[99]
"Good tidings, i'faith, black monk!280
Behold, I wait nine years of days
That I might hear such tidings.
I have plundered Marko's manor.
Yea, plundered it and burnt it with fire;
I have made captive his faithful wife,
But not yet have I wedded her,
But have waited ever for the death of Marko,
And now shalt thou wed me to her."
Kraljević Marko took the book,
The book he took and wedded Mina,290
And to whom but to his own wife!
Then he sate him down and drank wine,
Wine he drank and made good cheer,
And Mina of Kostura spake and said:
"Hearken, Jela, my heart and my soul!
Till now hast thou been called Marko's,
From now thou art Lord Mina's lady.
Go down, my soul, to the treasure-chamber
And of ducats bring three goblets full.
That I may reward the black monk."300
Jela went down to the treasure-chamber,
And of golden ducats she brought three goblets full.
But she fetched them not from Mina's treasure
But she fetched them forth of Marko's treasure.
And she brought his rusty sabre,
And gave it to the black monk, saying:
"Take this also, black monk,
For the soul's weal of Kraljević Marko."
Kraljević Marko took the sabre,
He took the sabre and examined it,310
And he spake to Mina of Kostura:
"Wilt thou grant in this thy gladness
That the monk may tread a merry measure?"
Mina of Kostura made answer:
"I will well, thou black monk,
I will well, and wherefore should I not grant it?"
