| from "LAHUTA E MALCÍS" | from "THE HIGHLAND LUTE" |
| Gjergi Fishta | trans. Robert Elsie (from Albanian) |
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Kangë e parë - CUBAT Ndihmo, Zot, si m' ké ndihmue! Pesqind vjet kishin kalue, Se të bukren ket Shqypní Turku e mbate në robní, Krejt tue e lá t' mjeren në gjak, Frymen tue i zanun njak, E as tue e lânë, jo, dritë me pá: Kurr të keqen pa i a dá: Rrihe, e mos e l  n me kjá:Me i u dhimtë, po, minit n' múr, Me i u dhimtë gjarpnit nen gúr! ..........Veç si 'i d m, vû n' laver s' pari, Qi, ka' e vret zgjedha e kulari, Kah nuk bán m' e thekë strumllari, S' ndigjon me terhjekun m' pluer: E tue dhânë kryq e terthuer, Tue i dhânë bulkut shum merzí. Me u vû s' ryset per hullí E as me shoq aj pendë me shkue, Kshtu Shqyptarët, të cillt mësue S' i'n me nd jë rob nen zgjedhë të huej,Pagë e t' dhetta me i lá kujë: Por të lirë me shkue atà motin, Mbí vedi tue njoftë por Zotin, E askurrkujë n' kto troje t' veta Mos me i bâ kurr tungiatjeta, N' braz me Turk kurr nuk kan rá E as kurr pushken s' i a kan dá Por t' janë grî me t e t' jane vrá,Si me k në tue u vrá me Shkjá.E prandej, si pat fillue Turkut Ora m' i u ligshtue, E nisë pat m' i u thye atij hovi, M' qafë per ditë tue i mbetë Moskovi: E ato fiset e Balkanit Zûn me i dalë dore Sulltanit, Nisë Shqyptarët kan me u mendue, Si Shqypnín me e skapullue Zgjedhet t' Turkut, qi si motit N' ato kohët e Gjergj Kastrjotit, Krejt e lirë kjo t' ishte, e askujë Nji Krajlit a 'i Mbretit t' huej, Me i bâ mâ kurr tungiatjeta, Kurr me i lá mâ pagë e t' dheta: Edhè flamuri i Shqypnís, Si fletë Englli t' Perendís, Si ajo flaka e rrfés zhgjetare, Me u suvalë prap m' tokë shqyptare. ..........Kúr, qe, aj Knjazi i Malit t' Zí, Knjaz Nikolla, 'i gerxhelí: Gerxhelí, por belaçí: Na dyndë top, na dyndë ushtrí Edhè del e bjen n' Shqypní, Per me shtrue do bjeshkë e vrrî, Shka m rr Drinit per s' të giatitDér m' Kalá të Rozafatit, Kû aj me ngulë do "trobojnicen", Do Shkoders m' i a vû "kapicen": Me bâ Shkodren Karadak, Mbasì 'i herë t' a kisht' lá aj n' gjak! ..........Ká nd jë Turku e kqyrë harû,Pika pika lott tue i shkue, Kah s' ká Shkjaut, si me i qindrue; Se Moskovi e ká rrethue: Ká Stambollen muhasere! Bâjn shtatë Krajlat muzhavere Shoq me shoq, tue shartue zí - Si atà e zeza m' i pasët mblue! - Per të bukren ket Shqypní, Si m' i a lshue n' dorë Malit t' Zí. M' kambë Shqyptarët atëherë t' janë çue. Sa mirë n' armë na janë shterngue! T' fortë kan lidhë nji besë të Zotit, Si të Parët qi u a lidhshin motit N' ato kohët e Gjergj Kastrjotit: E 'i kamë mbathë e tjetren dathë, Gjân e gjallë pá grazhd mbyllë n' vathë, Dikû ngranë, dikû pa ngranë, Harrue grue, moter e nanë, S  'n agzot, zmren barot,E si aj plajmi me furí, T' kan rrâ n'ndesh Malit të Zí, Per t' giatë t' Cemit n' at kufî, Kû edhè trimat t' janë perlá, T' janë perlá Shqyptarë e Shkjá, Ballë per ballë atà tue u vrá, Fytafyt, ofshe! tue u pré: Tue mbetë shakull permbi dhé, Mish per shp z e kaçabeta,Gjithkû kje ajo pikë e djalit, Gjithkû kjenë sokola malit, Pa kjá m' ta as nanat e shkreta. Veç se, po, me parzme t' veta At Shkjaut sulmin kan thye...........Mbasì Shkjaut sulmin kan thye Bâjn kuvend Shqyptarët n' mjet vetit E 'i fjalë t' madhe çuekan Mbretit: Se jo veç qi Knjaz Nikollës Nuk i lajn kurr pagë e t' dhetta, Por se as Mbretit të Stambollës S'duen me i bâ mâ tungiatjeta, E se dore duen me i dalë: Se Shqypnín nuk po e kisht' falë Perendija per çerkez, Turq, manovë, likurazez; Por per do sokola mali, Qi "Shqyptarë" bota po i quete, Për t' a gzue kta djalë mbas djali, Dér qi jeta mos t' u shuete. ..........Turku fjalen e