prisrend. In the middle of +the plain Kossovo, Milosh's way to the fortress of Voutchitrn lay +to the right, and he came to the tsar to take leave of him. "May +God be with thee, my dear uncle!" said he. Only then did the tsar +come to know that the seeming Bulgarian was none else than his +nephew Prince Milosh Voinovitch! Overwhelmed with joy he exclaimed: +"Is it thou, my dear Milosh? Is it thou, my dearest nephew? Happy +is the mother who gave thee birth and happy the uncle who has such +a valiant nephew! Why didst thou not reveal thyself before? verily +I should not have excluded thee from my company." + +Woe to him who overlooks his own relatives! + + + + + + + +CHAPTER IX: TSAR LAZARUS AND THE TSARINA MILITZA + + +The Tsarina's Forebodings + +As they sat at supper together one evening the Tsarina Militza spoke +thus unto Tsar Lazarus: "O Lazarus, thou Serbian Golden Crown! Thou art +to go to-morrow to the battlefield of Kossovo together with thy dukes +and servants, but, alas! thou wilt leave in the palace none who can +carry to thee my missives and bring thine from Kossovo to me. Thou +takest also with thee my nine brothers Yougovitchs; I pray thee, +leave me at least one of my brothers that I may swear [51] by him!" + +And the tsar returned answer: "O my lady, thou Tsarina +Militza! Which one of thy brothers wouldst thou best like me to +leave at home." Thereupon the tsaritza said: "Leave me, I pray, +Boshko Yougovitch!" + +To this the tsar assented: "O my lady, Tsarina Militza! When the +morrow dawns and the sun begins to rise and the gates of the fortress +are opened, thou mayest walk out to the main gate whence the whole +army will defile with the ensigns--all cavaliers with warrior-lances, +headed by Boshko Yougovitch, who will be carrying the flag adorned +with a golden cross. Greet him in my name and tell him that I give +him leave to remain with thee at our white castle and to yield his +flag to whomsoever he may choose!" + +Accordingly, when the morrow dawned and the sun shone, the +fortress-gates opened and Tsarina Militza appeared at the main gate +of the city, and lo! the mighty army was preparing to defile with, in +the van, the glorious cavaliers headed by Boshko Yougovitch. Boshko +was in the act of mounting his brown horse, a splendid creature, +caparisoned with golden trappings; the dropping folds of the flag fell +upon his shoulders and over his steed's back. Upon the flag pole was +fixed a golden apple and from the great cross hung golden thustles +which were knocking gently against Boshko's shoulders. + +Tsarina Militza approached her brother and flinging her tender arms +around his neck addressed him in her sweet voice thus: "O my darling +brother, our tsar has presented thee to me, and desires that thou +shalt not go to Kossovo in the war. His charge to thee is: that thou +shalt give thy flag to whom thou choosest and remain at Kroushevatz +that I may have a brother to swear by!" + +But Boshko Yougovitch answered: "Go back, O sister dear, to thy white +castle! I would not return, neither would I give up from my hands +this flag for the price of Kroushevatz. [52] How could I suffer my +comrades to say: 'Look at the coward Boshko Yougovitch! He dares +not go to Kossovo, to shed his blood in the cause of the Holy Cross +and his orthodox faith!'" Saying this he disengaged himself from his +sister's embraces and leapt into his saddle. + +Lo! there now comes the aged Youg-Bogdan at the head of a line of his +seven other sons! The tsarina endeavoured to stop each one in turn, +but in vain. Voin Yougovitch, the eighth brother, was last in the line; +he like the rest of his brothers would not listen, and as he passed on, +the poor tsarina fell down at the feet of the horses and swooned. The +glorious Lazarus saw his loving consort fall, and understanding the +cause of her grief, he shed tears. Glancing quickly right and left he +beheld Golouban, his trusty servant, and called to him: "O Golouban, +my faithful servant! Dismount from thy charger, and take the tsarina +gently in thy heroic arms to her slender tower. God and I will hold +thee excused from service in the war, do thou remain at our white +castle near the tsarina!" + +Hearing this Golouban turned pale, and tears poured down his cheeks +as he dismounted from his Laboud. [53] He took the tsarina in his arms +and carried her into her slender high tower as the tsar had commanded; +but this done he could not resist the desire of his heart to go to +Kossovo, so he hurried back to his charger and spurred him swiftly +on after his comrades. + + + + +News of Battle + +Next day, when morning dawned, lo! two ill-omened ravens from the +battlefield of Kossovo alighted upon the white tower of the glorious +Tsar Lazarus. One spake to the other: "Is this the home of the famed +prince, Lazarus? Is there no living soul in the castle?" + +One only within the castle heard this. Tsarina Militza walked out +upon the balcony of her tower and besought the two black ravens thus: +"For the sake of all that ye hold dear, O ye two dark ravens! Whence +do ye come? Do ye not fly from the field of Kossovo? Saw ye there +two mighty armies? O tell me! Have they met together? Which of them +is victorious?" + +Thereupon the two ravens answered: "Evil overtake us if we do not speak +truth to thee, O fair empress Militza! We fly indeed from the level +plain of Kossovo! Yea! There we did see two mighty armies; there did +we see two tsars perish! [54] Of the Turkish horde but few remain in +life; of the Serbs, those who live are covered with wounds and blood!" + + + + +The Trusty Miloutin + +The ravens had hardly spoken when the tsarina perceived a horseman +approaching whom she recognized. His left arm hung helpless; he was +covered with seventeen wounds; blood ran over his steed. The tsarina +called to him in accents of terror: "Alas, alas! Is it thou, my trusty +Miloutin? Hast thou then betrayed thy tsar on Kossovo the level field?" + +But Miloutin answered slowly and with pain: "Help me, O my lady, +to alight from my brave steed! Bathe my face with cooling water and +refresh me with rosy wine, for heavy wounds have overwhelmed me!" + +And the tsarina went to him and helped him to dismount from his +bloody steed, bathed his face with some cooling water and brought +wine unto his dried lips. When she had thus restored him somewhat, +she spake again: "What dreadful thing has happened, O thou trusty +servant, in Kossovo that level field? Where perished the glorious +Prince Lazarus? Where perished the aged Youg Bogdan? Where perished +the nine Yougovitchs? Where perished Voivode Milosh? Where perished +Vouk Brankovitch? Where perished Ban Strahinya?" + +Thereat the warrior groaned heavily: "All remain on Kossovo, O my +lady! Where the glorious Prince Lazarus perished, there were broken +many, many lances, both Turkish and Serbian, but more Serbian than +Turkish: defending, O my lady, their beloved lord, their lord the +glorious Prince Lazarus. And thy father, O lady, perished in the +first onset. Thy nine brothers perished too--faithful did they abide +to one another. Till all perished, there mightest thou have seen +the valiant Boshko, his flag fluttering in the breeze as he rushed +hither and thither, scattering the Turks like a falcon amongst timid +doves. There, by the streamlet Sitnitza, where blood was running +above a hero's knees, perished Ban Strahinya. + +"But our heroes did not die alone! Twelve thousand Turks lie prone +upon the plain. Sultan Mourat [55] was slain by Voivode Milosh. May +God forgive all his sins! The hero has bequeathed to the Serbian race a +memory of noble deeds that shall be recounted by the bards as long as +men live and Kossovo stays. As for the traitor Vouk, accursed be she +who gave him birth! He betrayed our tsar on Kossovo, leading astray, +O my lady! twelve thousand fierce cuirassiers of our people! Accursed +for ever be his progeny!" + + + + +Historical Note + +The bards invariably throw all responsibility for the great calamity +to the Serbian arms, inflicted upon them in that celebrated battle +on Kossovo, upon Vouk Brankovitch, who was one of the sons-in-law of +Tsar Lazarus. Some of our historians are convinced that there is a +great deal of truth in this licencia poetica, and they point to the +fact that the mediaeval history of Serbia contains many instances of +such malcontents as Vouk Brankovitch who, seduced by fair promises +from cunning Turkish statesmen, went to Stamboul to become useful +tools in the hands of Ottoman generals, who were thereby aided in +their conquests of the Slavs of the Balkans. But the truth is that +our calamity was due mainly to the disobedience of the Serbian Lords +who ruled almost independently over Bosnia and Herzegovina. These +lords failed to comply with Tsar Lazarus' mobilisation proclamation, +and it was due to this that the Serbian army was considerably smaller +than the Turkish. + +Be this as it may, the defeat which the Serbians sustained in that +memorable battle left a very deep impression upon the nation, +and Serbians have believed ever since that it was solely due to +this disaster that the Serbian empire was crushed by the Turk. This +feeling persisted in the hearts of the oppressed Serbians through four +centuries and was manifested in repeated insurrections against their +oppressors in the beginning of the last century under the leadership +of two Serbian princes, George Petrovitch, grandfather of the present +King Peter I Karageorgevitch, in the year 1804, and Milosh Obrenovitch +in 1815. But another century had to pass ere the opportunity came +for a decisive battle by which satisfaction could be obtained for +the battle on Kossovo. This opportunity offered on the famous field +of Koumanovo in 1913, where perished more Turks than did Serbians +five centuries ago. Only then was Serbia happy! The present writer +went through the Balkan Campaigns of 1912-1913, and was a witness of +glorious deeds and feats of arms by his countrymen which, relatively +speaking, by no means yield to those of their mediaeval ancestors led +by Milosh Obilitch, Marko Kralyevitch, Ban Strahinya, and others. It +was an imposing sight when the victorious Serbian army returned to +Belgrade at the conclusion of the war. The soldiers entered through +numberless triumphal gates, over some of which were huge inscriptions: +"For Kossovo: Koumanovo" and "For Slivnitza: Bregalnitza." + +The untiring Serbian bards have now turned their attention to the +exploits of modern heroes at Monastir, Koumanovo, Perlep (Prilip), +Scutari (Skadar), &c., and they will thus immortalize for the delight +of future generations the final triumph of the Serb over the oppressor +of his race, from whom he has wrested the empire of his valiant +ancestors--if not in its entirety as under the rule of Tsar Doushan +the Powerful, yet as it was in extent in the time of Tsar Lazarus. + +What Tsar Lazarus lost, therefore, has now been virtually regained +by his brave countrymen under the wise leadership of our present King +Peter I. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER X: THE CAPTIVITY AND MARRIAGE OF STEPHAN YAKSHITCH [56] + + +The Veela's Warning + +Dawn had not appeared, neither had Danitza [57] yet shown her face +when from the heights of the mountain Avala by Belgrade a veela +called aloud upon Demitrius and Stephan, the two brothers Yakshitchs: +"O ye brothers Yakshitchs! Ill fate hath this morn brought to ye! See +ye not that the mighty Turk has made ready to assail the glorious +town Belgrade from three sides? Hearken! I will tell ye the pashas +by name. The Vizier of Tyoopria is come with forty thousand troops; +the Pasha of Vidin leads an army of thirty thousand; and the Pasha of +Novi Bazar has brought with him twenty thousand fierce Yanissaries! If +ye will not believe, climb ye to the top of your towers and look over +upon the broad field of Belgrade!" + +Hearing this adjuration Demitrius looked out, and saw, indeed, +all that the veela had said. If rain had fallen from the skies, no +drop would have fallen on the ground, so thick was the multitude of +Turks and their horses! He was seized with terror at the sight, and, +without pausing a moment, he ran to his stable, saddled his steed, and, +unlocking the main gates of the fortress, rushed out, leaving the keys +in the gate. He did not slacken rein until he reached a great forest, +and by this time the sun was already high in the heavens. Dismounting +from the saddle he seated himself on the banks of the cooling +river Yahorika, and soliloquized thus: "Alas, Demitrius, mayst thou +perish! To whose care hast thou left thy only brother Stephan?" + +Overcome with remorse for his cowardice he would have returned +to Belgrade, but it was too late. The Turks had already entered +the city through the open gates. There was none to oppose them, +and after indulging in outrage and pillage they had carried away +many captives, among whom was Stephan Yakshitch. Him they did not +behead because of his unusual beauty, and because they were well +acquainted with his heroism, the fame of which was known far and +near. They brought Stephan to the presence of the Vizier of Tyoopria, +who was so pleased to see him that he ordered his hands to be freed, +and gave him back his horse and arms. He also held a great feast and +accompanied it with the firing of innumerable cannon. After this the +Vizier of Tyoopria returned with the whole army in triumph to Stamboul, +where he brought his distinguished prisoner into the sultan's presence. + + + + +Stephan and the Sultan + +The mighty Padishah was seated on his sidjade, [58] and after +presenting Stephan the vizier took a seat near by. Stephan made +a profound obeisance and kissed the slipper and the knee of the +sultan. The sultan then invited him to a seat near to him and spake +thus: "O heroic Stephan Yakshitch! If thou wilt become a Turk! (may +Allah favour thee!) I will make thee my Grand Vizier of Bosnia in +the City of Travnik! Thou shalt have seven other viziers to obey thy +orders; I will give thee in marriage my only daughter, and will care +for thee as for my own son!" + +To this Stephan answered firmly: "O Great Padishah! Thou mighty ruler +of the world! I shall never turn Turk and renounce the Holy Cross. Yea, +even if thou offered me thy own throne! I am ready to give my life +for the holy Christian faith!" + +At these bold words the sultan was very angry, and gave orders that +Stephan should be executed. But Stephan had a good friend in the Vizier +of Tyoopria, who at this juncture prayed the sultan not to give way +to his wrath. "Do not, in the name of Allah, O my Padishah," said he, +"have so valorous a young man beheaded! I have given him my word of +honour that thou, O Sultan, will not take his life! Deliver him to +me for ransom! I will give thee as many golden ducats as he weighs on +thy balance, and will keep him safely in my castle at Tyoopria where, +I give thee my firm faith, I will make him love the creed of Mohammed." + +The sultan graciously acceded to his vizier's request and Stephan +departed with the Turk to his province. + + + + +Stephan at Tyoopria + +When the vizier came to Tyoopria he invited Stephan to participate +in all the luxury of his castle, and during one whole year he +endeavoured by courtesy and kindness to convert the Serbian prince +to the Mussulman faith. Then, as all his efforts had failed, he +called together his hodjas [59] and kadis, [60] as well as all +the noblemen of his district, and these men spoke to Stephan thus: +"O Stephan, the vizier has ordered us to convert thee unto the true +faith; if thou wilt submit to us in this thing he will give thee +in marriage his only daughter--she is more beautiful than the white +veela herself--and he will have thee to be appointed the Grand Vizier +of Novi Bazar. But if thou refused to become a Turk, his djelat [61] +will cleave thy head asunder." + +Thereupon Stephan answered: "I thank ye, venerable hodgas and +kadis! But I would rather lose my life for the sake of our holy faith +and the law of our Lord Jhesu, than live to become a Turk!" + +The vizier turned sadly away and ordered his djelat to behead Prince +Stephan. But again Stephan's good fortune befriended him. The Grand +Vizier of Novi Bazar came to the Vizier of Tyoopria and implored +him not to behead the young man. "Dost thou not remember," said he, +"that thou didst promise that his life should not be taken from +him? 'Twere better to deliver him to me on ransom: I will give twice +his weight in golden ducats, and I declare solemnly that when I have +him in my province of Novi Bazar, I shall not fail to induce him to +embrace Islam!" + +The Vizier of Tyoopria agreed to his friend's offer and Stephan was +thus a second time delivered from death. + + + + +Stephan at Novi Bazar + +Arriving at Novi Bazar the vizier summoned his servant +Hoossein. "Listen, Hoossein, my trusty servant!" said he. "Take thou +this dearly bought prisoner, and conduct him through the donjons, until +thou comest to the twelfth; there leave him and shut the twelve doors +behind thee carefully, so that he shall see neither the sun nor the +moon. Methinks he will soon be willing to adopt our Mussulman faith!" + +Hoossein did as he was commanded, and Stephan remained a prisoner for +half a year, when the vizier took pity on him. Summoning his only +daughter Haykoona, he said to her: "My darling daughter, my pure +gold! Hearken to thy father's words! Go back to thy tower, open thy +golden cupboards, and adorn thyself with thy richest apparel. Put +on thy prettiest dress of rosy silk adorned with velvet ribbons +and golden threads, and cover all with thy gold-woven cloak. In thy +right hand take a golden apple and under thy arm take this bottle; +in it is a beverage prepared from forest plants and flowerets. It +is called 'water of oblivion'; I have been told that he who washes +his face with it and drinks of it must hate his relatives and his +religion. Take ye these to the lowest serais and open the twelve doors, +closing carefully each of them in turn after thee. When thou comest to +Prince Stephan give him this wonderful bottle. He will surely bathe +his face with its contents and drink: then he will forget his faith, +embrace Islam and marry thee!" + +The Turkish maiden could have wished for no greater good fortune, +for ever since she first saw the handsome Serbian prince she had +felt strange pains. In her dreams she saw nobody but him, and in the +daytime she was consumed with fevers. + + + + +Stephan and the Vizier's Daughter + +Therefore she complied with her father's wish with alacrity, and +when she reached Stephan she greeted him tenderly: "Hail, O Serbian +Hero! May God be with thee!" And the chivalrous prince returned the +greeting: "May God help thee, O peerless Haykoona!" + +The beautiful maiden then said: "O Prince Stephan, I value thee +more than my black eyes! I sorrow to see thy face thus darkened and +thy life so miserable in the prison-donjons of my father. Take this +bottle of cooling water; bathe thy heroic visage with the liquid and +drink a little of it!" + +The hero took the bottle from those beauteous hands; but he was +wise! Without hesitation he shattered it against the stony wall, +taking great care that not a drop of the liquid should besprinkle +him. The Turkish maiden flushed with anger, but a moment later she +composed herself, and casting upon the prince a tender glance, she +said to him sweetly: "Do, I pray thee, become a Turk and marry me! I +love thee more than my black eyes." + +But Stephan answered: "I beseech thee, in thy Allah's name, speak +not so, O Princess Haykoona. I shall never turn Turk and forget my +Christian faith! Yea, I am ready always to give my life for it!" + +The beauteous lady turned aside impatiently, but her anger soon passed, +and again looking tenderly at the young prince, she exclaimed with +sudden passion, "Kiss me, O my beloved!" + +But Stephan was proof against temptation, and he answered sternly: +"O Turkish lady, may misfortune attend thee! Thou knowest that my +faith forbids that a Christian should kiss a Turk! The skies above +would burst asunder and stones would fall upon our heads!" + +The vizier's daughter really loved the prince, and although it was not +easy for her haughty spirit to brook such a refusal of her advances, +she presently spake again in this wise: "O Prince Stephan, truly I +love thee more than my own eyes! I would not for the entire wealth of +this world be baptized, but if thou wilt promise me thy love and wilt +marry me I will even embrace the Christian faith! Let us take much gold +from my father's treasury and flee together to thy glorious Belgrade." + +Hearing this, the young prince sprang joyfully to his feet and opened +his arms to the beauteous maiden. He was by no means insensible to her +charms, and he exclaimed with fervour: "Thou hast my princely promise +that I shall love thee and be faithful to thee--as it is the duty of +a true knight so to be. May the Lord Jhesu in Heaven be my witness!" + +Then the vizier's daughter opened the twelve doors one after the other +and the young couple soon stood in the glorious fresh air under the +sky, which was bespangled with silver stars, and radiant with the +light of the moon. + +From the vizier's treasury they took three tovars of gold, and from +his stables his two best horses. And the maiden gave Stephan a sabre +studded with large diamonds--it was worth half of Novi Bazar--saying: +"Take this sword, my darling lord: that thou mayest not be compelled +to give way to inferior heroes, if we should be molested on our way!" + +Then they mounted the horses and urged them swiftly away: in one +night they put a distance between them and the vizier's castle +which a caravan could not cover in less than three days and three +nights. At dawn of the next day they reached Belgrade, and Prince +Stephan immediately summoned twelve monks, who baptized the fair +Turkish maiden, after which the young couple were happily united. + + + + +The Ending of the Ballad + +The bard finishes his ballad with the following stereotyped ending +very usual with Montenegrins: + +"This happened once upon a time; let us, O brethren, pray of God +to grant our holy Vladika [62] good health! Amen, O God, to whom we +always pray!" + +Serbian bards did not as a rule end in this manner, but contented +themselves with wishing good health to their audiences. + + + + +Historical Note + +During the long course of the imposition of Ottoman dominion upon +the suffering Christian races of the Balkans there were always at the +courts of the Christian princes malcontents whom the cunning Turkish +statesmen easily seduced from their allegiance to their rightful +lords, and to whom they extended hospitality in Constantinople, often +overwhelming them with riches and honours. In return they have rendered +most important services to the sultans in their many campaigns, being, +of course, well acquainted with the strategic dispositions of their +countrymen, and often with important state secrets. Sometimes such +traitorous men have served the Turk in their own country by sowing the +seed of dissatisfaction with their rulers among the peasantry, assuring +them that they would be better off under Ottoman rule. The influence of +such renegades prevailed upon the peasantry in Bosnia and Herzegovina, +at the time of the Battle of Kossovo (1389), to rise against their +rulers, and they did not participate in that memorable battle. + +Very few instances of such treachery, however, occurred in Montenegro, +which has been from the earliest times the home of the noblest of +Serbian aristocrats and heroes, and where the adoption of the faith of +Islam, no matter for what reason, or from what motive, was considered +as the greatest cowardice of which a Christian could be guilty. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XI: THE MARRIAGE OF KING VOUKASHIN + + +The Message to Vidossava + +King Voukashin [63] of Skadar on Boyana [64] wrote a book [65] and +dispatched it to Herzegovina, to the white city of Pirlitor [66] +opposite the mountain Dourmitor. He wrote it secretly, and secretly +he dispatched it to the hands of beauteous Vidossava, the lonely +consort of Voivode Momtchilo. These were the words in the book: + +"Hail Vidossava, Momtchilo's consort! Why dost thou dwell in the midst +of ice and snow? When thou lookest up from thy castle walls thou seest +Mount Dourmitor adorned with ice and snow, yea, even in summer as in +mid-winter; when thou lookest down, lo! thither rushes thy turbulent +River Tarra carrying on its waves wood and stones. There are no fords, +neither are there bridges to span it; around it are only pine-trees and +fragments of rock. Why shouldst thou not give poison to thy husband +or betray him unto me? Then mightest thou fly to me on this level +sea-coast in my white city on Boyana. I will gladly espouse thee and +thou shalt become my queen. Thou shalt spin silk upon a golden spindle, +sit upon silk cushions and wear velvet embroidered with gold. And how +glorious is this city of Skadar on Boyana! When thou lookest upon the +fertile slopes above the walls thou wilt see innumerable fig-trees and +olive-trees, and vineyards full of grapes; when thou lookest beneath, +behold! the plain will be white with nodding wheat, and green with +the verdure of the meadows. Through the meadows green-limpid Boyana +is flowing; in its stream are all kinds of fish which thou wilt have +served fresh at table when thou dost so desire." + + + + +Vidossava's Treachery + +When Vidossava had read the book she wrote a reply in fine characters: +"My Lord, thou King Voukashin! It is not an easy task to betray Voivode +Momtchilo, still less is it easy to poison him. Momtchilo has a sister, +by name Yevrossima, who prepares his dishes and partakes of each before +him. He has nine brothers and twelve first cousins who pour wine into +his golden cup; they always drink before him of each draught. Also, +O king! Voivode Momtchilo possesses a steed named Yaboutchilo; +it has wings and can fly any distance its master wishes. Nor is +this all! My spouse has a sword adorned with diamonds as big as a +maiden's eyes; with this, he fears no one but God. But attend to me, +O King Voukashin! Gather a numberless army together; bring thy heroes +to the lake, and hide there in the woods. It is Momtchilo's custom to +hunt each Sunday morning; he rides out with his nine brothers and his +twelve cousins, and attended by forty guards from his castle. On the +eve of next Sunday I will burn off Yaboutchilo's wings; the jewelled +sword I will dip in salted blood that Momtchilo may not be able to +unsheath it: thus thou shalt be able to vanquish him." + +When this book reached King Voukashin's hands, his heart rejoiced and +he assembled a large force and marched to Herzegovina. He marched to +the lake by Momtchilo's castle, where he hid in the neighbouring woods. + +On the eve of Sunday, Momtchilo retired to his bed-chamber to rest upon +the silken cushions, when lo! his consort came to him. She did not lay +on the cushions, but stood by her spouse and her tears fell upon his +head. Feeling the warm tears upon his knightly cheeks, the Voivode +looked up and said: "O Vidossava, my faithful consort! What great +trouble afflicts thee, that thou shouldst shed tears upon my head?" + +And Vidossava answered: "My Lord, thou Voivode Momtchilo! I have no +trouble but for thee! I have heard tell of a marvel which I have not +seen with my own eyes. It is said that thou hast a wondrous winged +steed but I cannot believe the story. It is some evil portent, and +I fear thou wilt perish!" + + + + +The Winged Horse + +Momtchilo was usually cautious, but this time he fell into the +trap. "Vidossava, my dear consort," said he, tenderly, "if that be +all thy trouble I will easily console thee. Thou shalt see the wings +of my steed Tchile: [67] when the first cocks crow go down to the +new stables, Tchile will then unfold his wings, as thou wilt see." + +Saying this, he composed himself once more to slumber. But not so +Vidossava. She watched to hear the first rooster's crow, and at +the sound she sprang to her feet, lit a lantern and a candle, took +some fat of mutton and some tar, and hurried to the stables. And +behold! she saw Yaboutchilo unfold a pair of wings which reached +down to his hoofs. Vidossava anointed the pinions with the fat and +tar and set fire to them with the flame of her candle. What did not +burn she bound tightly under the belt of the steed. This done, she, +the youthful one, went to the armoury and dipped Momtchilo's favourite +sword into salted blood. Then she returned to her consort's chamber. + + + + +Momtchilo's Dream + +At daybreak Momtchilo awoke and spake thus to Vidossava: "Vidossava, +my beloved spouse! I have had this night a strange dream: there +appeared suddenly a cloud of fog from the accursed land of Vassoye +and wrapped itself round Dourmitor. I rode through the cloud with my +nine darling brothers and twelve first-cousins, together with my forty +guards. In that fog, O my darling Vidossava! we lost sight of each +other, never to meet again! God alone knows what this dream means, +but I have a presentiment that some evil will befall us soon!" + +Vidossava endeavoured to reassure her lord. "Do not fear, my darling +lord!" she said; "dreams are false, God is true!" + + + + +The Ambuscade + +Momtchilo attired himself for hunting and walked out from his white +tower to the courtyard, where his nine brothers, twelve cousins, +and forty guards awaited him. His spouse led to him his Yaboutchilo; +he sprang to the saddle, and without more ado rode with his followers +to the hunt. All unsuspecting, they reached the lake, when suddenly +a great force surrounded them. Momtchilo grasped his sword, but, +alas! he was unable to unsheathe it. Then he exclaimed bitterly: +"Hark, my beloved brethren! My consort Vidossava has betrayed me; +give me a sword!" + +Speedily his brothers obeyed; they gave him the best sword they +had. Then Momtchilo said again: "Listen, my beloved brothers: ye +shall attack the wings of the army and I will storm it in the centre." + +God adored, what a mighty wonder! 'Would that some from among ye, +brethren, [68] could have been there to see: how Voivode Momtchilo +wielded his sword and cleared his way through the press of his +foes!' Howbeit, more were crushed by Yaboutchilo than by the hero's +sword! But, alas! a sad misfortune had befallen him: when he had gained +clear of the foe his brothers' nine black steeds followed after him; +but their saddles were empty! + +When Momtchilo saw this his heroic heart burst from great sorrow for +the loss of his nine beloved brothers: his sword-arm dropped limp +at his side, and knowing that he could fight no more, he spurred +Yaboutchilo, intending that he should unfold his wings and fly to +his castle. + +But, alas! for the first time his charger did not respond to the +spur. Then Momtchilo spake reproachfully thus: "O Yaboutchilo, may +wolves devour thee! Many times hast thou flown from here merely in +pastime, and now when I am in sore straits thou wilt not fly!" + +And the steed answered, neighing: "My Lord, mighty Voivode +Momtchilo! Do not curse me, nor try to force me further. To-day I +cannot fly! May God punish thy Vidossava! Last night she burnt the +pinions of my two wings. What did not burn she tied tightly under my +belt. O my beloved master! thou hadst better escape as thou mayest. I +cannot help thee!" + +When Momtchilo heard this, tears fell down his heroic visage. He +alighted heavily from his well-loved Yaboutchilo; after a last caress +he gathered himself together, and in three leaps he found himself +before the portals of his castle. And lo! the massive gates were +closed and locked. + + + + +Brother and Sister + +Seeing this, Momtchilo called aloud upon his sister: "O Yevrossima, +my darling sister! Stretch down to me a roll of linen that I may +climb the castle wall and escape ere my pursuers come up with me!" + +Yevrossima heard the appeal and answered through copious tears: +"Alas, my darling brother, thou Voivode Momtchilo! How can I drop +down to thee a length of white linen, seeing that my sister-in-law, +thine own faithless Vidossava, hath bound my hair to a beam?" + +But sisters have soft hearts for their brothers, [69] and Yevrossima, +for the sake of her only brother, jerked her head with such force that +she left her hair on the beam; then she seized a length of linen, +made one end fast, and threw the other end over the wall from the +rampart. Momtchilo seized the linen and quickly climbed almost to the +top of the rampart. He was on the point of springing into the fortress +when his faithless spouse ran thither swiftly and, with a sharp sword, +cut the linen above Momtchilo's hands. + +By this time the forces of Voukashin had come up, and Momtchilo was +precipitated upon their swords and lances. Seeing the hero fall, the +king hastened to the spot, and with a fierce thrust ran him through the +heart. So fiercely did he lunge that the end of the sword penetrated +the wall. + + + + +The Death of Momtchilo + +Voivode Momtchilo was a rare hero, and he was able to speak these last +words to King Voukashin: "My last request to thee, O King Voukashin, +is that thou shouldst not marry my faithless Vidossava, for she will +betray thee also. To-day she hath betrayed me to thee; to-morrow she +will deal with thee in like manner! Far better would it be to marry +my dear sister Yevrossima, the loveliest of maidens. She will always +be faithful to thee and will bear thee a hero like unto myself." + +This spake Voivode Momtchilo, struggling with pale death: this he +said and his soul flew heavenward. + +The gates of the castle were now opened, and the faithless Vidossava +came out to welcome King Voukashin. After she had greeted him she led +the way to her white tower and gave him a seat at her golden table. She +offered him fine wines and many lordly dishes. Then she went to the +armoury and brought Momtchilo's armour and weapons. But, marvellous +to relate! Momtchilo's helmet, which fitted him closely, fell down +to King Voukashin's shoulders. One of Momtchilo's top-boots was big +enough for King Voukashin's two feet. Momtchilo's golden rings were too +large for three of King Voukashin's fingers together. Momtchilo's sabre +was one whole yard too long when King Voukashin tried it on his belt! + + + + +The Punishment of Vidossava + +Seeing all this, King Voukashin exclaimed: "Alas! Woe is me! May God +forgive me! What a faithless monster this youthful Vidossava must be +to betray such a hero, whose equal would be vainly sought throughout +the whole world! How could I, the wretched one, expect such a woman +to be faithful to me?" + +So saying, he called loudly to his servants, who took Vidossava and +bound her fair limbs to the tails of four horses and drove them from +the castle Pirlitor. Thus, dreadful fate! she was torn to pieces alive. + +Then the king pillaged Voivode Momtchilo's castle and led away +Yevrossima to his palace at Skadar on Boyana. Later, he deserved her +love and married her, and she bore unto him Marko and Andrias. Truly +Marko inherited the heroism of Voivode Momtchilo, and thus his uncle's +prediction was fulfilled. + + + + +Historical Note + +Primitive as may be the customs illustrated in this ballad of +the fourteenth century, it is undoubtedly worthy of a place in my +collection. It was taken down by Vouk St. Karadgitch from the lips +of the Serbian bard, and I cannot sufficiently express my regret for +my inability to convey in English the beautiful and audacious similes +and the eloquent figures of speech which adorn the original. + +The French mediaeval troubadour rarely chose as his theme the +faithlessness of women; probably because incidents like the one +described in our ballad were either unknown or too common to be +considered interesting. But if the Serbian bards did not, excepting +in this rare instance, sing of the fickleness and treachery of the +weaker sex, it was that Serbian public opinion could not suffer +the contemplation of faithlessness on the part of either husband or +wife. No doubt the bard, wandering from one monastery to another, +found in some chronicle a few facts concerning the marriage of King +Voukashin which he elaborated much as did the French troubadour who +dealt similarly with the slender historic fact relative to the battle +at Ronceval. The public opinion of the epoch is reflected in the +barbarous punishment which the bard, moved by his austerity, inflicts +upon Vidossava. It is interesting to note that in my researches I +have not found one ballad in which faithlessness on the part of a +husband occurs. + +In the ballads concerning the royal Prince Marko we see that he was +always chivalrous toward women, especially toward widows and oppressed +maidens, irrespective of their social position or their religion. He is +willing to succour Turkish maidens, for whom he is ready to jeopardize +his life. In the ballad entitled "The Captivity and Marriage of Stephan +Yakshitch" the bard tells of advances made to Stephan by a passionate +Turkish maiden, which he repels with indignation at the mere idea of +an alliance between a Christian and a Mussulman woman. King Voukashin +might have corresponded with Voivode Momtchilo's wife previous to her +marriage, but if so it must have been rather a political attachment +than an affair of the heart. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XII: THE SAINTS DIVIDE THE TREASURES [70] + + +The Bard begins! + +Merciful Creator! Does it thunder, or is the earth quaking? Or can +it be the tempestuous ocean hurling its waves against the shore? [71] + +Nay! It is not thunder, neither is the earth quaking, nor is the +stormy ocean beating upon the shore! + +Lo! the saints are dividing among themselves the treasures of Heaven, +of Earth and of Sea: Saint Peter and St. Nicholas, St. John and +St. Elias; with them, too, is St. Panthelias. + +Suddenly there comes Beata Maria, tears streaming down her white face. + +"Dear sister ours," spake St. Elias, "thou Beata Maria! What great +misfortune hath befallen thee that thou shouldst shed tears down +thy cheeks?" + +Thereupon, amid her sobs, Beata Maria said: "O my dear brother, thou +Thunderer Elias! How could I refrain from shedding tears, since I +am just come from India--from India, that accursed country? In that +degraded land there is utter lawlessness: the common people do not +respect their superiors; children do not obey their parents; parents +crush their own children under their feet (may their cheeks blush +at the divan [72] before the very God of truth!) A koom prosecutes +a brother koom before the judge and bears false witness against +him--thus losing his own soul, and damaging one who has acted as a +witness at his wedding or baptism; brother challenges brother to duels; +a bride is not to be entrusted with safety to the care of a dever, +and, alas! even more dreadful things have I seen!" + +The Thunderer Elias returned answer: "O sister dear, thou Beata +Maria! Wipe those tears from thy tender face! When we have divided +these treasures we will go to the divan unto our Almighty creator. Him +we will pray, the Truthful One, that He may, in His Infinite Grace, +grant us the Keys of the Seven Heavens, with which we may lock them. I +will seal the clouds that no drop of rain may fall therefrom, neither +abundant rain nor soft dew. Also, the silvery moonbeams shall not shine +at night. Thus for three full years there shall be a heavy drought, +and neither wheat nor wine shall grow, yea, not as much as is needful +for the Holy Mass." + +Beata Maria was comforted, and wiped away the tears from her milk-white +face. And the saints turned again to the division of the treasures: +Peter chose wine and wheat and the Keys of the Heavenly Empire; Elias +chose the lightning and thunder; Panthelias, great heats; John chose +brotherhood and koomhood as well as the Holy Cross; Nicholas chose +the seas with the galleys upon them. + + + + +The Wrath of God + +Then one and all went to divan with the Almighty, to Whom for three +white days and three obscure nights they prayed incessantly. They +prayed and, indeed, their prayers were heard: God gave them the Keys +of the Heavens. + +They locked the Seven Heavens; they affixed seals upon the clouds +and lo, for full three years, there fell no drop of rain, neither +rain nor silent dew! Neither shone the silvery moonlight, nor did +wine grow or wheat spring up from the parched ground,--not even as +much as is requisite for the needs of Holy Church. + +Behold! The black earth cracked; the living dropped in it. God sent an +awful plague which smote both old and young, severing those who were +dear to each other. The small remnant who remained alive bitterly +repented and turned to the Lord God in whom they truly believed, +and who now blessed them. + +And God's benediction which He gave to those people yet remains: +there should be winter and summer once in each year! + +As it was long ago, so it is nowadays. + + + "God Adored, may our thanks reach Thee! + What has been, may it never happen again!" + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII: THREE SERBIAN BALLADS + + +I. THE BUILDING OF SKADAR (SCUTARI) [73] + +The following poems are reprinted here from Sir John Bowring's Servian +Popular Poetry, London, 1827. These translations will serve to give +to English readers some idea of the form of the national decasyllabic +verse from which the matter of the greater part of this book is taken. + + + Brothers three combined to build a fortress, + Brothers three, the brothers Mrnyavtchevitch, + Kraly Vukashin [74] was the eldest brother; + And the second was Uglesha-Voivode; + And the third, the youngest brother Goiko. + Full three years they labour'd at the fortress, + Skadra's fortress on Boyana's river; + Full three years three hundred workmen labour'd. + Vain th' attempt to fix the wall's foundation. + Vainer still to elevate the fortress: + Whatsoe'er at eve had raised the workmen + Did the veela raze ere dawn of morning. + When the fourth year had begun its labours, + Lo! the veela from the forest-mountain + Call'd--"Thou King Vukashin! vain thine efforts! + Vain thine efforts--all thy treasures wasting! + Never, never, wilt thou build the fortress, + If thou find not two same-titled beings, + If thou find not Stoyan and Stoyana: + And these two--these two young twins so loving, + They must be immured in the foundation. + Thus alone will the foundations serve thee: + Thus alone can ye erect your fortress." + When Vukashin heard the veela's language, + Soon he call'd to Dessimir, his servant: + "Listen, Dessimir, my trusty servant! + Thou hast been my trusty servant ever; + Thou shalt be my son from this day onward. + Fasten thou my coursers to my chariot: + Load it with six lasts of golden treasures: + Travel through the whole wide world, and bring me, + Bring me back those two same-titled beings: + Bring me back that pair of twins so loving: + Bring me hither Stoyan and Stoyana: + Steal them, if with gold thou canst not buy them. + Bring them here to Skadar on Boyana [75] + We'll inter them in the wall's foundation: + So the wall's foundations will be strengthened: + So we shall build up our Skadra's fortress." + + Dessimir obey'd his master's mandate; + Fasten'd, straight, the horses to the chariot; + Fill'd it with six lasts of golden treasures; + Through the whole wide world the trusty servant + Wander'd--asking for these same-named beings-- + For the twins--for Stoyan and Stoyana; + Full three years he sought them,--sought them vainly: + Nowhere could he find these same-named beings: + Nowhere found he Stoyan and Stoyana. + Then he hasten'd homeward to his master; + Gave the king his horses and his chariot; + Gave him his six lasts of golden treasures: + "Here, my sov'reign, are thy steeds and chariot: + Here thou hast thy lasts of golden treasures: + Nowhere could I find those same-named beings: + Nowhere found I Stoyan and Stoyana." + + When Vukashin had dismiss'd his servant, + Straight he call'd his builder master Rado. + Rado call'd on his three hundred workmen; + And they built up Skadar on Boyana; + But, at even did the veela raze it: + Vainly did they raise the wall's foundation; + Vainly seek to build up Skadra's fortress. + And the veela, from the mountain-forest, + Cried, "Vukashin, listen! listen to me! + Thou dost spill thy wealth, and waste thy labour: + Vainly seek'st to fix the wall's foundations; + Vainly seek'st to elevate the fortress. + Listen now to me! Ye are three brothers: + Each a faithful wife at home possesses:-- + Her who comes to-morrow to Boyana, + Her who brings the rations to the workmen-- + Her immure deep, down, in the wall's foundations:-- + So shall the foundations fix them firmly: + So shall thou erect Boyana's fortress." + + When the king Vukashin heard the veela, + Both his brothers speedily he summon'd: + "Hear my words, now hear my words, my brothers! + From the forest-hill the veela told me, + That we should no longer waste our treasures + In the vain attempt to raise the fortress + On a shifting, insecure foundation. + Said the veela of the forest-mountain, + Each of you a faithful wife possesses; + Each a faithful bride that keeps your dwellings: + Her who to the fortress comes to-morrow, + Her who brings their rations to the workmen-- + Her immure within the wall's foundations; + So will the foundations bear the fortress: + So Boyana's fortress be erected. + Now then, brothers! in God's holy presence + Let each swear to keep the awful secret; + Leave to chance whose fate 'twill be to-morrow + First to wend her way to Skadar's river." + And each brother swore, in God's high presence. + From his wife to keep the awful secret. + + When the night had on the earth descended, + Each one hastened to his own white dwelling; + Each one shared the sweet repast of evening; + Each one sought his bed of quiet slumber. + + Lo! there happen'd then a wond'rous marvel! + First, Vukashin on his oath he trampled, + Whisp'ring to his wife the awful secret: + "Shelter thee! my faithful wife! be shelter'd! + Go not thou to-morrow to Boyana! + Bring not to the workmen food to-morrow! + Else, my fair! thy early life 'twill cost thee: + And beneath the walls they will immure thee!" + + On his oath, too, did Uglesha trample! + And he gave his wife this early warning: + "Be not thou betray'd, sweet love! to danger! + Go not thou to-morrow to Boyana! + Carry not their rations to the workmen! + Else in earliest youth thy friend might lose thee! + Thou might be immured in the foundation!" + + Faithful to his oath, young Goiko whisper'd + Not a breath to warn his lovely consort. + + When the morning dawn'd upon the morrow, + All the brothers roused them at the day-break, + And each sped, as wont, to the Boyana. + Now, behold! two young and noble women; + They--half-sisters--they, the eldest sisters-- + One is bringing up her snow-bleach'd linen, + Yet once more in summer sun to bleach it. + See! she comes on to the bleaching meadows; + There she stops--she comes not one step further. + Lo! the second, with a red-clay pitcher; + Lo! she comes--she fills it at the streamlet; + There she talks with other women--lingers-- + Yes! she lingers--comes not one step farther. + + Goiko's youthful wife at home is tarrying, + For she has an infant in the cradle + Not a full moon old; the little nursling: + But the moment of repast approaches; + And her aged mother then bestirs her; + Fain would call the serving-maid, and bid her + Take the noon-tide meal to the Boyana. + "Nay, not so!" said the young wife of Goiko; + "Stay, sit down in peace, I pray thee, mother! + Rock the little infant in his cradle: + I myself will bear the food to Skadra. + In the sight of God it were a scandal, + An affront and shame among all people, + If, of three, no one were found to bear it." + + So she staid at home, the aged mother, + And she rock'd the nursling in the cradle. + Then arose the youthful wife of Goiko; + Gave them the repast, and bade them forward. + Call'd around her all the serving maidens; + When they reach'd Boyana's flowing river, + They were seen by Mrnyavtchevitch Goiko, + On his youthful wife, heart-rent, he threw him; + Flung his strong right arm around her body; + Kiss'd a thousand times her snowy forehead: + Burning tears stream'd swiftly from his eyelids, + And he spoke in melancholy language: + + "O my wife, my own! my full heart's-sorrow! + Didst thou never dream that thou must perish? + Why hast thou our little one abandoned? + Who will bathe our little one, thou absent? + Who will bare the breast to feed the nursling?" + More, and more, and more, he fain would utter; + But the king allow'd it not. Vukashin, + By her white hand seizes her, and summons + Master Rado,--he the master-builder; + And he summons his three hundred workmen. + + But the young espoused one smiles, and dreams it + All a laughing jest,--no fear o'ercame her. + Gathering round her, the three hundred workmen + Pile the stones and pile the beams about her. + They have now immured her to the girdle. + Higher rose the walls and beams, and higher; + Then the wretch first saw the fate prepared her, + And she shriek'd aloud in her despair; + In her woe implored her husband's brothers: + "Can ye think of God?--have ye no pity? + Can ye thus immure me, young and healthful?" + But in vain, in vain were her entreaties; + And her brothers left her thus imploring. + + Shame and fear succeeded then to censure, + And she piteously invoked her husband: + "Can it, can it be, my lord and husband, + That so young, thou, reckless, would'st immure me? + Let us go and seek my aged mother: + Let us go--my mother she is wealthy: + She will buy a slave,--a man or woman, + To be buried in the wall's foundations." + + When the mother-wife--the wife and mother, + Found her earnest plaints and prayers neglected, + She address'd herself to Neimar Rado: [76] + "In God's name, my brother, Neimar Rado, + Leave a window for this snowy bosom, + Let this snowy bosom heave it freely; + When my voiceless Yovo shall come near me, + When he comes, O let him drain my bosom!" + Rado bade the workmen all obey her, + Leave a window for that snowy bosom, + Let that snowy bosom heave it freely + When her voiceless Yovo shall come near her, + When he comes, he'll drink from out her bosom. + + Once again she cried to Neimar Rado, + "Neimar Rado! In God's name, my brother! + Leave for these mine eyes a little window, + That these eyes may see our own white dwelling, + When my Yovo shall be brought toward me, + When my Yovo shall be carried homeward." + Rado bade the workmen all obey her, + Leave for those bright eyes a little window, + That her eyes may see her own white dwelling, + When they bring her infant Yovo to her, + When they take the infant Yovo homeward. + + So they built the heavy wall about her, + And then brought the infant in his cradle, + Which a long, long while his mother suckled. + Then her voice grew feeble--then was silent: + Still the stream flow'd forth and nursed the infant: + Full a year he hung upon her bosom; + Still the stream flow'd forth--and still it floweth. [77] + Women, when the life-stream dries within them, + Thither come--the place retains its virtue-- + Thither come, to still their crying infants! + + + + +II. THE STEPSISTERS + + Near each other grew two verdant larches, + And, between, a high and slender fir-tree: + Not two larches were they--not two larches, + Not a high and slender fir between them-- + They were brothers, children of one mother. + One was Paul; the other brother, Radool, + And, between them, Yelitza, their sister. + Cordial was the love her brothers bore her; + Many a token of affection gave her, + Many a splendid gift and many a trifle, + And at last a knife, in silver hafted, + And adorn'd with gold, they gave their sister. + + When the youthful wife of Paul had heard it, + Jealousy swell'd up within her bosom: + And she call'd, enraged, to Radool's lady: + "Sister mine! thou in the Lord my sister, + Dost thou know some plant of demon-virtue, + Which may bring our sister to perdition?" + Radool's wife her sister swiftly answered: + "In the name of God, what mean'st thou, sister? + Of such cursed weeds I know not.