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Mighty Osmanbey
arose early in the morning, about sunrise.
He got to his feet, huddled a coat onto his shoulders, lit
his long dyed pipe, and went downstairs. Then he strolled
out of the city and along the great wall. After a while
he stopped and leaned his back against the cold masonry of
the wall, and relit his pipe. As he puffed at the pipe he
gazed past the dervishes' lodge toward the New Plantation
and, sighing deeply, he let the tears roll down his cheeks.
Meanwhile the hot sun ascended into the sky and warmed the
steep places and the flatlands alike.
As the Bey gazed out over the Plain of Osik, he caught sight of a man riding toward him, a man mounted on a dark horse so spirited it seemed like a wild animal. The rider advanced furiously over the field. Mighty Osmanbey thought the man familiar, but could not exactly discern who he was. (25) But as the man approached, he saw that it was Hardy Nasufbey, his sister's son from the flatlands of the Drava. The bey rode up on his dark horse, reined it in, and greeted Osman, who tearfully replied in kind. Hardy dismounted and sat down beside his uncle. Osman inquired: “So, you are in good health, are you, my dear nephew?” “Indeed I am, uncle, God be praised! Healthy as may be, but not happy, since I find you here in tears outside the city gate. Who has saddened you? Or has someone done you wrong? (40) What manner of care so oppresses you that you let tears stream down your cheeks? Tell me, uncle.” “Hardy Nasufbey, my nephew, when a man's heart is full of grief he weeps easily, and so I am prone to tears. I wonder whether you can remember the time... . Look there in the distance, down the Plain of Osik. (50) Do you see those ruins, son? Once those were mansions and habitations of men, until an enemy incursion burned the villages and razed the mansions. And as if that were not damage enough, they attacked my mansion too, sacked it, and took captive the two children of my loins, the girls Hatikadka and Zlata.1 I had a brother, Ahmetbey, whom they slew when they took the girls.2 Seven years have passed since then and still, to my mortification, I have no report—no inkling—of their whereabouts. Had my children perished in the flames or been killed outright I might have learned to stop my mourning over them, but as it is I grieve for them continuously. They are for me an unceasing agony of sorrow; and so I still keen for them and let the tears fall. Meantime my son Mehmedbey, who should be ashamed before God for his fecklessness, spends all his days sitting in the pothouse and lies comfortably asleep in his bed all his nights, just as he has done without interruption ever since the disaster. He concerns himself not in the least with any searching for his sisters. He has not turned out to be a proper son of mine at all, but takes after his mother instead, behaving like a Hajdarbegović.” 3 When Hardy Nasufbey had heard all this, he lifted his head and said to his uncle: “My uncle, Mighty Osmanbey, stop now, and speak no more ill of your own offspring. For I tell you—and I call my holy faith to witness—your son is a true warrior and truly worthy of his manly lineage. For lo these seven years he and I have both together constantly made journeys searching for the girls. (90) Seven times he has come down to me on the flatlands of the Drava, and we two disguised as infidels have roamed all over Heathendom, looking everywhere for the two young captives.” Thus the two men were conversing together. But when the elder man had considered his nephew's words, they two arose and went to Mighty Osmanbey's stone-built mansion. There they entered a drawing room and sat them down by a window (100) to resume their conversation. Mighty Osmanbey inquired: “Mighty Mehmedbey, my nephew—, my nephew, Mighty Hasanbey,4 when the two of you made your journeys, did you discover any indication whether they are dead or alive? Have my children utterly perished?” Thus spoke Osmanbey. Hardy Nasufbey replied: “Ah, my uncle, Mighty Osmanbey, we learned nothing about them anywhere.” Thus the two of them conversed together, gazing through the window. But as he watched the scene from his window, Mighty Osmanbey noticed a mounted man approaching over the plain. He was riding a bay horse so spirited it seemed like a wild animal. Its trappings were of glimmering gilt, and the rider was surpassingly wonderful and strange. He glittered in the sunlight from his boots up, from his boots to the fez which he wore on his head. His breast was covered in shimmering silver and his pistols shown radiantly, while his sword clattered about his boots. But when the Bey looked more closely at the young rider, he saw that he was wearing a scarlet Busby, with four-and-twenty silken bands that hung from it fluttering about his shoulders. The five-and-twentieth pendant was a silver sphere (130) that knocked thunderously upon his breast, and he had golden pistols at his belt. Such was the rider advancing toward them over the plain. When Mighty Osmanbey had scrutinized the man, he said: “Ah, my nephew, Hardy Nasufbey, look here through the window. This looks to be a Magyar warrior of some kind. Judging from the insignia on his collar and from the cut of his clothes, he might be a Christian, but I cannot make out who he is exactly.” But when Hardy Nasufbey had looked at him, he said: “Ah, my uncle, Mighty Osmanbey, I do not recognize him, nor can I tell whence he comes.” Meanwhile the rider made straight for the stone-built city of Osik. The Bey of Osik called to his guardsmen: “Go down quickly to the courtyard gate and receive the approaching horseman, (150) who is just now about to reach our bright mansion.” No sooner had the men-at-arms gone down to the courtyard than the young man came riding up. Drawing his horse to a halt, he invoked God's grace, and the guardsmen answered him fairer still. Then the young Christian spoke to them: “Dear Turks, sons of the Emperor, do not think ill of an uncouth Christian, (160) for I have never come this way before.5 Is this Mighty Osmanbey's mansion?” The guardsmen replied to him: “This is Osik, the one and only, and this is the mansion of Osik's Bey.” Thereupon the young Christian dismounted and cast the reins upon his saddle horn. His bay forthwith walked itself about the yard. Then the Christian began to speak again, and asked permission to enter the mansion. They granted him his wish: “You are at liberty to enter, to sit a while, and smoke.” So the young Christian went into the stone-built mansion. Though unfamiliar with good Turkish custom, nevertheless he was canny, for he doffed his Busby and tucked it under his arm when he came to the chamber door. Then he opened the door, went in, and said “Good Morning.” (180) Bowing to the ground, he next kissed the black earth, then the hands of his hosts, and finally stood respectfully before them. The Bey of Osik said to him: “My young Christian visitor, whence come you? What is your country, and what is your town? Who is the master whom you serve? What is your name?” The young Christian said softly in reply: “Ah, Bey Osmanbey, I kiss your hand. I am from Prozor City, and am in the service of General Kaiser. But I have come to see you here in Osik.” The Bey said to him, beginning to speak—,6 because the young Christian said: “My name is Luke Paulson, and I am a dutiful servant of General Kaiser.”7 (200) But when the Bey had considered his words, “So, Paulson from bright Prozor, is it on a spying mission that you have come to me here in Osik, or else to steal thoroughbred horses, or for bride-stealing, or perhaps to kill me?” But when Luke had considered these words, “Ah, my dear Bey, I kiss your hand. I have not come here a-spying, nor for stealing thoroughbreds, nor for bride-theft, and least of all—God forfend!—to slay you. For I have heard it said, Bey Osman, that you treat your retainers well. I have come to enter your service for a time and earn my keep with you.” When Mighty Osmanbey heard this, he said to Luke Paulson: “Faithful retainer of General Kaiser, tell me straightforwardly in truth, why have you forsaken Prozor, Luke, and deserted General Kaiser?” “Ah, my dear Bey, I kiss your hand. I served General Kaiser twelve years in Prozor. Not long ago I arose one morning early and went to water General Kaiser's horse, passing on my way beneath the high stone-built mansion, by my troth, of Paul Goldsmith.8 When I had finished the watering9 and was returning, (230) I heard a voice call to me from a window of the mansion. It was Goldsmith's wife calling me: ‘Luke Paulson, faithful retainer, come into the stone-built house.’ “So I left the thoroughbreds and turned to go into the stone-built house. But when I opened the chamber door to enter, I found there was no one in the room except Paul Goldsmith's wife.10 And no sooner had I gone in than Paul Goldsmith himself came bounding in behind me, shouting “Luke Paulson, you bastard, may a pack of dogs swive your mother! You know full well, do you not, General Kaiser's Luke, that no one enters here without permission!” Ah, but then, Bey Osmanbey, he dared to strike me, cuffing me so hard upon my left cheek that the force of his blow split my right cheek four ways. Meanwhile, Goldsmith's wife laughed to see such sport. (250) Had he cut me with a stroke of his sabre, Osmanbey, lightly enough that I could recover from the wound, I would more readily forgive him; or had he even shot me, and I been able to mend, even then I might forgive the injury, but a slap in the face I can never forgive him. Upon my honour and my troth, I swear as surely as I live, I shall repay his slap with my sword-stroke. So I have come to you to see if you will raise an army for me wherewith I may descend on stone-built Prozor. And if you will not, then I shall travel on from city to city until I find someone who will. That someone will be the man whom Luke Paulson serves.” When the Bey had considered these words, he scrutinized Luke Paulson closely and said: “Luke Paulson, faithful thane, tell me straight-forwardly in truth: how did you earn the decorations that you wear? I see that you have won the Green Campaign Ribbon, which only stone-built Vienna is empowered to bestow. And you have also been awarded the Holy Roman Emperor's own Medal of Merit. As a thane of General Kaiser, how is it that you came to win such high recognition?” Luke shrugged his shoulders in reply and said: “I kiss your hand, Osmanbey. (280) Since you have asked me, I am obliged to tell you. Do you recall the time, my Bey, when you had gone to the capital in Istanbul and milord General Kaiser, raising a great army, descended on the environs of Osik, pillaging and setting fires everywhere? Your mansion too came under attack, and it so happened that I took your daughters captive, (290) whilst others slew your brother. I presented the girls to General Kaiser,11 who personally rewarded me, and commended me as well to Vienna and the Holy Roman Emperor. So it came about that he too decorated me. That is how I won his Medal of Merit.” But when the Bey had considered these words, his face grew dark and his hair rose like the nape of a wolf in January. (300) His eyes flashed fire as he addressed Luke Paulson: “So it was you, was it, Luke from Prozor City, who sacked my mansion, took my daughters prisoner, and brought such sorrows down upon this Bey's head—and now you come to me thinking to enter my service?” But even as he spoke these words, the Bey's hand fell upon his sword-hilt and he began to draw the blade from its silver scabbard. Seeing what he was about, Luke Paulson said: “Only hold your wrath a moment more, my Bey; I kiss your hand!” And saying this, he drew forth a letter and laid it on the Bey's lap. “First look inside and see what this letter says; do not hurry too much to smite off my head, for you may do it as easily hereafter.” (315) But when the Bey of Osik saw how matters stood, he returned his sabre to its scabbard and opened the letter. (The singer rested) “I kiss your hand, Bey Osmanbey. First see what the letter says. (320) You may easily smite off my head hereafter.”So the Bey settled his sword in its scabbard, opened the letter, and scrutinized it. But when he had scanned the writing and examined what it said, he began to read aloud. “Nephew, Hardy Nasufbey, this writ comes from Prozor City, from my Hatija and my Zlatija. Here is what they tell me in the letter: ‘Greetings, father, Mighty Osmanbey. Are you still among the living? If you have not passed on into the next world, perhaps you have remained in Istanbul all this time, or have aged terribly and cannot any longer sit a horse or wield a lance; or else perhaps you do not know where we two are held captive? If it is only that you are still ignorant of where we are, father, (340) then know that we are in Prozor City living with the beautiful Nancy, General Kaysar's daughter, in the General's palace. We have not yet changed our religion, father—I kiss your hand!—nor accepted the doctrine of the alien faith. What has become of our brother Mehmedbey? Is he still alive?” In another part she writes: “Father, I kiss your hand; if you are still alive, this my letter will introduce Luke Paulson to you. Receive him well, father, as you would an adopted son, for he has been our brother-in-God for lo these three years. Call up the Army of Hungary for him and let him lead it to stone-built Prozor to test whether by the grace of God and the good luck which God sends we might be liberated from our miseries in this place, and be freed from the hands of our enemy.’” When the Bey had read through all the letter's content, he spread his arms and embraced Luke Paulson: “Ah, third son of mine,12 I take thee henceforth as one of my own, and pledge this to you, by my faith: half of my estate shall be yours, and half for Mehmedbey; and I shall build for you a mansion here beside my own.” (370) Then he caused Luke to be seated in the place of honour next to himself, and when he had put him there, he said to him again: “Third son of mine, Luke Paulson, tell me straightforwardly in truth; were I to call up the Army of Hungary, is there prize and booty enough where you come from to repay my army for its pains? I could recruit the troops more readily were there booty to be had.” Luke said to the Bey: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, there is booty aplenty to be had in and about stone-built Prozor City. General Kaiser's mansion is such that there are ten bushels of treasure in it alone,13 and he has much property besides. But of all he owns, Anne is the chief prize.14 Beyond General Kaiser's mansion there is also the mansion of Paul Goldsmith, (390) with a hundred and twenty other great houses in its borough, and stores and shops are interspersed thickly amongst them, all containing an abundance of money and of goods for looting. And then again beyond Paul Goldsmith's mansion one comes to Captain Robert's15 mansion, which has three hundred and twenty-odd houses in its vicinity. That is where the great market is situated. Robert possesses plenty of money and chattels for the taking, (400) but the girl Rose is the chief prize amongst his possessions. The Great Market lies along both sides of the whole way from Captain Robert's to the Vučković mansion, my Bey. Vučković too possesses abundant wealth, but the chief prize amongst his possessions is the girl Helen. The commercial district extends onward along both sides of the entire way from Vučković's mansion to the palace of old Konoman. Vučković too possesses abundant wealth, but the chief prize amongst his possessions is the girl Helen.16 And then, sire, Mighty Osmanbey, the commercial district extends onward along both sides of the entire way from Vučković's mansion to the very palace of the old Konoman. Konoman is very wealthy also, but the girl Anna is the chief prize amongst his possessions. The commercial district stretches onward along both sides of the entire way from old Konoman's mansion to the Ravenson17 mansion, my Bey, (420) with stores and shops clustered thickly, all full of chattels for looting, and all sorts of money, and silks, and velvets, not to mention fine Venetian broadcloth. The commercial district extends onward along both sides of the entire way from the Ravenson mansion, my Bey, to the timbered house of the Popovići. They too are wealthy, (430) but the girl Rose is the chief prize amongst their possessions. And then, my Bey, from the timbered house of the Popovići to the Ravenson mansion the commercial district extends onward along both sides of the entire way. From the Ravenson mansion one proceeds to the timbered house of the brigand Spider, which stands on firm ground beside the River Skuta. Seven companies of armed men occupy that house, all under the command of three bandit chiefs, whose superior is Spider the Brigand. They are the Home Guard of stone-built Prozor.18 The commercial district extends along both sides of the entire way from Spider the Brigand's timbered house on the firm bank of the River Skuta to the mansion of Spyther the Brigand,19 with thickly clustered stores and shops. Spyther possesses wealth aplenty, (450) but the chief prize among his possessions is the girl Helen.” When Luke mentioned Helen Spyther, he groaned so heavily that he made the whole room reverberate, for Helen was his true love. “O Helen, Spyther Brigand's daughter... . And so, dear Bey—I kiss your hand!