THE "WEAVER"

53

He thus expresses his grief: "After a man often incurs mockery ; the sorrow of others

to Misfortune. loss a

many an object of ridicule, such as thou hast bestowed on me, O unfortunate Misfortune ! Through thee this has happened to me, the unhappy and thrice This all know and feel, this they unhappy weaver. fully understand. For already have all said and loudly affirmed that my most delightful, most excellent serving-maid^ has been endowed with diverse gifts, greater were her gifts than happy and most choice for all any that Nature has allowed any one to have these gifts that she had from fortune, she had them she obtained them also from not from fortune only the supreme Creator. Not only was she endowed with beautiful figure, shapely form, goodly customs, but and noble birth also God gave her, who had chosen her for her virtues and (who gave her also) much that was hardly ever has God very good, sweet, and honourable given to one person so many remarkable, good, and prosperous gifts. And yet you mockingly tell me that my most excellent serving-maid, my most beloved maiden, And not only this (do you not different from others. could find many other matrons and say), but also that maids such as she, did but cast glances around me. . what wonder at this what devil has sent you to me what devil or what devil gave you power over me has roused you and instigated demon,^ or what fiend wonder indeed at the meaning of you against me I

'

.

.

?

I

?

^

?

I

I

I

is

a

a

it,

is to

have always thus translated

the Bohemian

word topicka referred to

above.

'

The Bohemian words are velei and ztnek, names of heathen Bohemian divinities, which, after the acceptation of Christianity, acquired the signification of evil spirits.