ká ndie: Se ç' âsht mbushë aj me mëní! Se edhè lshue ç' ká mbí Shqypní, Gjallë Shqyptarët aj me i perpî! Por Shqyptari gjallë s' perpîhej, E as me u shkelë, besa, s' po lîhej, Kúr po i mbushej mendja e vet, Per Shqypní me bâ aj gajret, N' dashtë t' a ms jn Krajl edhè Mbret.Edh#0232 kshtû t' janë kaperthye Grykë per grykë Turq e Shqyptarë, Pa dhimë krenash tuj u thye Si me thye kunguj nper arë.. ..........T' i u dha zjarmi atëherë Balkanit. Shkjau: kah drote se Shqypnija Nji herë shkputë dore s' Sulltanit, Mâ s' do t' bijte n' kthetra t' tija, Si atij hanger i a kisht' palla: M rr e msn m' Turk fulikare,E si derrat me çakalla T' janë mberthye, t' janë kaperthye: Haju, ngaju, çaju, vraju, M' pushkë e m' top gjuju batare, Gjaku rrmè nper rrahe e qare, E nper fusha e nper gajusha, Dér qi s' mbrami, n' p'r at zhumhúr, Zgjedhe s' Turkut pshtoi Shqypnija E duel m' vedi, si dikúr: Si premtue e kisht' Perendija: Por si dashtë, besa, lum vllau, S' do t' kisht' pasë as Turku, as Shkjau. ..........Se s' ká dashtë Turku lirí, M' a m rr mendja; veç un s' dijKnjaz Nikollës kah gjith kjo z merArdhë i paska, qi nen th merRob Shqyptarët po do me i shtrue, Edhè at tokë aj me pushtue, Per të cillen vetoi motit Shpata rrfé e nji Gjergj Kastrjotit? E qi s' paska dert aspak, Se Shqypní edhè Karadak Krejt me at punë po i late n' gjak? Z mra i ardhka prej Moskovit!..........N' Petrograd Cari i Moskovit Nji bé t' madhe po e kisht' bâ: M' e ndie plak e kalamâ: Se aj natë t' madhe s' do t' kremtote, Se aj kumarë as krushk s' do t' shkote: Gostë as darsem nuk do t' ngrifte, S' do t' u láte as do t' u krifte, As do t' dilte n' log t' kuvendit, Per pá i hî Stambollës permbrendit, Per pá kcye mbi post të Mbretit, Me u bâ aj zot i tokës e i detit: Edhè Europës tregun m' i a pré, Mos m' e lânë me shitë, me blé, Mos m' e lânë me çilë kund pûnë Por me bâ qi ajo perdhûnë, Per me çue 'i grimë bukë te shpija, Rob të ngelte n' kthetra t' tija: N' ato kthetra me gjak zhye, Msue gjithmonë n' gjâ t' huej me grrye! Por, persè ishte 'i skile e vjeter, Si per fjalë ashtû per leter, Mos m'i u gjetë kund nji shoq tjeter, Aj po e dijte mirë e hollë, Se isht' do pûnë me hî n' Stambollë: Se isht' do pûnë Turkun me e thye, Pa sharrue vetë mbrendë me krye. Prandaj x n aj me trillue,M' shpînë Shkjenín Turkut m' i a lshue: M' i a lshue m' shpînë Shkjét e Ballkanit, Qi me i qitë kta pûnë Sulltanit: Me i qitë pûnë kta 'i herë mâ para Me trazime e pûnë t' pambara, E mandej vetë prej Rusijet, Si harusha prej pusijet, Me i rá Turkut fulikare, M' e zhbî m' vend, m' e qitun fare; Per pá bâ aj me mend pleqní, Se me at pûnë boten unjí Mujtte, ndoshta, m' e pshtjellë n' zí ... ..........Kur ket punë e ká pleqnue, Ká marrë trimi e n' odë ká shkue, Ká nd?jë m' tryezë e âsht vû me shkrue, Me u shkrue miqve kah Serbija, Kah Zagrebi e kah Sofija: Me lidhë besen shkaf âsht Shkjá, Mbí Budin, m' çanak-Kalá, Edhè, tok kta ndermjet vetit, Mos m' i a dá të keqen Mbretit! Por m' e nzitë, por m' e merzitë, M' i u vardisë si 'i ditë per ditë, Herë per shtek, herë per kufî, Tash me p ng, tash me pleqní,Por gjithmonë, po, pá kanû, Veç si t' mujën n' teposhtë m' e vû. Masandej, ky zogu i Shkinës, Merr e i shkruen Knjazit t' Cetinës, M rr e 'i leter i a angllatisë,Me dredhí tuj i a qendisë: Ti, qi jé qaj Knjazë Nikolla, Falmeshndet Cari i Rusís. Se zâ t' madh per tý kam ndie Qi jé trim e gerxhelí, Qi jé burrë e kuvendtár, Me t' a drashtë hijen anmiku. Por, me giasë, kjo fjalë s' isht' gjâ Pse, qe, ti m' at rrasë Cetine Më ké nd jë me 'i gjymsë opinge,E jé bâ, po, gazi i dheut, Tue merzitë miq e kumbarë, Veç e per bukë thatë në gojë. Mje