Tales of Long Ago, chapter 3 · Croatian

Regoč

Regoch

Jedne lijepe ljetne noći čuvali konjari na livadama konje.

One fine summer night, horseherds were watching over their horses in the meadows.

Čuvali, čuvali, a napokon zaspali.

They watched and watched, and at last fell asleep.

Kad oni zaspali, doletjele sa oblaka vile, da se malo poigraju sa konjima po vilinskom običaju.

When they fell asleep, fairies flew down from the clouds to play a little with the horses, after the manner of fairies.

Uhvatila svaka vila po jednog konjica, sjela na njega pak ga šiba svojom zlatnom kosom i tjera ga uokrug po rosnoj travi.

Each fairy caught a little horse, sat upon it, and whipped it with her golden hair, driving it round and round across the dewy grass.

A bijaše među vilama jedna mala vila, po imenu Kosjenka, koja bijaše ove noći prvi put sašla na zemlju sa oblaka.

And among the fairies there was one little fairy named Kosjenka, who on this night had come down to earth from the clouds for the very first time.

Učinilo se Kosjenki vrlo divotno jašiti ovako kao vihor po noći na konjicu.

To Kosjenka, it seemed wondrous indeed to ride like a whirlwind on a little horse through the night.

A baš ona bijaše uhvatila najživljega vranca: malenoga a ljutoga kao vatra.

And it so happened that she had caught the liveliest black horse of all: small, but fierce as fire.

Trči vranac sve uokrug sa drugim konjima, a najbrži je od sviju.

Round and round ran the black horse with the others, swiftest of them all.

Sve po njemu pjena prska.

Foam flecked all over him.

Ali Kosjenki se htjelo još bržeg jahanja.

Yet Kosjenka longed to ride faster still.

Sagne se ona i uštine vranca za desno uho.

She leaned forward and pinched the black horse's right ear.

Poplaši se vranac, digne se na stražnje noge, a onda poleti ravno preda se, ostavi druge konje, ostavi livade i odnese kao vihor Kosjenku u daleki svijet.

Frightened, the black horse reared up on his hind legs, then bolted straight ahead, leaving behind the other horses and the meadows, bearing Kosjenka like a whirlwind into the wide world.

Mililo se Kosjenki ovo strelovito jahanje.

Kosjenka delighted in this swift, arrow-like ride.

Trče oni kao vjetar ukraj polja, ukraj rijeka, ukraj livada i brda, ukraj dolina i brda. - "Bože mili, koliko li stvari zemlja nosi", pomisli Kosjenka radosno, gledajući ove ljepote.

They sped like the wind past fields, past rivers, past meadows and hills, past valleys and mountains. — "Dear God, how many wonders the earth holds," thought Kosjenka joyfully, beholding all these splendors.

No najviše joj se svidjelo, kad projuriše ukraj jednog kraja, gdje bijaše gora, a na njoj divna šuma, pod gorom dva zlatna polja kao dvije zlatne marame, na njima dva bijela sela kao dva bijela goluba, a malo podalje velika voda.

Yet what pleased her most was when they raced past a countryside where there stood a mountain crowned with a lovely forest, and beneath the mountain lay two golden fields like two golden kerchiefs, and upon them two white villages like two white doves, with a great expanse of water a little farther off.

Ali vranac neće da stane ni ovdje ni nigdje, nego on juri kao bijesan dalje i dalje.

Yet the black horse would not stop there nor anywhere else, but raced on like mad, farther and farther.

Trči tako vranac sa Kosjenkom dugo i dugo, i napokon dođoše do jedne silne ravnice, a sa ravnice studen vjetar piri.

So the black horse ran on with Kosjenka for a long, long time, until at last they came to a vast plain, from which blew a freezing wind.

Uleti vranac u ravnicu, a ono sama žuta zemlja, nigdje ni travke, ni drveta, a sve veća studen, što dalje ulaze u ravnicu.

The black horse plunged into the plain, and there was nothing but yellow earth, with not a blade of grass nor a tree to be seen, and the cold grew ever sharper the deeper they entered the plain.

Kolika pak ono bijaše ravnica, ne da se ispripovijedati, jer je živ čovjek ne bijaše nikada prošao. - Vranac s Kosjenkom juri sedam dana i sedam noći.