--Did I, + Never would I tell thee of them, never; + For my brothers love me; yes! they love me-- + To their love full many a gift bears witness." + + When Paul's youthful wife had heard her sister, + To the steed she hastened in the meadow, + Gave the steed a mortal wound, and hurried + To her husband, whom she thus accosted:-- + "Evil is the love thou bear'st thy sister, + And thy gifts are worse than wasted to her; + She has stabb'd thy courser in the meadow." + Paul inquired of Yelitza, his sister, + "Why this deed, as God shall recompense thee?" + High and loudly, then the maid protested: + "By my life, it was not I, my brother; + By my life and by thy life, I swear it!" + And the brother doubted not his sister. + Which when Paul's young wife perceived, at even + To the garden secretly she hasten'd, + Wrung the neck of Paul's grey noble falcon,-- + To her husband sped she then and told him: + "Evil is the love thou bear'st thy sister, + And thy gifts to her are worse than wasted; + Lo! she has destroy'd thy favourite falcon." + + Paul inquired of Yelitza, his sister, + "Tell me why, and so may God reward thee!" + + But his sister swore both high and loudly: + "'Twas not I, upon my life, my brother; + On my life and thine, I did not do it!" + And the brother still believed his sister. + When the youthful bride of Paul discover'd + This, she slunk at evening,--evening's meal-time, + Stole the golden knife, and with it murder'd, + Murder'd her poor infant in the cradle! + And when morning's dawning brought the morning, + She aroused her husband by her screaming + Shrieking woe; she tore her cheeks, exclaiming: + "Evil is the love thou bear'st thy sister, + And thy gifts to her are worst than wasted; + She has stabb'd our infant in the cradle! + Will thine incredulity now doubt me? + Lo! the knife is in thy sister's girdle." + + Up sprang Paul, like one possess'd by madness: + To the upper floor he hastened wildly; + There his sister on her mats was sleeping, + And the golden knife beneath her pillow + Swift he seized the golden knife,--and drew it-- + Drew it, panting, from its silver scabbard;-- + It was damp with blood--'twas red and gory! + When the noble Paul saw this, he seized her,-- + Seized her by her own bright hand and cursed her: + "Let the curse of God be on thee, sister! + Thou didst murder, too, my favourite courser; + Thou didst murder, too, my noble falcon; + But thou should'st have spared the helpless baby." + + Higher yet his sister swore, and louder-- + "'Twas not I, upon my life, my brother; + On my life and on thy life, I swear it! + But if thou wilt disregard my swearing, + Take me to the open fields--the desert; + Bind thy sister to the tails of horses; + Let four horses tear my limbs asunder." + But the brother trusted not his sister: + Furiously he seized her white hand--bore her + To the distant fields--the open desert: + To the tails of four fierce steeds he bound her, + And he drove them forth across the desert;-- + But, where'er a drop of blood fell from her, + There a flower sprang up,--a fragrant flow'ret; + Where her body fell when dead and mangled, + There a church arose from out the desert. + + Little time was spent, ere fatal sickness + Fell upon Paul's youthful wife;--the sickness + Nine long years lay on her,--heavy sickness! + 'Midst her bones the matted dog-grass sprouted, + And amidst it nestled angry serpents, + Which, though hidden, drank her eyelight's brightness. + Then she mourn'd her misery--mourn'd despairing; + Thus she spoke unto her lord and husband: + "O convey me, Paul, my lord and husband! + To thy sister's church convey me swiftly; + For that church, perchance, may heal and save me." + + So, when Paul had heard his wife's petition, + To his sister's church he swiftly bore her. + Hardly had they reach'd the church's portal, + When a most mysterious voice address'd them: + "Come not here, young woman! come not hither! + For this church can neither heal nor save thee." + Bitter was her anguish when she heard it; + And her lord the woman thus entreated: + "In the name of God! my lord! my husband! + Never, never bear me to our dwelling. + Bind me to the wild steeds' tails, and drive them; + Drive them in the immeasurable desert; + Let them tear my wretched limbs asunder." + + Paul then listened to his wife's entreaties: + To the tails of four wild steeds he bound her; + Drove them forth across the mighty desert. + Wheresoe'er a drop of blood fell from her, + There sprang up the rankest thorns and nettles. + Where her body fell, when dead, the waters + Rush'd and formed a lake both still and stagnant. + O'er the lake there swam a small black courser: + By his side a golden cradle floated: + On the cradle sat a young grey falcon: + In the cradle, slumbering, lay an infant: + On its throat the white hand of its mother: + And that hand a golden knife was holding. + + + + +III. THE ABDUCTION OF THE BEAUTIFUL ICONIA + + Golden wine drinks Theodore of Stalatch [78] + In his Castle Stalatch, on Morava; + Pours him out the wine his aged mother. + While the wine-fumes to his head were rising, + Thus his mother spoke unto the hero: + + "Son of mine! thou Theodore of Stalatch! + Tell me, wherefore hast thou not espoused thee? + Thou art in thy youthful days of beauty: + In thy dwelling now thine aged mother + Fain would see thy children play around her." + And he answer'd--Theodore of Stalatch-- + "God is witness, O my aged mother! + I have roamed through many a land and city, + But I never found the sought-for maiden; + Or, when found the maiden, found I never + Friendly feelings in thy mind towards her; + And where thou hast shown thy friendly feeling, + There I found the maiden false and faithless. + But, as yesterday, at hour of sunset, + I was wandering near Ressava's river, + Lo! I glanced on thirty lovely maidens + On its banks their yarn and linen bleaching: + 'Midst them was the beauteous Iconia, + Fairest daughter of the Prince Miloutin, + He the princely sovereign of Resseva. + She, indeed, would be a bride to cherish; + She, indeed, were worthy of thy friendship: + But that maiden is betrothed already; + She is promised unto George Irene-- + To Irene, for Sredoi, his kinsman. + But I'll win that maiden--I will win her, + Or will perish in the deed, my mother!" + But his mother counsell'd him and warn'd him-- + "Say not so, my son! the maid is promised; + 'Tis no jest! she is of monarchs' kindred." + + But the hero cared not for his mother: + Loud he called to Dobrivoy, his servant-- + "Dobrivoy! come hither, trusty servant! + Bring my brown steed forth, and make him ready-- + Make him ready with the silver saddle; + Rein him with the gold-embroider'd bridle." + When the steed was ready, forth he hasten'd, + Flung him on his back, and spurr'd him onward + To the gentle river of Morava, + Flowing through Ressava's quiet levels. + + And he reach'd Ressava's gentle river: + There again he saw the thirty maidens-- + There he saw the beauteous Iconia. + Then the hero feign'd a sudden sickness; + Ask'd for help; and sped her courteous greeting-- + "God above be with thee, lovely maiden!" + And the loveliest to his words made answer, + "And with thee be bliss, thou stranger-warrior!" + + "Lovely maiden! for the love of heaven, + Wilt thou give me one cup of cooling water? + For a fiery fever glows within me; + From my steed I dare not rise, fair maiden! + For my steed, he hath a trick of evil-- + Twice he will not let his rider mount him." + + Warm and earnest was the maiden's pity, + And, with gentle voice, she thus addressed him: + "Nay! not so--not so, thou unknown warrior! + Harsh and heavy is Ressava's water; + Harsh and heavy e'en for healthful warriors; + How much worse for fever-sickening tired ones! + Wait, and I a cup of wine will bring thee." + + Swiftly tripp'd the maiden to her dwelling; + With a golden cup of wine return'd she, + Which she reach'd to Theodore of Stalatch. + Out he stretch'd his hand; but not the wine cup, + But the maiden's hand, he seized, and flung her, + Flung her on his chestnut steed behind him: + Thrice he girt her with his leathern girdle, + And the fourth time with his sword-belt bound her; + And he bore her to his own white dwelling. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV: FOLK LORE + + +I. THE RAM WITH THE GOLDEN FLEECE + +Once upon a time when a certain hunter went to the mountains to hunt, +there came toward him a ram with golden fleece. The hunter took his +rifle to shoot it, but the ram rushed at him and, before he could +fire, pierced him with its horns and he fell dead. A few days later +some of his friends found his body; they knew not who had killed him +and they took the body home and interred it. The hunter's wife hung +up the rifle on the wall in her cottage, and when her son grew up he +begged his mother to let him take it and go hunting. She, however, +would not consent, saying: "You must never ask me again to give you +that rifle! It did not save your father's life, and do you wish that +it should be the cause of your death?" + +One day, however, the youth took the rifle secretly and went out into +the forest to hunt. Very soon the same ram rushed out of a thicket +and said: "I killed your father; now it is your turn!" This frightened +the youth, and ejaculating: "God help me!" he pressed the trigger of +his rifle and, lo! the ram fell dead. + +The youth was exceedingly glad to have killed the golden-fleeced ram, +for there was not another like it throughout the land. He took off its +skin and carried the fleece home, feeling very proud of his prowess. By +and by the news spread over the country till it reached the Court, +and the king ordered the young hunter to bring him the ram's skin, +so that he might see what kind of beasts were to be found in his +forests. When the youth brought the skin to the king, the latter said +to him: "Ask whatever you like for this skin, and I will give you what +you ask!" But the youth answered: "I would not sell it for anything." + +It happened that the prime minister was an uncle of the young hunter, +but he was not his friend; on the contrary, he was his greatest +enemy. So he said to the king: "As he does not wish to sell you the +skin, set him something to do which is surely impossible!" The king +called the youth back and ordered him to plant a vineyard and to bring +him, in seven days' time, some new wine from it. The youth began to +weep and implored that he might be excused from such an impossible +task; but the king insisted, saying: "If you do not obey me within +seven days, your head shall be cut off!" + + + + +The Youth finds a Friend + +Still weeping, the youth went home and told his mother all about +his audience with the king, and she answered: "Did I not tell you, +my son, that that rifle would cost you your life?" In deep sorrow +and bewilderment the youth went out of the village and walked a long +way into the wood. Suddenly a girl appeared before him and asked: +"Why do you weep, my brother?" And he answered, somewhat angrily: +"Go your way! You cannot help me!" He then went on, but the maiden +followed him, and again begged him to tell her the reason of his tears, +"for perhaps," she added, "I may, after all, be able to help you." Then +he stopped and said: "I will tell you, but I know that God alone can +help me." And then he told her all that had happened to him, and about +the task he had been set to do. When she heard the story, she said: +"Do not fear, my brother, but go and ask the king to say exactly where +he would like the vineyard planted, and then have it dug in perfectly +straight lines. Next you must go and take a bag with a sprig of basil +in it, and lie down to sleep in the place where the vineyard is to be, +and in seven days you will see that there are ripe grapes." + +He returned home and told his mother how he had met a maiden who had +told him to do a ridiculous thing. His mother, however, said earnestly: +"Go, go, my son, do as the maiden bade; you cannot be in a worse +case anyhow." So he went to the king as the girl had directed him, +and the king gratified his wish. However, he was still very sad when +he went to lie down in the indicated place with his sprig of basil. + +When he awoke next morning he saw that the vines were already +planted; on the second morning they were clothed with leaves; and, +by the seventh day, they bore ripe grapes. Notwithstanding the girl's +promise the youth was surprised to find ripe grapes at a time of year +when they were nowhere to be found; but he gathered them, made wine, +and taking a basketful of the ripe fruit with him, went to the king. + + + + +The Second Task + +When he reached the palace, the king and the whole court were +amazed. The prime minister said: "We must order him to do something +absolutely impossible!" and advised the king to command the youth to +build a castle of elephants' tusks. + +Upon hearing this cruel order the youth went home weeping and told +his mother what had transpired, adding: "This, my mother, is utterly +impossible!" But the mother again advised him, and said: "Go, my son, +beyond the village; may be you will again meet that maiden!" + +The youth obeyed, and, indeed, as soon as he came to the place where +he had found the girl before, she appeared before him and said: "You +are again sad and tearful, my brother!" And he began to complain of the +second impossible task which the king had set him to perform. Hearing +this, the girl said: "This will also be easy; but first go to the +king and ask him to give you a ship with three hundred barrels of +wine and as many kegs of brandy, and also twenty carpenters. Then, +when you arrive at such and such a place, which you will find between +two mountains, dam the water there, and pour into it all the wine +and brandy. Elephants will come down to that spot to drink water, and +will get drunk and fall on the ground. Then your carpenters must at +once cut off their tusks, and carry them to the place where the king +wishes his castle to be built. There you may all lie down to sleep, +and within seven days the castle will be ready." + +When the youth heard this, he hurried home, and told his mother all +about the plan of the maiden. The mother was quite confident, and +counselled her son to do everything as directed by the maiden. So +he went to the king and asked him for the ship, the three hundred +barrels of wine and brandy, as well as the twenty carpenters; and the +king gave him all he wanted. Next he went where the girl had told him, +and did everything she had advised. Indeed, the elephants came as was +expected, drank, and then duly fell down intoxicated. The carpenters +cut off the innumerable tusks, took them to the chosen place, and +began building, and in seven days the castle was ready. When the +king saw this, he was again amazed, and said to his prime minister: +"Now what shall I do with him? He is not an ordinary youth! God alone +knows who he is!" Thereupon the officer answered: "Give him one more +order, and if he executes it successfully, he will prove that he is +a supernatural being." + + + + +The Third Task + +Thus he again advised the king, who called the youth and said to him: +"I command you to go and bring me the princess of a certain kingdom, +who is living in such and such a castle. If you do not bring her to +me, you will surely lose your life!" When the youth heard this, he +went straight to his mother and told her of this new task; whereupon +the mother advised him to seek his girl friend once more. He hurried +to where beyond the village he had met the girl before, and as he +came to the spot she reappeared. She listened intently to the youth's +account of his last visit to the court, and then said: "Go and ask the +king to give you a galley; in the galley there must be made twenty +shops with different merchandise in each; in each shop there must, +also, be a handsome youth to sell the wares. On your voyage you will +meet a man who carries an eagle; you must buy his eagle and pay for +it whatever price he may ask. Then you will meet a second man, in a +boat carrying in his net a carp with golden scales; you must buy the +carp at any cost. The third man whom you will meet, will be carrying +a dove, which you must also buy. Then you must take a feather from +the eagle's tail, a scale from the carp, and a feather from the left +wing of the dove, and give the creatures their freedom. When you reach +that distant kingdom and are near the castle in which the princess +resides, you must open all shops and order each youth to stand at his +door. And the girls who come down to the shore to fetch water are +sure to say that no one ever saw a ship loaded with such wonderful +and beautiful things in their town before; and then they will go and +spread the news all over the place. The news will reach the ears of +the princess, who will at once ask her father's permission to go and +visit the galley. When she comes on board with her ladies-in-waiting, +you must lead the party from one shop to another, and bring out and +exhibit before her all the finest merchandise you have; thus divert +her and keep her on board your galley until evening, then you must +suddenly set sail; for by that time it will be so dark that your +departure will be unnoticed. The princess will have a favourite bird +on her shoulder, and, when she perceives that the galley is sailing +off, she will turn the bird loose and it will fly to the palace with +a message to her father of what has befallen her. When you see that +the bird has flown you must burn the eagle's feather; the eagle will +appear, and, when you command it to catch the bird, it will instantly +do so. Next, the princess will throw a pebble into the sea, and the +galley will immediately be still. Upon this you must burn the scale of +the carp at once; the carp will come to you and you must instruct it +to find the pebble and swallow it. As soon as this is done, the galley +will sail on again. Then you will proceed in peace for a while; but, +when you reach a certain spot between two mountains, your galley will +be suddenly petrified and you will be greatly alarmed. The princess +will then order you to bring her some water of life, whereupon you +must burn the feather of the dove, and when the bird appears you +must give it a small flask in which it will bring you the elixir, +after which your galley will sail on again and you will arrive home +with the princess without further adventure." + +The youth returned to his mother and she advised him to do as the +girl counselled him. So he went to the king and asked for all that +was necessary for his undertaking, and the king again gave him all +he asked for. + +On his voyage everything was accomplished as the girl had foretold, and +he succeeded in bringing home the princess in triumph. The king and his +prime minister from the balcony of the palace saw the galley returning, +and the prime minister said: "Now you really must have him killed as +soon as he lands; otherwise you will never be able to get rid of him!" + +When the galley reached the port, the princess first came ashore +with her ladies-in-waiting; then the handsome young men who had sold +the wares, and finally the youth himself. The king had ordered an +executioner to be in readiness, and as soon as the youth stepped +on shore he was seized by the king's servants and his head was +chopped off. + +It was the king's intention to espouse the beautiful princess, +and, as soon as he saw her, he approached her with compliments and +flattery. But the princess would not listen to his honeyed words; +she turned away and asked: "Where is my captor, who did so much for +me?" And, when she saw that his head had been cut off, she immediately +took the small flask and poured some of its contents over the body and, +lo! the youth arose in perfect health. When the king and his minister +saw this marvellous thing, the latter said: "This young man must now +be wiser than ever, for was he not dead, and has he not returned +to life?" Whereupon the king, desirous of knowing if it were true +that one who has been dead knows all things when he returns to life, +ordered the executioner to chop off his head, that the princess might +bring him to life again by the power of her wonderful water of life. + +But, when the king's head was off, the princess would not hear of +restoring him to life, but immediately wrote to her father, telling +him of her love for the youth and declaring her wish to marry him, +and described to her father all that had happened. Her father replied, +saying that he approved of his daughter's choice, and he issued a +proclamation which stated that, unless the people would elect the youth +to be their ruler, he would declare war against them. The men of that +country immediately recognized that this would be only just, and so the +youth became king, wedded the fair princess, and gave large estates and +titles to all the handsome youths who had helped him on his expedition. + + + + +II. A PAVILION NEITHER IN THE SKY NOR ON THE EARTH [79] + +Once upon a time there lived a tsar, who had three sons and one +daughter. The latter was kept in a cage by her father, for he loved +her as he loved his own eyes. When the girl grew up she begged her +father's permission to go out one evening with her brothers, and +the tsar granted her wish. No sooner had she left the palace than +a dragon flew down, seized the princess and, despite her brothers, +disappeared with her into the clouds. The princes hastened to tell +their father what had happened, and they implored him to let them go +in search of their sister. + +Thereupon their unhappy father gave each of them a horse and other +necessary equipment for a long journey, and they started out upon +their quest. After journeying a long way, they sighted in the distance +a pavilion, which was neither in the sky nor on the earth, but was +hanging midway between. When they came underneath this, it occurred +to them that their sister might be hidden in it, and they began to +consider how best they might reach it. Finally they decided that one +of them must kill his horse, cut its hide into strips, make a thong, +and, fastening one end to an arrow, shoot it from the bow so strongly +that it should strike deeply into the framework of the pavilion, +thus making a way up which they could climb. + +The two younger brothers proposed to the eldest that he should kill +his horse, but he refused. Neither would the second brother consent to +do so; then the youngest brother, seeing that it could not be helped, +killed his horse, made its hide into a lengthy thong, fixed one end +to his arrow, and shot straight up to the pavilion, where the arrow +stuck firmly. + +Next they had to discuss who should climb up the thong; again the two +elder brothers refused, so it fell to the youngest to perform this +exploit. Being very agile, he soon reached the pavilion; wandering +from one room to another, he finally came to an apartment where, to his +great joy, he saw his sister sitting with the sleeping dragon's head on +her knee. When the princess beheld her brother, she feared exceedingly +for his life, and implored him to escape before the dragon awoke. + + + + +The Prince slays the Dragon + +The courageous youth, however, would not obey his sister, but seized +his mace and struck the dragon on the head. The monster pointed with +one of his claws to the place where he had been struck and said to the +maiden: "Something bit me here!" Again the prince raised his mace and +delivered a blow upon the monster's head; but the dragon apparently +did not mind, for he pointed again indifferently to the place, saying: +"Again something has bitten me!" + +The young prince was on the point of striking the third time, when +his sister pointed to a spot where only the dragon might receive +a mortal wound, and directing his blow upon the place indicated, +the dragon instantly succumbed. The princess at once freed herself +of the dragon's head, ran swiftly to kiss her brother, and then was +eager to show him the different rooms. + +First, she took him into a room in which stood a black steed fastened +to a stall and decked with a saddle and harness adorned with pure +silver. Next she led him into a second room, where they found a white +horse, also ready to be mounted, but its harness was of pure gold. Then +she took him into a third room, where was a beautiful Arab steed +whose saddle, stirrups and bridle were studded with precious stones. + +The princess next conducted her brother to a chamber in which a maiden +was sitting at a golden tambourette engaged in embroidering with golden +threads. From thence she led him into a second apartment where a girl +was spinning gold threads. At last they entered a third room in which +a maiden sat threading pearls, and before her, upon a golden plate, +was a golden hen with its chickens, sorting the pearls. + +Having satisfied his curiosity, the prince returned to the room where +he had left the dead dragon, and threw the carcass down to earth; and +at the mere sight of the dragon's body the two brothers were terrified +out of their wits. Next the prince slowly let down his sister, and, +after her, the three maidens, together with their work. While he was +thus engaged he shouted to his brothers and made gestures indicating +to whom each of the girls should belong. He reserved for himself the +one who had been threading pearls, not forgetting the golden hen and +the chickens. + + + + +The Perfidy of the Brothers + +His brothers, envying the heroism of the young prince and jealous of +his successful exploits, were now guilty of a dastardly trick; they +cut the thong in order that he might not be able to reach the earth, +and taking their sister with all the booty they hurriedly decamped. + +On the way home the princes met a shepherd watching his sheep, and +they prevailed upon him to disguise himself and to impersonate their +youngest brother, ordering their sister and the three maidens to keep +strictly their secret. + +Some time elapsed, and one day the youngest prince had tidings +that his brothers and the disguised shepherd were on the point of +marrying the three maidens. This information seems to have been +singularly complete, for on the day of his eldest brother's wedding, +mounted on the black steed, he flew down and alighted in front of the +church. There he awaited the moment for the procession to come out, +and, as his brother was preparing to mount his horse, he approached +him swiftly, raised his club and struck him a heavy blow so that he +fell instantly. The young prince then remounted the black horse and +was instantly transported to the mysterious pavilion. + +On the wedding-day of his second brother the feat, this time on the +white horse, was repeated, none guessing who the strange aggressor was. + +Next came the turn of the shepherd. On the day of his wedding with +the third maiden, the young prince, mounted on the Arab, alighted +in the churchyard just at the moment when the wedding procession +started to return. This time he struck the bridegroom on the head so +heavily that he fell dead. The guests hurriedly alighted from their +horses and surrounded the prince, who made no attempt to escape, but +revealed himself as the third son of their tsar. He told them that the +pretended prince, whom he had just sent to the other world, was but a +common shepherd, and that his brothers, out of envy, had caused him +to remain in the magic pavilion where he had discovered his sister +and killed the dragon. All that he said was immediately confirmed +by his sister and the three maidens. When the tsar heard this he was +very angry with his two elder sons, and drove them for ever from his +palace. But as for his valiant youngest son, he united him to the +third maiden and left him the crown and all he possessed when he died. + + + + +III. PEPELYOUGA + +On a high pasture land, near by an immense precipice, some maidens +were occupied in spinning and attending to their grazing cattle, when +an old strange-looking man with a white beard reaching down to his +girdle approached, and said: "O fair maidens, beware of the abyss, +for if one of you should drop her spindle down the cliff, her mother +would be turned into a cow that very moment!" + +So saying the aged man disappeared, and the girls, bewildered by +his words, and discussing the strange incident, approached near +to the ravine which had suddenly become interesting to them. They +peered curiously over the edge, as though expecting to see some +unaccustomed sight, when suddenly the most beautiful of the maidens +let her spindle drop from her hand, and ere she could recover it, +it was bounding from rock to rock into the depths beneath. When she +returned home that evening she found her worst fears realized, for +her mother stood before the door transformed into a cow. + +A short time later her father married again. His new wife was a widow, +and brought a daughter of her own into her new home. This girl was not +particularly well-favoured, and her mother immediately began to hate +her stepdaughter because of the latter's good looks. She forebade her +henceforth to wash her face, to comb her hair or to change her clothes, +and in every way she could think of she sought to make her miserable. + +One morning she gave her a bag filled with hemp, saying: "If you do +not spin this and make a fine top of it by to-night, you need not +return home, for I intend to kill you." + +The poor girl, deeply dejected, walked behind the cattle, industriously +spinning as she went, but by noon when the cattle lay down in the +shade to rest, she observed that she had made but little progress +and she began to weep bitterly. + +Now, her mother was driven daily to pasture with the other cows, +and seeing her daughter's tears she drew near and asked why she wept, +whereupon the maiden told her all. Then the cow comforted her daughter, +saying: "My darling child, be consoled! Let me take the hemp into my +mouth and chew it; through my ear a thread will come out. You must +take the end of this and wind it into a top." So this was done; the +hemp was soon spun, and when the girl gave it to her stepmother that +evening, she was greatly surprised. + +Next morning the woman roughly ordered the maiden to spin a still +larger bag of hemp, and as the girl, thanks to her mother, spun and +wound it all her stepmother, on the following day, gave her twice the +quantity to spin. Nevertheless, the girl brought home at night even +that unusually large quantity well spun, and her stepmother concluded +that the poor girl was not spinning alone, but that other maidens, her +friends, were giving her help. Therefore she, next morning, sent her +own daughter to spy upon the poor girl and to report what she saw. The +girl soon noticed that the cow helped the poor orphan by chewing the +hemp, while she drew the thread and wound it on a top, and she ran +back home and informed her mother of what she had seen. Upon this, +the stepmother insisted that her husband should order that particular +cow to be slaughtered. Her husband at first hesitated, but as his +wife urged him more and more, he finally decided to do as she wished. + + + + +The Promise + +On learning what had been decided, the stepdaughter wept more than +ever, and when her mother asked what was the matter, she told her +tearfully all that had been arranged. Thereupon the cow said to her +daughter: "Wipe away your tears, and do not cry any more. When they +slaughter me, you must take great care not to eat any of the meat, +but after the repast, carefully collect my bones and inter them behind +the house under a certain stone; then, should you ever be in need of +help, come to my grave and there you will find it." + +The cow was killed, and when the meat was served the poor girl +declined to eat of it, pretending that she had no appetite; after +the meal she gathered with great care all the bones and buried them +on the spot indicated by her mother. + +Now, the name of the maiden was 'Marra,' but, as she had to do +the roughest work of the house, such as carrying water, washing and +sweeping, she was called by her stepmother and stepsister 'Pepelyouga' +(Cinderella). One Sunday, when the stepmother and her daughter had +dressed themselves for church, the woman spread about the house the +contents of a basketful of millet, and said: "Listen, Pepelyouga; +if you do not gather up all this millet and have dinner ready by the +time we return from church, I will kill you!" + +When they had gone, the poor girl began to weep, reflecting, "As to +the dinner I can easily prepare it, but how can I possibly gather +up all this millet?" But that very moment she recalled the words of +the cow, that, if she ever should be struck by misfortune, she need +but walk to the grave behind the house, when she would find instant +help there. Immediately she ran out, and, when she approached the +grave, lo! a chest was lying on the grave wide open, and inside were +beautiful dresses and everything necessary for a lady's toilet. Two +doves were sitting on the lid of the chest, and as the girl drew near, +they said to her: "Marra, take from the chest the dress you like the +best, clothe yourself and go to church; as to the millet and other +work, we ourselves will attend to that and see that everything is in +good order!" + + + + +Marra goes to Church + +Marra needed no second invitation; she took the first silk dress +she touched, made her toilet and went to church, where her entrance +created quite a sensation. Everybody, men and women, greatly admired +her beauty and her costly attire, but they were puzzled as to who +she was, and whence she came. A prince happened to be in the church +on that day, and he, too, admired the beautiful maiden. + +Just before the service ended, the girl stole from the church, went +hurriedly home, took off her beautiful clothes and placed them back in +the chest, which instantly shut and became invisible. She then rushed +to the kitchen, where she discovered that the dinner was quite ready, +and that the millet was gathered into the basket. Soon the stepmother +came back with her daughter and they were astounded to find the millet +gathered up, dinner prepared, and everything else in order. A desire +to learn the secret now began to torment the stepmother mightily. + +Next Sunday everything happened as before, except that the girl +found in the chest a silver dress, and that the prince felt a greater +admiration for her, so much so that he was unable, even for a moment, +to take his eyes from her. + +On the third Sunday, the mother and daughter again prepared to go to +church, and, having scattered the millet as before, she repeated her +previous threats. As soon as they disappeared, the girl ran straight +to her mother's grave, where she found, as on the previous occasions, +the open chest and the same two doves. This time she found a dress made +of gold lace, and she hastily clad herself in it and went to church, +where she was admired by all, even more than before. As for the tsar's +son, he had come with the intention not to let her this time out of +his sight, but to follow and see whither she went. Accordingly, as +the service drew near to its close, and the maiden withdrew quietly +as before, the enamoured prince followed after her. Marra hurried +along, for she had none too much time, and, as she went, one of her +golden slippers came off, and she was too agitated to stop and pick +it up. The prince, however, who had lost sight of the maiden, saw +the slipper and put it in his pocket. Reaching home, Marra took off +her golden dress, laid it in the chest, and rushed back to the house. + + + + +The Prince's Quest + +The prince now resolved to go from house to house throughout his +father's realm in search of the owner of the slipper, inviting all +fair maidens to try on the golden slipper. But, alas! his efforts +seemed to be doomed to failure; for some girls the slipper was too +long, for others too short, for others, again, too narrow. There was +no one whom it would fit. + +Wandering from door to door, the sad prince at length came to the +house of Marra's father. The stepmother was expecting him, and she had +hidden her stepdaughter under a large trough in the courtyard. When the +prince asked whether she had any daughters, the stepmother answered +that she had but one, and she presented the girl to him. The prince +requested the girl to try on the slipper, but, squeeze as she would, +there was not room in it even for her toes! Thereupon the prince +asked whether it was true that there were no other girls in the house, +and the stepmother replied that indeed it was quite true. + +That very moment a cock flew on to the trough and crowed out lustily: +"Kook-oo-ryeh-koooo! Here she is under this very trough!" + +The stepmother, enraged, exclaimed: "Sh----! Go away! May an eagle +seize you and fly off with you!" The curiosity of the prince was +aroused; he approached the trough, lifted it up, and, to his great +surprise, there was the maiden whom he had seen thrice in church, +clad in the very same golden dress she had last worn, and having only +one golden slipper. + +When the prince recognized the maiden he was overcome with joy. Quickly +he tried the slipper on her dainty foot; it not only fitted her +admirably, but it exactly matched the one she already wore on her left +foot. He lifted her up tenderly and escorted her to his palace. Later +he won her love, and they were happily married. + + + + +IV. ANIMALS' LANGUAGE + +The universality of folk-lore is curiously illustrated in the +following tale which is strikingly like a story native to the negroes +of Western Africa. In this the hero is granted, as a boon by the +King of the Animals, the gift of understanding animal language; he +is warned that if he divulges to any that he possesses this gift he +will die on the instant; he is made rich by the possession of it; +he laughs at a conversation between animals which he overhears; +his wife demands to know the cause of his laughter. To this point +the two stories are identical, but in the West African tale the man +divulges the secret and pays the penalty with his life, whereas the +Serbian conclusion is very much less tame, as will be seen. + +A wealthy peasant had a shepherd, who served him for a great number +of years most honestly and faithfully. One day, as he drove his +sheep through a forest to the pasture, he heard a hissing sound, +and wondered what it could be. Listening carefully he went nearer +and nearer to the spot whence the sound came, and he saw that the +forest was on fire and that the hissing proceeded from a snake that +was surrounded by flames. The shepherd watched to see what the poor +creature would do in its trouble: and when the snake saw the shepherd, +it exclaimed from the midst of the flames: "O shepherd, I pray of you, +save me from this fire!" Then the shepherd reached out his crook and +the snake entwined itself swiftly round the stick, round his arm, +on to his shoulders and round his neck. + +When the shepherd realized what was happening he was seized with +horror, and cried out: "What are you about to do, ungrateful +creature! Did I save your life only to lose my own?" And the snake +answered him: "Have no fear, my saviour! But take me to my father's +house! My father is the king of the snake-world." + +The shepherd endeavoured to move the snake to pity and prayed it to +excuse him, for he could not leave his sheep. Thereupon the snake said +to him: "Be comforted, my friend! Do not trouble about your sheep; +nothing amiss will happen to them, but now do hasten to my father's +house!" So the shepherd went with the snake round his neck through +the forest, till he came at length to a doorway constructed entirely +of serpents. When they came near the gate, the shepherd's guide +hissed to its servants, whereupon all the snakes instantly untwined +themselves, leaving a way open for the shepherd, who passed through +unmolested. Then the snake said to its preserver: "When we come before +my father he will surely give you, as reward for your kindness to me, +whatever you may wish: gold, silver and precious stones; but you should +not accept anything of that kind. I would advise you to ask for the +language of animals. He will undoubtedly be opposed to your wish, +but finally he will yield." + +They now entered the apartments of the king, who, with evident relief, +inquired: "My son, where have you been all this time?" The reptile +then told all about the fire in the forest and of the kindness +of the shepherd, who had saved his life. At this the snake-king +turned with emotion to the shepherd: "What reward can I give you for +having saved the life of my son?" he said. The shepherd answered: +"I desire nothing but the power of understanding and speaking the +language of animals." But the monarch said: "That is not for you, +for if I give you that power, and you should impart the secret +to another, you will instantly die. Therefore choose some other +gift." But the shepherd insisted: "If you wish to reward me, give +me the language of animals: if you do not care to gratify my wish, +no more need be said; I bid you farewell!" And indeed he turned to +go, but the king, seeing his determination, stopped him, exclaiming: +"Come here, my friend! Since you so strongly desire the language +of animals, the gift shall not be withheld; open your mouth!" The +shepherd obeyed, and the snake-king blew into his mouth, and said: +"Now, blow into my mouth!" The shepherd did as he was told, and the +snake-king blew a second time in the shepherd's mouth, and then said: +"Now you have the language of animals. Go in peace; but be sure not +to impart your secret to another, else you will die that very moment!" + +The shepherd took leave of his friends and as he returned through +the woods he heard and understood everything the birds, plants and +other living creatures were saying to each other. When he reached +his flock and found all his sheep safe as had been promised, he lay +on the grass to rest. + + + + +The Buried Treasure + +Hardly had he settled himself, than two ravens alighted on a tree +near by and began to converse: "If this shepherd knew what is under +the spot where that black lamb is lying, he would surely dig in the +earth; he would discover a cave full of silver and gold." + +The shepherd at once went to his master and told him of the buried +treasure. The latter drove a cart to the place indicated, dug deeply +in the earth and lo! he found a cave full of silver and gold, the +contents of which he placed in his cart and carried home. This master +was an honest and generous man, and he gave the entire treasure to +his shepherd, saying: "Take this, my son; it was to you that God gave +it! I would advise you to build a house, to marry and start some good +business with this gold." + +The shepherd did as his kindly master advised him, and, little by +little he multiplied his wealth and became the richest man, not +only in his village, but in the whole district. He now hired his own +shepherds, cattle-drivers and swineherds to keep his great property +in good order. One day, just before Christmas, he said to his wife: +"Prepare wine and food, for to-morrow we will go to our farms and +feast our servants." His wife did as he bade, and the next morning +they went to their farms, and the master said to his men: "Now come +one and all, eat and drink together; as for the sheep I will myself +watch them to-night." + +So the kind man went to guard his sheep. About midnight, wolves began +to howl and his dogs barked a defiance. Said the wolves in their own +language to the dogs: "Can we come and kill the sheep? There will be +enough for you also." Thereupon the dogs answered in their own tongue: +"O come by all means, we also would like to have a feast!" But amongst +the dogs there was a very old one who had only two teeth left. That +faithful animal barked furiously at the wolves: "To the devil with +you all! So long as I have these two teeth, you shall not touch my +master's sheep!" And the master heard and understood every word they +uttered. Next morning he ordered his servants to kill all his dogs, +except the old one. The servants began to implore their master, saying: +"Dear master, it is a pity to kill them!" But the master would not +suffer any remonstrance, and sternly ordered: "Do as I bid you!" Then +he and his wife mounted their horses and started for home, he on a +horse and she on a mare. As they journeyed, the horse left the mare +a little behind and he neighed, saying: "Hurry up, why do you dawdle +behind?" And the mare answered: "Eh, it is not hard for you--you are +carrying only your master, and I am carrying a despotic woman whose +rules are a burden to the whole household." + + + + +The Importunate Wife + +Hearing this, the master turned his head and burst into laughter. His +wife noticing his sudden mirth, spurred on her mare, and when she +reached her husband she asked him why he had laughed. He answered: +"There is no reason, I just laughed." But the woman was not satisfied +with this reply and would not give her husband any peace. He +endeavoured in vain to excuse himself, saying: "Don't keep on asking +me; if I tell you the true reason why I laughed, I shall instantly +die!" But she did not believe her husband, and the more he refused +to tell her, the more she insisted that he should do so, until at +last the poor man was worn out by her persistence. + +Directly they arrived home, therefore, the man ordered a coffin to +be made, and, when it was ready and he had it placed in front of the +house-door, he said to his wife: "I shall lie down in this coffin, +for the moment I tell you why I laughed, I shall die." So he laid +himself in the coffin, and as he took a last look around, he saw his +faithful old dog, coming from the fields. The poor animal approached +his master's coffin and sat near his head howling with grief. When +the master saw this, he requested his wife to give it food. The +woman brought bread and gave it to the dog, who would not even look +at it, still less eat it. The piece of bread attracted a cock, which +came forward and began to peck at it; the dog reproached him saying: +"You insatiable creature! You think of nothing but food, and you fail +to see that our dear master is about to die!" + +To this reprimand the cock retorted: "Let him die, since he is such +a foolish man! I have a hundred wives, and I gather them all round a +grain of corn, which I happen to find; and then, when they have all +assembled, I swallow it myself! If any of them should protest, I just +peck at them; but he, the fool, is not able to rule a single wife." + +At this the man jumped out of the coffin, took a stick and called +to his wife: "Come in the house, wife, and I shall tell you why +I laughed!" + +Seeing the obvious intention of her husband, the woman begged him to +desist, and promised that nevermore would she be curious, or try to +pry into his affairs. + + + + +V. THE STEPMOTHER AND HER STEPDAUGHTER + +Once upon a time there was a girl who lived with her stepmother. The +woman hated her stepdaughter exceedingly, because she was more +beautiful than her own daughter, whom she had brought with her to the +house. She did her utmost to turn the poor girl's own father against +her, and with such success that he soon began to scold and even to +hate his own child. + +One day the woman said to her husband: "We must send your daughter +away. She must go into the world to seek her fortune!" And he answered: +"How can we send the poor girl away? Where could she go alone?" But +the wicked stepmother replied: "To-morrow you must take her far into +the woods, leave her there and hurry home, or I will no longer live +with you." + +The unfortunate father at length gave way, and said: "At least +prepare the girl something for her journey, that she may not die +of hunger." The stepmother therefore made a cake, and gave it to +the girl next morning as she was leaving the house. The man and his +daughter trudged on until they were right in the depth of the woods, +and then the father stole away and returned home. + +The girl, alone in the woods, wandered all the rest of that day in +search of a path, but could not find one. Meanwhile it grew darker +and darker, and at length she climbed a tree, fearing lest some +wild beast should devour her if she remained through the night on +the ground. And indeed, all night long the wolves howled under the +tree so ravenously that the poor girl, in her nervous terror, could +hardly keep from falling. + +Next morning she descended the tree and wandered on again in search +of some way out, but the more she walked the denser grew the forest, +and there seemed to be no end to it. When it grew dark again, she +looked about for another suitable tree in the branches of which +she might safely pass the night, but suddenly she noticed something +shining through the darkness. She thought it might, perhaps, be a +dwelling, and she went toward it. And indeed, she came soon to a large +fine house, the doors of which were open. She entered, and saw many +elegant rooms, in one of which was a large table with lights burning +on it. She thought this must be the dwelling of brigands, but she had +no fear at all, for she reasoned with herself: "Only rich people need +fear robbers; I, a poor simple girl, have nothing to be afraid of; +I shall tell them that I am ready to work for them gladly if they +will give me something to eat." + + + + +A Strange Dwelling + +Then she took the cake from her bag, made the sign of the cross +[80] and began her meal. No sooner had she begun to eat than a cock +appeared and flew near her as if begging for a share. The good girl +crumbled a piece of her cake and fed him. Shortly afterward a little +dog came and began in his own way to express friendly feeling toward +her. The girl broke another piece of her cake, gently took the little +dog in her lap, and began feeding and caressing it. After that a cat +came in too, and she did the same with her. + +Suddenly she heard a loud growling, and she was terrified to see +a lion coming toward her. The great beast waved his tail in such a +friendly manner, and looked so very kind, however, that her courage +revived, and she gave him a piece of her cake, which the lion ate; +and then he began to lick her hand. This proof of gratitude reassured +the girl completely, and she stroked the lion gently, and gave him +more of the cake. + +All at once the girl heard a great clashing of weapons, and nearly +swooned as a creature in a bear-skin entered the room. The cock, the +dog, the cat and the lion all ran to meet it, and frisked about it +affectionately, showing many signs of pleasure and rejoicing. She, +poor creature, did not think this strange being could be anything +but cruel, and expected it would spring upon her and devour her. But +the seeming