sa Turku, per brî tejet, Dredhun çallmen m' vetull t' s nit,Derdhë shallvarët aj pola-pola, Rrin e bân kokrrën e pallës, E as m' e pá ti s' mund t' a shofish Per mbas koders së pilafit ... Po a, thue, t' la tý kamba e dora, A se njitë jé, ndoshta, m' rrogë, Jo se hî ké bulkë n' e huejen, Qi s' po ndihesh kund per s' gjalli? Mo', bre burrë, se nuk ká hije, Urtë me nd jë Cubi i Cetinës,Edhè n' shpí me e shkuem aj motin Tuj u ndeshë nper furka t' gravet! ... Po a s' t' a mbushë s nin Shqypnija,Me ato male të madhnueshme, Me ato fusha të blerueshme, Qi kurrkund s' jé kah orvate, Me i a shkye 'i skundíll per vedi? ... M' t , krahthát, e mos rri fjetun!Pse, pa luejtë ti kambë e dorë, S' t' nihmon Zot as i Sh n Nkollë:Por, ti luej, nafaka luej, Ká pasë thânë aj burri i huej, Sá per bukë e per fyshekë, Piqu m' mue, se t' i qes vetë: Edhè ksulen v ne m' s,Se të nget Mbreti i Stambollës: Nuk t' a lâ me t' prekë me pupel. Letren kshtû Cari e ká shkrue, Edhè mirë e ka palue, E e ka mbyllë me dýll të zí I a ka dhânë kasnecit t' rí, Me i a çue Knjazit n' Mal t' Zí. Letren n' gjí ká qitë kasneci, Ká thekë kambët aj sá mund heci: Ká lânë mbrapa fushë e zalle, Kapercye ká bjeshkë e male, Edhè dalë ká lum e shé: Ká shtegtue per ujë e dhé, Dér qi 'i ditë, tue marrun dilli, Në Cetinë ká behë aj filli: Shtjerrë opangat, grisun setren: Knjazit n' dorë kû ká dhânë letren, My dýll Cari si e kisht' mshilë. Ká marrë Knjazi edh' e ká çilë, E ká çilë edh' e ká kndue. Trí herë rresht aj e ká kndue, Trí dit rresht edh' âsht mendue; Masandej aj fjalë ká çue Njatij Vulo Radoviqit, Kerksedarit t' Vasoviqit, Qi me dalë me rá n' Cetinë, Pá kqyrë shtek, pá kqyrun stinë: Me flutrue si gjeraçinë, Per me u pjekë me "Gospodarin". ..........Njiky Vuloja Serdari Kisht' pasë k në nji trim i çartun:M' e pasë randë toka m'e bartun. Pá t pré kund s' ishte marrë,Pá fjalë t' tij ngarkue s' isht' barrë, Pague s' ishte varrë as gjak, S' kishte vû nuse duvak, As s' isht' dá gjýgj a pleqní. Pse edhe Turku i Malit t' Zí Po e kisht' pasë shqype mbi krye, Mos m' e lânë me pá me s ...........- Se edhè 'i punë, ky zogu i Shkinës, Po e kisht' bâ m' at udhë t' Cetinës. Paska mârrë e shi në rrugë Per terthuer shtrîka nji strugë, Edhè i çueka fjalë terthores, Qi shka âsht Turk i Cernagores, Mos me mujtë m' e shkapercye, Per pá lá 'i dukat per krye - Bre! kish k në edhè 'i farë burri,Larg e larg me i dajtun turri. Ftyra e tij porsi duhija, S ni i tij, tanë zjarm e shkndija;Vetllat trashë ngerthye kulár, Porsi lesh derrit bugár; Vesh e m' vesh dega e mustakut, Si dy korba lidhë per lakut; Edhe i mbrrîjte kryet më trá: Burrë i atillë me s m' u pá.Veshë e mbathë e m' armë shterngue, Kishe thânë se âsht lé drangue. Se kt Knjazi fort e dote,Forte e dote edhè e ndigiote; Pse edhè i urtë aj kishte ndollë, Me i a pré mendja fort hollë. Prandej Knjazi i çueka fjalë Në Cetinë per ngut me dalë. Edhè Vulja bjen m' Cetinë, Pá kqyrë shtek, pa kqyrun stinë, Tue flatrue si gjeraçinë. ..........N' at Cetinë kúr Vulja zbriti, At Knjazi mirë e priti,Mirë e priti e n' odë e qiti, I qiti duhan e kafe, Edh nisi kshtû t' bâjë llafe:Kû jé Vulo, eh kopilane! Se ti ujk, po, né na u bâne, Ke s' po duke kah Cetina, Kû ké miq e probatina, Qi s' të ndrrojn me s të ballit? ...Po a ké mûjtë?... a ké farë hallit? ... Si po t' shkon n' Vasoviq moti? - Per jetë t' ande!.. si do Zoti, M?rr e i thotë Vulo Serdari; Pse sivjet, lum "Gospodari", Nuk ká pasë toka valigë, E ká ardhë nji kohë e ligë, Sá nuk dij si ká m' i u bâ, Per me pshtue do rob e gjâ, Pse edhè buka âsht tuj na lânë. Hajt, eh q '! Knjazi i ká thânë ...Se s' po gj n cubi me ngrânë ...Se s' po gj n skyferi mish ...Se ti e xjerrë koren dyfish! ... Mjaft t' i bijsh ndoj vendit pré, Se po e bân me lopë e qé, Sá me mbajtë njerzt e kujrís, Jo se mâ gjinden e shpís ... A din shka, Vulo Serdari, Ndiej shka t' thotë tý "Gospodari"; Pshtilli bashkë nja disá cuba: T' idhtë si gjarpni nder kaçuba, T' letë e t' shpejtë si gjeraçina: Edhè lshoi ti kah Vranina, Per me vrá atà per me pré, Per me djegun gur e dhé, Mbrendë tuj vjedhë e tuj plaçkitë, Tuj grabitë e tuj robitë, N' daç me natë e n' daç me ditë Se un prandej të kam çue fjalë, Dér n' Cetinë nji herë me dalë, Pse dishka mue tash m' ká kcye, Prap me Turk me u kaperthye: Prap me Turk, po, na me u vrá. Pse edhè as hije, tham, nuk ká, Urtë me nd jun Turk e Shkjá.E kështu tue ligjirue, Krye më krye tuj bisedue, Hollë e gjatë e ká qortue, Si me u sjellë e si me u prue, Per m' e lá Vraninen n' gjak. E si vesht janë mârrë me fjalë, Knjazi m' bukë at e ká ndalë,Edhè falë i ká do pare; E i ka falë nji "xheverdare", Krejt n' argjan kandakut ngrí, Mos m' i u gjetë shoqja n' Mal t' Zí: Me e drashtë vjerrun në sergjí, Jo mâ m' krah të nji luftarit, Jo mâ n' krah t' Vulo Serdarit, Qi isht' me bré hekur me dhambë! ..........At herë Vulja âsht çue në kambë: Ká bâ Knjazit "tungiatjeta", Edh' âsht nisë malit perpjeta, Udhës me mend aj tuj perblue, Si Vraninen me shkretnue, Knjazi ashtû si e kisht' qortue. |
Canto 1 - THE BANDITS Help me God as you once helped me, Five hundred years are now behind us Since Albania the fair was taken, Since the Turks took and enslaved her, Left in blood our wretched homeland, Let her suffocate and wither That she no more glimpse the sunlight. That she ever live in sorrow, That when beaten, she keep silent. Mice within the walls wept for her, Serpents under stones took pity! ..........But when a steer is first yoked under, Oxbow weighing hard upon it, There's no sense at all to goad it, It will balk, not pull the ploughshare, Only crisscross fields at fancy, And make trouble for the farmer, Will refuse to till the furrows When alone or with another. So it is with the Albanians, Under foreign yoke unwilling To be slaves, pay tithes and taxes. Always have they wandered freely, None but God above them knowing, Never on their lands and pastures Would they bow before a master. Never with the Turks agreeing Never out of sight their rifles. They waged war on them, were slaughtered, Just as if with shkjas in battle. Therefore, when the Turkish ora Started to lose power, weaken, When her drive began to crumble, Russia day by day beset her And the tribesmen of the Balkans Began to flee the sultan's power, Did the Albanians start to ponder How to free their native country From the Turkish yoke and make it As when ruled by Castriota, When Albanians lived in freedom, Did not bow or show submission, To a foreign king or sultan, Did not pay them tithes and taxes. And Albania's banner fluttered Like the wings of all God's angels, Like the bolts of lightning flashing, Waving high upon their homeland. ..........But the Prince of Montenegro, Prince Nikolla the foolhardy, Yes, foolhardy, but a nuisance, Gathered weapons, gathered soldiers To attack and take Albania, To subdue the plains and mountains Down the length of the Drin river, Right down to Rozafat's fortress, There to plant his trobojnica Place on Shkodra his kapica Make it part of Montenegro, Leave a bloodbath there behind him. ..........Sat the Turk there in a stupor, Teardrops from his eyes did tumble, For the shkjas he could not counter Now that Moscow had surrounded Stamboul and besieged the city. The Seven Kings, they did take