{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/hbs/hbs30.htm","path":"neu/hbs/hbs30.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/hbs/hbs30.htm","text":"THERE was an edict sent abroad by the Tsar Suleym\u00e1n\nThat none should drink the yellow wine in the month of Ramaz\u00e1n,\nThat none should wear green tunics, nor silver-inlaid dirks,\nAnd that none should dance, moreover, with the women of the Turks.\nBut Marko dances among them, and inlaid with silver wan\nIs his blade, and green is his tunic, and he tipples in Ramaz\u00e1n.\nAnd the Turkish priests and pilgrims, he maketh them drink likewise.\nAnd the Turks go to the palace unto Suleym\u00e1n\u2019s assize:\n\u201cFather and mother of us an art thou, Tsar Suleym\u00e1n.\nSaith not thine edict: none shall drink liquor in Ramaz\u00e1n;\nAnd that none shall wear green tunics, nor silver-inlaid dirks;\nAnd that none shall dance, moreover, with the women of the Turks?\nNow Marko dances among them; and inlaid with silver wan\nIs his blade; and green is his tunic; and he tipples in Ramaz\u00e1n.\nWine he may drink and welcome, if it seem good in his eyes,\nBut the Turkish priests and pilgrirns, he maketh them drink likewise.\u201d\nWhen the tsar heard their story, he summoned his heralds twain:\n\u201cGo, heralds, to Prince Marko, bid him come hither amain.\u201d\nForth issued the two heralds; upon their way they went,\nAnd they found Prince Marko drinking in the shadow of his tent.\nAnd a cup that held twelve measures is ready to his hand.\nThe heralds twain gave unto him the word of the tsar\u2019s command:\n\u201cDost thou then hear, Prince Marko? It is good in the tsar\u2019s eyes\nThat thou come to his council, and the court of his assize.\u201d\nO, angry was Prince Marko! He snatched the goblet up,\nAnd he smote the tsars two heralds in his anger, with the cup.\nThe cup rang and the head rang; the blood and wine ran free.\nAnd Marko went to the tsars assize, and sat at the tsar\u2019s right knee.\nAnd the black cap of sable fur he pulled across his face,\nAnd he laid his saber across his breast, and his hand upon his mace:\n\u201cMy foster child, Prince Marko,\u201d said the Tsar Suleym\u00e1n,\nMine edict saith: none shall drink wine in the month of Ramaz\u00e1n;\nAnd none shall wear green tunics, nor silver-inlaid dirks,\nAnd none shall dance, moreover, with the women of the Turks.\nNow here be worthy Moslems that have spoken evilly.\nAlas, my poor son Marko, I wot they have slandered thee!\nThat thou dancest with Turkish matrons, and inlaid with silver wan\nIs thy blade; and green is thy tunic; and thou tipplest in Ramaz\u00e1n;\nAnd the Turkish priests and pilgrims, thou makest them drink likewise!\nNow wherefore pullest thou, my son, thy cap across thine eyes?\nWhy is thy mace beside thee, and thy saber across thy breast?\u201d\nAnd forthwith strong Prince Marko Tsar Suleym\u00e1n addressed:\n\u201cO thou, my foster father, the great Tsar Suleym\u00e1n,\nIt is permitted of my faith to drink in Ramaz\u00e1n.\nAnd for the priests and pilgrims, my honor would be gone,\nIf they should look upon me, and I should drink alone.\nIf I wear a good green tunic, I am young; it becomes my youth.\nIf I gird an inlaid saber, I paid my money in sooth,\nIf I dance with the Turkish women, O tsar, I am yet unwed,\nAnd once, O tsar, a woman had come not to thy bed,\nIf I pull my cap on my forehead, it burns, for I speak with the tsar,\nAnd for the freeing of my mace, and drawing the scimitar,\nO tsar, in my heart I fear me that battle is hard at hand:\nIt is ill in battle the nearest to Marko, the Prince, to stand,\u201d\nThe tsar looked in all quarters another man to see,\nBut nearer to Prince Marko there was no man than he;\nNearest was the Tsar Suleym\u00e1n. He drew back in the hall,\nBut Marko followed onward, and drove him to the wall,\nFrom his pouch drew Tsar Suleym\u00e1n an hundred ducats fine,\nAnd gave them to Marko, saying: \u201cMarko, go drink the wine.\u201d","title":"MARKO DRINKS WINE IN RAMAZ\u00c1N","type":"page"}