Starína Novak and the Bold Rádivoye Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – Starína Novak drank the wine on Romániya the green hill, And Rádivoye, his brother, drank with him with a will; And Grúitsa, Stárina’s son, Rádivoye sat before; With Grúitsa was Tátomir and thirty hayduks more. When […]
Heroic Ballads of Serbia
How Starína Novak Became a Hayduk
How Starína Novak Became a Hayduk Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – Novak and Rado drank the wine near Bosna the river cold, With Bógosav. When they had drunk as much as they could hold, Prince Bogosav began to speak: “Starína Novak,” said he, “My brother sworn, now […]
The Maiden Márgita and Rayko the Voývoda
The Maiden Márgita and Rayko the Voývoda Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – (1) Not yet the dawn had whitened, nor the day star shown its face; Men thought not of day—forth Márgita the maid walked in the place, In Sriyem over Slánkamen; (2) barefoot the damsel sprang […]
The Death of Marko Krályevich
The Death of Marko Krályevich Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – Prince Marko rose up early on Sunday before the sun, On Mount Úrvina by the seacoast. And as he rode thereon, Dapple the stallion staggered sore; from his eyes ran bitter tears. Marko it grieved. He spake […]
Marko Drinks Wine in Ramazán
Marko Drinks Wine in Ramazán Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – There was an edict sent abroad by the Tsar Suleymán That none should drink the yellow wine in the month of Ramazán, That none should wear green tunics, nor silver-inlaid dirks, And that none should dance, moreover, […]
Prince Marko’s Plowing
Prince Marko’s Plowing Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – With his mother, Yévrosima, his thirst did Marko slake On the red wine. When they had drunk, to him his mother spake: “O thou, Prince Marko, prithee cease from the ravage and the raid; Never on earth is evil […]
Prince Marko and the Daughter of the Moorish King
Prince Marko and the Daughter of the Moorish King Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – His mother asks Prince Marko: “Marko, my little son, So many monasteries wherefore hast thou begun? Hast thou sinned before God? Or by good hap hast thou won the gold abroad?” Marko of […]
Prince Marko and Bey Kostadin
Prince Marko and Bey Kostadin Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – Prince Marko and Bey Kostádin, brothers in God were they; They rode their steeds together. Outspoke Kostádin the Bey: “Prince Marko, now I prithee, thou art my brother sworn; Come to me in the autumn, on St. […]
Prince Marko and Mina of Kostur
Prince Marko and Mina of Kostur Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – Pricne Marko and his mother had sat them down to dine; On the dry bread they feasted, and they drank the yellow wine. And unto the prince Marko came letters three that day: One was from […]
Prince Marko and Alil Aga
Prince Marko and Alil Aga Heroic Ballads of Serbia translated by George Rapall Noyes & Leonard Bacon – There once were two sworn brothers; through Tsárigrad (1) rode they: The one is the Prince Marko, the other Kostádin the Bey. Said Marko: “Bey Kostádin, sworn brother of mine own, Now that I ride in Tsárigrad […]