Lay of the Emir

Epitome (Russian, c17)

[Pog 342v] A Tale of Bygone Times and Brave Men, about the Boldness and about the Bravery and about the Might of the Glorious Devgenij

(α) [Pog 342v] There was a widow of royal family, and she devoted herself to salvation; she was never away from church. And she had three sons, splendid and handsome; with their mother’s prayer they were brave in all that they did. The widow also had a daughter, splendid and beautiful in the beauty of her face.

(α) [Pog 342v] And Amir the tsar of the Arab land heard of the maiden’s beauty and assembled his force, full large, and went to attack the Greek land for the sake of this maiden’s beauty. And Amir the tsar came to the house of the widow and carried off the fair [Pog 343] maiden by his cunning; he was invisible to everyone in the Greek land, save that one old woman of the house saw him. At the time her mother was in God’s church; the sons were hunting in another country.

(α) [Pog 343] And the widow came from God’s church and did not find her fair daughter and began to question her slaves in her house about her fair daughter. And all the slaves of her house said to her: We do not know, Lady, about your fair daughter. Save that one old woman of the house had seen and told her mistress, the widow: Lady, Amir the tsar of the Arab land came and stole away your daughter, our mistress, by his cunning, and he was invisible in our land.

(α) [Pog 343] And on hearing this from her slave the widow began to tear the hair from her head and [to tear] her face, and she began to weep over her fair [Pog 343v] daughter and said: Woe is me, wretched widow. If my children had been at home, they would have gone and pursued Amir the tsar and taken away their sister.

(α) [Pog 343v] After a little while her children came home, and seeing their mother weeping they began to question their mother: Tell us, our mother, who has insulted you, whether a tsar or a prince of this city? If you have been insulted, we shall not live.

(a) [Pog 343v] Their mother said to them: My dear children, I have not been insulted by anyone of this city, rather you have had at home one sister, and she has now been stolen away by the hands of Amir the tsar of the Arabian land. And he has torn out my heart by the roots and pierced me like a lifeless reed. And now I adjure you, my beloved children, that you fail not to hearken to my command. Go and pursue Amir the tsar and take away your fair little sister;

(b) [Pog 343v] if your sister [Tit 172] you do not recover, do you thus lay down your heads for your little sister, and I (shall lament) all of you since I shall have no children.

(c) [Tit 172] Her sons said: Our mother, do not be distressed and do not worry about this; quickly give us your prayer and we shall cover our way. They girt themselves with their weapons

(d) [Tit 172] and mounted their horses and went like gold-winged hawks;

(e) [Tit 172] their horses seemed to fly beneath them. They reached the borders of the Saracen land;

(f²) [Tit 172] they came upon a Saracen standing guard.

(g) [Tit 172] And the brothers began to question him: Tell us, Saracen, how far to the abode of your Amir the tsar? But the Saracen drew his sword; he ran upon them boldly, thinking them deserters, not knowing their boldness.

(g) [Tit 172] And the youngest brother sprang, grasped the Saracen by the throat and dragged him to his brothers and wished to slay him. The eldest brother said to them: My dear brothers! Why should we defile our swords upon a Saracen? Let us defile them upon Amir the tsar himself, – he is guilty! This Saracen they tied [Tit 172v] to a tree on a mountain.

(10) [Tit 172v] And they themselves went their way

(11) [Tit 172v] and came upon many guards of Amir the tsar

(f) [Tit 172v] beyond a great river called Bagrjanica;

(11²) [Tit 172v] they were three thousand in number. The brothers saw the great guard of Amir the tsar and the eldest brother said: My brothers, it were well to ride together against the guards of Amir the tsar. But the middle brother said: My dear brothers, the guard of Amir the tsar is large; let us divide in three.

(11²) [Tit 172v] The eldest brother (went) on the right hand, the middle in the center, the youngest on the left hand; they sprang upon the men of Amir the tsar and began to strike them as good mowers mow grass: some they bound, some they slaughtered, and they drove them among them like good shepherds sheep. They chased them and killed them; only three men did they spare to lead them to Amir the tsar.

(g²) [Tit 172v] And they began to question them: Tell us, Saracens, does Amir the tsar dwell in your city or not?

(g²) [Tit 172v] The Saracens replied: Dear brothers, Amir [Tit 173] our tsar dwells outside the city; he dwells seven leagues from the city. He has many tents; one tent contains many thousands, strong and brave; one will attack a hundred. And the brothers said to the Saracens: If we feared not God, we should long ago have put you to death. But we ask you, that we may not be tempted. Tell us, what sort of tent has Amir the tsar?

