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And give them three tovars of gold:
Set free also old Toplica[1],
And give him three tovars of gold[2],
For much time hath that knight lost yonder:
And give me three tovars of gold,250
Because I have laid much labour on my Sharatz.
And if there be aught else, Lady,
Thou hast there Miloš of Pocerje,
Thou mayst accord thee with him."
The letter went to Varadin castle.
When it came to the General's wife,
She read the letter,
And sent the gold to Marko of Prilep;
Then she took the keys of the dungeon,
And opened the accursed dungeon, 260
And let out the three young Vojvodas,
And with them the aged Toplica;
She led them to the white tower,
And she let call skilful barbers;
The first washed, the second shaved them,
And the third cut their nails.
She brought them wine and rakia.
And fine meats of every sort.
She told them what Marko had done,
And to Vojvoda Miloš she said: 270
"Brother-in-God, Vojvoda Miloš,
Set free my lord,
And my son Velimir!"
Miloš of Pocerje answered her:
"Lady, have no fear.
Give me Vuča's black horse
- ↑ И пусти мн старога Топлиԥу. "Old Toplica" is here referred to for the first time. In a footnote, however, Vuk remarks that there is a variant which says that the father of Toplica Milan was imprisoned in Varadin. In order to set him free the three heroes broke into the stronghold but were themselves seized by Vuča.
- ↑ Tovar = the load carried by a pack-horse. I have sometimes translated this word by "a charge."
