CI
MORAVA HORSES[[32]]
On the banks of Morava, Sleek black horses danced, "Could not we," one horse did say, "Over this river swim to-day?" But the second cried, "Beware, Deep flows the stream, beware, beware! 'Twas by these banks of Morava, At set of sun a knight was drowned, And dawn had broke ere he was found. If mother this poor knight had had, Within a day his fate she'd know, And him to seek next day would go; The third day, finding him, would weep, And who knows how long sad heart keep?" To which a third black horse replied "No mother mourns him as lost son, But mother-in-law the knight has one! She in one year would surely cry: 'What has my daughter's husband done?' And in two years find time to go Toward the place where he lay low; And when there should have passed years three, His grave, perchance, she then might see— Where long since green grass had grown, The peacock preened himself and flown." J. W. W.
CII
THE GIRL AND THE GRASS
In the green grass a girl fell asleep; When she awoke the grass was red, And her ruddy cheeks were green instead. Before the Kadi the girl sued the grass: Give me, O grass, my color red!" And to the girl the red grass said: "Thy color red, I'll give it thee, When my color green thou dost give me." Then before the Kadi they exchanged color And became bosom-sisters for ever and ever. J. W. W.
CIII
THE SUN AND THE GIRL
To the great sun a radiant maiden cried: "Bright sun, thy beauty cannot equal mine!" Whereon the burning orb complained to God: "Let me bring low her pride, and scorch her face." To which request his mighty Maker said: "The burden that she bears is weight enough; Her father and her mother, both I've taken; One simple, smiling youth alone is left to her; Touch not their joy, let him be fond of her." J. W. W.