Militza tells the Tsar
"O thou one and indivisible God! Mayest thou be glorified!".... Tsar
Lazar sat at supper, and with him sat the Tsarina Militza, sorrowful
and depressed. This unusual aspect of his beloved consort alarmed
the Tsar, and he asked her tenderly: "O Militza, thou my Tsarina! If
I put a question to thee, wouldst thou answer me with the truth? Why
art thou so gloomy, so sorrowful and pale to-night? Is anything thou
desirest lacking in our castle?" The Tsarina replied: "O Tsar Lazar,
thou Serbian golden crown! Verily whensoever thou speakest to me I
answer but the truth. Nothing is lacking in our palace; but truly
a great misfortune has befallen me, for the Zmay of Yastrebatz is
accustomed, ever since last year to come to my tower each night to
embrace me." Tsar Lazar, astounded, said: "Listen to me, O Tsarina
Militza! When thou hast retired to thine apartment in the white
tower to-night and thy magic lover hath come, ask him if there be
any besides God whom he fears, and if there is to be found on this
earth a hero whom he deems superior to himself!"
Soon after supper the Tsar went to his narrow and many-storied
tchardack, [44] and the Tsarina retired to her tower. And it was
seen how the mountain Yastrebatz glowed suddenly as if on fire, and
how out of the flames flew the Zmay straight over the level plain of
Kroushevo to the Tsarina's tower.
When he entered the Tsarina's apartment he took off his fairy garment
and looked tenderly upon the fair woman. The Tsarina affected to
welcome her lover, and after a time she said: "I pray thee, O Zmay
of Yastrebatz, since thou comest so daringly to my tower, tell me is
there any besides God whom thou dreadest? and lives there in the whole
world any hero whom thou deemest superior to thyself?" Thereupon the
Zmay answered in surprise: "Keep silent, O Militza! (or mayest thou
remain speechless for ever!) Surely thou askest me this question
because thou hast been instructed by Lazar!"
But Militza swore to him, saying: "No, not so! May I perish if
I speak not the truth! I ask thee because I see thou art such an
excellent hero."
When the Zmay heard this he trusted to the false oath (less dangerous
it would have been for him if a viper had bitten him!) and spoke in
this wise: "O Militza, dearest Tsarina! Since thou askest me truly,
truly shall I answer thee. On the whole of this earth I dread none
but God; neither is there hero whom I fear, save only that on a
plain called Sirmia there is a village known as Koopinovo, and in
that village lives a Zmay-Despot Vook; him I fear, for I have known
him ever since our foolish childhood. We often used to play together
on the summit of the high mountain Yastrebatz, and Vook would always
get the better of me in our contests. It is Vook only whom I dread,
for he is the champion Zmay on this earth."
As the Zmay pronounced the last of these words, Danitza--the morning
star--appeared on the horizon and the Zmay instantly took flight to
his castle.
The Tsarina hastened to Lazar's tchardack and informed him of what
she had learnt from the Zmay. Hearing the story the Tsar decided to
write in 'slender characters' a message to Zmay-Despot Vook telling
what he had learned beseeching him to come to Kroushevatz and kill
his detested enemy the Zmay of Yastrebatz. For rendering that service
Vook should receive three tovars of ducats and the kingdom of Sirmia
to be his for life.
Vook as Champion
The message duly reached the hands of Zmay-Despot Vook, and, having
perused it he considered for a while as to what he should do. He loved
the friend of his childhood, but he could not condone his shameful
conduct. Finally he decided to battle with the Zmay of Yastrebatz,
so he saddled his black steed, presented to him by the veela, and
that very night he reached the plain of Kroushevo; there he alighted;
spread his tent in the wheat-fields of Lazar and drank cool wine.
Meantime the sun rose and as the Tsar slowly paced his balcony,
he suddenly noticed a tent in his fields, and a strange and very
wonderful knight within it. He immediately called the Tsarina and
pointed out to her what he saw. Militza exclaimed that this must be
none other than Zmay-Despot Vook, for he much resembled her magic
lover the Zmay of Yastrebatz.
The Tsar immediately sent a messenger to the stranger bidding him come
at once to the palace, where a noble feast awaited him. But Vook sent
word that he desired to remain in his tent and he requested that the
Tsarina should not close fast the doors of her apartments that night
but should quietly await the coming of the Zmay of Yastrebatz and
leave the issue to her new protector.
Upon receiving Vook's reply the Tsar ordered a fine repast to be
prepared and taken to his tent, not omitting a large quantity of
red wine.
The day passed uneventfully, and when night came the fair Militza
retired. As usual Mount Yastrebatz burst into its customary light,
and its lord flew from the flames straight to the Tsarina's tower and
stole into her chamber, where he doffed his magic garment. Suddenly he
heard the voice of Zmay-Despot Vook saying: "Thou who hath presumed
to embrace the Serbian Tsarina, come forth this instant from the
white tower!"
Greatly alarmed, the Zmay of Yastrebatz cursed the Tsarina thus:
"Lo, Militza, may God destroy thee! Thou hast betrayed me to Lazar!"
Saying this he donned his magic garment and made haste to
depart. Instead of as usual, directing his flight to his castle on
Yastrebatz, he ascended straight into the clouds. Vook pursued him
very closely and coming up with him at an extreme height, he struck
him violently with his heavy club and broke both his wings. Down
fell the Zmay of Yastrebatz, swift as a stone to the earth, where
he lay writhing like a snake and moaning piteously--"May a similar
misfortune befall every hero who entrusts his mistress with his
secrets!" He had not a long time in which to indulge his bitter
reflections for Vook was following and the instant he alighted he
struck off the head of the Zmay. Then he went to Lazar and threw
the head upon the ground before him. The Tsar was so terrified at
the mere sight of the ghastly object that he was seized suddenly by
a severe fever. But he gave the promised gold to Vook as well as an
imperial decree empowering him to rule independently over Sirmia for
the remainder of his life. Moreover, he promised that should Vook ever
be without gold, he need but apply to the Tsar, and he should have his
needs supplied. The bard ends: "And they long lived happily, always
helping each other, as fellow-countrymen should do; and the glory of
the hero became a tradition; we now remember the anniversary of the
slaying of the Zmay of Yastrebatz as the happiest day in the year!"