The Mountain Wreath - Christmas Eve

 (Gun-shots are heard below. Vladika Danilo jumps on
his horse and rides off; and, lo! down the field are five
or six hundred men; he spurs on his horse to reach them.
On his arrival they gather round him. The Vladika, seeing
five of the Martinovitch family, Vuk Borilovitch, and three
of his servants blood-sprinkled, begins to question them.)

 

VLADIKA DANILO

Relate me now! Say what hath taken place;
What kind of men are ye - or wolves or foxes?
 

VOIVODA BATRITCH

The news is nought but good, my lord!
We bow the knee to God and to the Holy Child!
But first of all we give thee Christmas Greetings,
To thee and to all Montenegro!
We brothers five of clan Martinovitch,
And servants three of thine - most trusty three -
With Borilovitch-Vuk, the falcon-hearted,
Did last night fall a-fighting with the Turks.
All those who heard ran fast unto our help;
As quick as water fighters ran together; -
But why do I spin out the story? -
Though broad enough Cettigné’s Plain,
No single seeing eye, no tongue of Turk,
Escap’d to tell his tale another day!
We put them all unto the sword,
All those who would not be baptiz’d;
But who paid homage to the Holy Child
Were all baptiz’d with sign of Christian Cross,
And as brother each was hail’d and greeted.
We put to fire the Turkish houses,
That there might be nor stick nor trace
Of these true servants of the Devil!
From Cettigné to Tcheklitche we hied,
There in full flight the Turks espied;
A certain number were by us mow’d down,
And all their houses we did set ablaze;
Of all their mosques both great and small
We left but one accursèd heap,
For passing folk to cast their glance of scorn.
 

VLADIKA DANILO

Great gladness this for me, my falcons,
Great joy for me! Heroic liberty
Has resurrection morn to-day,
From every tomb of our ancestors dear!

Petar II Petrovic Njegos