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The Cycle of Mujo and Halili
The Songs of the Frontier Warriors
(Këngë Kreshnikësh) are the best-known cycle of
northern Albanian epic verse. Still sung by elderly men playing
the one stringed "lahuta," these epic rhapsodies are
the literary reflections of legends portraying and glorifying
the heroic feats of warriors of the past. The main cycle, that
of "Mujo and Halili," preserves much of the flavour
of other heroic cultures such as those mirrored in Homer's Iliad
in Greek, Beowulf in English, El Cid in Spanish, the Chanson
de Roland in French, the Nibelungenlied in German and the Russian
Byliny. The leaders of this band of thirty "agas" or
warriors are Gjeto Basho Mujo and his brother Halili, who inhabit
a frontier region between the Ottoman Empire and Austria Hungary.
The Albanian songs of Mujo and Halili parallel the Bosnian versions
of the cycle sung in Serbo-Croatian, or more properly, Bosnian.
This heroic and epic verse occurs in both oral literatures and
cultures, since the singers in southern Bosnia, the Sandjak,
and Montenegro at the time were to a good extent bilingual, i.e.
reciting alternatively in Bosnian and Albanian.
While the Bosnian Slav epic seems to
have died out as a living tradition, the Albanian epic is still
very much alive. Even as the twenty-first century marches on,
one can still find a good number of "lahutars" in Kosova,
in particular in the Rugova highlands west of Peja, and in northern
Albania, as well as some rare souls in Montenegro, who are able
to sing and recite the heroic deeds of Mujo and Halili and their
thirty "agas," as part of an unbroken oral tradition.
One can safely assume that these elderly men constitute the very
last traditional native singers of epic verse in Europe.
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The Source of Mujo's Strength
Blessed we are, thanks to the Almighty!
For nothing we were until God did create us.
When Mujo was little, when he was a youngster,
His father dispatched him to work for a rich man.
The rich man did give him a job as a cowherd.
Day after day Mujo roamed the high pastures,
Day after day he would drink at the fountains,
Day after day in the shade took his leisure,
Not a trail or a pathway did he leave untrodden
To lead his herd onwards to new mountain meadows.
But one night the cowherd lost sight of his cattle.
As he was unable to go home without them,
At the foot of a cliff he was forced to take refuge.
Here the young lad fell asleep for the nighttime.
Not far from the lad there were two cradles lying,
From both of the cradles emitted a whining.
Mujo approached to see what was inside them,
Mujo approached now to comfort the infants,
To comfort the infants by rocking their cradles
And lulling the little ones back into slumber.
Shining like lights stood before him two zanas.
"What are you doing?" they said, asking Mujo,
"Whatever compelled you to take this direction?"
Mujo then turned and to them gave his answer:
"I make my living up here as a cowherd,
Roaming for days on the high mountain pastures,
But this very day there occurred a misfortune,
My cattle have vanished and I cannot find them.
When darkness descended, I lay down to sleep here
But my eyes never closed because of the whining,
It was the whining I heard of two infants,
No peace of mind did their whimpering leave me,
Touched as I was, I got up to console them,
And giving them comfort, I got them to sleep.
But who are you beings in all of your splendour?"
"We are the zanas, Mujo, on our journey,
Giving to mankind our help and assistance.
And what favour do you ask of us, oh Mujo,
For rocking our infants to sleep in their cradles?
Do you want strength, Mujo, to put up resistance?
Do you want might, Mujo, to fight in pitched battle?
Or do you, Mujo, desire goods and possessions?
Or do you want wisdom, to speak foreign tongues?
Tell us your wish and to you we will grant it."
Listen to how Mujo then turned and responded:
"The shepherds on many occasions have teased me,
For me they have only shown ire and derision,
Just give me strength so that I can outdo them."
The zanas took counsel at this and decided:
"Some milk from our breasts will we give unto Mujo."
And milk of their breasts they did give him to drink of,
Three drops were sufficient to nourish the young lad.
Such was the strength that the Lord did accord him
That he had the force to make lofty cliffs tremble.
"Take hold of that boulder," commanded the zanas,
A boulder that weighed more than one thousand okas.
Taking hold of the boulder of one thousand okas,
With his hands did he seize it and lift it a little,
Up to his ankles, no more could he raise it.
The zanas took counsel at this and decided:
"More of our milk we will offer to Mujo."
