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 MANUSCRIPT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 QUEEN'S COURT. 
 
 A COLLECTION OF OLD BOHEMIAN LYRICO- 
 
 EPIC SONGS, WITH OTHER ANCIENT 
 
 BOHEMIAN POEMS. 
 
 TRANSLATED 
 
 BY 
 
 A. H. WRATISLAW, 
 
 Fellow and tutor of Christ's college Cambridge, 
 
 PUBLISHED 
 
 BY 
 
 VENCESLAV HANKA. 
 
 PRAGUE. 
 m 1852. 
 
 

 
 
 Theophilus Haase's sons printers. 
 
The most remarkable remnant of an- 
 tiquity existing in the Bohemian ton- 
 gue, is a collection of old poetry, un- 
 der the title Bukcpis Rralcdvc7ský. Do- 
 brovský in his »History of Bohemian 
 Literature^ speaks of them as models 
 for facility of style, purity and correct- 
 ness of language, grace and strength 
 of expression. Their publication cre- 
 ated a strong feeling among all the Sla- 
 vonian nations and may be considered 
 certainly the most important addition 
 . ever made by one individual to the 
 archives of popular Slavonian poetry. 
 The discovery was in this wise. In 
 the year Í817, Hanka had been visi- 
 ting one of his friends at Králové 
 Dvory (Queen's Court), a town which 
 suffered with many others from the 
 terrible visitations of Žižka. He there 
 heard, that in an under vault of the 
 church tower, a bundle of arrows lay, 
 
 1* 
 
and had lain there from the time of 
 Žižka. He ascended to see them, and 
 while walking about the place, his foot 
 struck against a quantity of parchment 
 documents — he found they were cove- 
 red with Latin letters and soon obser- 
 ved, that the writing was Bohemian. 
 The transport of such a discovery may 
 well be conceived. He sent to the au- 
 thorities of the town one of the first 
 transcripts he made, who shared in his 
 enthusiasm, and presented the MS. to 
 him as a rew 7 ard. He afterwards depo- 
 sited it in the National Museum of Pra- 
 gue. The MS. has been decided by 
 competent judges to have been written 
 at the end of the thirteenth century, 
 though some of the poems are proba- 
 bly considerably older. They appear 
 to have belonged to a far more exten- 
 sive collection, of which they formed 
 the 26th, 27th, and 28th chapters. The 
 rhythmus is good, the versifications ge- 
 nerally excellent; but the pieces are all 
 written as if they were prose., in one 
 continuous course. 
 
The poems consist of epic and lyric pieces 
 — or rather of historical ballads and songs; 
 the whole are no less remarkable for their 
 simplicity and strength, than for their flowing 
 and regular versification. 
 
 The first Oldřich and Boleslav is a fragment 
 and is not enough preserved to make the 
 story intelligible. The second Beneš Hermanov 
 is an account of the overthrow of the Saxons. 
 
 The third is Jaroslav. 
 
 The poem narrates that the daughter of the 
 Khan of Tatary possessed by a desire to visit 
 the lands of the west, came with a long train 
 of followers, and having reached Germany, 
 whither the news of her rank had preceded 
 her, she was attacked in a forest, and with 
 all her attendants pillaged and murdered. 
 When the news reached Tatary, her father 
 Kublay gathered his army together, and after 
 consulting the magicians, marched westward 
 to avenge his beloved daughter's death. They 
 met the Christians in battle, who would have 
 subdued the heathens, had not the magicians 
 again interfered to encourage the latter. But 
 the Tatars conquer , they possess themselves 
 of Kiev and Novgorod, they lay cruel burthens 
 upon the Slavonians, and visit them with every 
 species of calamity. Many and many attempts 
 they make for their deliverance in vain. They 
 call upon heaven, but the devastators still ad- 
 vance and at last reach Oimutz. Then Vne- 
 slav assembles the Bohemians, but they are 
 driven into the highest parts of a mountain, 
 
6 
 
 where they suffer every thing that can be 
 conceived from hunger, and thirst, and at last 
 openly mutiny. Vneslav is killed hy a Ta- 
 tar's arrow. Enfeebled and exhausted, the Bo- 
 hemians determine to surrender, when another 
 hero, Vratislav, starts up, pours out the 
 bitterest imprecations on the ^cowards and 
 traitors, « bids the faithful follow him to the 
 throne of the Virgin, where after having en- 
 treated the pity of heaven, they see the clouds 
 gather, the rain fall, their thirst is quenched, 
 they attack the Tatars, and after many bloody 
 battles, in one of which Jaroslav pierces the 
 son of Kublay through with his lance: 
 »I by prosta Hana tatar vrahóv:« 
 
 Hana is freed from the fury of the Tatars, 
 who retire back to the oriental lands from 
 whence they came. 
 
 The fourth is an historical ballad headed 
 Cestmir and Vlaslav, It narrates events 
 which the chronicler Cosmas has recorded. 
 Vlaslav is represented by him as a furious 
 barbarian, who caused the children of his wo- 
 men captives to be taken away, and forced 
 them to nurse young v dogs from their bosoms. 
 Cestmir written also Crnir in the ballad — ga- 
 thers his followers to attack the burner of vil- 
 lages — the causer of woe. The description 
 oi the assembling is in the following words 5 — 
 » There are mountains to the right — and to 
 the left are mountains — and on their tops 
 
 — their high tops — the sun shines brightly 
 
 — along their sides — - both here and there — 
 the armies are spread out — each hero with 
 battle in his bosom. « A long and energetic 
 account of the storming of a mountain-castle 
 
follows, and Vlaslav is destroyed by the hand 
 of Čestmír. 
 
 The fifth ballad contains so vivid a descrip- 
 tion of a tourney, and so complete a picture 
 of a court of the chivalric epoch, that we 
 shall give it entire, preserving the rhythmus 
 of the original, and forbearing to indulge even 
 in the introduction or suppression of a single 
 word or phrase. The repetitions are charac- 
 teristic of Slavonian poetry, and are found 
 almost universally in the ballads of Russia and 
 Servia. To our minds the whole poem is sin- 
 gularly national. — We visit the princely ca- 
 stle — are present at the festival — accom- 
 pany the nobles to the tourney — hear the 
 music between the different acts of the com- 
 bat — witness the different jousts as they take 
 place — and go with the victor to receive 
 his garland Yet no story can be more sim- 
 ply told. There is not the excess of a line. 
 
 The sixth and most striking of these histo- 
 rical ballads is certainly that of Záboj. Its 
 measure is various, and adapted to the senti- 
 ments conveyed. It begins by describing a 
 black forest, where is a rock, on which stands 
 Záboj, and having long looked around — he 
 descends, — goes from hero to hero — and 
 after uttering some secret words and bending 
 himself before the gods, the heroes all meet 
 at his summons in the Black forest. Záboj 
 leads them to the deepest valley, and touches 
 the Varito*) with this appeal: — ^Hearts of 
 men and brothers! witli glances of flame ! I 
 s ing to you a song in the deepest valley 5 I 
 
 *) A musical instrumeut , perhaps the Greek ftciQfii tov 
 
sing it from the deep of my heart; I sing in 
 my sorrow. Our father has left us, and left 
 with us orphaned children and helpless mai- 
 dens. He has said to none, ,Brother, speak to 
 them, speak to them fatherly words!' And 
 the stranger is come, come with might, and 
 a strange tongue is heard, and strange cus- 
 toms are among us , and our women and 
 our children follow them. But our wives shall 
 go with us from Vesna to Morana. *) They 
 bring the sparrow-hawk from the woods, and 
 make us bend to the gods they worship. We 
 may not strike our foreheads — we may not 
 bring food to the gods where our father brought 
 it, nor sing the songs where he sang them. 
 The foes have filled the forests — they have 
 broken up our god<;.« »»Ah," thou Záboj, thou 
 singest from heart to heart, in the midst of 
 thy grief thou singest the song like Lumir**), 
 whose word and song shook Vysegrad and 
 all lands — so movest thou thy brothers all — 
 the gods love brave bards — sing on, for it 
 comes from the heart to sing against the foe.a« 
 Záboj looked upon the burning glances of 
 the brothers, Záboj thus stormed their hearts: 
 »Two brothers were there, whose voices were 
 roughening into the voice of manhood; they 
 went to the woods; with the exercise of sword 
 and battle - axe and the sharp spear they 
 strengthened their arms. They made the 
 woods their home, and returned to their dwel- 
 lings in joy. But as their hand was strengthe- 
 
 -) Vesna the goddess of youth — Morana the goddess 
 of death. 
 
 '"'") Lumir — the Orpheus of the Slavonians. 
 
9 
 
 ned to manhood, and their spirits became 
 manhood against their foes — and as these 
 brothers grew stronger too — ha! they broke 
 in upon the foe — they broke in like the tem- 
 pests of heaven — and when they* returned 
 home — it was to be covered with blessings. « 
 The brothers sprung upon Záboj — they pres- 
 sed him in their strong arms — they pressed 
 their heart against his heart — they repeated 
 again and again his words one to another. — 
 The night hastened onwards to the morning — 
 they were all scattered out of the valley — 
 they glided home by the trees — they disper- 
 sed on every side of the forest. 
 
 The poet then goes on to describe the ga- 
 thering together of the heroes by the brothers. 
 Záboj blesses the host. Their movements are 
 all recorded, and at every step the bard in- 
 troduces his word of promise, of counsel, or 
 of vengeance. Zaboj himself takes a part in 
 the fight, his blows are said to fall in front 
 of the fight like a hail storm. There is a for- 
 cible description of the long-enduring battle 
 and the progress of it. Záboj is represented 
 as endowed with super-human strength, able 
 to fell a tree with a single stroke of his battle- 
 axe, destroying thirty enemies with his own 
 hand, piercing his foes through at a distance 
 of five fathoms, and following them without 
 his shield with sword in hand — a very grey- 
 hound in pursuit, a lynx in perception; yet 
 in the midst of all preserving a great self- 
 possession, and exercising wonderful great- 
 mindedness towards the fallen. The ballad 
 concludes with this song of the bard : 
 
 »Brothers! the mountain breaks through the 
 
10 
 
 mist, and the gods have given us victory. 
 From tree to tree the gathering people are 
 passing — there are crowds of flying souls. 
 The wild beasts — the forest birds fly before 
 them — all but the never-affrighted owls. Up 
 to the mountain — upwards. — Bury the dead. 
 — Bring offerings to the gods — to the gods, 
 our saviours — bring rich offerings — hymn the 
 hymns of praise. « 
 
 The seventh ballad is the Zbyhon, the eighth 
 the Nosegay, It is fanciful and full of grace. 
 The ninth the Strawberries. It will speak 
 eloquently and touchingly for itself; it would 
 not be easy to give a more striking picture of 
 tenderness and passion. The tenth the Stag, 
 the eleventh the Rose; the twelfth the Cuckoo, 
 a happy expression of impatient affection, of 
 uneasiness under the too-slow flight of Time * 
 the thirteenth, the Abandoned. In a few sim- 
 ple words, can a picture of solitude and sor- 
 row be more touchingly delineated than the- 
 rein? At last, how truly poetical is the four- 
 teenth, the Lark, of which we give an unrhy- 
 med, undecorated version, though it is not 
 possible to express in English that tone of 
 gentleness and endearment, which the diminu- 
 tive conveys in the malitký skřivance — be- 
 loved larklet. 
 
 Other poems are Lubusa's Judgment, the 
 song of love under the castle of P'ysegrad, and 
 King T^aceslav s song of love : the first is the 
 oldest remnant of Bohemian verse. 
 
 Dr. John Bow ring. 
 
