Molitva suprotiva Turkom - A Prayer Against the Turks

Molitva suprotiva Turkom

autor: Marko Marulić           

https://books.google.ca/books?id=sHdcAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA244

Background

In 1463 the Kingdom of Bosnia fell under Ottoman control.  The Ottomans quickly expanded westward, threatening the southern and central parts of the Kingdom of Croatia. Military-economic warfare by Ottoman Akinci (irregular cavalry) raiding into Croatian lands forced peasants to flee leaving frontier fortresses without supplies. In occupied territories under the practice devsirme (blood tax), sons are taken as slaves of the sultan and turned into Janissaries and converted to Islam.

After numerous Ottoman raids in 1493 the Croatians decided to fight back and mobilized an army, unfortunately with many poorly trained peasants.  The Croatian forces were initially successful but got lured into an ambush where most were slaughtered.  many Croaian nobles were lost including Petar II Zrinski, grandfather of Nikola IV Zrinski.  Krbava field became known as the "Field of Blood" due to the heavy losses. This was the start of the Hundred Years' Croatian–Ottoman War 1493 to 1593

It was under these circumstances that Marko Marulic wrote the following prayer.

Note: This is my first draft translation from old Croatian.
If anyone has ideas for improvements, let me know.

1

Svemogući Bože moj, kim svaka postaju,

My Almighty God, creator of all things,

            Odvrati jur gnjiv tvoj, ter pomiluj naju.

Set aside your anger and have mercy on us,

Ostavi zlu volju, pozri na virni puk,

Abandon your vengeance, see your faithful people,

            Gdi tarpi nevolju svak´ čas od turskih ruk.

Who suffer miserably every day at Turkish hands.

Luge, sela, grade popliniv s´ žegoše,

Forests, villages, towns, all plundered and burned,

            Muže, žene, mlade svezav povedoše.

Men, women, children, all taken away. 

Ubiše junake koji se arvihu,

They kill our heroes that fight,

            A ine nejake u sinžir vedihu.

And the weak they take in chains

Sinke porobiše od krila materam,

Sons they take (enslave) from mothers' laps,

            I jošće činiše njih vašćine kćeram.

            And dishonorable things do to their daughters;

11

Daleč rastavljaju od draga miloga,

They separate the beloved from their darlings (cherished),

            Tih tamo prodaju, a simo inoga.

To sell them there, and bring others here.

Evo još oltari tvoji raskidaju,

Behold, your altars they destroy,

            I sve svete stvari tlačiti ne haju.

            And all holy things step on without a care.

U temple se svete konje uvajaju,

Into your holy temples they bring their horses,

            Prilike propete pod noge metaju.

Pious artifactss they trample underfoot.

Svite, u kih tebi služba se činjaše,

Priestly vestments, used for divine service,

            Raskrajati sebi u kovadih jaše.

            They refashion for themselves into kaftans.

Pehare kovaše od kaležev tvojih,

Cups they make of your chalices,

            I još pokovaše pase sabalj svojih.

And priests belts they use for their swords.

21

Oto, ča je gore, divstvo oskvarniše

Then, even worse, they defile the innocent

            Divic, ke pokore čineći, služiše;

            Nuns (virgins) who served you in penance;

Ter dicu neumiću obrizav, tiskoše

Your weak children they circumcise, they condemn

            U veću nesriću ner kih posikoše!

Into greater misfortune than slaughtering them!

Eto jur potarvši mnoge gospode stan,

They destroyed the homes of many gentlemen,

            Hite ne ustarpši ostalih dati van.

With such haste not allowing everyone to escape.

Sve dni ter sve noći nigdir ne sustaju,

All day and all night they do not stop,

            Nastojeć primoći karstjan ki ostaju.

Continue to defeat the Christians that remain.

Tako je sila njih jure objačala,

The power of their attacks grow so strong,

            Da moći ni u svih ka bi jim pram stala.

That it has become impossible to stop them.

31

Nastupaju na nas, a nas je strah ubil;

They attack (crush) us, and terror killed us;

            Jur puk tvoj gine vas, a ti si odstupil.

            Your people perish, and you abandon us.

Oni nas tiraju, vežu, biju, deru,

They chase us, chain us, beat us, tear us apart,

            Za te se ne haju, ni za tvoju veru,

            They no respect for you, nor your faith,

Složiti pod noge ku su odlučili;

Trample underfoot anyone they choose;

            Moćju sile mnoge svih su jur sključili.

