[98]
The Greeks will rejoice, saying:
’God be praised, here be day-labourers a many,
And for small wages will they labour in the vineyard.'—
But ye will not so, dear brethren,
But ye will tarry by the castle of Kostura,
Wine ye will drink and clear rakia,250
Till that I also be come to Kostura."
The three hundred janissaries went forth,
They went forth to white Kostura,
And Marko gat him to the far-famed Holy Mountain[1],
He took the Sacrament and confessed him,
For he had done many a deed of blood.
He did on a monk's raiment.
And let grow his black beard to his girdle,
And on his head he set the priestly kamilavka.
Then he sprang on the back of Sharatz 260
And straightway went to white Kostura.
When he came to Mina of Kostura,
Lo, Mina sat drinking wine,
And Marko's wife served him.
"Ha, black monk!" quoth he,
"Whence hast thou yonder piebald steed?"
Kraljević Marko made answer:
"Faith of me, Lord Mina!
I was aforetime with the Sultan's host
In the dread country of the Arabs, 270
And there was one of little wit[2]
Whose name was Kraljević Marko,
And there in good sooth he perished,
And I buried him,
According to law and custom,
And for his soul's weal he gave me the horse."
When Mina of Kostura heard it,
He leapt lightly to his feet for gladness,
And he said to Kraljević Marko:
