# Asanaginica

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Asanaginica, or Hasanaginica, "The Mourning Song of the Noble Wife of the Asan Aga" is a South Slavic folk ballad, originating during the period of 1646-49 in the region of Imotski (present day Croatia), which at the time was a part of the Province of Bosnia. It is arguably the most beautiful and the most translated South Slavic ballad. It deals with the noble Bosniak family Arapovic and is written in the ten-syllable heroic epic line, describing the grief of Hasan Aga's wife for her kids. Translation from Serbian Folk Songs (1916)
| Original | English translation |
| Što se bijeli u gori zelenoj? Al' su snijezi, al' su labudovi? Da su snijezi, već bi okopnuli labudovi već bi poletjeli. Nit' su snijezi, nit' su labudovi nego čador age Hasan age. On boluje u ranama ljutim. Oblazi ga mater i sestrica a ljubovca od stida ne mogla. Kad li mu je ranam bolje bilo on poruča vjernoj ljubi svojoj: "Ne čekaj me u dvoru bijelomu. ni u dvoru, ni u rodu momu!" Kad kaduna riječi razumjela još je jadna u toj misli stala jeka stade konja oko dvora; i pobježe Hasanaginica da vrat lomi kule niz pendžere. Za njom trču dvije ćeri djevojke: "Vrati nam se, mila majko naša nije ovo babo Hasan-aga već daidža Pintorović-beže!" I vrati se Hasan-aginica ter se vješa bratu oko vrata. "Da, moj brate, velike sramote gdi me šalje od petero dice!" Beže muči, ne govori ništa već se maša u džepe svione i vadi njoj knjigu oprošćenja da uzimlje potpuno vjenčanje da gre s njime majci uzatrage. Kad kaduna knjigu proučila dva je sina u čelo ljubila a dvije ćere u rumena lica a s malahnim u bešici sinkom odijelit se nikako ne mogla već je bratac za ruke uzeo i jedva je s sinkom rastavio ter je meća k sebi na konjica s njome grede dvoru bijelome. U rodu je malo vrijeme stala malo vrijeme ni nedjelju dana dobra kada i od roda dobra dobru kadu prose sa svih strana a najveće imotski kadija. Kaduna se bratu svome moli: "Aj, tako te ne želila, braco nemoj mene davat za nikoga da ne puca jadno srce moje gledajući sirotice svoje!" Ali beže ne hajaše ništa već nju daje imotskom kadiji. Još kaduna bratu se moljaše da njoj piše listak bijele knjige da je šalje imotskom kadiji: "Djevojka te lijepo pozdravljaše a u knjizi lijepo te moljaše kad pokupiš gospodu svatove dug potkljuvac nosi na djevojku kada bude agi mimo dvora nek ne vidi sirotice svoje." Kad kadiji bijela knjiga dođe gospodu je svate pokupio svate kupi, grede po djevojku. Dobro svati došli do djevojke i zdravo se povratili s njome. A kad bili agi mimo dvora dvije je ćerce s pendžera gledahu a dva sina prid nju ishođahu tere svojoj majci govorahu: "Vrati nam se, mila majko naša da mi tebi užinati damo!" Kad to čula Hasanaginica starješini svatov govorila: "Bogom brate, svatov starješina ustavi mi konje uza dvora da darujem sirotice moje." Ustaviše konje uza dvora. svoju dicu lijepo darovala: svakom sinku nože pozlaćene svakoj ćeri čohu do poljane a malome u bešici sinku njemu šalje uboške haljine. A to gleda junak Hasan ago ter dozivlje do dva sina svoja: "Hod'te amo, sirotice moje kad se neće smilovati na vas majka vaša, srca arđaskoga!" Kad to čula Hasanaginica bijelim licem u zemlju udrila, uput se je s dušom rastavila od žalosti gledajuć sirota. | What's so white upon yon verdant forest? Snow perhaps it is or swans assembled? Snow would surely long ago have melted. And a flight of swans would have departed. No! not swans, not snow it is you see there, 'Tis the tent of Aga, Hasan Aga; On his couch he lies, severely wounded. And his mother seeks him, and his sister, But for very shame his wife is absent. When the misery of his wounds was softened, Hasan thus his faithful wife commanded: "In my house thou shalt abide no longer— Thou shalt dwell no more among my kindred." When his wife had heard this awful sentence, Numbed with dread she stood and full of sorrow. When outside she heard the tramp of horses, To the highest window of the tower Rushed the faithful Hasanaginica, Would have thrown herself into the courtyard, But her two beloved daughters followed. Crying after her in tearful anguish— "Do come back to us, oh, mother, mother! These are not our father Hasan's coursers, 'Tis our uncle Pintorovich coming." Then, returning, Hasanaginica Threw her arms in misery round her brother— "See the sorrow, brother, of thy sister: He would tear me from my helpless children." He was silent—but from out his pocket. Safely wrapped in silk of deepest scarlet. Letters of divorce he drew, and bid her Seek again her aged mother's dwelling— Free to win and wed another husband. When she saw the letter of divorcement, Parting-kisses on her two boys' foreheads, On her girls' red cheeks she pressed in sorrow. But she could not tear herself from baby Crowing at his mother from the cradle. But at last her brother with an effort Tore the mother from her tender infant, Put her close behind him on his courser. Hastened with her to the white-hued homestead. But a short while dwelt she with her people— Not a single week had been completed, When a host of suitors wooed the lady Of a noble family the flower; One of them Imoski's mighty Cadi. Said the noble lady, trembling greatly, "I entreat thee, I implore thee, brother, Do not give me to another husband. For the sight of my poor orphan'd children Sure would break the spirit of thy sister!" Little cared her brother for her sorrows; He had sworn she should espouse the Cadi. Then his sister asked of him a favour: "Write on snow-white paper, O, my brother. To the Cadi as a bridal message, 'Friendly greetings from the youthful woman. And she begs thee bring her as a present. When thy wedding-guests and thou art coming Hither to her peoples' white-hued homestead, Such a long and flowing veil that passing Aga's home she need not see her orphans.' When the snow-white letter reached the Cadi, All his wedding-guests he called together, And set out with them for his betrothed, Future mistress of his white-hued homestead. Safely reached he with his friends her dwelling; Happily were all returning homeward, But when they were passing Aga's homestead. Her two daughters saw her from the window. Her two sons came out, and from the portal Called to her, "Come hither! O, come hither! Take thy night's repast with thine own children!" Sadly Hasanaginica heard them; And she said to him who led the party, "I should be most grateful to you, captain. If you kindly halted the procession While I give some presents to the children." So they stopped at the beloved portal. Presents gave she unto all the children. To the boys, high boots with gold embroidered; To the girls, long and resplendent dresses; And a silken garment to her baby.— Near them sat their father, Hasan Aga, And he called in sorrow to his children, "Come to me, poor children! to your father. From your mother do not hope for pity. Callous is she, cold and stony-hearted." Hasanaginica, when she heard this. On the ground she fell all pale and trembling. And her spirit left its earthly prison At the glances of her orphan children. |
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