monster threw the bear-skin from its head and shoulders, +and at once the whole room gleamed with the magnificence of its +golden garments. The girl almost lost her senses when she saw before +her a handsome man of noble appearance. He approached her and said: +"Do not fear! I am not a lawless man, I am the tsar's son; and when +I wish to hunt, I usually come here, disguised in this bear-skin, +lest the people should recognize me. Save you, no one knows that I +am a man; people think I am an apparition, and flee from me. No one +dares to pass near this house, still less to enter it, for it is known +that I dwell in it. You are the first who has ventured to come in; +probably you knew that I was not a ghost?" + +Thereupon the girl told the prince all about her wicked stepmother, +and declared that she knew nothing of this dwelling or who lived in +it. When the young prince heard her story, moved with indignation and +pity, he said: "Your stepmother hated you, but God loved you. I love +you very much, too, and if you feel you could return my love, I would +like to marry you--will you be my wife?" "Yes," replied the maiden. + +Next morning the prince took the girl to his father's palace and they +were married. After some time the prince's bride begged to be allowed +to go and pay a visit to her father. The prince gladly allowed her +to do as she wished, and donning a fine robe embroidered with gold +she went to her old home. Her father happened to be absent, and her +stepmother, seeing her coming, feared that she had come to revenge +herself; therefore she hurried out to meet her, saying: "You see now +that I sent you on the road of happiness?" The stepdaughter embraced +the woman and kissed her; she also embraced her stepsister. Then she +sat down to await her father's return, but at length, as he did not +come, she was compelled reluctantly to leave without seeing him. On +going away she gave much money to her stepmother, nevertheless when +she had got some distance from the house, the ungrateful woman +steathily shook her fist at her, muttering: "Wait a little, you +accursed creature, you shall certainly not be the only one so elegantly +dressed; to-morrow I shall send my own daughter the same way!" + + + + +The Envy of the Stepmother + +The husband did not return until late in the evening, when his wife +met him, saying: "Listen, husband! I propose that my own daughter +should be sent out into the world that she may also seek her fortune; +for your girl came back to visit us to-day and lo! she was glittering +in gold." The man sighed and agreed. + +Next morning the woman prepared for her daughter several cakes and +some roast meat and sent her with the father into the forest. The +unfortunate man guided her as he had led his own daughter, into the +heart of the forest, and then stole off leaving her alone. When the +girl saw that her father had disappeared she walked on slowly through +the woods, till she came to the gates of the same house in which +her stepsister had found happiness. She entered, closed the door +and resolved not to open it for anybody. Then she took a cake out +of her bag and began her meal. Meanwhile the cock, the dog and the +cat came in, and began to frisk about her playfully expecting that +she would give them something to eat, but she exclaimed angrily: +"Get away, you ugly creatures! I have hardly enough for myself; +I will not give you any!" Then she began to beat them; whereat the +dog howled, and the lion, hearing his friend's lamentation, rushed +in furiously and killed the unkind girl. + +Next morning the prince rode out with his wife to hunt. They came to +the house, and saw what had happened, and when the princess recognized +her stepsister's dress, she gathered up the torn garment and carried it +to her father's house. This time she found her father at home, and he +was indeed very happy to learn that his dear daughter was married to a +handsome prince. When, however, he heard what had befallen his wife's +daughter he was sad indeed, and exclaimed: "Her mother has deserved +this punishment from the hand of God, because she hated you without +reason. She is at the well, I will go and tell her the sad news." + +When his wife heard what had happened, she said: "O husband! I cannot +bear the sight of your daughter; let us kill both her and the tsar's +son! Do this thing or I will jump at once into the well." The man +indignantly answered: "Well then, jump! I shall not murder my own +child!" + +And the wicked woman said: "If you cannot kill her, I cannot bear to +look at her!" Thereupon she jumped into the well and was killed. + + + + +VI. JUSTICE AND INJUSTICE + +There was a king who had two sons, one of whom was cunning and +unjust, and the other good and just. In due time the king died, +and the unjust son said to his brother: "As you are younger than I, +you cannot expect me to share the throne with you, so you had better +go away from the palace. Take these three hundred tzechins [81] and +a horse to ride: this is to be your share of the inheritance." The +younger brother took the gold and his horse, and reflecting he said: +"God be praised! How much of the entire kingdom has fallen to me!" + +Some time later the two brothers met by chance on a road, and the +younger saluted the elder thus: "God help you, brother!" And the elder +answered: "May God send you a misfortune! Why do you for ever mention +the name of God to me? Injustice is better than justice." Thereupon the +good brother said: "I wager that injustice is not better than justice!" + +So they laid as a wager one hundred tzechins and agreed to accept the +decision of the first passer-by whom they should happen to meet. Riding +on a little farther they met Satan, who had disguised himself as a +monk, and they requested him to decide their contest. Satan immediately +answered that injustice is better than justice; so the just brother +lost one hundred tzechins. Then they made another wager in the same +sum, and again a third; and each time the Devil--differently disguised +on each occasion--pronounced for injustice. Finally the good brother +lost even his horse; but he was quite unconvinced and he reflected: +"Ah, well! I have lost all my tzechins, it is true, but I have still my +eyes, and I shall wager my eyes this time." So they made the bet once +more, but the unjust brother did not even wait anybody's arbitration, +he took out his poniard and pierced his brother's eyes, saying: +"Now, let justice help you, when you have no eyes!" + +The poor youth said to his cruel brother: "I have lost my eyes for the +sake of God's justice, but I pray you, my brother, give me a little +water in a vessel that I may wash my wounds and take me under the +pine-tree, near the spring!" The unjust brother did as he was asked +and then departed. + + + + +The Healing Water + +The unfortunate youth sat without moving until late in the night, +when some veele came to the spring to bathe, and he heard one of them +say to her sisters: "Do you know, O sisters, that the royal princess +suffers from leprosy, and the king, her father, has consulted all +the famous physicians, but no one can cure her? But if the king knew +the healing qualities of this water, he would surely take a little and +bathe his daughter with it, and she would recover perfect health." When +the cocks began to crow, the veele disappeared and the prince crept +to the spring to test its wonderful properties. He bathed his eyes, +and lo! his sight was instantly restored; then he filled his vessel +with the water, and hurried to the king, whose daughter was suffering +from leprosy. Arriving at the palace he told the officers on guard +that he could cure the princess in a day and a night. The officers +informed the king, who at once allowed him to try his method and the +suffering princess was restored. This pleased the king so much that he +gave the young prince half of his kingdom, as well as his daughter +for his wife. So the just brother became the king's son-in-law, +and a Councillor of State. + +The tidings of this great event spread all over the kingdom, and +finally came to the ears of the unjust prince. He thought that +his brother must have found his good fortune under the pine-tree, +so he went there himself to try his luck. Arrived there, he pierced +his own eyes. Late in the night, the veele came to bathe, and the +prince heard them discuss with astonishment the recovery of the +royal princess. "Some one must have spied upon us," said one of them, +"when we discussed about the qualities which this water possesses; +perhaps somebody is watching us even now. Let us look around us!" When +they came under the pine-tree, they found there the young man who +had come seeking good fortune, and they immediately tore him into four. + +And thus was the wicked prince recompensed for his injustice. + + + + +VII. HE WHO ASKS LITTLE RECEIVES MUCH + +Once upon a time there lived three brothers, who instead of much +property had only a pear-tree. Each would watch that tree in turn, +whilst the other two went away from home to work for hire. One night +God sent His angel to see how the brothers lived, and, should they +be in misery, to improve their position. The angel came disguised as +a beggar, and when he found one of the brothers watching the tree, +he went forward and asked him for a pear. The youth plucked some of +the fruit from his own part of the tree, handed them to the beggar, +and said: "Accept these pears from my share of the tree, but I cannot +give you those belonging to my brothers." The angel took the fruit, +thanked the youth, and disappeared. + +The next day it was the turn of the second brother to watch the fruit, +and the angel, again in the semblance of a beggar, came and asked for a +pear. This brother likewise gave from his own part of the tree, saying: +"Take these, they are my own; but of those belonging to my brothers I +dare not offer you." The angel took the fruit gratefully and departed. + +The third brother had a similar experience. + +When the fourth day came, the angel disguised himself as a monk, +and came very early so that he could find all three brothers at home, +and he said to the youths: "Come with me, I shall improve your state +of life," whereupon they obeyed without question. + +Soon they arrived at a river where the water was flowing in torrents, +and the angel asked the eldest brother: "What would you like to +have?" He answered: "I should like all this water to be changed into +wine and to belong to me." The angel made the sign of the cross with +his stick, and lo! wine was flowing instead of water, and that very +moment there appeared on the banks of the streamlet many barrels, +and men filling them with wine; in one word, there was a whole +village. Then the angel turned again to the young man and said: +"Here is what you wished; farewell!" and he continued his journey +with the others. + +The three went on till they came to a field where they saw numbers of +doves, and the angel asked the second brother: "Now, what is it that +you would like?" And he answered: "I should like all these doves +to be changed into sheep, and to be mine!" The angel again made +the sign of the cross in the air, and lo! sheep instead of doves +covered the field. Suddenly there appeared many dairies; maidens +were busy milking the sheep, others pouring out the milk, others +again making cream. There was also a slaughter-house, and men busy, +some cutting the meat into joints, others weighing it, others again +selling the meat and receiving the money for it. Then the angel said: +"Here is all you wished for; farewell!" + +The angel now proceeded with the youngest brother, and having +crossed the field he asked him what he would like to have. The +young man answered: "I should consider myself the happiest of men +if God were graciously pleased to grant me a wife of pure Christian +blood!" Thereupon the angel replied: "Oh, that is rather difficult to +find; in the whole world there are but three such women, two of whom +are married. The youngest is a maid, it is true, but she is already +sought in marriage by two wooers." + +Journeying on, they came to a city where a mighty tsar dwelt with his +daughter. She, indeed, was of pure Christian blood. The travellers +entered the palace and found two princes already there with their +wedding apples [82] laid upon a table. Then the young man also +placed his apple on the table. When the tsar saw the newcomers he +said to those around him: "What shall we do now? Those are imperial +princes, and these men look like beggars!" Thereupon the angel said: +"Let the contest be decided thus: the princess shall plant three +vines in the garden, dedicating one to each of the three wooers; +and he on whose vine grapes are found next morning, is to be the +one whom the princess shall marry!" This plan was agreed to by all, +and the princess accordingly planted three vines. + +When the next morning dawned, lo! grapes hung in clusters on the vine +dedicated to the poor man. So the tsar could not refuse his daughter +to the youngest brother. After the marriage, the angel led the young +couple to the forest, where he left them for a full year. + + + + +The Angel Returns + +Then God sent again His angel, saying: "Go down to earth and see how +those poor ones are living now: if they are in misery, it may be you +will be able to improve their condition!" The angel obeyed immediately, +and disguising himself again as a beggar, he went first to the eldest +brother and asked him for a glass of wine. But the rich man refused, +saying: "If I were to give every one a glass of wine, there would be +none left for myself!" Upon this the angel made the sign of the cross +with his stick, and the stream began instantly to flow with water as +before. Then he turned to the man and said: "This was not for you; +go back under the pear-tree and continue to guard it!" + +Then the angel went on to the second brother, whose fields were +covered with sheep, and asked him for a slice of cheese; but the rich +man refused, saying: "If I were to give everybody a slice of cheese, +there would be none left for myself!" Again the angel made the sign +of the cross with his stick, and lo! all the sheep turned instantly +into doves, who flew away. Then he said to the second brother: "Of +a surety that was not for you, go under the pear-tree and watch it!" + +Finally the angel went to the youngest brother in order to see how +he was living, and found him with his wife in the forest, dwelling +as a poor man in a hut. He begged to be admitted into their hut, and +to pass the night there. They welcomed him very cordially, but they +explained that they could not entertain him as well as they would like +to do. "We are," they added, "very poor people." To which the angel +answered: "Do not speak so, I shall be quite content with what you +have!" They wondered then what to do, for there was no corn in their +hut to make real bread; they usually ground the bark of certain trees +and made bread from it. Such bread the wife now made for their guest, +and placed it in the oven to bake. When she came later to inspect her +baking, she was pleasantly surprised to find a fine loaf of real bread. + +When the couple saw this wonder they lifted their hands toward +heaven and gave thanks: "We thank thee, O God! that we are now able +to entertain our guest!" After they had placed the bread before their +guest, they brought a vessel of water, and lo! when they came to drink, +they found it was wine. + +Then the angel once more made the sign of the cross with his stick +over the hut, and on that spot instantly rose a beautiful palace, +containing an abundance of everything. Then the angel blessed the +couple and disappeared. The modest and pious man and woman lived +there happily ever after. + + + + +VIII. BASH TCHELIK OR REAL STEEL + +There lived once a tsar who had three sons and three daughters. When +old age overtook him and the hour came for him to die he called his +children to him, and desired his sons to give their sisters to the +first wooers who might ask them in marriage. "Do as I tell you," +added the dying tsar, "or dread my curse!" + +Shortly after the tsar had passed away there came one night a fearful +knocking at the palace gate, so that the whole building shook, and +a great roaring, screaming, and blowing was heard; it seemed as if +the palace was assailed by some awful tempest. All the courtiers +were seized with unspeakable fear, and suddenly a voice from outside +was heard: "O princes, open the door!" Thereupon the eldest brother +exclaimed: "Do not open!" The second brother added: "Do not open for +anything!" But the youngest brother said: "I must open the door!" and +he sprang to the door and flung it open. As he did so something came +in, but the brothers could see only a bright light, out of which +proceeded these urgent words: "I have come to ask your eldest sister +in marriage, and to take her away this moment; for I have no time to +lose, neither shall I come a second time to demand her! Answer quickly, +will you give her or not? That is what I must know." + +The eldest brother answered: "I will not give her. I cannot see you, +and do not know who you are or even whence you came. To-night is +the first time I have heard your voice, and you insist upon taking +my sister away at once. Should I not know where I could visit my +sister sometimes?" + +The second brother also said: "I will not consent that my sister +should be taken away to-night!" + +But the youngest brother protested, saying: "If you will not give her, +I will. Do you not remember our father's words?" Thereupon he took +his sister by the hand, [83] and presented her to the invisible wooer, +saying: "May she be a loyal and dutiful wife!" + +The moment the princess passed over the threshold every one in the +palace fell to the ground in terror, so fearsome was the lightning +and so loud the peals of thunder. The whole building shook as if +about to fall. The storm, however, passed and daybreak came. That +morning close search was made to see if any trace could be found of +the strange visitant or the way it had gone; but, alas! all their +efforts were vain. + +The second night, about the same time, a similar noise was heard +again round the palace, and a voice at the door exclaimed: "O princes, +open the door!" + +Seized with fear they dared not disobey. Then the pitiless voice +spake again: "Give me your second sister; I have come to ask her +in marriage!" + +The eldest brother protested: "I will not consent!" The second brother +said: "I will not give away our sister!" But the youngest brother was +willing. "I will give her!" said he; "have you already forgotten what +our father commanded at the hour of his death?" + +Thereupon the youngest prince took his sister by the hand and presented +her to the unseen visitor, saying: "Take her, may she be loyal and +dutiful to you!" So the visitant departed with the princess, and next +morning no trace of him could be found. + +The third night at the same hour the earth quaked and the palace rocked +on its foundations, so mighty was the tumult around it. And again a +mysterious voice was heard from without. The princes opened the door, +and the unseen presence entered and said: "I come to ask your youngest +sister in marriage!" The two elder brothers exclaimed simultaneously: +"We will not give our sister by night; we must know to whom we are +giving her, so that we may visit her when we wish to do so!" But +once more the youngest brother exclaimed: "I will give her, if you +will not! Have you, then, forgotten what our father told us? It is +not so very long ago!" So saying, he took the maiden and presented +her to the invisible power, saying: "Take her with you! And may she +bring you joy and happiness!" + + + + +The Princes set Out + +Next morning the brothers debated the fate of their sisters, and +sorrow filled their hearts. "Great Heaven!" they said, "what a mighty +wonder! We know not what has befallen our sisters; neither do we +know where they have gone nor whom they have married!" At length +they decided to go in search of their beloved sisters, and making +the necessary preparations for their journey they set out on the quest. + +They journeyed for some time and then lost their way in a dense +forest, in which they wandered for a whole day. When darkness fell, +they agreed that they must pass the night at some place where they +could find water, so when they came to a lake, they decided to pass +the night there, and sat down to eat. When they were ready to compose +themselves to sleep, the eldest proposed to his brothers that they +should sleep while he kept guard. So the two younger brothers went +to sleep, and the eldest watched. + +About midnight the lake became agitated, and the watcher was seized +with horror when he saw in the middle of it something moving straight +toward him. As it came nearer, he saw clearly that it was a monstrous +alligator with two huge ears. The monster attacked the prince with +all its strength, but the gallant young man received it on the point +of his sword and swiftly cleft its head asunder. Then he cut off the +ears, placed them in his bag, but threw the carcass back into the +lake. Soon after this, morning broke; but the two younger brothers +slept quietly on, unconscious of their brother's exploit. + +In due time the prince awakened the young men and, without mentioning +what had happened, he recommended that they should continue their +journey. They travelled the whole day long and, having again lost +their way in another dense forest, they decided to pass the coming +night by a small lake, and they quickly made a fire. After they had +eaten, the second brother said: "To-night you two sleep, and I shall +watch." And so the eldest and the youngest brothers slept, while the +second kept guard. + +Suddenly the water of the lake began to stir, and lo! an alligator with +two heads appeared and rushed furiously upon the three brothers. But +the second brother was no coward; he gave the monster a fearful blow +with his gleaming sabre and the alligator fell dead. Then the prince +cut off its four ears, placed them in his bag, and threw the horrible +carcass into the lake. The two sleeping brothers knew nothing of all +this and slept till sun-rise. Then the gallant prince exclaimed: +"Get up, my brothers, it is high time!" And they instantly arose, +and prepared to continue their journey, without knowing whither they +should go. + +A great fear seized their hearts when they found themselves in a +horrible desert; they wandered in this for three long days, and, as +their food was consumed, they feared now lest they should die of hunger +in this strange land, which seemed to have no end. Then they addressed +their fervent prayers to the Almighty that He might be pleased to +afford them some guidance, and lo! they saw at length a large sheet +of water. Great was now their joy, and they took counsel with each +other and agreed to pass the night on the shores of that lake. + +Having quenched their thirst, they made a bright fire, and when the +hour for sleep approached, the youngest brother proposed: "To-night +it is my turn; you two go to sleep and I shall watch!" So the two +elder brothers went to sleep, and the youngest brother kept awake, +looking sharply about him, often casting his eyes over the lake. Toward +midnight he noticed a disturbance in the water, and as he looked in +wonder the lake grew so agitated that a wave overflowed the shore and +nearly extinguished the fire. The next moment a horrible alligator +with three heads appeared and rushed furiously on the brothers, +obviously intending to devour them. But the youngest prince was no +less brave than his two brothers; he unsheathed his sword, and as +the monster came on with jaws wide agape, he gave it three fearful +blows in rapid succession, slashing off its three heads. Then he cut +off the six ears and placed them in his bag, and threw the body and +the heads back into the lake. + + + + +The Nine Giants + +Meantime the fire had smouldered out, and having no materials with +which to make a fresh fire, and not wishing to awake his brothers, +the prince went a short distance into the desert in the hope of +finding some fuel, but without success. He climbed upon a rock, and +looking around he saw at length the glare of a fire. As it seemed +that the fire was not very far off, he decided to go and get brands +with which to relight his own fire. So he descended from the rock and +hastening for some time through the desert, he came at last to a cave +in which he saw nine giants sitting round a big fire and roasting on +spits two men, one on each side. Upon the fire there stood a caldron +full of the limbs of men. + +When the prince saw all this, he was seized with horror, and would +readily have gone back, but it was too late. So he saluted the giants +thus: "Good evening, my comrades, I have been in search of you for a +long time!" They welcomed him in a friendly manner and returned the +greeting, saying: "May God favour you, since you are one of us!" The +wily prince added: "Why, I shall remain one of your faithful friends +for ever, and would give my life for your sake!" "Eh!" exclaimed +the giants, "since you intend to join us, no doubt you are ready +to eat man's flesh, and to join our company when we go in search of +prey?" Thereupon the tsar's son answered: "Most decidedly! I shall +do willingly everything that you, yourselves, do." Hearing this the +giants retorted: "That is well for you then! Come and sit here with +us!" Then the whole company, sitting round the fire, and taking the +meat out of the caldron, began to eat. The tsar's son pretended to +eat, but he deceived them cleverly, for instead of eating he threw +the meat behind him. + +After supper the giants exclaimed: "Now let us go to hunt, for we +must have something to eat to-morrow!" So they started out, all nine +of them, the prince being the tenth of the party. "Come with us," +said the giants to the prince, "we will go to a neighbouring city +in which lives a tsar: for from that city we have been supplying +ourselves with food for many years!" When they arrived at that +place, the giants uprooted two fir-trees, and, reaching the walls +of the city, they placed one tree against it and ordered the prince: +"Go up to the top of the wall, and we will hand you the second tree, +which you will fix on the other side of the wall, so that we can climb +down the stem of it into the city." The prince obeyed, and, when he +was on the top of the wall, he said: "I do not know how to do it, +I am not familiar with this place, and I cannot manage to throw the +tree over the wall; please come up, one of you, and show me how to do +it!" Thereupon one of the giants climbed up, took the top of the tree +and threw the stem over the wall, holding fast the highest branch in +his hands. The prince utilised this opportunity to draw his sword, +and, unseen by those below, with one stroke he cut off the giant's +head, and pushed his body over the wall. Then he said to the others: +"Now come up one by one, so that I can let you down into the city as +I did our first comrade." The giants, suspecting nothing, climbed up +one after the other; and the prince cut off their heads till he had +killed the whole nine. Then he slowly descended the pine-tree and +reached the ground within the city walls. + +Walking through the streets he was surprised to see no living soul +there, and the whole city seemed to be deserted! So he reasoned to +himself: "Those ugly giants must have annihilated all the inhabitants +of this city!" + + + + +The Sleeping Princess + +He continued wandering about till he saw at length a very tall tower, +through one of the vent-holes of which shone a light. He opened the +door and went straight to the room from which he judged the light +to have come. It was magnificently decorated with gold and velvet, +and lying on a resplendent couch, was a maiden sleeping. The girl was +exceedingly beautiful, and as the prince devoured her with his eyes +he was horrified to see a snake on the wall; it poised its hideous +head with the obvious intention of striking the girl on her forehead +between the eyes, but the prince rushed swiftly forward with drawn +poniard and pierced the serpent's head so that it was nailed to the +wall, exclaiming as he did so: "May God grant that my poniard cannot +be drawn out of the wall by any hand but mine!" He then hurried away, +climbing the city wall by the same way as he had come. When he arrived +at the giants' cave, he took a brand from the fire, and hastened to the +place where he had left his brothers, and found them still sleeping. He +made a fresh fire, and, as meantime the sun had risen, he now awoke his +brothers and they immediately continued their journey. That same day +they came to a road which led to the city of which we have heard. It +was the custom of the tsar who lived in that city to walk abroad +every morning and to lament the great destruction of his people by +the giants. His greatest anxiety was lest his only daughter would one +day be their prey. On this particular morning he walked unusually +early through the streets, which were all empty. After a time he +came to a part of the city wall against which the tall pine-tree +of the giants leaned. He approached closely and found the bodies of +the nine giants, the terrible enemies of his people, lying upon the +ground with their heads cut off. When the tsar saw this wonder he +rejoiced exceedingly, and the people soon gathered around him and +prayed that God might grant happiness and long life to the hero who +had killed the giants. At that very moment servants came hurriedly +from the palace and informed the tsar that a snake had very nearly +caused the death of his daughter. Hearing this the tsar ran to his +daughter, and entering her room he was amazed to see a large, hideous +serpent nailed to the wall. He tried at once to pluck out the poniard, +but was not able to do so. + +Then the tsar issued a proclamation throughout his vast empire to the +effect that if the hero who had killed the nine giants and pierced +the snake would come to court he should receive great gifts and the +hand of the tsar's daughter in marriage. This proclamation spread +quickly all over the land, and by the tsar's orders, in every inn +on the principal roads an official was stationed whose duty it was +to ask every traveller if he had heard of the hero who had killed +the nine giants. If any man should know anything about the matter, +he was at once to come before the tsar and tell what he knew, and +was to be rewarded. And the tsar's commands were strictly carried out. + +After some time the three princes in search of their sisters came +to pass the night at one of the inns of that country, and, after +supper, they began an animated conversation with the inn-keeper, +in the course of which the witty host boasted of his exploits, and +at length asked the princes: "Tell me now, what heroic deeds have +you young men performed?" + +Thereupon the eldest brother started thus: "When my brothers and I set +out on our expedition in search of our sisters, we decided to pass +the first night on the shores of a lake in the midst of a deserted +forest. There I proposed that my brothers should go to sleep while +I remained to keep watch. As soon as they fell asleep, a terrible +alligator rose from the lake to devour my brothers, but I received +it on the point of my sword and cleft its hideous head asunder: if +you do not believe, here are the ears of the monster!" Saying this, +the eldest brother took out of his bag the ears of the alligator and +placed them on the table. + +When the second brother heard this, he said: "And I was on guard, +my brothers, while you were sleeping the second night; and from the +lake appeared an alligator with two heads. I rushed at it with my +sword and cut off both its heads: if you do not believe me, see! here +are the four ears of the monster!" Saying this, he produced the ears +from his bag and placed them on the table to the great astonishment +of the listeners. + + + + +The Hero Found + +But the youngest brother kept silent. And the inn-keeper asked him: +"By my faith, young man, your brothers are veritable heroes, let us +hear whether you have performed any heroic exploit?" Then the youngest +brother began to relate: "I have also done a little. When we arrived +at the shores of a lake on the third night in that desert to pass the +night, you, my brothers, went to rest, and I remained awake to keep +watch. About midnight, the lake was greatly agitated and an alligator +with three heads rushed out with the intention of swallowing you, but I +received it on the point of my sword and successfully cleft its three +heads asunder: if you do not believe me, see! here are the six ears +of the monster!" This astounded even his brothers, and the young man +continued: "Meantime our fire was extinguished, and I went in search +of fuel. Wandering over the desert, I came across nine giants ..." and +so he proceeded to relate to them all his surprising deeds. When the +story came to an end the inn-keeper hurried off and told everything to +the tsar, who gave him money and ordered that the brothers should be +brought to him. When they appeared the tsar asked the youngest prince: +"Is it really you who have done all those wonders in my city, and +saved the life of my only daughter?" "Yes, your Majesty!" answered +the prince. Thereupon the tsar moved with great joy and gratitude, +gave his daughter in marriage to the gallant prince and appointed +him his prime minister. As to his brothers, the tsar said: "If you +wish to remain with your brother, I shall find you wives and shall +order castles to be built for you!" But the two princes thanked his +Majesty and declared that they were already married and that they +wished to continue their search for their lost sisters. + +The tsar approved of this resolution, and having been supplied with +two mules loaded with gold the two brothers said their farewells +and departed. The youngest brother soon began to think of his three +sisters; he would have been sorry to leave his wife to go in search of +them, and in any case the tsar, his father-in-law, would not permit +him to leave the court. Nevertheless the prince wasted away slowly +in grief for his sisters. + +One day the tsar went forth to hunt, and said to the prince: +"Remain in the palace, and take these nine keys and keep them in +your pocket. You can open three or four rooms with those keys, there +you will find unbounded gold, silver and precious stones. In fact, +if you wish to do so, you can open even the eight rooms, but do not +dare to open the ninth. Ill indeed will be your fate if you do!" + + + + +Bash Tchelik + +As soon as the tsar had left the palace, the young prince began +to open the doors, one after the other, of all the eight rooms, +and truly he saw much gold, silver and other precious things. At +length he came to the ninth room, and reasoned to himself: "I have +survived many extraordinary adventures, nothing ever surprised me; +why should I now be afraid to venture into this room?" Saying this, +he opened the door, and what do you think he saw there? In the middle +of the room stood a strange man, whose legs were bound in iron up to +the knees and his arms up to the elbows; in the four corners of the +room there were chains fastened to thick beams, and all the chains +met in a ring round the man's neck, so that he could not make the +slightest movement. In front of him was a fountain from which the water +streamed through a golden pipe into a golden basin. Near him stood a +golden mug, incrusted with precious stones. Despite his longing to +drink the water, the man could not move to reach the mug. When the +prince saw all this, he was indeed astounded, and drew back, but the +man groaned: "For heaven's sake, come to me!" The prince approached +him and the man said: "Do a good deed! Give me now a cup of water, +and know for certain, that I will reward you with another life!" + +The prince thought within himself: "Is there anything better than +to possess two lives?" So he took the mug, filled it with water, and +handed it to the man, who drank eagerly. Then the prince asked him: +"Tell me now, what is your name?" The man answered: "My name is Bash +Tchelik (Real Steel)." The prince made a movement toward the door, +but the man again implored him: "Give me another mug of water, and +I shall give you a second life!" The prince thought: "Now, if he +gives me a second life, I shall have, together with my own, three +lives! This will be quite wonderful!" So he again filled the mug +and handed it to the strange prisoner, who emptied it greedily. The +prince turned toward the door, but the man exclaimed: "O hero, do not +go! Come back a moment! Since you have done two good deeds, do yet +a third, and I will give you a third life as reward. Take this mug, +fill it with water, and pour it over my head!" + +The prince had no desire to refuse; he filled the cup with water, +and poured it over the man's head. No sooner had he done this than +Bash Tchelik broke the iron chains around his neck, jumped up with +the speed of lightning, and, lo! he had wings. He rushed through the +door before the surprised prince could make a movement, and, having +snatched up the daughter of the tsar, the wife of his deliverer, +he flew into the air and disappeared. + +When the tsar returned from the hunt, his son-in-law told him all +that had happened, and the tsar was indeed greatly saddened, and +exclaimed: "Why did you do this? Did I not tell you not to open the +ninth room?" The prince humbly answered: "Do not be angry, I shall +go in search of Bash Tchelik, for I must fetch my wife." But the +tsar tried to dissuade him, saying: "Do not go, for anything in the +world! You do not yet know this man; it cost me many an army before +I succeeded in taking him prisoner. Remain in peace where you are, +and I will find for you a still better wife than my daughter was, and +rest assured that I shall continue to love you as my own son!" However, +the young prince would not listen to his father-in-law's advice, but +took money for his travelling expenses, saddled a horse and went in +search of Bash Tchelik. + + + + +The Prince finds his Sister + +Some time later the young man came to a city. From the window of +a castle a girl cried out: "O prince, alight from your charger and +come into our courtyard!" The prince did as he was invited; the girl +met him in the courtyard, and he was greatly astonished to recognize +in her his eldest sister. They embraced and kissed each other, and +his sister said: "Come within, my brother." When they were inside, +the prince asked his sister who her husband was, and she answered: +"I have married the king of dragons, and he has sworn that he will +kill my brothers the first time he comes across them. Therefore, +I will hide you, and shall ask him first what he would do to you +if you appeared. Should he declare that he would do you no harm, +I would tell him of your presence." So she hid both her brother and +his horse. Toward evening the dragon flew home, and the whole castle +shone. As soon as he entered, he called his wife: "My dear, there is +a smell of human bones! Tell me at once who is here!" She answered: +"There is nobody!" But the dragon added: "That cannot be!" Then his +wife asked him: "Please answer truly, would you harm my brothers if +one of them should come here to see me?" And the king of dragons said: +"Your eldest and your second brother I would slaughter and roast, but +your youngest brother I would not harm." Then she said: "My youngest +brother, and your brother-in-law, is here." Thereupon the king said: +"Let him come in." And when the prince appeared, the king of dragons +stretched forth his arms, embraced his brother-in-law, and said: +"Welcome, O brother!" And the prince answered: "I hope you are +well?" Then they related to each other all their adventures from +beginning to end, and sat down to supper. + +At length the prince told his brother-in-law that he was searching +for Bash Tchelik, and the dragon advised him, saying, "Do not go any +further! I will tell you all about him; the very day when he escaped +from his prison, I met him with five thousand of my dragons, and, +after a severe battle, he escaped victorious. So you see, there is +slender hope for you, alone, to overpower him. Therefore I advise you, +as a friend, to abandon your plan, and return home in peace; and if +you are in need of money I will give you any amount of it." But the +prince answered: "I thank you very much for all your good wishes +and advice, but I cannot do otherwise than go in search of Bash +Tchelik!" And he thought: "Why should I not do so, since I have three +superfluous lives?" + +When the king of dragons saw that he could not dissuade the prince, +he handed a feather he was wearing to him, and said: "Take this, and if +you are ever in need of my help, you have only to burn it, and I will +come at once to your aid with all my forces." The prince thankfully +took the feather and started once more in pursuit of Bash Tchelik. + + + + +The Second Sister + +Wandering for some time he came at length to another city, and, +as he was riding under the tower of a magnificent castle, a window +opened and he heard a voice calling him: "Alight from your steed, O +prince, and come into our courtyard!" The prince complied immediately, +and when he entered the courtyard, he was greatly surprised to see +his second sister, who threw herself into his arms, weeping for +joy. Then she showed her brother into her private apartment, and +he asked: "To whom are you married, sister dear?" And she answered: +"My husband is the king of the eagles." When the king returned home +his loving wife welcomed him, but he exclaimed at once: "Who is the +daring man now in my castle? Tell me directly!" She lied and said: +"No one!" Then they began their supper, and the princess asked her +husband: "Tell me truly, would you do any harm to my brothers if +one of them should dare to come here to see me?" And the eagle-king +answered: "As to your eldest and your second brother, I declare that +I would kill them; but your third brother I would welcome and help +as much as I could." Then she took heart and told him: "Here is +my youngest brother, and your brother-in-law, who has come to see +us!" Then the king ordered his servants to bring the prince before +him, and when the servants obeyed and the prince appeared, he stood +up and embraced and kissed his brother-in-law, saying: "Welcome, +my dear brother-in-law!" And the prince, touched by his kindness, +answered most courteously: "Thank you, my brother! I hope you are +well!" The king at once bade him be seated at table, and after supper +the prince related his wonderful adventures, and finished by telling +them about his search for Bash Tchelik. Hearing this, the eagle-king +counselled his brother-in-law most urgently to give up his hazardous +plan, adding: "Leave that fiend alone, O dear brother-in-law! I would +advise you to remain here; you will find everything you desire in my +castle." But the adventurous prince would not listen to this advice +for a moment, and on the morrow he prepared to resume his search for +Bash Tchelik. Then the eagle-king, seeing that the prince's resolution +was unshakable, plucked out of his garment a beautiful feather, handed +it to his brother-in-law, and said: "Take this feather, O brother, +and if you ever should need my help you will have but to burn it, +and I will at once come to your aid with the whole of my army." The +prince accepted the feather most gratefully, took his leave, and went +away in pursuit of his enemy. + + + + +The Third Sister + +After some time he came to a third city, in which he found in the +same manner his youngest sister. She was married to the king of the +falcons, who also welcomed him in a friendly manner, and gave him a +feather to burn in case of need. + + + + +The Prince finds his Wife + +After wandering from one place to another, he finally found his wife in +a cave. When his wife saw him she exclaimed: "How in the world did you +come here, my dear husband?" And he told her all about his adventures +and said: "Let us flee together, my wife!" But she replied: "How could +we flee, when Bash Tchelik will surely overtake us: he would kill you, +and he would take me back and punish me." Nevertheless, the prince, +knowing well that he had three additional lives, persuaded his wife +to go with him. + +No sooner had they left the cavern than Bash Tchelik heard of their +departure and hurried after them. In a short time he reached them, +took back the princess, and reproached the prince; "O prince, you have +stolen your wife! This time I forgive you, because I recollect having +granted you three lives. So you can go, but if you dare come again +for your wife I shall kill you!" Thereupon Bash Tchelik disappeared +with the princess, and her husband remained to wonder what he should +do next. At length he decided to try his luck again, and when he +was near the cave he chose a moment when Bash Tchelik was absent, +and again took away his wife. But Bash Tchelik again learnt of their +departure quickly, and in a short time reached them again. Now he drew +his bow at the prince, saying: "Do you prefer to be shot by this arrow, +or to be beheaded by my sabre?" The prince asked to be pardoned again, +and Bash Tchelik forgave him, saying: "I pardon you this time also, +but know surely that should you dare come again to take away your +wife I shall kill you without mercy." + +The prince tried his luck yet a third time, and, being again caught +by Bash Tchelik, once more implored to be pardoned. Because he had +given him of his own free will three lives, Bash Tchelik listened to +his plea, but said: "Be warned; do not risk losing the one life God +gave you!" + +The prince, seeing that against such a power he could do nothing, +started homeward, pondering in his mind, however, how he could +free his wife from Bash Tchelik. Suddenly an idea came to him: he +recalled what his brothers-in-law had said when giving him a feather +from their garments. So he thought: "I must go once more and try to +rescue my wife; if I come to any harm I will burn the feathers and +my brothers-in-law will come to my aid." + +Thereupon the prince returned to the cave of Bash Tchelik, and his +wife was greatly surprised to see him and exclaimed: "So, you are +tired of life, since you have come back a fourth time for me!" But +the prince showed his wife the feathers and explained their uses, and +prevailed upon her to try once more to escape. No sooner had they left +the cavern, however, than Bash Tchelik rushed after them shouting: +"Stop, prince! You cannot escape me!" The prince, seeing that they +were in imminent peril, hastily burnt all three feathers, and when Bash +Tchelik came up with drawn sabre ready to kill him, oh! what a mighty +wonder! At the same moment came flying to the rescue the dragon-king +with his host of dragons, the eagle-king with all his fierce eagles, +and the falcon-king with all his falcons. One and all fell furiously +upon Bash Tchelik, but despite the shedding of much blood Bash Tchelik +seemed to be invincible, and at length he seized the princess and fled. + +After the battle the three brothers-in-law found the prince dead, +and immediately decided to recall him to life. They asked three +dragons which of them could bring, in the shortest possible time, +some water from the Jordan. The first said: "I could bring it in half +an hour!" The second declared: "I will bring it in ten minutes!" The +third asserted: "I can bring it in nine seconds!" Thereupon the king +dispatched the third dragon, and, indeed, he used all his fiery might +and returned in nine seconds. The king took the healing water, poured +it upon the gaping wounds of their brother-in-law, and, as they did +so, the wounds were healed up and the prince sprang to his feet alive. + +Then the kings counselled him: "Since you have been saved from death go +home in peace." But the prince declared that he would once more try to +regain his beloved wife. The kings endeavoured to dissuade him, saying: +"Do not go, for you will be lost if you do! You know well that you +have now only the one life which God gave you." But the prince would +not listen. Thereupon the kings said: "Since it cannot be otherwise, +then go! But do not vainly think to flee with your wife! Request your +wife to ask Bash Tchelik where his strength lies, and then come and +tell us, in order that we may help you to conquer him." + + + + +The Secret of Strength + +This time the prince went stealthily to the cavern and, as +counselled by the kings, told his wife to inquire from Bash Tchelik +wherein lay his strength. When Bash Tchelik returned home that +evening, the princess asked: "I pray you, tell me where lies your +strength?" Bash Tchelik, hearing this laughed and said: "My strength +is in my sabre!" The princess knelt before the sabre and began to +pray. Thereupon Bash Tchelik burst into louder laughter, exclaiming: +"O foolish woman! My strength is not in my sabre, but in my bow and +my arrows!" Then the princess knelt before the bow and the arrows, +and Bash Tchelik, shouting with laughter, said: "O foolish woman! My +strength is neither in my bow nor in my arrows! But tell me who +instructed you to ask me where my force lies? If your husband were +alive I could guess it was he who demanded it!" But the princess +protested that no one urged her, and he believed what she said. + +After some time the prince came, and when his wife told him that she +could not learn anything from Bash Tchelik, he said: "Try again!" and +went away. + +When Bash Tchelik returned home the princess began again to ask him to +tell the secret of his strength. Then he answered: "Since you esteem +my heroism so much, I will tell you the truth about it." And he began: +"Far away from here is a high mountain, in that mountain there lives a +fox, in the fox is a heart, in that heart there lives a bird: in that +bird lies my whole strength. But it is very hard to catch that fox, +for it can turn itself into anything!" + +Next morning, when Bash Tchelik left the cave, the prince came +and learned the secret from his wife. Then he went straight to his +brothers-in-law who, upon hearing his tale, went at once with him +to find the mountain. This they were not long in doing, and they +loosed eagles to chase the fox, whereat the fox quickly ran into a +lake and there it transformed itself into a six-winged duck. Then the +falcons flew to the duck and it mounted into the clouds. Seeing this, +the dragons pursued it; the duck changed again into a fox; the other +eagles surrounded it, and at length it was caught. + +Then the three kings ordered the fox to be cut open and its heart +taken out. This done, they made a great fire and from the fox's +heart took a bird which they threw into the fire, and it was burnt +to death. So perished Bash Tchelik, and thus did the prince finally +regain his beloved and loyal wife. + + + + +IX. THE GOLDEN APPLE-TREE AND THE NINE PEAHENS + +Once there was a king who had three sons. In the garden of the palace +grew a golden apple-tree, which, in one and the same night would +blossom and bear ripe fruit. But during the night a thief would come +and pluck the golden apples, and none could detect him. One day the +king deliberating with his sons, said: "I would give much to know +what happens to the fruit of our apple-tree!" Thereupon the eldest +son