Shame and fear succeeded then to censure, And she piteously invoked her husband: "Can it, can it be, my lord and husband, That so young, thou, reckless, would'st immure me? Let us go and seek my aged mother: Let us go--my mother she is wealthy: She will buy a slave,--a man or woman, To be buried in the wall's foundations."
When the mother-wife--the wife and mother, Found her earnest plaints and prayers neglected, She address'd herself to Neimar Rado: [76] "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 Yovo 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 Yovo 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 Yovo shall be brought toward me, When my Yovo 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 Yovo to her, When they take the infant Yovo 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. [77] Women, when the life-stream dries within them, Thither come--the place retains its virtue-- Thither come, to still their crying infants!
Near each other grew two verdant larches, And, between, a high and slender fir-tree: Not two larches were they--not two larches, Not a high and slender fir between them-- They were brothers, children of one mother. One was Paul; the other brother, Radool, And, between them, Yelitza, their sister. Cordial was the love her brothers bore her; Many a token of affection gave her, Many a splendid gift and many a trifle, And at last a knife, in silver hafted, And adorn'd with gold, they gave their sister.