11 
 
 OLDŘICH and BOLESLAW. 
 (A fragment.*) 
 
 He went into the forest black 
 
 To the nobles of the land, 
 And seven nobles there were met, 
 
 Each with a valiant band. 
 Beside him speedeth Vyhon Dub 
 
 All through the gloom of night, 
 His band is of a Hundred men, 
 
 All ready for the fight. 
 Sharp swords are in a hundred sheaths, 
 
 Strong arms to every sword, 
 And every heart to Vyhon true, 
 
 Attendant on his word. 
 They came into the midmost wood, 
 
 Right hands they reach'd around, 
 And whispering words together spake, 
 
 That none might hear the sound. 
 
 *) This poem commemorates the expulsion of Boleslaw Chrobry 
 and the Poles A. D. 1004. 
 
12 OLDŘICH aud BOLESLAW. 
 
 II. The night it passes the midnight hour, 
 
 Approaches towards morning gray, 
 And Vyhon to prince Oldřich speaks, 
 
 And thus to him doth say : 
 »Ho ! list to me, thou prince renown'd ! 
 
 God gave thee strength of limb, 
 »And wisdom and a prudent mind 
 
 Thou hast receiv'd from Him. 
 »Corne lead us 'gainst the cruel Poles, 
 
 Thy bidding we'll obey, 
 » To right, to left, we'll turn and wheel, 
 
 As thou may'st point the way, 
 "Advance, retreat, at "thy command 
 
 In every furious figfct; — 
 »Up, up, ye men of valiant heart, 
 
 And man yourselves with might !« 
 
 III. Lo ! Lo ! the prince the banner lifts 
 
 High in his mighty hand 5 
 »With me, with me, against the Poles, 
 
 The foemen of our land!« 
 Eight lords behind him storming go, 
 
 Three hundred at their side, 
 Three hundred men and fifty more, 
 
 Of valour prov'd and tried, 
 To where the Polish host is laid 
 
 In slumber scatter'd wide. 
 
OLDŘICH and BOLESLAW. 13 
 
 IV. They stood upon the mountain ridge 
 
 Fast by the wood so deep, 
 Before them Prague lies motionless 
 
 In her quiet morning sleep. 
 Veltava *) steams with morning mist, 
 
 Behind Prague the hills are blue, 
 Behind the hills the eastern sky 
 
 Assumes its morning hue. 
 
 V. »Down from the hill! but hush! no noise !« 
 
 Into quiet Prague they steal, 
 And each his weapon sharp within 
 His mantle doth conceal. 
 
 VI. A shepherd comes in the gray of dawn, 
 
 And calls to the watch on high, 
 To ope the gate; the watchman hears 
 
 The early shepherd's cry, 
 And opes the gate, the gate that lead 
 
 O'er Veltava flowing nigh. 
 The shepherd steps upon the bridge, 
 
 And his horn doth loudly sound 5 
 The Prince upon the bridge hath sprung, 
 
 Seven lords behind him bound, 
 Each hasting on with all his men, 
 
 With all his men around. 
 
 *) The Moldair, upon which Prague is situated. 
 
14 OLDŘICH and BOLESLAW. 
 
 The trumpets loudly 'gin to bray, 
 The drums like thunder rumble, 
 
 They plant their banners on the bridge. 
 That all the bridge doth tremble, 
 
 VII. The Poles are panic-struck around, 
 
 The Poles their weapons seize, 
 The lords redouble blow on blow, 
 
 The Polish army flees. 
 And hurry, hurry to the gate 
 
 They spring the trenches o'er, 
 And hurry, hurry still they flee 
 
 Th 1 avenging blows before. 
 
 VIII. Lo! God hath victory bestowed 5 
 One sun to rule the skies 
 
 Ariseth, o'er the land again 
 
 Jarmir doth king arise. 
 Joy spreads itself in Prague, joy spreads 
 
 Through all near Prague that lies, 
 And joy around from joyous Prague 
 
 Through every region flies! 
 
 BENES HER M ANO W. 
 
 OVERTHROW OF THE SAXONS. 
 O tell me, Sun, thou gentle Sun, 
 Why thou dost mourning go? 
 
BENEŠ HERMANOW. 15 
 
 And wherefore thou dost shine on us, 
 A people full of woe? 
 
 Where, where's our prince, our army? He 
 To Otto's court is gone 5 — 
 Who from the foe our land shall free 
 Thus orphan and alone? 
 
 In columns long the Germans march, 
 The Germans Saxons are, 
 Into our country from the hills, 
 That wave with woods afar. 
 
 »Give, give, ye wretches, silver, gold, 
 And all that ye possess, 
 Or else ye shall in flames behold 
 Mansions and cottages !« 
 
 And they have burn'd our all, have ta'en 
 Our gold and silver too, 
 Our cattle they have driv'n away, 
 And now towards Trosky go. 
 
 O do not, peasant, do not mourn! 
 The grass again will grow, 
 Although it long has trodden been 
 By footsteps of the foe. 
 
 Twine, twine a wreath of wild flowers 
 For your deliv'rer's brow! 
 The green corn glitters fresh again, 
 And all a change doth know. 
 
16 BENEŠ HERMANOW. 
 
 Yea quickly all a change did know,. 
 Lo! how the people all 
 To council Beneš* Hermanow 
 Against the foe doth call ! 
 
 Now stream the peasants where the wood 
 'Neath Hrubá Skála grows, 
 And each is weapon'd with a flail, 
 That 'gainst the Saxons goes. 
 
 'Tis Beneš leads the van, the folk 
 Doth follow wrathful wise. 
 And vengeance, vengeance every man 
 Against the plund'rers cries. 
 
 O anger fierce and savage wrath 
 Did fill both armies then, 
 And in the inmost breasts did storm 
 Of the enraged men! 
 
 And fury in the foemen's eyes 
 Against each other glows 
 And club 'gainst club on high they raise, 
 And spears to spears oppose. 
 
 On one another rush'd the hosts, 
 As wood on wood were hurl'd, 
 And like the lightning of the sky, 
 So gleam'd the swords they whiri'd. 
 
 A fearful cry arising then 
 The forest beasts doth fright. 
 
BENEŠ HERMATXOW. 17 
 
 And scareth al! the wingéd fowls 
 To the third ridge's height. 
 
 Spread from the rocky hills throughout 
 The vales upon the hreeze 
 Here strokes of clubs, and here of swords, 
 Like fall of ancient trees. 
 
 Thus motionless both armies stood 
 Against each other there, 
 On heels lhat firm implanted stay, 
 On legs that steadfast are. 
 
 But Beneš wends himself on high, 
 And towards the right doth swing 
 His sword, the army thither hastes } 
 Then towards the other wing 
 
 He points, towards the left they rush, 
 Thence towards the rocky pass 5 
 And from the rocks upon the foe 
 They hurl the stony mass. 
 
 Now to the plain the fight descends, 
 The Germans they must fly, 
 The Germans they must shriek aloud, 
 The Germans they must die! 
 
18 
 
 JAROSLAW. 
 
 OVERTHROW OF THE TATARS, A. D. 1241. 
 
 I. I'll tell to you a glorious tale 
 Of struggles and of war 5 
 
 Come, listen, and collect yourselves, 
 The mighty deeds to hear. 
 
 II. Far in the land where Olmiitz reigns, 
 Rises a hill, not high; 
 
 'Tis Hostajnow; God's Mother there 
 "Works marvel? wondrously. 
 
 III. 'Twas quiet in our country long, 
 Long hloom'd a peaceful age, 
 
 When from the east a storm arose, 
 Amongst the lands to rage. 
 
 It was the daughter of the Khan, 
 The Khan of Tatary, 
 By Christian hands did for her gold, 
 Her pearls and jewels, die. 
 
 v IV. The daughter bright of Kublay Khan, 
 Fair as the moon was she, 
 Had heard of countries in the west, 
 W^here many people be; 
 And she the foreign countries will 
 And foreign manners see. 
 
JAROSLAW. 19 
 
 i 
 
 Of youths upstarts there half a score, 
 
 Of waiting-maidens two, 
 
 And first they all the needful things 
 
 In packages bestow, 
 
 Then thither, where the sun doth haste, 
 
 Upon swift steeds they go. 
 
 V. As rosy bright the morning dawn 
 O'er misty woods doth gleam, 
 
 So did the daughter of the Khan 
 From art and nature beam. 
 
 In gold brocade the maiden shone, 
 Bosom and neck were bare, 
 And wreaths of jewels and of pearls 
 Did ornament her hair. 
 
 VI. The Germans by her beauty struck, 
 And envious of her store, 
 
 Pursued her, as suspicionless 
 She journied on before, 
 Attack'd and slew her in a wood, 
 And off the booty bore. 
 
 VII. When came the news to Kublay Khan 
 About his daughter dear, 
 He gather' d hosts in ev'ry land, 
 And westward march'd with war. 
 
 VIII. The western kings the tidings heard, 
 That Kublay doth invade 
 
20 JAROSLAW. 
 
 Their thickly-peopled countries, and 
 Confeďracies they made. 
 
 A mighty host they gather, take 
 The field right speedily, 
 On a wide plain encamp'd await 
 The Khan of Tatary, 
 
 IX. Then Kublay his astrologers, 
 Magicians, wizards, all, 
 Into the future bids enquire, 
 What issue shall befall. 
 
 Th' astrologers assembled quick, 
 Magicians, wizards tried, 
 A circle in two companies 
 They tread on either side 5 
 And in it a black bar they place; 
 And do in twain divide. 
 
 The one half they have Kublay nam'd, 
 The other half the kings, 
 And o'er them the whole magic band 
 Ancient enchantments sings. 
 
 And soon the bars begin to move 
 In combat mightily, 
 
 And that, which they had Kublay nam'd 
 Hath won the victory. 
 
 The multitudes thereat rejoice, 
 Each springs with speed to horse, 
 
JAROSLAW. 21 
 
 And quickly all array themselves 
 Amongst the army's force. 
 
 X. The Christians they no council hold, 
 And without foresight throng, 
 
 And rush upon the heathen ranks 
 As arrogant as strong. 
 
 Then first in battle did they meet, 
 Like hail the arrows stream'd, 
 The crash of spears like thunder roll'd, 
 The swords like lightning gleam'd, 
 And either host in youthful might 
 To urge the other seem'd. 
 
 XI. The num'rous Christians press'd the foe, 
 And ended were the war, 
 
 Had not th' enchanters come anew, 
 Bearing the cloven bar. 
 
 Inflam'd, the Tatars rushing charge 
 The Christians savagely, 
 So savagely, that panic-struck, 
 Like deer, they turn and fly. 
 
 There lies a shield upon the ground, 
 A costly helm struck down 5 
 Here by the stirrups trailing drags 
 A horse his rider thrown. 
 
 Here one doth bravely all in vain 
 The Tatars strive to meet, 
 
22 JAROSLAW. 
 
 Another there for heaven's sake 
 For mercy doth intreat. 
 
 XII. The Tatars tax the Christians sore. 
 And spread on ev'ry side, 
 Suhdue two kingdoms, Kiew old, 
 And Novgorod the wide. 
 
 Xin. Soon came the woeful news abroad^ 
 To arms all nations flew, 
 Four mighty armies did they raise, 
 The death-fight to renew. 
 
 XIV. On their right wing the Tatars rush'd, 
 And hurl'd themselves wdth might, 
 
 As a black cloud, that threats with hail 
 The fruitful fields to smite, 
 E'en so was heard the Tatar foe, 
 Thick swarming for the fight. 
 
 XV. With speed do the Hungarians 
 Collect in companies, 
 
 With speed they arm themselves, and go 
 To meet their enemies. 
 
