Full page photo print

SMAIL BALICIT~~ Cultural Achievements of Bosnian Muslims
When they came to court the lovely maiden.
Thousand golden coins the old man proffer'd,
And, besides, a golden drinking vessel;
Round the vessel twined a mighty serpent,
From whose forehead shone so bright a diamond,
That at midnight, just as well at noonday,
By its light you might indulge your feastings.
Suko offered but a dozen ducats;
All the youth possessed, except his sabre,
His good sabre, and his steed so trusty.
Suko dwelt upon the country's border,
As the falcon dwells among the breezes.
Then her brother thus address'd Ajkuna:
"Lo! Ajkuna, my beloved sister!
When my mother bore thee, she betrothed thee -
She betrothed thee to another lover.
Many a lover, maiden! now would woo thee;
But the best of all those wooing lovers
Are those twain today that seek thy presence.
One the venerable Mustar-Aga;
He that comes from Vraine [Vranje] out of Novi.
Countless are the old Mustafa's treasures:
He will clothe thee all in silk and satin,
Will with honey and with sugar feed thee.
Suko of Udbina is the other:
But this Suko nothing more possesses
Than his trusty steed and his good sabre.
Now, then choose, Ajkuna; choose, my sister;
Say to which of these I shall betroth thee".
Thus his sister answer gave her brother:
"Thine shall be the choice, my brother! only;
Him alone I'll wed whom thou wilt give me;
But I'd rather choose a youthful lover,
Howsoever small that youth's possessions,
Than be wedded to old age, though wealthy.
Wealth - it is not gold, it is no silver;
Wealth - is to possess what most we cherish".
Little did he listen to his sister,
For he gave the maid to Mustar-Aga;
To that old white-bearded man he gave her.
He with speed to his own court departed,
Brought the bridal guest, to lead the maiden
To his dwelling; and among them Suko
Lifted o'er the rest the bridal banner;