Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/31

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KRYSPEK’S GOBLET.
13

But only one, a noble youth—
Bores, whose words were words of truth,
Found favor in the maiden’s sight;
He was a brave and goodly knight.

The marriage day was fixed and came—
It should have been their wedding eve,
When all at once the trumpet’s sound
Called on the warrior youths to leave
These pleasures, and to go to war—
The enemy was at the door.
Brave Boreš, with his soldiers few,
Joined Šlik, and Budoec “The True.”

The enemy was stronger far—
The poor Bohemians lost the day;
Their homes were sacked, their lives were lost,
The noblest did the conquerors slay.
But midst it all the Kryspek race,
Lived all forgotten on their place;
They even dared to dream that they
Were stricken from the list away.

For vengeance with a bloody sword
Struck down the noblest of the laud;
And as the blow fell not, they thought
They had been pardoned out of hand.
One evening as the Vesper rang,
Passed through the gate, with marshal clang
The noble Boreš, wild to see
His Jitka, wife that was to be.

To-morrow”—went from lip to lip—
To-morrow is the wedding day;
To-morrow let us hope no storm
"Of grief, or sorrow, dim the day.”
All things were ready for the feast,
To-morrow they would fetch the priest.
Well pleased they sat them down to sup,
By generous cheer and brimming cup.