In Celovec 'tis market-day, 'Tis market-day to-morrow; I will take my husband there, And will either there him change, Or else will sell him at the fair. Not too cheap I'll let him go, Because he was so hard to get; Rather than too cheaply sell him, Back home again I'll take the man, And love him—howsomuch I can! J. W. W.
CXII
THE PEACOCK AND THE NIGHTINGALE
How beautiful it is this evening-time! The noblemen, they quaff the cool wine, And to their knee there comes a little stag, With golden peacock proudly on one shoulder, While on the other, perching there as neighbour, Behold a silver-throated nightingale! Upon whom gazing, saith the peacock golden: "How now, my silver-throated friend! If mine it were to trill thy liquid note, To every noble knight I'd sing a song, And honour each in turn from my clear throat." Answered the nightingale in silver voice: "List, lustrous peacock in thy blue and gold! If mine it were, that sheeny fan of thine, Its golden feathers all I would pluck out, And decorate these nobles round about." J. W. W.
CXIII
THE FIRST TOAST
Rising at the banquet table, Now acclaim we our first toast, To our God's high honour drink we, Only of His glory think we— No first place to human boast! To celebrate the Lord's great glory— What equal duty to be found? Say, all ye who sit around, Save truly to have earned the dinner! J. W. W.
CXIV
THE HODŽA[[33]]
In Mostar was a sheker-meyteph,[[34]] Thirty young ladies were learning there, Omer-effendia was their hodža, And pretty Maruša their kalfa.[[35]]