“ False tongues three have whisper'd evil of thee; One has said—thine origin is lowly; One, that thou art treacherous as a serpent; And the third, that thou art dull and dreamy."
Then the maiden pour'd her imprecations: "He who said my origin was lowly, Never let a child of love be born him; He who called me treacherous as a serpent, Round his heart, O! let a serpent wreathe it; Through hot summers in his hair be tangled, Through cold winters in his bosom nestle; He who dar'd to call me dull and dreamy, Nine long years may he be worn by sickness, And no sleep renew his strength to bear it." ”

“ Strange thy dwelling without windows! At daybreak, Vinko, thy sad mother rose, Her earliest thought as but of thee, Her first thought, Vinko; Vinko her first call! Thorns are growing at the house-door, Cuckoos mourn around the house, Downcast thy brothers wait for thee, To talk with thee, to walk with thee— But now that ne'er can be. With head bent down and brow o'ercast, They make their way—for where art thou! In ashes our hearth fire is hidden, And when I saw the sun this morning, I thought: It is the moon, When thy sisters said to me: "Dim thine eyes, it is the sun!" ”

“ No, my friend, I will not tread On thy feet, thy boots of red! Come at evening—come and string Pearls for me—and thou shalt fling O'er me my embroider'd shawl. We will go at morning's call To the kolo—Friend! but thou Must not touch the maiden now—
Know'st thou not that busy slander Follows us wher'er we wander? Evil tongues are ever talking; Calumny abroad is walking Know'st thou that a simple kiss Ample food for slander is? 'Never did we kiss,' you'll say, 'Till last evening and to-day.' Come at evening—come, my dear. Sisters' eyes will watch thee here. ”

“ O thou young bridegroom, thou rose in its beauty, Lo! we have brought thee a rosemary branch, And if the rosemary branch should decay, Thine will the shame be, the sorrow be ours. Scatter the rosemary leaves o'er thy way; Let not destruction disparage its flowers. To the bride, when the marriage hood is first put on:
Maid from a distant forest tree, A verdant leaf is blown to thee; And that green leaf has fixed it now, In the green garland on thy brow: The garland green, that we have bound Maiden! thy auburn ringlets round: O no! it is no leaf, that we Have braided in a wreath for thee ”

“ When thy heart burst in joy as I own'd thee for mine? Alas! for the maiden whose peace is betray'd By the tears and the vows of a falsehood like thine! As the changeable sky—now o'erclouded, now bright, Is the faith of thy race—their language to-day, "I will wed thee to-morrow, my love and my light!" To-morrow—"Let's wait till the harvest's away." The harvest is ended, the winter is nigh And another maid dwells in their hearts and their eye. S. J. B. LXXVII MAIDEN'S AFFECTION
"Black is the night—an outcast lad Is wandering in our village, mother! ”

“ Nought heals the heart that mourns a brother dead. S. J. B. LXXV REBUKE
"Maiden! hast thou seen my steed?" "Faithless one! not I, indeed! But I heard that thou hadst tied him To the mountain-maple tree; When a stranger pass'd beside him, Full of scorn and rage was he: With his hoofs the ground he beat; Of his master's guilt he knew. Not one maiden did he cheat. No; that master cheated two: One has borne a wretched child; One with grief and shame is wild." ”

“ And she might hear the shepherd breathe, Yes! thou shalt be my maiden now! The shepherd—'midst his fleecy drove, Goes like a moon the stars above." S. J. B. XXVI ASSIGNATION
Maiden! let us share each other's kisses! Tell me, tell me, where shall be our meeting, In thy garden, or in mine, sweet maiden? Under thine, or under my green rose-tree; Thou shalt be a rose, my gentle angel: I to a fond butterfly will change me, Everlastingly o'er thee to flutter— On thy flowers untired I will suspend me, Living blest upon mine own love's kisses. ”

“ They think that no one sees the fond betrayal, But the green meadows see them, and are faithless; To the white flocks incontinent they say all; And the white flocks proclaim it to the shepherd, The shepherd to a high-road traveller brings it He to a sailor on the restless ocean tells it, The sailor to his spice-ship thoughtless sings it; The spice-ship whispers it upon the waters, The waters rush to tell the maiden's mother.
And thus impassioned spoke the lovely maiden— "Meadows! of spring-days never see another! Flocks! may the cruel ravenous wolves destroy ye. Thee, shepherd! ”