—the commercial district extends along both sides of the entire way from Spider Brigand's mansion to the stone-built Dispet Cathedral, with thickly clustered stores and shops. But as for Dispet Cathedral itself, it's a wee church that has a mere four steebles20 and three hundred golden altars inside, with innumerable silver ones. There is also a statue of Catherine cast in pure gold, and one of Mary with golden legs. The Mary weighs two hundred pounds. But if that were not enough, there are shelves let into the walls all about the place, (470) with vessels of silver standing on them, and these contain cash money. Seven abbots preside in the cathedral, each wearing a chasuble of gold decorated with golden bosses. Your army would be well repaid were it able to do no more than sack the cathedral. It contains in addition three golden columns, each worth seven okas. And so, my Bey—I kiss your hand!—(480) your army would be well repaid were it able to do no more than sack the cathedral. “Furthermore, sire, Mighty Osmanbey, I shall take your Turks down to the banks of the Tisa River where there is a great market, mighty mansions, and fine houses, and a commercial district extending along both sides of the entire way, with booty and plunder aplenty for the taking, and lovely Magyar girls attending the shops, swan-necked Magyar pretties. Therefore I shall take your Turks to the banks of the icy Tisa to sack the great market there. Next I shall lead your Hungarian Turks to Great Qirmiz, where there is a huge market. I shall sack it too, and then burn it with implacable fire. (499) Thus, my Bey, you see that your army will not want for booty.”21 When Mighty Osmanbey had heard all this, he raised his head and began to speak: “My nephew, Hardy Nasufbey, get me some clean paper and the writing things, so that I may write a letter here on my knee.” Hardy Bey fetched the paper for him, and he spread it upon his lap. Then he took up the pen, set it at the correct angle, and began to write in a fine hand. First he addressed a letter to the Hungarian heartland, for delivery to the Vizier of Buda:22 “Vizier of ours, who sits in our city of Buda, do you recall the time when the congregation of our Hungarian worthies denounced you to the Sultan's government and petitioned for your execution in order to remove you from the office of Vizier in Buda? But I, when I learned of your plight, gat me down to Istanbul, where I lauded you to the Emperor and obtained a commission for you confirming you in office for twelve years forth. I trust that you will now remember those events, and presently issue to me a letter of patent authorizing me to call up the army (529) and make an expedition with it to stone-built Prozor, where I am minded to put my fortune to the test, whether I might not succeed in recapturing the two children of my bosom.”23 When he had sent the letter, it made its way thither and yon until at length it came to rest upon the lap of the Vizier at Buda. He opened it, saw what it said, and wrote out the scrip of patent in a fine hand: “My lord Osmanbey the Mighty, indeed I do recall that time of which you have reminded me. Here is the patent authorizing you to summon up the army.” But in another part he added: “My lord Osmanbey the Mighty, should you happen to expend the troops to no purpose, going down to bright Prozor without recapturing your two bosom children, know you then that I shall surely cause you to be beheaded, shall place your severed head upon a golden platter, (549) and send it forth to Istanbul as token of your everlasting shame.” When he had dispatched the finely written scrip of patent, it made its way thither and yon until at length it came to rest upon the Bey's lap in Osik. No sooner had Mighty Osmanbey discerned its content than he wrote another on his knee, addressing it to Tiro Pasha in level Kaniža: “Hasan Pasha of bright Kaniža, lo, I send you this letter. When it comes to hand, levy the troops at level Kaniža forthwith. Fill the ranks, stint not, and hasten here to me at Begovac,24 where we shall rendezvous, Hasan Pasha, at Cold Spring.” When he had sent that letter, he promptly wrote another, addressing it to old Avdo Pasha at Varad: (569) “Avdipasha of Varad City, lo, I send you this letter. When it comes to hand, levy the troops in bright Varad forthwith. Fill the ranks, stint not, and march here to me in stone-built Osik, where we have need to rendezvous by Cold Spring at Begovac.” When he had sent that letter, he promptly wrote a third, addressing it to Šestokrilović25 at level Požega: “Alibey of level Požega, when my letter comes to hand, levy the troops at level Požega forthwith. Hasten here to me. Fill up the ranks, stint not, and do not leave your ancient Ibrahim behind, a man whom you can rely upon with certainty. So raise the troops, my bey, and come here to me.” When he had sent that letter, he promptly wrote another, (589) addressing it to Alibey at stone-built Pešt: “Alibey, champion of Pešt, levy the troops in stone-built Pešt and hasten here to me. Fill up the ranks and stint not.” When he had sent that letter, again there was another for him to write. He addressed it to Mister Omer in bright Ostruga. When he had sent that letter, again he wrote another, addressing it to Imperial Buda, to the hand of the Commander of the Janissaries: “Greetings, my lord commander in our city of Buda! When my letter comes to hand, kindly call up the Imperial Janissaries, all twelve thousand of them. Do not leave behind the man Ramo, captain of the infantry, and levy all five thousand of the ferocious Albanians as well.” When he had sent that letter, again he wrote another, addressing it to the hand of the Vizier at Imperial Buda: “Governor of Buda, help me in my need, send me Buda's artillery under the command of your son, Beshir Pasha. Let him come to me at stone-built Osik with his Budamen.” But now Hardy Nasufbey raised his head: “Mighty Osmanbey, my uncle, leave the cities of Hungary alone. Their forces are too numerous, and would exceed the troop strength that we need.” Again the Bey composed a finely written letter, addressing it to the Headman Miladin Kojašinović on his own estate: “Faithful vassal, Headman Miladin, as soon as this letter reaches you, (629) call up the tenantry on my estate and march with them to me here at stone-built Osik. A time has come for waging war.”26 But when the Bey had dispatched all the letters, he set about preparing himself there in the city of Osik, and for a while he was busy also with readying the men of Osik. Then, arising early one morning, he looked out upon the Plain of Osik toward the cool fountain at Begovac and lo, he saw a host of soldiery gathered there. A crimson tent was pitched in plain view, and it had a golden sphere at its pinnacle. A powerful force of troops was congregated beside it, for indeed it was Pasha Kanizhli's tent. Scanning the Field of Osik beyond it, the Bey caught sight of another marvelous company as well, a small but fiery one (649) led by the municipal chieftain Avdipasha from the Imperial city of Varad.27 That pasha had not stinted in his levy either. The Bey of Požega, Hexapterygides, came on too, and Mister Omer from the Imperial city of Ostruga, and Alibey from Pešt—and not one of these worthies had stinted in his levy. (659) Then the Commander of the Janissaries appeared with Ramo, captain of the infantry, by his side. So they too arrived and dismounted from their thoroughbreds. Time followed in the spoor of time until the Vizier's son, Beshir Pasha, also arrived, the very one to whom the Bey had written. Not one of the peers had stinted in his levy, and so the Plain of Osik shown white with a mantle of horses and troops all standing one beside another, and pavilions were pitched everywhere about the plain, and battle flags fluttered like low-scudding clouds. But when Mighty Osmanbey saw all of this accomplished, he issued a command, whereupon the gates of Osik flew open, and out marched the Turks of Osik with Mighty Osmanbey himself, whom Luke Paulson accompanied on the one side and Hardy Nasufbey on the other. So they advanced together toward the Pasha's pavilion, making straight for its drawstring.28 (679) And so, when he came to the Pacha's pavilion, he drew up its flap, entered, gave a proper Turkish greeting, and stood waiting at the entrance. The pavilion was full of aghas and spahis, not to mention pashas and other Hungarian dignitaries. They filled the pavilion to its walls. The Pasha of Kaniža occupied the center of the tent with the Vizier of Buda's only son, Beshir Pasha, beside him. When they had all declared themselves to be in good health, (689) Beshir Pasha lifted his head and said to Mighty Osmanbey: “So, Osmanbey, Governor of Osik, have you an Imperial firman, my dear sir, authorizing you to assemble such an army as this? Where is it that you intend to campaign with so great an army?” When Mighty Osmanbey had heard these words, he replied to Beshir Pasha thus: “No, I have no Imperial firman, but rather a letter of patent (699) from your father, the Vizier of Buda.” Then young Beshir Pasha said: “Where is it you intend to campaign with such an army?” “I shall go to stone-built Prozor to test whether by the grace of God and the good luck which God sends I might be able to recapture my dear children.” But when Beshir Pasha had considered these words, he said to Mighty Osmanbey: “So then, Osmanbey, Osik's governor, (709) is there any booty or plunder in the offing to repay the army for its trouble?” But when the Bey had considered these words, he called Luke Paulson to his side and said: “Let Luke Paulson tell you about that.” And so Luke told them straightforwardly in truth, in the selfsame way as I have already related to you what chattels were in the offing as booty. And so, when the aghas and spahis had all heard his account, the Pasha of Kaniža commanded that an Order of Battle should be drawn up and a census taken of all the army in the field, with all the Hungarian troops listed in the rolls. So they commenced the work of registering the troops, with a scribe serving in the office of registrar. They rejected everyone who was either too old or of too tender years, and enlisted only such men of Osik as were fit for combat. Scribes inscrolled the name of each Turk whom they accepted, and I have heard it told, although I did not myself witness it, (729) that the number of the army which they enlisted was sixty thousand men. So I have heard tell, though I saw it not... . Thus the scribes completed their rounds and withdrew, whereupon the commanders issued marching orders. Tiro of Kaniža inquired: “My dear Bey, chief of Osik, can you provide a pathfinder to guide the troops' march and set the Army of Hungary upon the way that it should go to distant stone-built Prozor? It is so far a place for making war, my Bey.” “Pasha—I kiss your hand!—indeed I have such a one. Here is Luke Paulson himself, who will serve as pathfinder.” So they were on the cusp of ordering the troops to march, when a rider appeared on the plain with a veritable host of men following him. As he drew near, they recognized in him the headman Milosava (sic), (749) he of the vassalage on the Bey's estate.29 When he had driven his spirited white horse to where they were, he drew it to a halt, dismounted, and invoked God's grace upon the Bey. The Bey acknowledged his greeting and said to his vassal: “Faithful vassal, Headman Milosava, tell me in what manner you have levied my serfs. I trust you have not oppressed them... .” “Dear Bey—I kiss your hand!—I have draughted them humanely. (759) Where there were seven men in a household, I have draughted six and left the seventh. Where there were six, I have taken five and left one behind. Where there were five, I took four and left one; and where there were two, I draughted one and left the other. Where I found but one, I took him, leaving none, for he could come to be alone by no means else than by division of inheritance with his brothers. And so I have not levied a remarkable number of your serfs, Bey, but only a mere twelve thousand.” When the Bey had considered these words, he responded to his headman in this fashion: “Faithful vassal of my estate, Mighty Osmanbey promises you this. If I return from Prozor whole, I shall relinquish half the tribute which you owe to me.” (779) When they had spoken these things, they set the army in motion with Luke Paulson at its head. And so it began to march from Osik outward across Hungary, proceeding to Linden Pass. Sunset overtook its progress at Linden Pass and Broken Fir. There Luke drew his red horse to a halt and said to Mighty Osmanbey: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, (789) you should bivouac here. It is a long way yet to stone-built Prozor.” So they halted the army and made camp. But when the time came to resume their march, the Pasha of Kaniža raised his head: “No, my good men, we should not do it. We must rather garrison this place, leaving troops to hold the narrow defile at Linden Pass and Broken Fir. (799) There is no other route back into Hungary; God forbid that our enemies of the North Border should seize it. For then we would have no means at all of returning home.” And who was it whom they left there to secure the Pass? The headman Milosava with the men from the Bey's estate. So the Headman announced to the Bey (sic):30 “Faithful vassal of my estate, guard the road conscientiously.” “Go your way with an easy mind, my Bey, and may good luck go with you. So long as I remain alive, you need have no concern about the narrow pass.” So the Bey ordered the army to resume its march with Luke Paulson in the vanguard. All day long the troops debouched from Linden Pass onto Gerfalcon Plain underneath the verdant uplands of Pigeon Mountain. But afterwards Luke rode his red horse31 out of the marching column and drew up in the midst of the plain, (819) for the sun had already fallen down the sky toward the sea. Luke Paulson announced: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, here is where we ought to halt the troops and make camp. Stone-built Prozor lies only four more hours' march away.” Luke accord-ingly dismounted there, and the Bey pitched his pavilion, which gave the signal to all the other troops to halt. Thus the army settled on green Gerfalcon Plain. (The singer rested) Thus they sat at ease in their pavilion while the rest of the army dismounted. But when murky night had enveloped all things, Mighty Osmanbey spoke out from the place where he sat in the shelter of his tent: “I wonder whether there is among us any brave mother's son, one whom a sister has raised to proud manhood, who would venture into stone-built Prozor and spy out Kaiser's mansion; one who might go a-spying and bring us back a true report whether Kaiser is at home, and how well he keeps stone-built Prozor guarded.”But when the Bey had spoken these words, everyone present bowed his head and gazed at his lap. Nor would any man of them look up, for it was a hard thing to go alone to Kaiser's mansion, which still lay four hours away (849) in the stone-built city of Prozor. But lo, Luke Paulson looked up and said for all to hear: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, here am I, a man such as you require. But I sorely doubt the Turks will trust my spying.” When Mighty Osmanbey had heard these words, he answered: “Go into bright Prozor, Luke, third scion of mine.” So Luke retraced his steps to his red horse, mounted, and rode away across Gerfalcon Plain. It is called Gerfalcon Plain, and the wooded mountain towering above it is Mount Pigeon, because once a gerfalcon there pursued a pigeon on the wing. That part of the terrain where the gerfalcon gained in the pursuit of its quarry was dubbed Gerfalcon Land; but when the pigeon reached the sanctuary of the verdant wooded highland, it was dubbed Pigeon's Land. Thus the plain came to be called Gerfalcon Field, and the green uplands Mount Pigeon. Luke went on by stages till he came to stone-built Prozor and General Kaiser's bright mansion. As he approached its courtyard he found the gates standing open, and so he went straight in, dismounted from his spirited red horse, dropped the four straps of the reins upon the saddle horn, and then entered the mansion. He knew his way about the house, and so proceeded directly to the private quarters where his two sworn sisters were, the two Turkish girls. But when he opened the door of their chamber to go in, he was astonished to discover two gallant Magyars in the room with them. Hatka was sitting upon the lap of one (889) with her arm about his neck, and Zlata was on the other's lap. Both girls' cheeks were disfigured with tears. But when Luke saw the scene from where he stood in the doorway, he shouted like a bellowing stag: “Sworn sisters of mine, you two Turkish girls, for shame! What are these two gallant Magyars doing here with you? Did not the both of you swear firm oaths to me that until my return from bright Osik (899) no man would so much as see you?” But when his sworn sisters heard his remonstration, they both stood up, because they immediately recognized Luke Paulson: “Luke Paulson, brother of ours, these are not really what they seem, two Magyar gallants. One of them is our brother Mehmedbey, and the other is our aunt's son, Hardy Nasufbey.” When Luke had considered what they said, he thrust his sword back into its scabbard (909) and asked