(h=37²) [Tit 173] And the Saracens said: Amir the tsar has a dark-red tent, green at the base; the tent is plated with gold and silver and pearl, and adorned with precious stones. His brother has a dark-blue tent, green at the base; his tent is likewise adorned. Other tents there are, full many; in them reside warriors. They receive from the tsar each year a revenue of one thousand and of two, and are strong and brave; one will attack a hundred.

(i=45-48²) [Tit 173] The brothers let them go to Amir the tsar and said to them: Go, take word to Amir the tsar, lest Amir the tsar say, ’like robbers the brothers came and slew me’. The Saracens (were) glad to be let go, and went [Tit 173v] to take word to Amir the tsar.

(i=45-48²) [Tit 173v] And when Amir the tsar heard, he was afraid and said to his warriors: My dear brothers, strong warriors, I had this night a dream that three hawks were beating me with their wings: they all but laid wounds on my body: it means that the brothers have come and will begin to quarrel with me.

(i=45-48²) [Tit 173v] At that moment the brothers reached the tent of Amir the tsar and began to shout, calling out Amir the tsar:

(8) [Tit 173v] Tell us, Amir the tsar, have you not guards posted on the way? We reached the tent without any resistance. But now tell us – may the bear wound you – you came and have stolen away our little sister like a thief. If we had chanced at home, you could not have escaped (with) our little sister, but would have died a wretched death and all your land would be in thrall to us.

(9) [Tit 173v] Now tell us, where have you put our little sister?

(12) [Tit 173v] And Amir the tsar answered them:

(13) [Tit 173v] My dear brothers, you see that mountain, great and fair? There (were slain many honored) women and fair maidens. And there [Tit 174] was your sister slain because she had not done my will.

(14) [Tit 174] The brothers said: Dear brothers, let us go to that fair mountain and see the dead maiden: let us take her; then we shall deal with Amir the tsar. They mounted their horses and went up

(15) [Tit 174] and saw on the mountain many women and fair maidens slain.

(16) [Tit 174] They began to seek their sister

(18) [Tit 174] and found one maiden very fair and began to shed tears over her, believing she was their sister. But their youngest brother said: She is not our sister and not our kin.

(21) [Tit 174] The brothers mounted their horses and were loudly singing the angelic hymn to the Lord: Blessed be the Lord our God; teach our hands to battle, our fingers to struggle. Let us remember, brothers, the word of our mother: one day we were born, one day we too shall die; at the bidding of our mother let us lay down our heads for our little sister.

(i²) [Tit 174] And they charged the tent of Amir the tsar and lifted the tent on their lances, calling out Amir the tsar.

(j) [Tit 174] But Amir the tsar said to them: My dear [Tit 174v] brothers, get you gone from this tent and cast lots among you to see which one of you the lot calls to fight with me. If you overcome me, take your little sister. If I overcome you, it is my pleasure to slay all of you.

(j) [Tit 174v] And the brothers rode off from the tent and began to cast lots; they cast the first time and the lot called the youngest to go to battle. And the brothers cast lots a second time, but it was for the youngest to go. Because he is not strong, they cast a third time out of pity for their brother, but it came out for the youngest brother to go to battle. And the brothers said to the youngest brother: Since you came forth from our mother’s womb together with your little sister, you and your sister cannot be separated.

(2²) [Tit 174v] And the brothers began to arm the youngest brother. And where the brothers were standing, that place shines like the sun, but where Amir the tsar is arming, that place is dark as darkness.

(2) [Tit 174v] The brothers raise the angelic hymn to God: Sire, suffer not Thy [Tit 175] creature to be the sport of pagans, lest the pagans rejoice, having dishonored a Christian maiden.

(5) [Tit 175] And mounting their horses they came down, as did Amir the tsar. They began to hack with sabers and they smote one another with swords and with lances.

(4) [Tit 175] But when the Saracens and the many warriors saw this, the boldness of the youngest brother, they said to Amir the tsar: Great Lord, give them back their sister and make peace with them, for lo! their youngest brother has conquered your strength. If they join together, all our land will be in thrall to them.

(6) [Tit 175] The youngest brother, grasping his mace, came up behind Amir the tsar and smote him between the shoulders with the mace and knocked him off his horse and grasped him by the hair and dragged him to his brothers. All the Saracens said loudly to Amir the tsar: Give back, Lord and Tsar, their sister, lest they destroy you utterly.

