Lazar, the Tsar of Servia, holds his high holiday.
In the secret place, in Krúshevats, with all his lords he lay.
All of the lords and lordings were come with him to dine:
At his right hand sat Yug Bogdan and Yug's strong children nine;
On his left sat Vuk Bránkovich; at the far end of the board,
With two more Servian voývodas, was Milosh the young lord;
Ivan Kósanchich was the one, the other of the twain
Was Milan Tóplitsa. And the tsar arose a health to drain
Unto the Servian nobles; he lifted the beaker up:
“O voývodas and captains, to whom shall I pledge this cup?
If I pledge it unto the oldest, to Yug shall I drink this hour;
I shall pledge it to Vuk Bránkovich, if I drink because of power;
If I pledge to whomsoever is dear to me and mine,
I'll drink to my good brethren, Yug Bogdan's children nine;
For beauty to Ivan Kósanchich, and to Milan for his height;
But unto Milosh Óbilich for the glory of his might.
To none other will I drink it, while I have strength and breath:
A health unto Milosh Óbilich, and faith and broken faith!
Faith first and treason to follow! To-morrow at Kósovo
Thou shalt betray me, and after to the tsar of the Turks shalt thou go.
Hail to thee, and a health to thee, and the cup's delight be thine!
Rise up, Milosh the voývoda, and lightly drink the wine!”
Milosh rose swiftly to his feet, and bowed to the black earth:
“Praise to thee, Lazar the glorious, and a greeting to thy worth!
Praise for thy gift and greeting, but for thy speech no praise!
Since I was never a traitor, by my faith, in all my days,
Nor ever will work treason. But at Kósovo tomorn
Belike for the Cross of Christ and his Faith shall I be overborne.
But treachery is at thy knee, and drinketh before thy face;
There sits the traitor Bránkovich, of the accursèd race.
To-morrow on St. Vitus' day, on the field of Kósovo,
Who of us twain is true or false, all men shall clearly know.
An God me speed, will I ride indeed to Kósovo in the dawn,
To slash the throat of Murad the tsar and set my foot thereon.
An God give me good fortune, safely returning here,
I will lay hand on Bránkovich, and bind him to this spear,
As flax on the long distaff is bound by a woman's hand,
And to and fro in Kósovo will I bear him through the land.”
In the secret place, in Krúshevats, with all his lords he lay.
All of the lords and lordings were come with him to dine:
At his right hand sat Yug Bogdan and Yug's strong children nine;
On his left sat Vuk Bránkovich; at the far end of the board,
With two more Servian voývodas, was Milosh the young lord;
Ivan Kósanchich was the one, the other of the twain
Was Milan Tóplitsa. And the tsar arose a health to drain
Unto the Servian nobles; he lifted the beaker up:
“O voývodas and captains, to whom shall I pledge this cup?
If I pledge it unto the oldest, to Yug shall I drink this hour;
I shall pledge it to Vuk Bránkovich, if I drink because of power;
If I pledge to whomsoever is dear to me and mine,
I'll drink to my good brethren, Yug Bogdan's children nine;
For beauty to Ivan Kósanchich, and to Milan for his height;
But unto Milosh Óbilich for the glory of his might.
To none other will I drink it, while I have strength and breath:
A health unto Milosh Óbilich, and faith and broken faith!
Faith first and treason to follow! To-morrow at Kósovo
Thou shalt betray me, and after to the tsar of the Turks shalt thou go.
Hail to thee, and a health to thee, and the cup's delight be thine!
Rise up, Milosh the voývoda, and lightly drink the wine!”
Milosh rose swiftly to his feet, and bowed to the black earth:
“Praise to thee, Lazar the glorious, and a greeting to thy worth!
Praise for thy gift and greeting, but for thy speech no praise!
Since I was never a traitor, by my faith, in all my days,
Nor ever will work treason. But at Kósovo tomorn
Belike for the Cross of Christ and his Faith shall I be overborne.
But treachery is at thy knee, and drinketh before thy face;
There sits the traitor Bránkovich, of the accursèd race.
To-morrow on St. Vitus' day, on the field of Kósovo,
Who of us twain is true or false, all men shall clearly know.
An God me speed, will I ride indeed to Kósovo in the dawn,
To slash the throat of Murad the tsar and set my foot thereon.
An God give me good fortune, safely returning here,
I will lay hand on Bránkovich, and bind him to this spear,
As flax on the long distaff is bound by a woman's hand,
And to and fro in Kósovo will I bear him through the land.”