Mujo was given more milk and did drink it,
Again with his arms did he tackle the boulder,
And up to his knees this time managed to raise it,
And then to the ground for a rest let it plummet.
Heed now how nobly the zanas then offered:
"Let us again give our breasts unto Mujo."
Again from their breasts did they give milk to Mujo.
Such was the strength that the Lord did accord him
That the boulder once more with his arms he did grapple
And up to his waist did he manage to raise it.
The zanas were studying him and observing,
Again they took counsel at this and decided:
"Once more must we offer our breasts unto Mujo."
Mujo was offered their breasts and took milk there.
And such was the strength that the Lord gave him this time
That he seemed to acquire the strength of a dragua.
Mujo again with his arms seized the boulder,
And up to his shoulders did manage to raise it,
Holding suspended the one thousand okas.
And what did the zanas then say to each other?
"No more shall we give of our breasts unto Mujo.
For if we once more should accord them to Mujo
He'd likely take hold of the planet and squash it."
The zanas began to converse then with Mujo,
Speaking to him in their voices so gentle,
While over their heads shone the moon who observed them,
And shadows were lengthening under the rock cliffs.
In cordial tones did the zanas address him,
Hear what the zanas did say unto Mujo:
"We wish you, oh Mujo, to be our blood brother,
Speak up now, oh Mujo, and give us your answer."
"Whenever I need you, oh zanas, assist me!"
The Lord brought about the return of the daylight,
And Mujo awakened from out of his slumber,
And, finding his cattle, he drove the beasts homewards.
When Mujo got back to the Plain of Jutbina,
He noticed the shepherds had gathered together,
Preparing as always, as they were accustomed,
To make sport of Mujo by using their muscles.
Listen this time to how Mujo reacted.
Himself he began to make sport of the shepherds,
The mightiest one by the hand did he tackle
And into the air five good lengths did he hurl him.
None of them ventured to utter a protest,
For had he but touched them with his little finger,
They'd have been smashed to the ground and have perished.
Mujo abandoned the charge of his master
And, leaving his master, he turned and departed.
To his home he then travelled to visit his mother.
There, so they say, did Mujo start working,
There, so they say, did Mujo start fighting,
And from every battle that Mujo was part of,
He always emerged as a hero victorious. |
[Fuqija e Mujit, sung
by Mëhill Prêka of Curraj i Epërm (District of
Tropoja). Published in: Visaret e Kombit, vol. II. ed.
Bernardin Palaj and Donat Kurti (Tirana 1937), p. 63-66; and
Folklor shqiptar II, Epika legjendare (Cikli i kreshnikëve),
Vellimi i parë. ed. Qemal Haxhihasani (Tirana 1966),
p. 104 106. Translated from the Albanian by Robert Elsie and
Janice Mathie-Heck.]
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The Marriage of Gjeto Basho Mujo
Blessed we are, thanks to the Almighty!
For nothing we were until God did create us.
Daylight arrived and the sun began shining.
What was Gjeto Basho Mujo now doing?
Mujo had been to the Realm of the Christians
And there for himself a bride he'd selected,
It was the king's daughter whom Mujo had chosen.
When Mujo thereafter returned to Jutbina,
Three hundred wedding attendants he gathered,
With swords all glowing and with gilded garments,
With arrows and lances, in gold they were glinting,
Dapple-grey gleaming were all of their horses,
The attendants themselves were all youthful Agas,
With one exception, the old man who led them,
Called by the name of Dizdar Osman Aga.
"Hear what I say now, oh wedding attendants,"
Mujo arose and did speak to them, saying:
"When you get up to the high mountain pastures,
There you will find three broad shady meadows,
You must take care on them not to make merry,
You must take care not to strike up a carol,
You must take care not to lie down upon them,
For this is the home of the three fearsome zanas
Who surely have come to repose in the shade there,
To lie at their leisure amongst the cool breezes.
Well and alive they will let no one pass them!"
The light of the sun did come out the next morning,
The wedding attendants did saddle their stallions,
And getting up onto them, struck up a carol,
And they did make merry, while riding their horses,
There on their journey did sing and did revel,
Taking the road to the Realm of the Christians.
And when they got up to the high mountain pastures,
There they fell silent and held back their singing,
Gripped the reins firmly and guided their horses,
Nowhere did they stop but continued their journey,
None of them ventured to drink the spring water,
Nor did they rest in the shade of the meadows.
On to their host did they hasten their journey.
How warmly and heartily did the king greet them,
Food and drink did he bring forth so to feed them.