counsel, There they talked and pondered evil, - may their evil thoughts consume them! - To deliver fair Albania To the hands of Montenegro. To their feet rose the Albanians, Deftly girded on their weapons, Swore an oath to the Almighty Like that once sworn by their fathers In the age of Castriota, Some with shoes and others barefoot, Locked their flocks in pen and corral, Some with food and others hungry, Left their sisters, wives and mothers, Their eyes tinder, hearts gunpowder, Like a snowstorm in a fury Did they set on Montenegro. By the Cem that was the border, There the heroes did do battle, There Albanian, shkja in combat Fought and slaughtered one another, They grappled, wounded, slew each other, On the ground were heaps of bodies Left as food for kites and vultures. Handsome youths lay strewn all over, All those mountain hawks, the heroes. Nor did their poor mothers mourn them For with suckling breasts themselves They'd driven back the shkja invaders. ..........Once the shkja advance was broken Did the Albanians hold assembly, Sent stern message to the sultan That they'd pay no tithes and taxes Neither to that Prince Nikolla Nor to Stamboul, to the sultan They'd no longer show submission, They now wanted independence, For Albania was not fashioned, Made by God for the Circassians, Nor for Turks, their Moors and Asians, But for mountain hawks, those heroes Whom the world calls the Albanians, That they keep it for their children For as long as life continues. ..........When the Turk had read the message He was filled with rage and anger. How he set upon the land to Eat them up alive, those tribesmen. But the Albanians were resolved He'd not devour or invade them. They had come to a decision, For their land they'd muster courage, If attacked by king or sultan. Thus the Turk and the Albanian Seized each others' throats and strangled, Smashed each others' skulls to pieces, Crushed them like so many pumpkins! ..........Fire broke out then in the Balkans. The shkja, in anguish that Albania, Freed now of the sultan's power, Might not fall into his clutches As he had foreseen the matter, Set upon the Turk like lightning, Like the wild boar with the jackal. They did haggle and did grapple, Scuffled, wrestled, bit and murdered, Rifles volleyed, cannons battered, Blood in torrents swashed the clearings, Over fields and through the thickets, 'Til at last, midst din and clamour, Of the Turkish yoke released, As she'd wanted, was Albania, Free at last, as God had promised, But no, brothers, do believe me, Not as Turk or shkja would have it. ..........That the Turk begrudged our freedom I can understand, but don't know What got into Prince Nikolla, Forcing to submit Albanians, Crush them under heel, enslave them, And to seize that land where once In ancient times Gjergj Castriota Brandished in a flash his sabre. Nor did he show shame or sorrow That he'd caused the two such bloodshed, Both Albania and Montenegro. Moscow gave him heart and courage! ..........In Petrograd the Tsar of Russia Took an oath before his people, To be heard by young and old there Not to celebrate a Christmas, Not to take part as godfather In baptisms or in weddings, Not to wash or comb his hair more, Not to take part in assemblies, Ere he'd entered into Stamboul, Ere he'd made himself the sultan, Ruler over land and water, Cut off all of Europe's trade routes, Banning all their sales and buying, Letting no one start a trade up, Holding Europe in his power. Should she even seize a breadcrumb, She would end up in his clutches, Captive in his bloodstained clutches, Which were deft at