XLV
ELEGY
Konda died—his mother's only offspring. O what grief was hers the youth to bury Far away from his own natural dwelling, So she bore him to a verdant garden, And 'neath pomegranate trees interr'd him. Every, every day she wandered thither: "Doth the earth, sweet son, lie heavy on thee? Heavy are the planks of maple round thee?" From his grave the voice of Konda answers: "Lightly presses the green earth upon me, Lightly press the planks of maple round me. Heavy is the virgins' malediction; When they sigh, their sighs reach God's high presence; When they curse, the world begins to tremble; When they weep, even God is touch'd with pity." S. J. B.
XLVI
INQUIRY
A maiden sat on th' ocean shore, And held this converse with herself: "O God of goodness and of love! What's broader than the mighty sea, And what is longer than the field, And what is swifter than the steed, What sweeter than the honey dew, What dearer than a brother is?" A fish thus answer'd from the sea: "O maid! thou art a foolish girl. And heaven is broader than the sea; The sea is longer than the field; The eye is swifter than the steed; Sugar more sweet than honey dew; Dearer than brother is thy love." S. J. B.
XLVII
DOUBT
Three young travellers travell'd forth to travel: On their travels met a lovely maiden: Each will give the lovely maiden a present: One presents her with a fresh-pluck'd apple: One presents her with bosiljak[[21]] flowering: One a gold ring for the maiden's finger. He who gave the maiden the bosiljak Said, "The maid is mine—I claim the maiden." He who gave the maid the fresh-pluck'd apple Said, "The maid is mine—I claim the maiden." He who gave the gold ring to the maiden Said, "We'll go and seek the Judge together: He shall say to whom belongs the maiden."
So they went and sought the Judge's presence: "Judge, thou honourable, judge between us: We three travell'd forth together, And we met a maiden in our travels, And we gave her—gave her each a present: One of us a green and fresh-pluck'd apple: One presented her bosiljak flowering; And the third a gold ring for her finger:— Now decide to whom belongs the maiden."