They struck up a carol and revelled 'til midnight.
When, once again, as the dawn came upon them,
They put on their boots and they put on their buckles,
The bride with them now, they set off on their journey,
Departing once more on the road to Jutbina.
Nowhere on their way did they silence their singing,
Nowhere on their way did they pause in their prancing,
Until they got up to the broad shady meadows,
There the old man to them spoke out, addressing:
"Hear what I say now, oh wedding attendants.
For many a bride have I been an attendant,
And with all the brides have we always come hither
And taken our rest on these broad shady meadows,
The steeds every time we have put out to pasture,
And here in the shade have we struck up a carol,
And in these cool springs have we sought our refreshment,
Not once has a man of ours suffered misfortune!"
Then they all together dismounted their horses,
No longer sallying forth on their journey.
There did they stretch themselves out on the meadows,
There they made ready and struck up a carol,
There they began to make merry and revel,
There did they churn up and muddy the waters,
And all of their lances did launch at the targets.
Blessed we are, thanks to the Almighty!
While 'round about them the mountain peaks thundered,
The wind now did wail, through the beech trees it whistled,
And all of a sudden, in less than a second
Appeared there before them the three fearsome zanas,
Showing their teeth, they were snapping and snarling,
And out of their mouths there spewed fire and brimstone.
Then catching sight of the scene on the meadows,
At once did they turn to stone all of the revellers,
And all of their horses were turned into tree trunks,
All were transformed, just the bride was uninjured.
Grasping her arm did the zanas abduct her,
And seizing her, off to their cavern did steal her.
Nevermore was she able to sit or to rest there,
She cooked all their meals and fetched them their water.
Then of her plight heard Gjeto Basho Mujo,
Great was the fury that took hold of Mujo,
Onto the back of his courser jumped Mujo
And set off at once for the high mountain pastures.
When he arrived and was up on the meadows,
Thirty men frozen were what he discovered,
Turned there to stone were all thirty Agas
And all of the steeds had been turned into tree trunks.
What pain and affliction now overcame Mujo!
Wasting no time, he then turned and departed,
Giving his courser no rest on the journey.
All by himself on the high mountain pastures,
Up at the springs did he search for the zanas,
Seeking and searching all over the meadows,
But nowhere was Mujo there able to find them.
Finally he looked in a forest of beech trees,
Where darkness holds sway and the light never enters,
Where no beam of sunlight is ever encountered,
There he discovered a fountain of water,
Sparkling and clear it was just like a teardrop,
Stopping there so he could find some refreshment,
Mujo jumped off of the back of his courser,
Casting his eyes at the grove all around him,
Nowhere was there a pathway to advance on,
Over the forest rose only the bare cliffs,
Below it were strewn naught but boulders and rubble,
So thick were the beech trees with all of their branches,
That no ray of sunlight had ever intruded.
Mujo then turned and did speak out, proclaiming:
"This surely must be the home of the zanas."
Putting his steed in the grove out to pasture,
He sat himself down by the fountain and tarried,
Waiting to see when the zanas fetched water.
Later, when three days had passed and were over,
There journeyed a woman, a jug she did carry.
Mujo then pondered: Why, who is this woman,
And what is she doing in this lonely place here?
"Good day to you," did she then say to Mujo,
"Good day to you, too," did Mujo give answer.
"What are you doing with the water?"
Inquired Mujo of the maiden.
"I don't know how to tell you, young man.
The wedding attendants came to fetch me,
And at a pleasant site we rested,
When there appeared three fearsome zanas.
For we'd been sitting at their tables,
Or from their sleep the Agas woke them.
God knows what happened. I know only
The mountain peaks began to thunder,
The wind howled through the beechwood forest,
And three fearsome zanas stood before us.
'Neath shade they breathed upon the Agas,
And made the horses into tree trunks,
All were turned to stone abruptly.
Seizing me, they took me with them
To make their meals and fetch their water!"
"To whom, oh maiden, were you promised?
What's the name they use to call him?"
"I left my father, I left my mother,
I left my sisters, I left my brothers
To take as husband a great hero,
His name is Gjeto Basho Mujo!"
Straight-faced, Mujo then responded:
"If you saw him, would you know him?"
The maid replied again to Mujo:
"Wretched me, I would not know him,
For with my eyes I've never seen him,
From what I've heard, though, of the gossip,
You look like Gjeto Basho Mujo!"