 But all in vain their courage was, 
 Vain sdl their manliness, 
 All, all in vain their efforts brave; 
 Upon their centre press 
 
 The Tatars, break their rauks, and all 
 Their num'rous host doth flee; 
 
JAROSLAW. 23 
 
 The Tatars all things devastate, 
 That in the land there be. 
 
 XVI. All hope the Christians doth forsake, 
 Had been such sorrow never 5 
 
 They pray'd to God imploringly, 
 That he would them deliver. 
 
 ,Now in thine anger, Lord, arise, 
 And free us from the foe, 
 And free us from the murderers, 
 That would our souls bring low, 
 And as the wolves around the sheep, 
 Around us prowling go\ 
 
 XVII. A first, a second fight is lost, 
 The Tatars make their home 
 
 In Poland, all things devastate, 
 And near and nearer come. 
 
 And now the savage heathen press 
 To Olmiitz; cries of woe 
 Arise in ev'ry district 5 nought 
 Is safe before the foe. 
 
 XVIII. The first, the second day is past, 
 And neither side hath won 5 
 
 But ah ! the Tatar multitude 
 Goes still increasing on, 
 
 And waxes, as the ev'ning mist, 
 That hangs the woods upon. 
 
24 JAROSLAW. 
 
 XIX. The Christians, boat-like, to and fro 
 Amidst the Tatars sway, 
 
 And now towards God's Mother's hill 
 They backwards force their way. 
 
 ,Up, brethren, up ! c doth Wneslaw cry, 
 While on his silver shield 
 His sword he strikes, and o'er his head 
 The banner high doth wield. 
 
 All courage take, and all themselves 
 Upon the Tatars throw, 
 And in one body, as when flame 
 From the black earth doth flow, 
 So from th' outnumb'ring Tatar host 
 Towards the hill they go. 
 
 XX. With backward steps the hill they climb, 
 And 'neath its woody crown 
 
 Extend themselves, while underneath 
 A sharp peak pointeth down. 
 
 And right and left themselves with shields 
 They cover for the fight, 
 And on each other's shoulders lay, 
 The spears so sharp and bright. 
 
 On shoulder of the front-rank man 
 The second laid his spear, 
 And those of the third rank in turn 
 Upon the second were. 
 
JAROSLAW. 25 
 
 And down upon the Tatar hordes 
 Rain arrows from the hill 5 — 
 INight cometh on, and all the world 
 Envelopes calm and still. 
 
 O'er heav'n above she spreads herself, 
 And o'er the earth below, 
 And veils the warriors' flaming eves, 
 That 'gainst each other glow. 
 
 XXI. Now raise the Christians walls on high, 
 All in the gloom of night, 
 
 And trenches dig around the hill 
 Before the morning light. 
 
 XXII. When in the east it dawn'd, aror* 
 The whole camp of the foe, 
 
 The camp, that stretch'd around the hill 
 Farther than eye can go. 
 
 Upon their horses swift they crowd, 
 And heads of Christians slain 
 They bear upon their lances long 
 To the tent of Kublay Khan. 
 
 XXIII. Into a single mass collects 
 Itself the multitude, 
 
 And towards one side their course they beud, 
 Rushing with onset rude 
 
 To storm the hill, loud uttering 
 An all-terrific cry, 
 
 2 
 
26 JAROSLAVW 
 
 That hills and vales resound again 
 And echo fearfully. 
 
 XXIV. Upon the walls the Christians stood, 
 God's Mother courage gave. 
 
 And quick their pliant bows they draw, 
 And fierce their falchions wave; 
 The Tatars they must back retreat 
 Before defence so brave. 
 
 XXV. Then raged in fury at defeat 
 The Tatar nation wild, 
 
 The angry Khan upon them frown'd, 
 With dark displeasure fill'd. 
 
 Into three columns now itself 
 The heathen host divides, 
 And in three columns furiously 
 They storm the mountain's sides. 
 
 XXVI. The Christians felFd a score of trees, 
 All twenty as they grew, 
 
 And roll'd them from the summit down 
 Their battlements unto. 
 
 XXVII. And now the Tatars storm the hill, 
 Shouting with fearful din 
 That far and wide ascends, and now 
 To breach the walls begin. 
 
 Down from the walls the trees they hurl, 
 Like worms the Tatar foe 
 
JAROSLAW. 21 
 
 They crush, and spread destruction wide 
 Upon the plain below. 
 
 And long and savagely 'twas fought, 
 Until the gloom of night 
 For both contending armies set 
 A limit to the fight. 
 
 XXVIII. God! it is a sight of woe! 
 The glorious Wneslaw falls ! 
 
 Struck by an arrow down he sinks 
 Beneath the Christians' walls. 
 
 XXIX. Now anguish tears the heavy heart, 
 Thirst doth the entrails pain, 
 
 With dry and parched throats they lick 
 The dewy grass in vain. 
 
 Still eve into cool night doth pass, 
 Night into morning gray, 
 And all within the Tatar camp 
 Tranquil and quiet lay. 
 
 XXX. The day doth mid-day heat assume, 
 Through thirst the Christians fall, 
 
 And ope their parched mouths in pain, 
 And on God's Mother call. 
 
 To her their weaken'd eyes they turn, 
 And wring in agony 
 
 Their hands, from earth to heaven's height 
 Looking imploringly. 
 
 2* 
 
28 JAROSLAW. 
 
 XXXI. ,We cannot longer faint with thirst, 
 For thirst we cannot fight j 
 
 Who loves his health, who loves his life, 
 Must mercy seek in flight 
 Among the Tatars'. Thus around 
 'Twas spoken left and right. 
 
 ,The sword is not so sharp a death 
 As thirst j in slavery 
 Of water we shall have enough} 
 Who thiuks thus after me I 4, 
 (Says W r eston), after me the man, 
 Whe thirsteth painfully!' 
 
 XXXII. But leaping up doth Wratislaw 
 Like a young bull arise, 
 
 And by the arm he seizes him, 
 And thus to Weston cries: 
 
 ,Thou traitor! everlasting shame 
 Of men that Christians be ! 
 And wilt thou to destruction bring 
 A people good and free? 
 Mercy from God 'tis meet to seek, 
 But not in slavery 
 
 From Tatars wild. Nay ! brethren, nay ! 
 Do not to ruin haste ! 
 Already now the fiercest heat 
 Of noontide is o'erpastj 
 
JAROSLAW. 29 
 
 God strengthened us at noon, and if 
 We trust, will aid at last. 
 
 Out, out upon such words as those! 
 And blush for very shame, 
 Ye men, that fain would heroes be, 
 And bear the hero's name! 
 
 Die we upon the hill with thirst, 
 'Tis God our fate doth guide; 
 Surrend'ring to the foemen's swords, 
 Our death is suicide. 
 
 Our God doth Slavery abhor, 
 'Tis sin to slavery 
 A voluntary neck to yield ; 
 Who thinks thus, after me ! 
 To where God's Mother sits enthroned! 
 Ye men that valiant be I 6 
 
 XXXIII. And after him the multitudes 
 To the holy chapel haste 5 
 jNow in thine anger, Lord, arise! 
 Aid us, o Lord, at last! 
 
 Raise, raise us o'er our enemies 
 In all the land around, 
 And hear the supplicating cries, 
 That in thine ears resound ! 
 
 ,Encircled and surrounded all 
 By savage foes are we ; 
 
30 JAROSLAW. 
 
 O from the cruel Tatar noose 
 Rescue and set us free ! 
 
 , Grant moisture to our bodies parch'd, 
 That here are perishing, 
 And we -will give, o Lord, to thee 
 Loud thanks in offering. 
 
 ,Crush now the foe in all our lands, 
 And us from them deliver, 
 Annihilate them utterly 
 For ever and for ever!' 
 
 XXXIV. Lo! Lo ! upon the sultry heav'u 
 A cloud ascendeth high! 
 
 Loud blow the wiuds, the thunder rolls 
 And crashes fearfully. 
 
 The sky is thick o'erclouded all } 
 Flash! flash! the lightning glows 
 Amongst the Tatar tents*, with rain 
 Reviv'd the hill-spring flows ! 
 
 XXXV. The storm is past, from ev'ry land 
 There hasten warriors brave, 
 
 Towards Olimitz march in order'd ranks, 
 And high their banners wave. 
 
 Their heavy swords beside them hang, 
 Full quivers rattling sound 
 L T pon their hips, their valiant heads 
 With helmets bright are crown'd^ 
 
JAROSLAW. 31 
 
 And underneath the riders' weight 
 The swift steeds prance and bound. 
 
 XXXVI. The wood-horns hoarsely bray, the roll 
 Of drums resounds afar, 
 The hosts upon each other rush, 
 And close in dreadful war. 
 
 A cloud arises from the dust, 
 And hangs the armies o'er 5 
 The second fight is fiercer far, 
 Than was the fight before. 
 
 The sharp swords clash, with fearful hiss 
 The poison' d arrows fly, 
 Spears crashing meet, and jav'lins whizz, 
 As they are hurl'd on high 5 
 They strike, they stab, they shout for joy, 
 They shriek in agony. 
 
 Like torrents swoln by heavy rain, 
 So flow'd the warrior's blood, 
 And corpses lay upon the ground, 
 Like felTd trees in a wood. 
 
 To one both hands are smitten off, 
 Cleft is auother's head, 
 Another from his steed is flung, 
 That stumbles o'er the dead. 
 
 And here doth one his enemies 
 Strike down in furious mood, 
 
32 JAROSLAW. 
 
 As on the rocky mountain's side 
 A tempest rends the wood. 
 
 There hilt-deep in a foeman's heart 
 Another's sword doth pierce, 
 Here from another's head the ear 
 A Tatar severs fierce. 
 
 XXXVII. A shout! a cry of woe is heard! 
 Now, now the Christians yield; 
 
 The Tatars press them savagely, 
 And chase them o'er the field. 
 
 XXXVIII. But like an eagle Jaroslaw 
 Doth to the rescue fly; 
 
 Hard steel is on his mighty breast, 
 Beneath the steel doth lie 
 
 Heroic valour, wisdom dwells 
 Beneath his helmet bright, 
 And glows and sparkles in h's eyes 
 The fire of youthful might. 
 
 He like an angry lion storms, 
 That doth fresh blood behold, 
 Or by an arrow stricken turns 
 Upon the hunter bold. 
 
 So wrathful raging doth he rush 
 Upon the Tatar foe, 
 Behind him the Bohemians 
 Most like a hail-storm go. 
 
JAROSLAW. 33 
 
 On Kublay's son he fiercely chargM. 
 It was a furious fight, 
 With spears did they together meet, 
 And broke their spears with might. 
 
 But Jaroslaw all bath'd in blood, 
 His steed all bloody too, 
 Hath smitten, reaching with his sword, 
 The son of Kublay through. 
 
 Down from the shoulder to the hip, 
 The trenchant blade did go. 
 And from his steed he lifeless sank 
 Among the corpses low, 
 And o'er him rattled, as he fell, 
 His quiver and his bow. 
 
 XXXIX. This all the savage Tatar host 
 With panic fear did smite, 
 Away their lances fathom-long 
 They threw in wild affright, 
 And all who could fled thither where 
 The sun doth glorious rise 5 
 And thus was Hana *) freed again 
 From Tatar enemies. 
 
 *) Hana is a district in Moravia in the neighbourhood of 
 Olmutz. 
 
 It should he remarked that Weston, who appears, alas! to 
 have been an Englishman, was guilty of a similar piece of tre- 
 achery at Jerusalem, 
 
34 
 
 CZESTMIR and VLASLAW.*) 
 
 I. 'Twas Neklaň bad arise to war, 
 And Vlaslaw was the foe, 
 
 His host with princely high command 
 
 He bad 'gainst Vlaslaw go. 
 