“ With it steep my forehead ev'ry morning, That the old man's kiss might taste of wormwood. But, if some fair youth should come to kiss me, I would hurry to the verdant garden: I would gather all its sweetest roses, Would condense their fragrance,—and at morning, Every morning, would perfume my forehead So the youth's sweet kiss would breathe of fragrance, And his heart be gladden'd with the odour. Better dwell with youth upon the mountains, Than with age in luxury's richest palace: Better sleep with youth on naked granite, Than with eld on silks howe'er voluptuous. ”

“ Wherefore art thou looking at the fir-tree? Art thou rather dreaming of the poplar, Or art thinking of my absent brother?"
To her brother thus the lady answer'd: "Golden-ring of mine! my husband's brother! Not about the fir-tree was I dreaming, Nor the noble stem of lofty poplar; Neither was I dreaming of my brother. I was thinking of my only mother, She with sugar and with honey reared me; She for me the red wine pour'd at even, And at midnight gave the sweet metheglin; In the morning milk, with spirit chasten'd So to give me cheeks of rose and lily ”

“ Listen, listen man of God, If thou wouldest serve thy God, In thy lifetime do thou good, And revere thine elder brother, So thy younger thee revere. Neither boast when fortune smileth, Nor complain in days of trouble; Grasp not an another's good; For when death befalleth man, Nought he takes from out the world, Save his deeds and crossed white hands— When he goeth to the Judgment, Where king's rank is unaccounted, Rich men can no more be proud, Poor men be no more despised. ”

“ My third, third woe—of all the worst, Is that the maid I woo, The maid I lov'd the best—the first, Is angry with me, too. Then dig an early grave for me, Yon whiten'd fields among; In breadth two lances let it be, And just four lances long. And o'er my head let roses grow, There plant the red-rose tree; And at my feet a fount shall flow, O scoop that fount for me! So when a youthful swain appears, The roses he shall wreathe; And when an old man bent with years, He'll drink the stream beneath. S. J. B. XXXV THE YOUNG SHEPHERDS
The sheep, beneath old Buda's wall, Their wonted quiet rest enjoy ”

“ Wilt thou reward the maiden for her folly— Shine on, and burn the maiden's snowy forehead. But I a gloomier dowry yet will give her; Evil to her shall be her husband's brother; Evil to her shall be her husband's father. Then shall she think upon the affront she gave thee. ”

“ Beneath a milk-white almond tree, Fatima and Mehmed be. The black earth is their bridal bed; The thick-starred sky clear-spread Is their coverlet all the night, As they lie in each other's arms so white. The grass is full of honey-dew; The crescent moon, that glimmers through The unrippled leaves, is faint and new: And the milk-white almond blossoms All night long fall on their bosoms. ”

“ The love songs of Serbia seem to have a special inspiration of their own. We may hear the shepherds singing in green pastures and among the fir-woods, or in the silence of the mountains. From the vineyards, from the fair and dances, and from the daily round of work the strains arise. Everywhere that youth is seen a poem is heard, and every occupation is accompanied by a song.
We cannot, however, leave this part of our subject without mentioning some of the burlesque poems, which the Jugoslavs possess in great number, partly narrative and partly lyric. ”

“ Enjoy the sweet bliss Of a kiss—of a kiss: Beloved, arise In the hour of thy prime, Beloved, arise! S. J. B. LXIII MOHAMMEDAN SONG
I have piercing eyes—the eyes of falcons: I am of undoubted noble lineage: I can read the heart of Osman Aga: I was ask'd by Osman Aga's mother:
"Cursed witch: and yet most lovely maiden! Why with white and red dost paint thy visage? Fascinate no longer Osman Aga! I will speed me to the verdant forest, Build me up of maple-trees a dwelling, And lock up within it Osman Aga." ”

“ Sleep will not take the place of Love, Nor keep the place from Sorrow. Oh, when the long nights slowly move To meet a lonely morrow, The burden of the broken days, The grief that on the bosom weighs, And all the heart oppresses, But lightly lies on restless eyes Love seals no more with kisses. ”

“ John went responsive to the river, Down into Jordan with the Christ, And there upon him with his Lord, Open wide the gate of heaven, The roseate sun did light the east, Sign of that Spirit-first of which spake John, Whose purging heat doth purify from sin, And in Jordan's flowing river Man's sin was taken all away! Our salvation is in heaven! Save, O God, all trusting souls, Save them from the devil's toils. ”