How immense that plain was cannot be told, for no living man had ever crossed it. — For seven days and seven nights the black horse galloped with Kosjenka.

Sedmi dan pred zoru stigoše do srca ravnice, a u srcu ravnice stajahu porušene zidine strahovito velikog grada Legena, u kojem vladaše silna zima.

On the seventh day, before daybreak, they reached the heart of the plain, and in the heart of the plain stood the ruined walls of the tremendously huge city of Legen, where bitter winter held sway.

Kad je vranac s Kosjenkom dojurio pred drevna vrata Legena, prebaci Kosjenka svoje vilinsko velo preko jedne zidine i uhvati se tako zida.

When the black horse and Kosjenka dashed before the ancient gate of Legen, Kosjenka flung her fairy veil over a crumbling wall and seized hold of the masonry.

Vranac ispod nje otrči - i kako otrčao, tako do svoje starosti jurio amo-tamo među silnim zidinama Legena grada, dok napokon ne stigne na vrata od sjevera i istrča opet u ravnicu - Bog te pita kuda!

The black horse darted out from beneath her — and having dashed away, he galloped to and fro among the mighty ruins of Legen city until his old age, until at last he reached the northern gate and broke out onto the plain again — heaven only knows where!

Kosjenka pak sađe sa zida i stane hodati po gradu, studenom kao kost.

Kosjenka, however, climbed down from the wall and began walking through the city, which was as cold as bone.

Svoju vilinsku koprenu, bez koje ne mogaše poletjeti u oblake, bijaše svila oko ramena, jer nju čuvaše vrlo. - Hoda Kosjenka tako po Legenu, hoda, i sve joj se čini, da negdje mora naići na neko čudo u ovom gradu, koji bijaše tako čudesan i silan.

Her fairy veil, without which she could not fly up into the clouds, she had wound around her shoulders, for she guarded it with great care. — So Kosjenka wandered through Legen, walking on and on, feeling certain that she must surely come upon some marvel in this city that was so wondrous and vast.

No ipak ne vidi nigdje ništa nego silne razvaljene zidine i ne čuje ništa nego kako puca kamen od studeni.

Yet she saw nothing anywhere but the mighty ruined walls, and heard nothing save the stones cracking from the cold.

Najednom, kada Kosjenka zakrenula oko najvećeg zida, a ono pod zidom spava golem čovjek, veći negoli najveći hrast u najvećoj šumi.

Suddenly, as Kosjenka rounded the corner of the largest wall, there under the wall slept a colossal man, larger than the greatest oak in the greatest forest.

Na tom čovjeku ogromni plašt od debela platna, a opasao se remenom od pet hvati.

The man wore a vast cloak of thick cloth, girded with a belt five fathoms long.

U toga čovjeka glava velika kao najveći badanj, a brada kao stog kukuruzovine.

The man's head was as large as the biggest vat, and his beard like a stack of corn husks.

Tako je velik taj čovjek, da bi tko pomislio: ono se crkveni toranj povalio uza zid.

So huge was the man that one would have thought a church steeple had fallen against the wall.

Zvao se pak taj čovjek Regoč i življaše u Legenu gradu i nije imao posla nego da broji kamenje Legena grada.

Now that man was named Regoch, and he lived in the city of Legen, having nothing to do but count the stones of the city of Legen.

Ne bi on nikada mogao izbrojiti, da ne imađaše onako veliku glavu kao badanj.

Never would he have been able to count them had his head not been as huge as a vat.

Ali ovako brojio on i brojio - već hiljadu godina tako brojio i bijaše već izbrojio trideset zidina i petora vrata legenska.

Yet as it was, he counted and counted—already counting thus for a thousand years, and had already counted thirty walls and five of Legen's gates.

Kad je Kosjenka opazila Regoča, skrstila ruke od čuda.

When Kosjenka caught sight of Regoch, she folded her hands in wonder.

Ne mogaše ona pomisliti, da ima ovako velikoga stvora na zemlji.

She could never have imagined that such an enormous creature existed on earth.

