Flower Pieces and other poems By William Allingham: With two designs by Dante Gabriel Rossetti |
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KOSTAS.
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 | Flower Pieces and other poems |  |
185
KOSTAS.
A ROMAIC BALLAD.
She had nine noble brothers,
This beautiful young Maid,
And of old gloomy Charon
Not much was she afraid.
This beautiful young Maid,
And of old gloomy Charon
Not much was she afraid.
Young Kostas her betrothèd
Of four estates was heir,
And for old gloomy Charon
Right little did she care.
Of four estates was heir,
And for old gloomy Charon
Right little did she care.
But Charon like a bird flew past,
And shot his deathly dart,
Flew like a coal-black swallow,
And pierced her to the heart.
And shot his deathly dart,
Flew like a coal-black swallow,
And pierced her to the heart.
Then deep, deep did her father sigh,
And loud her mother moan,
‘O my one only daughter,
My fair, my only one!’
And loud her mother moan,
‘O my one only daughter,
My fair, my only one!’
And down the valley Kostas came,
With thrice three hundred men,
And sixty-two musicians,
Along the mountain glen.
With thrice three hundred men,
And sixty-two musicians,
Along the mountain glen.
186
‘Oh! stop the marriage jubilee,
Musicians, play no more;
Oh, stop awhile, for I can see
A cross upon the door.
Musicians, play no more;
Oh, stop awhile, for I can see
A cross upon the door.
‘It may be one of her brethren
Lies wounded on his bed;
Perchance her old grandfather
Is dying now, or dead.’
Lies wounded on his bed;
Perchance her old grandfather
Is dying now, or dead.’
He spurreth to the churchyard
His steed so black and brave,
And there he finds the sacristan
Digging in a grave.
His steed so black and brave,
And there he finds the sacristan
Digging in a grave.
‘O Sacristan, I greet thee!
For whom that grave?’ he cries.
‘'Tis for a fair young Maiden,
Her with the beautiful eyes;
For whom that grave?’ he cries.
‘'Tis for a fair young Maiden,
Her with the beautiful eyes;
‘Who had nine noble brethren
Within her father's gates,
And Kostas for her bridegroom,
The heir of four estates.’
Within her father's gates,
And Kostas for her bridegroom,
The heir of four estates.’
‘O Sacristan, I pray thee,
Now dig the grave more wide,
Now dig it wide enough for two
To rest there side by side.’
Now dig the grave more wide,
Now dig it wide enough for two
To rest there side by side.’
He drew his golden-hilted sword,
He plunged it in his breast;
And there the young betrothèd lie
Side by side at rest.
He plunged it in his breast;
And there the young betrothèd lie
Side by side at rest.
| Flower Pieces and other poems | |