ANCIENT SERVIAN SONG.

O my fountain, so fresh and cool,

O my rose, so rosy red!

Why art thou blown out so early?

None have I to pluck thee for!

If I plucked thee for my mother—

Ah, poor girl, I have no mother.

If I plucked thee for my sister—

Gone is my sister with her husband.

If I plucked thee for my brother—

To the war my brother’s gone.

If I plucked thee for my lover—

Gone 's my lover far away!

Far away, o’er three green mountains,

Far away, o’er three cool fountains!

Translated by Talvi.