(7) [Tit 175] And Amir the tsar said to them: Have mercy (on me), dear brothers;

(26²) [Tit 175] this day I shall receive holy baptism

(25) [Tit 175] for love of that maiden,

(26) [Tit 175] that I may be your [Tit 175v] brother-in-law.

(23) [Tit 175v] The brothers said: Brother, Amir the tsar, we have the power to slay you and we have the power to let you go. How can we give our sister to a slave? But now tell us, where is our sister?

(9²) [Tit 175v] And Amir the tsar said to them tearfully: Dear brothers! You see yon fair field? There stand many tents, and in them your sister resides.

(27) [Tit 175v] And wherever your sister walks, that place is strewn with golden coverlets, and her face is covered with a precious veil, while these her guards stand ever far from her tent. Hearing this the brothers were joyful and galloped to her tent. And they went to their sister and found her sitting on a golden chair, her face covered with a precious veil.

(29=25-26bis+32²) [Tit 175v] Her brothers began to ask tearfully: Tell us, our sister, of the boldness of Amir the tsar. If he has offended you with a single word, we shall cut off his head and carry it to the Greek land, that later he shall not boast, I defiled a Christian maiden.

(29=25-26bis+32²) [Tit 176] But the maiden said to her brothers: By no means, brothers, have any such thought in your mind. When I was stolen away by the hands of Amir the tsar (I) had twelve nurses. I told Amir the tsar of your boldness. And Amir the tsar always came to me once a month and looked upon me from afar. And he ordered his servants to cover my face and he would never enter the tent. Now I fear insult from the people and my kin because (I am) a captive.

(29=25-26bis+32²) [Tit 176] I wish to speak to you, my brothers, and first I wish to adjure you by the prayer of our mother that you fail not to hearken to my command. If only Amir the tsar will truly renounce his faith and this day receive holy baptism, you will call no other brother-in-law, since he is in glory glorious, in strength strong, and in riches rich. The brothers said to their sister: Our mother’s prayer has joined you to Amir the tsar.

(29=25-26bis+32²) [Tit 176] At that time Amir the tsar collected three hundred camels and loaded them with precious Arab gold and gave them to the brothers [Tit 176v] as gifts for love of the maiden. Amir the tsar said to the brothers: Have mercy on me, my dear brothers. I shall renounce my faith and this day receive holy baptism, that I may be your brother-in-law.

(29=25-26bis+32²) [Tit 176v] And the brothers said to Amir the tsar: If you would be our brother-in-law, truly renounce your faith for love of this maiden, receive holy baptism, and go with us to the Greek land with your beloved maiden.

(63) [Tit 176v] But Amir the tsar said: Dear brothers, I shall not surrender shamefully, lest the Greeks say, ’they bring their brother-in-law like a captive.’ I shall be called your brother-in-law; in great honor shall I come. I wish first to go and collect camels from all the land and load riches upon them. And I wish to assemble strong warriors, and whoever wishes to accept holy baptism with me,

(31) [Tit 176v] and I shall come to you in the Greek land and I shall be called your brother-in-law and I shall be glorious and rich. Do not weary your horses; wait for me on the road. And the brothers, taking their sister, went their way.

(64=[75]) [Tit 176v] Amir the tsar, going to his mother [Tit 177] and to his brothers,

(65=[75]) [Tit 177] began to speak to them with guile, that they might not restrain him. And he said to his mother: My dear mother, I went to the Greek land and captured for myself a beloved maiden. And her brothers came after me and began to fight with me. And one of them conquered my strength. If all three should join together, all our land would be in thrall to them.

(35²) [Tit 177] But his mother spoke to Amir the tsar angrily: (she began) to tear the hair from her head and (to tear) (her) face,

(37) [Tit 177] (and she said to him): Why are you called tsar and have strong warriors serving you; they receive a revenue of the thousand and of two thousand. Go, assemble a great force and go to the Greek land and conquer the brothers and bring the beloved maiden here.

(65bis=[75]) [Tit 177] And Amir the tsar said with guile to his mother: Mother, I wish to do the same: to assemble warriors and go to attack the Greek land. A brother of Amir the tsar said: Let us go, Amir the tsar, after we have quickly assembled a force, that we may keep the brothers from the city with the beloved maiden.