answered: "I will mount guard to-night under the apple-tree, +and we will see who gathers the fruit." + +When evening came, the prince laid himself under the apple-tree to +watch; but as the apples ripened, he fell asleep and did not wake until +next morning, when the apples had vanished. He told his father what +had happened, and his brother, the second son, then offered to keep +guard that night. But he had no more success than his elder brother. + +It was now the turn of the youngest son to try his luck, and, when +night came on, he placed a bed under the tree, and lay down and went +to sleep. About midnight he awoke and glanced at the apple-tree. And +lo! the apples were just ripening and the whole castle was lit up +with their shining. At that moment nine peahens flew to the tree and +settled on its branches, where eight remained to pluck the fruit. The +ninth, however, flew to the ground and was instantly transformed into +a maiden so beautiful that one might in vain search for her equal +throughout the kingdom. + +The prince immediately fell madly in love with his visitor and the +fair maiden was not at all unwilling to stay and converse with the +young man. An hour or two soon passed but at last the maiden said +that she might stay no longer. She thanked the prince for the apples +which her sisters had plucked, but he asked that they would give him +at least one to carry home. + +The maiden smiled sweetly and handed the young man two apples, one +for himself, the other for his father, the king. She then turned +again into a peahen, joined her sisters and all flew away. + +Next morning the prince carried the two apples to his father. The king, +very pleased, praised his son, and on the following night, the happy +prince placed himself under the tree, as before, next morning again +bringing two apples to his father. After this had happened for several +nights, his two brothers grew envious, because they had not been able +to do what he had done. Then a wicked old woman offered her services +to the malcontent princes, promising that she would reveal the secret +to them. So on the next evening the old woman stole softly under the +bed of the young prince and hid herself there. Soon afterward the +prince came and at once went to sleep just as before. When midnight +came, lo! the peahens flew down as usual; eight of them settling on +the branches of the apple-tree, but the ninth, descending on the bed +of the prince, instantly turned into a maiden. The old woman, seeing +this strange metamorphosis, crept softly near and cut off a lock of +the maiden's hair, whereupon the girl immediately arose, changed again +into a peahen, and disappeared together with her sisters. Then the +young prince jumped up and wondering what had been the reason for the +sudden departure of his beloved began to look around. He then saw the +old woman, dragged her from under his bed, and ordered his servants +to fasten her to the tails of four horses and so to destroy her. + +But the peahens never came again, to the great sorrow of the prince, +and for all that he mourned and wept. + +Weeping will not move any mountain, and at length the prince resolved +to go through the wide world in search of his sweetheart and not +return home until he had found her. As a good son, he asked leave +of his father who tried hard to make him give up such a hazardous +scheme and promised him a much more beautiful bride in his own vast +kingdom--for he was very sure that any maiden would be glad to marry +such a valiant prince. + + + + +The Prince's Quest + +But all his fatherly advice was vain, so the king finally allowed +his son to do what his heart bade, and the sorrowful prince departed +with only one servant to seek his love. Journeying on for a long +time, he came at length to the shore of a large lake, near which +was a magnificent castle in which there lived a very old woman, a +queen, with her only daughter. The prince implored the aged queen, +"I pray thee, grandmother, tell me what you can about the nine golden +peahens?" The queen answered: "O, my son, I know those peahens well, +for they come every day at noon to this lake and bathe. But had you +not better forget the peahens, and rather consider this beautiful +girl, she is my daughter and will inherit my wealth and treasures, +and you can share all with her." But the prince, impatient to find the +peahens, did not even listen to what the queen was saying. Seeing his +indifference, the old lady bribed his servant and gave him a pair of +bellows, saying: "Do you see this? When you go to-morrow to the lake, +blow secretly behind your master's neck, and he will fall asleep and +will not be able to speak to the peahens." + +The faithless servant agreed to do exactly as the queen bade, and when +they went to the lake, he used the first favourable occasion and blew +with the bellows behind his poor master's neck, whereupon the prince +fell so soundly asleep that he resembled a dead man. Soon after, the +eight peahens flew to the lake, and the ninth alighted on the prince's +horse and began to embrace him, saying: "Arise, sweetheart! Arise, +beloved one! Ah, do!" Alas! the poor prince remained as if dead. Then +after the peahens had bathed, all disappeared. + +Shortly after their departure the prince woke up and asked his servant: +"What has happened? Have they been here?" The servant answered that +they had indeed been there; that eight of them bathed in the lake, +while the ninth caressed and kissed him, trying to arouse him from +slumber. Hearing this, the poor prince was so angry that he was almost +ready to kill himself. + +Next morning the same thing happened. But on this occasion the +peahen bade the servant tell the prince that she would come again the +following day for the last time. When the third day dawned the prince +went again to the lake, and fearing to fall asleep he decided to gallop +along the marge instead of pacing slowly as before. His deceitful +servant, however, pursuing him closely, again found an opportunity +for using the bellows, and yet again the prince fell asleep. + +Shortly afterward the peahens came; eight of them went as usual to +bathe, and the ninth alighted on the prince's horse and tried to awaken +him. She embraced him and spoke thus: "Awake, my darling! Sweetheart, +arise! Ah, my soul!" But her efforts were futile; the prince was +sleeping as if he were dead. Then she said to the servant: "When thy +master awakes tell him to cut off the head of the nail; then only he +may be able to find me again." + +Saying this the peahen disappeared with her sisters, and they had +hardly disappeared when the prince awoke and asked his servant: +"Have they been here?" And the malicious fellow answered: "Yes; +the one who alighted on your horse ordered me to tell you that, if +you wish to find her again, you must first cut off the head of the +nail." Hearing this the prince unsheathed his sword and struck off +his faithless servant's head. + + + + +The Quest Resumed + +The prince now resumed his pilgrimage alone, and after long journeying +he came to a mountain where he met a hermit, who offered hospitality +to him. In the course of conversation the prince asked his host +whether he knew anything about the nine peahens; the hermit replied: +"O my son, you are really fortunate! God himself has shown you the +right way. From here to their dwelling is but half a day's walk; +to-morrow I will point you the way." + +The prince rose very early the next morning, prepared himself for the +journey, thanked the hermit for giving him shelter, and went on as +he was directed. He came to a large gate, and, passing through it, +he turned to the right; toward noon he observed some white walls, +the sight of which rejoiced him very much. Arriving at this castle +he asked the way to the palace of the nine peahens, and proceeding +he soon came to it. He was, of course, challenged by the guards, +who asked his name and whence he came. When the queen heard that he +had arrived, she was overwhelmed with joy, and turning into a maiden +she ran swiftly to the gate and led the prince into the palace. + +There was great feasting and rejoicing when, later, their nuptials +were solemnized, and after the wedding the prince remained within +the palace and lived in peace. + +Now one day the queen went for a walk in the palace grounds accompanied +by an attendant, the prince remaining in the palace. Before starting +the queen gave her spouse the keys of twelve cellars, saying: "You +may go into the cellars, all but one; do not on any account go into +the twelfth; you must not even open the door!" + +The prince soon began to speculate upon what there could possibly be +in the twelfth cellar; and having opened one cellar after the other, +he stood hesitatingly at the door of the twelfth. He who hesitates +is lost, and so the prince finally inserted the key in the lock and +the next moment had passed into the forbidden place. In the middle of +the floor was a huge cask bound tightly round with three strong iron +hoops. The bung-hole was open and from within the cask came a muffled +voice which said: "I pray thee, brother, give me a drink of water, +else I shall die of thirst!" The prince took a glass of water and +poured it through the bung-hole; immediately one hoop burst. Then +the voice spake again: "O brother give me more water lest I should +die of thirst!" The good-hearted prince emptied a second glass into +the cask, and a second hoop instantly came asunder. Again the voice +implored: "O brother, give me yet a third glass! I am still consumed by +thirst!" The prince made haste to gratify the unseen speaker, and as +he poured in the water the third hoop burst, the cask fell in pieces, +and a great dragon struggled out from the wreck, rushed through the +door and flew into the open. Very soon he fell in with the queen, +who was on her way back to the palace, and carried her off. Her +attendant, affrighted, rushed to the prince with the intelligence, +and the news came as a thunderbolt. + +For a time the prince was as one distraught, but then he became +more calm and he resolved to set out again in search of his beloved +queen. In his wanderings he came to a river, and, walking along +its bank, he noticed in a little hole a small fish leaping and +struggling. When the fish saw the prince it began to beseech him +piteously: "Be my brother-in-God! Throw me back into the stream; some +day I may, perhaps, be useful to you! But be sure to take a scale from +me, and when you are in need of help rub it gently." The prince picked +up the fish, took a scale from it, and threw the poor creature into +the water; then he carefully wrapped the scale in his handkerchief. + +Continuing his wanderings, he came to a place where he saw a fox +caught in an iron trap, and the animal addressed him, saying: "Be my +brother-in-God! Release me, I pray, from this cruel trap; and some day, +perhaps, I may be helpful to you. Only take a hair from my brush, +and, if you are in need, rub it gently!" The prince took a hair +from the fox's tail and set him free. Journeying on, he came upon +a wolf caught in a trap. And the wolf besought him in these words: +"Be my brother-in-God, and release me! One day you may need my help, +therefore, take just one hair from my coat, and if you should ever +need my assistance, you will have but to rub it a little!" This +likewise the prince did. + +Some days elapsed and then, as the prince went wearily on his way, he +met a man in the mountains, to whom he said: "O my brother-in-God! Can +you direct me to the castle of the king of the dragons?" Luckily the +man knew of this castle and was able to tell the way to it; he also +informed the prince exactly how long the journey would take. + + + + +The Prince finds his Wife + +The prince thanked the stranger and continued his journey with fresh +vigour until he came to where the king of the dragons lived. He entered +the castle boldly and found his wife there; after their first joy +of meeting, they began to consider how they could escape. Finally, +they took swift horses from the stables, but they had hardly set out +before the dragon came back. When he found that the queen had escaped, +he took counsel with his courser: "What do you advise? Shall we first +eat and drink, or shall we pursue at once!" The horse answered: "Let +us first refresh ourselves, for we shall surely catch them." After +the meal, the dragon mounted his horse and in a very few minutes they +reached the fugitives. Then he seized the queen and said to the prince: +"Go in peace! I pardon you this time, because you released me from +that cellar: but do not venture to cross my path again, for you will +not be forgiven a second time." + +The poor prince started sadly on his way, but he soon found that he +could not abandon his wife. Whatever the cost he must make another +attempt to rescue her, and so he retraced his steps, and on the +following day entered the castle again and found his wife in tears. It +was evident that they must use guile if they were to elude the magical +powers of the dragon-king, and after they had thought upon the matter, +the prince said: "When the dragon comes home to-night, ask where he +got his horse; perchance I may be able to procure a steed that is +equally swift: only then could we hopefully make another attempt to +escape." Saying this he left his wife for a time. When the dragon-king +returned, the queen began to caress him and to pleasantly converse; +at length she said: "How I admire your fine horse! Certainly he is of +no ordinary breed! Where did you find such a swift courser?" And the +dragon-king replied: "Ah! his like is not to be got by every one! In +a certain mountain lives an old woman, who has in her stables twelve +wondrous horses; none could easily tell which is the finest! But +in a corner stands one that is apparently leprous; he is, in fact, +the best of the stable, and whoever becomes his master, may ride +even higher than the clouds. My steed is a brother of those horses, +and if anyone would get a horse from that old woman he must serve her +for three days. She has a mare and a foal, and he who is her servant +must tend them for three days and three nights; if he succeeds in +guarding them and returns them to the old woman, he is entitled to +choose a horse from her stable. But, if the servant does not watch +well over the mare and its foal, he will indeed lose his life." + + + + +The old Woman and her Horses + +Next morning, when the dragon had left the castle, the prince came +and the queen told him what she had heard. Hastily bidding his +wife farewell, he went with all speed to the mountain, and finding +the old woman, he said to her: "God help you, grandmother!" And she +returned the greeting: "May God help you also, my son! What good wind +brought you here, and what do you wish?" He answered: "I should like +to serve you." Thereupon the old woman said: "Very well, my son! If +you successfully watch my mare and its foal for three days, I shall +reward you with a horse which you yourself are at liberty to choose +from my stable; but if you do not keep them safe, you must die." + +Then she led the prince into her courtyard, where he saw stakes +all around placed close together, and on each save one was stuck +a human head. The one stake kept shouting out to the old woman: +"Give me a head, O grandmother! Give me a head!" The old woman said: +"All these are heads of those who once served me; they did not succeed +in keeping my mare and its foal safe, so they had to pay with their +heads!" But the prince was not to be frightened at what he saw, +and he readily accepted the old woman's conditions. + +When evening came, he mounted the mare and rode it to pasture, the +foal following. He remained seated on the mare, but, toward midnight, +he dozed a little and finally fell fast asleep. When he awoke he saw, +to his great consternation, that he was sitting upon the trunk of a +tree holding the mare's bridle in his hand. He sprang down and went +immediately in search of the tricky animal. Soon he came to a river, +the sight of which reminded him of the little fish, and taking the +scale from his handkerchief, he rubbed it gently between his fingers, +when lo! the fish instantly appeared and asked: "What is the matter, +my brother-in-God?" The prince answered: "My mare has fled, and I do +not know where to look for her!" And the fish answered: "Here she is +with us, turned into a fish, and her foal into a small one! Strike +once upon the water with the bridle and shout: 'Doora! Mare of the +old woman!'" + +The prince did as the fish told him; at once the mare and her foal +came out of the water; he bridled the mare, mounted and rode home; the +young foal trotting after. The old woman brought the prince some food +without a word; then she took the mare into the stable, beat her with +a poker, and said: "Did I not tell you to go down among the fish?" The +mare answered: "I have been down to the fish, but the fish are his +friends and they betrayed me to him." Thereupon the old woman said: +"To-night you go among the foxes!" + +When evening came, the prince mounted the mare again and rode to +the field, the foal following its mother. He determined again to +remain in the saddle and to keep watch, but, toward midnight, he was +again overcome by drowsiness and became unconscious. When he awoke +next morning, lo! he was seated on a tree-trunk holding fast the +bridle. This alarmed him greatly, and he looked here and he looked +there. But search as he would, he could find no trace of the mare +and her foal. Then he remembered his friend the fox, and taking the +hair from the fox's tail out of his handkerchief, he rubbed it gently +between his fingers, and the fox instantly stood before him. "What +is the matter, my brother-in-God?" said he. The prince complained of +his misfortune, saying that he had hopelessly lost his mare. The fox +soon reassured him: "The mare is with us, changed to a fox, and her +foal into a cub; just strike once with the bridle on the earth, and +shout out 'Doora, the old woman's mare!'" He did so, and sure enough +the mare at once appeared before him with the foal. So he bridled her +and mounted, and when he reached home the old woman gave him food, +and took the mare to the stable and beat her with a poker, saying: +"Why did you not turn into a fox, you disobedient creature?" And +the mare protested: "I did turn into a fox; but the foxes are his +friends, so they betrayed me!" At this the old woman commanded: +"Next time you go to the wolves!" + +When evening came the prince set out on the mare and the same things +befell as before. He found himself, the next morning, sitting on a +tree-trunk, and this time he called the wolf, who said: "The mare of +the old woman is with us in the likeness of a she-wolf, and the foal +of a wolf's cub; strike the ground once with the bridle and exclaim: +'Doora! the mare of the old woman!'" The prince did as the wolf +counselled, and the mare reappeared with her foal standing behind her. + +He mounted once again and proceeded to the old woman's house, where, on +his arrival, he found her preparing a meal. Having set food before him, +she took the mare to the stable and beat her with a poker. "Did I not +tell you to go to the wolves, you wretched creature?" she scolded. But +the mare protested again, saying: "I did go to the wolves, but they +are also his friends and they betrayed me!" Then the old woman went +back to the house and the prince said to her: "Well, grandmother, +I think I have served you honestly; now I hope you will give me what +you promised me!" The old woman replied: "O my son, verily a promise +must be fulfilled! Come to the stable; there are twelve horses; +you are at liberty to choose whichever you like best!" + + + + +The Prince's Choice + +Thereupon the prince said firmly: "Well, why should I be +particular? Give me the leprous horse, standing in that corner." The +old woman tried by all means in her power to deter him from taking that +ugly horse, saying: "Why be so foolish as to take that leprous jade +when you can have a fine horse?" But the prince kept to his choice, and +said: "Give me rather the one I selected, as it was agreed between us!" + +The old woman, seeing that he would not yield, gave way, and the prince +took leave of her and led away his choice. When they came to a forest +he curried and groomed the horse, and it shone as if its skin were +of pure gold. Then he mounted, and, the horse flying like a bird, +they reached the dragon-king's castle in a few seconds. + +The prince immediately entered and greeted the queen with: "Hasten, +all is ready for our flight!" The queen was ready, and in a few +seconds they were speeding away, swift as the wind, on the back of +the wonderful horse. + +Shortly after they had gone, the dragon-king came home, and finding +that the queen had again disappeared, he addressed the following +words to his horse: "What shall we do now? Shall we refresh ourselves, +or shall we go after the fugitives at once?" And his horse replied: +"We may do as you will, but we shall never reach them!" + +Upon hearing this the dragon-king at once flung himself upon his horse +and they were gone in a flash. After a time the prince looked behind +him and saw the dragon-king in the distance. He urged his horse, but +it said: "Be not afraid! There is no need to run quicker." But the +dragon-king drew nearer, so close that his horse was able to speak thus +to its brother: "O brother dear, tarry, I beseech you! else I shall +perish in running at this speed!" But the prince's horse answered: +"Nay, why be so foolish as to carry that monster? Fling up your +hoofs and throw him against a rock, then come with me!" At these +words the dragon-king's horse shook its head, curved its back, and +kicked up its hoofs so furiously that its rider was flung on to a rock +and killed. Seeing this, the prince's horse stood still, its brother +trotted up, and the queen mounted on it. So they arrived happily in her +own land, where they lived and ruled in great prosperity ever after. + + + + +X. THE BIRD MAIDEN + +There was once a king who had an only son, whom, when he had grown +up, he sent abroad to seek a suitable wife. The prince set out on +his journey, but, although he travelled over the whole world, he did +not succeed in finding a bride. Finally, after having exhausted his +patience and his purse, he decided to die, and, that there should +not remain any trace of him, he climbed a high mountain, intending +to throw himself from the summit. He was on the point of jumping +from the pinnacle, when a voice uttered these mysterious words: +"Stop! Stop! O man! Do not kill yourself, for the sake of three +hundred and sixty-five which are in the year!" + +The prince endeavoured in vain to discover whence the voice came, +and, seeing no one, he asked: "Who are you that speak to me? Show +yourself! If you knew of my troubles, you would surely not hinder +me!" Thereupon an old man appeared, with hair as white as snow, +and said to the unfortunate prince: "I am well aware of all you +suffer; but listen to me. Do you see yonder high hill?" The king's +son answered: "Yes, indeed." "Very well," continued the old man, +"seated day and night in the same spot on the summit of that hill +there is an old woman with golden hair, and she holds a bird in her +lap. He who succeeds in securing that bird will be the happiest man +in the world. But if you wish to try your luck you must be cautious; +you must approach the old woman quietly, and, before she sees you, you +must take her by the hair. Should she see you before you seize her, you +will be turned to stone then and there, just as it has happened to many +young men whom you will see there in the form of blocks of marble." + + + + +The Old Witch + +When the prince heard these words, he reflected: "It is all one to +me; I shall go, and, if I succeed in seizing her, so much the better +for me; but if she should see me before I catch her, I can but die, +as I had already resolved to do." So he thanked the old man, and went +cheerfully to try his luck. He soon climbed the other hill and saw the +old woman, whom he approached very warily from behind. Fortunately +the old woman was absorbed in playing with the bird, and so the +prince was able to get quite near without being perceived. Then he +sprang suddenly forward and seized the old woman by her golden hair; +whereupon she screamed so loudly that the whole hill shook as with an +earthquake. But the courageous prince held her fast. Then the old woman +exclaimed: "Release me, and ask whatever you wish!" And the prince +answered: "I will do so if you let me have that bird, and if you at +once recall to life all these young men whom you have bewitched." The +old woman was forced to consent, and she gave up the bird. Then from +her lips she breathed a blue wind toward the petrified figures, so +that instantly they became living men once more. The noble prince +expressed the joy in his heart by kissing the bird in his hands, +whereupon it was transformed into a most beautiful girl, whom, it +appeared, the enchantress had bewitched in order to lure young men to +a horrid fate. The king's son was so pleased with his companion that +he promptly fell in love with her. On their way from that place the +maiden gave him a stick, and told him that it would do everything he +might wish. Presently the prince wished that he had the wherewithal +to travel as befitted a prince and his bride; he struck a rock with +the stick, and out poured a torrent of golden coins, from which they +took all they needed for their journey. When they came to a river, +the prince touched the water with his stick, and a dry path appeared, +upon which they crossed dryshod. A little farther on they were attacked +by a pack of wolves, but the prince protected his bride with his stick, +and one by one the wolves were turned into ants. + +And many other adventures they had, but in the end they arrived +safely at the prince's home. Then they married and they lived happily +ever after. + + + + +XI. LYING FOR A WAGER + +One day a father sent his boy to the mill with corn to be ground, +and, at the moment of his departure, he warned him not to grind it +in any mill where he should happen to find a beardless man. [84] + +When the boy came to a mill, he was therefore disappointed to find +that the miller was beardless. + +"God bless you, Beardless!" saluted the boy. + +"May God help you!" returned the miller. + +"May I grind my corn here?" asked the boy. + +"Yes, why not?" responded the beardless one, "my corn will be soon +ground; you can then grind yours as long as you please." + +But the boy, remembering his father's warning, left this mill and +went to another up the brook. But Beardless took some grain and, +hurrying by a shorter way, reached the second mill first and put some +of his corn there to be ground. When the boy arrived and saw that +the miller was again a beardless man, he hastened to a third mill; +but again Beardless hurried by a short cut, and reached it before +the boy. He did the same at a fourth mill, so that the boy concluded +that all millers are beardless men. He therefore put down his sack, +and when the corn of Beardless was ground he took his turn at the +mill. When all of his grain had been ground Beardless proposed: +"Listen, my boy! Let us make a loaf of your flour." + +The boy had not forgotten his father's injunction to have nothing to +do with beardless millers, but as he saw no way out of it, he accepted +the proposal. So Beardless now took all the flour, mixed it with water, +which the boy brought him, and thus made a very large loaf. Then they +fired the oven and baked the loaf, which, when finished, they placed +against the wall. + +Then the miller proposed: "Listen, my boy! If we were now to divide +this loaf between us, there would be little enough for either of +us, let us therefore tell each other stories, and whoever tells the +greatest lie shall have the whole loaf for himself." + +The boy reflected a little and, seeing no way of helping himself, said: +"Very well, but you must begin." + +Then Beardless told various stories till he got quite tired. Then the +boy said: "Eh, my dear Beardless, it is a pity if you do not know +any more, for what you have said is really nothing; only listen, +and I shall tell you now the real truth." + + + + +The Boy's Story + +"In my young days, when I was an old man, we possessed many beehives, +and I used to count the bees every morning; I counted them easily +enough, but I could never contrive to count the beehives. Well, +one morning, as I was counting the bees, I was greatly surprised to +find that the best bee was missing, so I saddled a cock, mounted it, +and started in search of my bee. I traced it to the sea-shore, and +saw that it had gone over the sea, so I decided to follow it. When I +had crossed the water, I discovered that a peasant had caught my bee; +he was ploughing his fields with it and was about to sow millet. So +I exclaimed: 'That is my bee! How did you get it?' And the ploughman +answered: 'Brother, if this is really your bee, come here and take +it!' So I went to him and he gave me back my bee, and a sack full of +millet on account of the services my bee had rendered him. Then I +put the sack on my back, and moved the saddle from the cock to the +bee. Then I mounted, and led the cock behind me that it might rest +a little. As I was crossing the sea, one of the strings of my sack +burst, and all the millet poured into the water. When I had got across, +it was already night, so I alighted and let the bee loose to graze; +as to the cock, I fastened him near me, and gave him some hay. After +that I laid myself down to sleep. When I rose next morning, great was +my surprise to see that during the night, the wolves had slaughtered +and devoured my bee; and the honey was spread about the valley, +knee-deep and ankle-deep on the hills. Then I was puzzled to know in +what vessel I could gather up all the honey. Meantime I remembered I +had a little axe with me, so I went into the woods to catch a beast, +in order to make a bag of its skin. When I reached the forest, I saw +two deer dancing on one leg; so I threw my axe, broke their only leg +and caught them both. From those two deer I drew three skins and made a +bag of each, and in them gathered up all the honey. Then I loaded the +cock with the bags and hurried homeward. When I arrived home I found +that my father had just been born, and I was told to go to heaven +to fetch some holy water. I did not know how to get there, but as I +pondered the matter I remembered the millet which had fallen into the +sea. I went back to that place and found that the grain had grown up +quite to heaven, for the place where it had fallen was rather damp, +so I climbed up by one of the stems. Upon reaching heaven I found +that the millet had ripened, and an angel had harvested the grain +and had made a loaf of it, and was eating it with some warm milk. I +greeted him, saying: 'God bless you!' The angel responded: 'May God +help you!' and gave me some holy water. On my way back I found that +there had been a great rain, so that the sea had risen so high that my +millet was carried away! I was frightened as to how I should descend +again to earth, but at length I remembered that I had long hair--it is +so long that when I am standing upright it reaches down to the ground, +and when I sit it reaches to my ears. Well, I took out my knife and +cut off one hair after another, tying them end to end as I descended on +them. Meantime darkness overtook me before I got to the bottom, and so +I decided to make a large knot and to pass the night on it. But what +was I to do without a fire! The tinder-box I had with me, but I had +no wood. Suddenly I remembered that I had in my vest a sewing needle, +so I found it, split it and made a big fire, which warmed me nicely; +then I laid myself down to sleep. When I fell asleep, unfortunately +a flame burnt the hair through, and, head over heels, I fell to the +ground, and sank into the earth up to my girdle. I moved about to see +how I could get out, and, when I found that I was tightly interred, +I hurried home for a spade and came back and dug myself out. As soon +as I was freed, I took the holy water and started for home. When I +arrived reapers were working in the field. It was such a hot day, +that I feared the poor men would burn to death, and called to them: +'Why do you not bring here our mare which is two days' journey long +and half a day broad, and on whose back large willows are growing; +she could make some shade where you are working?' My father hearing +this, quickly brought the mare, and the reapers continued working +in the shade. Then I took a jug in which to fetch some water. When +I came to the well, I found the water was quite frozen, so I took my +head off and broke the ice with it; then I filled the jug and carried +the water to the reapers. When they saw me they asked me: 'Where is +your head?' I lifted my hand, and, to my great surprise, my head was +not upon my shoulders, and then I remembered having left it by the +well. I went back at once, but found that a fox was there before me, +and was busy devouring my head. I approached slowly and struck the +beast fiercely with my foot, so that in great fear, it dropped a little +book. This I picked up and on opening it, found written in it these +words: 'The whole loaf is for thee, and Beardless is to get nothing!'" + +Saying this, the boy took hold of the loaf and made off. As for +Beardless, he was speechless, and remained gazing after the boy +in astonishment. + + + + +XII. THE MAIDEN WISER THAN THE TSAR + +Long ago there lived an old man, who dwelt in a poor cottage. He +possessed one thing only in the world, and that was a daughter who +was so wise that she could teach even her old father. + +One day the man went to the tsar to beg, and the tsar, astonished at +his cultivated speech, asked him whence he came and who had taught +him to converse so well. He told the tsar where he lived, and that +it was his daughter who had taught him to speak with eloquence. + +"And where was your daughter taught?" asked the tsar. + +"God and our poverty have made her wise," answered the poor man. + +Thereupon the tsar gave him thirty eggs and said: "Take these to your +daughter, and command her in my name to bring forth chickens from +them. If she does this successfully I will give her rich presents, +but if she fails you shall be tortured." + +The poor man, weeping, returned to his cottage and told all this to +his daughter. The maiden saw at once that the eggs which the tsar had +sent were boiled, and bade her father rest while she considered what +was to be done. Then while the old man was sleeping the girl filled +a pot with water and boiled some beans. + +Next morning she woke her father and begged him to take a plough and +oxen and plough near the road where the tsar would pass. "When you see +him coming," said she, "take a handful of beans, and while you are +sowing them you must shout: 'Go on, my oxen, and may God grant that +the boiled beans may bear fruit!' Then," she went on, "when the tsar +asks you, 'How can you expect boiled beans to bear fruit?' answer him: +'just as from boiled eggs one can produce chicks!'" + +The old man did as his daughter told him, and went forth to +plough. When he saw the tsar he took out a handful of beans, and +exclaimed: "Go on, my oxen! And may God grant that the boiled beans may +bear fruit!" Upon hearing these words the tsar stopped his carriage, +and said to the man: "My poor fellow, how can you expect boiled beans +to bear fruit?" + +"Just as from boiled eggs one can produce chicks!" answered the +apparently simple old man. + +The tsar laughed and passed on, but he had recognized the old man, +and guessed that his daughter had instructed him to say this. He +therefore sent officers to bring the peasant into his presence. When +the old man came, the tsar gave him a bunch of flax, saying: "Take +this, and make out of it all the sails necessary for a ship; if you +do not, you shall lose your life." + +The poor man took the flax with great fear, and went home in tears +to tell his daughter of his new task. The wise maiden soothed him, +and said that if he would rest she would contrive some plan. Next +morning she gave her father a small piece of wood, and bade him take +it to the tsar with the demand that from it should be made all the +necessary tools for spinning and weaving, that he should thereby be +enabled to execute his Majesty's order. The old man obeyed, and when +the tsar heard the extraordinary request he was greatly astounded at +the astuteness of the girl, and, not to be outdone, he took a small +glass, saying: "Take this little glass to your daughter, and tell +her she must empty the sea with it, so that dry land shall be where +the ocean now is." + +The old man went home heavily to tell this to his daughter. But the +girl again reassured him, and next morning she gave him a pound of +tow, saying: "Take this to the tsar and say, that when with this tow +he dams the sources of all rivers and streams I will dry up the sea." + + + + +The Tsar Sends for the Girl + +The father went back to the tsar and told him what his daughter had +said, and the tsar, seeing that the girl was wiser than himself, +ordered that she should be brought before him. When she appeared the +tsar asked her: "Can you guess what it is that can be heard at the +greatest distance?" and the girl answered: "Your Majesty, there are two +things: the thunder and the lie can be heard at the greatest distance!" + +The astonished tsar grasped his beard, and, turning to his attendants, +exclaimed: "Guess what my beard is worth?" Some said so much, others +again so much; but the maiden observed to the tsar that none of his +courtiers had guessed right. "His Majesty's beard is worth as much as +three summer rains," she said. The tsar, more astonished than ever, +said: "The maiden has guessed rightly!" Then he asked her to become +his wife, for "I love you," said he. The girl had become enamoured +of the tsar, and she bowed low before him and said: "Your glorious +Majesty! Let it be as you wish! But I pray that your Majesty may be +graciously pleased to write with your own hand on a piece of parchment +that should you or any of your courtiers ever be displeased with me, +and in consequence banish me from the palace, I shall be allowed to +take with me any one thing which I like best." + +The tsar gladly consented, wrote out this declaration and affixed +his signature. + +Some years passed by happily but there came at last a day when the +tsar was offended with the tsarina and he said angrily: "You shall +be no longer my wife, I command you to leave my palace!" + +The tsarina answered dutifully: "O most glorious tsar, I will obey; +permit me to pass but one night in the palace, and to-morrow I will +depart." + +To this the tsar assented. + +That evening, at supper, the tsarina mixed certain herbs in wine and +gave the cup to the tsar, saying: "Drink, O most glorious tsar! And +be of good cheer! I am to go away, but, believe me, I shall be happier +than when I first met you!" + +The tsar, having drunk the potion fell asleep. Then the tsarina who +had a coach in readiness, placed the tsar in it and carried him off +to her father's cottage. + +When his Majesty awoke next morning and saw that he was in a cottage, +he exclaimed: "Who brought me here?" + +"I did," answered the tsarina. + +The tsar protested, saying: "How have you dared do so? Did I not tell +you that you are no longer my wife?" + +Instead of answering the tsarina produced the parchment containing +the tsar's promise and he could not find a word to say. + +Then the tsarina said: "As you see, you promised that should I be +banished from your palace I should be at liberty to take with me that +which I liked best!" + +Hearing this, the tsar's love for his spouse returned, he took her +in his arms, and they returned to the palace together. + + + + +XIII. GOOD DEEDS NEVER PERISH + +Once upon a time there lived a man and woman who had one son. When the +boy grew up his parents endeavoured to give him a suitable education +which would be useful in his after life. He was a good, quiet boy, +and above all he feared God. After he had completed his studies, +his father intrusted him with a galley laden with various goods, +so that he might trade with distant countries, and be the support of +his parents' old age. + + + + +The First Voyage + +On his first voyage he one day met with a Turkish ship, in which he +heard weeping. So he called to the sailors on the Turkish vessel: "I +pray you, tell me why there is such sorrow on board your ship!" And +they answered: "We have many slaves whom we have captured in +various parts of the world, and those who are chained are weeping +and lamenting." Thereupon the young man said: "Pray, O brethren, +ask your captain if he will allow me to ransom the slaves for a sum +of money?" The sailors gladly called their captain, who was willing +to bargain, and in the end the young man gave his ship with all its +cargo to the Turk, in exchange for his vessel containing the slaves. + +The young man asked each slave whence he came, and gave to all their +freedom, and said that each might return to his own country. + +Among the slaves was an old woman who held a most beautiful maiden +by the arm. When he asked whence they came, the old woman answered +through her tears: "We come from a far-away country. This young +girl is the only daughter of the tsar, whom I have brought up from +her infancy. One unlucky day she was walking in the palace gardens, +and wandered to a lonely spot, where those accursed Turks saw her +and seized her. She began to scream, and I, who happened to be near, +ran to help her, but alas! I could not save her, and the Turks carried +us both on board this galley." Then the good nurse and the beautiful +girl, not knowing the way to their own country, and having no means of +returning thither, implored the young man to take them with him. And +this he was quite willing to do; indeed, he had immediately fallen in +love with the princess, and he now married the poor homeless maiden, +and, together with her and the old woman, returned home. + +On their arrival, his father asked where his galley and its cargo +were, and he told him how he had ransomed the slaves and set them at +liberty. "This girl," said he, "is the daughter of a tsar, and this old +woman is her nurse; as they could not return to their country I took +them with me, and I have married the maiden." Thereupon his father +grew very angry, and said: "O foolish son, what have you done? Why +did you dispose so stupidly of my property without my permission?" and +he drove him out of the house. + +Fortunately for the young man, a good neighbour offered him +hospitality, and, with his wife and her old nurse, he resided for a +long time near by, endeavouring, through the influence of his mother +and friends, to persuade his father to forgive him. + + + + +The Second Voyage + +After some time the father relented, and received his son again in +his house, together with his young wife and her nurse. Soon after, +he purchased a second galley, larger and finer than the first, and +loaded it with merchandise wherewith his son might trade to great +profit, if so be that he were wise. + +The young man sailed in this new vessel, leaving his wife and her nurse +in the house of his parents, and soon came to a certain city, where +he beheld a sorrowful sight. He saw soldiers busied in seizing poor +peasants and throwing them into prison, and he asked: "Why, brethren, +are you showing such cruelty to these unfortunate people?" And the +soldiers replied: "Because they have not paid the tsar's taxes." The +young man at once went to the officer and said: "I pray you, tell +me how much these poor people must pay." The officer told him the +amount due, and, without hesitation, the young man sold his galley +and the cargo, and discharged the debts of all the prisoners. He now +returned home, and, falling at the feet of his father, he told him +the story and begged that he might be forgiven. But his father grew +exceedingly angry this time, and drove him away from his house. + +What could the unhappy son do in this fresh trouble? How could he beg, +he whose parents were so well-to-do? Old friends of the family again +used their influence with his father, urging that he should take pity +on his son and receive him back, "for," said they, "it is certain +that suffering has made him wiser, and that he will never again act +so foolishly." At length his father yielded, took him again into his +house, and prepared a third galley for him, much larger and finer +than the two former ones. + + + + +The Third Voyage + +The young man was overjoyed at his good fortune, and he had the +portrait of his beloved wife painted on the helm, and that of the old +nurse on the stern. When all the preparations for a new voyage were +completed, he took leave of his parents, his wife, and other members of +the family, and weighed anchor. After sailing for some time he arrived +at a great city, in which there lived a tsar, and, dropping anchor, +he fired his guns as a salute to the city. Toward evening the tsar +sent one of his ministers to learn who the stranger was and whence he +came, and to inform him that his master would come at nine o'clock next +morning to visit the galley. The minister was astounded to see on the +helm the portrait of the imperial princess--whom the tsar had promised +to him in marriage when she was still a child--and on the stern that of +the old nurse; but he did not make any remark, nor did he tell anyone +at the palace what he had seen. At nine o'clock next morning the tsar +came on board the galley with his ministers, and, as he paced the deck, +conversing with the captain, he also saw the portrait of the maiden +painted on the helm and that of the old woman on the stern, and he +recognized at once the features of his only daughter and her nurse, +whom the Turks had captured. At once he conceived the hope that his +beloved child was alive and well, but he could not trust himself to +speak, so great was his emotion. Composing himself as best he could, +he invited the captain to come at two o'clock that afternoon to his +palace, intending to question him, hoping thus to confirm the hopes +of his heart. + +Punctually at two o'clock the captain appeared at the palace, and the +tsar at once began to question him in a roundabout manner as to the +maiden whose portrait he had seen on the helm of his galley. Was she +one of his relations, and, if so, in what degree? He was also curious +concerning the old woman whose likeness was painted on the stern. + +The young captain guessed at once that the tsar must be his wife's +father, and he related to him word by word all his adventures, not +omitting to say that, having found that the young maiden and her nurse +had forgotten the way back to their country, he had taken pity on them +and later had espoused the maiden. Hearing this the tsar exclaimed: +"That girl is my only child and the old woman is her nurse; hasten +and bring my daughter here that I may see her once more before I +die. Bring here also your parents and all your family; your father +will be my brother and your mother my sister, for you are my son and +the heir to my crown. Go and sell all your property and come that +we may live together in my palace!" Then he called the tsarina, his +wife, and all his ministers, that they might hear the joyful news, +and there was great joy in the court. + +After this the tsar gave the captain a magnificent ship requesting +him to leave his own galley behind. The young man was, of course, +very grateful, but he said: "O glorious tsar! My parents will not +believe me, if you do not send one of your ministers to accompany +me." Thereupon the tsar appointed as his companion for the voyage, +the very minister to whom he had formerly promised his daughter +in marriage. + +The captain's father was greatly surprised to see his son return so +soon and in such a magnificent ship. Then the young man related to his +father and others all that had happened, and the imperial minister +confirmed all his statements. When the princess saw the minister +she exclaimed joyfully: "Yes, indeed, all that he has said is true; +this is my father's minister, who was to be my betrothed." Then the +man and his family sold all their property and went on board the ship. + + + + +The Treacherous Minister + +Now the minister was a wicked man, and he had formed a design to kill +the young husband of the princess that he might espouse her and one day +become tsar. Accordingly during the voyage he called the young man on +deck one night to confer with him. The captain had a quiet conscience +and did not suspect evil, wherefore he was entirely unprepared when +the minister seized him and threw him swiftly overboard. The ship +was sailing fast; it was impossible that he could reach it, so he +fell gradually behind. By great good luck he was very near to land +and soon he was cast ashore by the waves. But, alas! this land was +but a bare uninhabited rock. + +Meantime the minister had stolen back to his cabin and next morning +when it was found that the captain had disappeared, all began to weep +and wail, thinking that he had fallen overboard in the night and been +drowned. His family would not be consoled, more especially his wife, +who loved him so much. When they arrived at the tsar's palace and +reported that the young man had been accidentally drowned, the entire +court mourned with them. + +For fifteen days the tsar's unhappy son-in-law was condemned to a +bare subsistence upon the scanty grass which grew upon the rocky +islet. His skin was tanned by the hot sun and his garments became +soiled and torn, so that no one could have recognized him. On the +morrow of the fifteenth day, he had the good fortune to perceive an +old man on the shore, leaning on a stick, engaged in fishing. He +began at once to hail the old man and to beseech him to help him +off the rock. The old fisherman said: "I will save you, if you will +pay me!" "How can I pay you," answered the castaway, "when, as you +see, I have only these rags, and nothing more?" "Oh, as for that," +replied the old man, "you can write and sign a promise to give me a +half of everything that you may ever possess." The young man gladly +made this promise. Then the old man produced writing materials and +the young man signed the agreement, after which they both sailed in +the old man's fishing boat to the mainland. After that the young man +wandered from house to house and from village to village, a barefoot +beggar, in rags, sunburnt, and hungry. + + + + +The Young Man's Return + +After thirty days' journeying, good luck led him to the city of the +tsar and he sat him down, staff in hand, at the gates of the palace, +still wearing on his finger his wedding-ring, on which was engraved +his name and that of his wife. The servants of the tsar, pitying his +sad plight, offered him shelter for the night in the palace and gave +him to eat fragments from their own dinner. Next morning he went to +the garden of the palace, but the gardener came and drove him away, +saying that the tsar and his family were soon coming by. He moved +from that spot and sat down in a corner on the grass, when suddenly he +saw the tsar walking with his own mother and father, who had remained +at the court as the tsar's guests, and his beloved wife walking arm +in arm with his