his sworn sisters: “Do you know whether Kaiser is here at home?” “No, brother Luke, presently he is not in bright Prozor. As soon as you had disappeared, he went away to bright Komorhan to rouse that city's king, lord of the land, so that they two together might call up an army and invade Hungary.” Luke asked them again: “Can you tell me, my two Turkish sisters, whether Paul Goldsmith and his sworn brother Captain Robert are at home? Are their seven companies of troops on guard at Prozor's frontier?” “Brother Luke Paulson, (929) they have taken six of the companies to the green meadows half an hour's march away from Prozor, to keep watch there upon the road from Hungary.” When Luke had considered these words, his sworn sisters spoke to him again: “Luke Paulson, dear brother, will our father come to Prozor too?” “Yes, Zlata, he will, sister-in-God of mine. You have only a little longer to wait, from now until bright light of day tomorrow.”32 So spoke Luke, and then he returned to his red horse, mounted it, and made straight across Gerfalcon Field to Mighty Osmanbey's drawstring. He soon arrived at the bright pavilion, dismounted from his red horse, drew up the tent flap, and went in. Mighty Osmanbey spoke to him in this wise: (949) “Luke Paulson, my Tertius, have you spied out Prozor for me, son? Does General Kaiser defend his palace? Is he at home?” “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, Kaiser is not in Prozor. He has gone to bright Komorhan to rouse its king, Wolf Ledenik, intending that the two of them should invade Hungary together. Meanwhile, Paul Goldsmith has also gone away with his brother-in-arms, Captain Robert, and taken his seven companies of troops with him. No one remains in Prozor, my Bey, except Spider the Brigand. Now if you will listen to my suggestion...” But at just that moment in their conversation, they were interrupted by a thunder of hooves trampling the black earth, and soon Mehmedbey arrived with Hardy Nasufbey close beside him. (969) They came carrying the two captives, Mighty Osmanbey's two daughters. Oh, but when the girls were reunited with their father, if only you could have been there to see and hear for yourself what a shrieking there was!33 Luke Paulson made himself heard in the midst of all the din: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, it is necessary now that we divide the army between us. Which do you prefer: to lead the raid on stone-built Prozor, or else to command the rearguard holding the Plain?” Osmanbey said to Luke: “Luke Paulson, my Tertius, I am sunk deep in years, son, and can no longer keep the saddle nor handle a battle lance as I ought. I shall stay here and hold the Plain.” Again Luke spoke to him: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey—I kiss your hand!—keep a sharp watch and do not withdraw from the Plain for any reason. Otherwise the rest of us shall surely be annihilated to a man. Do not leave the Plain again.34 God forbid that our enemies of the North Border should seize it, for there is no other avenue of withdrawal for us. Were we wingèd creatures like the very nymphs themselves, still we would be unable to carry ourselves away to safety. There is no other route at all, nor any other passage.” Mighty Osmanbey reassured him in a voice for all to hear: “Go with confidence, Luke, and have no concern about that.” (999) But Luke adverted to the subject yet again: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey—I kiss your hand!—listen to Luke carefully. After I have gone to stone-built Prozor, it will happen that certain persons will come to you trying to change your mind. Again I beg of you, do not withdraw from the Plain, else all of us in the raiding party shall surely perish.” “Go confidently, Luke, and have no concern about that.” So Luke thrice adverted to the matter, (1009) then mounted his red horse, divided the troops, and set off to raid stone-built Prozor. Meanwhile the Bey remained behind keeping the Plain. Advancing toward stone-built Prozor, Luke was a sight to rejoice a mother's eye as he turned to go by way of Black Meadow, where Paul Goldsmith and his comrade-in-arms Captain Robert were stationed with their six companies of troops. The two of them were conversing: “Paul Goldsmith, brother of mine, methinks I detect a rumble of thunder shaking the earth in the distance, and the sough of wind in the mountains. I fear God's rain35 may soon come upon us. You should cause our field tents to be pitched in good time, for the weather may change any moment now.” Luke Paulson shouted to Paul Goldsmith: “Listen to me, Paul Goldsmith! (1029) It is not God's rain you hear pounding the earth in the distance, but Luke marching against you out of Hungary with the army of Mighty Osmanbey. Can you recall the time when you durst slap Luke's face? Brace yourself therefore as best you can to withstand me, for I shall not pass on from this place till you lie dead.” So the Bey (sic)36 launched the assault, and the big army of the Turks came storming on behind him, an overwhelming force. But when the two banditti had heard Luke's speech, they faced their troops about to meet the onslaught and opened fire. Their resistance was however of no avail, for they were few in number and there were myriad Turks. The skirmish soon ended and Luke had his revenge, slaying Paul Goldsmith together with his comrade Captain Robert. Thus he fulfilled the oath which he had sworn.37 No sooner had the fight ended than the sun rose, casting its warming glow from the east, glowing warmly upon bright Prozor.38 Then Luke reined his mount to a halt and shouted for all to hear: “Men of Hungary, my dear brothers, look closely at Prozor there in the distance! Do you see that mansion with the golden sphere at its peak? That is General Kaiser's palace. It will be the prize for whomever of us wins the race from here to there. It holds ten bushels of treasure, but the girl Anna is the chief prize among all the possessions inside it.” He spoke, and throwing himself upon his horse's mane, away he went at the gallop. A thunder of pounding hooves shook the green turf along the plain until the troop had advanced some distance. Then the shouting of the riders added to the din. First the lampsmith Nemir took the lead, and thought that none would overtake him, mounted as he was upon a thoroughbred bay. (1069) But then another man went whirling by. It was Ibro, Hexapterygides' ancient, a sight to make a mother glad. He too supposed that no one else was man enough to overtake him, until another rider, crouching on a bay, went whirling past. It was Mighty Mehmedbey, who was a sight to make his mother glad as, lying forward along his thoroughbred's mane, he lunged ahead with Hardy Nasufbey keeping a steady pace abreast of him. Seeing this, Luke Paulson grew thoughtful. But just then one of the men began to sing as he galloped along the plain on a raven horse so spirited it seemed a creature of the wild. “Raven of mine,” he sang, “my taut-strung wing, if only you and I may have the luck to reach Geestopar Cathedral and capture one of its golden columns!39 Then we would dare to show ourselves again, brother of mine, in Vidin town, which we had to leave when we had drunk up all our soldier's wage.” (1089) The man who sang this ditty was Ali, who when he had finished singing lay forward along his horse's mane and lunged ahead. So they went on at the gallop straight toward Kaiser's palace. But which of them arrived there first? It was Luke Paulson, who immediately dismounted and turned to go into the stone-built palace.40 There he broke open the ten-bushel treasure and threw it out the windows for the lads of Hungary to gather. (1099) Not content with that alone, he next laid hands on the Magyar girl Anna and took her outdoors into the forecourt of the high-roofed palace. Which man standing near his red horse did Luke choose to receive the girl? That man was Mehmedbey, son of Mighty Osmanbey, to whom Luke gave her. “Take her, brother, and make her your wife.” Then the men of Hungary tumbled into the palace and plundered the great house. Meanwhile the cannon of Prozor thundered and the rumble of their fire rolled away to stone-built Orshan and to Komorhan as well. Other great cannon boomed in answer upon the cities' walls, while the small voices of carronades spoke from the fortified houses in between, calivers reported from the wooden blockhouses, and muskets gave the alarm in the open fields. The whole land of the heathens was ablaze with the alarm of gunfire.41 Meanwhile Luke Paulson made his way to the bright mansion of Paul Goldsmith, (1119) where he quickly penetrated to its interior, caught the Magyar girl who dwelt therein, and brought her into the