            With great power they have oppressed everyone.

Li kako no plami, kad pada u gori,

As when fires burn in the mountains,

            Ostane carn kami i brez listja bori,

Only black stones and pines without needles remain,

Inako t´ ne ostaju gradi tere mista,

Thus become your towns and places,

            Kano opušćaju, plinujuć sva lita.

After leaving, return to plunder each year.

41

Boj su bili š njimi Harvati, Bošnjaci,

Into battle against them went Croats and Bosniaks,

            Garci ter Latini, Sarbli ter Poljaci.

Greeks and Romans, Serbs and Poles

Eto još boj biju nici, a nikih ni,

Behold into battle some go, some exist no more,

            A druzi ne smiju, jer jim si gnjivan ti;

Others can't because your anger is on them;

Rit se ča bo prudi, al vojske kupiti,

What is the purpose of assembling armies for battle,

            Ako, ki svih sudi, neće se smiliti.

            If, he who judges, feels no empathy[1].

A ti, Gospodine, grihe jur otpusti,

And you, my Lord, our sins finally forgive,

            Da puk tvoj ne zgine, jur milost na nj spusti.

            So your people are not lost, your mercy give to them.

Rači se smiliti, slomi mač poganski,

Be merciful, break the pagan sword,

            Ne daj pogubiti ostatak karstjanski.

Do not allow to perish what remains of Christianity.

51

Evo smo rojen´je, da ti s´ naš spasitelj;

We are children of Eve, that you may be our Savior,

            Proda nas zgrišen´je, da ti s´ otkupitelj.

            Sinners, we surrender, that you may redeem us.

Dostojno jest da mi za grih zla patimo,

It's just that for our sins we suffer,

            Da milosrdan si ti, za to te molimo:

            That you be merciful, is why we pray to you:

"E Bože, odnesi jur taj bič od naju,

"O God, remove finally this scourge from us,

            A na njih nadnesi kino te ne znaju."

            And put in on them who do not believe in you."

Tebi vapijemo, tužeći u plaču:

We beseech (implore) you, begging in tears:

            "Tvoji smo, a ginemo, pogani nas tlaču."

"We are yours, but we perish, the pagans oppress us."

Radi su svih požrit, nigdar karvi siti;

They desire to devour everything, never satiated with blood,

            Sve će, diju, podrit, a puk tvoj pobiti.

            Everything they will tear down, and your people massacre.

61

Ispunit toj hteći, nigdar ne pristaju,

To fulfill their desires, they never cease,

            Jednih zavodeći, druzih pobijaju.

            Some they take, others they kill,

Bijući primaju kašteli, gradove,

By attacks they take fortresses and cities,

            Tako t´ sve obladaju priljuti lavove.

They conquer everything like ferocious lions.

Uteći prid njih zlom jur nimamo kuda,

We flee from their evil but we have no escape,

            Ner pod tvojim krilom ki kraljuješ svuda.

            But under your wing, you who rule everywhere,

Lahko sve njih sile ti moreš ustavit,

Easily all their might you can stop

            Ke su odlučile s tobom nas rastavit.

   Those who decided to separate us from you.

Ako s nami stati budeš, Gospodine,

If you will stand with us, my Lord,

            Hoće se odarvati narod ki sad gine;

   Saved will be the people who now perish; 

71

Ter će vazet smionost, udrivši potirat,

They will have courage, to drive them out by force,

            Ako tvoja kripost bude nas podpirat.

   If your power will strengthen us.

Jur dovolje budi, jur budi dovolje,

It is enough finally, it is finally enough,[2]

            Slobodi tve ljudi od toke nevolje.

Free your people from this misery.

Oto vidimo mi da svih karstjani moć

Clearly we see that the power of all Christians

            Biti se uzmožna ni, nimajuć tvu pomoć.

Will not be capable, without your help. 

Narodi prijaki izgubiše jakost,

Strong nations have lost their strength,

            Jere u boj taki nimaše tvu milost.

Because in battle they did not have your blessing.

Eto bile polja od kosti vitezov,

The fields were full of bones of heroes,

            Kimno nije broja, i vojvod i knezov;

   Innumerable, including warlords and princes;

81

I ki s malo ljudih razbijahu mnoštvo

Those who with few people defeated the multitude

            Buslomansko svudi, zgubiše hrabarstvo;

of Muslims everywhere, lost courage;

Ne mogoše branit listo daržavu svu,

Can't now defend his own country,

            Ni sebe još shranit, uzmak ti ruku tvu.