 The host arose, arose to war, 
 
 And Vlaslaw was the foe, 
 
 Arose at the princes' high command 
 
 'Gainst Vlaslaw fierce to go. 
 
 II. Prince Vlaslaw did o'er Neklaň boast 
 With vaunting proud and high, 
 
 O'er Neklaň, o'er that prince renown'd, 
 
 He'd won the victory. 
 
 And fire and sword he sent abroad 
 
 Into Neklan's land so wide, 
 
 And behind his warriors' robber swords 
 
 Neklaň with scorn defied. 
 
 III. «Up, Czestmir ! lead my bands to war ! 
 Vlaslaw, pufFd up with pride, 
 
 Hath spoken words of arrogance, 
 And us with scorn defied.« 
 
 -) vlastislaw Prince of Saaz was defeated by Czestmir in the 
 first half of the ninth century. Kosmas and other Bohemian 
 chroniclers give a further account of the war. 
 
CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 35 
 
 IV* And Czestmir doth with joy arise, 
 And seizes his dark black shield, 
 (His dark black shield two tusks adorn) 
 And with it to the field, 
 
 He takes his axe, and his helm, which ne'er 
 In war might pierced be, 
 And ofFrings to the gods he brings 
 Under every greenwood tree. 
 
 V. Merrily Czestmir calls his men, 
 And soon the ranks they fill, 
 
 And they march'd ere dawn, and all day long, 
 And they march'd on yet, when the sun was set, 
 To the top of yonder hill. 
 
 VI. Lo ! o'er the villages rolleth smoke ! 
 In the villages shrieks and gwaning ! 
 wWho burnt the villages? Who hath caus'd 
 »This wailing and woeful moaning? 
 
 j) Who ? Vlaslaw ? Ne'er again shall he 
 »Spread woe and devastation; 
 »My warriors bring him punishment, 
 wAnd utter annihilation. « 
 
 VII. To Czestmir gave they answer straight, 
 w'Twas Kruwoi, flock and herd 
 
 »Who harried ; savage Kruvoi 'twas, 
 »Who far and vide on every side 
 j) Spread we with fire and sword. 
 
36 CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 
 
 )>0f all that good and useful was 
 »He hath let nought remain, 
 )>And wilh him he our honoured duke 
 » Captive away hath ta'en.« 
 
 VIII. 'Gainst Rruvoi Czestmir wrathful raged, 
 And from his breast so wide 
 
 Spread anger fierce through ev'ry limb, 
 
 And to his men he cried, 
 
 »Ye warriors, with tomorrow's dawn 
 
 »Be all our wrath on fire ! 
 
 »Go now, refresh your weary limbs, 
 
 »That the long march doth tire.« 
 
 IX. Upon the left-hand mountains stand, 
 And mountains on the right, 
 
 And on their summits glitt'ring high 
 
 Looks down the sun so bright: 
 
 And onwards o'er the mountains here, 
 
 And o'er the mountains there, 
 
 In columns long the warriors march, 
 
 And battle with them bear. 
 
 X. )>Ho ! onwards to the castle, on ! 
 »That stands on the rocky height, 
 
 » Where Kruwoi Voymir captive holds 
 >;With his daughter that maiden bright! 
 »He took then in the forest thick) 
 »A11 under yon grey rock, 
 
CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 37 
 
 »AikL there with arrogance and scorn 
 
 »Neklan, our prince, did mock. 
 
 »Kruwoi to Neklaň promised faith, 
 
 »And gave his hand thereby, 
 
 »Yet wrought with that very voice and hand 
 
 »His people's misery — 
 
 »Up ! up ! ye warriors ! *up^ with speed, 
 
 )>And storm yon castle high Ice 
 
 XI. The warriors rush with wrath enflam'd, 
 The castle to assail, 
 
 At the bidding of Czestmir, their leader brave 
 
 Like the clouds that bear the hail. 
 
 The foremost are shelter'd by their shields, 
 
 With shield on shield rais'd high, 
 
 The hindmost lean upon their spears 
 
 And on trees that crosswise lie 5 
 
 And higher than the high tree-tops, 
 
 Round the castle clash their brands^ 
 
 And rage against the swords that wave 
 
 In the defenders' hands. 
 
 XII. On the castle Kruvoi roar'd aloud 
 With the roaring of a bull, 
 
 Roar'd loudly, that his people's hearts 
 With valour all were full. 
 His swordupon the men of Prague 
 With mighty sway doth light, 
 
 3 
 
38 CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 
 
 To the castle Neklan's warriors crown, 
 And 'tis as though on the mountains grow 
 Full many oaks of might, 
 And from a rock there falls a tree, 
 That on those oaks doth smite. 
 
 XIII. »Y'assail the castle from behind « 
 Now Czestmir gives command 5 
 He bids -in front the wall to climb, 
 That firm and high doth stand. 
 Tall trees that grow 'neath the rock below 
 They've leant 'gainst the castle wall, 
 That harmlessly the beams cast down 
 O'er the warriors heads may fall. 
 The warriors range themselves beneath, 
 With shoulders broad they stand 
 Comrade by comrade, man by man, 
 A bold and valiant band. 
 Across their shoulder beams they place, 
 And in part with ropes they tie, 
 Then firm upon their lances lean, 
 And men have sprung on high 
 Upon the beams their comrades bear, 
 And each supports him on his spear, 
 And beams anew set crosswise too 
 Upon their shoulders lie, 
 
CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 39 
 
 A third rank on the second springs, 
 
 A fourth the third doth crown, 
 
 And the fifth hath reach'd the battlements 
 
 "Whence the falchins gleam and the arrows stream, 
 
 And the beams roll thund'ring down. 
 
 XIV. Now, now they stream, the men of Prague, 
 Bight fiercely o'er the wall, 
 
 Before them in the castle strong 
 Doth every warrior fall. 
 
 XV. »Up, Voymir, up ! with thy daughter dear ! 
 wCome forth from the turret high! 
 
 ))Come forth to greet this happy morn! 
 wThen on to the rock hard by\ 
 wOn the rock thou'lt Kruvoi bleeding see 
 »'Neath the axe of vengeance lie.« [morn, 
 
 XVI. And forth he comes to the gladsome 
 With his daughter, lovely maid, 
 
 And gazes on Kruvoi, his mortal foe, 
 On the rock all bleeding laid. 
 
 XVII. Now Czestmir sends the booty back 
 To the folk from whom 'twas ta'en, 
 
 And with the booty the lovely maid, 
 Returns to her home again. 
 
 XVIII. But Voymir will in the selfsame place, 
 At the selfsame hour of day, 
 
 3* 
 
40 GZESTMIR and VLASLA W. 
 
 To the gods, who granted victory, 
 His thankful ofF'rings pay. 
 
 XIX. »Up, Voymir, up !« quoth Czestmir then, 
 ))Our steps are hasťning straight 
 
 wO'er Vlaslaw victory to win ; 
 »This service awhile must wait. 
 »The gods will Via slaw's overthrow; 
 »When the sun towards afternoon 
 »Approaches, we shall there approach, 
 )> Where our army's cry of victory 
 »Will be loudly utter'd soon; 
 »Take then the weapons of thy foe, 
 5)Come, arm thyself and on !« 
 
 XX. Right joyous is Voymir at the word, 
 From the rock on high with echoing cry 
 He shouts, that the wood doth sound, 
 From his mighty throat to the gods he calls, 
 That the wide wood quivers round : 
 
 »Ye gods, with your servant be no to wrath, 
 That, ere to-day have past away, 
 Burnt-offerings be not found.« 
 
 XXI. »'Tis meet,« quoth Czestmir, »to the gods 
 »Fit offerings to pay, 
 
 »But now against our enemies 
 
 »We needs must haste away, 
 
 »Go, seat thee on a horse of speed, 
 
CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 41 
 
 )>As a stag, quick bounding fly 
 
 »Right onwards through the forest wide 
 
 »To yonder oakwood high! 
 
 »Fast by the road's a sacred rock , 
 
 »A rock to the gods right dear; 
 
 )> There pay thy off'rings to the gods, 
 
 »Who rescued thee from fear, 
 
 »For victory that's past and gone, 
 
 »For victory that's near! 
 
 ))Or ere the sun in onward course 
 
 wAscends the heaven's height, 
 
 »Thou wilt be there arrrv'd, and ere 
 
 »A second step and a third he takes 
 
 »0'er the tall tree tops in sight, 
 
 »The army too will have arrived, 
 
 » Where smoky columns high 
 
 »From thy victim rise into the skies, 
 
 »And the warriors will bend as on they wend 
 
 )>In meek humility. « 
 
 XXII. And Voymir springs on a gallant steed, 
 And swift as a stag doth fly 
 On through the forest to the rock, 
 That stands in the oakwood high ; 
 And on the summit of the rock, 
 The rock to the gods so dear, 
 He burns his ofF'ring to the gods, 
 
42 ZECSTMIR and VLASLAW. 
 
 "Who rescued him from fear, 
 
 For victory that's past and gone, 
 
 For victory that's near. 
 
 He offers there a heifer fair, 
 
 All red and bright of hue 5 
 
 He bought her from the cowherd there 
 
 In the vale among the grass so long, 
 
 And as her meed his gallant steed 
 
 He gave and bridle too. [nigh ? 
 
 XXIII. The offering flames 5 the host draws 
 Draws nigh the vale below, 
 
 And up from the vale their arms they trail, 
 
 With shout and cry to the oakwood high, 
 
 As one by one they go. 
 
 Each marching round the sacrifice 
 
 To the gods doth utter praise, 
 
 And faileth not as on he goes, 
 
 His voice aloud to raise. 
 
 But Voymir, when the rear is past, 
 
 On his warhorse swift doth spring, 
 
 And lays the shoulders fat and thighs 
 
 Of the victim upon horsemen six, - 
 
 Behind the host to bring. 
 
 XXIV. Each step of the sun the host march'd on, 
 Until the full noonday; 
 
CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 4$ 
 
 Awaiting them on the level plain 
 
 The warlike Vlaslaw lay. 
 
 From wood to wood his army reach'd 
 
 It reach'd along five times as strong 
 
 As the men of Prague arrayed, 
 
 And from it, as from thunder clouds, 
 
 "Was heard around a hurtling sound, 
 
 And countless bloodhounds bayed. [fig nt j 
 
 XXV. wWith foes like these we scarce can 
 »]\ot oft the staff can strive 
 
 »Against the club.cc Thus Voymir, thus 
 Doth Czestmir answer give: 
 
 XXVI. w'Tis wise in whispers thus to speak, 
 »'Tis wise prepar'd to be 
 
 »For ev'ry chance. With heedless shock 
 
 »Why strike the forehead 'gainst a rock ? 
 
 wWith artful wiles the fox beguiles 
 
 »The bull so strong to see! 
 
 wHere Vlaslaw from the hill on high 
 
 »Can see us as we go 5 
 
 )>Quick down, and round the mountain march ! 
 
 »Be they the rear, the van that were ! 
 
 »Haste round the hillbelow!« 
 
 XXVII. And thus 'twas done by Voymir 
 
 straight, 
 
44 CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 
 
 'Twas done by Czestmir too j 
 
 With speed around the mountain high 
 
 Nine times the ariny drew. 
 
 Thus they their number and their might 
 
 Augmented to the foe, 
 
 And thus within the foemen's breasts 
 
 Did panic terror grow. 
 
 Among the brushwood on the hill 
 
 Themselves they scatter'd wide, 
 
 That in the foemen's eyes their arms 
 
 Might glance and gleam, and glitťring beam 
 
 The hill on ev'ry side. 
 
