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Grigor Prlichev
The Macedonian writer Grigor S. Prlichev was born in 1830 and died
in 1893 in Ohrid. In Athens in 1860, he won the highest prize for litera-
ture - The Laurel Wreath, for his epic poem "The Sirdar", and was praised as
the Second Homer. The story is based on old Macedonian folk tales
which honoured Kuzman - the Sirdar, as the leader of patriotic combat group
and brave guardian of Christian people against the Albanian gangs.
Serdarot
I.
From Galichnik to Reka sighs and shrieks of sorrow rise;
What dire disaster hounds The men and women thus to
waken Echo with their cries? What new-found ill abounds?
Have the hailstorm's sharp stones shattered the fields of
standing wheat? Have locusts stripped the fields? Has the
Sultan sent hard-hearted taxmen early for receipt Of their
most bitter yield?
No, the sharp stones have not shattered the fields of
standing wheat; Nor locusts stripped the fields; Nor the
Sultan sent hard-hearted taxmen early for receipt Of their
most bitter yield.
Fallen is the mighty Kuzman at the wild Geg's hands; The
sturdy Sirdar's slain. Now brigands bold will hold our
mountains, ravaging our lands, And none shall bar their way.
Peasants, Demeter's attendants, spread the dreadful word,
The word of dire despair; And wailing loud and moaning low
in horror when they heard, The women tore their hair.
It rose and swelled and, growing great, flew fast among
the folk, Like Boreas, swift of wing, In every village, every
home the fearful whispers spoke That word of woeful ring.
Amongst the widows and the salt tears in tribute flood,
Among the maidens too; Like man who have been struck by
lightning all the peasants stood Who heard the mournful news.
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