forecourt beneath the house. And whom did he choose to be recipient of the girl; which of the men standing near Luke's red horse was the one who would have been a sight to gladden the heart of his mother? It was the lampsmith, Demir, to whom Luke gave her.42 Then the men of Hungary tumbled into the mansion. Subsequently they also plundered the great stores, some taking brocades and others velvet. Some took ducats of pure, soft gold, (1129) while others seized cash of any kind indiscriminately. So the Turks descended upon every quarter of Prozor. In the meanwhile Luke Paulson pressed on from the mansion of Captain Robert to that of old Konoman, and thence again to the bright house of the Vukovići. The men of Hungary followed close behind him everywhere. There too he took a girl captive (1139) and gave her to one of the men who stood near his red horse, after which the other Hungarians tumbled into the mansion to loot it. Luke Paulson's great shout filled the air again as he set off toward the house of Ravenson. So he gat him down to old Konoman's mansion, and then went on from it to Ravenson's palace. (1149) Thence again he pressed his red mount onward to the Popovićes' timbered house with the men of Hungary swarming along behind him. So they went looting and burning and lopping off men's heads and plundering the great stores that lay along both sides of the whole way. Meanwhile Luke Paulson went on to attack Spider, who defended himself from within his timbered blockhouse, together with the three comrades who occupied the place with him: House, Hood, and John Metikosić. These were the ugliest breed of men in Prozor. They met Luke's attack with withering fire, but the men of Hungary pressed forward in a swarm, smashing the paling around the bright house. Numerous Hungarians perished there, among them the two young sons of Mister Jusuf, both of whom were still students at the medrese; and also Mustaybey Pešta's two sons. A number were wounded as well, cut down by the withering gunfire from the blockhouse. Luke Paulson shouted: (1179) “Men of Hungary, you cannot storm the house directly, for it is too securely defended, lying where it does upon the river's bank. Have you forgotten what your steel maces are for? Use them to batter down the timbers of the house!” And so, hearing what he told them, the worthy Hungarian lads battered the timbered blockhouse until they demolished it, though it cost them many casualties in the doing. They had hardly overrun that place when Luke Paulson's great battle shout resounded again before the mansion of the brigand Spyther, there where it stood beneath Spyther's verdant trees; for Luke had already gone on to it, penetrated to its interior, and brought out Spyther's daughter Helen. Her Luke set upon his own red thoroughbred while all the young Hungarians glanced at each other, wondering to whom amongst them Luke would give the girl. But he made a gift of her to no one. (1199) Instead he said to them for all to hear: “Forgive me, men of Hungary; I give this girl to none of you, for Helen is the one whom I myself adore. It was for the sake of her that I went into exile from Prozor in the first place.”43 And indeed the men of Hungary took no umbrage. But next Luke Paulson's battle shout rang out before Dispet Cathedral, and the Turks went swarming after him. Ali of Vidin galloped to the church so fast he might have outrun and caught a lightning bolt in midair, (1209) and so he was first to enter the Cathedral and seize one of its pillars of pure gold for his own. The other men of Hungary came tumbling in behind him and sacked the place. They had not yet fairly finished plundering the church before Luke Paulson's shout again called on the men of Hungary: “Follow me, Hungarian lads all! Luke knows all the byways about Prozor!” And saying this, he turned toward the suburb of Porcville. But when he had looted its market place he pressed on to the bank of the Tisa River, where there was an enormous market square with some three hundred fine houses standing all about it. The town was veritably bursting with commerce, and stores and shops were thickly clustered in it, with pretty Magyar shop-girls in all of them. The girls scolded Luke Paulson: “What's this, Luke? You've brought the Turks down on us, have you? May an ague seize and wither your arm for it!” But their taunt only made Luke laugh loudly at them, and this is what he replied: “So, my dears, today I'll be your matchmaker, and provide husbands to the satisfaction of you all. Pick out the ones whom you like best.” Let us look now and see what Mighty Osmanbey was doing at the encampment on the plain. At dawn the next morning certain men came asking him: “Osmanbey of bright Osik, (1239) who is this man to whom you have entrusted your troops? Some Christian who goes by the name of Luke Paulson! And now this Luke has gone off along the borderland leading your troops to what must be their certain destruction. We believe that is indeed his intention.” The Bey refused to give credence to what they told him, and yet Luke did not return from Prozor. So a third day dawned, and others too came to the Bey urgently: “Osmanbey of bright Osik, withdraw the army from this plain! (1249) Luke has gone away across the Kaiser's realm sowing the earth with the corpses of your troops.” The Bey was not disposed to believe them, and yet Luke still had not returned to Prozor. So the fourth day dawned, but Luke still had not returned to Gerfalcon Field, and yet others came importuning him urgently: “Osmanbey, chief of Osik, Luke has gone off to the Kaiser's realm taking all Hungary with him. Soon he will bring down sheer destruction on all our heads.” Thus at last they prevailed upon Mighty Osmanbey against his better judgment, and he commanded the army to withdraw. Speaking of Luke Paulson, the Bey exploded as he rose to his feet: “As I live and breathe, I shall yet hold converse with your lifeless severed head!” (1269) Thus the Bey abandoned the Plain and moved off in the direction of the Borderland and Prozor. (The singer rested) So the Bey marched the army off the plain, away from verdant Gerfalcon Field, and set out toward stone-built Prozor. He had advanced no more than half an hour's march toward Prozor and the Borderland when he saw Luke Paulson coming toward him from the opposite direction, leading the troops back from bright Prozor. Mighty Osmanbey had hardly caught sight of him before Luke had ridden his thoroughbred to within earshot. Luke called out to Mighty Osmanbey: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, did not Luke say to you, ‘—I kiss your hand!—listen to Luke and be guided by him. Others will try to prevail upon you to give the order... . Keep Gerfalcon Field secure, my Bey!'”When the Bey had considered these words, (1289) he drew up his white horse, called a halt to the army's march, caused his pavilion to be pitched, and summoned all the aghas and spahis to council therein. Meantime the rest of the Turks arrived in order, bringing their plunder with them. Some also came wounded. It was mid-afternoon when Luke Paulson said: “Sire, Mighty Osmanbey, (1299) I go now to reconnoiter Gerfalcon Field, to see what is happening there.” And so saying, he spurred his thoroughbred and rode away.44 But when the Bey (sic) arrived at Gerfalcon Field, he saw in a moment that a powerful force had gathered there, because as far as the plain extended it was entirely black with troops from end to end. They were Kaiser's men from Prozor city, who had thus cut off the Bey's avenues of retreat. Kaiser had roused the King of Komorhan also, and he had joined in blocking the Bey's retreat with the fieldful of soldiery. Horse stood abreast of horse, Magyar abreast of Magyar, and the battle lances stood in air as thick as a forest; tents had blossomed everywhere upon the plain, and the crusaders' battle flags fluttered in the breeze.45 Luke reined in his horse and called out to a forward picket: “Picket standing guard for the King, tell me truly—may it redound to your health!—what army is this, and who commands it?” The young Christian answered him: “Oho, so it is you, is it, Luke? May an ague seize your arm and wither it for what you have done! This is General Kaiser's army, under King Komorhan's command. It was an easy thing for you to stir up the Turks, Luke, and bring them down on our Prozor pillaging and burning (1329) and destroying our mansions and our houses and taking pretty Magyar girls captive, but you shall not now withdraw into Hungary, nay, not though you be wingèd nymphs.” When Luke had considered these words, he turned his red horse about and went back to Bey Osmanbey, to whom he said: “Sire—I kiss your hand!