 XXVIII. Quick Czestmir with his company 
 Burst forwards on the foe; 
 
 Four squadrons in that company 
 Did thus with Czestmir go. 
 "And with them Tras burst forwards too 
 From out the shady wood, 
 Tras seiz'd upon the num'rous host, 
 That there against them stood. 
 In rear, in rear, came to them fear 
 From all the forest wide, 
 They broke their ranks and panic-struck 
 Took flight on ev'ry side. 
 
 XXIX. With valiant hand bursts Voymir forth, 
 And the entrance of the vale 
 
CZESTMIR and YLASLAW. 45 
 
 Half occupies across, and doth 
 Vlaslaw in flank assail. 
 
 XXX. 'Tis crashing and dashing in the vale, 
 As hills with hills did fight, 
 
 And all the trees in all the wood 
 
 Did 'gainst each other smite. 
 
 And Vlaslaw springs 'gainst Czestmir forth, 
 
 Czestmir 'gainst him doth bound, 
 
 In savage duel — wound on wound — 
 
 He smote him to the ground! 
 
 Vlaslaw extended on the earth 
 
 In fierce convulsions lies, 
 
 Nor sideways, backwards, doth his strength 
 
 Avail again to rise, 
 
 And all in black and gloomy night 
 
 Mořena wraps his eyes. 
 
 From mighty Vlaslaw streams the blood 
 
 Among the grass so green, 
 
 And flows into the thirsty earth, 
 
 Where nought that grows is seen. 
 
 The soul from out his bellowing mouth 
 
 Flew up into a tree, 
 
 From tree to tree, till the corpse was burnt, 
 
 It journied flutťring free. 
 
 XXXI. All Vlaslaw's men are terror-struck. 
 And sideways thence they fly, 
 
46 CZESTMIR and VLASLAW. 
 
 And up the hill^ themselves to hide 
 From Czestmir's piercing eye, 
 From Czestmir, who o'er Vlaslaw fierce 
 Hath won the victory. 
 
 XXXII. Loud sounds the shout of victory 
 In Neklan's joyous ear, 
 To Neklan's joyous eye doth spoil, 
 Abundant spoil, appear. 
 
47 
 
 LUDISA anALUBOR. 
 
 Ho ! old and young, your ears be lent 
 To combat and to tournament! 
 Beyond the Elbe in ancient days 
 A prince good, rich and glorious sways j 
 He hath an only daughter bright, 
 Both his and all men's dear delight. 
 That maiden she is wond'rous fair, 
 Of stature tall and stately air, 
 Her cheeks are white and, sooth to speak, 
 Red blushes bloom upon her cheek} 
 Her eyes, like heav'n, are clear and bright, 
 And on her neck, that is so white, 
 The golden glitťring locks descend 
 In twisted ringlets without end. 
 This prince, he sends his message out, 
 That all the nobles round about 
 Should to his castle hasten straight 
 Together to a feast of state. 
 
 And when arriv'd th' appointed day, 
 From lands and lordships far away 
 The nobles in the princes hall 
 To the great feast assembled all. 
 
48 LUDISA and LUBOR. 
 
 The drums and trumpets clamour loud, 
 Before the prince the nobles crowd, 
 Each to the prince due rev'rence paid, 
 The princess and the lovely maid. 
 Then at the table long they sit, 
 As each man's rank it doth befit. 
 They brought them flesh of hart for meet, 
 They brought them drink of honey sweet; 
 It was a joyous banquet there, 
 It was a splendid banquet rare! 
 Through every limb doth vigour glow, 
 And mirth in every mind doth grow. 
 
 Now to the lords the prince doth call : 
 »Sirs, be the reason known to all, 
 5) Why I have summon'd you this day! 
 »Most valiant Sirs, I wish ť assay, 
 »Who is the man most worth to me 
 >.>Of all your gallant chivalrie. 
 >Tn peace to think on war is wise, 
 »The German on our border lies.cc 
 
 Thus speaks the prince, the silence flies ; 
 Up from the board the nobles rise, 
 Each to the prince due rev'rence paid. 
 The princess and the lovely maid. 
 
 The drums and trumpets sound again. 
 Before the castle on the plain. 
 
LUDISA and LUBOR. 49 
 
 Upon the plain of wide extent. 
 
 Each arms him for the tournament. 
 
 The prince upon a balcony 
 
 Sits with his senators on high, 
 
 The princess with the dames is there, 
 
 Ludisa wilh the maidens fair. 
 
 The prince his nobles gives command, — 
 »Who in the tourney first shall stand, 
 »To bid arise of right is mine:« 
 The prince to Strebor gives the sign, 
 Strebor doth Ludislaw defy ; 
 Each springs upon his steed on high, 
 Each takes his sharply-pointed lance, 
 Then on each other swift advance. 
 Together there they struggled long, 
 Till shiver'd were their lances strong, 
 And each so weary and o'erdone, 
 That from the lists they both are gone. 
 
 Anew the drums and trumpets sound ; 
 The prince commands the nobles round; 
 »The princess shall the next ordain 
 »To tourney on the listed plain. « 
 The princess doth to Serpos cry, 
 Serpos doth Spytibor defy; 
 Each leaps upon his gallant steed, 
 Each takes his pointed spear with speed. 
 
50 LUDISA and LUBOR. 
 
 Serpos on Spytibor hath sprung, 
 
 And from his lofty saddle flung, 
 
 Then quick himself dismounts; his brand 
 
 Each seizes ia his mighty hand, 
 
 Blow on the black shields follows blow, 
 
 Bright sparkles from the black shields flow. 
 
 Now Spytibor a stroke hath made, 
 
 On the cold earth is Serpos laid, 
 
 But each is wearied and o'erdone, 
 
 And from the lists they both are gone. 
 
 Anew the drums and trumpets sound, 
 The prince commands his nobles round; 
 ))Ludisa shall the third ordain 
 »To tourney on the listed plain. « 
 Ludisa Lubor bids arise, 
 And Lubor Bolemir defies; 
 Each springs upon his gallant steed, 
 Each takes his pointed lance with speed, 
 Quick in the lists they both appear, 
 Each at the other aims his spear. 
 Together with their spears they sprung, 
 And Bolemir from horse is flung; 
 Far flies his shield , and squires convey 
 The fallen from the lists away. 
 
 The drums and trumpets sound anew, 
 Lubor bids Rubos rise in view; 
 
LUDISA and LUBOR. 51 
 
 Quick Rubos springs upon his steed, 
 And against Lubor fierce doth speed. 
 Sever'd his lance by Lubor's brand 5 
 Cleft is his helm by Lubor's hand 5 
 Rubos falls backwards from his steed, 
 Squires bear him from the lists with speed. 
 
 Again the drums and trumpets call, 
 Lubor defies the nobles all : 
 » Whoe'er with me will combat try, 
 wlnto the lists now let him hie!« 
 The knights together talk aside, 
 Lubor doth in the lists abide. 
 Zdeslaw his long spear swings around, 
 On which a wild bull's head is found, 
 His fiery steed he mounteth free, 
 And thus with words of pride quoth he: 
 »'My ancestor the wild bull slew, 
 5) My father German bands o'erthrew, 
 )>My prowess then let Lubor try!« 
 Together hurtling furiously 
 Their heads together struck with force, 
 And each is fallen from his horse. 
 And then with speed their swords they,drew, 
 And fiercely fought on foot anew. 
 Their swords with so much might they wield, 
 That with the strokes resounds the field. 
 
52 LUDISA and LUBOR. 
 
 Lubor beside his rival sprang, 
 His sword upon his helmet rang, 
 The stricken helmet flew in twain 5 
 Then sword on sword he struck again } 
 Out of the lists his sword is flown, 
 And Zdeslaw on the earth is thrown. 
 
 The drums and trumpets loudly call, 
 Round Lubor throng the nobles all, 
 Before the prince they lead him there, 
 The princess and Ludisa fair. 
 Ludisa doth the victor grace, 
 And 011 his brows a wreath doth place, 
 A wreath of oaken foliage made. 
 
 Loud roll'd the drums, the trumpets bray'd. 
 
53 
 
 ZABOI and SLA V Ol.*) 
 
 I. In forest black a rock doth rise, 
 High on the rock doth spring 
 
 The mighty Zaboi, far and wide 
 
 His glance around to fling. 
 
 Sad sorrow filFd his noble heart, 
 
 As round his glance did go, 
 
 And he mourn'd aloud, with a wood-dove's wail, 
 
 For his country's pain and woe. 
 
 II. Long time he sate, long time he mus'd, 
 Then up, like a stag, sprang he, 
 
 And through the wood, the lonely wood, 
 
 Right speedily did flee 5 
 
 From man to man through all the land, 
 
 From warrior to warrior went, 
 
 And few the words he spoke to each, 
 
 And secret their intent $ 
 
 Before the Gods he bow'd himself, 
 
 Then on, on his mission bent. 
 
 III. The first, the second day is past, 
 And men a numerous band, 
 
 *) Supposed to commemorate the defeat of a lieutenant of Da- 
 gobert A. D. 630. 
 
54 ZABOI and SLAVOI. 
 
 On the third day's night, in the pale moonlight, 
 
 All in the hlack wood stand. 
 
 Thence Zaboi led them to a dell, 
 
 All in the deep, deep wood, 
 
 And harp*) in hand before them all 
 
 In the lowest vale he stood. 
 
 IV. »0 men of brotherly heart and true! 
 »0 men of fiery gaze ! 
 »I sing to you from lowliest vale 
 »The lowliest of lays. 
 »That lay, it springeth from my heart, 
 ))From my bosom's deep recess, 
 »And sunk and drown' d in woe it tells 
 »My soul's deep bitterness. 
 »A sire**) his wives and children left, 
 »And to his sires is gone 5 
 )>He left them in their village home, 
 »But ah! he said to none: 
 »'0 brother! speak a father's words, 
 »To these thus left alone. 4 
 »A stranger to the village came 
 »With violence and wrong, 
 
 ') The Varito, the harp of the Slavonians, appears to correspond 
 to the fiagftetOV of the Greeks. 
 
 *-) Allusion to the recent death of a chief, followed by a pe- 
 riod of anarchy and an in\asion of the tMiemy. 
 
ZABOI and SLAVOI. 55 
 
 »He came commanding all around, 
 
 »A11 in a foreign tongue. 
 
 »And as it is done in foreign lands 
 
 wFrom morn till eve arrives, 
 
 »E'en so it must be done by us 
 
 »"With our children and our wives. 
 
 )>And one *) companion and no more 
 
 »On all our pilgrimage, 
 
 wFrom Vesna to Morana, must 
 
 »Be ours, from youth to age. 
 
 »TNo more may we our foreheads strike 
 
 wBefore the Gods we know, 
 
 ?>No more to them at even-tide 
 
 wWith meats in offering go. 
 
 ^Y^here erst our fathers sacrificed, 
 
 )>When erst they praises sung, 
 
 » They've fell'd the groves, and all the Gods 
 
 »Down from their thrones have flung « 
 
 V. ,Thou singest, Zaboi, heart to heart, 
 A song from the midst of woe, 
 Like Lumir,**) who with words and song 
 
 •") The introduction of Christianity abolished polygamy, and 
 forced the Bohemians to he content with a single wife, from 
 Vesna, the goddess of spring and youth, (indián usna) to 
 Morana, the goddess of death, (Greek (COIQCI, indián Morana). 
 
 •") Lumir, the Bohemian Orpheus ; Vysegrad, High-castle, a 
 ancient fort on a hill commanding the present city of Prague. 
 
50 ZABOI and SLAV OL 
 
 Right well to move did know 
 
 Proud Vysegrad, and all the land 
 
 That heard the god-like sound : 
 
 E'en so thou rnovest me and all 
 
 Our brethren here around. 
 