Sjedne Kosjenka Regoču do uha (a bijaše uho Regočevo veliko kao cijela Kosjenka) i povika mu u uho:

Kosjenka sat down beside Regoch's ear (and Regoch's ear was as large as the whole of Kosjenka) and shouted into his ear:

-

"A nije li ti zima, baća?"

"Aren't you cold, brother?"

Probudi se Regoč, nasmije se i pogleda Kosjenku.

Regoch woke, smiled, and looked at Kosjenka.

- "Ej! zima, dakako da je zima", - progovori Regoč takvim krupnim glasom, kao da grmi izdaleka.

— "Eh! Cold, of course it is cold," spoke Regoch in a voice so deep, it sounded like thunder from afar.

A bijaše Regoču silni nos pocrvenio od studeni, a kosa i brada bijahu posuti injem.

And Regoch's massive nose had turned red from the cold, while his hair and beard were dusted with rime.

- Bože moj, ovoliki silni čovjek, pa nećeš da sebi učiniš krov protiv studeni", reče Kosjenka.

— "Good heavens, such a mighty man, yet you will not make yourself a roof against the cold," said Kosjenka.

- E, zašto bih?

— "Well, why should I?"

" - reče Regoč i nasmije se opet, "doći će sunce.

" said Regoch, smiling again, "the sun will come."

"

Podigne se Regoč, da sjedne.

Regoch rose to sit up.

Sjedne on, omahne desnom rukom po lijevom ramenu, a lijevom rukom po desnom ramenu i otepe silno inje: sa svakoga ramena toliko inja, koliko bi snijega skliznulo sa jednog krova.

He sat up, brushed his right hand over his left shoulder and his left hand over his right shoulder, shaking off the heavy rime: from each shoulder fell as much rime as snow sliding from a roof.

- "Čuvaj, čuvaj, baća, zatrpat ćeš me" - viknu Kosjenka.

— "Watch out, watch out, brother, you will bury me!" cried Kosjenka.

Al je Regoč jedva i čuje, jer je daleko od Kosjenke do njegova uha, tako je visok, kad sjedi.

Yet Regoch could barely hear her, for it was a long way from Kosjenka to his ear, so tall was he even when seated.

Podigne zato Regoč Kosjenku sebi na rame, reče joj za svoje ime i za svoj posao, a ona njemu reče, kako je ovamo dospjela.

So Regoch lifted Kosjenka onto his shoulder, told her his name and his work, and she told him how she had come to be there.

- "Eno, gledaj i sunce", - pokaže zatim Regoč Kosjenki.

— "There, look, the sun is coming too," Regoch then pointed out to Kosjenka.

Pogleda Kosjenka, a ono se diže sunce, blijedo i slabo, kao da nema koga da grije.

Kosjenka looked, and there rose the sun, pale and faint, as though it had no one to warm.

- "Lud si ti, Regoču, zaista si lud, što ovdje živiš i život svoj baviš brojeći pusto legensko kamenje. Hajdemo, Regoču, da vidiš krasote po svijetu i da sebi nađeš vrednijega posla", - reče Kosjenka.

— "Foolish you are, Regoch, truly foolish, to live here and spend your days counting the desolate stones of Legen. Come with me, Regoch, that you may behold the wonders of the world and find yourself worthier work," said Kosjenka.

Nikada još ne bijaše Regoč pomislio, da sebi traži ljepšeg mjesta od Legena grada, niti je kada pomislio, da ima boljega posla od njegova.

Never before had Regoch thought of seeking a fairer place for himself than the city of Legen, nor had it ever crossed his mind that there was any better work than his own.

Nego je Regoč uvijek mislio:

Instead, Regoch had always thought:

"Dosuđeno mi, da brojim po Legenu kamenje", pa nije za ništa bolje pitao.

"It is my destined lot to count the stones throughout Legen," and so he never asked for anything better.

Al mu Kosjenka nikako ne dade mira, nego ga nagovara, da pođe s njome po zemlji.

Yet Kosjenka gave him no peace at all, urging him to set out with her across the earth.

- "Odvest ću te u krasan kraj, gdje je stara šuma, a uz šumu dva zlatna polja", - govori Kosjenka.

— "I will lead you to a lovely land, where there is an ancient forest, and beside the forest two golden fields," said Kosjenka.

