An Anthology of Jugoslav Poetry; Serbian Lyrics Part 26

Listen, my girl, listen, my beauty!

Thy hands are whiter than the wool, I am a merchant on the sea Trading in wool o'er the sea.

B. S. S.

CXLIII

ANGELA AS WATCHMAN[42]

Falcon is winging high, But the fortress gates are higher; And Angela is watching there Aureoled in suns.h.i.+ne, Belted with the moonbeams, And flowering with the stars.

B. S. S.

CXLIV

A LAD AND HIS BETROTHED[43]

Little lad is wandering Through a wooded copse, Strutting with a green bough Walking down the slopes.

Looking on a courtyard Sees young Jana sweeping:

"O thou pearl, my sweet one, Whence my ring in keeping?"

Thus she answered proudly: "May thy brother know, perchance, And should it bring G.o.d's blessing He'll join our wedding dance."

B. S. S.

CXLV

DIREFUL SICKNESS[44]

What shall I do, what shall I do?

My nights are sleepless, My heart is so restless-- Ah, sorrow, anew, I'll die, My love, for you.

B. S. S.

CXLVI

ALL AS IT SHOULD BE[45]

When the sun sets at even, My love is just coming to me And when the moon has pa.s.sed Heaven My lover is going from me.

So the paths are all darken'd with shadow, Just as it should be, should be In shadow that no one can see.

B. S. S.

CXLVII

BEAUTY PREENS HERSELF[46]

For whom powders face so lovely, Beauty?

For whom has she dropped her hair on shoulder, For whom is she wearing charms in bosom?

Is it for Valach, or for a Magyar?

It is not for Valach nor for Magyar, It is for this Stojan, mighty reaper, Who in Kolo always takes the leads.h.i.+p, When he's playing, every heart is touched.

When he's dancing, dances like a puppet.

B. S. S.

CXLVIII

HARVEST SONG[47]

Hurry, hurry, robust harvesters, At field's end there's water and a maiden, Cooling water, and a maiden youthful, Drink ye water, and embrace your maiden.

B. S. S.

CXLIX

LONG NIGHT[48]

These are long nights, these are long nights, For him who does not kiss black eyes, He it is who cannot slumber, For his heart is pierced with sorrow.

B. S. S.