 The Gods in minstrels' good delight; 
 
 Sing on! from them is given 
 
 The heart that speaks against the foe, 
 
 Thy song it is from heaven. 
 
 VI. On Slavoi Zaboi gaz'd awhile 
 On his looks with anger fir'd, 
 
 Then further seiz'd their hearts with song, 
 And patriot rage inspir'd: 
 
 VII. ))Two*) sons, whose voices had assum'd 
 »E'en now the manly tone, 
 
 )>Were wont into the wood to go, 
 
 »And exercise alone. 
 
 »With sword, with pole-axe, and with dart, 
 
 »Their hands they practis'd well, 
 
 »In secret practis'd, and with joy 
 
 ^Returned from hidden dell. 
 
 ))And when their arms and hands were strong, 
 
 »And their wisdom 'gainst the foe, 
 
 »0 then their brethren too at home 
 
 *) Minding lo himsef and Slavoi. 
 
ZABOI and SLAVOI. 57 
 
 »To man's estate did grow, 
 »And all upon the foemen sprang 
 n Their wrath like the stormy sky, 
 »And to their Tillage home return'd, 
 »The happiness gone by.« 
 
 VIII. O, swift to Zaboi's side they bound, 
 As low in the vale he stands, 
 
 And clasp him in their mighty arms, 
 And heart to heart take hands 5 
 And words of wisdom spoken are I 
 Among the patriot bands. 
 
 IX. The night it goes, and the dawn comes on, 
 Fresh brightening into day, 
 
 The vale they leave, and scatťring wide 
 Through the forest take their way. 
 
 X. The first, the second day is past, 
 And now the third is done, 
 
 And Zaboi in the dark'ning night 
 Into the wood hath gone. 
 Behind him goes a company 
 Of men in wrathful mood, 
 And Slavoi too another band 
 Leads through the gloomy wood. 
 Each trusteth in his leader bold, 
 Each hates from his heart the king, 
 
58 ZABOJ and SLAVOI. 
 
 And each, against that tyrant fell, 
 A weapon sharp doth bring. 
 
 XL »Up, Slavoi! brother! up and on 
 ))To yonder hill so blue ! 
 »To yonder hill we'll bend our steps, 
 wThat all the land doth view 5 
 » Thence onwards, towards the morning sun, 
 »A darksome wood doth grow, 
 »There hasten we our faithful hands 
 »To plight i"or weal or woe. 
 »Now speed thee with a fox's gait, 
 »And I this way will go. a 
 
 XII. ,0 wherefore, brother Zaboi, must 
 Our arms from yon mountain bring 
 Their terrors? Hence we'll storming go 
 'Gainst the armies of the king V 
 
 XIII. »0 brother Siavoi, wilt thou strike 
 »And smite a serpent dead? 
 
 w'Tis surest at the head to aim, 
 »And yonder is his head.cc 
 
 XIV. The many scatter in the wood, 
 Dividing left and right : 
 
 These follow Zaboi, those attend 
 Fierce Slavoi to the fight 5 
 And towards the mountain blue they go 
 Deep through the forest's night. 
 
ZABOI and SLAVOI. 59 
 
 And when the fifth day's sun arose, 
 True hands they gave and took, 
 And down beneath, with foxen eyes^ 
 On the king's host they look. 
 
 XV. )>His armies Ludiek must unite, 
 »To quell at a single stroke — 
 
 »Ho ! Ludiek! thou art but a slave*) 
 »Set over the slavish folk ! 
 »Go tell thy tyrant, his command 
 »To us is nought but smoke !« 
 
 XVI. **)In wrath did Ludiek shout aloud, 
 And his hosts together bring; 
 
 Beneath the sky 'twas glittering light, 
 
 As the sun his beams did fling 
 
 On the countless weapons, glancing bright, 
 
 Of the armies of the king. 
 
 All, all were ready for the war, 
 
 On every sword a hand, 
 
 And every foot in act to march, 
 
 As Ludiek might command. 
 
 XVII. »0 haste thee, Slavoi! brother, haste 
 »This way with foxen pace! 
 
 *) Ludiek is evidently only the lieutenant and vassal of a po- 
 werful sovereign, and not a monarch himself. 
 *") Compare this passage with Homer's Iliad, ii 455. iv 422 etc. 
 
60 ZABOI and SLAVOI. 
 
 »And I will charge him in the front, 
 »And meet him face to face.« 
 
 XVIII. And forth rush'd Zaboi with his men, 
 Like a hail-storm on their van, 
 
 And Slavoi on their flank with his, 
 Like a hail-storm, charging ran. 
 
 XIX. » These, brother, these our trees did fell, 
 )>These, these, our Gods did rive, 
 
 » These from the forests chas'd the hawks ! 
 »The Gods will victory give !« 
 
 XX. Ha ! rage 'gainst Zaboi Ludiek hurls, 
 From the midst of the countless foe 5 
 
 And Zaboi with his eyes on flame 
 
 'Gainst Ludiek swift doth go. 
 
 As oak 'gainst oak contending fierce, 
 
 That all the wood may see, 
 
 So Zaboi did on Ludiek rush, 
 
 Before both armies free. 
 
 XXI. High Ludiek whirl'd his mighty sword, 
 And pierc'd his shield's third hide $ 
 
 With pole-axe Zaboi struck a stroke, 
 But Ludiek sprang aside. 
 The pole-axe struck into a tree, 
 The tree on the host doth fall, 
 And thirty to their fathers go. — 
 In wrath doth Ludiek call: 
 
ZAB01 and SLAVOI. 61 
 
 wThou monster! giant serpent's brood! 
 Come, draw thy sword to fight !« 
 And Zaboi heaves his sword, and doth 
 A piece from his buckler smite 5 
 When Ludiek strikes again, his sword 
 Doth vain on the tough shield light. 
 
 XXII. With rage enflam'd they strike amain, 
 Till each is wounded sore, 
 
 A wound appears in every part, 
 And all around is gore 5 
 And those in savage combat near 
 With blood they spurtle o'er. 
 
 XXIII. The sun o'erpasseth noon, from noon 
 Approacheth towards ěven-lide, 
 
 And still 'tis fought, nor here nor there 
 Relreat on either side; 
 Here Zaboi fought, and Slavoi there 
 The foe alike defied. 
 
 XXIV. wHence, murd'rer!*) Bies receive thee ! 
 
 hence ! 
 Why drink'st thou yet our blood ?« 
 And Zaboi seiz'd his mighty axe, 
 But Ludiek aside hath stood. 
 
 ) Bies, the evil spirit, connected probably with the German 
 word bos, 
 
 4 
 
62 ,ZABOI and SLÁVO í. 
 
 Zaboi on high his pole-axe swung, 
 
 And cast it at the foe; 
 
 The axe it flew and cleft the shield, 
 
 And Ludiek's breast below. 
 
 The heavy axe the soul affrights,*) 
 
 The soul by the pole-axe strong 
 
 Is driven forth, and fathoms five 
 
 Through the army borne along. 
 
 XXV. Loud shriek the panic-stricken foe, 
 When low their leader lies, 
 
 But glad the shouts of Zaboi's bands, 
 Joy sparkling in their eyes. 
 
 XXVI. »0 brethren! the Gods have granted 
 
 aid, 
 »And given us victory 5 
 »And now divide we left and right, 
 ^Steeds seek we speedily 
 »Iii every vale 5 with steeds must neigh 
 »The whole wood merrily !« 
 
 XXVIL ,0 brother Zaboi, lion brave! 
 Cease not to press the foe! c 
 Lo! Zaboi flings away his shield,**) 
 
 "") Compare the deaths of Sarpedon (Iliad, xvi. 505) and Hector 
 
 (Iliad, xxii 362). 
 **) Zaboi may here be compared with Achilles, pursuing alone 
 
 the whole Trojan army. — Iliad. XX, 490. 
 
ZABOI and SLAVOI. 63 
 
 And onwards still doth go. 
 
 In one hand is his pole-axe strong, 
 
 The other his sword dolh hold, 
 
 And thus through the enemy with speed 
 
 His path he breaketh bold. 
 
 XXVIII. The foe must shriek, the foe must flee, 
 Tras *) drives them from the field, 
 
 And terror forces from their throats 
 The cries of them that yield. 
 
 XXIX. With neighing steeds the forest sounds : 
 »Up, up! to horse and ride! 
 
 » After the foe on horse-back go 
 
 »Through the regions far and wide! 
 
 »"Ye swift steeds**), swift the vengeance bear, 
 
 »That our foemen doth betide !« 
 
 XXX. The warriors on the swift steeds sprang, 
 And galloping on the foe, 
 
 With wound on wound remorselessly 
 
 Did fiercest vengeance show. 
 
 They pass the mountains and the plains, 
 
 They pass the woods like wind, 
 
 And right and left, as on they go, 
 
 All things they leave behind. 
 
 *)Tras {TQOf.ioq , ind. trasa) the god of panic. 
 ■') Achilles thus addresses his steeds, Iliad, xix, 400, 
 
64 ZABOI and SLA VOL 
 
 XXXI. A mighty stream is hurtling wild,*) 
 Wave after wave rolls on, 
 
 But bound on bound both armies 
 Through the stormy stream are gone. 
 The waters seiz'd the foreigners, 
 And whelm' d them in the tide, 
 But safely bore the friends they knew 
 To reach the other side. 
 
 XXXII. Far, far and wide, through all the land. 
 With its long wings spread on high, 
 
 A furious glede with vengeful speed 
 
 Doth chase the birds that fly. 
 
 And Zaboi's band through all the land 
 
 Spreads wide, their foes to meet, 
 
 And down they smite them everywhere 
 
 Beneath their horses' feet. [pale light. 
 
 They chase them by night 'neath the moon's 
 
 Beneath the sun by day, 
 
 And then in the darksome night again, 
 
 And then in the morning gray. 
 
 XXXni. A mighty stream is hurtling wild, 
 Wave after wave rolls on, 
 
 **) Some consider these rivers to be the Angel and Mies in 
 the west, others the Elbe and Eger in the north of Bo- 
 hemia. Compare Iliad, xxi 1. where the Trojans fling- them- 
 selves into the Xanthus. 
 
ZABOI and SLAVOI. 65 
 
 But bound on bound both armies 
 
 Through the stormy stream are gone. 
 
 The waters seiz'd the foreigners, 
 
 And whelm'd them in the tide, 
 
 But safely bore their countrymen 
 
 To reach the other side. 
 
 »When we've got to yonder mountains gray, 
 
 Revenge will be satisfied. « 
 
 XXXIV. O Zaboi, brother, cease awhile ! 
 The hills are not far away, 
 
 The foes that are left are faint and few, 
 
 And these for mercy pray. [paths 
 
 XXXV. »Back through the land by difFrent 
 wWith speed, both thou and I, 
 
 »And all that to the king belong' d 
 
 ^Destroy we utterly !« [land 
 
 XXXVI. The wind it stormeth through the 
 On storm those armies twain, 
 
 Through every district left and right, 
 Through woodland and through plain, 
 With force extending far and wide, 
 With joyful shouts amain. [gray! 
 
 XXXVII. ))Ho! brethren, see yon mountain 
 »Our late won victory, 
 
 » There dwell the gods that gave it us, 
 »And there from tree to tree 
 
66 ZABOI and SLAVOI. 
 
 » Flits many a soul through all the wood ; 
 
 »The timid beasts and fowls 
 
 »In terror flee, except alone 
 
 »The ne'er affrighted owls. 
 
 »On to the mountains let us go, 
 
 »Our dead to bury there, 
 
 ))And to the Gods to sacrifice, 
 
 »Who gave us freedom fair! 
 