Dugo govoraše Kosjenka.

Long did Kosjenka speak.

Regoč pak ne bijaše još nikada ni s kime razgovarao te ne uzmogne odoljeti nagovaranju.

Now Regoch had never spoken with anyone before, and so he could not resist her entreaties.

-

"Pa hajdemo!"

"Well, let us go then!"

- reče on.

said he.

No sada je trebalo stvoriti zgodu, kako će Regoč Kosjenku nositi, jer u Regoča ničega ne bijaše.

Yet now a way had to be devised for Regoch to carry Kosjenka, for Regoch possessed nothing at all.

Zato izvadi Kosjenka iz njedara malu vreću punu biserja.

Therefore Kosjenka drew from her bosom a little pouch filled with pearls.

Bijaše joj taj biser dala njezina majka u oblacima prije negoli je pustila da ide na zemlju, govoreći:

Her mother in the clouds had given her these pearls before letting her descend to earth, saying:

"Ako ti bude što trebalo, samo odbaci jedan biserak, i ono će se stvoriti, što trebaš. Čuvaj taj biser, jer na svijetu ima toliko stvari, da ih sve više treba."

"If ever you should need anything, merely cast away a single little pearl, and whatever you require shall appear. Guard these pearls well, for in the world there are so many things that one is ever in greater need of them."

Izvadi dakle Kosjenka zrnce bisera i odbaci ga - a ono se pred njom stvori košić, upravo velik kao i Kosjenka, a na košiću petlja, upravo velika kao Regočevo uho.

So Kosjenka took out a pearl and threw it down—and straightway there appeared before her a little basket, just large enough for Kosjenka, and upon the basket a loop, just the size of Regoch's ear.

Skoči Kosjenka u košić, a Regoč podiže košić i objesi ga sebi na uho kao naušnicu.

Kosjenka leapt into the basket, and Regoch lifted it up and hung it upon his ear like an earring.

Kad se Regoč nasmije, kada kihne ili kada podrma glavom, ljulja se Kosjenka kao na njihaljci, a ovo njoj bijaše vrlo milo za putovanje.

Whenever Regoch laughed, sneezed, or shook his head, Kosjenka swung as if in a cradle, and this pleased her greatly for their journey.

Htjede Regoč sada da pođe i zakoračio on već korak od deset sežanja.

Now Regoch was ready to depart, and he had already taken a stride ten fathoms long.

Ali ga Kosjenka ustavi pa ga još umoli:

Yet Kosjenka stopped him and made one more plea:

-

"Bismo li mi, Regoču, mogli proći pod zemlju, da ja vidim, što pod zemljom ima?"

"Could we not go beneath the earth, Regoch, so that I might see what lies underground?"

-

"Kako da ne bismo mogli!"

"Why should we not!"

- odgovori Regoč, koji mogaše od šale probiti zemlju, ali mu ne bijaše još nikada palo na pamet, da gleda, što pod zemljom ima.

replied Regoch, who could break through the earth with ease, though it had never entered his mind to look at what lay beneath the ground.

No Kosjenka željaše da upozna sav stvor Božji - i tako se oni dogovoriše, da će pod zemljom putovati, dok ne stignu pod onu šumu, gdje bijahu ona zlatna polja.

Yet Kosjenka desired to behold all of God's creation—and so they agreed to travel underground until they came beneath that forest where the golden fields lay.

Tamo da će izaći.

There they would emerge.

Kad se bjehu tako dogovorili, počne Regoč da probija zemlju.

Having thus agreed, Regoch began to break through the earth.

Podigao Regoč svoju silnu nogu i udari prvi put po zemlji - a ono se potrese čitav veliki grad Legen i povali se mnogo zidova.

Regoch raised his mighty foot and struck the ground the first time — and the entire great city of Legen shook, and many a wall tumbled down.

Podigne Regoč po drugi put nogu i udari o zemlju - a ono zadrhta cijela ravnica.

Regoch raised his foot a second time and struck the earth — and the whole plain trembled.

Podigne Regoč po treći put nogu i udari o zemlju -a ono zadrhta pol svijeta, i prokine se zemlja pod Regočem, a Regoč sa Kosjenkom propadne pod zemlju.