How loudly Mujo burst out laughing:
"It's me, oh bride, who's here before you,
How easily you recognized me.
But, if you are a noble woman,
You'll listen now to what I tell you."
"By God, o'er sun and moon presiding,
I swear by the Lord of earth and heaven,
By him who brings us clouds and sunshine,
I will obey your words, oh Mujo,
Though well I know they'd chop my head off!"
Mujo then began instructing:
"When you go back home this evening,
Approach, inquire of the zanas:
'By the meadows where you linger,
Where is it you get your power?'"
"Of their power will they tell me?"
Said the bride to Mujo, asking.
Mujo turned to her, responding:
"Do exactly as I've told you.
Behind the peaks the sun is setting,
The moon is shining through the beech trees,
In the moonlight will the zanas
Gather by the spring for dinner.
At the table they'll assemble,
But you must refrain from dinner.
The zanas will take pity on you.
Without you how could they eat dinner?
Use your wiles now and address them
And of their power they will tell you!
'By this meal,' you tell the zanas,
'By the peaks where you spend summer,
By the meadows where you linger,
By the fountains in your languor,
So much time I've spent now with you,
Won't you tell me of your power?'
If you survive, if they don't freeze you,
By your oaths, they're bound to answer.
You'll find me at the spring tomorrow."
The bride returned home through the forest,
Mujo left for the Green Valleys,
The maiden went back to the zanas,
"Where've you been so long?" they asked her.
"The waters at the spring were muddled,"
Murmured the maiden to the zanas.
They set the table, started eating,
The drinks were brought, they set to drinking.
She sliced them bread and brought them water,
But the bride refused to join them.
The little zana asked: "Oh sister,
Why are you not supping with us?
Are you ill and thus not hungry?"
"I shan't join you, little zana,
Nor will I share dinner with you
Unless you tell me of your power.
For an oath I now swear to you,
Though I'm a slave and you're the zanas,
And you can freeze me if you wish to:
By the peaks where you spend summer,
By the meadows where you linger,
By the fountains in your languor,
Tell me where you get your power."
Springing to their feet, the zanas
Pointed to the bride to freeze her.
Swiftly rose the little zana
And between them did she venture:
"May God damn you, oh great zana,
Let us rather tell the maiden.
How could she do any damage?
Listen to me, human maiden,"
To the bride she turned, revealing:
"We rule over three wild he-goats,
On their heads are horns of ducats,
They inhabit the Green Valleys.
No one's ever caught the he-goats,
If they were to, would the power
We dispose of swiftly vanish!"
Down to dinner sat the maiden.
Sunlight did disperse the darkness,
The maiden set off for the fountain,
At the fountain she found Mujo.
Mujo gave a hearty chuckle:
"I see that you survived unfrozen."
"I survived, but all for nothing,
'Twas in vain you sent me to them,
From our dispute you've no profit,
They thus stated: 'We've three he-goats,
On their heads are horns of ducats,
They inhabit the Green Valleys,
No one's ever caught the he-goats.
If they were to, would the powers
We dispose of swiftly vanish!'"
Mujo turned to her, responding:
"You must go back to the zanas,
And pretend that nothing's happened.
Safe and sound will Mujo take you
Home with all the frozen Agas!"
Up onto his steed he clambered,
Turning, set off for Jutbina,
Coming to Jutbina market,
He proclaimed to the krahina:
"All men here who count as hunters,
Take your hounds and get them ready,
Hasten to my house this evening,
Food and drink I'll furnish for you
And tomorrow we'll go hunting."
Three hundred hunters soon assembled,
With seven hundred hounds and further,
Three hundred hunting dogs were with them,
They all arrived at Mujo's doorway.
Mujo welcomed them and fed them.
When the light of dawn rejoined them,
Mujo turned to them, proclaiming:
"Listen to my words, oh hunters,
We must take alive the he-goats.
There must be no mistake about it,
For if they're hunted down and slaughtered,
Will no one ever see Jutbina!"
With Mujo leading, they departed,
Journeyed up to the Green Valleys,
'Round the valleys did they circle.
So Mujo was the first to enter
Three hundred hunting dogs were with him
As were the hounds, as were the hunters,
The other men arrayed in ambush.
Three full days and nights they hunted.
And when three days and nights were over,
The animals alive they'd captured.
Returning with them to Jutbina,
In a pen did Mujo keep them,
And he gave the hunters presents.