enemy, the minister. He did not yet wish to reveal +himself, but as the tsar and his train passed by and gave him alms, +he stretched out his hand to receive it and the wedding-ring upon +his finger caught the princess's eye. She recognized it at once, +but it was incredible that the beggar could be her husband, and she +said to him: "Pray, give me your hand that I may see your ring!" The +minister protested, but the princess did not pay any attention to +him, and proceeded to examine the ring, to find there her own name +and that of her husband. Her heart was greatly agitated at the sight, +but she made an effort to control her feelings and said nothing. Upon +her return to the palace she appeared before her father and told him +what she had seen. "Please send for him," said she, "and we may find +out how the ring came into his possession!" The tsar immediately sent +an attendant to fetch the beggar. The order was executed at once, +and, when the stranger appeared the tsar asked him his name, whence +he came, and in what manner he obtained the ring. The unfortunate +young man could no longer maintain his disguise, so telling the +tsar who he was, he went on to relate all his adventures since the +minister treacherously threw him into the sea. "Behold!" said he at +last, "Our gracious Lord and my right-dealing has brought me back +to my parents and my wife." Almost beside themselves for joy, the +tsar called for the young man's parents and imparted to them the +good news. Who could express the joy of the aged couple when they +identified their son? Words fail, also, to describe adequately the +rejoicing which filled the hearts of the entire court. The servants +prepared perfumed baths for the young man and brought him sumptuous +new garments. The tsar gave orders that he should be crowned as tsar, +and for several days there were wonderful festivities, in which the +whole city joined; everywhere was singing, dancing and feasting. The +old tsar summoned the wicked minister to appear before his son-in-law, +to be dealt with according to his will. But the young tsar had a kind +heart, so he forgave him upon the condition that he should leave the +tsardom without delay, and never come back during his reign. + +The new tsar had hardly began to rule, when the old fisherman who had +saved him from the rocky isle came and craved audience. The tsar at +once received his deliverer who produced the written promise. "Very +well, old man," said the tsar; "to-day I am ruler, but I will as +readily fulfil my word as if I were a beggar with little to share; +so let us divide my possessions in two equal parts." Then the tsar +took the books and began to divide the cities, saying: "This is for +you--this is for me." So he marked all on a map, till the whole tsardom +was divided between them, from the greatest city to the poorest hut. + +When the tsar had finished the old man said: "Take all back! I am not +a man of this world; I am an angel from God, who sent me to save you +on account of your good deeds. Now reign and be happy, and may you +live long in complete prosperity!" So saying, he vanished suddenly, +and the young tsar ruled in great happiness ever after. + + + + +XIV. HE WHOM GOD HELPS NO ONE CAN HARM + +Once upon a time there lived a man and his wife, and they were +blessed with three sons. The youngest son was the most handsome, +and he possessed a better heart than his brothers, who thought him +a fool. When the three brothers had arrived at the man's estate, +they came together to their father, each of them asking permission to +marry. The father was embarrassed with this sudden wish of his sons, +and said he would first take counsel with his wife as to his answer. + + + + +The First Quest + +A few days later the man called his sons together and told them to +go to the neighbouring town and seek for employment. "He who brings +me the finest rug will obtain my permission to marry first," he said. + +The brothers started off to the neighbouring town together. On the +way the two elder brothers began to make fun of the youngest, mocking +his simplicity, and finally they forced him to take a different road. + +Abandoned by his malicious brothers, the young man prayed God to +grant him good fortune. At length he came to a lake, on the further +shore of which was a magnificent castle. The castle belonged to the +daughter of a tyrannous and cruel prince who had died long ago. The +young princess was uncommonly beautiful, and many a suitor had come +there to ask for her hand. The suitors were always made very welcome, +but when they went to their rooms at night the late master of the +castle would invariably come as a vampire and suffocate them. + +As the youngest brother stood upon the shore wondering how to cross +the lake, the princess noticed him from her window and at once gave an +order to the servants to take a boat and bring the young man before +her. When he appeared he was a little confused, but the noble maiden +reassured him with some kind words--for he had, indeed, made a good +impression upon her and she liked him at first sight. She asked him +whence he came and where he intended to go, and the young man told +her all about his father's command. + +When the princess heard that, she said to the young man: "You will +remain here for the night, and to-morrow morning we will see what we +can do about your rug." + +After they had supped, the princess conducted her guest to a green +room, and bidding him "good-night," said: "This is your room. Do +not be alarmed if during the night anything unusual should appear to +disturb you." + +Being a simple youth, he could not even close his eyes, so deep was +the impression made by the beautiful things which surrounded him, when +suddenly, toward midnight, there was a great noise. In the midst of +the commotion he heard distinctly a mysterious voice whisper: "This +youth will inherit the princely crown, no one can do him harm!" The +young man took refuge in earnest prayer, and, when day dawned, he +arose safe and sound. + +When the princess awoke, she sent a servant to summon the young man +to her presence, and he was greatly astonished to find the young man +alive; so also was the princess and every one in the castle. + +After breakfast the princess gave her guest a rich rug, saying: +"Take this rug to your father, and if he desires aught else you have +only to come back." The young man thanked his fair hostess and with +a deep bow took his leave of her. + +When he arrived home he found his two brothers already there; they +were showing their father the rugs they had brought. When the youngest +exhibited his they were astounded, and exclaimed: "How did you get +hold of such a costly rug? You must have stolen it!" + + + + +The Second Quest + +At length the father, in order to quieten them, said: "Go once more +into the world, and he who brings back a chain long enough to encircle +our house nine times shall have my permission to marry first!" Thus +the father succeeded in pacifying his sons. The two elder brothers +went their way, and the youngest hurried back to the princess. When +he appeared she asked him: "What has your father ordered you to do +now?" And he answered: "That each of us should bring a chain long +enough to encircle our house nine times." The princess again made +him welcome and, after supper, she showed him into a yellow room, +saying: "Somebody will come again to frighten you during the night, +but you must not pay any attention to him, and to-morrow we will see +what we can do about your chain." + +And sure enough, about midnight there came many ghosts dancing round +his bed and making fearful noises, but he followed the advice of +the princess and remained calm and quiet. Next morning a servant +came once more to conduct him to the princess, and, after breakfast, +she gave him a fine box, saying: "Take this to your father, and if he +should desire anything more, you have but to come to me." The young +man thanked her, and took his leave. + +Again he found that his brothers had reached home first with their +chains, but these were not long enough to encircle the house even +once, and they were greatly astonished when their youngest brother +produced from the box the princess had given an enormous gold chain +of the required length. Filled with envy, they exclaimed: "You will +ruin the reputation of our house, for you must have stolen this chain!" + + + + +The Third Quest + +At length the father, tired of their jangling, sent them away, saying: +"Go; bring each of you his sweetheart, and I will give you permission +to marry." Thereupon the two elder brothers went joyfully to fetch +the girls they loved, and the youngest hurried away to the princess +to tell her what was now his father's desire. When she heard, the +princess said: "You must pass a third night here, and then we shall +see what we can do." + +So, after supping together, she took him into a red room. During the +night he heard again a blood-curdling noise, and from the darkness a +mysterious voice said: "This young man is about to take possession +of my estates and crown!" He was assaulted by ghosts and vampires, +and was dragged from his bed; but through all the young man strove +earnestly in prayer, and God saved him. + +Next morning when he appeared before the princess, she congratulated +him on his bravery, and declared that he had won her love. The young +man was overwhelmed with happiness, for although he would never have +dared to reveal the secret of his heart, he also loved the princess. A +barber was now summoned to attend upon the young man, and a tailor +to dress him like a prince. This done, the couple went together to +the castle chapel and were wedded. + +A few days later they drove to the young man's village, and as they +stopped outside his home they heard great rejoicing and music, whereat +they understood that his two elder brothers were celebrating their +marriage feasts. The youngest brother knocked on the gate, and when +his father came he did not recognize his son in the richly attired +prince who stood before him. He was surprised that such distinguished +guests should pay him a visit, and still more so when the prince said: +"Good man, will you give us your hospitality for to-night?" The father +answered: "Most gladly, but we are having festivities in our house, and +I fear that these common people will disturb you with their singing and +music." To this the young prince said: "Oh, no; it would please me to +see the peasants feasting, and my wife would like it even more than I." + +They now entered the house, and as the hostess curtsied deeply before +them the prince congratulated her, saying: "How happy you must be to +see your two sons wedded on the same day!" The woman sighed. "Ah," +said she, "on one hand I have joy and on the other mourning: I had +a third son, who went out in the world, and who knows what ill fate +may have befallen him?" + +After a time the young prince found an opportunity to step into his +old room, and put on one of his old suits over his costly attire. He +then returned to the room where the feast was spread and stood behind +the door. Soon his two brothers saw him, and they called out: "Come +here, father, and see your much-praised son, who went and stole like +a thief!" The father turned, and seeing the young man, he exclaimed: +"Where have you been for so long, and where is your sweetheart?" + +Then the youngest son said: "Do not reproach me; all is well with +me and with you!" As he spake he took off his old garments and stood +revealed in his princely dress. Then he told his story and introduced +his wife to his parents. + +The brothers now expressed contrition for their conduct, and received +the prince's pardon, after which they all embraced; the feasting was +renewed, and the festivities went on for several days. Finally the +young prince distributed amongst his father and brothers large portions +of his new lands, and they all lived long and happily together. + + + + +XV. ANIMALS AS FRIENDS AND AS ENEMIES [85] + +Once upon a time, a long while ago, there lived in a very far-off +country, a young nobleman who was so exceedingly poor that all his +property was an old castle, a handsome horse, a trusty hound, and a +good rifle. + +This nobleman spent all his time in hunting and shooting, and lived +entirely on the produce of the chase. + +One day he mounted his well-kept horse and rode off to the neighbouring +forest, accompanied, as usual, by his faithful hound. When he came to +the forest he dismounted, fastened his horse securely to a young tree, +and then went deep into the thicket in search of game. The hound ran +on at a distance before his master, and the horse remained all alone, +grazing quietly. Now it happened that a hungry fox came by that way +and, seeing how well-fed and well-trimmed the horse was, stopped a +while to admire him. By and by she was so charmed with the handsome +horse, that she lay down in the grass near him to bear him company. + +Some time afterward the young nobleman came back out of the forest, +carrying a stag that he had killed, and was extremely surprised to +see the fox lying so near his horse. So he raised his rifle with the +intention of shooting her; but the fox ran up to him quickly and said, +"Do not kill me! Take me with you, and I will serve you faithfully. I +will take care of your fine horse whilst you are in the forest." + +The fox spoke so pitifully that the nobleman was sorry for her, +and agreed to her proposal. Thereupon he mounted his horse, placed +the stag he had shot before him, and rode back to his old castle, +followed closely by his hound and his new servant, the fox. + +When the young nobleman prepared his supper, he did not forget to +give the fox a due share, and she congratulated herself that she was +never likely to be hungry again, at least so long as she served so +skilful a hunter. + +The next morning the nobleman went out again to the chase; the fox also +accompanied him. When the young man dismounted and bound his horse, +as usual, to a tree, the fox lay down near it to keep it company. + +Now, whilst the hunter was far off in the depth of the forest looking +for game, a hungry bear came by the place where the horse was tied, +and, seeing how invitingly fat it looked, ran up to kill it. The +fox hereupon sprang up and begged the bear not to hurt the horse, +telling him if he was hungry he had only to wait patiently until her +master came back from the forest, and then she was quite sure that +the good nobleman would take him also to his castle and feed him, +and care for him, as he did for his horse, his hound, and herself. + +The bear pondered over the matter very wisely and deeply for some +time, and at length resolved to follow the fox's advice. Accordingly +he lay down quietly near the horse, and waited for the return of the +huntsman. When the young noble came out of the forest he was greatly +surprised to see so large a bear near his horse, and, dropping the +stag he had shot from his shoulders, he raised his trusty rifle and +was about to shoot the beast. The fox, however, ran up to the huntsman +and entreated him to spare the bear's life, and to take him, also, into +his service. This the nobleman agreed to do; and, mounting his horse, +rode back to his castle, followed by the hound, the fox, and the bear. + +The next morning, when the young man had gone again with his dog into +the forest, and the fox and the bear lay quietly near the horse, +a hungry wolf, seeing the horse, sprang out of a thicket to kill +it. The fox and the bear, however, jumped up quickly and begged him +not to hurt the animal, telling him to what a good master it belonged, +and that they were sure, if he would only wait, he also would be taken +into the same service, and would be well cared for. Thereupon the +wolf, hungry though he was, thought it best to accept their counsel, +and he also lay down with them in the grass until their master come +out of the forest. + +You can imagine how surprised the young nobleman was when he saw a +great gaunt wolf lying so near his horse! However, when the fox had +explained the matter to him, he consented to take the wolf also into +his service. Thus it happened that this day he rode home followed by +the dog, the fox, the bear, and the wolf. As they were all hungry, +the stag he had killed was not too large to furnish their suppers that +night, and their breakfasts next morning. Not many days afterward a +mouse was added to the company, and after that a mole begged so hard +for admission that the good nobleman could not find in his heart to +refuse her. Last of all came the great bird, the kumrekusha--so strong +a bird that she can carry in her claws a horse with his rider! Soon +after a hare was added to the company, and the nobleman took great +care of all his animals and fed them regularly and well, so that they +were all exceedingly fond of him. + + + + +The Animals' Council + +One day the fox said to the bear, "My good Bruin, pray run into the +forest and bring me a nice large log, on which I can sit whilst I +preside at a very important council we are going to hold." + +Bruin, who had a great respect for the quick wit and good management +of the fox, went out at once to seek the log, and soon came back +bringing a heavy one, with which the fox expressed herself quite +satisfied. Then she called all the animals about her, and, having +mounted the log, addressed them in these words: + +"You know all of you, my friends, how very kind and good a master we +have. But, though he is very kind, he is also very lonely. I propose, +therefore, that we find a fitting wife for him." + +The assembly was evidently well pleased with this idea, and responded +unanimously, "Very good, indeed, if we only knew any girl worthy to +be the wife of our master; which, however, we do not." + +Then the fox said, "I know that the king has a most beautiful daughter, +and I think it will be a good thing to take her for our lord; and +therefore I propose, further, that our friend the kumrekusha should +fly at once to the king's palace, and hover about there until the +princess comes out to take her walk. Then she must catch her up at +once, and bring her here." + +As the kumrekusha was glad to do anything for her kind master, she +flew away at once, without even waiting to hear the decision of the +assembly on this proposal. + +Just before evening set in, the princess came out to walk before her +father's palace: whereupon the great bird seized her and placed her +gently on her outspread wings, and thus carried her off swiftly to +the young nobleman's castle. + +The king was exceedingly grieved when he heard that his daughter had +been carried off, and sent out everywhere proclamations promising +rich rewards to any one who should bring her back, or even tell +him where he might look for her. For a long time, however, all his +promises were of no avail, for no one in the kingdom knew anything +at all about the princess. + +At last, however, when the king was well-nigh in despair, an old +gipsy woman came to the palace and asked the king, "What will you +give me if I bring back to you your daughter, the princess?" + +The king answered quickly, "I will gladly give you whatever you like +to ask, if only you bring me back my daughter!" + +Then the old gipsy went back to her hut in the forest, and tried all +her magical spells to find out where the princess was. At last she +found out that she was living in an old castle, in a very distant +country, with a young nobleman who had married her. + + + + +The Magic Carpet + +The gipsy was greatly pleased when she knew this, and taking a whip +in her hand seated herself at once in the middle of a small carpet, +and lashed it with her whip. Then the carpet rose up from the ground +and bore her swiftly through the air, toward the far country where +the young nobleman lived, in his lonely old castle, with his beautiful +wife, and all his faithful company of beasts. + +When the gipsy came near the castle she made the carpet descend on the +grass among some tress, and leaving it there went to look about until +she could meet the princess walking about the grounds. By and by the +beautiful young lady came out of the castle, and immediately the ugly +old woman went up to her, and began to fawn on her and to tell her all +kinds of strange stories. Indeed, she was such a good story-teller +that the princess grew quite tired of walking before she was tired +of listening; so, seeing the soft carpet lying nicely on the green +grass, she sat down on it to rest awhile. The moment she was seated +the cunning old gipsy sat down by her, and, seizing her whip, lashed +the carpet furiously. In the next minute the princess found herself +borne upon the carpet far away from her husband's castle, and before +long the gipsy made it descend into the garden of the king's palace. + +You can easily guess how glad he was to see his lost daughter, +and how he generously gave the gipsy even more than she asked as +a reward. Then the king made the princess live from that time in a +very secluded tower with only two waiting-women, so afraid was he +lest she would again be stolen from him. + +Meanwhile the fox, seeing how miserable and melancholy her young +master appeared after his wife had so strangely been taken from him, +and having heard of the great precautions which the king was using +in order to prevent the princess being carried off again, summoned +once more all the animals to a general council. + +When all of them were gathered about her, the fox thus began: "You know +all of you, my dear friends, how happily our kind master was married; +but you know, also, that his wife has been unhappily stolen from him, +and that he is now far worse off than he was before we found the +princess for him. Then he was lonely; now he is more than lonely--he +is desolate! This being the case, it is clearly our duty, as his +faithful servants, to try in some way to bring her back to him. This, +however, is not a very easy matter, seeing that the king has placed +his daughter for safety in a strong tower. Nevertheless, I do not +despair, and my plan is this: I will turn myself into a beautiful +cat, and play about in the palace gardens under the windows of the +tower in which the princess lives. I dare say she will long for me +greatly the moment she sees me, and will send her waiting-women down +to catch me and take me up to her. But I will take good care that the +maids do not catch me, so that, at last, the princess will forget her +father's orders not to leave the tower, and will come down herself +into the gardens to see if she may not be more successful. I will +then make believe to let her catch me, and at this moment our friend, +the kumrekusha, who must be hovering over about the palace, must fly +down quickly, seize the princess, and carry her off as before. In +this way, my dear friends, I hope we shall be able to bring back to +our kind master his beautiful wife. Do you approve of my plan?" + +Of course, the assembly were only too glad to have such a wise +counsellor, and to be able to prove their gratitude to their +considerate master. So the fox ran up to the kumrekusha, who flew +away with her under her wing, both being equally eager to carry out +the project, and thus to bring back the old cheerful look to the face +of their lord. + +When the kumrekusha came to the tower wherein the princess dwelt she +set the fox down quietly among the trees, where it at once changed +into a most beautiful cat, and commenced to play all sorts of graceful +antics under the window at which the princess sat. The cat was striped +all over the body with many different colours, and before long the +king's daughter noticed her, and sent down her two women to catch +her and bring her up in the tower. + +The two waiting-women came down into the garden, and called, +"Pussy! pussy!" in their sweetest voices; they offered her bread and +milk, but they offered it all in vain. The cat sprang merrily about +the garden, and ran round and round them, but would on no account +consent to be caught. + +At length the princess, who stood watching them at one of the windows +of her tower, became impatient, and descended herself into the garden, +saying petulantly, "You only frighten the cat; let me try to catch +her!" As she approached the cat, who seemed now willing to be caught, +the kumrekusha darted down quickly, seized the princess by the waist, +and carried her high up into the air. + +The frightened waiting-women ran to report to the king what had +happened to the princess; whereupon the king immediately let loose +all his greyhounds to seize the cat which had been the cause of +his daughter's being carried off a second time. The dogs followed +the cat closely, and were on the point of catching her, when she, +just in the nick of time, saw a cave with a very narrow entrance and +ran into it for shelter. There the dogs tried to follow her, or to +widen the mouth of the cave with their claws, but all in vain; so, +after barking a long time very furiously, they at length grew weary, +and stole back ashamed and afraid to the king's stables. + +When all the greyhounds were out of sight the cat changed herself +back into a fox, and ran off in a straight line toward the castle, +where she found her young master very joyful, for the kumrekusha had +already brought back to him his beautiful wife. + + + + +The King makes War on the Animals + +Now the king was exceedingly angry to think that he had again lost +his daughter, and he was all the more angry to think that such poor +creatures as a bird and a cat had succeeded in carrying her off after +all his precautions. So, in his great wrath, he resolved to make a +general war on the animals, and entirely exterminate them. + +To this end he gathered together a very large army, and determined +to be himself their leader. The news of the king's intention spread +swiftly over the whole kingdom, whereupon for the third time the fox +called together all her friends--the bear, the wolf, the kumrekusha, +the mouse, the mole, and the hare--to a general council. + +When all were assembled the fox addressed them thus: "My friends, the +king has declared war against us, and intends to destroy us all. Now +it is our duty to defend ourselves in the best way we can. Let us each +see what number of animals we are able to muster. How many of your +brother bears do you think you can bring to our help, my good Bruin?" + +The bear got up as quickly as he could on his hind legs and called out, +"I am sure I can bring a hundred." + +"And how many of your friends can you bring, my good wolf?" asked +the fox anxiously. + +"I can bring at least five hundred wolves with me," said the wolf +with an air of importance. + +The fox nodded her satisfaction and continued, "And what can you do +for us, dear master hare?" + +"Well, I think, I can bring about eight hundred," said the hare +cautiously. + +"And what can you do, you dear little mouse?" + +"Oh, I can certainly bring three thousand mice." + +"Very well, indeed!--and you Mr. Mole?" + +"I am sure I can gather eight thousand." + +"And now what number do you think you can bring us, my great friend, +kumrekusha?" + +"I fear not more than two or three hundred, at the very best," said +the kumrekusha sadly. + +"Very good; now all of you go at once and collect your friends; when +you have brought all you can, we will decide what is to be done," said +the fox; whereupon the council broke up, and the animals dispersed +in different directions throughout the forest. + +Not very long after, very unusual noises were heard in the +neighbourhood of the castle. There was a great shaking of trees; and +the growling of bears and the short sharp barking of wolves broke the +usual quiet of the forest. The army of animals was gathering from +all sides at the appointed place. When all were gathered together +the fox explained to them her plans in these words: "When the king's +army stops on its march to rest the first night, then you, bears +and wolves, must be prepared to attack and kill all the horses. If, +notwithstanding this, the army proceeds farther, you mice must be ready +to bite and destroy all the saddle-straps and belts while the soldiers +are resting the second night, and you hares must gnaw through the +ropes with which the men draw the cannon. If the king still persists +in his march, you moles must go the third night and dig out the earth +under the road they will take the next day, and must make a ditch full +fifteen yards in breadth and twenty yards in depth all round their +camp. Next morning, when the army begins to march over this ground +which has been hollowed out, you kumrekushas must throw down on them +from above heavy stones while the earth will give way under them." + +The plan was approved, and all the animals went off briskly to attend +to their allotted duties. + +When the king's army awoke, after their first night's rest on their +march, they beheld, to their great consternation, that all the horses +were killed. This sad news was reported at once to the king; but he +only sent back for more horses, and, when they came late in the day, +pursued his march. + +The second night the mice crept quietly into the camp, and nibbled +diligently at the horses' saddles and at the soldiers' belts, while the +hares as busily gnawed at the ropes with which the men drew the cannon. + +Next morning the soldiers were terrified, seeing the mischief the +animals had done. The king, however, reassured them, and sent back to +the city for new saddles and belts. When they were at length brought +he resolutely pursued his march, only the more determined to revenge +himself on these presumptuous and despised enemies. + +On the third night, while the soldiers were sleeping, the moles +worked incessantly in digging round the camp a wide and deep trench +underground. About midnight the fox sent the bears to help the moles, +and to carry away the loads of earth. + +Next morning the king's soldiers were delighted to find that no harm +seemed to have been done on the previous night to their horses or +straps, and started with new courage on their march. But their march +was quickly arrested, for soon the heavy horsemen and artillery began +to fall through the hollow ground, and the king, when he observed that, +called out, "Let us turn back. I see God himself is against us, since +we have declared war against the animals. I will give up my daughter." + +Then the army turned back, amidst the rejoicings of the soldiers. The +men found, however, to their great surprise and fear, that whichever +way they turned, they fell through the earth. To make their +consternation yet more complete, the kumrekushas now began to throw +down heavy stones on them, which crushed them completely. In this +way the king, as well as his whole army, perished. + +Very soon afterward the young nobleman, who had married the king's +daughter, went to the enemy's capital and took possession of the +king's palace, taking with him all his animals; and there they all +lived long and happily together. + + + + +XVI. THE THREE SUITORS + +In a very remote country there formerly lived a king who had only one +child--an exceedingly beautiful daughter. The princess had a great +number of suitors, and amongst them were three young noblemen, whom +the king loved much. As, however, the king liked the three nobles +equally well, he could not decide to which of the three he should +give his daughter as wife. One day, therefore, he called the three +young noblemen to him, and said, "Go, all of you, and travel about +the world. The one of you who brings home the most remarkable thing +shall be my son-in-law!" + +The three suitors started at once on their travels, each of them +taking opposite ways, and going in search of remarkable things into +far different countries. + +A long time had not passed before one of the young nobles found a +wonderful carpet which would carry rapidly through the air whoever +sat upon it. + +Another of them found a marvellous telescope, through which he could +see everybody and everything in the world, and even the many-coloured +sands at the bottom of the great deep sea. + +The third found a wonder-working ointment, which could cure every +disease in the world, and even bring dead people back to life again. + +Now the three noble travellers were far distant from each other +when they found these wonderful things. But when the young man who +had found the telescope looked through it, he saw one of his former +friends and present rivals walking with a carpet on his shoulder, and +so he set out to join him. As he could always see, by means of his +marvellous telescope, where the other nobleman was, he had no great +difficulty in finding him, and when the two had met, they sat side +by side on the wonderful carpet, and it carried them through the air +until they had joined the third traveller. One day, when each of them +had been telling of the remarkable things he had seen in his travels, +one of them exclaimed suddenly, "Now let us see what the beautiful +princess is doing, and where she is." Then the noble who had found +the telescope, looked through it and saw, to his great surprise and +dismay, that the king's daughter was lying very sick and at the point +of death. He told this to his two friends and rivals, and they, too, +were thunderstruck at the bad news--until the one who had found the +wonder-working ointment, remembering it suddenly, exclaimed, "I am sure +I could cure her, if I could only reach the palace soon enough!" On +hearing this the noble who had found the wonderful carpet cried out, +"Let us sit down on my carpet, and it will quickly carry us to the +king's palace!" + +Thereupon the three nobles gently placed themselves in the carpet, +which rose instantly in the air, and carried them direct to the +king's palace. + +The king received them immediately; but said very sadly, "I am sorry +for you: for all your travels have been in vain. My daughter is just +dying, so she can marry none of you!" + +But the nobleman who possessed the wonder-working ointment said +respectfully, "Do not fear, sire, the princess will not die!" And +on being permitted to enter the apartment where she lay sick, he +placed the ointment so that she could smell it. In a few moments the +princess revived, and when her waiting-women had rubbed a little of +the ointment in her skin she recovered so quickly that in a few days +she was better than she had been before she was taken ill. + +The king was so glad to have his daughter given back to him, as he +thought, from the grave, that he declared that she should marry no +one but the young nobleman whose wonderful ointment had cured her. + + + + +The Dispute + +But now a great dispute arose between the three young nobles: the +one who possessed the ointment affirmed that had he not found it the +princess would have died, and could not, therefore, have married any +one; the noble who owned the telescope declared that had he not found +the wonderful telescope they would never have known that the princess +was dying, and so his friend would not have brought the ointment +to cure her; whilst the third noble proved to them that had he not +found the wonderful carpet neither the finding of the ointment nor +the telescope would have helped the princess, since they could not +have travelled such a great distance in time to save her. + +The king, overhearing this dispute, called the young noblemen to him, +and said to them, "My lords, from what you have said, I see that +I cannot, with justice, give my daughter to any of you; therefore, +I pray you to give up altogether the idea of marrying her, and that +you continue friends as you always were before you became rivals." + +The three young nobles saw that the king had decided justly; so +they all left their native country, and went into a far-off desert +to live like hermits. And the king gave the princess to another of +his great nobles. + +Many, many years had passed away since the marriage of the princess, +when her husband was sent by her father to a distant country with which +the king was waging war. The nobleman took his wife, the princess, +with him, as he was uncertain how long he might be forced to remain +abroad. Now it happened that a violent storm arose just as the vessel +which carried the princess and her husband was approaching a strange +coast; and in the height of the great tempest the ship dashed on some +rocks, and went to pieces instantly. All the people on board perished +in the waves, excepting only the princess, who clung very fast to a +boat and was carried by the wind and the tide to the shore. There she +found what seemed to be an uninhabited country, and, discovering a +small cave in a rock, she lived alone in it for three years, feeding +on wild herbs and fruits. She searched every day to find some way +out of the forest which surrounded her cave, but could find none. One +day, however, when she had wandered farther than usual from the cave +where she lived, she came suddenly on another cave which, to her great +astonishment, had a small door. She tried over and over again to open +the door, thinking she would pass the night in the cave; but all her +efforts were unavailing, it was shut so fast. At length, however, +a deep voice from within the cave called out, "Who is at the door?" + +At this the princess was so surprised that she could not answer for +some moments; when, however, she had recovered a little, she said, +"Open me the door!" Immediately the door was opened from within, +and she saw, with sudden terror, an old man with a thick grey +beard reaching below his waist and long white hair flowing over +his shoulders. + +What frightened the princess the more was her finding a man living +here in the same desert where she had lived herself three years +without seeing a single soul. + +The hermit and the princess looked at each long and earnestly without +saying a word. At length, however, the old man said, "Tell me, are +you an angel or a daughter of this world?" + +Then the princess answered, "Old man, let me rest a moment, and then +I will tell you all about myself, and what brought me here." So the +hermit brought out some wild pears, and when the princess had taken +some of them, she began to tell him who she was, and how she came in +that desert. She said, "I am a king's daughter, and once, many years +ago, three young nobles of my father's court asked the king for my +hand in marriage. Now the king had such an equal affection for all +these three young men that he was unwilling to give pain to any of +them, so he sent them to travel into distant countries, and promised +to decide between them when they returned. + +"The three noblemen remained a long time away; and whilst they were +still abroad somewhere, I fell dangerously ill. I was just at the point +of death, when they all three returned suddenly; one of them bringing a +wonderful ointment, which cured me at once; the two others brought each +equally remarkable things--a carpet that would carry whoever sat on it +through the air, and a telescope with which one could see everybody and +everything in the world, even to the sands at the bottom of the sea." + + + + +The Recognition + +The princess had gone on thus far with her story, when the hermit +suddenly interrupted her, saying: "All that happened afterward I +know as well as you can tell me. Look at me, my daughter! I am one of +those noblemen who sought to win your hand, and here is the wonderful +telescope." And the hermit brought out the instrument from a recess +in the side of his cave before he continued; "My two friends and +rivals came with me to this desert. We parted, however, immediately, +and have never met since. I know not whether they are living or dead, +but I will look for them." + +Then the hermit looked through his telescope, and saw that the other +two noblemen were living in caves like his, in different parts of the +same desert. Having found this out, he took the princess by the hand, +and led her on until they found the other hermits. When all were +re-united, the princess related her adventures since the foundering +of the ship, in which her husband had gone down, and from which she +alone had been saved. + +The three noble hermits were pleased to see her alive once again, +but at once decided that they ought to send her back to the king, +her father. + +Then they made the princess a present of the wonderful telescope, and +the wonder-working ointment, and placed her on the wonderful carpet, +which carried her and her treasures quickly and safely to her father's +palace. As for the three noblemen, they remained, still living like +hermits, in the desert, only they visited each other now and then, +so that the years seemed no longer so tedious to them. For they had +many adventures to relate to each other. + +The king was exceedingly glad to receive his only child back safely, +and the princess lived with her father many years; but neither the king +nor his daughter could entirely forget the three noble friends who, +for her sake, lived like hermits in a wild desert in a far-off land. + + + + +XVII. THE DREAM OF THE KING'S SON + +There was once a king who had three sons. One evening, when the young +princes were going to sleep, the king ordered them to take good note +of their dreams and come and tell them to him next morning. So, the +next day the princes went to their father as soon as they awoke, +and the moment the king saw them he asked of the eldest, "Well, +what have you dreamt?" + +The prince answered, "I dreamt that I should be the heir to your +throne." + +And the second said, "And I dreamt that I should be the first subject +in the kingdom." + +Then the youngest said, "I dreamt that I was going to wash my hands, +and that the princes, my brothers, held the basin, whilst the queen, +my mother, held fine towels for me to dry my hands with, and your +majesty's self poured water over them from a golden ewer." + +The king, hearing this last dream, became very angry, and exclaimed, +"What! I--the king--pour water over the hands of my own son! Go away +this instant out of my palace, and out of my kingdom! You are no +longer my son." + +The poor young prince tried hard to make his peace with his father, +saying that he was really not to be blamed for what he had only +dreamed; but the king grew more and more furious, and at last actually +thrust the prince out of the palace. + +So the young prince was obliged to wander up and down in different +countries, until one day, being in a large forest, he saw a cave, +and entered it to rest. There, to his great surprise and joy, he +found a large kettle full of Indian corn, boiling over a fire: and, +being exceedingly hungry, began to help himself to the corn. In this +way he went until he was shocked to see he had nearly eaten up all +the maize, and then, being afraid some mischief would come of it, +he looked about for a place in which to hide himself. At this moment, +however, a great noise was heard at the cave-mouth, and he had only +time to hide himself in a dark corner before a blind old man entered, +riding on a great goat and driving a number of goats before him. + +The old man rode straight up to the kettle, but as soon as he found +that the corn was nearly all gone, he began to suspect some one was +there, and groped about the cave until he caught hold of the prince. + +"Who are you?" asked he sharply; and the prince answered, "I am a +poor, homeless wanderer about the world, and have come now to beg +you to be good enough to receive me." + +"Well," said the old man, "why not? I shall at least have some one +to mind my corn whilst I am out with my goats in the forest." + +So they lived together for some time; the prince remaining in the +cave to boil the maize, whilst the old man drove out his goats every +morning into the forest. + +One day, however, the old man said to the prince, "I think you shall +take out the goats to-day, and I will stay at home to mind the corn." + +This the prince consented to very gladly, as he was tired of living +so long quietly in the cave. But the old man added, "Mind only one +thing! There are nine different mountains, and you can let the goats +go freely over eight of them, but you must on no account go on the +ninth. The veele live there, and they will certainly put out your eyes +as they have put out mine, if you venture on their mountain." The +prince thanked the old man for his warning, and then, mounting the +great goat, drove the rest of the goats before him out of the cave. + +Following the goats, he had passed over all the mountains to the +eighth, and from this he could see the ninth mountain, and could not +resist the temptation he felt to go upon it. So he said to himself, +"I will venture up, whatever happens!" + + + + +The Prince and the Veele + +Hardly had he stepped on the ninth mountain before the fairies +surrounded him, and prepared to put out his eyes. But, happily, a +thought came into his head, and he exclaimed, quickly, "Dear veele, +why take this sin on your heads? Better let us make a bargain, that +if you spring over a tree that I will place ready to jump over, +you shall put out my eyes, and I will not blame you!" + +So the veele consented to this, and the prince went and brought a large +tree, which he cleft down the middle almost to the root; this done, +he placed a wedge to keep the two halves of the trunk open a little. + +When it was fixed upright, he himself first jumped over it, and then +he said to the veele, "Now it is your turn. Let us see if you can +spring over the tree!" + +One veele attempted to spring over, but the same moment the prince +knocked the wedge out, and the trunk closing at once held the veele +fast. Then all the other fairies were alarmed, and begged him to +open the trunk and let their sister free, promising, in return, +to give him anything he might ask. The prince said, "I want nothing +except to keep my own eyes, and to restore eyesight to that poor old +man." So the fairies gave him a certain herb, and told him to lay it +over the old man's eyes, and then he would recover his sight. The +prince took the herb, opened the tree a little so as to let the +fairy free, and then rode back on the goat to the cave, driving the +other goats before him. When he arrived there he placed at once the +herb on the old man's eyes, and in a moment his eyesight came back, +to his exceeding surprise and joy. + +Next morning the old man, before he drove out his goats, gave the +prince the keys of eight closets in the cave, but warned him on no +account to open the ninth closet, although the key hung directly over +the door. Then he went out, telling the prince to take good care that +the corn was ready for their suppers. + +Left alone in the cave, the young man began to wonder what might be +in the ninth closet, and at last he could not resist the temptation +to take down the key and open the door to look in. + + + + +The Golden Horse + +What was his surprise to see there a golden horse, with a golden +greyhound beside him, and near them a golden hen and golden chickens +were busy picking up golden millet-seeds. + +The young prince gazed at them for some time, admiring their beauty, +and then he spoke to the golden horse, "Friend, I think we had better +leave this place before the old man comes back again." + +"Very well," answered the golden horse, "I am quite willing to go +away, only you must take heed to what I am going to tell. Go and find +linen cloth enough to spread over the stones at the mouth of the cave, +for if the old man hears the ring of my hoofs he will be certain to +kill you. Then you must take with you a little stone, a drop of water, +and a pair of scissors, and the moment I tell you to throw them down +you must obey me quickly, or you are lost." + +The prince did everything that the golden horse had ordered him, +and then, taking up the golden hen with her chickens in a bag, he +placed it under his arm, and mounted the horse and rode quickly out +of the cave, leading with him, in a leash, the golden greyhound. But +the moment they were in the open air the old man, although he was +very far off, tending his goats on a distant mountain, heard the +clang of the golden hoofs, and cried to his great goat, "They have +run away. Let us follow them at once." + +In a wonderfully short time the old man on his great goat came +so near the prince on his golden horse, that the latter shouted, +"Throw now the little stone!" + +The moment the prince had thrown it down, a high rocky mountain rose +up between him and the old man, and before the goat had climbed over +it, the golden horse had gained much ground. Very soon, however, +the old man was so nearly catching them that the horse shouted, +"Throw, now, the drop of water!" The prince obeyed instantly, and +immediately saw a broad river flowing between him and his pursuer. + +It took the old man on his goat so long to cross the river that the +prince on his golden horse was far away before them; but for all that +it was not very long before the horse heard the goat so near behind him +that he shouted, "Throw the scissors." The prince threw them, and the +goat, running over them, injured one of his fore legs very badly. When +the old man saw this, he exclaimed, "Now I see I cannot catch you, +so you may keep what you have taken. But you will do wisely to listen +to my counsel. People will be sure to kill you for the sake of your +golden horse, so you had better buy at once a donkey, and take the +hide to cover your horse. And do the same with your golden greyhound." + +Having said this, the old man turned and rode back to his cave; and +the prince lost no time in attending to his advice, and covered with +donkey-hide his golden horse and his golden hound. + +After travelling a long time the prince came unawares to the kingdom +of his father. There he heard that the king had had a ditch dug, three +hundred yards wide and four hundred yards deep, and had proclaimed +that whosoever should leap his horse over it, should have the princess, +his daughter, for wife. + +Almost a whole year had elapsed since the proclamation was issued, +but as yet no one had dared to risk the leap. When the prince heard +this, he said, "I will leap over it with my donkey and my dog!" and +he leapt over it. + +But the king was very angry when he heard that a poorly dressed man, on +a donkey, had dared to leap over the great ditch which had frightened +back his bravest knights; so he had the disguised prince thrown into +one of his deepest dungeons, together with his donkey and his dog. + +Next morning the king sent some of his servants to see if the man was +still living, and these soon ran back to him, full of wonder, and told +him that they had found in the dungeon, instead of a poor man and his +donkey, a young man, beautifully dressed, a golden horse, a golden +greyhound, and a golden hen, surrounded by golden chickens, which +were picking up golden millet-seeds from the ground. Then the king +said, "That must be some powerful prince." So he ordered the queen, +and the princes, his sons, to prepare all things for the stranger to +wash his hands. Then he went down himself into the dungeon, and led +the prince up with much courtesy, desiring to make thus amends for +the past ill-treatment. + +The king himself took a golden ewer full of water, and poured some +over the prince's hands, whilst the two princes held the basin under +them, and the queen held out fine towels to dry them on. + +This done, the young prince exclaimed, "Now, my dream is fulfilled"; +and they all at once recognized