Regoch raised his foot a third time and struck the ground — and half the world trembled, the earth burst open beneath Regoch, and Regoch plummeted underground with Kosjenka.

Kad oni dolje, al pod zemljom sve prorovano: na sve strane putovi i stupovi i sam Bog bi znao, tko onuda toliko prolazi.

When they reached the bottom, behold, the underworld was all burrowed through: passages and pillars on every side, and God alone knew who traversed them so often.

I čuju se vode gdje šume i vjetrovi gdje pire.

And the murmuring of waters and the sighing of winds could be heard.

Pođoše oni tako po jednome putu i donekle im bijaše svijetlo od one pukotine, kroz koju bijahu propali.

So they set off along one path, and for a while it was light enough from the fissure through which they had fallen.

Ali kad oni dalje, a ono sve veći mrak - crni mrak, kakvoga nema nego pod zemljom.

Yet as they ventured farther, darkness gathered ever deeper — a black darkness found nowhere but beneath the earth.

Regoč svejednako i po mraku ide.

Regoch kept walking just the same through the dark.

Hvata se silnim rukama od stupa do stupa.

Grasping with his mighty hands from pillar to pillar.

Kosjenku obuze strava od onolikoga mraka.

Kosjenka was seized with dread at such immense darkness.

Uhvatila se ona Regoču za uho i povika: -

Clinging to Regoch's ear, she cried out: —

"Mrak je, Regoču!"

"It is dark, Regoch!"

- "E, pa neka je", - odgovori Regoč.

— "Well, let it be," replied Regoch.

"Nije mrak došao k nama, nego smo mi došli k njemu."

"The dark did not come to us; we came to the dark."

Razljuti se Kosjenka, što je Regoču svašta pravo, a ona se bijaše ponadala velikim stvarima od tako silnoga čovjeka.

Kosjenka grew angry that Regoch was untroubled by anything, for she had hoped for great things from so mighty a man.

- "Teško si ga meni uz tebe, da nema mojega biserja", - razljuti se Kosjenka.

— "Woe is me beside you, were it not for my pearls," fumed Kosjenka.

Zatim ona odbaci jedno zrnce bisera, a ono se njoj u ruci stvori svjetiljka, jasna kao da zlatom gori.

Then she cast away a pearl, and there appeared in her hand a lamp, glowing as bright as if it burned with gold.

Mrak uteče dublje u zemlju, a putovi se podzemni rasvijetliše nadaleko.

The darkness fled deeper into the earth, and the subterranean paths were lit far and wide.

Obradovala se Kosjenka svjetiljci, jer joj se pokazuju čuda, što od starine pod zemlju propadoše.

Kosjenka rejoiced in the lamp, for wonders that had sunk into the earth in days of old were revealed to her.

Na jednom se mjestu vide dvori gospodski, sve vrata i prozori zlatom obloženi, a crvenim mermerom ozidani.

In one place noble manors could be seen, all with doors and windows overlaid with gold and walls built of red marble.

Na drugome mjestu blago davno pokopano, zlatni pladnji i srebrne čaše, dukatima napunjene - i kruna carska, triput prežežena.

In another place lay treasure buried long ago: golden platters and silver goblets filled with ducats — and an imperial crown, refined thrice over in fire.

Sve je ovo po volji Božjoj dospjelo ovamo pod zemlju i tajna je Božja, zašto toliko blago mora ovdje počivati u miru.

All this had come here beneath the earth by the will of God, and it was God's secret why such wealth must rest here in peace.

Ali Kosjenki zablistala u oči ovolika čuda, pa umjesto da pođu dalje ravno putem, kuda bijahu odlučili, umoli Kosjenka Regoča, da je pusti na tle, da se poigra, da se nadivi čudima i da pregleda tajne Božje.

Yet such marvels dazzled Kosjenka's eyes, and instead of pressing onward along the path they had chosen, Kosjenka begged Regoch to set her down on the ground, so she might play, marvel at the wonders, and explore the mysteries of God.

Spusti Regoč Kosjenku, a Kosjenka uze svjetiljku svoju i otrča do dvorova, do oružja i do blaga.