Thus vanished was the zanas' power,
They'd sought the goats but could not find them,
To the valleys they lamented,
To rocky cliffs loudly they cried out,
But nowhere could they hear their bleating.
Thereupon surmised a zana:
"Someone's robbed us of our he-goats!"
"Listen to me, mountain zana,"
Spoke the maid to the great zana:
"Mujo sends his greetings, saying:
For the bride you've stolen from me,
For the wedding guests you've frozen,
Search no more for your wild he-goats,
Mujo's holding them as hostage!"
When the zanas heard this message,
They departed for Jutbina,
Right to Mujo's door they journeyed.
"Have you taken our goats, Mujo?"
"I'm indeed the one who took them,
And in my pen have I confined them!"
The mountain zana now addressed him:
"We give up, Gjeto Basho Mujo,
Either in your home now slay us,
Or return to us the he-goats,
For we cannot live without them.
We'll unfreeze all the attendants,
We'll remit to you the horses,
Your bride we'll send to you by carriage."
Mujo cut them short, responding:
"The attendants that you mention
Do not really matter to me,
Nor do I long for the maiden,
In no time I'll find another,
But the goats I cannot give you
For such beasts I've never captured!"
At this they set about lamenting,
Gnashed their teeth and started weeping,
The very trees and rocks took pity.
But Mujo did remain undaunted.
To them turned the little zana
And with the hair upon her forehead
Wiped her tears and then touched Mujo.
A solemn oath she made him, swearing:
"Whenever you should go bride-hunting,
Whenever you should fight a baloz,
When you set off with your fighters,
When you revel on our pastures,
When you wish to sing a song there,
When you shoot there at a target,
And use our springs for your refreshment,
Reposing in our shady meadows,
A solemn pledge do we now give you,
We'll say nothing to oppose you."
Such a promise melted Mujo.
Wasting no more time to ponder,
Mujo gave them formal answer:
"You are zanas, you'll be zanas,
Words are words and pledges, pledges.
I'll return you your wild he-goats.
Pluck them from the pen, Halili,"
Ordered Mujo of the youngster.
How the zanas changed expression
When they saw him free their he-goats!
In a twinkling they had vanished
Back up to the mountain pastures,
Finding there in the Green Valleys
All the petrified attendants,
And the horses turned to tree trunks.
Then they turned back the attendants,
Brought to life again the horses.
The maiden they put in a carriage,
And returned her to Jutbina.
When they reached the Plain, Jutbina,
All the maidens started singing,
The attendants started dancing,
All the mountain peaks resounded.
From cliff to cliff proclaimed the zanas:
"We are zanas, we'll be zanas,
Words are words and pledges, pledges,
We've brought back your bride and Agas."
From one cliff sang the great zana,
Little zana from another,
Hand in hand proclaimed the zanas:
"We are zanas, we'll be zanas,
Words are words and pledges, pledges,
A woman's a woman and a zana's a zana,
A zana's the sun and a woman's the moon.
Woe to the one who puts faith in a woman!" |
[Gjeto Basho Muji: Martesa,
sung by Mëhill Prêka of Curraj i Epërm (District
of Tropoja). Published in: Hylli i Dritës, Shkodra,
1924, p. 414 sq.; Visaret e Kombit, vol. II. ed. Bernardin
Palaj and Donat Kurti (Tirana 1937), p. 1 10, and Folklor
shqiptar II, Epika legjendare (Cikli i kreshnikëve), Vellimi
i parë. ed. Qemal Haxhihasani (Tirana 1966), p. 51 59.
Translated from the Albanian by Robert Elsie and Janice Mathie-Heck.]
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Omer, Son of Mujo
It's you we worship, God Almighty!
The day had dawned, but little light shone,
The sun came up, no warmth provided,
Better had the light not come out,
Better had the sun not risen,
The two best Agas were made prisoner,
Caught were Mujo and Halili,
At their fireplace they'd left no one,
Only Mujo's pregnant wife there,
God bestowed a son upon her,
And a fair name did they give him,
Called him Omer, son of Mujo.
When at the mere age of seven
Did he tower seven ells high,
On the scales weighed seventy okas,
And still the boy had not left home yet.
When he was seven, did his mother
Send him off to tend the goat kids,
That day he spent chasing a rabbit,
At night he hid it in the kulla.
Turning to his mother, he said:
"That grey goat kid, may God damn it,
Would not give me peace and quiet,
Come and light the pine torch, mother,
For God has maybe slain the goat kid,
Let's check and see it in the cellar."
