The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

in defeating (Vuk) the (Despot) did not draw the reins very tight /i.e., he was not vengeful/, so as not to be guilty of a brother's blood.

54. And this one came a second time with a greater army, so that the prophetic words could be spoken: "O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy church have they defiled..."⁹⁸ And when he feared that he would be attacked, the most pious Despot Stefan did not go out against (him), for few remained who were faithful (to him), and these informed him of the letters that Vuk was sending; he /Vuk/ on the one hand promised many gifts and presents, and on the other terrified (the people) with threats. This (Despot), holding his letters (in his hands), wept and said before the icon of the Savior: "Behold, my Christ, for Thou knowest that they assail me unjustly and my servants betray me, as once did Thy disciple Judas. Save to the end those whom Thou hast left with me, few in number." And tender words like these and prayers from the depth of his heart (he spoke). This was in the great city named Belgrade, in his residence within the city. And they /Vuk and the Turks/, having passed through many regions, came near to Belgrade as well, plundered much and ruined all the land. When (the Despot) saw this unending evil, he divided the realm (with Vuk). From that time his brother Vuk, with the land allotted to him and with the nobility that was with him, served (Sultan) Süleyman together with his nephews; and they too ruled their hereditary land. The Despot moved to his own part of the realm.

55. There was a certain man, by nature like a lion, one Novak, and he was of noble lineage from of old, (both in the time) of the renowned (Despot) and before him. In the manner of a brigand he harried the Ishmaelites. Therefore the (Turkish) sultan demanded (of the Despot) that he put him to death. (The Despot's) answer was that this brigand dwelt in the mountains. And the Bulgarian cities also rose in revolt (led) by the sons of the Bulgarian tsars. Before that Sultan Süleyman set out and, coming to Temska,⁹⁹ took it. He sent (then) envoys to the most pious Despot (saying): "I wish only to pass through thy regions, and (I will do) no harm whatever." The land was not (then) yet divided. As he went toward Ovče Polje, by way of Toplica, the aforementioned man named Karaljuk /Novak/ carried off certain things from the imperial camps, and the Despot returned them (to the Turks).

56. From the time the land was divided (between the brothers), the bloodshed seemed to lessen. When the turbulent affairs had calmed, Sultan Süleyman made war in the east, while his aforementioned brother Musa was in the northeast. Hearing of him, the Wallachian ruler (Mircea) called this (Musa) to himself, that he might avenge the troubles (he had suffered) from his brother (Süleyman). And this one, living among the Moesians, found a fitting time, leapt up as from sleep, according to the prophetic words: "...out of the north an evil shall break forth..."¹⁰⁰ and "...there shall come from the north a smoke..."¹⁰¹ and he swept down upon the pious like a hail-bearing cloud. And who shall bewail (all) that our people suffered from (Musa)?! Had the Lord not been appalled and, arising, avenged (Himself upon him) who pours out fury and with a thunderous voice destroys His inheritance, we would long since have been food for dogs and vultures. This one, then, came to fight with his brother; they desired to sate themselves with blood like a brood of serpents - (they) (were) brothers who even before birth had rent their mother's womb. At the beginning of his