Page:The Ballads of Marko Kraljević.djvu/133

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

[ 85 ]

I led them down to the market-place,
Of white bread I gave them to eat,
Of red wine I gave them to drink,
I let make for them garments of fine scarlet,
Of green silk and of fine scarlet.
And then I sent them to thy house.
As for me, Beg, I kept watch privily
How thou wouldest now receive them. 40
And thou tookest one of the needy ones,
Thou tookest him by the left hand,
The other thou tookest by the right hand,
Thou leddest them into thy house to the tables, saying:
"Eat and drink, young gentles,'—
And this. Beg, was the second unworthy deed:
There were present certain of ancient line
That had lost both goods and gear;
They were clothed in well-worn scarlet,
And to them thou gavest the lowest seats at the table. 50
And the upstart lords that were there,
That had but newly gotten goods and gear,
And wore new robes of scarlet,
Them didst thou set in the highest place;
Thou gavest them wine and rakia
And fine meats in goodly array.
The third unworthy deed. Beg, was this:
Thou hast both father and mother now living.
Yet not one nor other was at table,
For to drink the first glass of wine!" 60