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Rosa was nigh unto the tower,
And her maidens were round about Rosanda;
They upheld her flowing sleeves and the hem of her garments;
Marko saw it and cried aloud:
"O damsel, O proud Rosanda,
I beseech thee of thy youthfulness, 520
Send from thee thy maidens
And turn thy face to me!
For I was sore abashed, Rosa,
Before thy brother in the čardak
So that I saw thee not well.
And when I go to Prilep castle,
My sister will weary me
Asking: 'Was Rosa fair to look upon?'
Turn thee, that I may see thy face."
The damsel sent away her maidens, 531
She turned her about and showed her face:
"Now Marko," quoth she, "thou mayst look on Rosa!"
Marko raged and was wroth out of wit,
One step he made and a mighty spring,
And by the hand he seized the damsel,
He drew the sharp dagger from his girdle,
And cut off her right arm;
He cut off her arm at the shoulder,
And gave the right arm into her left hand,
And with the dagger he put out her eyes, 540
And wrapped them in a silken kerchief,
And thrust them into her bosom.
Then spake Marko in this wise:
"Choose now, thou maid Rosanda,
Choose now which thou wilt,
Whether the Turkish minion,
Or Miloš the mare's son,
Or Relja the bastard!"
Rosa shrieked that it was heard afar,
And she cried to her brother Leka: 550