Regoch set Kosjenka down, and taking her lamp, Kosjenka ran off toward the palaces, the armor, and the treasures.

Kako joj se u igri ne bi izgubila vrećica biserja, metnu je Kosjenka do jednoga stupa.

Lest her pouch of pearls be lost in her play, Kosjenka set it down beside a pillar.

Regoč pak sjedne malo podalje da počine.

Regoch, for his part, sat down a little distance away to rest.

Stala se Kosjenka igrati blagom, razmatrati i premetati divote.

Kosjenka began to play with the treasure, admiring and turning over the marvelous things.

Prebacuje po sitnim rukama žute dukate, ogleda čaše srebrom urezane i meće na glavu krunu triput prežeženu.

She tossed the yellow ducats in her tiny hands, examined the cups engraved with silver, and placed upon her head the imperial crown refined thrice over.

Poigrala se, pregledala i nadivila se, a onda opazi još jedan vrlo tanani štapić od bjelokosti, koji bijaše oslonjen o jedan silni stup.

She played, inspected, and marveled at everything, and then she noticed a very slender little rod of ivory leaning against a massive pillar.

A upravo samo ovaj štapić držaše onaj silni stup, da se ne sruši, jer stup bijaše od vode posvema izlizan.

And it was this slender rod alone that held up that mighty pillar to keep it from collapsing, for the pillar had been completely worn away by water.

I zato bijaše Bog onako spustio štapić - i oslonio se taj štapić pod zemljom o stup.

And that was why God had placed the wand there just so — and under the earth it leaned against the pillar.

Ali Kosjenka se upita:

Yet Kosjenka wondered to herself:

-

"Zašto li upravo onaj štapić tamo stoji?"

"Why should that very wand be standing there?"

I pođe te odmakne štapić, da ga ogleda.

And she went and moved the wand away to inspect it.

Kad al Kosjenka prihvati štapić i odmakne ga, zaječe podzemni putovi, zanjiha se čitav onaj silni stup, zanjiha se, uruši se i osu se čitavo brdo zemlje.

But no sooner had Kosjenka seized the wand and pulled it away than the underground passages groaned, that whole immense pillar swayed, trembled, and collapsed, and a veritable mountain of earth came crashing down.

Zatvori se, zatrpa se put između Regoča i Kosjenke - niti čuju niti vide jedno drugo, niti mogu jedno k drugomu.

The passage between Regoch and Kosjenka was sealed and buried — they could neither hear nor see each other, nor could they reach one another.

Tako eto bješe uhvaćena pod zemljom mala vila Kosjenka!

Thus was the little fairy Kosjenka trapped deep beneath the earth!

Zatvorena je živa u onom velikom grobu i možda nikada neće vidjeti onih zlatnih polja, kojima bijaše pošla.

She was locked away alive in that great tomb, and perhaps she would never see those golden fields toward which she had set out.

A to sve zato, što nije htjela da putuje ravno, kuda bijahu nakanili, nego se sustavljala i svraćala desno i lijevo, da uhodi tajne Božje.

And all this because she had not wanted to travel straight along their intended way, but had tarried and turned aside right and left to pry into the secrets of God.

Zaplaka, zakuka Kosjenka, traži, kud bi došla do Regoča.

Kosjenka wept and lamented, searching for a way to reach Regoch.

Ali ona vidje, da nema prolaza i da joj spasa nema - a njezina vrećica bisera, koja bi je spasila, ležaše zatrpana pod zemljom.

Yet she saw there was no way through and no escape — and her pouch of pearls, which could have saved her, lay buried beneath the earth.

Kad je sve ovo vidjela Kosjenka, prestade plakati, jer bijaše vrlo ponosna, i pomisli: -

When Kosjenka saw all this, she ceased weeping, for she was very proud, and thought: —

"Nema druge, valja umrijeti. Od Regoča mi pomoći nema, jer je Regoč luda glava, koja ni sama sebi ne pomaže, a kamoli da se dosjeti, da meni pomogne. Nema druge, treba umrijeti."

"There is no other way, I must die. There is no help to be had from Regoch, for Regoch is a simpleton who cannot even help himself, let alone think to help me. There is no other way; die I must."

I pripravi se Kosjenka odmah na smrt.