(65bis=[75]) [Tit 177] But Amir the tsar said to his brother: Sit on my throne; I wish to go alone to attack the Greek land. At that moment Amir the tsar sat [Tit 177v] his brother on his throne, while he himself assembled a great force and collected riches and camels from all that land, heaping precious Arab gold and costly stones upon them. The Saracens knew that men go not thus to battle but said nothing to him.

(68) [Tit 177v] When Amir the tsar reached (the border of the Greek land, Amir the tsar said) to the Arabs:

(69) [Tit 177v] My dear brothers, strong Arab warriors, who will go with me to attack the Greek land?

(70) [Tit 177v] There spoke from among them (one) Arab with twelve locks on his lips, and he said loudly to Amir the tsar: Great Lord, Amir Tsar, there came from the Greek land to our Saracen land three youths. One of them conquered your strength; if all three should join together, all our land would be in thrall. Now you wish to attack the Greek land: they will destroy all utterly. But Amir the tsar sent on ahead the camels loaded with riches, took with him a few of his warriors, and went to the Greek land.

(31²) [Tit 177v] The brothers came within fifty leagues of the Greek city [Tit 178] and halted. And their sister began to entreat them: My dear brothers, do not bring me into great shame before men and before my kindred because I was stolen away by Amir the tsar. Wait for your brother-in-law.

(31²) [Tit 178] After a little time the tsar Amir came up to them with all his riches and with the camels loaded with gold and silver. And Amir the tsar said to them: Glory to Thee, God, who hast been my benefactor. God hath found me worthy to look in the eyes of my brothers. And the brothers said to Amir the tsar: Slave of Christ, this very day be our brother-in-law.

(33) [Tit 178] Two of the brothers, the eldest and the middle, (with) their little sister went to the city at night because of the people and reached the house of their mother. When their mother saw her two sons and her daughter, she said to them tearfully: You have won your little sister but you have lost your brother. But her sons said: Rejoice, Mother, our youngest is together with our brother-in-law, with Amir the tsar. Now prepare a great wedding, since we have won a brother-in-law in glory glorious, and in strength strong and in riches rich; now we shall lead him to godly baptism.

(33) [Tit 178] And taking the patriarch of the city with all the clergy they went to the river Euphrates and built [Tit 178v] a font (and) a host of people came forth from the city. At that time Amir the tsar came to the river Euphrates, and when the brothers saw Amir the tsar harassed (by the people), taking Amir the tsar they quickly plunged him in godly baptism. And the patriarch himself baptized him: his godfather is the patriarch himself of the city. And they led him to the house of their mother and held a great wedding, very glorious, for three months. And then Amir the tsar built his own court and chambers and began to live with his wife.

(35) [Tit 178v] After a little time, when the mother of Amir the tsar heard that Amir the tsar had been baptized and had renounced his faith for love of the maiden, she began to tear the hair from her head

(40) [Tit 178v] and assembled the forces of the Saracen land and said to them: Who has the boldness to go to the Greek land (to your Lord, Amir the tsar, and bring him back from the Greek land with his beloved maiden? And three Saracens said to her: We shall go, Lady, to the Greek land) and bear (a letter) to Amir the tsar. She gave them much gold and silver,

(39) [Tit 178v] and gave them three horses: (a horse) called Windflower, a second, Thunder, a third, Lightning, and (said): If you are in the Greek land and see your lord, Amir the tsar, bring him forth from the Greek land and seat him on Windflower [Tit 179] and he will not be (harmed) by anyone. If you enter the Saracen land with your lord, Amir the tsar, and with the maiden, seat them on Thunder, and then all the Arabs of the Saracen land will hear. If you sit on Lightning, you will be in invisible in the Greek land.

(43) [Tit 179] The Saracens took the three horses and the letter to Amir the tsar and went (their) way. And they reached the Greek city and halted outside the city in a secret place and mounted Lightning and were invisible in the Greek land.

(45) [Tit 179] That night the queen, the fair wife (of Amir the tsar), had a dream and was afraid;

(46) [Tit 179] she told her brothers: My dear brothers, I had this night a dream; at a certain moment a gold-winged falcon flew into my chamber and took (me by the hand and) carried me out of my chamber. Then three ravens flew up and attacked (the falcon) and the falcon let me go.

(47) [Tit 179] The brothers assembled in the city all the seers and scribes and Pharisees and told of their sister’s dream. And they said to them:

(48) [Tit 179] Your brother-in-law, newly-baptized Amir the tsar, at his mother’s bidding wishes to steal our fair lady from her chamber and flee to the Saracen land with your beloved little sister.