Nor defend himself, without the help of your hand. 

Jer ti buduć sardit za grihe naše nam,

Because if you are angry due to our sins,

            Tko će moć osidit u grad, ter stati pram?

Who can remain in their town, and stand strong?

Mači ne valjaju, ni šćit s oklopljami,

Swords are not useful, nor are shields with armor,

            Ni ki upravljaju strilom, ter puškami;

            Nor are archers or those with muskets;

Jake konje toko ter kopja napravit

Nor strong horses, with strong lances.

            Na nas buduć gnjiv tvoj, ča ćemo opravit?

            When your wrath is on us, what can we do?

91

Kako poni za grih puk tvoj je za zginut,

How they suffer, for their sins, your people will perish,

            Tako ne zgubi svih milosardjem prignut;

Do not let them all perish, be merciful;

Ostavi sarditost tere se jur smili,

Leave your anger and have mercy on us,

            Učini nam milost, k tebi smo pribigli.

Be merciful to us, in you we take refuge.

Rasarjen činjaše da tvojega puka

Angered, you allowed your people

            Pod oblast stavljaše patarinska ruka;

            be put under control of Patarin (heretic) hands;

Umiljen puk paka tebe uzmoljaše,

Your humble people still pray to you,

            I tva desna jaka njih oslobojaše.

            And your powerful right hand can free them.

Molimo se sad mi, bijeni turskom silom,

Now we pray, beaten by Turkish might,

            Da nas jur otmeš ti jakosti tve dilom.

That you recue us with your able might.

101

Ne htij već odiljat; čini da poznaju,

Do not go away; make them understand

            Da grih naš pobijat ja, ne oni naju.

            It is our sin that kills us, not them, but us.

Onako ukaž´ njim moć i jakost tvoju,

Show them your strength and might,

            Kakono i onim ki skupiv moć svoju,

            As you did to those that gathered their might,

S koli ter s vojskami za pukom udriše

With chariots and armies struck your people

            Putem med vodami, ter se potopiše.

            Chase them into waters where they drowned. 

Tako, kako ukaza sionikom onim,

In that way, as you showed to soldiers, 

            Kih oganj nakaza i da jim smart sasvim;

            Whose fire punished, and who killed all:

Rasarjen ti, platit hoti njih s uzroka,

Angry you, wanted them to pay

            Jer htihu uhvatit Iliju proroka.

 When they sought to seize the prophet Elijah;

111

Onako još kako ukazal jes´ onim,

Show again, as you showed to those, 

            Ki sedoše jako pod gradom Dotajim,

Who strongly besieged the city of Dothan,

Radi tu uhvatit Elizeju tvoga,

Desiring to seize your Elisha,

            I ne jaše vidit s uzroka takoga.

And lost their sight as a result.

Ukaž´, Gospodine, kako s´ ukazao

Show them, my Lord, as you showed

            Asirske jačine kada s´ nakazao;

            The Assyrian horde you punished;

Mnoštvo kad veliko s vojvodom oholim

A great multitude under an arrogant general,

            Došad, svekoliko sta pod Jerozolim.

            that came and besieged Jerusalem,

Tej sile i tu moć razbil tada tko bi,

That force and might, who could destroy it,

            Ner on ki jednu noć toko tisuć pobi?

            But He who in one night killed thousands?

121

Ukaž´ još, Bože moj, kakono i tada,

Show again, my God, as you did,

            Kad Ksara kralj u boj vojask vodi stada,

            When King Zara into battle led his army,

Rat čineć puku tvom, puku Izraila,

To make war against your people, the people of Israel,

            S oružjem i s mnoštvom sminim u taj dila.

            With weapons and much audacity in his actions,

Kih deset sto tisuć, trista koles biše,

Who with a million, with 300 chariots went,

            Posla ti strah moguć i pleći obratiše.

            You sent them strong fear and in terror they fled. 

Ozrit se ne smiše, a sam kralj za njimi,

They dared not turn around, and the king with them,

            S kim jih malo biše, sikuć proti svimi.

            With whom there were few; all cut into pieces.