And straightway Kosjenka prepared herself for death.

Ali hoće ona neka znade, tko je jednom u tom grobu nađe, da ona bijaše roda visokoga.

Yet she wished whoever might one day find her in that tomb to know that she was of noble birth.

Zato meće na glavu krunu triput prežeženu, pa uzima u ruke štapić bjelokosni, a onda legne da umre.

Therefore she placed upon her head the imperial crown refined thrice over, took the ivory wand into her hands, and lay down to die.

Uz Kosjenku nikoga nema, samo njena svjetiljka što sjaji, kao da zlatom gori.

There was no one beside Kosjenka, only her lamp shining as though it burned with gold.

A kako Kosjenka bivaše sve hladnija i ukočenija, tako je i svjetiljka sve po malo gasnula.

And as Kosjenka grew colder and stiffer, the lamp also grew dimmer and dimmer, little by little.

Regoč pak zaista bijaše luda glava.

Now Regoch was indeed a simpleton.

Kad se ono urušio stup i kad se zasula silna zemlja među njim i Kosjenkom, nije se on ni makao, nego ostade onako sjedeći u mraku.

When the pillar collapsed and that huge mound of earth buried the space between him and Kosjenka, he did not even stir, but remained sitting just as he was in the dark.

Tako on još neko doba sjedio, a onda se istom nakani da pođe i da vidi, što je tamo.

He sat thus for some time longer, and only then made up his mind to go and see what had happened there.

Napipa on u tami do onoga mjesta, gdje prije bijaše Kosjenka, napipa i osjeti, da se tamo zemlja zasula i da na onu stranu više nema prolaza.

Groping through the darkness, he felt his way to the spot where Kosjenka had been, and upon feeling around, he realized that the earth had caved in and there was no longer any passage that way.

- "Eh! na onu stranu više nema prolaza", - pomisli Regoč - i više ništa nije znao o tom pomisliti, nego se okrene, ostavi brdo zasuto, a za brdom Kosjenku, i pođe natrag putem, kud bijahu došli od Legena...

— "Well, there is no way through that side anymore," thought Regoch — and knowing not what else to think, he turned about, leaving the fallen mound behind, and behind it Kosjenka, and set off back the way they had come from Legen...

Ide tako Regoč, ide svojim putem, sve od stupa do stupa.

So Regoch walked on along his path, moving from pillar to pillar.

Već je daleko poodmakao, al sve mu nešto nije pravo.

He had already journeyed far, yet something felt amiss within him.

Ne zna Regoč sam, što je ono, što mu nije pravo.

Regoch himself did not know what it was that troubled him.

Popravlja on remen o pojasu: da ga možda remen ne steže?

He adjusted the belt around his waist: could the belt be pinching him?

Pa onda proteže ruku o ramenu: da mu možda ruka nije zaspala?

Then he stretched his arm from the shoulder: could his arm have fallen asleep?

Ali nije ni ovo ni ono, nego mu još jednako nije pravo.

Yet it was neither this nor that, and still he felt uneasy just the same.

Čudi se Regoč: što li je to njemu?

Regoch wondered: what could be the matter with him?

Čudi se i od čuda potrese glavom.

He wondered, and in his bewilderment he shook his head.

Kad Regoč potrese glavom, zaljulja se košić njemu na uhu.

When Regoch shook his head, the little basket on his ear swayed.

A kad je Regoč osjetio, kako je košić lagan i kako u njemu Kosjenke nema, onda Regoča stisnulo kruto u srcu i prsima, i on se, luda glava, ipak dosjeti, da ono njega mori žalost za Kosjenkom, dosjeti se, da valja Kosjenku spasiti.

And when Regoch felt how light the basket was and that Kosjenka was not inside, a sharp pain gripped him in his heart and breast, and he, simple soul though he was, realized at last that grief for Kosjenka was tormenting him, and realized that Kosjenka must be saved.

Teško se bijaše Regoč tomu domislio, ali kad se domislio, onda se kao vihor okrenuo i poletio natrag do onoga mjesta, gdje bijaše ostavio zasuto brdo, a za brdom Kosjenku.