(47²) [Tit 179] And the three ravens are Saracens, and they are in the city [Tit 179v] in a secret place; they have been sent after Amir the tsar with a letter from his mother.

(50) [Tit 179v] The brothers went to Amir the tsar and began to accuse him.

(52) [Tit 179v] But he swore by the Living God,

(48²) [Tit 179v] so they took Amir the tsar and (went with him outside the city with) the scribes and Pharisees and found the three Saracens outside the city: they seized (them) and began to question them. And they swore to them that Amir the tsar knew not of it.

(75) [Tit 179v] And they baptized them with godly baptism and they began to live at the abode of Amir the tsar. And taking their horses Amir the tsar bestowed them upon his brothers-in-law.

(33²) [Tit 179v] And then the scribes and Pharisees began to foretell the birth of Devgenij.

(33²) [Tit 179v] And then the queen of Amir the tsar took fruit of male sex in her womb,

(34) [Tit 179v] and bore a son and they gave him the name of Akrit and baptized him with godly baptism and at the baptism they gave him the name of Devgenij. And the patriarch himself baptized him with godly baptism; his godmother is the queen.

(ω) [Tit 179v] And Amir the tsar raised his son until he was ten years old.

Reconstruction (Slavic, c14)

[Pog 342v] A Tale of Bygone Times and Brave Men, about the Boldness and about the Bravery and about the Might of the Glorious Devgenij

(b) [Pog 343v] if your sister [Tit 172] you do not recover, do you thus lay down your heads for your little sister, and I (shall lament) all of you since I shall have no children.

(c) [Tit 172] Her sons said: Our mother, do not be distressed and do not worry about this; quickly give us your prayer and we shall cover our way. They girt themselves with their weapons,

(d) [Tit 172] and mounted their horses and went like gold-winged hawks;

(e) [Tit 172] their horses seemed to fly beneath them. They reached the borders of the Saracen land,

(f) [Tit 172v] beyond a great river called Bagrjanica;

(f²) [Tit 172] they came upon a Saracen standing guard.

(g²) [Tit 172v] And they began to question ~~them~~ him: Tell us, ~~Saracens~~ Saracen, does Amir the tsar dwell in your city or not?

(g²) [Tit 172v] The ~~Saracens~~ Saracen replied: Dear brothers, Amir [Tit 173] our tsar dwells outside the city; he dwells seven leagues from the city. He has many tents; one tent contains many thousands, strong and brave; one will attack a hundred. And the brothers said to the ~~Saracens~~ Saracen: If we feared not God, we should long ago have put you to death. But we ask you, that we may not be tempted. Tell us, what sort of tent has Amir the tsar?

(h=37²) [Tit 173] And the ~~Saracens~~ Saracen said: Amir the tsar has a dark-red tent, green at the base; the tent is plated with gold and silver and pearl, and adorned with precious stones. His brother has a dark-blue tent, green at the base; his tent is likewise adorned. Other tents there are, full many; in them reside warriors. They receive from the tsar each year a revenue of one thousand and of two, and are strong and brave; one will attack a hundred.

(i=45-48²) [Tit 173] The brothers let ~~them~~ him go to Amir the tsar and said to ~~them~~ him: Go, take word to Amir the tsar, lest Amir the tsar say, ’like robbers the brothers came and slew me’. The ~~Saracens (were)~~ Saracen (was) glad to be let go, and went [Tit 173v] to take word to Amir the tsar.

(i=45-48²) [Tit 173v] At that moment the brothers reached the tent of Amir the tsar and began to shout, calling out Amir the tsar;

(i²) [Tit 174] and they charged the tent of Amir the tsar and lifted the tent on their lances~~, calling out Amir the tsar~~.

(2) [Tit 174v] The brothers raise the angelic hymn to God: Sire, suffer not Thy [Tit 175] creature to be the sport of pagans, lest the pagans rejoice, having dishonored a Christian maiden.

(5) [Tit 175] And mounting ~~their horses they~~ his horse the youngest brother came down, as did Amir the tsar. They began to hack with sabers and they smote one another with swords and with lances.

(7) [Tit 175] And Amir the tsar said to them: Have mercy (on me), dear brothers.

(8) [Tit 173v] The brothers said: Tell us, Amir the tsar, ~~have you not guards posted on the way? We reached the tent without any resistance. But now tell us~~ – may the bear wound you – you came and have stolen away our little sister like a thief. If we had chanced at home, you could not have escaped (with) our little sister, but would have died a wretched death and all your land would be in thrall to us.