The mother went down to the goat kids
And there she saw a mountain rabbit,
The mother well knew what had happened,
Turning to the boy, she uttered:
"That, my son, is no grey goat kid,
That's a rabbit from the mountains!
But no matter, boy, I see that
It's your fate to be a hero!"
Omer one day told his mother:
"By the God who made me, mother,
No father have I and no uncle?
Did you find me in the bushes?"
The mother swore to him, replying:
"You had a father and an uncle,
But perished both of them of smallpox,
They are buried in the garden."
The boy then swore to her, replying:
"Bring Halili's field glass, mother,
For I'll climb up to the tower,
And look out o'er field and meadow."
The mother brought Halili's field glass
And he climbed up to the tower,
Looked out to the distant hillocks,
Studied all the fields and meadows,
And gazed at the plains around him.
Turning to his mother, he said:
"By the God who made you, mother,
What's that white thing on the meadows?
Could it be a snow-white landslide,
A ravine with rocks and gravel,
Or a flock of lambs with shepherds,
Or the shkjas with tent pavilions?"
The mother swore to him, replying:
"It's not the shkjas with tent pavilions,
It's the Agas of Jutbina,
Daily there do they assemble."
Facing then his mother, he said:
"Bring Halili's garments, mother,
Bring the sabre for the war grounds,
Bring me also Mujo's courser,
For I'd like to meet the Agas."
Hear his mother's words in answer:
"You are young, boy, and I'm frightened
That the Agas will insult you,
Mujo'd often made them angry."
But Omer would just not listen,
She gave him armour which he girded,
Snatched the sabre for the war grounds,
Got the garments of Halili,
Perfectly the clothes did fit him.
Then she brought forth Mujo's courser,
When he tried to mount the courser,
He couldn't reach up to the crupper.
Then the steed he told in Turkish:
"A mighty courser they have called you,
Fall down on your knees before me
So that I can reach your crupper.
Down the road ride to Jutbina."
Like a storm the courser set off,
The Agas of Jutbina heard it,
"What are all those peals of thunder?
Is a thunderstorm approaching?"
Then said Arnaut Osmani:
"It sounds like Mujo and Halili."
To his feet he rose to look out,
Saw but smoke and dust before him,
And in it Omer, son of Mujo.
Osmani glimpsed him with displeasure,
And turning to the Agas swore out:
"It's the bastard son of Mujo,
Let none of us wish him welcome,
Let no one give word of greeting,
And no one put his horse to pasture."
When the lad got to the Agas,
He with a selam did greet them,
But they gave no word of welcome,
No one offered that he sit down,
No one put his horse to pasture.
Only Zuku Bajraktari
Who was Mujo's true blood brother,
Gave the boy a word of greeting,
Had him sit among the others,
Put his fine horse out to pasture.
Omer then spoke to the meeting:
"Damn you," he addressed the Agas,
"Why've you given me no greeting?
Nor a seat for me to sit on,
Nor put out my horse to pasture?
All of you well recognize me,
I'm son of Gjeto Basho Mujo,
Mujo's often made you angry,
But all the wars were won by Mujo,
Mujo's given you great honour,
Many of the shkjas he's slaughtered,
Protected you against great danger,
And not a bit of thanks you've shown him,
All you show him is your envy."
The Agas murmured and took counsel,
Then they started their complaining:
"From the sea has come a baloz,
None of us will dare combat it,
Though it's claiming our possessions."
What said Omer, son of Mujo?
"Send a message to the baloz
To be early on the war grounds."
What did Osman Aga utter?
"If it's true you're really Omer,
Your father and uncle are in prison,
And from the prison you must free them
The king has held them seven years now,
Down in Kotor are they captive,
Their hair has grown long to the floorboards,
For seven years they've seen no sunlight,
For seven years no change of clothing,
For seven years no way of shaving."
At this, the boy could wait no longer,
He turned and jumped onto his courser,
And took the road that led him homewards.
Before the gateway of the kulla
He stopped and cried out to his mother:
"Stick your tit out of the window,
Because I need your breast, good mother!"
She stuck her tit out of the window,
With his left hand did he seize it,
With his right hand took his sabre,
And swore by God unto his mother:
"Tell me where're my father and uncle,
Or I'll cut your tit to pieces."
The mother told her son in answer:
"The Agas have been talking nonsense,
You're too young and they insult you.
