On the night when the brig was expected to weigh anchor, Uros slunk away stealthily, when the crew were fast asleep, and went on shore. The inns were already shut, and not a light was to be seen in any window. He, therefore, plucked up all his courage, hastened to reach Milena's lonely house, and there, under her casement, he sang to her the following _rastanak_, or farewell song:
Though cold and deaf, farewell, love; We two must part. But can you live alone, love, If I depart?
From o'er the boundless sea, love, And mountains high, From o'er the dark, deep wood, love, You'll hear me sigh.
If you are deaf to me, love, Still on the plain You'll see the flowers fade, love, Seared by my pain.
Still you are deaf to me, love, Without a tear; I go without a word, love, My soul to cheer.
I send you back those blooms, love, Which once you gave; For they are now to me, love, Rank as the grave.
Amongst those cold, grey buds, love, A snake doth lie, As you have not for me, love, A single sigh.
He finished and listened, then he heard a slight noise overhead; the window was quietly opened, and Milena's face was seen peeping between the cranny as she held the shutters ajar, for her beautiful, lustrous eyes sparkled in the darkness.
"Uros!" she whispered, "how can you be so very foolish as to come and sing under my windows! What will the people say, if they should happen to see you?"
"Who can hear me in this lonely spot? Everybody is asleep, not a mouse is stirring abroad."
"Someone or other seems always to hang about, spying all I do. For your sake, and for mine, go away, I beg you. After the fright I had upon that dreadful night, I have got to be such a coward."
"No; the truth is, after that night, you never cared for me any more."
"I must not care for you;" then, with a sigh, and faintly: "nor must you for me."
"Would it make you very happy if I forgot you--if I loved someone else?"
"You'll forget me soon enough, Uros--far from the eyes, far from the heart."
"And if I come back loving you more than ever?"
"You'll be away for a long time; when you come back----"
"Don't say such things, Milena, or you'll drive me mad."
Then, with cat-like agility, he climbed the low wall, and, with hands clutching at the window-sill, and the tips of his _opanke_, or sandal-like shoes, resting on some stones jutting out, he stood at the height of her head. His other arm soon found itself resting round her unresisting neck. He lifted up his mouth towards hers, and their pouting lips met in a long, lingering kiss.