Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/180
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THE CZECHOSLOVAK REVIEW
I.
From green woods o’er a stretch of land There rides a lord of high command.He’s riding on his high black steed;The hoofs ring loud in joyous speed; He’s riding all alone.
And by a hovel—down a step! And at the hovel: rap, rap, rap!“Halloo, dear folks, come to the door!I lost my way in chase of boar; Refresh me with a drink!”
Sweet as a blossom came a girl— Ne’er had the world seen such a pearl—She brought fresh water; then, with zealTook her seat at her spinning wheel Where, all abashed, she span.
Amazed, the lord stood on the spot; His great thirst was at once forgot.Admiring her thread, thin and white,He cannot take his wond’ring sight Off the fair spinner’s face.
“If your most graceful hand be free, You certainly my wife must be!”And he embraced her with that word.—“I have no other choice, my lord, But what’s my mother’s wish.”
“Where is, dear maid, your mother gone? For I see you here all alone.”“O lord! My step-mother’s in townWith her own daughter; she’ll be down To-morrow, about noon.”
II.
From green woods o’er a stretch of land There rides the lord of high command.He’s riding on his high black steed;The hoofs ring loud in joyous speed; The hovel is his aim.
And by the hovel—down a step! And at the hovel rap, rap, rap!“Hallo! dear folks, come to the doorAnd let mine eyes behold once more My life’s own sweet delight!”
Out came a vixen of thin chest: “Hoh, hoh, what brings us our rare guest?”
“I bring a great change to your life;I want your daughter for my wife; Your step-daughter I want.”
“Hoh, hoh, the great surprise, my lord! How wonderfully sounds your word!I bid you welcome, lord from far,Though I don’t know yet who you are And how you came to us!”
“I am the king of these great lands, Enthroned but yesterday by chance.I’ll give you silver, gold, in tradeFor your sweet daughter, the fair maid, The spinner, full of grace!”
“Ah, what a great surprise, my lord! Who would have thought of such a word?We are not worthy, my lord king!Had we but earned by anything Your lordship’s sudden grace!”
“But I’ll suggest what may be done: In place of her I’ll give mine own:My daughter looks like her well-nighAs in the same head eye and eye, And her thread’s thin as silk!”
“Old vixen, your advice is bad! You’ll do nought but what I have said:To-morrow morning, the first thing,Up to my castle you shall bring Your step-daughter, none else!”