Soon as the Visir observes the contest, He is fill'd with sorrow and with anger; Rushes on the falcon of Prince Marko, Flings him fiercely 'gainst a verdant fir-tree, And he breaks the falcon's dexter pinion. Marko's noble falcon groans in suffering, As the serpent hisses from the cavern. Marko flies to help his favourite falcon, Binds with tenderness the wounded pinion, And with stifled rage the bird addresses: "Woe for thee, and woe for me, my falcon! I have left my Servians--I have hunted With the Turks--and all these wrongs have suffer'd." But Marko did not content himself with words and the Grand Vizier had hardly time to warn his companions when Marko cleft his head asunder and proceeded to cut each of his twelve companions in two. After deliberation he went to the Sultan and told what he had done. The Sultan laughed, for he was afraid of the light in Marko's eyes and chose to dissemble: "If thou hadst not behaved thus I would no longer have called thee my son. Any Turk may become Grand Vizier, but there is no hero to equal Marko," and he dismissed Marko with presents. In the second, "The Death of Marko," he has been warned by the Vila that his death is near, and he obeys her commands. Marko did as counsell'd by the Vila. When he came upon the mountain summit, To the right and left he look'd around him; Then he saw two tall and slender fir-trees; Fir-trees towering high above the forest, Covered all with verdant leaves and branches. Then he rein'd his faithful Sharaz backwards, Then dismounted--tied him to the fir-tree; Bent him down, and looked into the fountain, Saw his face upon the water mirror'd, Saw his death-day written on the water. Tears rush'd down the visage of the hero: "O thou faithless world!--thou lovely flow'ret! Thou wert lovely--a short pilgrim's journey-- Short--though I have seen three centuries over-- And 'tis time that I should end my journey!"