The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

land is good."³⁰ Thus it came to pass that from the west one (river) flows and brings all that is best here.

8. And yet (another) of the 36 rivers renowned in the inhabited world is the Sava; it is here as a kind of rampart; it forks (into two arms) and unites at the most beautiful place, where the Pishon /the Danube/ enters with three branches and has two islands, where the White City /Belgrade/ was built, of which more will be said later.

9. And behold for me also the people, who are the last and most honorable work of God, lest (anyone) think that I praise (only) soulless and senseless things. Verily, the best land bears the best ears of wheat, which yield us thirtyfold, sixtyfold and a hundredfold. (The people here) are so valiant that no one else in the inhabited world has the fame of such (valor), and nothing more honorable (than this), according to Solomon, do men possess. Gladly and sincerely will they help, and (in this) they have no equals in the inhabited world; they are swift to hear and slow to speak;³¹ when there is need to resist, they are quick to answer him who seeks; they hold arms in both the left and the right

hand; in bodily purity they surpass other peoples, as well as in light and bright blood; moreover they are merciful and friendly; when someone becomes poor, the others give him all that is needful, (and that) not only to one person but to everyone and always; and not only do they give, but they offer double alms, so that, according to Solomon, it may be said: "He that honoreth the poor showeth mercy (that is, he is pleasing to God)."³² Life throughout the whole land (Serbia) is like the Church of God, and they do not (live) like other peoples, brutishly and against nature; (the name of God) is not invoked every moment, but it is established that small and great alike pray twice a day. It is a fair thing to see how a son, when he is with his parents, though in his own home, stands before them as a servant. This may be seen not only among the rich but also among the simplest and the poorest of all. Where could it be heard that one of them angered his father or mother?! Truly nowhere; rather, order is kept according to the (commandments) of Christ; they show honor to one another, calling upon God with uncovered head /taking off their caps/, as it was before and is now in the southern lands - "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground,"³³ that is, honor the place according to the customs of (that) land; and the holy Apostle Paul commands men to pray with uncovered head /bareheaded/. He dishonoreth, he says, (the man) who prays with his head covered or lets his hair grow long.³⁴ If it is no shame to uncover the head before Him who knows the soul, why should it be so before men? Therefore among them /among the Serbs/ all is as it ought to be; the rest is as (the Apostle) Paul says, "whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pious and whatsoever things are chosen,"³⁵ and all that is exalted can be found, and above all love, which is the head of every good deed.

10. And I shall speak also of those whose deeds are of a higher order, who emulate the angelic life /of the monks/, who were able to exchange all the beauties (of this world) for the wondrous Christ, with whom they adorn themselves; (they) live in the deserts, which for them are gentle, and in brotherhoods, so that they stir even those who are slothful to join them. And they show forth many chosen ones, who keep the virtues