theft and stealing! But the sly old fox was clever, Cheater in both words and letters, One whose falseness knew no equal, He knew well what lay before him, No light task to enter Stamboul, No light task subjecting Turkey Without his own neck in peril. So he schemed and started plotting, Set the Slavs upon the Turks, to Have the Balkan shkjas attack them, Get accounts cleared with the sultan, Let them first solve all their problems, Troublemaking and deception, Then from Russia would he come forth, Lunging like a bear in ambush, And attack the Turks like lightning To eradicate, destroy them, Never did he once consider That his deeds might plunge the planet Altogether into mourning ... ..........When the tsar had finished scheming, Did he go back into his chamber, At his desk he wrote a letter, Wrote a note to friends in Serbia, Friends in Zagreb and in Sofia, That the shkjas should all join forces From Budapest to çanakkale, All as one should work together, Keep at bay the sultan, harried, Keep him worried and incited, Day and night they were to hound him On his roads and at his borders, Make demands and ultimatums, That their actions seem haphazard, Though designed to cause his downfall. Thereupon, this Slavic scion Wrote a letter to Cetinje, To the prince with all the details, There to spin his web and swindle: "Greetings to you, Prince Nikolla Greetings from the Tsar of Russia, I've heard of your reputation, Heard you're quite a daring fellow Heard you are a skilful speaker, Foes, they say, pale at your shadow. But, it seems, such praise is groundless For you sit there in Cetinje On the rocks with half a sandal, A laughingstock the world has made you, You bring shame to friends and in-laws, You go begging, plead for breadcrumbs, While the Turk who is your neighbour, On his haughty brow a turban, Heavy pleats are in his trousers, He's devoid of care or worry. If you look, you cannot see him, Mounds of pilaf piled before him. Say, have you been mutilated? Or been somewhere earning wages Or been serving as a farmhand That of you we've lost all traces? No, good man, it's not becoming For the bandit of Cetinje To remain at home compliant And help women with their spinning. Have you never glimpsed Albania, Seen all those majestic mountains, Viewed the verdant fields and lowlands? Have you never ventured out To carve yourself a piece of land there? Why then sit around and daydream? If you don't get yourself moving, Saint Nich'las and God won't help you. If you act, luck will be with you, As the ancient saying has it. As for rations and for weapons, Ask me and I'll give them to you. Come on, put on your kapica. Should the sultan try to harm you, I'll not let him touch a feather." Thus the tsar wrote his epistle, Taking great care, did he fold it, Fold it and with dark wax seal it, Giving it to his young herald, For the prince of Montenegro. In his breast the herald placed it, Limbered up and started running, Left the plains and dales behind him, Crossed the lofty mountain pastures, Forded rivers, mountain torrents, Travelled over land and water, 'Til one day, while running westwards, Did he finally reach Cetinje, Tattered jacket, shredded sandals, Did he give the prince the letter Which the tsar with wax had folded. The prince received it, broke it open, Opened it and read the letter, Three times did the prince peruse it, Three days long he pondered on it. Thereupon he sent a message, Summoned Vulo Radoviqi, Commander of the Vasoviqi, That he come down to Cetinje, Notwithstanding roads and weather. Like a goshawk did he fly there Off to meet the