Ruke tve još kripost nevirnu narodu 
The strength of your hands to the pagan nations

            Ukaži tva milost, ki nam čini škodu:

            Show with your mercy, to those who do us harm,

   131

 Ukazao s´ kako kad sile prez broja

You showed it when innumerable forces

            Ročiše se tako vazet mista tvoja;

            Decided to seize your places,

Mista izraelska pred sobom podbiti,

Israeli places in front of themselves conquered,

            Vojska idumejska i s njom Moabiti.

The Edomite army and with them Moabites,

S njom još Amoniti, ki totu skupiv se,

With them the Ammonites, who met them there,

            Ne jaše grad riti, mev sobom svadiv se.

            Did not attack the city, but argued among themselves.

Ubijeni legoše, svojih svoji bijući,

The dead lay on the ground, having slain their own,

            I tad izlizoše grajani tekući;

            Then the citizens (Hebrews) ran out,

Arvanje ne činiv, okol razgrabiše,

Without fighting, took everything around,

            I blago popliniv, hiše napuniše.

With plundered treasures, filled their houses.

141

Pokaž, Gospodine, da kako saržba tva

Show us, my Lord, how your wrath

            Za naše krivine nas u nevolju da,

            For our sins sends us into misery,

Onako smiljen´jem da nas mož´ obranit,

Once soothed you may defend us,

            Tere s utišen´jem slobod nam povratit;

With consolation our liberty will be restored;

Turke sve podvratit za blud njih nevere,

Ruin all the Turks for the sin of their infidelity,

            Njih silu pokratit ka nas koljuć dere.

Reduce their power that tears us apart.

Evo plačne k tebi majke tužne hode,

Behold, grieving mothers, walk to you in tears,

            Da ne plode sebi, jer njih plod odvode.

Asking not to have children, because their children are taken away.

Niki su prognani iz bašćine svoje,

Some are driven off their ancestral land,

            A niki pogani u sužanstvo stoje.

            While others taken into slavery.

151

Taj plače dičicu, taj muža, taj žene,

One cries for children, one for her husband, one for his wife.

            Plače brat sestricu, a sestra bratca nje.

            A brother mourns his sister,  a sister mourns a brother. 

Jur dopre do tebe vapaj i suze njih,

May their cries and tears finally reach you:

            Ne daj da povede nemiran Turak svih.

Do not allow the restless Turk to destroy all.

A ti, ki s´ propeti Bog, Gospodin naju,

You, who are the crucified God, our Lord in Heaven,

            Nam si dal Karst Sveti, ne ki te ne znaju:

To us you gave the Holy Cross, not to those who don't know you:

Iznesi od bluda nas, tere od djavljih ruk,

Deliver us from sin and from the devil’s hands;

            Na križ pridav uda, otkupi viran puk.

            On the cross your limbs nailed, to redeem your faithful people.

Ne daj da nas dave pogani nogami,

Do not let the pagans choke us with their feet.

            Ali da nas strave, sikući sabljami.

            Nor terrify us and cut us with their swords;

161

Fruštan´ja taj i boj od nas jur odvrati,

Take this scourge and war away from us,

            Ter silu, koj ni broj, nevirnikom skrati.

            and reduce this innumerable infidel force.

I ti, Gospo mila, moli sinka za nas,

You, dear Lady, pray to your Son for us,

            Koga si rodila, ne zgubiv divstva glas;

            Who you gave birth to, without losing virgin honor;

Ne pristan moleći za sve Duhe Svete,

Do not stop praying for all the holy souls,

            Da Bog nas mileći odbije proklete,

            May God, having pity on us, repel the accursed

i tvardost pribije priljutih sardac njih,

And break the hardness of their angry hearts,

            Ali jih pobije da ne ginemo s njih.

            Or kill them, so we do not perish by them.

Ti nas, Gospe, brani pridav sinku tvomu,

O Lady, defend us before your Son,

            U vas smo ufani, a ne u inomu;

            In you we have faith, and in no one else;

171

A paka odbivši od nas nevirnike,

Then, having repelled from us the unbelievers (ungodly),

            Gori nas primivši, spasite u vike.

            Welcome us to heaven, save us for eternity.

Amen.

In the original poem in Croatian, the following acrostic (hidden message) is found by putting together the first letter of each odd numbered line:

Solus deus potes nos liberare de tribulatione
inimicorum Turcorum sua potentia infinita.

Only God with his infinite might can save us
from the misery of our enemies the Turks.

The acrostic was discovered by Luko Paljetak.

---

[1] Has no mercy, pity

[2] or Let it finally be enough, it is enough at last .