(9) [Tit 173v] Now tell us, where have you put our little sister?

(9²) [Tit 175v] And Amir the tsar said to them tearfully: Dear brothers! You see yon fair field? There stand many tents, and in them your sister resides.

(10) [Tit 172v] And they themselves went their way,

(11) [Tit 172v] and came upon many guards of Amir the tsar;

(12) [Tit 173v] And ~~Amir the tsar~~ the men answered them:

(14) [Tit 174] The brothers said: Dear brothers, let us go to that fair mountain and see the dead maiden: let us take her; then we shall deal with Amir the tsar. They mounted their horses and went up,

(15) [Tit 174] and saw on the mountain many women and fair maidens slain.

(16) [Tit 174] They began to seek their sister,

(18) [Tit 174] and found one maiden very fair and began to shed tears over her, believing she was their sister. But their youngest brother said: She is not our sister and not our kin.

(23) [Tit 175v] The brothers said: Brother, Amir the tsar, we have the power to slay you and we have the power to let you go. ~~How can we give our sister to a slave?~~ But now tell us, where is our sister?

(25) [Tit 175] And Amir the tsar said to them: For love of that maiden,

(26) [Tit 175] and that I may be your [Tit 175v] brother-in-law,

(26²) [Tit 175] this day I shall receive holy baptism.

(31) [Tit 176v] ~~and~~ But Amir the tsar said: I shall come to you in the Greek land and I shall be called your brother-in-law and I shall be glorious and rich. Do not weary your horses; wait for me on the road. And the brothers, taking their sister, went their way.

(33²) [Tit 179v] And then the scribes and Pharisees began to foretell the birth of Devgenij.

(33²) [Tit 179v] And ~~then~~ the queen of Amir the tsar took fruit of male sex in her womb,

(35²) [Tit 177] ~~But his mother spoke to Amir the tsar angrily: (she began) to tear the hair from her head and (to tear) (her) face,~~

(37) [Tit 177] (and she ~~said~~ wrote to him): Why are you called tsar and have strong warriors serving you; they receive a revenue of the thousand and of two thousand. Go Come, assemble a great force and go to the Greek land and conquer the brothers and bring the beloved maiden here.

(39) [Tit 178v] ~~and gave them~~ I have sent you three horses: (a horse) called Windflower, a second, Thunder, a third, Lightning~~, and (said)~~: if you are in the Greek land, ~~and see your lord, Amir the tsar, bring him forth from the Greek land and seat him~~ sit on Windflower [Tit 179] and he you will not be (harmed) by anyone. If you enter the Saracen land ~~with your lord, Amir the tsar, and~~ with the maiden, ~~seat them~~ sit on Thunder, and then all the Arabs of the Saracen land will hear. If you sit on Lightning, you will be in invisible in the Greek land.

(40) [Tit 178v] ~~and~~ She assembled the forces of the Saracen land and said to them: Who has the boldness to go to the Greek land (to your Lord, Amir the tsar, and bring him back from the Greek land with his beloved maiden? And three Saracens said to her: We shall go, Lady, to the Greek land) and bear (a letter) to Amir the tsar. She gave them much gold and silver.

(43) [Tit 179] The Saracens took the three horses and the letter to Amir the tsar and went (their) way. And they reached the Greek city and halted outside the city in a secret place ~~and mounted Lightning and were invisible in the Greek land~~.

(45) [Tit 179] That night the queen, the fair wife (of Amir the tsar), had a dream and was afraid;

(47) [Tit 179] The brothers assembled in the city all the seers and scribes and Pharisees and told of their sister’s dream. And they said to them:

(47²) [Tit 179] ~~And~~ The three ravens are Saracens, and they are in the city [Tit 179v] in a secret place; they have been sent after Amir the tsar with a letter from his mother.

(48²) [Tit 179v] So they ~~took Amir the tsar and~~ (went ~~with him~~ outside the city with) the scribes and Pharisees and found the three Saracens outside the city: they seized (them) and began to question them. And they swore to them that Amir the tsar knew not of it.

(50) [Tit 179v] The brothers went to Amir the tsar and began to accuse him.

