[ 38 ]
That we might drink red wine,
And see if peace were to reign in the land?
Ye are come to me today, tomorrow I will go to you.
He said and waited the word of Marko;
Nor for long was Marko silent,
But made answer to him again:
"All is as thou sayest, Leka Kapetan,
But I have somewhat more to say unto thee 310
On a matter that is hard to open;
News of import hath reached us,
For they say that here is a marvel,
A wondrous marvel, even the proud maid Rosanda.
They say that in the four corners of the earth,
In Bosnia and in Rumelia,
In Syria and in Egypt,
In Atolia and in Anatolia,
And in the seven Vlach kingdoms,
And in the whole world none may compare with her. 320
They praise her, and no man sayeth aught against us.
We are come. Sir Leka,
That we may ask the maid in marriage;
All three we are pobratims,
All three till now unwed:
Give thy sister to which of us thou wilt,
Choose for brother-in-law which thou wilt,
That one may be the eager bridegroom,
And the others his two devers,
And that all may be thy chiefest friends." 330
Leka was angered and made frowning countenance;
"Think not of that," quoth he, "Vojvoda Marko!
Bring not forth a ring for the maid,
Nor yet the suitor's flagon[1].
- ↑ Просачка буклија: according to the custom, if Marko had produced the "suitor's flagon," and if Leka had drunk out of it, he would have been pledged to see that his sister married one of the three heroes. As he had no authority over his wilful sister he dared not enter into any agreement on her behalf.