him, and were very glad to see him +once again amongst them. + + + + +XVIII. THE BITER BIT + +Once upon a time there was an old man who, whenever he heard anyone +complain how many sons he had to care for, always laughed and said, +"I wish that it would please God to give me a hundred sons!" + +This he said in jest; as time went on, however, he had, in reality, +neither more nor less than a hundred sons. + +He had trouble enough to find different trades for his sons, but +when they were once all started in life they worked diligently and +gained plenty of money. Now, however, came a fresh difficulty. One +day the eldest son came in to his father and said, "My dear father, +I think it is quite time that I should marry." + +Hardly had he said these words before the second son came in, saying, +"Dear father, I think it is already time that you were looking out +for a wife for me." + +A moment later came in the third son, asking, "Dear father, don't +you think it is high time that you should find me a wife?" In like +manner came the fourth and fifth, until the whole hundred had made +a similar request. All of them wished to marry, and desired their +father to find wives for them as soon as he could. + +The old man was not a little troubled at these requests; he said, +however, to his sons, "Very well, my sons, I have nothing to say +against your marrying; there is, however, I foresee, one great +difficulty in the way. There are one hundred of you asking for wives, +and I hardly think we can find one hundred marriageable girls in all +the fifteen villages which are in our neighbourhood." + +To this the sons, however, answered, "Don't be anxious about that, but +mount your horse and take in your sack sufficient engagement-cakes. You +must take, also, a stick in your hand so that you can cut a notch +in it for every girl you see. It does not signify whether she be +handsome or ugly, or lame or blind, just cut a notch in your stick +for every one you meet with." + +The old man said, "Very wisely spoken, my sons! I will do exactly as +you tell me." + +Accordingly he mounted his horse, took a sack full of cakes on his +shoulder and a long stick in his hand, and started off at once to +beat up the neighbourhood for girls to marry his sons. + +The old man had travelled from village to village during a whole month, +and whenever he had seen a girl he cut a notch in his stick. But he was +getting pretty well tired, and he began to count how many notches he +had already made. When he had counted them carefully over and over +again, to be certain that he had counted all, he could only make +out seventy-four, so that still twenty-six were wanting to complete +the number required. He was, however, so weary with his month's ride +that he determined to return home. As he rode along, he saw a priest +driving oxen yoked to a plough, and seemingly very deep in anxious +thought about something. Now the old man wondered a little to see the +priest ploughing his own corn-fields without even a boy to help him; +he therefore shouted to ask him why he drove his oxen himself. The +priest, however, did not even turn his head to see who called to him, +so intent was he in urging on his oxen and in guiding his plough. + +The old man thought he had not spoken loud enough, so he shouted out +again as loud as he could, "Stop your oxen a little, and tell me why +you are ploughing yourself without even a lad to help you, and this, +too, on a holy-day!" + +Now the priest--who was in a perspiration with his hard work--answered +testily, "I conjure you by your old age leave me in peace! I cannot +tell you my ill-luck." + + + + +The Hundred Daughters + +At this answer, however, the old man was only the more curious, and +persisted all the more earnestly in asking questions to find out why +the priest ploughed on a saint's day. At last the priest, tired with +his importunity, sighed deeply and said, "Well, if you will know: +I am the only man in my household, and God has blessed me with a +hundred daughters!" + +The old man was overjoyed at hearing this, and exclaimed cheerfully, +"That's very good! It is just what I want, for I have a hundred sons, +and so, as you have a hundred daughters, we can be friends!" + +The moment the priest heard this he became pleasant and talkative, +and invited the old man to pass the night in his house. Then, leaving +his plough in the field, he drove the oxen back to the village. Just +before reaching his house, however, he said to the old man, "Go +yourself into the house whilst I tie up my oxen." + +No sooner, however, had the old man entered the yard than the wife of +the priest rushed at him with a big stick, crying out, "We have not +bread enough for our hundred daughters, and we want neither beggars +nor visitors," and with these words she drove him away. + +Shortly afterwards the priest came out of the barn, and, finding the +old man sitting on the road before the gate, asked him why he had +not gone into the house as he had told him to do. Whereupon the old +man replied, "I went in, but your wife drove me away!" + +Then the priest said, "Only wait here a moment till I come back to +fetch you." He then went quickly into his house and scolded his wife +right well, saying, "What have you done? What a fine chance you have +spoiled! The man who came in was going to be our friend, for he has +a hundred sons who would gladly have married our hundred daughters!" + +When the wife heard this she changed her dress hastily, and arranged +her hair and head-dress in a different fashion. Then she smiled +very sweetly, and welcomed with the greatest possible politeness +the old man, when her husband led him into the house. In fact, she +pretended that she knew nothing at all of anyone having been driven +away from their door. And as the old man wanted much to find wives +for his sons, he also pretended that he did not know that the smiling +house-mistress and the woman who drove him away with a stick were +one and the selfsame person. + +So the old man passed the night in the house, and next morning asked +the priest formally to give him his hundred daughters for wives for +his hundred sons. Thereupon the priest answered that he was quite +willing, and had already spoken to his daughters about the matter, +and that they, too, were all quite willing. Then the old man took +out his "engagement-cakes," and put them on the table beside him, +and gave each of the girls a piece of money to mark. Then each of the +engaged girls sent a small present by him to that one of his sons to +whom she was thus betrothed. These gifts the old man put in the bag +wherein he had carried the "engagement-cakes." He then mounted his +horse, and rode off merrily homewards. There were great rejoicings in +his household when he told how successful he had been in his search, +and that he really had found a hundred girls ready and willing to be +married; and these hundred, too, a priest's daughters. + +The sons insisted that they should begin to make the wedding +preparations without delay, and commenced at once to invite the guests +who were to form part of the wedding procession to go to the priest's +house and bring home the brides. + +Here, however, another difficulty occurred. The old father must find +two hundred bride-leaders (two for each bride); one hundred kooms; one +hundred starisvats; one hundred chaious (running footmen who go before +the processions); and three hundred vojvodes (standard-bearers); +and, besides these, a respectable number of other non-official +guests. To find all these persons the father had to hunt throughout +the neighbourhood for three years; at last, however, they were all +found, and a day was appointed when they were to meet at his house, +and go thence in procession to the house of the priest. + + + + +The Wedding Procession + +On the appointed day all the invited guests gathered at the old man's +house. With great noise and confusion, after a fair amount of feasting, +the wedding procession was formed properly, and set out for the house +of the priest, where the hundred brides were already prepared for +their departure for their new home. + +So great was the confusion, indeed, that the old man quite forgot to +take with him one of the hundred sons, and never missed him in the +greeting and talking and drinking he was obliged, as father of the +bridegrooms, to go through. Now the young man had worked so long and +so hard in preparing for the wedding-day that he never woke up till +long after the procession had started; and every one had had, like +his father, too much to do and too many things to think of to miss him. + +The wedding procession arrived in good order at the priest's house, +where a feast was already spread out for them. Having done honour to +the various good things, and having gone through all the ceremonies +usual on such occasions, the hundred brides were given over to their +"leaders," and the procession started on its return to the old +man's house. But, as they did not set off until pretty late in the +afternoon, it was decided that the night should be spent somewhere +on the road. When they came, therefore, to a certain river named +"Luckless," as it was already dark, some of the men proposed that the +party should pass the night by the side of the water without crossing +over. However, some others of the chief of the party so warmly advised +the crossing the river and encamping on the other bank, that this +course was at length, after a very lively discussion, determined on; +accordingly the procession began to move over the bridge. + +Just, however, as the wedding party were half-way across the bridge +its two sides began to draw nearer each other, and pressed the people +so close together that they had hardly room to breathe--much less +could they move forwards or backwards. + + + + +The Black Giant + +They were kept for some time in this position, some shouting and +scolding, others quiet because frightened, until at length a black +giant appeared, and shouted to them in a terribly loud voice, "Who +are you all? Where do you come from? Where are you going?" + +Some of the bolder among them answered, "We are going to our old +friend's house, taking home the hundred brides for his hundred sons; +but unluckily we ventured on this bridge after nightfall, and it +has pressed us so tightly together that we cannot move one way or +the other." + +"And where is your old friend?" inquired the black giant. + +Now all the wedding guests turned their eyes towards the old +man. Thereupon he turned towards the giant, who instantly said to him, +"Listen, old man! Will you give me what you have forgotten at home, +if I let your friends pass over the bridge?" + +The old man considered some time what it might be that he had +forgotten at home, but, at last, not being able to recollect anything +in particular that he had left, and hearing on all sides the groans +and moans of his guests, he replied, "Well, I will give it you, +if you will only let the procession pass over." + +Then the black giant said to the party, "You all hear what he has +promised, and are all my witnesses to the bargain. In three days I +shall come to fetch what I have bargained for." + +Having said this, the black giant widened the bridge and the whole +procession passed on to the other bank in safety. The people, however, +no longer wished to spend the night on the way, so they moved on +as fast as they could, and early in the morning reached the old +man's house. + +As everybody talked of the strange adventure they had met with, the +eldest son, who had been left at home, soon began to understand how +the matter stood, and went to his father saying, "O my father! you +have sold me to the black giant!" + +Then the old man was very sorry, and troubled; but his friends +comforted him, saying, "Don't be frightened! nothing will come of it." + +The marriage ceremonies were celebrated with great rejoicings. Just, +however, as the festivities were at their height, on the third day, +the black giant appeared at the gate and shouted, "Now, give me at +once what you have promised." + +The old man, trembling all over, went forward and asked him, "What +do you want?" + +"Nothing but what you have promised me!" returned the black giant. + +As he could not break his promise, the old man, very distressed, was +then obliged to deliver up his eldest son to the giant, who thereupon +said, "Now I shall take your son with me, but after three years have +passed you can come to the Luckless River and take him away." + +Having said this the black giant disappeared, taking with him the +young man, whom he carried off to his workshop as an apprentice to +the trade of witchcraft. + +From that time the poor old man had not a single moment of +happiness. He was always sad and anxious, and counted every year, and +month, and week, and even every day, until the dawn of the last day of +the three years. Then he took a staff in his hand and hurried off to +the bank of the river Luckless. As soon as he reached the river, he was +met by the black giant, who asked him, "Why are you come?" The old man +answered that he come to take home his son, according to his agreement. + +Thereupon the giant brought out a tray on which stood a sparrow, +a turtle-dove, and a quail, and said to the old man, "Now, if you +can tell which of these is your son, you may take him away." + +The poor old father looked intently at the three birds, one after +the other, and over and over again, but at last he was forced to own +that he could not tell which of them was his son. So he was obliged +to go away by himself, and was far more miserable than before. He had +hardly, however, got half-way home when he thought he would go back +to the river and take one of the birds which remembered and looked +at him intently. + +When he reached the river Luckless he was again met by the black +giant, who brought out the tray again, and placed on it this time +a partridge, a tit-mouse, and a thrush, saying, 'Now, my old man, +find out which is your son!' + +The anxious father again looked at one bird after the other, but +he felt more uncertain than before, and so, crying bitterly, again +went away. + + + + +The Old Woman + +Just as the old man was going through a forest, which was between +the river Luckless and his house, an old woman met him, and said, +"Stop a moment! Where are you hurrying to? And why are you in such +trouble?" Now, the old man was so deeply musing over his great +unhappiness that he did not at first attend to the old woman; but +she followed him, calling after him, and repeating her questions with +more earnestness. So he stopped at last, and told her what a terrible +misfortune had fallen upon him. When the old woman had listened to +the whole story, she said cheerfully, "Don't be cast down! Don't be +afraid! Go back again to the river, and, when the giant brings out +the three birds, look into their eyes sharply. When you see that one +of the birds has a tear in one of its eyes, seize that bird and hold +it fast, for it has a human soul." + +The old man thanked her heartily for her advice, and turned back, +for the third time, towards the Luckless River. Again the black +giant appeared, and looked very merry whilst he brought out his tray +and put upon it a sparrow, a dove, and a woodpecker, saying, "My old +man! find out which is your son!" Then the father looked sharply into +the eyes of the birds, and saw that from the right eye of the dove a +tear dropped slowly down. In a moment he grasped the bird tightly, +saying, "This is my son!" The next moment he found himself holding +fast his eldest son by the shoulder, and so, singing and shouting in +his great joy, took him quickly home, and gave him over to his eldest +daughter-in-law, the wife of his son. + +Now, for some time they all lived together very happily. One day, +however, the young man said to his father, "Whilst I was apprentice +in the workshop of the black giant, I learned a great many tricks of +witchcraft. Now I intend to change myself into a fine horse, and you +shall take me to market and sell me for a good sum of money. But be +sure not to give up the halter." + +The father did as the son had said. Next market day he went to the +city with a fine horse which he offered for sale. Many buyers came +round him, admiring the horse, and bidding some sums for it, so that +at last the old man was able to sell it for two thousand ducats. When +he received the money, he took good care not to let go the halter, +and he returned home far richer than he ever dreamt of being. + +A few days later, the man who had bought the horse sent his servant +with it to the river to bathe, and, whilst in the water, the horse +got loose from the servant and galloped off into the neighbouring +forest. There he changed himself back into his real shape, and returned +to his father's house. + +After some time had passed, the young man said one day to his father, +"Now I will change myself into an ox, and you can take me to market to +sell me; but take care not to give up the rope with which you lead me." + +So next market-day the old man went to the city leading a very fine +ox, and soon found a buyer, who offered ten times the usual price paid +for an ox. The buyer asked also for the rope to lead the animal home, +but the old man said, "What do you want with such an old thing? You +had better buy a new one!" and he went off taking with him the rope. + +That evening, whilst the servants of the buyer were driving the ox +to the field, he ran away into a wood near, and, having taken there +his human shape, returned home to his father's house. + +On the eve of the next market-day, the young man said to his father: +"Now I will change myself into a cow with golden horns, and you can +sell me as before, only take care not to give up the string." + +Accordingly he changed himself next morning into a cow, and the old +man took it to the market-place, and asked for it three hundred crowns. + +But the black giant had learnt that his former apprentice was making +a great deal of money by practising the trade he had taught him, +and, being jealous at this, he determined to put an end to the young +man's gains. + + + + +The Giant buys the Cow + +Therefore, on the third day he came to the market himself as a buyer, +and the moment he saw the beautiful cow with golden horns he knew +that it could be no other than his former apprentice. So he came up +to the old man, and, having outbid all the other would-be purchasers, +paid at once the price he had agreed on. Having done this, he caught +the string in his hand, and tried to wrench it from the terrified +old man, who called out, "I have not sold you the string, but the +cow!" and held the string as fast as he could with both hands. + +"Oh, no!" said the buyer, "I have the law and custom on my +side! Whoever buys a cow, buys also the string with which it is +led!" Some of the amused and astonished lookers-on said that this was +quite true, therefore the old man was obliged to give up the string. + +The black giant, well satisfied with his purchase, took the cow with +him to his castle, and, after having put iron chains on her legs, +fastened her in a cellar. Every morning the giant gave the cow some +water and hay, but he never unchained her. + +One evening, however, the cow, with incessant struggles, managed to +get free from the chains, and immediately opened the cellar-door with +her horns and ran away. + +Next morning the black giant went as usual into the cellar, carrying +the hay and water for the cow; but seeing she had got free and run +away, he threw the hay down, and started off at once to pursue her. + +When he came within sight of her, he turned himself into a wolf and +ran at her with great fury; but his clever apprentice changed himself +instantly from a cow into a bear, whereupon the giant turned himself +from a wolf into a lion; the bear then turned into a tiger, and the +lion changed into a crocodile, whereupon the tiger turned into a +sparrow. Upon this the giant changed from the form of a crocodile +into a hawk, and the apprentice immediately changed into a hare; +on seeing which the hawk became a greyhound. Then the apprentice +changed from a hare into a falcon, and the greyhound into an eagle; +whereupon the apprentice changed into a fish. The giant then turned +from an eagle into a mouse, and immediately the apprentice, as a cat, +ran after him; then the giant turned himself into a heap of millet, and +the apprentice transformed himself into a hen and chickens, which very +greedily picked up all the millet except one single seed, in which the +master was, who changed himself into a squirrel; instantly, however, +the apprentice became a hawk, and, pouncing on the squirrel, killed it. + +In this way the apprentice beat his master, the black giant, and +revenged himself for all the sufferings he had endured whilst learning +the trade of witchcraft. Having killed the squirrel, the hawk took +his proper shape again, and the young man returned joyfully to his +father, whom he made immensely rich. + + + + +XIX. THE TRADE THAT NO ONE KNOWS + +A long while ago there lived a poor old couple, who had an only +son. The old man and his wife worked very hard to nourish their child +well and bring him up properly, hoping that he, in return, would take +care of them in their old age. + +When, however, the boy had grown up, he said to his parents, "I am a +man now, and I intend to marry, so I wish you to go at once to the +king and ask him to give me his daughter for wife." The astonished +parents rebuked him, saying: "What can you be thinking of? We have +only this poor hut to shelter us, and hardly bread enough to eat, +and we dare not presume to go into the king's presence, much less +can we venture to ask for his daughter to be your wife." + +The son, however, insisted that they should do as he said, threatening +that if they did not comply with his wishes he would leave them, +and go away into the world. Seeing that he was really in earnest +in what he said, the unhappy parents promised him they would go and +ask for the king's daughter. Then the old mother made a wedding cake +in her son's presence, and, when it was ready, she put it in a bag, +took her staff in her hand, and went straight to the palace where the +king lived. There the king's servants bade her come in, and led her +into the hall where his Majesty was accustomed to receive the poor +people who came to ask alms or to present petitions. + +The poor old woman stood in the hall, confused and ashamed at her +worn-out, shabby clothes, and looking as if she were made of stone, +until the king said to her kindly: "What do you want from me, +old mother?" + +She dared not, however, tell his Majesty why she had come, so she +stammered out in her confusion: "Nothing, your Majesty." + +Then the king smiled a little and said, "Perhaps you come to ask alms?" + +Then the old woman, much abashed, replied: "Yes, your Majesty, if +you please!" + +Thereupon the king called his servants and ordered them to give the +old woman ten crowns, which they did. Having received this money, +she thanked his Majesty, and returned home, saying to herself: +"I dare say when my son sees all this money he will not think any +more of going away from us." + +In this thought, however, she was quite mistaken, for no sooner had +she entered the hut than the son came to her and asked impatiently: +"Well, mother, have you done as I asked you?" + +At this she exclaimed: "Do give up, once for all, this silly fancy, +my son. How could you expect me to ask the king for his daughter to +be your wife? That would be a bold thing for a rich nobleman to do, +how then can we think of such a thing? Anyhow, I dared not say one +word to the king about it. But only look what a lot of money I have +brought back. Now you can look for a wife suitable for you, and then +you will forget the king's daughter." + +When the young man heard his mother speak thus, he grew very angry, +and said to her: "What do I want with the king's money? I don't want +his money, but I do want his daughter! I see you are only playing with +me, so I shall leave you. I will go away somewhere--anywhere--wherever +my eyes lead me." + +Then the poor old parents prayed and begged him not to go away from +them, and leave them alone in their old age; but they could only quiet +him by promising faithfully that the mother should go again next day +to the king, and this time really ask him to give his daughter to +her son for a wife. + +In the morning, therefore, the old woman went again to the palace, and +the servants showed her into the same hall she had been in before. The +king, seeing her stand there, inquired: "What want you, my old woman, +now?" She was, however, so ashamed that she could hardly stammer, +"Nothing, please your Majesty." + +The king, supposing that she came again to beg, ordered his servants +to give this time also ten crowns. + +With this money the poor woman returned to her hut, where her son +met her, asking: "Well, mother, this time I hope you have done what +I asked you?" But she replied: "Now, my dear son, do leave the king's +daughter in peace. How can you really think of such a thing? Even if +she would marry you, where is the house to bring her to? So be quiet, +and take this money which I have brought you." + +At these words the son was more angry than before, and said sharply: +"As I see you will not let me marry the king's daughter, I will +leave you this moment and never come back again;" and, rushing out +of the hut, he ran away. His parents hurried after him, and at length +prevailed on him to return, by swearing to him that his mother should +go again to the king next morning, and really and in truth ask his +Majesty this time for his daughter. + +So the young man agreed to go back home and wait until the next day. + +On the morrow the old woman, with a heavy heart, went to the palace, +and was shown as before into the king's presence. Seeing her there +for the third time, his Majesty asked her impatiently: "What do +you want this time, old woman?" And she, trembling all over, said: +"Please your Majesty--nothing." Then the king exclaimed: "But it +cannot be nothing. Something you must want, so tell me truth at once, +if you value your life!" Thereupon the old woman was forced to tell +all the story to the king; how her son had a great desire to marry +the princess, and so had forced her to come and ask the king to give +her him to wife. + +When the king had heard everything, he said: "Well, after all, I +shall say nothing against it if my daughter will consent to it." He +then told his servants to lead the princess into his presence. When +she came he told her all about the affair, and asked her, "Are you +willing to marry the son of this old woman?" + + + + +The Condition + +The princess answered: "Why not? If only he learns first the trade +that no one knows!" Thereupon the king bade his attendants give money +to the poor woman, who now went back to her hut with a light heart. + +The moment she entered her son asked her: "Have you engaged her?" And +she returned: "Do let me get my breath a little! Well, now I have +really asked the king: but it is of no use, for the princess declares +she will not marry you until you have learnt the trade that no +one knows!" + +"Oh, that matters nothing!" exclaimed the son. "Now I only know the +condition, it's all right!" The next morning the young man set out on +his travels through the world in search of a man who could teach him +the trade that no one knows. He wandered about a long time without +being able to find out where he could learn such a trade. At length +one day, being quite tired out with walking and very sad, he sat +down on a fallen log by the wayside. After he had sat thus a little +while, an old woman came up to him, and asked: "Why art thou so sad, +my son?" And he answered: "What is the use of your asking, when you +cannot help me?" But she continued: "Only tell me what is the matter, +and perhaps I can help you." Then he said: "Well, if you must know, +the matter is this: I have been travelling about the world a long time +to find a master who can teach me the trade that no one knows." "Oh, +if it is only that," cried the old woman, "just listen to me! Don't +be afraid, but go straight into the forest which lies before you, +and there you will find what you want." + +The young man was very glad to hear this, and got up at once and went +to the forest. When he had gone pretty far in the wood he saw a large +castle, and whilst he stood looking at it and wondering what it was, +four giants came out of it and ran up to him, shouting: "Do you wish +to learn the trade that no one knows?" He said: "Yes; that is just +the reason why I come here." Whereupon they took him into the castle. + +Next morning the giants prepared to go out hunting, and, before +leaving, they said to him: "You must on no account go into the first +room by the dining-hall." Hardly, however, were the giants well out +of sight before the young man began to reason thus with himself: +"I see very well that I have come into a place from which I shall +never go out alive with my head, so I may as well see what is in +the room, come what may afterwards." So he went and opened the door +a little and peeped in. There stood a golden ass, bound to a golden +manger. He looked at it a little, and was just going to shut the door +when the ass said: "Come and take the halter from my head, and keep +it hidden about you. It will serve you well if you only understand +how to use it." So he took the halter, and, after fastening the +room-door, quickly concealed it under his clothes. He had not sat +very long before the giants came home. They asked him at once if +he had been in the first room, and he, much frightened, replied: +"No, I have not been in." "But we know that you have been!" said the +giants in great anger, and seizing some large sticks they beat him +so severely that he could hardly stand on his feet. It was very lucky +for him that he had the halter wound round his body under his clothes, +or else he would certainly have been killed. + +The next day the giants again prepared to go out hunting, but before +leaving him they ordered him on no account to enter the second room. + +Almost as soon as the giants had gone away he became so very curious +to see what might be in the second room, that he could not resist +going to the door. He stood there a little, thinking within himself, +"Well, I am already more dead than alive, much worse cannot happen to +me!" and so he opened the door and looked in. There he was surprised +to see a very beautiful girl, dressed all in gold and silver, who sat +combing her hair, and setting in every tress a large diamond. He stood +admiring her a little while, and was just going to shut the door again, +when she spoke, "Wait a minute, young man. Come and take this key, +and mind you keep it safely. It will serve you some time, if you only +know how to use it." So he went in and took the key from the girl, +and then, going out, fastened the door and went and sat down in the +same place he had sat before. + +He had not remained there very long before the giants came home from +hunting. The moment they entered the house they took up their large +sticks to beat him, asking, at the same time, whether he had been +in the second room. Shaking all over with fear, he answered them, +"No, I have not!" + +"But we know you have been," shouted the giants in great anger, +and they then beat him worse than on the first day. + + + + +The Third Room + +The next morning, as the giants went out as usual to hunt, they said +to him: "Do not go into the third room, for anything in the world; +for if you do go in we shall not forgive you as we did yesterday, +and the day before! We shall kill you outright!" No sooner, however, +had the giants gone out of sight, than the young man began to say to +himself, "Most likely they will kill me, whether I go into the room +or not. Besides, if they do not kill me, they have beaten me so badly +already that I am sure I cannot live long, so, anyhow, I will go and +see what is in the third room." Then he got up and went and opened +the door. + +He was quite shocked, however, when he saw that the room was full +of human heads! These heads belonged to young men who had come, +like himself, to learn the trade that no one knows, and who, having +obeyed faithfully and strictly the orders of the giants, had been +killed by them. + +The young man was turning quickly to go away when one of the heads +called out: "Don't be afraid, but come in!" Thereupon he went into +the room. Then the head gave him an iron chain, and said: "Take care +of this chain, for it will serve you some time if you know how to +use it!" So he took the chain, and going out fastened the door. + +He went and sat down in the usual place to wait for the coming home +of the giants, and, as he waited, he grew quite frightened, for he +fully expected that they would really kill him this time. + +The instant the giants came home they took up their thick sticks and +began to beat him without stopping to ask anything. They beat him +so terribly that he was all but dead; then they threw him out of the +house, saying to him: "Go away now, since you have learnt the trade +that no one knows!" When he had lain a long time on the ground where +they had thrown him, feeling very sore and miserable, at length he +tried to move away, saying to himself: "Well, if they really have +taught me the trade that no one knows for the sake of the king's +daughter I can suffer gladly all this pain, if I can only win her." + +After travelling for a long time, the young man came at last to +the palace of the king whose daughter he wished to marry. When he +saw the palace, he was exceedingly sad, and remembered the words of +the princess; for, after all his wanderings and sufferings, he had +learnt no trade, and had never been able to find what trade it was +"that no one knows." Whilst considering what he had better do, +he suddenly recollected the halter, the key and the iron chain, +which he had carried concealed about him ever since he left the +castle of the four giants. He then said to himself, "Let me see what +these things can do!" So he took the halter and struck the earth +with it, and immediately a handsome horse, beautifully caparisoned, +stood before him. Then he struck the ground with the iron chain, and +instantly a hare and a greyhound appeared, and the hare began to run +quickly and the greyhound to follow her. In a moment the young man +hardly knew himself, for he found himself in a fine hunting-dress, +riding on the horse after the hare, which took a path that passed +immediately under the windows of the king's palace. + +Now, it happened that the king stood at a window looking out, and +noticed at once the beautiful greyhound which was chasing the hare, +and the very handsome horse which a huntsman in a splendid dress was +mounted on. The king was so pleased with the appearance of the horse +and the greyhound that he called instantly some of his servants, and, +sending them after the strange rider, bade them invite him to come to +the palace. The young man, however, hearing some people coming behind +him calling and shouting, rode quickly behind a thick bush, and shook +a little the halter and the iron chain. In a moment the horse, the +greyhound, and the hare had vanished, and he found himself sitting +on the ground under the trees dressed in his old shabby clothes. By +this time the king's servants had come up, and, seeing him sit there, +they asked him whether he had seen a fine huntsman on a beautiful +horse pass that way. But he answered them rudely: "No! I have not +seen any one pass, neither do I care to look to see who passes!" + +Then the king's servants went on and searched the forest, calling +and shouting as loudly as they could, but it was all in vain; they +could neither see nor hear anything of the hunter. At length they +went back to the king, and told him that the horse the huntsman rode +was so exceedingly quick that they could not hear anything of him in +the forest. + + + + +The Son Returns + +The young man now resolved to go to the hut where his old parents +lived; and they were glad to see that he had come back to them +once more. + +Next morning, the son said to his father: "Now, father, I will +show you what I have learned. I will change myself into a beautiful +horse, and you must lead me into the city and sell me, but be very +careful not to give away the halter, or else I shall remain always a +horse!" Accordingly, in a moment he changed himself into a horse of +extraordinary beauty, and the father took him to the market-place to +sell him. Very soon a great number of people gathered round the horse, +wondering at his unusual beauty, and very high prices were offered +for him; the old man, however, raised the price higher and higher at +every offer. The news spread quickly about the city that a wonderfully +handsome horse was for sale in the market-place, and at length the +king himself heard of it, and sent some servants to bring the horse, +that he might see it. The old man led the horse at once before the +palace, and the king, after looking at it for some time with great +admiration, could not help exclaiming, "By my word, though I am a +king, I never yet saw, much less rode, so handsome a horse!" Then he +asked the old man if he would sell it him. "I will sell it to your +Majesty, very willingly," said the old man; "but I will sell only +the horse, and not the halter." Thereupon the king laughed, saying: +"What should I want with your dirty halter? For such a horse I will +have a halter of gold made!" So the horse was sold to the king for +a very high price, and the old man returned home with the money. + +Next morning, however, there was a great stir and much consternation +in the royal stables, for the beautiful horse had vanished somehow +during the night. And at the time when the horse disappeared, the +young man returned to his parents' hut. + +A day or two afterwards the young man said to his father: "Now I +will turn myself into a fine church not far from the king's palace, +and if the king wishes to buy it you may sell it him, only be sure +not to part with the key or else I must remain always a church!" + +When the king got up that morning, and went to his window to look out, +he saw a beautiful church which he had never noticed before. Then +he sent his servants out to see what it was, and soon after they +came back saying, that "the church belonged to an old pilgrim, +who told them that he was willing to sell it if the king wished to +buy it." Then the king sent to ask what price he would sell it for, +and the pilgrim replied: "It is worth a great deal of money." + + + + +The King Outbid + +Whilst the servants were bargaining with the father an old woman came +up. Now this was the same old woman who had sent the young man to +the castle of the four giants, and she herself had been there and +had learnt the trade that no one knew. As she understood at once +all about the church, and had no mind to have a rival in the trade, +she resolved to put an end to the young man. For this purpose she +began to outbid the king, and offered, at last, so very large a sum +of ready money, that the old man was quite astonished and confused +at seeing the money which she showed him. He accordingly accepted +her offer, but whilst he was counting the money, quite forgot about +the key. Before long, however, he recollected what his son had said, +and then, fearing some mischief, he ran after old woman and demanded +the key back. But the woman could not be persuaded to give back the +key, and said it belonged to the church which she had bought and paid +for. Seeing she would not give up the key, the old man grew more and +more alarmed, lest some ill should befall his son, so he took hold +of the old woman by the neck and forced her to drop the key. She +struggled very hard to get it back again, and, whilst the old man +and she wrestled together, the key changed itself suddenly into a +dove and flew away high in the air over the palace gardens. + +When the old woman saw this, she changed herself into a hawk, and +chased the dove. Just, however, as the hawk was about to pounce upon +it, the dove turned itself into a beautiful bouquet, and dropped down +into the hand of the king's daughter, who happened to be walking in +the garden. Then the hawk changed again into the old woman, who went +to the gate of the palace and begged very hard that the princess +would give that bouquet, or, at least, one single flower from it. + +But the princess said, "No! not for anything in the world! These +flowers fell to me from heaven!" The old woman, however, was determined +to get one flower from the bouquet, so, seeing the princess would not +hear her, she went straight to the king, and begged piteously that +he would order his daughter to give her one of the flowers from her +bouquet. The king, thinking the old woman wanted one of the flowers +to cure some disease, called his daughter to him, and told her to +give one to the beggar. + +But just as the king said this, the bouquet changed itself into a +heap of millet-seed and scattered itself all over the ground. Then +the old woman quickly changed herself into a hen and chickens, and +began greedily to pick up the seeds. Suddenly, however, the millet +vanished, and in its place appeared a fox, which sprang on the hen +and killed her. + +Then the fox changed into the young man, who explained to the +astonished king and princess that he it was who had demanded the hand +of the princess, and that, in order to obtain it he had wandered all +over the world in search of some one who could teach him "the trade +that no one knows." + +When the king and his daughter heard this, they gladly fulfilled their +part of the bargain, seeing how well the young man had fulfilled his. + +Then, shortly afterwards, the king's daughter married the son of the +poor old couple; and the king built for the princess and her husband +a palace close to his own. There they lived long and had plenty of +children, and people say that some of their descendants are living at +present, and that these go constantly to pray in the church, which is +always open because the key of it turned itself into a young man who +married the king's daughter, after he had shown to her that he had done +as she wished, and learnt, for her sake, "the trade that no one knows." + + + + +XX. THE GOLDEN-HAIRED TWINS + +Once upon a time, a long, long while ago, there lived a young king +who wished very much to marry, but could not decide where he had +better look for a wife. + +One evening as he was walking disguised through the streets of his +capital, as it was his frequent custom to do, he stopped to listen +near an open window where he heard three young girls chatting gaily +together. + +The girls were talking about a report which had been lately spread +through the city, that the king intended soon to marry. + +One of the girls exclaimed: "If the king would marry me I would give +him a son who should be the greatest hero in the world." + +The second girl said: "And if I were to be his wife I would present +him with two sons at once--the twins with golden hair." + +And the third girl declared that were the king to marry her, she +would give him a daughter so beautiful that there should not be her +equal in the whole wide world! + +The young king listened to all this, and for some time thought over +their words, and tried to make up his mind which of the three girls +he should choose for a wife. At last he decided that he would marry +the one who had said she would bring him twins with golden hair. + +Having once settled this in his own mind, he ordered that all +preparations for his marriage should be made forthwith, and shortly +after, when all was ready, he married the second girl of the three. + +Several months after his marriage the young king, who was at war +with one of the neighbouring princes, received tidings of the defeat +of his army, and heard that his presence was immediately required +in the camp. He accordingly left his capital and went to his army, +leaving the young queen in his palace to the care of his stepmother. + +Now the king's stepmother hated her daughter-in-law very much indeed, +so when the young queen was near her confinement, the old queen told +her that it was always customary in the royal family for the heirs +to the throne to be born in a garret. + +The young queen (who knew nothing about the customs in royal families +except what she had learnt from hearing or seeing since her marriage +to the king) believed implicitly what her mother-in-law told her, +although she thought it a great pity to leave her splendid apartments +and go up into a miserable attic. + +Now when the golden-haired twins were born, the old queen contrived to +steal them out of their cradle, and put in their place two ugly little +dogs. She then caused the two beautiful golden-haired boys to be buried +alive in an out-of-the-way spot in the palace gardens, and then sent +word to the king that the young queen had given him two little dogs +instead of the heirs he was hoping for. The wicked stepmother said in +her letter to the king that she herself was not surprised at this, +though she was very sorry for his disappointment. As to herself, +she had a long time suspected the young queen of having too great a +friendship for goblins and elves, and all kinds of evil spirits. + +When the king received this letter, he fell into a frightful rage, +because he had only married the young girl in order to have the +golden-haired twins she had promised him as heirs to his throne. + +So he sent word back to the old queen that his wife should be put at +once into the dampest dungeon in the castle, an order which the wicked +woman took good care to see carried out without delay. Accordingly +the poor young queen was thrown into a miserably dark dungeon under +the palace, and kept on bread and water. + + + + +The Plight of the Young Queen + +Now there was only a very small hole in this prison--hardly enough +to let in light and air--yet the old queen managed to cause a great +many people to pass by this hole, and whoever passed was ordered +to spit at and abuse the unhappy young queen, calling out to her, +"Are you really the queen? Are you the girl who cheated the king in +order to be a queen? Where are your golden-haired twins? You cheated +the king and your friends, and now the witches have cheated you!" + +But the young king, though terribly angry and mortified at his +great disappointment, was, at the same time, too sad and troubled +to be willing to return to his palace. So he remained away for fully +nine years. When he at last consented to return, the first thing he +noticed in the palace gardens were two fine young trees, exactly the +same size and the same shape. + +These trees had both golden leaves and golden blossoms, and had grown +up of themselves from the very spot where the stepmother of the king +had buried the two golden-haired boys she had stolen from their cradle. + +The king admired these two trees exceedingly, and was never weary of +looking at them. This, however, did not at all please the old queen, +for she knew that the two young princes were buried just where the +trees grew, and she always feared that by some means what she had done +would come to the king's ears. She therefore pretended that she was +very sick, and declared that she was sure she should die unless her +stepson, the king, ordered the two golden-leaved trees to be cut down, +and a bed made for her out of their wood. + +As the king was not willing to be the cause of her death, he ordered +that her wishes should be attended to, notwithstanding he was +exceedingly sorry to lose his favourite trees. + +A bed was soon made from the two trees, and the seemingly sick old +queen was laid on it as she desired. She was quite delighted that the +golden-leaved trees had disappeared from the garden; but when midnight +came, she could not sleep a bit, for it seemed to her that she heard +the boards of which her bed was made in conversation with each other! + +At last it seemed to her, that one board said, quite plainly, "How +are you, my brother?" And the other board answered: "Thank you, +I am very well; how are you?" + +"Oh, I am all right," returned the first board; "but I wonder how our +poor mother is in her dark dungeon! Perhaps she is hungry and thirsty!" + +The wicked old queen could not sleep a minute all night, after hearing +this conversation between the boards of her new bed; so next morning +she got up very early and went to see the king. She thanked him for +attending to her wish, and said she already was much better, but she +felt quite sure she would never recover thoroughly unless the boards +of her new bed were cut up and thrown into a fire. The king was sorry +to lose entirely even the boards made out of his two favourite trees, +nevertheless he could not refuse to use the means pointed out for +his step-mother's perfect recovery. + +So the new bed was cut to pieces and thrown into the fire. But whilst +the boards were blazing and crackling, two sparks from the fire flew +into the courtyard, and in the next moment two beautiful lambs with +golden fleeces and golden horns were seen gambolling about the yard. + +The king admired them greatly, and made many inquiries who had sent +them there, and to whom they belonged. He even sent the public +crier many times through the city, calling on the owners of the +golden-fleeced lambs to appear and claim them; but no one came, +so at length he thought he might fairly take them as his own property. + +The king took very great care of these two beautiful lambs, and +every day directed that they should be well fed and attended to; +this, however, did not at all please his stepmother. She could not +endure even to look on the lambs with their golden fleeces and golden +horns, for they always reminded her of the golden-haired twins. So, +in a little while she pretended again to be dangerously sick, and +declared she felt sure that she should soon die unless the two lambs +were killed and cooked for her. + +The king was even fonder of his golden-fleeced lambs than he had been +of the golden-leaved trees, but he could not long resist the tears +and prayers of the old queen, especially as she seemed to be very +ill. Accordingly, the lambs were killed, and a servant was ordered to +carry their golden fleeces down to the river and to wash the blood +well out of them. But whilst the servant held them under the water, +they slipped, in some way or other, out of his fingers, and floated +down the stream, which just at that place flowed very rapidly. Now +it happened that a hunter was passing near the river a little lower +down, and, as he chanced to look in the water, he saw something +strange in it. So he stepped into the stream, and soon fished out +a small box which he carried to his house, and there opened it. To +his unspeakably great surprise, he found in the box two golden-haired +boys. Now the hunter had no children of his own; he therefore adopted +the twins he had fished out of the river, and brought them up just +as if they had been his own sons. When the twins were grown up into +handsome young men, one of them said to his foster-father, "Make +us two suits of beggar's clothes, and let us go and wander a little +about the world!" The hunter, however, replied and said: "No, I will +have a fine suit made for each of you, such as is fitting for two such +noble-looking young men." But as the