Što se bili u gori zelenoj?
al su snizi, al su labutovi?
da su snizi, već bi okopnili,
labutovi već bi poletzli:
ni su snizi, nit su labutovi,
nego čator age Asan age.
On boluje u ranami Ijutim;
oblazi ga majka i sestrica,
a Ijubovca od stida ne mogla.
Kad li mu je ranam bolje bilo,
ter poruća virnoj Ijubi svojoj:
,Ne čekaj me u dvoru bilomu,
,ni u dvoru, ni u rodu momu.'
Kad kaduna riči razumila,
jos je jadna u toj misli stala,
jeka stade konja oko dvora,
i pobiže Asanaginica,
da vrat lomi kule niz penžere;
za njom trču dvi ćere divojke:
Vrati nam se, mila majko naša,
,ni je ovo babo Asan ago,
,već daiža Pintorović beže'
I vrati se Asanaginica,
ter se viša bratu oko vrata:
,Da moj brato, velike sramote,
,di me šalje od petero dice.'
Beže muči, ne govori ništa:
već se masa u žepe svione,
i vadi joj knjigu oprošćenja,
da uzimlje podpuno vinčanje,
da gre s njime majci uza trage.
Kad kaduna knjigu proučila,
dva je sinka u čelo ljubila,
a dvi ćere srid rumena lica;
a s malaknim u bešici sinkom
odilit se nikako ne mogla,
već je bratac za ruke uzeo,
i jedva je s sinkom rastavio,
ter je meće k sebi na konjica,
s njome grede k dvoru bijelomu.
U rodu je malo vrime stala,
malo vrime, ni nedilju dana,
dobra kado i od roda dobra,
dobru kadu prosu sa svi strana,
ja najveće imoski kadija.
Kaduna se bratu svomu moli:
,Aj tako te ne želila, braco,
,ne moj mene davat za nikoga,
,da ne puca jadno srce moje,
,gledajući sirotice svoje."
Ali beže ne ajaše ništa,
već je daje imoskom kadiji.
Još kaduna bratu se moljase,
da njoj piše listak bile knjige,
da je šalje imoskom kadiji:
,Divojka te Upo pozdravljaše,
,a u knjizi Upo se moljaše,
,kad pokupis gospodu svatove,
,dug podkluvak nosi na divojku;
,kada bude agi mimo dvore,
,nek ne vidi sirotice svoje.
Kad kadiji bila knjiga dodje,
gospodu je svate pokupio,
svate kupi, grede po divojku,
Dobro svati došli do divojke,
i zdravo se povratili s njome;
a kad bili agi mimo dvore,
dvi je ćere s penžere gledaju,
a dva sina prid nju izodjaju,
tere svojoj majci govoraju:
,Vrati nam se, mila majko naša,
,da mi tebi užinati damo.'
Kad to ćula Asanaginica,
starišini svatov govorila:
,Bogom brate! svatov starišina!
,ustavi mi konje uza dvore,
,da darujem sirotice moje'
Ustaviše konje uza dvore,
svoju dicu lipo darovala,
svakom sinku nozve pozlaćene,
svakoj ćeri čohu do poljane,
a malenu u bešici sinku
njemu šalje ubošku aljinu.
A to gleda junak Asan ago,
ter doživlje do dva sinka svoja:
,Ote amo, sirotice moje!
,kad se neće smilovati na vas
,majka vasa srca ardjaskoga.'
Kad to čula Asanaginica,
bilim licem zemlji udarila,
u put se je dušom rastavila
od žalosti gledajuć sirota.
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What's so white upon yon verdant forest?
Snow perhaps it is or swans assembled?
Snow would surely long ago have melted.
And a flight of swans would have departed.
No! not swans, not snow it is you see there,
'Tis the tent of Aga, Hasan Aga;
On his couch he lies, severely wounded.
And his mother seeks him, and his sister,
But for very shame his wife is absent.
When the misery of his wounds was softened,
Hasan thus his faithful wife commanded:
"In my house thou shalt abide no longer—
Thou shalt dwell no more among my kindred."
When his wife had heard this awful sentence,
Numbed with dread she stood and full of sorrow.
When outside she heard the tramp of horses,
To the highest window of the tower
Rushed the faithful Hasanaginica,
Would have thrown herself into the courtyard,
But her two beloved daughters followed.
Crying after her in tearful anguish—
"Do come back to us, oh, mother, mother!
These are not our father Hasan's coursers,
'Tis our uncle Pintorovich coming."
Then, returning, Hasanaginica
Threw her arms in misery round her brother—
"See the sorrow, brother, of thy sister:
He would tear me from my helpless children."
He was silent—but from out his pocket.
Safely wrapped in silk of deepest scarlet.
Letters of divorce he drew, and bid her
Seek again her aged mother's dwelling—
Free to win and wed another husband.
When she saw the letter of divorcement,
Parting-kisses on her two boys' foreheads,
On her girls' red cheeks she pressed in sorrow.
But she could not tear herself from baby
Crowing at his mother from the cradle.
But at last her brother with an effort
Tore the mother from her tender infant,
Put her close behind him on his courser.
Hastened with her to the white-hued homestead.
But a short while dwelt she with her people—
Not a single week had been completed,
When a host of suitors wooed the lady
Of a noble family the flower;
One of them Imoski's mighty Cadi.
Said the noble lady, trembling greatly,
"I entreat thee, I implore thee, brother,
Do not give me to another husband.
For the sight of my poor orphan'd children
Sure would break the spirit of thy sister!"
Little cared her brother for her sorrows;
He had sworn she should espouse the Cadi.
Then his sister asked of him a favour:
"Write on snow-white paper, O, my brother.
To the Cadi as a bridal message,
'Friendly greetings from the youthful woman.
And she begs thee bring her as a present.
When thy wedding-guests and thou art coming
Hither to her peoples' white-hued homestead,
Such a long and flowing veil that passing
Aga's home she need not see her orphans.'
When the snow-white letter reached the Cadi,
All his wedding-guests he called together,
And set out with them for his betrothed,
Future mistress of his white-hued homestead.
Safely reached he with his friends her dwelling;
Happily were all returning homeward,
But when they were passing Aga's homestead.
Her two daughters saw her from the window.
Her two sons came out, and from the portal
Called to her, "Come hither! O, come hither!
Take thy night's repast with thine own children!"
Sadly Hasanaginica heard them;
And she said to him who led the party,
"I should be most grateful to you, captain.
If you kindly halted the procession
While I give some presents to the children."
So they stopped at the beloved portal.
Presents gave she unto all the children.
To the boys, high boots with gold embroidered;
To the girls, long and resplendent dresses;
And a silken garment to her baby.—
Near them sat their father, Hasan Aga,
And he called in sorrow to his children,
"Come to me, poor children! to your father.
From your mother do not hope for pity.
Callous is she, cold and stony-hearted."
Hasanaginica, when she heard this.
On the ground she fell all pale and trembling.
And her spirit left its earthly prison
At the glances of her orphan children.
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