—did I not say to you time and again, (1339) ‘listen to Luke—I kiss your hand!—do not withdraw from the plain if you want to come safely through this affair!' And now, my Bey, they have indeed cut off our retreat. We cannot get through. They have completely encompassed the uplands with their army, all of Pigeon Mountain. As many as is the number of leaves in the forest, so great is the number of the service caps worn upon the heads of their troops out on the plain. Were we nymphs and had we wings like nymphs', not even our feathers could carry our bodies airborne to safety. Shall we therefore attack them now?” “Third son of mine, Luke Paulson, this is not the time for our attack, for it is now mid-afternoon, and the Bey will not fight by night.” “Sire—I kiss your hand!—if we wait through the night, by dawn our enemies will have securely entrenched themselves.” “I swear by my faith, my son, I shall not do otherwise. (1359) Your Bey lodges here where I am tonight.” Then the Bey made this arrangement with his troops: “Hear me now, brothers and companions of mine. Whoever of you has any booty or prize in his possession, be it property or cash, or anyone with a pretty captive, let him bring it all to my pavilion and deposit it with me. I shall select certain troops to remain with me and act as guard to keep the prizes safe.” In the meantime Luke turned his horse about and rode along between the lines in no-man's land, for the two opposing hordes lay near each other. And when the dark of night had fallen, the voices of the seven brothers Ravenson croaked at Luke Paulson, threatening him: “Wot now, Luke—may an ague seize your arm and shrivel it!—as we live and breathe, we shall on the morrow hold converse with your lifeless severed head!” But Luke from where he sat astride his red horse bade them hush: (1379) “Hold your tongues, you seven brothers Ravenson! An' it be God's will, I shall glut you with blood to drink from the scarlet corpse of a dead Magyar wolf.46 At break of day, upon the rising of the sun, Luke Paulson hurls himself against you with all the force of Mighty Osmanbey behind him.” Seven brothers german, the seven Wolfsons bayed next at him, each one in turn menacing Luke Paulson (1389): “What's this, Luke? You've brought the Turks down on us, have you? May an ague seize your arm and shrivel it! As soon as day dawns and the sun rises on the morrow we shall hold converse with your lifeless severed head.” But Luke from where he sat astride his red horse bade them hush: “Hold your tongues, brothers Wolfson. As I live and breathe, I shall feed the wolf man-meat and glut the raven with blood to drink.”47 Thus Luke did bid them hush from where he sat astride his red horse. (1399) As soon as dawn had lit the eastward sky, Mighty Osmanbey chose troops to stay with him and guard the booty. Then Luke Paulson shouted: “Men of Hungary, my brothers, Luke means now to put his luck to the test.” He spoke, and drew his sword, and shouted to King Komorhan from where he sat astride his red horse: “Brace yourself, for it is Luke Paulson who hurls himself against you now. Let the hospitality of your reception be equal to my onslaught!” He spoke, and drove his red thoroughbred forward. Immediately the Imperial battle flags began to crack in the wind and the ancients vied with one another to be foremost. The banners fluttered and the ribbons sang in air as first one and then another took the lead. Each man kept his eye upon his fellows to see that none blanched, and so they rode together into the first volley of the enemy's fire. The first volley struck them like the mowing of grass, but the second was like the ploughing of a field; and their good thoroughbreds also churned the sod a-galloping. So they charged into the first volley which the enemy fired at them from fixed positions. As their charge surged forward through the first musket-fire most of the ancients fell stricken by it, and their battle flags went down; but no sooner did a banner fall than some soldier picked it up and held it proudly aloft once more. So they pressed on and took the second volley which the enemy fired at them from fixed positions, and penetrated it as well. Luke Paulson on his leaping red mount all the while went crashing on through rank on rank of the opposing troops. (1439) Thus in his headlong charge he penetrated to the very heart of the enemy camp, there where it lay beneath Pigeon Mountain, and came through not only alive but still unscathed, for no man's destiny overtakes him before the appointed day, and Doom waits patiently till God commands it. So Luke again burst through the wall of fire and made his red horse prance about the camp, while blue flames licked at him from gun muzzles on all sides. Meanwhile the young men of Hungary (1449) came to grips with the enemy in the midst of his third volley. Dear God of Joy, thanks be to Thee for all Thy wondrous works, a mantle of green mist o'erspread the field, so dense a man could not see his own feet in the grass, much less so great a distance as from me to thee.48 The crack of rifle-fire rent the fog continuously and sabres flashed, and gore gushed forth in torrents, and soon a steady rain of blood set in, not falling down, but flying up the other way towards heaven. For this was not such rain as maketh crops to grow, (1459) but such as sword-blades scatter when hacking human flesh seven- and ninefold. Heads rolled and troops perished on both sides. And what sorts of sound fell there upon a listening ear? The whistle of sabre-blades in air, the crash of many-finned maces, and the singing of steel cudgels; the ring of the cudgel-blow, followed by the groan of the man it wounded. Some of the sorrowful wounded would call out: “Go carefully, dear brother, lest you tread on me. My injuries are slight, I have only lost my mount,” but others said: “drive straight on over me and have at the enemy! Only let me see myself avenged, then shall I be satisfied to die.” Wounded Christians would call out: “Sweet Turk, spare my life! My injuries are slight; (l479) take me home with you and tend my wounds, for both my father and my mother are wealthy and well able to pay ransom.” But talk of money is of no avail in such surroundings, where the only remedy for wounds is the stroke of a well-crafted sword, and there is no appeal save only to God's will and a warrior's luck. What else was there to hear? (1489) The snorting of thoroughbred warhorses as with harness in disarray and without riders they flew in all directions from the scene of battle. Once they had bourne riders, but these had perished and were no more. Meanwhile Luke Paulson thrice breached the enemy's camp, always seeking General Kaiser, but had not the luck to find him. It was a while later (1499) when Tiro of Kaniža emerged from the fray, still pursued by a fierce hail of gunfire. Upon the battle's fringe the Pasha said a prayer, entreating for a gust of wind to blow from off the mountain and drive away the mist so the fighters might see each other once again and learn which side had perished most, though every indication would suggest that both were losing many men. His prayer was pleasing to God's ear, and a draught of wind blew down from the mountain, clearing the mist from off Gerfalcon Field away toward stone-built Prozor.49 And as it rolled away the men of the Border went with it, leaving the Turks behind them in possession of the plain, though the enemy's fire had much reduced their number. So they began to gather themselves from the field of battle. Some came back driving dishevelled captives, others came carrying severed heads, (1519) and still others with terrible wounds. A battle had been joined and then adjourned; none asked who had perished, for those had died who were destined to die. Many a mother was caused to keen that day, lamenting an only son, and many the widow who returned to her own kinfolk; many were those left orphans. Such was the Border in those times, for they were accustomed to such things, (1529) and men had often to wipe a bloody hand. Then the Turks betook themselves once more to the battlefield, to gather up the dead and wounded. Some went looking for a brother, others for a brother's son; some for a father's brother, and others for a cousin. In the meantime Mighty Osmanbey went looking for Luke Paulson. Everyone whom he met he asked: “Have you noticed Luke somewhere?” But none knew anything to tell of him. For Luke had all the while fought on, harrowing the enemy as they withdrew in the rolling cloud of mist. Thus, as they came near to Prozor, Luke Paulson looked around him and saw no Turk anywhere. So he reined his red thoroughbred about and set off again, back toward the verdant plain whence he had come. He had gone only a short distance, when