You had a father and good uncle,
Both the king has taken prisoner,
Down in Kotor are they captive,
Their hair has grown long to the floorboards,
They're kept unwashed, no change of clothing,
I was too afraid to tell you,
For seven years I have not seen them."
What said Omer, son of Mujo?
"Bring Hungarian garments, mother."
Hungarian garments did she bring him,
Sewed upon them Christian crosses.
Then he took his sharki with him,
Up he jumped onto his courser,
And he set off for the Kingdom,
And the Kingdom did he enter.
When he reached a village fountain,
He took his sharki and did play it,
Played with skill and sang out fairly.
Rusha heard him, the king's daughter,
What did Omer now say to her?
"A cup of water, give me, Rusha,
From far and wide have I come travelling
In search of father and my uncle."
The maiden swore to him, responding:
"To no one will I offer water,
Save to Omer, son of Mujo,
Whom the Lord made seven years hence,
Well the Seven Kingdoms know him."
The boy now, putting down his sharki,
Started asking Rusha questions,
Then did he reveal to Rusha:
"By the Lord on high who made me,
I am Omer, son of Mujo,
Here to free the two from prison,
Or I'll perish in the Kingdom,
Tell me, maiden, how to do it!"
Rusha was in love with Omer
And proposed a plan to help him,
Of her plan did she tell Omer:
"Of twin sons the king is father,
They are fair lads who've no equals.
'Twould be easy to deceive them
And to bring them to the fountain,
Let them play here in the water.
If you from the king could catch them,
He'd free your father and your uncle."
Omer with this plan was happy,
From the king he seized the twin sons,
Took them with him on his courser.
With them travelled the king's daughter,
Singing as she journeyed with them,
The twins, however, travelled weeping.
With skill did Omer play his sharki,
Safe and sound they reached Jutbina,
All Jutbina feasted with them.
See what Omer then decided.
To the king he sent a warning:
"You who are king in your Kingdom,
If you're missing any children,
Don't waste time to try and find them,
For they're held in Omer's prison.
Free my father and my uncle
Or I'll tear your twins to pieces."
The king then saw he was in trouble,
Forthwith to his feet he sprang up,
And to the prison door he hastened:
"Come out, Mujo, may God damn you,
For my twins your son has captured,
They lie day and night in prison,
He says he might chop their heads off."
"By the God who did create me,
I will only leave this prison
When I'm kempt and when I'm shaven."
Swiftly were the barbers summoned
And just as swiftly did they shave him.
"Come out, Mujo, may God damn you."
"By the God who did create me,
I will only leave this prison
When I get well-folded fabrics,
And three donkeys with gold laden."
Swiftly did the king give orders,
On two mares he piled red fabrics,
On three donkeys loaded money,
Burdened were they full of gold coins,
"Come out, Mujo," did he holler,
"Alive I'll not come out," said Mujo,
"Unless you give my son your Rusha,
And me a tray of golden ducats!"
What was it the king responded?
"You both today will be my in-laws,
The boy shall take as bride my Rusha!"
Then the heroes left their prison,
And departed for Jutbina.
When they finally reached their kulla,
Hear what Mujo told Halili:
"When I go into the kulla
Will I seize the twins to slay them,
For today I'll meet my Omer.
Should the lad be my son really,
He'll not let me slay the twin boys."
With one hand he seized the twin sons,
With the other seized his sabre,
When he was about to slay them,
His son jumped to his feet, protesting,
Arming himself for a battle,
That his guests should not be slaughtered.
The two men set upon each other,
But in harmony they parted,
Throwing arms around each other,
"Hail, my boy, that I now see you,
And you really are my true son."
To the king they sent the twin boys,
And then held a celebration
That they'd lived to be united. |
[Omer prej Mujit,
sung by Mëhill Prêka of Curraj i Epërm (District
of Tropoja). Published in: Hylli i dritës, Shkodra,
7 (1931), p. 685-693; Visaret e Kombit, vol. II. ed. Bernardin
Palaj and Donat Kurti (Tirana 1937), p. 203 210; and Folklor
shqiptar II, Epika legjendare (Cikli i kreshnikëve), Vellimi
i parë. ed. Qemal Haxhihasani (Tirana 1966), p. 229
235. Translated from the Albanian by Robert Elsie and Janice
Mathie-Heck.]
|
Albanian Literature in Translation
Oral
Literature | Mündlich überlieferte Literatur |
Littérature orale | Letërsia gojore