 »Aud many an offering we will bring, 
 
 »And many a thankful strain, 
 
 »And to them we will dedicate 
 
 »The weapons of the slain. a 
 
Z B Y H O N. 
 
 From tree to tree a pigeon flew, 
 And his woeful grief to the wood did coo: 
 »Thou forest wide, I roam'd in thee 
 »With the dove that dearest was to mej 
 »But cruel Zbyhon doth seize and keep 
 »My dove in the castle strong and steep «. 
 
 A youth round the castle steep doth go, 
 And sighs for his own true-love in woe ; 
 Thence on to the rock , and sitting there 
 With the dumb wood mourns in mute despair. 
 
 Sad coos the pigeon as up he flies, 
 The youth to him lifts his head and cries: 
 »Thou woeful pigeon, that lone dost mourn ? 
 »A hawk perchance thy mate hath torn. 
 »Thou, Zbyhon, in yon castle steep 
 »My dear, my darling love dost keep, 
 »In yon castle strong, yon castle steep. 
 »Thou, pigeon, with the hawk had'st striven, 
 »Had a valiant heart to thee been given 5 
 »Thou had'st reft from the hawk thy mate 
 
 with might, 
 »Had\st thou had talons sharp to fight 3 
 
68 ZBYHON. 
 
 »Thou had'st slain the cruel hawk, I ween, 
 
 »Had thine a beak flesh-rending been. 
 
 »Up, woeful youth! 'gainst Zbyhon go! 
 
 )) Thine a brave heart against the foe! 
 
 »Thine weapons keen and strong for fight, 
 
 »An iron mace his head to smite !« 
 
 Down speeds the youth through the dark- 
 some wood, 
 
 Shoulders his mace, dons his armour good, 
 
 Through the dark wood hastes to the castle steep, 
 
 Arrives at night 5 all, all's asleep. 
 
 With strong fist knocks — Who's there? 
 
 they cried 5 
 
 »A hunter benighted. « — The gate spreads wide. 
 
 Knocks again 5 — the next door is undone 
 
 at his call 5 
 
 m Where? where is lord Zbyhon ?« — Beyond 
 the great hall — 
 
 Lustful Zbyhon is there, there the maid makes 
 
 her moan. 
 
 »Ope, ope to the hunter !« the door's not undone. 
 
 With his mace the strong youth breaks open 
 
 the door, 
 
 'JNeath his mace lord Zbyhon lies low on the floor. 
 
 He storms through the castle and all doth slay. 
 
 With his lovely maid till morn dolh stay 
 
ZBYHOJN. 69 
 
 Through the treetops cometh the morning sun, 
 New joy 's in the heart of the youth begun, 
 That his own sweet maid in all her charms 
 He cradleth fond in his mighty arms. 
 
 » Whose dove?(( — Her Zbyhon did seize and 
 
 keep, 
 When he brought me here to the castle steep. 
 Away to the woods !« To the wood she flew,, 
 And fluttered here and there anew, 
 From tree to tree with her mate did fleet, 
 And on one branch they slumber'd sweet. 
 
 Glad smiles the maid at her lover's side, 
 Together at will they wander wide. 
 One couch for bridegroom and for bride. 
 
70 
 
 THE NOSEGAY. 
 
 (KYTICE.) 
 
 From the tall princely forests the light wind 
 
 doth blow, 
 The maiden belov'd to the streamlet doth go. 
 She scoops with her bucket the waves as they fleet, 
 A nosegay there floats on the wave to her feet. 
 The maiden she reaches the nosegay to hold. 
 That roses and violets sweets doth enfold, 
 But she falls, ah! she falls in the water so cold 
 »0 did I, fair nosegay, o did I but know, 
 Who, who was the planter that made thee t 
 
 grow, 
 A bright golden ring Fd upon him bestow. 
 O knew I, thou nosegay, so sweet and so fair, 
 Who chose thee, and pluck'd thee, and boun I 
 
 thee with care, 
 I'd give him, I'd give him the pin from my hair, 
 O did I, fair nosegay, o did I but know, 
 Who gave thee to float on that waters that flow, 
 The wreath from my head I'd upon him bestow. « 
 
71 
 
 THE STRAWBERRIES. 
 
 (JAHODY.) 
 
 My love went gath'ring strawberries, 
 Where green the pine-trees grow. 
 Her tender foot a thorn hath pierced, 
 That grew so sharp below, 
 And now my true-love scarcely can 
 Upon her white foot go. 
 
 O why hast thou, thou thorn so sharp, 
 Thus wrought the maiden pain? 
 For that shalt thou, thou thorn so sharp, 
 Out of the wood be ta'en. 
 
 O come my love, into the shade 
 All under the greenwood tree! 
 I'll to the meadow go and fetch 
 My steed so white to see. 
 
 The steed upon the meadow roves, 
 On the thick grass feedeth he; 
 My love 's beneath the cool, cool shade 
 For her lover waiteth she. 
 
 My love in the pine-wood half aloud 
 'Gins plaining as afraid j 
 
V2 THE STRAWBERRIES. 
 
 »0 what will mother say to me, 
 »To me unhappy maid? 
 
 »My mother bad me evermore 
 »0f young men to beware, 
 j) Yet why of young men heedful be, 
 »When they good people are ?« 
 
 Then up I rose upon my steed, 
 Like snow that was so jvhite, 
 Dismounted, tied him to a branch 
 By the silver bridle bright. 
 
 I clasp'd and press'd her to my heart, 
 I kiss 1 d her lips so sweet, 
 And the lovely maid forgets the thorn, 
 That pains her tender feet. 
 
 We kiss'd and lov'd each other there, 
 Till the setting of the sun; 
 »Come, hasten homewards, love !« she said ; 
 >/The day is almost done.« 
 
 Then quick I sprang upon my steed, 
 That was as white as snow,, 
 I took my true-love in my arms, 
 And with her home did go. 
 
73 
 
 THE STAG. 
 
 (JELEN.) 
 
 There courses a stag through the land so wide, 
 And o'er the mountains free ; 
 O'er hill and dale he bounds along, 
 His antlers are fair to see : 
 
 With the antlers fair that his brow doth bear, 
 Through the thick wood bursts his way, 
 And on his feet, that are so fleet, 
 Doth in ttie forest play. 
 
 There paces a youth on the mountains high 
 Through the vales to war he goes, 
 Proud weapons on his shoulders bears, 
 With weapons strong bursts through the throng 
 And close array of foes. 
 
 No more 's the youth on the mountains hign 
 With craft his savage foe 
 Doth on him spring 5 his look is dark, 
 His eyes with fury glow. 
 
 With heavy mace he smites his breast, 
 The woods for sorrow sigh, 
 He drives forth the soul, the gentle soul, 
 
 5 
 
74 THE STAG. 
 
 That through ihe long and slender neck 
 At the fair lips out doth fly. 
 
 Ah there he lies! ihe warm blood flows 
 After the soul that's gone; 
 
 The waste earth drinks the warm, warm blood, 
 And every maid for the youth low laid 
 In sad heart makes her moan. 
 
 Low lies the youth in the cold, cold earth, 
 An oak grows o'er his grave, 
 And far and wide on every side 
 Its branches it doth wave. 
 On goes the stag with antlers fair, 
 On his quick feet he doth bound, 
 And reaches with long and slender neek 
 The leaves that grow around. 
 
 Together swift-wing'd sparrow-hawks 
 From all the forest fly, 
 An I on that oak they sit and scream. 
 That all may hear the cry; 
 »By foeman's wrath was lowly laid 
 »A youth bemoan'd of ev'ry mi id. a 
 
7c5 
 
 i THE ROS E. 
 
 (RÓZE.) 
 
 thou rose, thou lovely rose, 
 Why so early bloom'st thou bright? 
 Why doth frost thy young bloom smite: 
 Why frost-stricken fad'st in sight? 
 Why when faded fall'st thou light? 
 
 Long time I sate at even late 
 Till cock-crowing alone, 
 Nor longer could I aught await, 
 The wood was burnt and gone. 
 
 1 slept, I dream'd, it to me seemM, 
 Ah me, unhappy maid! 
 
 The gold ring from my finger fell, 
 That my right hand display'd. 
 
 Out siipp'd a costly stone of price, 
 That in the ring should be; — 
 The precious stone I never found, 
 No lover came to me. 
 
 5* 
 
76 
 
 THE CUCKOO. 
 
 (ZEZHULICE.) 
 
 Upon the plain an oak-tree stands, 
 A cuckoo there doth sing, 
 And still she mourns and still complains, 
 That 'tis not always Spring. 
 
 How in the fields could ripen corn, 
 If Spring were evermore ? \ 
 How apples on the orchard-trees. 
 Were Summer ne'er to go? 
 
 Or h<j<w the ears in garners freeze 
 Were nought but Autumn known ? 
 How woeful were it for the maid, 
 If always left alone! 
 
 THE FORSAKEN. 
 
 (OPUŠTĚNÁ.) 
 
 Alas! ye woods, ye gloomy woods! 
 Ye woods of Miletin! 
 In summer and in winter too 
 Why are ye ever green ? 
 
THE LARK. 77 
 
 Right glad were I did I not weep 
 And my poor heart torment, 
 But, o good people, tell to me, 
 Who would not thus lament? 
 
 Where, where's my father, father dear? 
 He ia the grave is low; 
 
 Where, where's my mother, mother good? 
 O'er her the grass doth grow : 
 Brothers and sisters none remain, 
 My lover they away have La^en. 
 
 THE LARK. 
 
 (SKŘIVANE C.) 
 
 All in a lordly garden ground 
 
 Is weeding hemp a maid, 
 A lark addresses her and asks, 
 
 Why sad, and why afraid ? 
 'O how can I then joyful be, 
 
 Thou pretty little lark? 
 My lover they have ta'en from me 
 
 And shut in dungeon dark. 
 O had I, had I hut a pen, 
 
 A letter Í would write, 
 And thou my messenger shouldst be, 
 
78 
 
 And with it take thy flight. 
 But I've no paper, I've no pen, 
 
 To write a letter now, 
 So greet ray love with song, and say? 
 
 That here I pine with woe. 
 
 THE PARLIAMENT. 
 
 (SNĚM.) 
 
 »Ev'ry father in his household ruletb, 
 »Men must till, and clothes be made by women ; 
 »If the household's head begone, the children 
 »Rule together jointly his possessions, 
 »Choosing from the household a Vladyka, 
 wFor the common weal to seek th' assembly, 
 »With the Kmtts, the Lechs and the Vladykas ? « 
 
 Rose the Kmets, the Lechs and the Vladykas, 
 And approv'd the legal just decision. 
 
THE JUDGEMENT OF LUBUSSA. 
 
 (LUBUŠIN SUD.) 
 
 Why Veltava, troublest thou thy water ? 
 Troublest thou thy silver-foamy water? 
 Hath a tempest wild disquieted thee, 
 In the wide sky scatťring streaming storm-clouds, 
 Washing all the tops of the green mountains, 
 Washing out the loam_, whose sands are golden ? 
 How could I not trouble thus my water, 
 When own brothers have engag'd in quarrel 
 For the heritage that was their fathers? 
 Savagely together have they quarreFd, 
 Chrudos fierce beside Otava winding, 
 By Otava's gold-producing windings, 
 Valiant Staglaw by the cool Radbuza 5 
 Brothers both, and both are Klenovices, 
 Of th > old race of Tetwa, son of Popel, 
 Who with Czech and with his squadrons enter'd 
 Into the rich land across three rivers. 
 