(52) [Tit 179v] But he swore by the Living God,

(63) [Tit 176v] ~~But~~ and Amir the tsar said: Dear brothers, I shall not ~~surrender~~ return shamefully, lest the Greeks say, ’they ~~bring~~ meet their brother-in-law like a captive.’ I shall be called your brother-in-law; in great honor shall I come. I wish first to go and collect camels from all the Saracen land and load riches upon them. And I wish to assemble strong warriors, and whoever wishes to accept holy baptism ~~with me~~.

(64=[75]) [Tit 176v] Amir the tsar, going to his mother [Tit 177] and to his brothers,

(65bis=[75]) [Tit 177] And Amir the tsar said with guile to his mother: Mother, I wish ~~to do the same:~~ to assemble warriors and go to attack the Greek land. A brother of Amir the tsar said: Let us go, Amir the tsar, after we have quickly assembled a force, that we may keep the brothers from the city with the beloved maiden.

(68) [Tit 177v] When Amir the tsar reached (the border of the Greek land, Amir the tsar said) to the Arabs:

(69) [Tit 177v] My dear brothers, strong Arab warriors, who will go with me to attack the Greek land?

(75) [Tit 179v] And they baptized them with godly baptism and they began to live at the abode of Amir the tsar. And taking ~~their horses~~ the camels loaded with riches, Amir the tsar bestowed them upon his brothers-in-law.

(ω) [Tit 179v] And Amir the tsar raised his son until he was ten years old.

Core (Greek, c12)

(a) The mother tells her sons of their sister’s abduction at the hands of the Emir, and commands: [G1.65–74]

(b) Lay down your lives rather than fail to recover your sister. [G1.75–76]

(d) They mounted their horses and set off. [G1.86]

(e) The brothers reach the border of the Saracen land, [G1.88–89]

(f) a pass/river named Difficult/Purple; there they met a sentry/ies, [G1.90–91]

(g) and are led to/told of the Emir. [G1.92–93]

(h) The Emir’s throne/tent is decorated with gold, and surrounded by soldiers. [G1.94–96]

(i) The brothers communicate their message to the Emir. He tells them: [G1.99–116]

(j) If I defeat you, I will enslave/kill you; if you defeat me, take your sister. The brothers cast lots to fight the Emir: it fell to the youngest, the girl’s twin. They tell him: [G1.121–123, 129–132]

(1) Brother, don’t be frightened; think of your mother’s curse. [E1–2; G1.134–135, 138]

(2) The brothers call on God; arming of combatant(s) follows. The Emir rides out to battle, his appearance connected to the sun’s rays. [E8–16; G1.140–163]

(3) He wielded a blue gilded spear. [E17; G1.164]

(4) A retainer warns the Emir not to underestimate his opponent: [E21–27; G1.155–160]

(5) Don’t let him harm you! Entry of the opponent(s) and description of nature. [E29, 32, 38, 40; G1.189, 172, 180, 181]

(6) The retainers again give advice, and the Emir concedes defeat: [E46–51; G1.184–189]

(7) Young man, victory is yours. [E55; G196]

(8) The battle over, the brothers together address the Emir. [E56–57; G1.198–204]

(9) Give us our sister, as you promised. The Emir replied: Go search the tents of the army. [E59–63; G1.206, 208–209]

(10) If you find her, take her and go. As they go to the tents, [E64; G1.210–211]

(11) they met a Saracen. [E67; G1.216]

(12) Asked about the captured girl, he tells them: [E68–70; G1.217–222]

(13) Go to the high/low ground: there you’ll find a ditch where we killed some girls who wouldn’t do what we wanted. [E71–73; G1.223–225]

(14) The brothers follow these directions. [E74–78; G1.226]

(15) They found slaughtered girls, without limbs and heads. [E79–80; G1.227–228]

(16) They try to find their sister without success. [E82–85; G1.230]

(17) [repetition of E79=G1.227 at E87 only] [E87; G1.227]

(18) They put earth on their heads and lament: [E88–86; G1.231–252]

(19) Lord Sun, why have you done this? [E91, 94; G1.253–254]

(20) They bury the girls in a common grave. [E123–125; G1.255–258]

(21) Lamenting, they returned to the Emir. [E126; G1.257]

(22) [repetition of E59=G1.100 at E129 only] [E129; G1.100]

(23) The brothers threaten violence unless their sister is returned. The Emir inquires about their lineage and they recount it. The Emir replies:

(24) I descend from Aa(mb)ron and Karoi(li)s; no general can withstand me. [E145, 149; G1.285, 297]

(25) But now I am defeated by a girl’s beauty; and so: [G1.298]

(26) Accept me as your brother-in-law. I swear that I have not touched your sister. Come to my tent and find her. I will go with you and convert. [E162–164, 166, 177; G1.304, 306–309]

(27) The brothers go and find their sister in a luxurious tent, on a coverlet of/couch draped in gold. They say: [E180; G1.312]

(28) We thought you were dead! [E189; G1.323]

(29) The brothers embrace their sister.