twins begged hard that he should +not spend his money uselessly in buying fine clothes, telling him that +they wished to travel about as beggars, the hunter--who always liked +to do as his two handsome foster-sons wished--did as they desired, +and ordered two suit of clothes, like those worn by beggars, to be +prepared for them. The two sons then dressed themselves up as beggars, +and as well as they could hid their beautiful golden locks, and then +set out to see the world. They took with them a goussle and cymbal, +and maintained themselves with their singing and playing. + + + + +The King's Sons + +They had wandered about in this way some time when one day they came to +the king's palace. As the afternoon was already pretty far advanced, +the young musicians begged to allowed to pass the night in one of +the out-buildings belonging to the court, as they were poor men, and +quite strangers in the city. The old queen, however, who happened to +be just then in the courtyard, saw them, and hearing their request +said sharply that beggars could not be permitted to enter any part +of the king's palace. The two travellers said they had hoped to pay +for their night's lodging by their songs and music, as one of them +played and sung to the goussle, and the other to the cymbal. + +The old queen, however, was not moved by this, but insisted on their +going away at once. Happily for the two brothers, the king himself +came out into the courtyard just as his stepmother angrily ordered them +to go away, and at once directed his servants to find a place for the +musicians to sleep in, and ordered them to provide the brothers with +a good supper. After they had supped, the king commanded them to be +brought before him that he might judge of their skill as musicians, +and that their singing might help him to pass the time more pleasantly. + +Accordingly, after the two young men had taken the refreshment +provided for them, the servants took them into the king's presence, +and they began to sing this ballad:-- + +"The pretty bird, the swallow, built her nest with care in the palace +of the king. In the nest she reared up happily two of her little +ones. A black, ugly-looking bird, however came to the swallow's nest to +mar her happiness and to kill her two little ones. And the ugly black +bird succeeded in destroying the happiness of the poor little swallow; +the little ones, however, although yet weak and unfledged were saved, +and, when they were grown up and able to fly, they came to look at +the palace where their mother, the pretty swallow, had built her nest." + +This strange song the two minstrels sung so very sweetly that the +king was quite charmed, and asked them the meaning of the words. + +Whereupon the two meanly dressed young men took off their hats, so that +the rich tresses of their golden hair fell down over their shoulders, +and the light glanced so brightly upon it that the whole hall was +illuminated by the shining. They then stepped forward together, +and told the king all that had happened to them and to their mother, +and convinced him that they were really his own sons. + +The king was exceedingly angry when he heard all the cruel things his +stepmother had done, and he gave orders that she should be burnt to +death. He then went with the two golden-haired princes to the miserable +dungeon wherein his unfortunate wife had been confined so many years, +and brought her once more into her beautiful palace. There, looking on +her golden-haired sons, and seeing how much the king, their father, +loved them, she soon forgot all her long years of misery. As to the +king, he felt that he could never do enough to make amends for all +the misfortunes his queen had lived through, and all the dangers to +which his twin sons had been exposed. He felt that he had too easily +believed the stories of the old queen, because he would not trouble +himself to inquire more particularly into the truth or falsehood of +the strange things she had told him. + +After all this mortification, and trouble, and misery, everything +came right at last. So the king and his wife, with their golden-haired +twins, lived together long and happily. + + + + + + + +CHAPTER XV: SOME SERBIAN POPULAR ANECDOTES + + +St. Peter and the Sand + +A townsman went one day to the country to hunt and came at noon to +the house of a peasant whom he knew. The man asked him to share his +dinner, and while they were eating, the townsman looked around him +and noticed that there was but little arable land to be seen. There +were rocks and stones in abundance, however. Surprised at this, +the townsman exclaimed: "In the name of all that is good, my friend, +how on earth can you good people of this village exist without arable +land! and whence these heaps of rocks and stones?" "It is, indeed, +a great misfortune!" answered the peasant. "People say that our +ancestors heard from their fore-fathers that when our Lord walked on +this earth, St. Peter accompanied Him carrying on his back a sack full +of sand. Occasionally our Lord would take a grain of sand and throw +it down to make a mountain, saying: 'May this grain multiply!' When +they arrived here St. Peter's sack burst and half of its contents +poured out in our village." + + + + +Why the Serbian People are Poor + +The nations of the world met together one day on the middle of the +earth to divide between themselves the good things in life. First they +deliberated upon the methods of procedure. Some recommended a lottery, +but the Christians, well knowing that they, as the cleverest, would +be able to obtain the most desirable gifts, and not wishing to be at +the mercy of fortune, suggested (and the idea was instantly adopted +by all) that each should express a wish for some good thing and it +would be granted to him. The men of Italy were allowed to express +their wish first, and they desired Wisdom. The Britons said: "We will +take the sea." The Turks: "And we will take fields." The Russians: +"We will take the forests and mines." The French: "And we will have +money and war." "And what about you Serbians?" asked the nations, +"What do you wish for?" "Wait till we make up our mind!" answered +the Serbians; and they have not yet agreed upon their reply. + + + + +The Gipsies and the Nobleman + +A very rich and powerful nobleman was one day driving through his +vast estates. From afar four Tzigans [86] noted that he was alone, +and greedily coveting his fine carriage horses, determined to deprive +him of them. As the carriage approached, they rushed on to the road, +respectfully took off their hats, knelt before him, and one of them +began to speak, saying: "O how happy we are to have an opportunity +of manifesting to you, O most gracious lord, our deep gratitude for +the noble deeds and many acts of kindness with which your late and +generous father used to overwhelm us! As we have no valuable presents +to offer you, allow us to harness ourselves to your carriage and draw +you home." The haughty nobleman, proud of his father's good deeds, +was pleased to assent to this unusual form of courtesy. Two gipsies +thereupon detached the horses, harnessed themselves to the carriage +and drew it for some distance. Suddenly, however, they cut themselves +loose and ran back to the two other rascals who by this time had got +clear away with the horses. + + + + +Why the Priest was drowned + +A few peasants and a priest were once crossing a river. Suddenly a +tempest arose and overturned the boat. All were good swimmers except +the poor priest, and when the peasants regained their boat and righted +it, which they did very soon, they approached the struggling preacher +and called to him to give them his hand that they might save him; but +he hesitated and was drowned. The peasants went to impart the sad news +to the priest's widow who, hearing it, exclaimed: "What a pity! But +had you offered him your hands, he would surely have accepted them, +and thus his precious life would have been saved--for it was ever +his custom to receive." + + + + +The Era from the other World [87] + +A Turk and his wife halted in the shadow of a tree. The Turk went +to the river to water his horse, and his wife remained to await his +return. Just then an Era passed by and saluted the Turkish woman: +"Allah help you, noble lady." "May God aid you," she returned; +"whence do you come?" "I come from the Other World, noble lady." "As +you have been in the Other World, have you not, perchance, seen there +my son Mouyo, who died a few months ago?" "Oh, how could I help seeing +him? He is my immediate neighbour." "Happy me! How is he, then?" "He +is well, may God be praised! But he could stand just a little more +tobacco and some more pocket-money to pay for black coffee." "Are you +going back again? And if so, would you be so kind as to deliver to +him this purse with his parent's greetings?" The Era took the money +protesting that he would be only too glad to convey so pleasant a +surprise to the youth, and hurried away. Soon the Turk came back, +and his wife told him what had transpired. He perceived at once +that she had been victimized and without stopping to reproach her, +he mounted his horse and galloped after the Era, who, observing the +pursuit, and guessing at once that the horseman was the husband of +the credulous woman, made all the speed that he could. There was a +mill near by and making for it, the Era rushed in and addressed the +miller with: "For Goodness' sake, brother, fly! There is a Turkish +horseman coming with drawn sword; he will kill you. I heard him say +so and have hurried to warn you in time." The miller had no time to +ask for particulars; he knew how cruel the Turks were, and without +a word he dashed out of the mill and fled up the adjacent rocks. + +Meantime the Era placed the miller's hat upon his own head and +sprinkled flour copiously over his clothes, that he might look like a +miller. No sooner was this done than the Turk came up. Alighting from +his horse, he rushed into the mill and hurriedly asked the Era where +he had hidden the thief. The Era pointed indifferently to the flying +miller on the rock, whereupon the Turk requested him to take care +of his horse while he ran and caught the swindler. When the Turk was +gone some distance up the hill our Era brushed his clothes, swiftly +mounted the horse and galloped away. The Turk caught the real miller, +and demanded: "Where is the money you took from my wife, swindler?" The +poor miller made the sign of the cross [88] and said: "God forbid! I +never saw your noble lady, still less did I take her money." + +After about half an hour of futile discussion, the Turk was convinced +of the miller's innocence, and returned to where he had left his +horse. But lo! There was no sign of a horse! He walked sadly back +to his wife, and she, seeing that her husband had no horse, asked in +surprise: "Where did you go, and what became of your horse?" The Turk +replied: "You sent money to our darling son; so I thought I had better +send him the horse that he need not go on foot in the Other World!" + + + + +A Trade before Everything + +Once upon a time a king set out in his luxurious pleasure-galley +accompanied by his queen and a daughter. They had proceeded a very +little way from the shore when a powerful wind drove the galley far out +to sea, where at last it was dashed upon a barren rock. Fortunately +there was a small boat upon the galley, and the king, being a good +sailor, was able to launch this frail bark, and he rescued his wife and +daughter from the waves. After long tossing and drifting, good fortune +smiled upon the wanderers; they began to see birds and floating leaves, +which indicated that they were approaching dry land. And, indeed, +they soon came in sight of shore, and, as the sea was now calm, were +able to land without further adventure. But, alas, the king knew no +trade, and had no money upon his person. Consequently he was forced +to offer his services as a shepherd to a rich landowner, who gave +him a hut and a flock of sheep to tend. In these idyllic and simple +conditions they lived contentedly for several years, undisturbed by +regrets for the magnificence of their past circumstances. + +One day the only son of the ruler of that strange country lost his +way while riding in the neighbourhood after a fox, and presently +he beheld the beautiful daughter of our shepherd. No sooner did his +eyes fall upon the maiden than he fell violently in love with her, +and she was not unwilling to receive the protestations of undying +affection which he poured into her ears. They met again and again, +and the maiden consented to marry the prince, provided her parents +would approve the match. + +The prince first declared his wish to his own parents, who, of course, +were greatly astonished at their son's apparently foolish selection, +and would not give their consent. But the prince protested solemnly +that his resolution was unshakable; he would either marry the girl +he loved or remain single all his days. Finally his royal father took +pity on him, and sent his first adjutant to the shepherd secretly to +ask the hand of his daughter for the prince. + + + + +The Condition + +When the adjutant came and communicated the royal message, the +shepherd asked him: "Is there any trade with which the royal prince is +familiar?" The adjutant was amazed at such a question. "Lord forbid, +foolish man!" he exclaimed, "how could you expect the heir-apparent to +know a trade? People learn trades in order to earn their daily bread; +princes possess lands and cities, and so do not need to work." + +But the shepherd persisted, saying: "If the prince knows no trade, +he cannot become my son-in-law." + +The royal courier returned to the palace and reported to the king +his conversation with the shepherd, and great was the astonishment +throughout the palace when the news became known, for all expected +that the shepherd would be highly flattered that the king had chosen +his daughter's hand for the prince in preference to the many royal +and imperial princesses who would have been willing to marry him for +the asking. + +The king sent again to the shepherd, but the man remained firm in his +resolution. "As long as the prince," said he, "does not know any trade, +I shall not grant him the hand of my daughter." + +When this second official brought back to the palace the same answer, +the king informed his son of the shepherd's condition, and the royal +prince resolved to put himself in the way of complying with it. + +His first step was to go through the city from door to door in +order to select some simple and easy trade. As he walked through +the streets he beheld various craftsmen at their work, but he did +not stay until he came to the workshop of a carpet-maker, and this +trade appeared to him both easy and lucrative. He therefore offered +his services to the master, who gladly undertook to teach him the +trade. In due time the prince obtained a certificate of efficiency, +and he went to the shepherd and showed it to him, together with +samples of his hand work. The shepherd examined these and asked the +prince: "How much could you get for this carpet?" The prince replied: +"If it is made of grass, I could sell it for threepence." "Why, that +is a splendid trade," answered the shepherd, "threepence to-day and +another threepence to-morrow would make sixpence, and in two other +days you would have earned a shilling! If I only had known this +trade a few years ago I would not have been a shepherd." Thereupon he +related to the prince and his suite the story of his past life, and +what ill fate had befallen him, to the greatest surprise of all. You +may be sure that the prince rejoiced to learn that his beloved was +highly born, and the worthy mate of a king's son. As for his father, +he was especially glad that his son had fallen in love, not with the +daughter of a simple shepherd, but with a royal princess. + +The marriage was now celebrated with great magnificence, and when the +festivities came to an end, the king gave the shepherd a fine ship, +together with a powerful escort, that he might go back to his country +and reassume possession of his royal throne. + + + + + + + +GLOSSARY & INDEX + + +There are thirty characters in the Serbian alphabet for the thirty +corresponding sounds, of which five are vowels--all open sounds, +viz. a, e, u, o, y. + + + a as in "father" + e as in "met" + u as e in "be" + o as in "note" + y as oo in "boot." + + +ou is pronounced also as oo in "boot." Closed or semi-closed vowels +are unknown to the Serbian tongue. + +The twenty-five consonants are pronounced as in English, with the +following exceptions: + +h at the beginning of words or syllables is always aspirated. + +r is always rolled. In a Serbian monosyllable it sometimes plays the +part of a vowel between two consonants, e.g. vrt (garden). + +The combinations ts or tz, as in "tsar," "tzarina," etc., are +pronounced like ts in "its." + +y has been used in the English forms of Serbian names not as a vowel +but invariably as a consonant, as in "year." This consonantal y has +been used often after the consonants d, l, n, and t, and y is then +merged into the preceding consonant to form one sound. For example, dy +becomes very like the sound of j in "jaw," as in the word "Dyourady," +which is pronounced Joo-radg. + +z in the names "Zdral" and "Zabylak" is pronounced like s in +"pleasure"; elsewhere it is pronounced as in English. + +The Serbian language being phonetic does not employ double consonants, +diphthongs or triphthongs. The thirty letters represent always the +same thirty sounds, and the position of the written symbol does not +affect or qualify its sound. + + + + +A + +Adrianople. Equivalent, Yedrenet, 123 + +Adriatic. Ivan Tzrnoyevitch sails across, to Venice, 134, 142 + +Adriatic Coast. The Latins, Illyrians, Thracians, Greeks, and Albanians +driven by the Serbians toward the, 1 + +Africa-n, West. A Serbian folk-tale dealing with Animals' Language; +similarity of, to a story native to the negroes of, 230 + +Ages, Middle. Banovitch Strahinya, one of the finest and most famous +ballads composed by Serbian bards of the, 119 + +Agram (Zagreb). Croatians establish an episcopate at, in eleventh +century, 14 + +Albania. Subdued by Doushan the Powerful, 5; + George Kastriotovitch-Skander-Beg fights for liberty of, 8; + Skadar the capital of Northern, 119 + +Albanian-s, The. Driven by Serbians toward the Adriatic coast, 1; + spirits of the wood dreaded by, 19; + Arbanass an appellation for, 108 + +Alexander. Unworthy son of Milan; ascends throne of Serbia, 11; + marries his former mistress, Draga Mashin, but is murdered, 11 + +Amouradh. A Turkish Grand Vizir; Prince Marko and, 105-108 + +Amourath, Sultan (Mourat, corrupted form). + Defeats Knez Lazar on field of Kossovo, 7; + Vlah-Ali independent of, 121; + slain by Serbian hero, Voivode Milosh, 173 + +Anecdotes. + Some Serbian popular, 362-369; + "St. Peter and the Sand," 362; + "Why the Serbian People are Poor," 362; + "The Gipsies and the Nobleman," 363; + "Why the Priest was Drowned," 364; + "The Era from the other World," 364; + "A Trade before Everything," 366 + +Animals. + The king makes war on the; + described in the Serbian folk-tale "Animals as Friends and Enemies," + 313-316 + +"Animals as Friends and Enemies." + A Serbian folk-tale, 305-316 + +Animals' Council, The. + Described in the Serbian folk-tale "Animals as Friends and Enemies," + 308, 309 + +Animals, King of The. + Hero in a Serbian folk-tale, 230 + +Animals' Language. + A Serbian folk-tale dealing with, 230-235 + +Anjou, Charles of. + Prince Ourosh maintains friendly relations with French Court of, 119 + +Antivari. + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch invites all heroes in the province of, to his + son's wedding, 139 + +Apostles. + The Greek priests and monks prepare the ground for the great + Slav, 29; + Cyrillos and Methodius, the two Slav, 29 + +Apple. + The, a symbolic gift, which a Serbian wooer offers to the maiden + of his choice, 245 + +"Apple-tree, The Golden." + A Serbian folk-tale, 267-280 + +Arbanass. + Appellation for Albanian, 108 + +Archangel Michael. + Death and, 31; + Kolyivo not prepared for, 41 + +Athos, Mount. + Vasso, the abbot of, finds Marko's dead body, 118 + +Austria. + War between Serbia and Bulgaria instigated by, 11 + +Avala. + A mountain by Belgrade, 177 + +Azov, Sea of. + Serbians lived to the north-east of, 1 + + + + +B + +"Badgnak." + The oak tree used at Christmas by the Serbians, 47 + +"Badgni Dan." + Serbian equivalent for Christmas Eve, 46 + +Bajazet. + Son of Sultan Amourath, 7 + +Balcius. + Latinized form of Baux, in early records, 119; + name changed at the Court at Naples into Balza, 119 + +Balkan Peninsula. + Incursion of the Serbians into, 1 + +Balkan Territories. + Kingdoms embraced in, 1 + +Balkan War. + Mrs. C. H. Farnam's devotion to the wounded during the, 57, 58; + reference to the feats of arms performed by the Serbians during + the, 175 + +Balkans. + Hero tales of the, express the ideals which have inspired the + Serbian race, 12; + explanation of the decay of the ancient aristocracy throughout + the, 14 + +"Balkans, the Empress of the." + Drama by King Nicholas I Petrovitch of Montenegro, 134 + +Ballad-s. + Serbian bards improvise, to record deeds of King Nicholas I + Petrovitch of Montenegro, 120; + "The Marriage of Maximus Tzrnoyevitch," the finest and most famous + Serbian, 134; + usual ending to ballads by Serbian and Montenegrin bards, 184; + historical note on that of "King Voukashin's Marriage," 193, 194; + observation regarding motif of "The Captivity and Marriage of + Stephan Kakshitch," 194; + "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195-197; + three Serbian--(1) "The Building of "Skadar" (Scutari), etc., 198; + (2) "The Stepsisters," 206; + and (3) "The Abduction of the Beautiful Iconia," 210 + +Balshitch. + Nicholas I Petrovitch, King of Montenegro, and an indirect descendant + out of, 120 + +Balza. + Italianized form of Balcius (Baux), 119 + +Ban. + The original title of the rulers of Bosnia, 6 + +Banat. + One of the Serbian provinces in Austria-Hungary + +Banovitch Strahinya. + The ballad relating to, one of the finest composed by anonymous + bards of Middle Ages, 119; + historical data, 119, 120; + some Serbian historians believe identical with the glorious + Strashimir Balshitch-Nemanyitch, 119; + eulogized as "a falcon without equal," 120; + Dyogo the faithful steed of, 120; + Caraman the faithful greyhound of, 120; + visits Youg Bogdan, 120-121 + +Banyska (Lord of Little). + Title by which a dervish hails Banovitch Strahinya, 122 + +Bards. + (1) Serbian. Attention now turned to the exploits of modern heroes + at Monastir, Koumanovo, Perlep (Prilip), Scutari (Skadar), etc., 176; + usual ending to ballads of, 184; + word 'book' invariably used by those of fourteenth century when + speaking of a letter, 186. + (2) Montenegrin. Stereotyped ending to ballads of, 184 + +Bash Tchelik (Real Steel). + A Serbian folk-tale, 247-267; + his promise of three lives to the Prince, and his abduction of his + deliverer's wife, 258-267 + +Basil I, Emperor. + The second conversion of Southern Slavs to Christianity was effected + by, 28 + +Batchka. + One of the Serbian provinces in Austria-Hungary + +Baux, Des. + Strashimir Balshitch-Nemanyitch a descendant of the old Provencal + family of, 119; + in early records the name is latinized Balcius, 119; + supposition that the Italianized Seigneurs des Baux, who married + into royal house of Nemanyitch and who settled in Serbian lands, + further changed their patronymic to Balsha or Balshitch, 119 + +Baux, Hughes de. + A French knight; reference to, 33 + +Bazar, Relya of. + A Serbian knight; + Bogdan the Bully and, 87-89 + +Beardless. + A name used as the personification of craftiness and sharpness, + applied to man in Serbian folk-tale "Lying for a Wager," 283 + +Beata Maria. + St. Elias inquires the reason of her great grief, 195; + St. Elias comforts, 196 + +Bedevia. + The Moorish chieftain's mare, 79; + Sharatz and, 79, 80, 81; + Bogdan the Bully's mare, 87; + name of mare given by Ivan Tzrnoyevitch to Milosh Obrenbegovitch, + 141; + Voivode Balatchko's mare, 168 + +Belgrade. + Reference to the triumphal return of the Serbian army to, at the + conclusion of the Balkan campaigns, 1912-13, 176; + a veela warns Stephan and Demitrius Yakshitch of the intention of + the Turks to assail, 177; + Stephan Yakshitch and Haykoona escape to, 183 + +Beliefs. + Superstitions of Serbians, and national customs, 13-53 + +Berlin. + Famous Treaty of, acknowledged the independence of Serbia during + rule of Milan, 10, 11; + mention of a Veele ring in Treaty of, 17 + +Bertrandon de la Broquiere, Chevalier. + Told in 1433 that Trajanople had been built by the Emperor Trajan, 27 + +Bind. + Illyrian god; + a reminder of, in the tradition regarding Prince Ivan Tzrnoyevitch, + 25 + +"Bird Maiden, The." + A Serbian folk-tale, 280-283 + +"Biter Bit, The." + A Serbian folk-tale, 328-340; + the hundred daughters in, 330; + the wedding procession, 333; + the Black Giant in, 334; + the old woman meets the old man in a forest by the river Luckless, + 336; + the Black Giant buys the cow, 339 + +Blind. + In Serbian Hungary there are schools for, in which national ballads + are taught, 55, 56 + +"Bochtchaluks." + Serbian equivalent for wedding presents, 32 + +Bodin, King. + Son of Michaylo; + obtains title from Pope Gregory VII, 3; + restores the Serbia of Tchaslav, and adds Bosnia to his State, 3 + +Bogdan the Bully. + Marko and, 87-89 + +Bogdan, Youg. + Aged father-in-law of Banovitch, 120, 121; + castle in Kroushevatz the residence of, 120; + one of his sons-in-law a direct descendant of King Nemanya, 120; + Strahinya returns to, after his slaying of Vlah-Ali, 128 + +Bogoumils. + Protestants of the Greek Orthodox Church who settled in Bosnia, 4 + +"Bojitch." + Equivalent, "the little God." The Christmas Day church service, 49 + +Boshko Yougovitch. + One of Tsarina Militza's nine brothers, 170; + refuses to remain with her while Tsar Lazarus departs to battlefield + of Kossovo, 171 + +Boshnyaks. + Serbians inhabiting Bosnia; + considered to be the most typical Serbians, 13 + +Bosnia. + King Bodin adds to his State, 3; + Ban Koulin placed on the throne of, 4; + Stevan Tomashevitch king of, 8; + subjugation of, complete by 1463, 8; + the Padishah offers to make Stephan Yakshitch Grand Vizier of, + if he will renounce the Holy Cross, 179 + +Bosnia and Herzegovina. + One of the kingdoms in the Balkan territories, 1; + Serbian calamity on Kossovo due mainly to the disobedience of the + Serbian lords who ruled over, 175 + +Bowring, Sir John. + Quotations of three poems from his Servian Popular Poetry, 198-212 + +Boyana. + River on which Skadar's fortress stands, 186, 198 + +Brankovitch, Dyourady. + Nephew of Vook Brankovitch, 7; + reference to death of, 8 + +Brankovitch, Vook (Wolf). + The treachery of, against Knez Lazar, 7; + his death, 7; + Tsarina Militza and death of, 173; + responsibility for great calamity to the Serbian army on Kossovo + assigned by bards to, 174 + +Bregalnitza. + Reference to, as a set-off to Slivnitza, 176 + +Bregovo. + Town of; + Marko and Milosh at, 105 + +Bride. + The custom with the Serbians for one of her brothers to present + the bride to her wooer, 248 + +Bulgaria. + A province of Serbia under Stevan Detchanski, 5; + war against, by Serbia, 11; + Shishman king of, 94 + +Bulgars. + Serbians an easy prey to attacks of, 2 + +Bully, The. + Alternative for Bogdan, 87-89; + Albanian equivalent, Kessedjiya, 108; + his death on the top of Katchanik mountain, 114 + +Byzantines. + Serbians an easy prey to attack of, 2; + Christianity deeply rooted in the, 14; + Peroon, the Russian God of Thunder, concluded with the, 15 + +Byzantine Empire. + Incorporates Bulgaria and overpowers Rashka, 3; + Doushan the Powerful subdues almost the whole of the, 5; + Prince Ourosh endeavours to negotiate an alliance between Serbs + and French for overthrow of, 119 + + + + +C + +Caraman. + The greyhound of Banovitch, 120, 121; + assists Banovitch against Vlah-Ali, 127 + +Carpet, The Magic. + Described in the Serbian folk-tale "Animals as Friends and Enemies," + 309-313 + +Charles of Anjou. + Prince Ourosh through his wife Helen, a French princess, maintains + friendly relations with French Court of, 119 + +Christ. + Teachings of; translated into Serb language by Cyrillos and + Methodius, 2 + +Christianity. + Conversion of pagan Serbian tribes to, 1; + Paganism and, of Southern-Slavonic races, 14-53; + as early as the eleventh century a number of Croatians converted + to, 14; + the new, sapped in Russia by the Enchanters, 24; + indicated by the Cross, 26; + the spread of, 28-32; + Moravians converted to, 29; + superstition stronger in the Balkans than, 30 + +Christians. + Reference to campaigns between Turks and the, 6; + miseries of, under Turkish rule, 8, 9; + evil spirits and, 19; + Prince Maximus and Yovan Obrenbegovitch to be used in service + against, 149; + historical note re the cunning efforts of Ottoman statesmen to seduce + malcontents from their allegiance to their rightful lords, 184, 185 + +Christmas. + Serbian customs at, 46-51 + +Church. + The Greek Christian, to which all Serbians, including the natives + of Montenegro, Macedonia, etc., belong, 30; + reference to the, in the Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the + Treasures," 197 + +Cinderella. + See Pepelyouga and Marra, 226-229 + +Cock, The. + Retort of, regarding the man who had been granted the gift of + animals' language, 235 + +Constantinople. + Vanquished by crusaders, 4; + dead bodies burnt during siege of, 25; + Cyrillos a professor of philosophy in University of the Imperial + Palace of, 29; + Turkish alternative Istamboul, 72 + +Courtenay, House de. + Helen, wife of Ourosh, a French princess of the, 119 + +Cow. + The Black Giant buys the; described in the Serbian folk-tale "The + Biter Bit," 339 + +Croatia. + One of the provinces in Austria-Hungary, 1 + +Croatians. + A number of, converted to Christianity as early as the eleventh + century, 14 + +Cross, The. + Indicates the presence of Christianity, 26; + the Slava and the sign of, 42, 44; + Christmas customs and the sign of, 47, 48; + Boshko Yougovitch's devotion to, 171; + Stephan Yakshitch's devotion to, 179; + St. John chooses, 196; + Christians of the Balkans and the sign of, before and after every + meal, 237; + the Serbians when greatly surprised at anything, involuntarily make + the sign of, 366 + +Curse of Christendom. + Marko takes steps to avoid the, 117 + +Customs, National. + The chief of the Serbians, 31-53; + marriage, 32-40; + Slava (or Krsno Ime), 40-49 + +Customs, Serbian. + Superstitious beliefs and, 13-53; + a brother to present a bride to her wooer, 248 + +Cyrillos. + Methodius and, the so-called Slavonic apostles who translated the + teaching of Christ into the ancient Slav language, 2, 29 + + + + +D + +Daedalus. + Confused in Serbian legends with Emperor Trajan, 27 + +Dalmatians. + Sea-going men who pray only to St. Nicholas, 51 + +Dance Rings (Vrzino kollo). + The Veele and their, 17; + one on Mount Kom in Montenegro called Vilino Kollo, 17 + +Danitza. The morning star; + its appearance puts Zmay of Yastrebatz to flight, 130; + reference to, in "The Captivity and Marriage of Stephan Yakshitch," + 177 + +Danube. + Allusion to Sharatz's swim across the, 91; + Marko drowns part of Voutcha's army in, 92 + +Daughters. + The hundred, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Biter Bit," 330 + +Daybog (The Sun God). + Russian equivalent, Daszbog--literally "Give, O God!" 16; + to the Serbians the personification of sunshine, life and prosperity, + 16; + remains of idols representing, among Southern-Slavonic nations, 16; + Christmas festivities and, 49 + +Dead. + Festival in honour of, during Lent, 52 + +Death. + The Archangel Michael and, 31 + +"Deeds, Good, Never Perish." + The Serbian folk-tale, 291-299 + +Dessimir. + King Vukashin's trusty servant, 199 + +"Dever." + The leader of the Serbian bride, 35 + +Devil-s (dyavo). + Considered as pagan gods, 19 + +Diascevastes. + The learned, of Pisistrate's epoch, 54 + +Diocletian, Emperor. + References in Southern-Slavonic legends to, 27 + +"Divan." + Means, in Serbian, any State gathering. As used in the Serbian ballad + "The Saints Divide the Treasures" it means the Supreme Judgment, 195 + +Djelat (executioner). + Stephan Yakshitch threatened with the, 180 + +Dobrivoy. + Servant of Theodore of Stalatch, 211 + +"Doda or Dodola." + The rite connected with the favourite goddess of Rain, 51, 52 + +Don, The River. + Serbians lived on banks of, 1 + +Dourmitor. + The mountain, 186 + +Doushan the Powerful (Mighty). + Dethrones his father Stevan Detchanski, 5; + vampires and the Code of, 21, 22, 24; + Voukashin's bad faith toward, 61; + attended by Archdeacon Nedelyko till death, 66; + the marriage of, 150-169; + sends Theodor, Councillor of State, to King Michael of Ledyen, 150; + sues for the hand of Princess Roksanda, 150, 151; + the two Voinovitchs, Voukashin and Petrashin, nephews of, 151; + Milosh-the-Shepherd joins the wedding procession of, 153, 154; + the four tests undertaken by Milosh-the-Shepherd on behalf of, + in order to win the Princess Roksanda, 160-166; + reference to the wresting of the Empire from the Turk by the Serb, + until it is in extent almost equivalent to Empire under, 176 + +Dragomir. + Djoupan of Trebinye, father of Stephen Voislav, 3 + +Dragoutin. Son of Ourosh the Great; + deposes his father and becomes king of Serbia, 4; + retires in favour of his brother Miloutin, 4; + assumes title of King of Sirmia, 5; + yields his throne to Miloutin, 5 + +"Dream of the King's Son, The." + A Serbian folk-tale, 322-328 + +Ducadyin, Plain of. + Given as fief to Mehmed-Bey Obrenbegovitch, 149 + +Dulzigno. + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch invites all heroes in province of, to his son's + wedding, 134, 139 + +Dyakovitza. + Voutche of, admires Koulash the steed of Milosh-the-Shepherd, 157 + +"Dyavo." + See Devils. + +Dyogo. + Faithful steed of Banovitch, 120, 121, 122; + enables Banovitch to escape Vlah-Ali's spear, 126 + + + + +E + +Earth. + The Saints divide the treasures of, 195-197 + +Elias, St. (Elijah). + Serbian peasants believe that the god Peroon still lives in person + of, 15; + Kolyivo not prepared for, 41; + mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," + 195, 196; + lightning and thunder chosen by, 196 + +Enchanters (tcharobnitzi). + Celebrants of the various pagan rites, 24 + +Enemies. + "Animals as Friends and," a Serbian folk-tale, 305-316 + +Era. + The name given to the peasants of the district of Ouzitze (Western + Serbia); + they are supposed to be very witty and shrewd, and might be called + the Irishmen of Serbia, 364; + "The Era from the Other World," a Serbian popular anecdote, 364-366 + +Europe. + The Turk almost driven from, during the golden rule of King Peter + I, 11 + + + + +F + +Falcon, The. + Banovitch eulogized as, "without equal," 120 + +Farnam, Mrs. C. H. + Her interest in Vouk's book of Serbian national poems, 57, 58 + +Feast. + The Slava, 45, 46 + +Folk-Lore. + Tales of Serbian, 213-328; + "The Ram with the Golden Fleece," 213-220; + "A Pavilion neither in the Sky nor on the Earth," 220-224; + "Pepelyouga," 224-230; + "Animals' Language," 230-235; + "The Stepmother and her Stepdaughter," 235-240; + "Justice and Injustice," 240-243; + "He who asks Little receives Much," 243-247; + "Bash Tchelik" (Real Steel), 247-267; + "The Golden Apple-tree and the Nine Pea-hens," 267-280; + "The Bird Maiden," 280-283; + "Lying for a Wager," 283-287; + "The Maiden Wiser than the Tsar," 287-291; + "Good Deeds never Perish," 291-299; + "He whom God helps no one can harm," 300-305, etc.; + "Animals as Friends and Enemies," 305-316; + "The Three Suitors," 316-322; + "The Dream of the King's Son," 322-328; + "The Biter Bit," 328-340; + "The Trade that no one Knows," 340-353; + "The Golden-haired Twins," 353-361 + +Francs. + Serbians an easy prey to attacks of, 2 + +French. Princess; + Helen wife of Ourosh a, 119; + Court of Charles of Anjou and Prince Ourosh, 119; + Ourosh negotiates an alliance between Serbs and the, 119 + +Friends. + "Animals as Enemies and," a Serbian folk-tale, 305-316 + +Funeral Customs. + Description of, among Slavs, Serbians, etc., 25-27 + + + + +G + +Galicia. + Serbians lived as a patriarchal people in country now known as, 1 + +George's Day, St. + Serbian equivalent, Dyourdyev Dan. Strange sorceries practised on, 53 + +Giants. + Serbian equivalent, Djins: Turkish equivalent, Div. + Those in Bulgarian, Croatian, etc., mythology, we owe to the cycle + of mediaeval myths, 27; + the nine, in the Serbian folk-tale "Bash Tchelik," 247, 252, 253, + 254, 255; + the Black, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Biter Bit," 328; + the, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Trade that no one Knows," 345 + +Gipsies. + Serbian equivalent, Tzigans, 363; + "The Nobleman and the," a Serbian popular anecdote, 363; + stealing and selling horses their main occupation, 363 + +God. + The Veele believed in, and St. John, 17; + Keys of the Heavens given to the Saints by, 196; + the wrath of, 197; + "He whom God helps no one can harm," a Serbian folk-tale, 300-305, + etc. + +God-s. + Peroon, the God of Thunder, 15; + Volos, the God of Cattle, 15; + Daybog, the Sun god, 15, 16 + +Goethe. + One of Vouk's national ballads was translated by, 55 + +Goletch. + The mountain of, the dervish declares he would recognize Banovitch + Strahinya even on top of, 122; + Banovitch rides to Mount, 124 + +Goiko. + Youngest of three brothers who built Skadar (Scutari), 198; + his young wife immured in the foundation of Skadar, 198-205 + +Golouban. + Tsar Lazarus' servant who succours Tsarina Militza, 172 + +"Good Deeds Never Perish." + A Serbian folk-tale, 291-299 + +Gooslar. + A Serbian national bard, 50, 63 + +"Gorsky Viyenatz" (The Mountain Wreath). + The masterpiece of the Serbian poet Peter Petrovitch, 56; + mention of the goussle in, 56 + +Gospel. + The Slavonic translation of, applies name tcharobnitzi to the three + Holy Kings, 24; + Cyrillos translates the, 29 + +"Goussle." + A primitive instrument with a single string, found in every Serbian + home, 56; + used during Balkans-Turkish War, 1912-13, in reciting poems relating + to Marko, 63 + +Goyko, Voivode. + Inheritance of the Empire disputed by, 65-71 + +Great Powers, The. + King Nicholas I Petrovitch of Montenegro obliged to evacuate Skadar + by, 120 + +Greeks, The. + Driven by the Serbians toward the Adriatic coast, 1 + +Greek Nymphs. + The Veele compared with, 17 + +Gregory VII, Pope. + Bestows title of King upon Michaylo, 3 + +Guns. + Krgno and Zelenko, Ivan Tzrnoyevitch's two famous, 140 + + + + +H + +"Hadjis." + Turkish equivalent for pilgrims, 108 + +"Haidooks." Knight-brigands; + exploits of, sung by professional bards, 55 + +Haykoona. + Daughter of the vizier of Novi Bazar, 180; + Stephan Yakshitch declines the 'water of oblivion' offered by, + 181, 182; + confesses her real love for Stephan Yakshitch and enables him to + escape, 182, 183 + +Heaven-s. + The Saints divide the treasures of, 195-197; + the keys of, given by God to the Saints, 196; + the Saints lock the Seven, 197 + +Helen. + A French princess of the house of Courtenay, wife of Prince Ourosh, + 119 + +Helen, Queen. Serbian alternative, Yevrossima (Euphrosyne); + mother of the Royal Prince Marko, 59 + +Heraclius, Emperor. + Cedes provinces to the Serbians, 1; + Serbians first adopt Christian faith during reign of, 28 + +Heroes. + Attention of Serbian bards now turned to exploits of modern, at + Monastir, Koumanovo, Perlep (Prilip), Scutari (Skadar), etc., 176 + +Herzegovina. + Subjugation complete by 1482, 8; + King Voukashin dispatches book (letter) to, 186 + +Historical Note. + On "Tsar Lazarus and the Tsarina Militza," 174-176; + On "The Captivity and Marriage of Stephan Yakshitch," 184, 185; + on "The Marriage of King Voukashin," 193, 194 + +Historical Retrospect. + Of the Serbians, 1-12 + +"Hodjas." + Turkish equivalent for priest, 108, 179 + +Homer. + Reference to, 54 + +Hoossein. + The trusty servant of the vizier of Novi Bazar, 180 + +Horea Margi. + Capital of the state which the Serbians failed to form in ninth + century, 2 + +Horse-s. + Sharatz, Prince Marko's wonderful, 17, 57, 61-65, 68, 69, 76; + Koulash, the steed of Prince Voinovitch, 154, 155, 157-159; + Bedevia, name of the Moorish chieftain's, 79-81; + Dyogo, the name of the faithful steed of Banovitch, 120, 121, + 122, 126; + Bedevia, name of Milosh Obrenbegovitch's, 141; + Zdral, name of Ivan Tzrnoyevitch's steed, 135, 140, 142; + Bedevia, name of Voivode Balatchko's, 168; + the old woman and her, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Golden + Apple-tree and the Nine Pea-hens," 276-280; + the golden, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Dream of the King's Son," + 325-328 + +Human Sacrifices. + Legends regarding, among Russians, Slavs, Serbians, etc., 25 + +Hungary. + Thousands of Serbian families emigrate to, through tyrannous Turkish + rule, 8 + +Huntsmen. + Prince Marko and the Turkish, 105-108 + + + + +I + +"Ich, Itch, or Ic." + The characteristic termination of most Serbian family names, 119 + +Iconia. Daughter of Prince Miloutin; + Theodore of Stalatch abducts, 210-212; + betrothed to George Irene, for Sredoi, 211 + +"Iconia, the Abduction of the Beautiful." + A Serbian national ballad from Sir John Bowring's Servian Popular + Poetry, 210-212 + +Iliad. + Reference to, 54 + +Illyrians, The. + Driven by Serbians toward Adriatic coast, 1 + +Immortality. + Serbians believe in Predestination and, 18 + +India. + Beata Maria relates to St. Elias her recent arrival from, 195. + +Irene, George. + Iconia betrothed to, for Sredoi, 211 + +Irishmen. Of Serbia; + the peasants of the district of Ouzitze (Western Serbia) might be + termed the, 364 + +Islam. + Remnant of Serbians under Turkish rule forced to embrace, 8; + Maximus Tzrnoyevitch threatens to embrace, 149; + Stephan Yakshitch declines to embrace faith of, 181, 182 + +Issaya. + The deacon of Abbot Vasso, 118 + +Istamboul. + Turkish equivalent for Constantinople, 72; + Moorish chieftain demands daughter of Sultan at, 72-81; + Moussa Kessedjiya at, 108; + Prince Maximus threatens to go to, in order to embrace Islam, 149 + +Istria. + One of the provinces in Austria-Hungary, 1 + +Ivanbegovitch, Scander-Beg. + Turkish alternative for Prince Maximus Tzrnoyevitch, 149 + +Ivan Kosantchitch. See Kosantchitch. + +Ivan Tzrnoyevitch (see Tzrnoyevitch). + Tradition regarding the river of Tzrnoyevitch and, 24, 25 + + + + +J + +Jhesu, Lord. + Stephan Yakshitch prefers to lose his life for the sake of, rather + than become a Turk, 180; + Stephan Yakshitch plights his troth to Haykoona in the name of, 183 + +John, St. + The Veele believed in, 17; + the princess appeals to Prince Marko in name of, 75, 76; + the veela Raviyoyla appeals to Marko by memory of, 104; + mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + brotherhood and koomhood as well as the Holy Cross, chosen by, 196 + +"Justice and Injustice." + A Serbian folk-tale, 240-243 + + + + +K + +Kadi. + Equivalent, Ottoman judge, 179 + +"Kami" (or bileg). + Term applied in Middle Ages to gravestones still found in large + numbers in Herzegovina, Dalmatia, etc., now known as stetyak or + mramor, 26, 27 + +Karadgitch, Vouk Stephanovitch. See Vouk Stephanovitch Karadgitch + +Karageorgevitch, Alexander. + Son of Karageorge Petrovitch, 10 + +Karavallahian Land. + Milosh-the-Shepherd instructed to declare that he hails from the, 155 + +Kastriotovitch-Skander-Beg, George. + An Albanian chief who fought successfully for the liberty of + Albania, 8 + +Katchanik. + A defile up which Prince Marko rides to meet Moussa, 112; + Moussa the Bully's death on mountain of, 114 + +"Kessedjiya." + Equivalent, fighter or bully. The nickname of an Albanian + chevalier-brigand, Moussa, who rebelled against the Sultan, 108 + +Keys. + The, of the Heavenly Empire, chosen by St. Peter, 196; + the Keys of the Heavens given by God to the Saints, 196 + +Keystut. Brother of the Grand Duke Olgerd; + his interment the last recorded instance of a pagan burial, 26 + +Klissoura. + The wedding procession of Tsar Doushan reaches, 157; + the fight for Koulash at, 158, 159 + +Knez. + The title corresponding to "Prince," 6 + +"Kolatch." + A special cake eaten on Saints' days, 41 + +"Kollo." + The Serbian national dances, 40, 52 + +Kollo, Vrzino. + Name applied to the Veele rings, 17 + +"Kolyivo." Lit. something which has been killed with the knife; + the Slava cake, 41 + +"Koom." + The principal witness at Serbian weddings, 35; + Beata Maria complains of a brother koom bearing false witness + against, 196 + +Koopinovo. + A village on plain of Sirmia, in which Zmay-Despot Vook lived, 130 + +Kosantchitch, Ivan. + General Voutcha and, 89-94 + +Kossovo. + Vouk's national poems dwell on the glory of the Serbian mediaeval + Empire, lost on fatal field of, 55; + four tabors meet on field of, disputing over the inheritance of + the Empire, 65; + the Sultana's dream concerning, 74; + Marko and the maiden from, 82-86; + Marko, Relya, and Milosh ride out from, 87; + Banovitch hears of encampment of hordes of Turks on field of, 120; + Banovitch seeks and attacks the Turks on field of, 120-128; + Tsar Doushan's wedding procession rides through field of, 152; + Milosh takes farewell of Tsar Doushan in middle of plain of, 168; + Tsar Lazarus does battle on field of, 170-172; + death of Tsar Lazarus on field of, 172-174; + historical note on battle of, 174-176; + historical note re Ottoman influence upon the peasantry in Bosnia + and Herzegovina at the time (1389) of the battle of, 184, 185 + +Koulash. + Steed of Petroshin Voinovitch, ridden by Milosh-the-Shepherd to + join wedding procession of Tsar Doushan, 154, 155; + the wonderful leap of, admired by Voutche of Dyakovitza, Yanko of + Nestopolye and others, 156, 157; + the fight for, at Klissoura, 157, 158, 159 + +Koulin, Ban. + Placed on throne of Bosnia, 4 + +Koumanovo. + Famous battlefield on which in 1913 more Turks perished than did + Serbians five centuries ago, 175; + reference to, as a set-off to Kossovo, 176 + +"Kraly." + Serbian equivalent for king, 198 + +"Krgno" and "Zelenko." + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch's two famous guns, 140 + +Kroushevatz. + I. Castle in, the residence of Youg Bogdan, 120; + II. Castle in, the residence of Tsar Lazar, 129; + Tsar Lazar beseeches Zmay-Despot Vook to come to, 131; + III. The capital of the vast Serbian Empire during the reign of Tsar + Hrebelianovitch at time of famous battle of Kossovo (A.D. 1389), 171; + Bosko Yougovitch declares he would not forgo battle of Kossovo + for the price of, 171 + +Kroushevo. + A plain, over which Zmay of Yastrebatz flies toward the Tsarina's + tower, 130; + Zmay-Despot Vook reaches, 131 + +Kustandil. + Veele ring between Vranya and, mentioned in the Treaty of Berlin, 17 + + + + +L + +Lale. + The popular appellation of Serbians living in Batchka and Banat, 156 + +Language, Animals'. + A Serbian folk-tale dealing with, 230-235 + +Latins, The. + Driven by Serbians toward Adriatic coast, 1 + +Lazar, Knez. + Elected ruler of Serbia, 6; + makes an alliance with Ban Tvrtko against the Turks, 6, 7; + slain by Sultan Amourath, 7 + +Lazar, Tsar. + The Tsarina Militza confesses to the embraces of her magic lover, + the Zmay of Yastrebatz, 129-133; + Zmay-Despot Vook in the wheatfields of, 131 + +Lazarus. + I. Of Bethany. + Poems recited on the resurrection of, 52. + II. Tsar. + The Tsarina Militza and, 170-176; + his departure to the battlefield of Kossovo, 170-172; + his glorious death, 173, 174; + historical note regarding, 174-176; + reference to Empire lost by, regained under King Peter I, 176 + +Ledyen. + Tsar Doushan sends Theodor to King Michael of, 150; + Milosh-the-Shepherd pursues champion of the Venetian king to gates + of, 162; + Milosh rides to perform the second test in the meadow of, 163; + Voivode Balatchko ordered to fight Milosh by the king of, 167 + +Legends. + Influence on Southern-Slavonic peoples, of Graeco-Oriental and + Christian myths and, 14; + influence from Greeks and Romans on Southern-Slavonic, 27-30 + +Love. + Lado, oy, Lado-deh, refrain which is probably the name of the + ancient Slavonic Deity of Love, 52 + +Love. + The, of sister for her brother is proverbial in Serbia, 170 + +Luckless, The River. + Mention of, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Biter Bit," 336 + +"Lying for a Wager." + A Serbian folk-tale, 283-287 + + + + +M + +Macedonia. + One of the provinces in the Balkan territories, 1 + +Magyar-s. + Prince Marko and, 92-94 + +"Maiden, The Bird-." + A Serbian folk-tale, 280-283 + +"Maiden Wiser than the Tsar, The." + A Serbian folk-tale, 287-291 + +Marko, Krazyevitch. + Pro-claimed himself King of the Serbians; + eldest son of King Voukashin, 6, 59; + aids Turks against the Christians, 6; + killed in battle of Rovina, 6; + endowed with superhuman strength, and presented with a wonderful + courser, Sharatz, by a veela, 17; + his guests on his Slava day, 45; + the goussle and exploits of, 57; + Queen Helen mother of, 59; + traditional son of a veela and a Zmay, 59; + the most beloved of Serbian heroes, 59, 60; + virtues of, 59; + tradition extols him as faithful defender of Prince Ourosh, 61; + Serbian belief that he will reappear to reestablish the mediaeval + Empire, 64; + his supposed appearance at the battle of Prilip (1912), 64, 65; + tells whose the Empire shall be, 65-71; + cursed by his father, 71; + the Moor and, 72-81; + the Sultana's dream concerning, 74; + wedding tax abolished by, 82-86; + Bogdan the Bully and, 87-89; + General Voutcha and, 89-94; + wedding procession of, 94-100; + the Moorish princess and, 100-102; + the veela Raviyoyla and, 102-105; + the Turkish huntsmen and, 105-108; + Moussa Kessedjiya and, 108-114; + his death, 115-118 + +Marra. + Alternative, Pepelyouga (Cinderella), 226-229 + +Marriage. + The customs obtaining at Serbian, 32-40 + +Mass, The Holy. + Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 196 + +Maximus Tzrnoyevitch. + See Tzrnoyevitch + +Mehmed. Turkish Grand Vizier; + Vlah-Ali independent of, 121 + +Methodius. + Cyrillos and, the so-called Slavonic apostles who translated the + teaching of Christ into the ancient Slav language, 2, 29 + +Michael. King of Ledyen, father of Princess Roksanda; + Tsar Doushan sues for the hand of Roksanda, 150; + Theodor reports to the Tsar result of his mission to King of Ledyen, + 151, 152 + +Michael, Archangel. + Death and, 31; + kolyivo not prepared for, 41 + +Michaylo. Son of Stephen Voislav; + obtains title of King from Pope Gregory VII, 3; + King Bodin son of, 3 + +Michel (Serbian Mihaylo). Son of Milosh Obrenovitch; + succeeds his father as prince of Serbia, 10 + +Michel III, Emperor. + Mission of Cyrillos and Methodius to, 29 + +Middle Ages. + "Banovitch Strahinya," one of the finest ballads composed anonymously + by Serbian bards during the, 119 + +Mijatovitch, Madame C. + Reference to Serbian Folk-lore, by, 305 + +Milan. + Succeeds his cousin Michel as prince of Serbia, 10; + war of 1876-8 against Turkey by, 10; + acknowledgment of Serbian independence by Treaty of Berlin during + rule of, 10; + his abdication, 11 + +Milan of Toplitza. + General Voutcha and, 89-94 + +Militchevitch. + A famous Serbian ethnographist relates incident re a resnik (priest) + who read prayers out of the apocrypha of Peroon, 22 + +Militza, Tsarina. + The Zmay of Yastrebatz and the, 129-133; + deceives