Page:The Queens Court Manuscript with Other Ancient Bohemian Poems, 1852, Cambridge edition.djvu/110

All the Kmets, the Lechs, and the Vladykas;
And to Chrudos and his brother Stiaglaw
For their father’s heritage contending.
When at length the Lechs and the Vladykas
In the Vyssegrad were all assembled,
Each takes place according to his birthright;
Clad in glitt’ring white ascends the princess
In th’ assembly grand her throne paternal.
[Forth there issue pacing] two wise maidens,
Well instructed in victorious science;
With the first are tablets law-declaring,
With the next the sword, that crimes doth punish.
Opposite them is the flame that judgeth,
And beneath them is the hallow’d water.
From her golden throne the princess speaketh:
“Ye, my Kmets and Lechs, and ye, Vladykas!
“’Twixt the brothers must the right determine,
“Who are for their heritage contending,
“For their father’s heritage together.
“Let them jointly both possess according
“To the edict of the gods eternal,
“Or divide the land in like proportion!
“O my Kmets and Lechs, and ye, Vladykas!
“It is your’s my sentence to establish,
“If it be according to your wisdom;