The Life and Deeds of the Ever-Remembered Despot Stefan

Valiantly he fell upon them /upon the Turks/, and they, when they beheld him, cried out: "Look, look, Lazar's son!" After those words they took to flight. And this one (the Despot) bloodied his right hand, taking vengeance on his enemies, so that it could then be said in the words of the prophet: "Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble."79From that time (Stefan) was fear and trembling to them. The younger brother (of Stefan) (Vuk) went against his nephew (Đurađ Branković), and the Christian army, (having) routed him, pursued him. With Đurađ, his nephew, who later became Despot of all the Serbian land, there was a certain Ishmaelite nobleman, a mighty voivode who watched over (Đurađ's) loyalty to the emperor. With the Ishmaelites at that time was also Caesar Uglješa; he rendered a great service (by sending) embassies to the most pious (Stefan) from among these (Turks), reporting on their decisions and intentions. Soon he himself also fled over under the wings of Despot Stefan and took over his land, (his) native region: Vranje and Inogošt; and he received and held Preševo as well. He became as a kind of wing (that is, a shelter) to the Christians.

46. After the great battle at Gračanica both brothers came to their city of Novo Brdo, a city truly of silver and of gold. This one /Stefan/ as the victor, and that one /Vuk/ as the vanquished. And the most pious (Stefan), wishing to instruct this one (his brother) in the art of war, and grieving still over the death of his soldiers, addressed some harsh words to him. (Vuk) waited a little, and having awaited a fitting time, fled over to Süleyman. Their all-chosen mother (Milica) hastened (after him) even into the Ishmaelite regions and did not succeed in overtaking him at a fitting place, but neither could she return from the Ishmaelite lands. Therefore she went to Süleyman and (succeeded) in reconciling him with the most pious (Stefan), and then she returned (to her land).

47. Who shall describe the unspeakable joy when the land, truly made desolate, once more received such a shepherd! Having come to his fatherland like Koil, (who), coming out of dense forests, comes terrible, belching fire (and) terrifying (both) those near and those far; having come out (thus) and gone about (the land), he thundered and flashed like lightning, confounding the disobedient (entangled) in many tumults. Every dishonor was destroyed and (all) were struck with fear; hands were cut off from those who did injustice and spread evil. And justice blossomed and brought forth its fruit. The swift did not pursue the slow, nor the rich the poor; the stronger did not seize the land of (his) neighbors, nor did the mighty draw the sword; the blood of the righteous was not shed, nor were evil and senseless words (uttered); (there was no) slandering of officials, nor (was) contempt (shown) toward glorious (men) of high rank, nor anything like unto this. And how many he pacified on the counsel of the emperor (Bayezid)! If anyone had lost anything through his faithlessness, whether he had served badly or something like (that), and had become poor, he set them in the highest positions and honored them, even if they were poor - (he ordered) that what had remained to them from father, grandfather or great-grandfather should not be taken from them. (Mindful) of the destinies of divine (men), he said of those who had sinned that they should not be punished twice. Him who had not sinned he loved and honored in the manner of Solomon, as (he did) the beggar too. At once, from the beginning, so to speak, he planted his most beautiful garden: some (he set) to