The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

to distribute alms and often to read the divine words /i.e., the holy, divine books/. And so greatly did he care for the poor that he himself, by night, went out onto the roads and (into) the enclosed fields to give alms with his own hand. He took with him only one, the most faithful, who carried gold or silver, and often he did this himself. Once a beggar approached (and the Despot) gave him alms. (The same beggar) ran ahead of him and again asked for a gift. The blessed (Despot) recognized him and gave him more. He ran ahead of him (yet) a third time, and (the Despot) gave him still more, saying: "Here, thou grasping one and deceiver!" (The beggar) answered: "I am neither grasping nor a deceiver - need has overwhelmed me - but it is thou who disposest of earthly goods, yet stealest and seizest the heavenly (goods)." (The Despot) would come even to the doors of beggars and pass them alms through a small window or (some) opening; all knew who was doing this. A crowd of lepers always followed (him), whom (the Despot) always fed, and by night he filled their right hands (with gifts). And that the truth may be yet more convincing - once, hearing of this, beggars came from the coastal and Bulgarian regions, and there were so very many of them that they robbed the townsmen by force; after they had come to blows with the city governor, they were driven out (from there). And unceasingly he marked his deeds with their sign (i.e., with almsgiving). Once he wished to go out and, (as) usual, to distribute alms; when all, outside and within, were asleep, he took a man who was dear to him, and who was initiated also into other secrets, and said to him: "Take at the same time, secretly, (also) my sword." That man did not understand (the Despot's) command, and did not dare to ask for an explanation. For a while they went together, and then (the Despot) left (him), saying: "Wait here." And somewhere, late in the night, (the Despot) returned; when they came to the inner door, the younger man wished to open (it), but could not (do) so quickly. The Despot, thinking that (this younger man) was not holding his sword in the hand in which he had commanded him, said: "Give the sword to me until thou openest." (That) younger man understood what had been said to him and was afraid, saying: "(The sword) hinders me not at all." He then opened (the door) and went quickly up the stairs as if to light (the way), pretending to know nothing (about the sword). The most pious (Despot) (was as if) he had fallen into the depth of (some) mire. Such deeds of his cannot be numbered, any more than the sand of the sea. And such deeds he did unceasingly throughout his whole life. Not to speak of the wildernesses throughout the world, throughout his own land (and) throughout the Athonite regions - wherever he heard that anyone was living in the Lord, all the hermits, the hesychasts and (the monks of the monastic) cenobia - if he learned that any of them was asking for a censer or some other precious lamp to be taken there - he would entreat the superior of that place (with the words): "(I will send) there at once a much more precious and brighter (lamp) if thou givest (them) that one (which thou hast)." Soon he would fulfill what he had promised. They received these and other (gifts) generously. (In any case), enough has been said about this.

77. And before, when he had established true friendship with the western (rulers), when he went to the city named Buda, where the western kings and other lords had gathered with the king of Hungary, (who was to go) to Constance and to Rome for his coronation, Despot Stefan was the most illustrious above all and before all, and more than the others he appeared like the moon among the stars, and from afar everyone (could) discern him; all his counsels (stood) firmly in (their) place. From the Hungarian land he received many gifts: fortified cities and villages and (much) else, of which the surrounding states also know. And not only that, but also seven years after the king's coming,