“ Far apart From my old self seems my new self. And my mother And my sister are in heaven,—so they say: And the dear one dearer yet than any other Is far, far away. The sweet hour of his coming ... night is falling! ”

“ The other where the streamlet flows She flings, and says in gentlest tone— "Swim on, thou odorous wreath! swim on, Swim to my Juris' home, and there O whisper in his mother's ear: 'Say, wilt thou not thy Juris wed?— Then give him not a widow's bed; But some sweet maiden, young and fair.'" S. J. B. V HARVEST SONG
Take hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! and see Who the kissers and kiss'd of the reapers shall be. Take hold of your reeds, till the secret be told, If the old shall kiss young, and the young shall kiss old Take hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! ”

“ So they went and sought the Judge's presence: "Judge, thou honourable, judge between us: We three travell'd forth together, And we met a maiden in our travels, And we gave her—gave her each a present: One of us a green and fresh-pluck'd apple: One presented her bosiljak flowering; And the third a gold ring for her finger:— Now decide to whom belongs the maiden."
Thus the honourable judge decided: "We present bosiljak for its odour: As a pledge of love we give an apple: But to give a ring is a betrothing;— He who gave the ring must have the maiden." S. J. B. XLVIII THE SULTANESS
Listen! ”

“ Rather married than dead; But, however, that may betide, And whether a corpse or a spouse, No more in my mother's house." O. M. XCIII PLUCKING A FLOWER
He. O maiden, vermeil rose! Unplanted, unsown, Blooming alone As the wild-flower blows, With a will of thine own! Neither grafted nor grown, Neither gather'd nor blown, O maiden, O rose! Blooming alone In the green garden-close Unnoticed, unknown, Unpropt, unsupported, Unwater'd, and uncourted, Unwoo'd and unwed, A sweet wild rose, Who knows? Who knows? Might I kiss thee, and court thee? My kiss would not hurt thee! ”

“ Woe to the mother-in-law in the house of her son-in-law.
Woe to the wolf whom the ravens feed, And to the knight who children doth need Him to defend.
Woe to the cock who strutteth on ice, Woe to the nightingale singing in the mill; In such a din, far better to be still! J. W. W. CXVI HARD TO BELIEVE
A man ne'er born once told a tale To seven stout ghosts so hearty and hale; A ship went sailing 'mid greenwood trees, While the burning sun her crew did freeze. A horse danced o'er the billowy sea, From him a duck with hoofs did flee. ”

“ Critics who have written of the Serbian national songs declare that they are characterized by extreme delicacy both of feeling and workmanship, and that they are noble in their childlike purity, simple treatment of, and sympathy with, every phase of natural human experience. But these Serbian songs have quite a peculiar character of their own. They are directly, passionately, fiercely human, and rich with poetic sympathy. Love, glory, sorrow, death—are the themes constantly handled in a thousand weird and poetic phrases. There is a strong Indian flavor of the joy of rest in Mother Earth ”

“ Great Michael heard, two angels sent, Swift to convey the tidings glad: "O thou of women all most blest, Let not thy heart with fear be filled; From the tomb thy Son is risen, Risen to the Father's throne, Saving men from Death's dominion." ”

“ In a garden works a maiden, Digging furrow, water decoy, To the garden 'luring water, To give drink to early flowers, Early flowers, whitest basil, Whitest basil, gold carnation; Where she's furrowing, there she's sleeping. Putting head in sweetest basil, Hands are lying in carnations, Feet are plac'd in shallow hollow, Covered with a fragile kerchief ”

“ And waked by perfume, with what delight Would he kiss the maiden's forehead white!" S. J. B. XXIII MAPLE TREE
O thou brotherly maple tree! Wilt thou be a friend to me? Be a brother, and a friend! To the green grass thy branches bend, That I may climb to their highest tip! Look o'er the sea, and see the ship, Where my lover sits smiling now; He binds the turban round his brow, And over his shoulders the shawl he flings, Which is full of mine own embroiderings. ”

“ The noblemen, they quaff the cool wine, And to their knee there comes a little stag, With golden peacock proudly on one shoulder, While on the other, perching there as neighbour, Behold a silver-throated nightingale! ”