{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/hbs/hbs27.htm","path":"neu/hbs/hbs27.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/hbs/hbs27.htm","text":"PRINCE MARKO and Bey Kost\u00e1din, brothers in God were they;\nThey rode their steeds together. Outspoke Kost\u00e1din the Bey:\n\u201cPrince Marko, now I prithee, thou art my brother sworn;\nCome to me in the autumn, on St. Demetrius\u2019 morn,\nThe feast day of my patron saint. Much honor wilt thou see,\nAnd a fair feast and a welcome becoming my degree.\u201d\nSaid Marko:\n\u201cBoast not of thy feast! When I sought for my brother born,\n\u00c1ndriya, I dwelt in autumn with thee. On St. Demetrius\u2019 morn,\nThe feast day of thy patron saint, I saw the feast of thy pride,\nAnd also in the selfsame hour three cruel deeds beside.\u201d\nSaid Bey Kost\u00e1din: \u201cMarko, my brother sworn art thou;\nSay to me of what cruel deeds thou speakest to me now.\u201d\nSaid Marko:\n\u201cThe first cruel deed after this wise befell.\nThere came two orphans unto thee that thou mightst feed them well\nWith the white bread, and give them the ruddy wine to drain.\nBut thou saidst: \u2018Ye mere scull of the earth, now get you hence amain!\nYe shall not defile the wine before my gentlefolk this day.\u2019\nBey, I pitied the orphans and with them went away;\nAnd I took them to the market and fed them on white bread,\nAnd gave them to drink of the ruddy wine, and clad them in satin red,\nAnd in green silk moreover. Unto thy house again\nI sent them, and looked to see thee, how them thou wouldst entertain.\nOne thou tookest on either hand; to the table thou leddest them then:\n\u2018Eat and drink,\u2019 thou saidst, \u2018ye sons of gentlemen!\u2019\n\u201cThy second cruel deed was this. When ancient squires forlorn\nCame there, who had lost their money, and whose scarlet was outworn,\nThou evermore didst set them at the foot of the table there;\nBut whoso of the younger squires at thy festival that were,\nWho had gained new hordes of money, and whose scarlet was fresh and new,\nEvermore thou broughtest them the head of the board unto;\nThou didst pour the wine and brandy before them fast and free;\nThere was a feast and welcome, befitting thy degree.\n\u201cThis is thy third cruel deed, O bey. Father and mother are thine;\nNeither is ever at thy board nor draineth first the wine.\u201d","title":"PRINCE MARKO AND BEY KOSTADIN","type":"page"}