he encountered a company of the Mandusići galloping toward him as they retreated from the plain. Luke advanced toward them to bar their way. John Mandušić shouted to him: “Faithful thane of General Kaiser, go your way across the plain in peace! We've had enough of Turkish fire... .” But he would not listen, much less be persuaded, and urged his red thoroughbred straight at them. Luke's keen sword flashed in air as he beheaded all four of them, one after another. Then he rode on again down the field. He had gone only a short distance before he recognized General Kaiser galloping toward him on a white-stockinged mount. Luke rode toward him, barring his way. Kaiser shouted to him throatily: “Luke Paulson, faithful thane, turn your red thoroughbred about and go with me in peace to my city of Prozor. My mansion in Prozor is a goodly one; I shall give it thee, together with my daughter Anne to be thy wife.” But Luke only set his red thoroughbred straight at him, shouting as he went: “General Kaiser of Prozor City, I have served you lo these twelve years and never yet have you so much as paid me my due wages!” He spoke, and urging on his red thoroughbred, he brandished his glittering naked sword in air and lopped off Kaiser's head. (1579) Kaiser wore a golden crown, and taking it up, Luke thrust it into a vent in his tunic, then went off carrying Kaiser's severed head. He had gone only a short distance when the seven brothers Wolfson came into view, all riding white thoroughbreds. Their arms were drenched in gore to their shoulders and their swords were bloody to the hilt. Luke rode toward them, barring their way. The seven Wolfsons shouted to him: “Go softly, Luke Paulson, lest a baneful viper sting you.” But he would not listen, much less be persuaded, and only urged his red thoroughbred straight at them. The brothers Wolfson each however drew and fired two horse pistols at him, fourteen shots in all. Luke Paulson's luck was such that seven struck his mount and seven Luke himself. (1599) Fearlessly he kept his saddle though, and cut the heads off four of them; the other three escaped. So Luke rode on, and all the while the dark blood spurted from his breast. His red thoroughbred ran on across the plain for yet a little way, and then sprawled dead upon the green turf. Luke Paulson sat him down beside his noble horse and took its lifeless head into his lap. And as he stroked his noble lifeless horse the tears rolled down his cheeks: “Thoroughbred of mine, my sinuous wing, while we two were in the world we held ourselves proudly erect and were a worthy pair in many an affair. But now the time has come for us to part.” Even as he spoke these words, Luke spied a man who was scavenging the battlefield for booty. (1619) He waved his kerchief at him, and the man approached Luke Paulson. Luke spoke to him from where he sat beside the fallen horse: “Dear brother, what man are you, whence do you come, by what name are you known?” The young man answered him in truth: “I am Black Omer-agha from Hornbeam in Hungary.” When Luke had considered these words, “Dear brother, Omer-agha Crnica, take this—it is the head of General Kaiser—and deliver it to Mighty Osman-bey. This is what you are to tell him: ‘I overtook and slew General Kaiser, for which I claim the honour. Here is his head. Luke salutes you. Receive the Magyar girl Helen into the Turkish rite, then take her to wife yourself, the lovely Helen, Brigand Spyther's daughter. Remember Luke each time that you caress the lovely girl.’” (1639) He spoke, and then surrendered up his soul. Thereupon Black Omer-agha went to Mighty Osmanbey, who asked him: “Have you noticed Luke somewhere?” “Osmanbey—I kiss your hand!—Luke is dead; there he lies upon the verdant field beside his red thoroughbred. Both have given up the ghost. (1649) ‘I overtook and slew General Kaiser, for which I claim the honour. Here is his head.’”50 When they saw this, the Turks of Hungary rewarded Omer-agha Crnica. Some gave him Turkish sixty-penny pieces, others gave him piasters. They decorated him moreover with a scarlet cloak of commendation, and then Mighty Osmanbey spoke: “Let us go and bury Luke.” Going slowly with him, Black Omer-agha said: “Dear Bey—I kiss your hand!—Luke saluted you, asking this: that you not bury him in a Christian cemetery, but rather in a simple Turkish grave, for Luke belonged at heart to the Turkish rite.”51 So when they came to where Luke Paulson lay, they dug a simple grave for him, and took up his body for to bury it. Some among them called upon the name of Luke Paulson, while others called on Mighty Osmanbey: “Osmanbey of bright Osik, (1669) his bosses and his buttons are very fine; thou durst not put them in the ground!”52 So they began to unbutton his tunic and remove the bosses from it, when out slipped the crown of General Kaiser. But when Black Omer-agha saw this happen, his knees buckled and gave way beneath him, while all the men of Hungary cried out against him: “For shame, Omer-agha! If it was you who overtook and slew General Kaiser, for which you claim the honour, (1679) how came his crown to be here?” So they took back their piasters and their sixty-penny Turkish coins, and took back the scarlet cloak of commendation, leaving Omer-agha to eternal shame. Then they buried Luke Paulson. They wound his corpse and covered his grave with fine silks and velvet, and then they scattered hundreds of ducats upon the place where he lay buried, so that the men of the Border might see, when they would venture forth from bright Prozor to Luke's gravesite, how generous the Turks had been to him even in death. But afterwards the Bey returned to the battlefield, where he caused all his other dead to be given decent burial and gathered the living wounded into one place, where litters were made for them. Meanwhile a lone horseman appeared out on the plain, and when he had drawn nearer, it proved to be Bey Mehmedbey. He was a sight to make his mother glad, since he came carrying the severed head of King Komorhan, (1699) which he presented to his father as soon as he arrived. “Here, father, I bring you an apple.” His father took him in a close embrace and held him so lovingly long it seemed he might never release him. The Bey was ready then to give the command for the army to begin its homeward march; but at that very moment yet another horseman appeared out on the plain, a man mounted on a white horse so spirited it seemed a creature of the wild. The rider lay outstretched along the horse's mane, and he was seen from time to time to lift his head from where it rested on the halter-strap and spit out blood from deep within his breast. (1709) As he drew nearer they recognized him as the Headman, Miladin Kujadinović. He rode his shaggy white horse up to the Bey and invoked God's grace, to which the Bey replied: “God bless thee with good fortune! Canst thou survive thy wounds?” “My wounds are fortunate inasmuch as it is I, not you, who bear them.53 But they are of a kind a man does not survive. Yet I have no regret in dying, (1719) since I have kept your honour bright. No sooner, Bey, had you set out for Prozor than a mighty host attacked me. Eight thousand of my men were slain defending narrow Linden Pass before at last I repulsed our assailants. Four thousand of your bondsmen remain alive however, and I have no cause to regret my own dying, since I have left my son Kujadin at home in my timbered house on your estate.” He spoke and, slipping from the saddle, fell dead upon the grassy pastureland. So the Bey buried him as well, and then commanded that the army rise and begin its homeward march. Thus he withdrew from Gerfalcon Field carrying his wounded with him, and made his way through Linden Pass into Hungary. Time went by, day-by-day, until at last they had passed the Hungarian lakes, whereupon each man went his separate way to his own district.54 The Bey for his part went home to stone-built Osik. And every man who had a pretty Magyar captive introduced her to the Turkish rite and married her, which thing Mighty Osmanbey did also with Anne the Magyar girl. (1749) Then he lived with her all the remaining days of his life. Nor did he ever reproach her for having come to him out of the fire of battle. This has been the song of Luke Paulson and Mighty Osmanbey. I was not there to witness what I tell, and may not have told it as it was. But as I have heard it told, so have I sung it, and surely all that I have sung did really happen, whatever anyone else may think of it. Let us all agree therefore that I have told enough.55 As I have sung this song for you, so may God likewise grant all of you good health and brotherly endearment one to another. (1760) |
(English summaries of other versions)