{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/hbs/hbs22.htm","path":"neu/hbs/hbs22.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/hbs/hbs22.htm","text":"THE sultan with an army is come to K\u00f3sovo;\nAn hundred thousand men had he where S\u00edtnitsa doth flow.\nWith a saber of Damascus his herald goeth forth,\nAnd full three hundred ducats the naked blade is worth;\nAnd likewise was the scabbard worth ducats fifteen score,\nAnd the cost of the cord of the scabbard three hundred ducats more.\nNo one was found for money to buy that scimitar,\nBut chance brought the Prince Marko on the herald of the tsar.\nSaid Marko: \u201cThe Damascus blade, thou herald, show to me.\u201d\nThe herald heard and gave over the blade, but not a word said he.\nMarko said to the herald, as he looked on the saber cold:\n\u201cForty-five score of ducats will I give thee of yellow gold;\nBut harken, herald, let us go to some safe place hereabout,\nThat I may count before thee the yellow ducats out,\nFor I would not ungird me of the three gold belts this tide,\nSince I am much in the Turkish debt in the camp on every side,\nAnd I deem that for the saber they will not let me pay.\u201d\nThe Turk would hardly await him, and hastened on the way,\nAnd along the water of S\u00edtnitsa they speedily are gone.\nPrince Marko there ungirded him \u2019neath the white bridge of stone;\nHe spread a mantle of the green, he took the belts of gold,\nAnd out he shook the golden belts while the Turk the ducats told.\nMarko looked on the saber, and saw thereon displayed\nThree Christian words engraven upon the shining blade;\nAnd first \u201cThe Saint Demetrius,\u201d and next \u201cThe Archangel\u201d came,\nAnd last of all upon the blade stood King Vuk\u00e1shin\u2019s name.\nMarko saw and forthwith spake:\n\u201cO herald of the tsar,\nBy the one God I adjure thee; whence came the scimitar?\nWas it left by thy father? Did thy wife bring it to thee?\nOr was it won in battle, perchance, from an enemy?\u201d\nUnto thee now the inward of this matter will I own.\nIt was not left by my father, my wife brought it not to me;\nBut, chief unknown, I won it from a single enemy.\nWhen with the Servian empire fell both tsars at K\u00f3sovo,\nMurad and Lazar, then I won the saber from the foe.\nEarly to water my fat steed to S\u00edtnitsa I went,\nAnd there my fortune brought me to a green silken tent.\nWithin was a wounded warrior most fierce\u2014God strike him dead!\u2014\nThe black beard of his lip that tide over his breast it spread.\nHe wore a great green mantle, and by him lay the sword.\nWhen the wounded one beheld me, by God he me implored:\n\u201c \u2018Brother, thou champion unknown, now smite not off mine head;\nSoon will my soul go from me, for my wounds are deep and dread.\nWait half an hour; by S\u00edtnitsa there shalt thou set my grave.\nThree belts of gold are on me, and a Damascus glaive\nThat is worth a thousand ducats, and here is my silken tent.\u2019\n\u201cBut I would not harken his prayer, and out with him I went,\nDragging the wounded hero. My saber then I drew,\nAnd cut off his head; his leg I grasped, and his arm, and straightway threw\nThe hero into S\u00edtnitsa, where swiftly the waters run.\nThere with the marvelous booty this saber for thee I won.\u201d\nWhen the Prince Marko heard it, to the herald did he say:\n\u201cO herald of the Turkish tsar, may God reward thee this day!\nThat was my own dear father, even Vuk\u00e1shin, the king.\nHadst thou waited his soul\u2019s departure, it had been a better thing,\nAnd thou, O Turkish herald, wouldst have had a better grave.\u201d\nHe drew, and cut the Turk\u2019s head off with the Damascus glaive.\nHe grasped the milk-white hand and leg, and in S\u00edtnitsa he threw\nThe herald of the tsar and said: \u201cGo thou my father unto!\u201d\nTo the army Marko wended with the gold and the scimitar;\nSaid the janissaries: \u201cPrithee, where is the herald of the tsar?\u201d\nBut to them said Marko: \u201cI pray you, janissaries, begone!\nHe took his ducats and pennies to the sea to trade thereon.\u201d","title":"PRINCE MARKO AND THE SWORD OF VUK\u00c1SHIN","type":"page"}