 Up the social bird, the swallow, flieth, 
 Flieth from Otava, winding river, 
 And upon the window wide is seated 
 In Lubussa's golden seat paternal, 
 
80 THE JUDGEMENT OF LUBUSSA. 
 
 Vysegrad, her sacred seat paternal; 
 And she mourneth and she waileth sadly. 
 "When her sister hears her thus complaining, 
 Her own sister in Lubussa's palace, 
 She within the Vysegrad the princess 
 Begs to hold a court for the decision, 
 And the brethren twain to summon thither, 
 And to judge them as the law ordaineth. 
 
 Messengers the princess bids to issue 
 Unto Svatoslaw from white Lubica, 
 "Where the useful oaken forests flourish; 
 Unto Lutibor from Dobroslaw's height, 
 Where the Labe drinketh the Orlica; 
 Ratiboř from Kerkonossian mountains, 
 Where erst Trut the savage dragon sbuighter'd ,• 
 Unto Radovan from Kamen Most, and 
 Jarozir from hills with water streaming; 
 Unto Strezibor from fair Sázava, 
 Samorod from Mza, whose waves bear silver, 
 All the Kmets, the Lechs and the Vladykas; 
 And to Chrudos and his brother Staglaw, 
 For their father's heritage contending. 
 
 When at length the Lechs and the Vladykas 
 In the Vysegrad were all assembled, 
 Each takes place according to his birthright; 
 Clad in glitl'riijg white her throne paternal 
 
THE JUDGE ME1NT OF LUBUSSA. 81 
 
 In th' assembly grand ascends the princess 5 
 Forth there issue pacing two wise maidens, 
 Well instructed in victorious science 5 
 "With the first are tablets law-declaring, 
 With the next the sword, that crimes doth punish} 
 Opposite them is the flame that judgeth, 
 And beneath them is the hallow'd water. 
 
 From the golden throne the princess speaketh: 
 »Ye, my Kmets and Lechs , and ye Vladykas, 
 VTwixt the brethren must the right determine, 
 »Who now for their heritage together, 
 »For their father's heritage are striving. 
 »Let them both at once possess according 
 »To the edict of the gods eternal, 
 )>Or divide the land in like proportion. 
 »0 my Kmets and Lechs, and ye, Vladykas, 
 »It is yours my sentence to establish, 
 »If it be according to your wisdom. 
 »If 'tis not according to your wisdom, 
 uStablisli for the twain a new decision, 
 »That may reconcile the striving brothers.« 
 
 Bent themselves the Lechs and the Vladykas, 
 And began a whisper d consultation, 
 Whisper' d consultation with each other, 
 And they did commend and laud her sentence. 
 
 Uprose Lutobor from Dobroslaw's height 
 
82 THE JUDGEMENT OF LUBUSSA. 
 
 And began in these words his oration; 
 )) Glorious princess on thy throne paternal! 
 »We have well consider'd of thy sentence, 
 •-Now collect the votes throughout thy nation. « 
 
 And the judging maids the votes collected, 
 In a sacred urn the votes collected, 
 To the Lechs they gave them for announcement. 
 
 Radovan from Kamen Most arising 
 'Gan the votes by number to examine, 
 And announc'd the sentence to the nation 
 In assembly gather'd for decision. 
 )>0 ye brethren twain, both Klenovices, 
 »Of th' old race of Tetvn, son of Popel, 
 n Who with Czech and with his squadrons enter'd 
 wlnto the rich land across three rivers ; 
 »Thus about your heritage accord you! 
 »Ye shall rule it both the twain together. « 
 
 Uprose Chrudos from Otava winding, 
 Anger pour'd itself throughout his body, 
 All his limbs with savage fierceness trembled, 
 Like a bull he roars, his strong hand swinging - ; 
 »Woe to nests, to which the snake appmacheih ! 
 ))Woe to men o 1 er whom a woman ruleth! 
 »That a man o'er men should rule is fitting; 
 »It is right the firstborn should inherit. a 
 
 From her golden throne Lubussa rising 
 
THE JUDGEMENT OF LIBUSSA. 83 
 
 Saiih, »Ye Kmets, ye Lechs, and ye Vladykas ! 
 »Ye have heard the insult cast upon me. 
 »Judge yourselves, and give the legal sentence ! 
 » Never more will I your strifes determine. 
 »Ciioose a man, an equal, from your number, 
 )>That he may with iron sway and rule you! 
 »Weak o'er you to ru ! e is hand of maiden.« 
 
 Ratiboř from Kerkonossian mountains 
 Rose and thus began to make oration 5 
 »Shame 't were we should justice seek from 
 
 Germans, 
 »We by sacred law have right and justice, 
 » Which our fathers brought into these regions. « 
 
84 
 
 SONG UNDER THE VYSEGRAD. 
 
 (PIESEŇ POD VYŠEGMDEM.) 
 
 Hail Vysegrad lofty, our sun beaming bright! 
 How proud and how bold thou dost stand in 
 
 the height, 
 And all foreigners strik'st from the rock with 
 
 affright ! 
 Beneath thee the river rolls rapid and strong, 
 
 Veltava her waves rolleth swiftlv along:. 
 
 -> o 
 
 By Veltava's bright waves, that transparently 
 
 fleet, 
 Thick shrubs a cool arbour afford from the heat. 
 
 There merrily soundeth the nightingale's strain, 
 Or sadly he pipes, tiny songster, his pain, 
 As joy or as sorrow his heart doth contain. 
 
 were I the nightingale in the green grove, 
 How speedily thither I'd fly, where my love 
 Late at even, at even, doth wander and rove! 
 
 And when love waketh things, and all that 's alive, 
 For love with deep longings doth struggle 
 
 and strive, 
 
 1 long and I pine, fairest maiden, for thee; 
 Take pity, fair maiden, take pity on me! 
 
85 
 
 A SONG BY KING VACESLAW I. 
 
 (PIE SEŇ KRÁLE VACESLAVA I.) 
 
 After adventures stern and great 
 Love doth to me its sweet estate 
 Reveal and went high $ 
 Right heartily I mourn and sigh, 
 When thinking on the loveliness, 
 That causes thus my mind's distress, 
 How brightly doth the maiden shine, 
 Of whom myself to boast is mine. 
 Yet, though her love be not to blame, 
 
 She cruel anguish gives, 
 And I must bear it evermore } — 
 
 She asks not whom she rives. 
 My mind doth drive me on to love, 
 
 O happy happy me ! 
 And now my highest gladness is 
 
 Blest through the eyes to be. 
 For all my joyance through the eyes 
 Into my loving bosom flies. 
 Love grows increasing bye and bye, 
 In clearer brighter sympathy, 
 Because I gave it heart and mind. 
 
 6 
 
86 A SONG BY KING VACESLAW I. 
 
 It is a fount of bliss refin'd, 
 
 It the beginning is of mirth, 
 
 My anguish and my joy on earth. 
 
 E en as sweet dew the rose-bud sips, 
 
 When from its swathings free, 
 E T en so I kiss r d her honied lips 5 
 
 O happy, happy me! 
 In vain to understand I try, 
 How happy in thy love am L 
 Love banish'd is by anguish strong, 
 Pain comforts, love doth pine and long - 
 Love will accuse me — ah! for why? 
 Love cannot me accuse that I 
 Embrac'd her form so fair and bright, 
 So full of sweetness and delight, 
 In all its glowing glitl'ring charms, 
 Yet still with honourable arms. 
 For when that maid enchain'd my heart 
 
Í IN D E X, 
 
 Oldřich and Boleslaw i 1 
 
 Beneš Hermanow 14 
 
 Jaroslaw 18 
 
 Czestmir and Vlasíaw 34 
 
 Ludisa and Lubor 47 
 
 Zaboi and Slavoi 53 
 
 Zbyhon , 67 
 
 The Nosegay 70 
 
 The Strawberries 71 
 
 The Stag. 73 
 
 The Rose 75 
 
 The Cuckoo 76 
 
 The Forsaken 76 
 
 The Lark 77 
 
 The Parliament 78 
 
 The Judgement of Libussa 79 
 
 Song under the Vysegrad 84 
 
 A song by King Vaceslaw 85 
 
 6* 
 
Od téhož vydavatele jsou ještě k dostáni: 
 
 *cd^dBO-eMUdycKoe CToe BAdro- 
 
 BliCTBOBdNie. 
 
 SAZAVO-EMMAUZSKOJE SVJATOJE BLAGO- 
 VÉŠTVOVANIE. 
 
 S průčelním obrazem v oceli i dvěma snímky 3 zl.st. 
 
 Jest to vlastně kniha rukou sv. opal a Prokopa 
 okolo 1030 léta psána, nejstarší posud známý slo- 
 vansky rukopis. Latinský titul jest: Sazavo-Ern- 
 mauntinum Evangelium, nunc Remense vulgo 
 )>Texte duSacre.ív R lepšímu porozumění toho jest 
 v českém jazyku pro zapadni Slovany, a v ruském 
 pro východní, stručná grammatika pod názvem : 
 HAMÁJA CBHíE[EKHArO H3&IKA CAO- 
 
 BHETb. BiineciaBa FaHKn. Bi> ieniCKOii 
 
 ilparu 1846. 
 * POČÁTKY POSVÁTNÉHO JAZYKA SLO- 
 VANSKÉHO. Od Váceslava Hanky. 49 str. se 
 
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 *HA*IA*IA PyCCKAFO H3LIKA. Počátky 
 
 ruského jazyka od Váceslava Hanky. V í raze 
 
 1850. 168 str. v 12ce. se dvěma rytinami, 
 
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 MLUVNICE POLSKÉHO JAZYKA, Václava 
 
 Hanky druhé, poopravené wdaní. V Praze u 
 
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 MLUVNICE ČESKÉHO JAZYKA na základě 
 
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 * PRAVOPIS ČESKÝ. Od Václava Hanky. 
 
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DALIMILOVA CHRONIKA ČESKA, v nej- 
 dávnější ctění navrácena s různosl >vím i pří- 
 davky deseti rukopisů opatřena. Od Vaceslava 
 Hanky. Se snímkem nejstaršího rukopisu. Otisk 
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 * Táž chronika bez různosloví i přídavků 20 kr. 
 HISTORIA O CÍSAŘI KARLOVI toho jména 
 
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 * slavného královstvi českého. Podruhé vydána 
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 OBRAZY DĚJIN ČESKÝCH. Od Vácesl. Hanky. 
 Druhé vydání. S 12. obrázky. V Praze 1850. 
 str. 242 v 12ce 4j , u Václava Hessa. Váz. 30 kr. str. 
 '"RUKOPIS KRALODVORSKÝ, a jiné výtec- 
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 * Týž bez německého přeložení. 10 kr. stř, 
 
 * POESIE NAZIONALI lírieo-epiche della Boe- 
 
 mia tratle dal codice di Králové Dvór. Versione 
 ói Felice Francesconi. Praga 185L íO kr. 
 
 *KPAwÍE4BOPCKAH PyKOniICb. Co6 P a- 
 híg ^pesHHXT. ^emcKHXi anuqecKHXi h .111- 
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 Bi>«ieiucKOriííparljl851. i 06 str. Cena30k.stř. 
 
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 3^aTOJeBMfea. Y- 3-iaT. Ilpary 1851. 20 kr. 
 
 * KRALODWÓRSKI RUKOPIS. Pšef.wodJ.E. 
 
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 *KRÓLÓDW0RdKI REKOPIS Przeí, przez 
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* VICTOIRE DE ZABOL Version de Mr. Eichhot. 
 
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 *HANKO VY PÍSNĚ. S polským a tři ruské s 
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 obálce. 30 kr. stř. * 
 
 *KRAKOVIAKY. Národní písně polské, v pů- 
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 Hessa 1852, za 10 kr. 
 
 jísjŠf* Hvězdičkou poznamenané knížky jsou u 
 vydavatele v českém 3Iuseum o třetinu 
 laciněji. 
 
tfr*