the Zmay, 130; + recognizes Zmay-Despot Vook, 131; + Tsar Lazarus and the, 170-176; + as her nine brothers Yougovitchs are to accompany Tsar Lazarus to + battle on field of Kossovo she pleads for one brother to be left + behind with her, 170; + her brother Boshko Yougovitch refuses to remain behind, 171; + succoured by Golouban, 172; + news of battle brought by two ravens to, 172, 173; + death of Lazarus and her brothers described by Miloutin, 173, 174 + +Milosh Obilitch. + The Sultan Amourath perishes by the hand of, 7, 175 + +Milosh Obrenbegovitch, Voivode. + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch invites to be the stari-svat in connexion with + his son's wedding, 138-149; + Maximus Tzrnoyevitch slays, 148; + Yovan Obrenbegovitch brother of, 149 + +Milosh Obrenovitch. + Succeeds in re-establishing the Belgrade pashalik, 10; + forced to abdicate, 10; + restored by the Skoupshtina, 10; + his death, 10; + Michel son of, 10 + +Milosh of Potzerye. A Serbian knight; + Bogdan the Bully and, 87-89; + General Voutcha and, 89-94; + the veela Raviyoyla and, 102-105 + +Milosh-the-Shepherd. + The mother of the two Voinovitchs counsels them to send for, 153; + his meeting with his two brothers, 154; + joins the wedding procession of Tsar Doushan, 155; + rides the steed Koulash, 154, 155; + his fight for Koulash, 158, 159; + he undertakes the first test on behalf of Tsar Doushan, in order + to win Roksanda, 160-162; + the second test undertaken by, 162, 163; + succeeds in the third test, 164; + succeeds in the fourth test by discovering the identity of Princess + Roksanda, 164-166; + his contest with Balatchko, 167-169; + Balatchko slain by, 168; + discloses his identity to Tsar Doushan, 168 + +Milosh, Voivode. + The veela Raviyoyla wounds, 17; + the great Serbian hero who slays the Turkish sultan, Amourath I, 173 + +Miloutin. + I. Dragoutin, his brother, king of Serbia, retires in favour of, 4; + one of the most remarkable descendants of Nemanya, 5; + Stevan Datchanski son of, 5. + II. Servant of Prince Lazarus; + relates to Tsarina Militza death of Tsar Lazarus and her nine + brothers on field of Kossovo, 173, 174. + III. Prince of Ressava; + Iconia daughter of, 211-212. + +Minister. + The treacherous, in the Serbian folk-tale "Good Deeds Never + Perish," 294 + +Mirotch. + Prince Marko and Milosh of Potzerye ride across the mountain of, 102 + +Mission. + Of Cyrillos and Methodius to the Emperor Michel III, 29 + +Miyatovich, M. Chedo. + Personal friend of King Alexander, 11 + +Mohammed. + The vizier of Tyoopria undertakes to make Stephan Yakshitch love + the creed of, 179 + +Mohammedanism. + Prince Maximus and Yovan Obrenbegovitch embrace, 149 + +Moldavia. + Many noble Serbian families take refuge with Christian princes of, 8 + +Momchilo. + Queen Helen, sister of the adventurous knight, 59 + +Momtchilo, Voivode. + Vidossava the lonely consort of, 186; + Yaboutchilo the steed of, 187-191; + King Voukashin marches an army against, 187; + the strange dream of, 189; + falls into an ambuscade, 189; + his valiant fight, 190; + Yevrossima vainly attempts to rescue, 191; + the death of, 192; + his castle pillaged, 193 + +Montenegro. + Never subdued by Turks, 8; + belief in, that each house has its guardian spirit, 18; + belief in vampires in, 21, 22; + Nicholas I Petrovitch king of, 120; + "The Marriage of Maximus Tzrnoyevitch" the source of the drama + "The Empress of the Balkans" by king of, 134; + Vladika Danilo Petrovitch, uncle of the present king of, who first + assumed the title of Prince as a hereditary one, 184; + few instances of treachery in, 185 + +Moor, The. + Wedding tax inflicted by, 82-86 + +Moorish Chieftain, A. + Prince Marko and, 72-80 + +Morava. + The river of, 2; + Theodore of Stalatch at, 210 + +Moravians. + Their conversion to Christianity, 29 + +Moussa Arbanass. + See Moussa Kessedjiya + +Moussa Kessedjiya. + Prince Marko and, 108-114 + +Mouyo. + His welfare in the Other World described in the Serbian popular + anecdote "The Era from the Other World," 331-333 + +Mrnyavtchevitch. + Three brothers who built Skadar (Scutari), 198 + +Mussulman Faith. + The vizier of Tyoopria tries to convert Stephan Yakshitch to the, 179 + +Mythology. + Giants (djins) in Bulgarian, Croatian, and Slavonian, we owe to + the mediaeval cycle of myths, 27, 28 + +Myths. + Influence on Southern-Slavonic peoples of Graeco-Oriental and + Christian legends and, 14 + + + + +N + +Naples. + Prince Ourosh keeps up friendly relations with French Court of + Charles of Anjou in, 119 + +Naturalism. + Ousted from the Serbians by the doctrines of the Great Master, 29, 30 + +Nature. + The worship of, by Southern-Slavonic races not adequately studied, + 14; + has not yet vanished from the creed of the Balkans, 30 + +Nedelyko, Archdeacon. + King Voukashin summons to the field of Kossovo, 66, 67 + +"Neimar." + Equivalent, architect, 204 + +Nemagnitch. + Reference to the glorious dynasty of, 58 + +Nemanya, Stephan. Grand Djoupan; + created Duke of Serbia by the Byzantine emperor, 4; + Stevan second son of, 4; + one of Youg Bogdan's, sons-in-law a direct descendant of, 120 + +Nestopolye, Yanko of. + Milosh-the-Shepherd's steed, Koulash, admired by, 157 + +New Inn. + Prince Marko placed in, to recuperate his strength for his duel + with Moussa, 110, 111 + +Nicholas I Petrovitch. King of Montenegro, an indirect descendant +out of Balshitchi; + forced by the Great Powers to evacuate Skadar, 120; + Serbian bards improvise ballads to record deeds of, 120; + source of inspiration of his drama "The Empress of the Balkans," 134 + +Nicholas, St. + Power of controlling ocean, etc., attributed by the Serbians to, 51; + mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + the seas with the galleys upon them chosen by, 196 + +Nish. + Extreme devotion to the Saints practised at, 46 + +Novak. + A famous maker of swords, 111; + makes a sword for Prince Marko, 111, 112 + +Novi Bazar. + The pasha of, one of the leaders in the assault on Belgrade, 177-184; + the vizier of Tyoopria wishes to have Stephan Yakshitch appointed + vizier of, 180; + Stephan Yakshitch's life redeemed by the vizier of, 180 + + + + +O + +Obrenbegovitch, Mehmed-Bey. + Turkish alternative for Yovan Obrenbegovitch, 149 + +Obrenovitch III, Prince Michel. + The Serbian legend of "A Pavilion neither in the Sky nor on the + Earth," contributed to Vouk Stephanovitch Karadgitch by, 220 + +Obugagn Greb. + Name borne by the grave of Governor Obuganitch, in Konavla, 27 + +Odyssey. + Reference to, 54 + +Ognyena Maria (Mary the Fiery One). + Serbian peasants believe her to be the sister of the god Peroon + (St. Elias), 15 + +Old Serbia. + One of the provinces in the Balkan territories, 1 + +Oossood. + A veela who pronounced the destiny of Serbian infants, 18 + +Ottoman Generals. + Mediaeval history of Serbia contains many instances of malcontents + who became tools in hands of, 174, 175 + +Ottoman Invasion. + Ourosh and his nobles pave the way for the, 5 + +Ottoman Statesmen. + Historical note re the cunning efforts of, to seduce malcontents + from their allegiance to their rightful lords at the Courts of the + Christian princes of the Balkans, 184, 185 + +Ouglesha. + Inheritance of the Empire disputed by, 65, 70 + +Ourosh. + Younger son of Doushan the Powerful, 5; + Voukashin's bad faith toward, 61; + inheritance of the Empire disputed by, 65-71; + Marko blessed by, 71 + +Ourosh, Prince. + Belonged to the Nemanya dynasty, 119; + Helen (a princess of the house de Courtenay) wife of, 119; + maintained friendly relations with the French Court of Charles of + Anjou in Naples through his wife, 119 + +Ourosh the Great. + Dethrones his brother Vladislav, 4; + dethroned by his son Dragoutin, 4 + +Ourvinian Mountain. + Prince Marko's death on, 115-118 + + + + +P + +Padishah (Sultan). + Marko fears his foes will calumniate him to, 107; + Vlah-Ali the rebel of the, 123; + Stephan Yakshitch taken before the, 178; + Stephan Yakshitch tempted to abjure the Holy Cross by, 178 + +Paganism. + The religion and the, of the Serbians, 14-53; + only partially abolished from the Balkans, 30 + +Palm Sunday. + Serbian festivities on, 52 + +Panthelias, St. + Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + great heats chosen by, 196 + +Paul. + One of the brothers in the Serbian ballad "The Stepsisters," 206-210 + +"Pavilion neither in the Sky nor on the Earth, A." + A Serbian legend, 220-224 + +"Pea-hens, The Nine." + A Serbian folk-tale, 267-280 + +"Pepelyouga" (Cinderella). + A Serbian legend, 226-230; + alternative name of, Marra, 226-229 + +Peroon. + The Russian God of Thunder, 15; + name preserved in village "Peroon," and in plant "Peroonika," 15 + +Peter I, King. Son of Alexandre Karageorgevitch; + his glorious rule, 11; + George Petrovitch grandfather of, 175; + Empire lost by Tsar Lazarus regained under, 176 + +Peter II. + Archbishop of Montenegro, and belief in vampires, 22 + +Peter, St. + Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + wine, wheat and the Keys of the Heavenly Empire chosen by, 196; + "St. Peter and the Sand," a Serbian popular anecdote, 362 + +Petrovitch, George. Turkish designation Karageorge ('Black George'). + A gifted Serbian who led a successful insurrection against the + Turks in 1804, 9, 175; + cruelly assassinated by order of Milosh, 10 + +Petrovitch, Nicholas I. + See Nicholas + +Petrovitch, Peter. The popular Serbian poet; + reference to his masterpiece on Gorsky Viyenatz ("The Mountain + Wreath"), 56 + +Petrovitch, Vladika Danilo. Uncle of present king of Montenegro; + first assumed the title of Prince as a hereditary one, 184 + +Pirlitor. Alternative, Piritor. + The white city opposite the mountain Dourmitor, the walls of the + castle of which it is said still exist in Herzegovina, 186; + Vidossava punished by the castle, 193 + +Pisistrate's Epoch. + The learned Diascevastes of, 54 + +Pleiades. + Serbian equivalent, Sedmoro Bratye ('The Seven Brothers'), 22 + +Podgoritza. + Captain Yovan's five hundred men of, 139 + +Poetry, Epic. + The Serbian national, 54-58 + +Pogatcha. + The Serbian wedding cake, 38 + +Polaznik. + A Serbian visitor, 50 + +Pope, The. + Stevan Tomashevitch fails to get help from, 8 + +Poretch. The district of; + Milo and Milosh arrive at, 105 + +Porphyrogenete, Constantine. + According to, the Serbians adopted the Christian faith at two + different periods, 28 + +Potzerye, Milosh of. + Bogdan the Bully and, 87-89; + General Voutcha and, 89-94; + the veela Raviyoyla and, 102-105 + +Predestination. + Serbians believe in immortality and, 18 + +Priepolye. + A youth from, admires Milosh-the-Shepherd's steed, Koulash, 157 + +"Priest, The, why drowned." + A Serbian popular anecdote, 364 + +Prilip. + Serbian belief that Prince Marko is asleep in castle at, 64; + Prince Marko's appearance at battle of, in November, 1912, 64; + Archdeacon Nedelyko bids the four tabors appeal to Marko at, 67; + the Sultana's dream concerning, 74; + Milosh sends a messenger to, 90; + Marko imprisons Voutcha and Velimir in, 93, 94 + +Prisrend. + Theodor arrives at, and reports to Tsar Doushan the result of his + mission, 151, 152; + Tsar Doushan's return to, 168 + +Ptolemy. + Greek geographer, describes the Serbians, 1 + + + + +Q + +Quests. + The, of the three sons in the Serbian folk-tale "He whom God helps + no one can harm," 300-305 + + + + +R + +Rado. + The architect (neimar) who builds Skadar, 200-205 + +Radool. + One of the brothers in the Serbian ballad "The Stepsisters," 206-210 + +Radoslav. Son of Stevan, becomes King of Serbia; + deposed by his brother Vladislav, 4 + +Radoul-bey. + A Turkish lord, the supposed master of Milosh-the-Shepherd, 155 + +Ragusa. + Many noble Serbian families find a safe refuge in, 8 + +"Ram with the Golden Fleece, The." + A Serbian folk-lore story, 213-220 + +Rashka. + Name of the independent State that Djoupan Vlastimir attempted to + form, 2; + Tsar Simeon invades, to support Djoupan Tchaslav, 2; + overpowered by Byzantine Empire, 3 + +Rastislav, Prince. + Cyrillos and Methodius entrusted with a mission to Emperor Michel + III by, 29 + +Raviyoyla, Veela. + Prince Marko all but slays the, 17; + the story of Prince Marko and, 102-105 + +Religion. + Paganism and the, of the Serbians, 14-53; + naturalism and the Serbians, 29, 30 + +Relya of Bazar. A Serbian knight; + Bogdan the Bully and, 87 + +Renaissance. + The Serbian poets of Ragusa made frequent reference during the, + to nymphs and dryads as 'Veele,' 16 + +"Resnik." + A proper name in Serbia, etc., which means "the one who is searching + for truth," 24 + +Ressava. + Theodore of Stalatch wanders by river of, and sees Iconia, 210, 211 + +Roksanda, Princess. Daughter of King Michael of Ledyen; + Tsar Doushan sues for hand of, 150; + the four tests undertaken by Milosh-the-Shepherd on behalf of Tsar + Doushan in order to win, 160-166 + +Ronceval. + Reference to the French troubadour's ballad of battle at, in + comparison with the method of elaboration employed in connexion with + "King Voukashin's Marriage," 193, 194 + +Roumania. + Battle of Rovina in, 6 + +Rovina. + Marko killed in battle of, 6 + +Russians. + Funeral customs among the, 26, 27 + + + + +S + +Sacrificial Rites. + The exact terminology of well-known, from translations of the Greek + legends of the Saints, 24; + legends of human, among Russians, Polapic Slavs, Serbians, etc., 25 + +St. Elias (Elijah). + Serbian peasants believe that the god Peroon still lives in the + person of, 15; + kolyivo not prepared for, 41; + mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + comforts Beata Maria, 196 + +St. George's Day. Serbian equivalent, Dyourdyev Dan. + Strange sorceries practised on, 33, 53 + +St. John. + The princess appeals to Prince Marko in name of, 75, 76; + the veela Raviyoyla appeals to Marko by memory of, 104; + mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + brotherhood, koomhood, and the Holy Cross chosen by, 196 + +St. Nicholas. + Power of controlling ocean, etc., attributed by the Serbians to, 51; + mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195 + +St. Panthelias. + Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + great heats chosen by, 196 + +St. Peter. + Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 195; + wine, wheat, and the Keys of the Heavenly Empire chosen by, 196 + +"Saints Divide the Treasures, The." + Serbian ballad, 195-197; + "The Sand and," a Serbian popular anecdote, 362 + +Salonica. + The Slav apostles of, Cyrillos and Methodius two of, 29 + +Samodrezja. + White church of, on field of Kossovo, 65; + Marko chased by Voukashin round church of, 70, 71 + +Sand "St. Peter and the." + A Serbian popular anecdote, 362 + +Sava. + Youngest son of Grand Djoupan Stephan Nemanya, 4; + becomes first Servian archbishop, 4 + +Scutari. Modern alternative for Skadar. See Skadar. + Sir John Bowring and the token on the walls of, confirming the + story of Goiko's wife being immured, 205 + +Sea. + The Saints divide the treasures of, 195-197 + +Serb-s. + The coming of the, 1; + Prince Ourosh seeks to promote an alliance between the French + and, 119 + +Serbia. + Use of the solecism Servia in English language, 1; + one of the kingdoms in the Balkan territories, 1; + ruled by dynasty founded by Grand Djoupan Stephan Nemanya, 3, 4; + Stevan assumes title of King of, 4; + Bulgaria a province of, 5; + Doushan the Powerful Tsar of, 5; + Knez Lazar elected ruler of, 6; + fresh subjugation of, in year 1813, 9; + Treaty of Berlin acknowledges independence of, 10, 11; + Princess Roksanda's excellence unmatched throughout, 152; + the love of a sister for her brother is proverbial in, 170 + +Serbian-s. + Galicia occupied by, prior to their incursion into the Balkan + Peninsula, 1; + described by Ptolemy as living on banks of Don, 1; + Heraclius cedes provinces to the, 1; + an easy prey to the Byzantines, the Bulgars, and the Francs, 2; + attempt to form a State on banks of River Morava in ninth century, 2; + nation hindered by internecine strife from becoming a powerful + political unit, 3; + church, Sava obtains autonomy of, 4; + archbishop, Sava becomes the first, 4; + lands occupied by the Turks, 6; + struggle between Turks and, 7; + final defeat of, 8; + emigration of, to Hungary, 8; + superstitious beliefs of, and national customs, 13-53; + mixed with the indigenous population of the Balkan Peninsula, 13; + the Boshnyaks considered the most typical, 13; + bards, the Veele glorified by, 16; + national customs of the, 31-53; + national epic poetry, 54-58; + "Banovitch Strahinya" one of the finest ballads composed by anonymous + bards during Middle Ages, 119; + the departure of, from Ledyen, bearing Princess Roksanda, 166; + "People, Why Poor," a Serbian popular anecdote, 362 + +"Servian Popular Poetry." + Sir John Bowring's, quotations of three poems from, 198-212 + +Shar. + The mountain where Milosh-the-Shepherd tarried with his flocks, 153 + +Sharatz (Piebald). + Prince Marko's wonderful courser, 17, 57; + story how Marko became possessed of the wonderful steed, 61-65; + alternatives, Sharin or Sharo, 62; + Marko rides to Kossovo, 68, 69; + prepared for fight against a Moor, 76; + Marko rides, to Istamboul, 76, 77; + Bedevia and, 79, 80, 81; + Marko rides, in his conflict with the Moor to abolish his wedding + tax, 82-86; + how Marko escaped Bogdan the Bully on, 87; + Marko attacks General Voutcha on, 91-94; + Marko flees from Moorish princes on, 102; + the veela Raviyoyla overtaken by, 103, 104; + Marko pursues the Turkish Grand Vizir on, 106; + Marko rides forth on, to meet Moussa, 112; + Marko returns triumphantly to the Sultan at Istamboul on, 114; + Marko slays and buries, 116, 117 + +Shishman, King. + Marko and daughter of, 95-97 + +Simeon. A Bulgarian Tsar; + Rashka invaded by, 2 + +Sirmia. + I. One of the kingdoms in the Balkan territories, 1; + Dragoutin king of, 5. + II. A plain containing village of Koopinovo, in which Zmay-Despot + Vook lived, 130. + +Sitnitza. + Strahinya beholds supposed tent of Vlah-Ali from the banks of, 122; + Banovitch crosses the river, 124; + Ban Strahinya's death by the streamlet, 174 + +Skadar or Skadra. Modern alternative, Scutari; + birthplace of Prince Marko, 59; + the capital of Northern Albania, where Strashimir + Balshitch-Nemanyitch reigned (1360-1370), 119; + the capital of Zeta (the Montenegro of modern times), 120; + name derived from the Italian appellation Scodra, otherwise Scutari, + 198; + belonged to Serbians from time immemorial, 198; + Serbian ballad "The Building of," 198-205; + on river Boyana, 186 + +Skoupshtina, The (National Assembly). + Milosh restored by, 10; + elects King Peter I, 11 + +Slav-s. + Language, teachings of Christ translated into, by Cyrillos and + Methodius, 2; + apostles, Cyrillos and Methodius two of, 29; + explanation of conquest of Ottoman generals over the Balkan, 175 + +Slava. Alternative, Krsno Ime. + The Serbian tutelary Saint-day, 40-46 + +Slavonic Races. + Paganism and religion of, 14-53; + influence of Graeco-Oriental myths and legends, Illyrian and Roman + propaganda, Christian legends and apocryphal writings, on the, 14; + remains of idols of the Sun god 'Daybog' among the, 16 + +Southern Slavs. + At first the Christian faith spread only superficially, 28; + life of, interwoven with superstition, 30-53; + national customs of, 31-53; + allusion to frescoes illustrating duel between Marko and Moussa on + tavern walls in villages of, 108 + +Spirits, Good and Evil. + Serbian belief in, 18, 22 + +Sredoi. A kinsman of George Irene; + Iconia promised to, for Irene, 211 + +Stalatch. + A ruined fortress on the banks of the river Morava, 210; + Theodore of, 210 + +Stamboul. + Mediaeval history of Serbia contains many instances of malcontents + going to, and becoming tools of Ottoman generals, 174, 175; + return in triumph of the vizier of Tyoopria to, 178 + +"Steel, True." + The Serbian folk-tale of "Bash Tchelik" or, 247-267 + +Stefan Strematz. + The celebrated Serbian novelist, and Slava customs, 46 + +"Stepmother and her Step-Daughter, The." + A Serbian folk-tale, 235-240 + +"Stepsisters, The." + A Serbian ballad from Sir John Bowring's Servian Popular Poetry, + 206-210 + +Stevan. + Second son of Grand Djoupan Stephan Nemanya, 3, 4; + on abdication of his father he assumes title of King of Servia, 4; + Radoslav son of, 4 + +Stevan Detchanski. Miloutin's son; + by victory at Velbouzd brings whole of Bulgaria under his sway, 5; + dethroned by Doushan, 5 + +Stevan Tomashevitch. + King of Bosnia, 8 + +Stoyan and Stoyana. + Twins whom it was attempted to immure in the foundation of Skadar, + 198-205 + +Strahinya, Banovitch. + Serbian bards improvise ballads to tell story of Nicholas I + Petrovitch just as their ancestors recorded exploits of, 120; + Vlah-Ali attacks castle and captures wife of, 120-128; + slays Vlah-Ali and returns to Kroushevatz, 128 + +Strashimir Balshitch-Nemanyitch. + Some Serbian historians believe identical with Banovitch Strahinya, + 119; + a descendant of the old Provencal family of des Baux, 119; + reigned conjointly with two brothers in Skadar, the capital of + Northern Albania (1360-1370), 119 + +Strength. + The secret of Bash Tchelik's, 266 + +Strhigna, Ban. + Tsarina Militza and death of, 173 + +Sublime Porte. + Accepts Milosh as hereditary Prince of Serbia, 10 + +"Suitors, The Three." + A Servian folk-tale, 316-322 + +Sun and Moon. + Serbian beliefs regarding eclipses recall Norse belief of a similar + nature, 19 + +Sun-God. + Pagan sacrifices to, in Serbia, 49 + +Sunday. + Veela discountenances fighting on, 17, 113, 114 + +Superstition. + Christianity and, in the Balkans, 30 + +"Svati" (or svatovi). + Serbian equivalent for wedding guests, 32 + +Svetchar. + The chief man of the family in connexion with the Slava, 40, 42 + +Svetopluk, Prince. + Cyrillos and Methodius entrusted with a mission to Emperor Michel + III by, 29 + +Sword. + Novak makes a celebrated one for Prince Marko, 111, 112 + + + + +T + +Tarra. + The river, 186 + +Tasks, The Three. + Named in the Serbian ballad "The Ram with the Golden Fleece," 213-220 + +Tchardack. + A Turkish word signifying a tower provided with balconies, 129 + +Tchaslav. The Djoupan of a Serbian tribe; + claims the Rashka State, 2; + wrests also the territories of Zetta, Trebinye, Neretva, and Housa, + 2, 3 + +Tchile. Diminutive for Yaboutchilo. + The steed of Voivode Momtchilo, 186-191 + +Tekiye. + Allusion to the church at, 93 + +Theodor. Tsar Doushan's Councillor of State; + sent to sue for hand of Roksanda, daughter of King Michael of + Ledyen, 150; + reports result of his mission, 151, 152; + his inability to undergo the fourth test in order to win Princess + Roksanda, 164, 165 + +Theodore of Stalatch. + Hero in the Serbian ballad "The Abduction of the Beautiful Iconia," + 210-212; + Dobrivoy servant of, 211 + +Thracians, The. + Driven by Serbians toward Adriatic coast, 1 + +Thunderer, The. + Appellation for St. Elias, 196 + +Timok. + River of, crossed by Marko and Milosh, 105 + +Toasts. + The Slava and, 44 + +Toplitza, Milan of. + General Voutcha and, 89-94 + +"Trade, A, before Everything." + A Serbian popular anecdote, 366-369 + +"Trade that no one Knows, The." + A Serbian folk-tale, 340-353 + +Trajan, Emperor. + Confused in the Balkans with the Greek King Midas, 27; + confused in Serbian legends with Daedalus, 27 + +Travnik. + The city of, 179 + +Treachery. + Vook Brankovitch's, against Knez Lazar, 7 + +Treasures, "The Saints Divide the," 195-197 + +Treaty of Berlin. + The famous, acknowledged the independence of Serbia during the rule + of Milan, 10, 11; + mention of a Veele ring in the, 17 + +"Tsar, The Maiden Wiser Than The." + Serbian folk-tale, 287-291 + +Turk-s. + Reference to campaigns between Christians and, 6; + struggle between Serbians and, 7; + final success of, 8; + almost driven from Europe under glorious rule of King Peter I, 11; + abhorred by the Veele, 17; + defeat of, on battlefields of Koumanovo, Monastir, Prilip, Prizrend, + Kirk-Kilisse and Scutari, 54; + sought and attacked by Banovitch on field of Kossovo, 121-128; + Prince Maximus and Yovan Obrenbegovitch become, 149; + Belgrade assailed by a great host of, 177-184; + Stephan Yakshitch resists the temptation to become a, 179-182; + historical note re the cunning efforts of, to seduce malcontents + from their allegiance to their rightful lords at courts of the + Christian princes of the Balkans, 184, 185 + +Turkish Atrocities. + Their culmination reached in seventeenth century, 9 + +Turkish Huntsmen, The. + Prince Marko and, 105-108 + +Turkish Rule. + The miseries of, 8, 9 + +Tvrtko, Ban. Of Bosnia; + alliance against the Turks between Knez Lazar and, 6 + +"Twins, The Golden-Haired." + A Serbian folk-tale, 353-361 + +Tyoopria. + I. Vizier of; + one of the leaders in the assault on Belgrade, 177-183; + Stephan Yakshitch led as prisoner to, 178; + kindness of, to Stephan Yakshitch, 178-180; + his return in triumph to Stamboul, 178; + his wish to make Stephan Yakshitch vizier of Novi Bazar, 180. + II. Castle of, the vizier of Tyoopria offers to retain Stephan + Yakshitch as prisoner in, 179. + +Tyouprilitch, Grand Vizir. + Undertakes a campaign against Moussa, 108; + Moussa takes prisoner and sends ignominiously bound to Istamboul, + 108, 109; + advises Sultan to send for Prince Marko, 109 + +Tyoupriya. + Modern alternative for Horea Margi, 2 + +"Tzechin." + A golden coin worth about ten shillings, 240 + +Tzigan-s. + Serbian equivalent for gipsies, 36, 363; + their main occupation is stealing and selling horses, 363 + +Tzrnoyevitch, Ivan. + Sails across the Adriatic to Venice to secure wife for his son + Maximus, 134; + sails for Zablak, 135; + Zdral steed of, 135; + invites Voivode Milosh Obrenbegovitch to be the stari-svat in + connexion with his son's wedding, 138-149; + invites Captain Yovan to the wedding of his son, 139; + Krgno and Zelenko, two famous guns of, 140 + +Tzrnoyevitch, Maximus. + The marriage of, 134-149; + son of Ivan Tzrnoyevitch, 134; + stricken with small-pox, 135; + Yovan in a dream sees a falling tower strike, 139; + Milosh Obrenbegovitch slain by, 148; + Turkish alternative, Scanderbeg Ivanbegovitch, 149; + Scutari on river Boyana granted to, by Sultan, 149 + + + + +U + +Uglesha-Voivode. + Second of three brothers who built Skadar (Scutari), 198-205 + + + + +V + +Valahia. + Many noble Serbian families take refuge with Christian princes of, 8 + +Vampires. + The belief in, universal throughout the Balkans, 21, 22 + +Varadin, Fort. + Guns of, signal General Voutcha's triumph, 89; + Prince Marko on the plain before, 91, 92; + Marko sends Voutcha and Velimir to, 94 + +Vasso. The igouman (abbot) of Mount Athos; + finds the body of Marko and mourns his death, 118; + Issaya the deacon of, 118 + +Vassoye, Land of. + Momtchilo dreams that a cloud of fog from, wraps itself round + Dourmitor mountain, 189 + +Veela. + Marko endued with superhuman strength by a, 17; + presented with Sharatz by a, 17; + Raviyoyla a, allusion to incident of Marko and, 17; + Oossood a, who pronounced the destiny of Serbian infants, 18; + Raviyoyla and Marko, 102-105; + Marko calls for aid from his sister-in-God the, 113, 114; + Marko hears the call of the, on the top of Ourvinian mountain, + 115-118 + +Veele or Vile (singular, Veela or Vila). + Minor deities in Serbian superstition identical with the nymphai + and potami mentioned by the Greek historian Procope, 16-18; + Stephan Yakshitch and a, 177; + Skadra's fortress and the, 198; + the prince and the, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Dream of the + King's Son," 324, 325 + +Velbouzd. + Famous battle of, 5 + +Veless. The city of; + derived name from Russian God of Cattle, Volos, 15 + +Velessnitza. A village on the lower Danube; + derived name from the Russian God of Cattle, Volos, 15 + +Velimir. Son of General Voutcha; + Marko and, 91-94 + +Venetian King. + The four tests put by the, to Tsar Doushan in order to win the + Princess Roksanda, 160-166 + +Venetian Land. + Tsar Doushan journeys to the, 152 + +Venetians, The. + Their cunning known from ancient times, 152, 153 + +Venice. + Maximus Tzrnoyevitch's wedding and, 140, 142 + +Venice, Doge of. + Marko invites to act as koom the, 96-100; + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch asks daughter of, in marriage for his son Maximus, + 134-149 + +Vidal, Pierre. A French troubadour; + Donna Azalais de Baux his patroness, 33 + +Vidin, The Pasha of. + One of the leaders in the assault on Belgrade, 177-184 + +Vidossava. The lonely consort of Voivode Momtchilo; + letter sent secretly to, by King Voukashin, 186; + the treachery of, 187; + destroys wings of steed Yaboutchilo, 188; + her punishment, 192, 193 + +Vienna. + Vouk Stephanovitch-Karadgitch's first collection of Serbian national + poems published at, 54 + +Vilindar. + Vasso the Abbot of Mount Athos rides from the white church of, 118; + Prince Marko's body interred within the white church of, 118 + +Vladika. + Meaning in Serbian, 'bishop,' 184 + +Vladislav. + Radoslav dethroned by, 4; + Ourosh the Great dethrones, 4 + +Vlah-Ali. + A haughty chieftain who attacks Strahinya's castle and captures + his wife, 120-128; + independent of the Grand Vizir Mehmed and of Sultan Amourath, 121; + Strahinya seeks out and attacks, 121-128; + his slaying by Banovitch, 128 + +Vlastela (Assembly of Nobles). + Doushan the Powerful proclaimed Tsar of Serbia in agreement with, 5 + +Vlastimir, Djoupan (Great). + Attempts to form an independent State, 2 + +Vo or Voll. + Equivalent, Ox, 15. See Volos + +Voinovitch, Milosh, Prince. + Identical with Milosh-the Shepherd, 168, 169 + +Voinovitch, Petrashin. + Nephew of Tsar Doushan, 151; + Doushan swears to hang, 152; + Milosh-the-Shepherd brother of, 153, 154 + +Voinovitch, Voukashin. + Nephew of Tsar Doushan, 151; + Doushan swears to hang, 152; + Milosh-the-Shepherd brother of, 153, 154 + +Voislav, Stephen. + Ruler of Zetta, son of Dragomir, declares his independence and + appropriates Zahoumlye (Hertzegovina), 3 + +Voivode. + As a title of nobility corresponds to English 'Duke,' 7 + +Voivode, Balatchko the. + The contest with Milosh-the-Shepherd, 167-169; + Milosh slays, 168 + +Volos. The Russian God of Cattle; + derivative appears in the Serbian word vo or voll ('ox'), 15 + +Vook, Zmay-Despot. + The Zmay of Yastrebatz and, 130-133; + fear of Zmay of Yastrebatz of, 130; + village of Koopinovo on plain of Sirmia, his abode, 130; + his fight with Zmay of Yastrebatz, 131, 132; + the Zmay slain by, 132; + ruled over Sirmia, 132 + +Vouk Stephanovitch-Karadgitch. + Serbian national poet, 54, 55; + takes down from lips of Serbian bard the ballad of "The Marriage + of King Voukashin," 193; + records the belief of the Serbian people that no great building + can be successfully erected without immuring some human being, 205; + Serbian legend "A Pavilion neither in the Sky nor on the Earth," + contributed by Prince Michel Obrenovitch III to, 220 + +Voukashin, King. + Defeated by Ourosh on banks of river Maritza, 6; + Prince Marko son of, 59; + Serbian ballads sing of, 60; + the bad faith of, toward Emperor Doushan, 61; + disputes the inheritance of the Empire, 65-71; + curses Marko, 71; + the marriage of, 186-194; + vassal king to the Emperor Doushan the Powerful, 186; + writes a book (letter) to Vidossava and dispatches it to Herzegovina, + 186; + on the advice of Vidossava he marches a large force to Herzegovina + against Momtchilo, 187-192; + his woe concerning the death of Momtchilo, 192; + weds Yevrossima 192; + Marko and Andrias born to, 193; + historical note on, 193, 194 + +Voutcha, General. + Prince Marko and, 89-94 + +Voutche of Dyakovitza. + Admires the steed Koulash, 157 + +Voutchitrn, Castle of. + Tsar Doushan swears to hang his nephews, the Voinovitchs, on the + gates of the, 152; + Tsar Doushan's wedding procession passes by walls of, 152; + Milosh takes farewell of Tsar Doushan in order to return to, 168 + +Voyages. + The three, of the good son in the Serbian folk-tale "Good Deeds + Never Perish," 291-299 + +Vrzino (or Vilino) Kollo. + Dance rings of the Veele, 17 + +Vukashin Kraly. + Eldest of three brothers who built Skadar (Scutari), 198-205 + + + + +W + +"Wager, Lying for a." + A Serbian folk-tale, 283-287 + +Wedding Procession. + The, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Biter Bit," 333 + +Wedding Tax. + Prince Marko abolishes, 82-86 + +Whitsuntide. + Serbian festivities during, 52 + +Witch-es (veshtitze). + Female evil spirits, who are irreconcilably hostile to men and + children, 20, 21; + the old, in the Serbian folk-tale "The Bird-Maiden," 281-283 + +Worship. + Of the sun and moon, 22; + of fire and lightning, 22; + of animals, 22, 23; + of snakes, 23; + of the dragon--that of Southern Slavs contrasted with that of the + Hellenes, 23 + +Wrath of God, The. + Mention of, in Serbian ballad "The Saints Divide the Treasures," 197 + + + + +Y + +Yaboutchilo (diminutive, Tchile). + The steed of Voivode Momtchilo, 187-191; + Momtchilo reproaches, 190 + +Yahorika. + Demitrius Yakshitch rests by river, 178 + +Yakshitch, Demitrius. Brother of Stephan Yakshitch; + the Veela's warning to, 177; + his remorse by the river Yahorika, 178 + +Yakshitch, Stephan. + The captivity and marriage of (a ballad of Montenegro), 177-185; + Demitrius the brother of, 177; + the veela's warning to, 177; + taken prisoner and led to the presence of the Vizier of Tyoopria, + 178; + led to the presence of the mighty Padishah, 178; + the Padishah tempts him to renounce the Holy Cross, 179; + declines the "water of oblivion" offered by Haykoona, 181, 182; + Haykoona confesses her real love for, and enables him to escape, + 182, 183 + +Yanissaries. + The pasha of Novi Bazar in the assault on Belgrade brings twenty + thousand fierce, 177 + +Yanko of Nestopolye. + Admires the steed Koulash, 157 + +Yastrebatz, the Zmay of. + The Tsarina Militza and, 129-133; + his fear of Zmay-Despot Vook, 130; + Vook attacks and slays, 131, 132 + +Yedrenet. Equivalent, Adrianople. + Prince Marko received by the Sultan at, 107, 108 + +Yelitza. + Sister of Paul and Radool, in the Serbian ballad "The Stepsisters," + 207-210 + +Yesdimir. + The aged brother of the doge of Venice, 143 + +Yevrossima (Euphrosyne). + I. Alternative name for Queen Helen, mother of Prince Marko, 59, 67. + II. Sister of Voivode Momtchilo, 187; + vainly attempts to rescue her brother Momtchilo, 191; + King Voukashin weds, to whom she bears Marko and Andrias, 193; + historical note on, 193, 194 + +Youg Bogdan. + Aged father-in-law of Banovitch, 120; + visited by Banovitch, 120, 121; + castle in Kroushevatz the residence of, 120; + Strahinya returns to, after his slaying of Vlah-Ali, 128; + Tsarina Militza and death of, 173 + +Yougovitch-s. + I. The nine brothers-in-law of Strahinya; + Strahinya urges them not to slay their sister, 128. + II. The nine brothers of Tsarina Militza, 170-174 + +Yovan, Captain. + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch invites, to the wedding of his son, 139-149 + +Yovan Obrenbegovitch. + Brother of Milosh Obrenbegovitch, 149; + meets Prince Maximus, 149; + Turkish alternative Mehmed-Bey Obrenbegovitch, 149; + plain of Ducadyin given as fief to, 149 + +Yovo. + Infant son of Goiko, 204, 205 + + + + +Z + +Zablak. + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch sails for, 135; + wedding attendants invited by Ivan Tzrnoyevitch encamp on plain + of, 139; + Yovan in a dream beholds fire consume the beautiful capital of, 139; + Milosh to escort Maximus' bride to, 141, 144 + +"Zadrooga." + Designation of Serbian family associations, 13, 14 + +Zagorye. + Mountain on which Milosh-the-Shepherd overtakes wedding procession + of Tsar Doushan, 155 + +Zagreb (Agram). + Croatians had established an episcopate at, as early as the eleventh + century, 14 + +Zahoumlye (Herzegovina). + Appropriated by Stephen Voislav, 3 + +Zdral. + Steed of Ivan Tzrnoyevitch, 135, 140, 142 + +"Zelenko" and "Krgno." + Ivan Tzrnoyevitch's two famous guns, 140 + +Zemlyitch, Styepan. + Accompanies the doge of Venice, who acts as Marko's koom, 96-100 + +Zeta. + The Montenegro of modern times, Skadar the capital of, 119, 120 + +Zetina. + Waters of, stirred by explosion of Ivan Tzrnoyevitch's guns, 140 + +Zmay. + The Serbian word for dragon, 129; + the, of Yastrebatz, and the Tsarina Militza, 129 + + + + + + + +NOTES + + +[1] This was written one month before an even more critical situation +confronted the Serbian nation. + +[2] Mussachi's memoir in Karl Hopf's Chroniques Graeco-Romaines. + +[3] Tcheque is a better synonym for the solecism Bohemian. + +[4] In Serbian Pepelyouga, where pepel, or--with vocalized l--pepeo, +means 'cinder' or 'ashes'; ouga being the idiomatic suffix +corresponding to the Italian one or English ella, etc. + +[5] See Servian Conversation Grammar, by Woislav M. Petrovitch, +ed. Julius Groos, Heidelberg, 1914 (London: David Nutt, 212 Shaftesbury +Avenue, W.C.), Introduction, pp. 1-8. + +[6] The English language is the only one which, instead of the correct +forms 'Serbian,' 'Serbia,' uses the solecism 'Servia,' etc. Suggesting +a false derivation from the Latin root which furnished the English +words 'serf,' 'servant,' 'servitude,' this corrupted form is, of +course, extremely offensive to the people to whom it is applied and +should be abandoned. + +[7] Protestants of the Greek Orthodox Church who later settled +in Bosnia. + +[8] See the poem: "Tsar Ourosh and his Nobles, or, The Royal Prince +Marko tells whose the Empire will be." + +[9] This title corresponds to 'prince.' + +[10] 'Ban' is the original title of the rulers of Bosnia. + +[11] Voivode originally meant 'leader of an army' or 'General.' As +a title of nobility it corresponds with the English 'Duke,' which, +derived from the Latin, dux, possesses the same root meaning. + +[12] The male members of a Serbian family continue to live after +marriage in the paternal home. If the house is too small to accommodate +the young couple, an annexe is built. The home may be frequently +enlarged in this way, and as many as eighty members of a family have +been known to reside together. Such family associations are called +'zadrooga.' + +[13] One of the principal characters in King Nicholas's drama The +Empress of the Balkans is a warrior called 'Peroon.' + +[14] See "Prince Marko and the Veela," page 102. + +[15] See "The Death of Marko," page 117. + +[16] See "The Building of Skadar," page 198. + +[17] Monk Marcus of Seres, Zetesis peri boulcholachon, ed. Lambros; +Neos Hellenomnemon, I (1904), 336-352. + +[18] 'Pleiades' are otherwise known under the name of Sedam Vlashitya. + +[19] See "The Tsarina Militza and the Zmay of Yastrebatz." page 129. + +[20] A Serbian word of Turkish origin. + +[21] This personage is usually a brother or very intimate friend +of the bridegroom. He corresponds somewhat to the 'best man' at an +English wedding, but his functions are more important, as will be seen. + +[22] Forests have been considered until recently as the common +property of all. Even in our day every peasant is at liberty to cut a +Badgnak-tree in any forest he chooses, though it may be the property +of strangers. + +[23] Quoted from the historian Leopold von Ranke. + +[24] An instrument which emits droning monotonous sounds, and which +resembles in many points the hurdy-gurdy. In olden times, in Serbia, +this instrument was played by minstrels thirty years of age or more; +younger men played the flute, violin, and a kind of bagpipes. + +[25] In order to illustrate how firmly rooted is that belief +throughout Serbia, the author quotes from his article (condensed): +"How a Fourteenth Century Serbian Prince achieved a Miraculous Victory +in the Late War," The International Psychic Gazette, May 1913. + +"... When we arrived on the 15th of November last year, at Skoplye +(Uskub), the Serbian officers gave a comparatively sumptuous banquet +at their barracks in honour of Surgeon-General Bourke and the two +units of the British Red Cross, on which occasion the aged General +Mishitch related to us the following incident from the battle of +Prilip, fought a few days previously. + +"... Our infantry was ordered to make a forced march on the eve of +that battle, which is unique in the history of warfare. They were to +wait at the foot of the mount of Prilip on which stood the Castle +of Marko for the effect of our artillery, which was superior both +in numbers and quality to that of the Turks. They were especially +cautioned against storming the fort before they received the order +from their commander-in-chief. This was necessary, for our soldiers +had won recently several battles at the point of the bayonet, and were +convinced that there was nothing that would frighten the Turks more +than the sight of the shining bayonets of the Serbian troops. They +knew well that the mere exclamation of Bulgarians, Na noge! put the +Turks to flight at Kirk-Klisse and Luele Bourgass. + +"During the early morning the infantry kept quiet, but at the first +cannon-shots we noticed an effervescence among our troops, and soon +afterward we heard them shouting frantically and saw them running +like wolves straight to the castle of the Royal Prince Marko. I could +hear the voice of our Captain Agatonovitch, commanding them to stop +and await the General's order. When the immediate commanders saw +that discipline proved futile, they essayed in vain to appeal to the +soldiers' reason, assuring them of certain death if they would not +await at least the effect of our artillery. Our warriors, deafened +by the roaring of the Turkish siege-cannon and mitrailleuses, ran +straight into the fire, and appeared to fall in dozens! The sight was +horrible. I was unable to stop my soldiers. My blood froze, I closed +my eyes. Disastrous defeat! Demoralisation of other troops! My own +degradation was certain! + +"In a little while our artillery ceased firing, lest they should +kill their own comrades, who were now crossing bayonets with the +Turkish infantry. A few minutes later we saw the Serbian national +colours fluttering on the donjon of Kralyevitch Marko's castle. The +Turks were fleeing in greatest disorder. The Serbian victory was as +complete as it was rapid! + +"When we arrived on the scene a little later, a parade was +ordered. After calling together the troops we found our loss had been +comparatively insignificant. I praised my heroes for their brave +conduct, but reproached them bitterly for their disobedience. At +my last admonishing words, I heard from thousands of soldiers in +majestic unison: + +"'Kralyevitch Marko commanded us all the time: FORWARD! Did you not +see him on his Sharatz?' + +"It was clear to me that the tradition of Kralyevitch Marko was so +deeply engraved on the hearts of those honest and heroic men that, +in their vivid enthusiasm, they had seen the incarnation of their hero. + +"I dismissed the troops and ordered double portions of food and wine +to be given to all for a week. Every tenth man obtained a 'Medalya +za Hrabrost' (medal for courage)." + +[26] Tabor is a Turkish word meaning an army, or a camp. + +[27] Other bards mention 'Gratchanitza.' + +[28] Despot was an honorary title of the Byzantine emperors, then +of members of their families, and was later conferred as a title of +office on vassal rulers and governors. The rank of Despot was next +to that of the king. + +[29] Divan, a Turkish word for "senate." + +[30] Koula is a Serbo-Turkish word for "castle." + +[31] Istamboul is the Turkish name for Constantinople. + +[32] Firman is a Turkish word for an imperial "letter" or "decree." + +[33] Tovar is a Serbian measure, representing what a normal horse +can carry on its back. It is now an obsolete term. + +[34] Dervish is an ecclesiastic official amongst the Mohammedans. When +applied to the laity it is used as a term of reproach. + +[35] Literally, "until thy good luck calls thee," and means in Serbia +until she marries. + +[36] This is a reference to Lazar, who fell at the battle of Kossovo. + +[37] Kessedjiya means 'fighter' or 'bully,' and is the nickname of an +Albanian chevalier-brigand Moussa, who defied for years the distant +power of the Sultan. The incident described in the poem here referred +to recounts--according to some Serbian historians--an event which +actually took place in the beginning of the fourteenth century. There +is hardly any inn or tavern in the villages of the Southern Slavs on +the front wall of which one cannot see a rough fresco illustrating +the duel between Marko and Moussa. + +[38] Arbanass is another appellation for Albanian. + +[39] Dyugoom, a water vessel made of copper and enamelled inside. + +[40] Adrianople. + +[41] The lines are considered to be the finest composed by any Serbian +bard, and may be freely translated: "O Lord Strahinya, thou Serbian +glorious falcon! Depending ever upon thy true steed Dyogo and upon +thine own courage, wherever thou goest, there thou shalt find a way +free of all danger." + +[42] Here the bard in his naive meditations on the psychology of women, +states that the fair sex is always alarmed by true dogs. + +[43] Zmay is the Serbian word for 'dragon,' but in this poem it is +employed metaphorically to suggest the superhuman attributes supposed +to be possessed by the heroes. + +[44] Tchardack is a Turkish word and signifies: a tower provided +with balconies. + +[45] Ruler of Zetta and Montenegro, which were separate states at +the beginning of the fifteenth century. + +[46] This expression occurs in several of the poems and implies the +most deeply felt depression of spirits, and disappointment. + +[47] In this verse the troubadour expresses the opinion--not at all +complimentary to women, but universally prevailing in the Balkans--that +"women have long hair and short brains" (Dooge kosse a pameti kratke). + +[48] Other renderings of this ballad have it that Maximus challenged +Milosh to a duel in which the prince was victorious. + +[49] Others state that Maximus did not flee but remained and fought +till he was nearly exhausted by his numberless wounds, and that then +he made a superhuman effort and succeeded in rescuing his bride. + +[50] This is the popular appellation of Serbians living in Batchka +and Banat, which provinces are now under Austro-Hungarian rule. + +[51] The love of a sister for her brother in Serbia is +proverbial. Entire ballads are devoted to beautiful examples of such +love. There is no greater and more solemn oath for a sister in Serbia +than that sworn by the name of her brother. + +[52] Kroushevatz was the capital of the vast Serbian empire during +the reign of Tsar Lazarus Hrebelianovitch at the time of the famous +battle of Kossovo (A.D. 1389). + +[53] Laboud means white swan in Serbian. + +[54] The Turkish sultan, Amourath I, perished by the hand of Voivode +Milosh. That great Serbian hero stabbed him with his secret poniard +when conducted as an alleged traitor to the sultan's presence. + +[55] Corrupted form of Amourad or Amourath. + +[56] A ballad of Montenegro, county Byelopavlitch. + +[57] Danitza is the Morning Star. The Serbian bards often begin their +poems with a reference to the dawn and "Danitza." Several well-known +ballads begin thus: "The Moon scolds the star Danitza: Where hast thou +been? Wherefore hast thou wasted much time?" And Danitza in order to +exonerate herself, invariably relates to the Moon something she has +seen in the night during her absence; usually some wrongful deed by a +Turk or dishonourable conduct on the part of a young man to his brother +or other relatives, such as an unjust division of patrimony, &c. + +[58] Sidjade, a divan. + +[59] Hodja, a Mussulman priest. + +[60] Kadi, an Ottoman judge. + +[61] Djelat, an executioner. + +[62] Vladika means in Serbian 'Bishop.' In Montenegro members of the +Petrovitch-Niegosh family were bishops as well as political rulers. It +was Vladika Danilo Petrovitch, uncle of the present king of Montenegro, +who first assumed the title of prince as an hereditary one. + +[63] King Voukashin, the father of Prince Marko, was a vassal king +to the Emperor Doushan the Powerful. + +[64] Boyana is the river upon the banks of which Scutari is built. + +[65] The Serbian bards of the fourteenth century invariably use the +word "book" when speaking of a letter. + +[66] Or, according to some bards, Piritor. It is said that the walls +of the castle still exist in Herzegovina. + +[67] Tchile, diminutive of Yaboutchilo, the full name of the steed. + +[68] It must be remembered that these ballads are recited by bards +before great gatherings of people of all ages and both sexes, hence +such direct addresses. + +[69] This is one more instance of the intensity of sisterly love to +which we have previously referred. + +[70] This ballad is in all probability a remnant of the mythologic +traces of a great prehistoric catastrophe, and it illustrates more +than any other ancient memorial of the poetic Serbian people, the +striking similarity in the beliefs of nations. + +[71] This opening might perplex many readers if it were not explained +that the commotion is not caused by the saints, but is due to the +device, familiar to a Serbian audience, whereby the bard gives his +ballad an effective start, and obtains the close attention of his +peasant hearers. + +[72] Divan means in Serbian any state gathering. In this passage it +means the Supreme Judgment. + +[73] Skadar or Skadra, derived from the Italian appellation Scodra, +otherwise Scutari, the present capital of Albania. Scutari has belonged +from time immemorial to the Serbians. + +[74] Kraly means King. + +[75] Boyana is the name of the river washing the wall of Skadar. + +[76] Neimar means 'architect.' + +[77] Sir John Bowring, writing in 1827, states that a small stream of +liquid carbonate of lime is shown on the walls of Scutari as evidence +of the truth of this story. Vouk St. Karadjitch, says that the Serbian +people even to-day believe that no great building can be successfully +erected without the immuring of some human being. Therefore they avoid +the neighbourhood of such buildings while they are being erected, +for it is said that even the spirit of such an unfortunate being can +be immured, whereby a speedy death would ensue. Srpske Narodne Pyesme, +Vienna, 1875, vol. ii. p. 124, footnote 20. + +[78] A ruined fortress on the banks of the River Morava. The same +name is borne by a city in Central Serbia, situated not far from the +castle of Theodore. + +[79] This legend was written and contributed to Vouk St. Karadgitch +by Prince Michel Obrenovitch III, who had heard it in his childhood +from the lips of his nurse. + +[80] The Christians of the Balkans usually make the sign of the cross +before and after every meal. + +[81] A golden coin worth about 10s. + +[82] The apple is a symbolic gift, which a wooer offers to the maiden +of his choice. + +[83] It is the custom with Serbians, for one of her brothers to +present the bride to her wooer. + +[84] Beardless is used as the personification of craftiness and +sharpness. + +[85] This and the remaining stories in this chapter are reprinted +from Serbian Folk-Lore, by Madame C. Mijatovitch, by kind permission +of M. Chedo Miyatovich. + +[86] Tzigans or Gipsies in Serbia, and indeed in the whole Balkan +Peninsula, deal mostly with horses. Stealing and selling horses is +their main occupation. + +[87] Era is a name given to the peasants of the district of Ouzitze +(Western Serbia). They are supposed to be very witty and shrewd, +and might be called the Irishmen of Serbia. + +[88] When Serbians are greatly surprised at anything they involuntarily +make the sign of the cross. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Hero Tales and Legends of the Serbians, by +Woislav M. 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