(30) [repetition of kissing formula: cf. G4.190-191] [E195; G1.204]

(31) They all returned rejoicing to the Roman land.

(32) And it became renowned throughout the world, [E213; G1.335]

(33) that beauty could defeat a whole army. After the marriage is consummated,

(34) they bore Digenis Akritis (Twyborn the Borderer). [E219; G2.48]

(35) The Emir’s mother sent him a letter from Syria, full of lament and reproach: Beloved child, [E226–228; G2.50–53]

(36) You’ve shamed your family; don’t you remember the deeds of your (grand)father?

(37) How many Romans he killed and enslaved? And your uncle? [E255–256, 258, 261; G2.61–62, 75]

(38) And now you’ve thrown all this away for a pork-eater! If you want my blessing,

(39) I have sent you choice horses: mount the chestnut, (lead the black, let the bay follow) and no one will catch you. [E275, 279–281; G2.94–96]

(40) Bring the Roman girl if you like. Otherwise, [E282–283; G2.97]

(41) they will kill your children, [E286; G2.86]

(42) and your wives will be embraced by others. And I will curse you. [E287–291; G2.87–98]

(43) Messengers bring his mother’s letter and camp near the Emir’s estate. They urge him to leave with them. But he goes to the girl and tells her: [E292; G2.100]

(44) My mother has sent me a letter from Syria. [E307; G2.127]

(45) The girl’s youngest brother had a dream. [E318; G2.136]

(46) He tells his brother his dream of a gold-winged falcon pursuing a dove. [E320–325; G135–146]

(47) The brother interpreted: Hawks stand for abductors, [E326–327; G2.147–148]

(48) the falcon is our brother-in-law, and the dove is our sister. They go to the camp and confront the messengers:

(49) Welcome, our brother-in-law’s youngsters! [E335; G2.156]

(50) Why camp here and not come to the house? They go to the Emir and threaten him:

(51) Leave our sister, renounce your son. [E346; G2.168]

(52) Take your property and go back to Syria. The Emir is upset and reproaches his wife:

(53) Don’t you remember how it was at the beginning? [E355; G2.187]

(54) I took you as a slave,

(55) and now I am your slave. [E357; G2.189]

(56) Now your brothers intend to kill me.

(57) I shall draw my sword and kill myself, [E367; G2.196]

(58) and the Roman nobles will reproach you.

(59) The girl protests her innocence and goes to her brothers: Why do you attack the Emir, who is innocent?

(60) He is delerious from grief! [E395; G2.218]

(61) He gave up his faith and family for me,

(62) and came to Roman territory for my sake. He fears his mother’s curse just like you did. [E399, 404, 406; G2.228, 231]

(63) The brothers are moved. You are our life and soul, they say; if the Emir wants to go,

(64) to see his mother and return, [E411; G2.184]

(65) he has our blessing. They go to the Emir and ask forgiveness. He swears to be faithful, and readies for his trip. Before leaving he goes to the girl.

(66) His tears fell like showers, [E468; G2.267]

(67) and he asks for her ring. She gives it to him as a reminder of their vows. He mounts his horse, and his in-laws see him off.

(68) Starting out, the Emir makes a speech to his retainers:

(69) Youngsters, be strong, and struggle against the elements, [E487, 490; G3.22, 3.24]

(70) so that I may return quickly. And they set out. [E494; G3.47]

(71) The Emir recounts his exploits to his retainers. He kills a lion and asks them to send its (hide,) teeth and claws to his son.

(72) And when they had made their way to Raqqa(b), [E327; G3.111]

(73) they camp outside and are greeted by the Emir’s mother:

(74) My sweetest child, light of my eyes! [E539–540; G3.132]

(75) The Emir persuades his mother and her retainers to return with him and convert. On his return he embraces his wife and baptizes those who have come with him. [E583, 608; G3.279–281, 329–333]

<oo>→<da>→<le> Digenis Akritis: Lay of the Emir

Epitome (Russian, c17)

Reconstruction (Slavic, c14)

Core (Greek, c12)