When the mother-wife—the wife and mother, Found her earnest plaints and prayers neglected, She address’d herself to Neimar {74} Rado: “In God’s name, my brother, Neimar Rado, Leave a window for this snowy bosom, Let this snowy bosom heave it freely; When my voiceless Jovo shall come near me, When he comes, O let him drain my bosom!” Rado bade the workmen all obey her, Leave a window for that snowy bosom, Let that snowy bosom heave it freely When her voiceless Jovo shall come near her, When he comes, he’ll drink from out her bosom. Once again she cried to Neimar Rado, “Neimar Rado! in God’s name, my brother! Leave for these mine eyes a little window, That these eyes may see our own white dwelling, When my Jovo shall be brought towards me, When my Jovo shall be carried homeward.” Rado bade the workmen all obey her, Leave for those bright eyes a little window, That her eyes may see her own white dwelling, When they bring her infant Jovo to her, When they take the infant Jovo homeward. So they built the heavy wall about her, And then brought the infant in his cradle, Which a long, long while his mother suckled. Then her voice grew feeble—then was silent: Still the stream flow’d forth and nursed the infant: Full a year he hung upon her bosom; Still the stream flow’d forth—and still it floweth. {75a} Women, when the life-stream dries within them, Thither come—the place retains its virtue— Thither come, to still their crying infants. {75b} BATTLE OF KOSSOVA. FROM Jerusalem, the holy city, Lo! there flew a gray and royal falcon; With him came a little flitting swallow. No! it was no gray and royal falcon; ’Twas Elias! ’twas the holy prophet; And he brought no little flitting swallow, But a letter from God’s holy mother To the Emperor, from Polje Kossova; {76} At the Emperor’s feet he drops the letter: And the letter thus address’d the Emperor! “Tzar Lasar! thou tzar of noble lineage! Tell me now, what kingdom hast thou chosen? Wilt thou have heaven’s kingdom for thy portion, Or an earthly kingdom? If an earthly, Saddle thy good steed—and gird him tightly; Let thy heroes buckle on their sabres, Smite the Turkish legions like a tempest, And these legions all will fly before thee. But if thou wilt have heaven’s kingdom rather, Speedily erect upon Kossova, Speedily erect a church—of marble; Not of marble, but of silk and scarlet; {77} That the army, to its vespers going, May from sin be purged—for death be ready: For thy warriors all are doom’d to stumble; Thou, too, prince, wilt perish with thy army!”