[87]
I assent not to this arrow-shooting,
For that a heavy sickness is upon me,
Even the flux, a sore sickness and a terrible!
Scarce may I hold me on horseback,
And how should I shoot with arrows?"
But the Turk would not depart from him,
But laid hold on the lappet of Marko's cloak on the right hand,40
And Marko drew knife from girdle,
And cut off the right lappet of his mantle.
"Hence, villain," quoth Marko, "be ye accursed!"
But the Turk would not let be,
But laid hold on the left lappet of his cloak,
And Marko drew knife from girdle
And cut off the left lappet also:
"Hence, villain, God smite thee!"
But the Turk would not let be,
He laid hold on Sharatz by the bridle, 50
With his right hand he laid hold on the bridle of Sharatz,
With his left hand he seized Marko by the breast.
Then did Marko's wrath blaze forth like living fire;
Upright he sat on valiant Sharatz,
And drew in the reins to him,
That Sharatz danced as he had been mad,
And so sprang over horses and horsemen.
Then Marko called to him Kostadin Beg:
"Brother, Beg Kostadin," quoth he,
"Get thee to my house, brother, 60
Bring me thence a Tartar arrow,
In the which Tartar arrow
There be nine white falcon feathers:
As for me, I go with the Aga to the Kadi,
For to confirm our covenant in the tribunal,
That afterwards there be no strife betwixt us."
Then the Beg returned to the house
And Marko went with the Aga to the Kadi.
As he entered in, Alil-Aga, the Sultan's man,
