LV
MOTHER'S LOVE
On the balcony young Jovan sported, While he sported, lo! it crash'd beneath him, And he fell,—his right arm broke in falling! Who shall find a surgeon for the sufferer? Lo! the Vila[[24]] of the mountain sends one, But the recompense he asks is heavy; Her white hand demands he of the mother,— Of the sister all her silken ringlets,— Of the wife he asks her pearl-strung necklace.
Freely gave her hand young Jovan's mother, Freely gave her silken hair his sister, But his wife refus'd her pearly treasure:— "Nay! I will not give my pearl-strung necklace, For it was a present of my father." Anger then incens'd the Mountain-Vila, Into Jovan's wounds she pour'd her poison, And he died,—Alas! for thee, poor mother!
Then began the melancholy cuckoos,[[25]] Cuckoos then began their funeral dirges; One pour'd out her mournful plaints unceasing, One at morning mourn'd, and mourn'd at ev'ning, And the third when'er sad thoughts came o'er her. Tell me which is the unceasing mourner? 'Tis the sorrowing mother of young Jovan. Which at morning mourns and late at evening? 'Tis the grieving sister of young Jovan. Which when melancholy thoughts come o'er her? 'Tis the youthful wife,—the wife of Jovan. S. J. B.
LVI
THE GREYBEARD
I heard young Falisava say: "I'll have no ancient greybeard, nay! A sprightly beardless youth for me." An aged man the maiden heard, He shaves his long and snowy beard, And paints his chin like ebony: To Falisava then he goes— "My heart! my soul! my garden rose! A beardless youth is come for thee." And then she listen'd—they were wed— And to the old man's home they sped.
Then twilight came, and evening's shade— And said the old man to the maid: "Sweet Falisava! maiden fair! Our bed beside the stove prepare, And the warm feather-mattress bear"— The maiden heard—the maiden went, And gather'd flowers of sweetest scent— Of sweetest scent and fairest hue, Which on the old man's bed she threw, And like on a strong-wing'd eagle then Flew to her father's home again. S. J. B.