gospodari. ..........Vulo the Commander, summoned, Had once been a wily hero, Earth itself could hardly hold him, None went raiding there without him, Sans his word was nothing taken, Nor was murder 'venged without him, Nor could maidens ever marry, Nor was judgment ever taken. And the Turks of Montenegro, He was at them like an eagle, Kept their heads bowed in submission. ..........Once, this Slavic scion set out On the road down to Cetinje, There opened a woollen blanket, Stretched it out across the roadway, Far and wide he told the people That no Turk of Montenegro Was to cross it without paying Toll and poll tax of one ducat. That was quite a feat of daring, Made him famed throughout the country. Vulo's glance was like a windstorm And his eyes, they flashed with fire, His thick eyebrows like an oxbow Bristled roughly like a boar hide, Ear to ear his branch-like whiskers, Like two ravens in a noose caught, Tall, his head reached to the ceiling. Such a man, if you had see him, With his garments, shoes and weapons, You'd have thought he were a drangue, And the prince did dearly love him, Loved that Vulo, listened to him For he was a clever thinker, Was a man of keen perception. Therefore did the prince call for him That he hasten to Cetinje. Thus came Vulo to Cetinje, Notwithstanding roads and weather, Like a goshawk did he fly there. ..........When Vulo had reached Cetinje Warmly did the prince receive him, Took him in and paid him honour, Offered him tobacco, coffee. Then began the conversation: "Where've you been, Vulo, you rascal? Like a lonesome wolf you've vanished, Never come here to Cetinje Where you've friends, blood-brothers waiting, Who above all else do love you. How're you faring, any problems? How are things in Vasoviqi?" "You I wish long life, God willing," Turned and spoke Commander Vulo, "This year for us, gospodari, The harvest has not been abundant, Much bad weather have we suffered I don't know what now will happen, How I'll save my farm and family, For our stocks of food are dwindling." "Oh, come on," the prince responded, "Has a bandit ever hungered? Is a falcon ever meatless? You can bring in double harvest, All you need's a bit of booty To sustain your cows and oxen And to feed your tribe and village, Not to mention home and family. Hark my words, Commander Vulo, Listen to the gospodari, Find some thugs as mean as serpents, But as light and swift as goshawks, Lie in wait among the bushes, Then go pounce upon Vranina, Kill and slaughter all you find there, Burn the houses all to ashes, Rustle all the spoils around them, Loot and ransack, pillage, pilfer, Both by daytime or by nighttime. This is why I sent the message, Summoned you here to Cetinje For I'm once more feeling tempted With the Turks to start a scuffle, Fight the Turks and decimate them, For it seems to me improper Turks and shkjas should sit together." So the prince explained the matter, Convinced him of all the details, Both of them went on discussing How to act, what they would need to Bathe in blood the town Vranina. When the two had reached agreement, The prince did bid him stay for dinner, And some money did he give him And a muzzle-loading flintlock, Stock of which was silver-coated, Unequalled in Montenegro, Even on a shelf it scares you, All the more when with a fighter, All the more when held by Vulo, With his teeth he'd bite through iron. ..........Vulo, to his feet then rising, Bade farewell to Prince Nikolla And departed for the mountains. On his way did Vulo ponder How to lay waste to Vranina, As the prince had bid him do so. |
Trans. Copyright © Robert Elsie 2006.