Slowly had Regoch come to understand this, but once he understood, he turned like a whirlwind and flew back to the place where he had left the collapsed mound, and behind it Kosjenka.

Poletio i začas tamo stigao.

He sped back and arrived there in an instant.

Kopa Regoč objema rukama brdo, kopa, kopa i začas otkopa veliku rupu i ugleda Kosjenku.

Regoch dug into the mound with both hands; he dug and dug, and in no time hollowed out a great opening and caught sight of Kosjenka.

Leži Kosjenka u zlatnoj kruni prežeženoj, već je ohladnjela, sva se ukočila, a kraj nje svjetiljka - plamen joj sitan kao najmanja krijesnica.

There lay Kosjenka wearing the golden crown refined in fire; she had already grown cold and entirely stiff, and beside her was the lamp — its flame as tiny as the smallest firefly.

Da je Regoč viknuo od žalosti, potreslo bi se podzemlje i ugasila bi se sasvim svjetiljka - nestalo bi i one male svijetle krijesnice kraj hladne Kosjenke.

Had Regoch cried out in his sorrow, the underworld would have shaken and the lamp would have gone out completely — even that tiny bright firefly beside the cold Kosjenka would have vanished.

Ali Regoča bijaše od žalosti tako stisnulo u grlu, da nije mogao viknuti, nego on pruži svoju silnu ruku i polagano dohvati hladnu Kosjenku i položi je na svoj dlan, te je grijaše i grijaše među oba dlana kao zimsku ptičicu.

Yet grief had so tightened around Regoch's throat that he could not cry out; instead, he reached out his mighty hand, gently lifted the cold Kosjenka, and laid her upon his palm, warming and warming her between both his hands like a little winter bird.

I gle!

And lo!

Iza nekog doba makne Kosjenka ručicom, i svjetiljka odmah jače zasvijetli.

After a time, Kosjenka moved her little hand, and instantly the lamp shone brighter.

A onda mahnu Kosjenka glavom, i plamen na svjetiljci još jače zasvijetli.

Then Kosjenka stirred her head, and the flame of the lamp burned brighter still.

Napokon otvori Kosjenka oči, a svjetiljka plane tako jasno, kao da zlatom gori!

At last Kosjenka opened her eyes, and the lamp blazed so radiantly, as if it were burning with pure gold!

Kosjenka pak skoči na nožice, uhvati se Regoču za bradu i od velike radosti zaplakaše oboje.

Kosjenka leapt to her feet, caught hold of Regoch's beard, and out of immense joy they both began to weep.

Regočeve suze bijahu krupne kao kruške, a Kosjenkine sićušne kao proso; ali u stvari isto bijaše, i oni se od to doba silno zavolješe.

Regoch's tears were as large as pears, and Kosjenka's tiny as millet seeds; but in truth they were one and the same, and from that moment on, they loved each other dearly.

Kad se isplakaše, nađoše još Kosjenkin biser te onda pođoše dalje na put; ali ni u što više pod zemljom nisu dirali: ni u lađe potopljene a blagom krcate, koje bijahu ovamo propale sa morskoga dna, ni u koralj crveni, ni u jantar žuti, što se nizao oko podzemnih stupova. - Ni u šta više nisu dirali, niti su gdje stajali, nego iđahu ravno putem, da izađu kod zlatnih polja.

When they had finished weeping, they found Kosjenka's pearls again and set out once more; but they touched nothing beneath the earth ever again: neither sunken vessels laden with treasure that had tumbled down from the sea bottom, nor red coral, nor yellow amber twined around the underground pillars. — Nothing more did they touch, nor did they halt anywhere, but went straight on their way to emerge by the golden fields.

Kad već dugo tako iđahu, rekne Kosjenka Regoču, da je podigne.

When they had journeyed thus for a long while, Kosjenka asked Regoch to lift her up.

A kad on to učini, dohvati Kosjenka nešto njima iznad glave.

And when he did so, Kosjenka grasped something above their heads.

Dohvati zemlje, pogleda u ruku, a kad ono: među zemljom lišće i iverje.

She caught a handful of earth, looked at her hand, and lo: mixed with the dirt were leaves and woodchips.

-

"Evo nas, Regoču, pod šumom ukraj zlatnih polja!"

"Here we are, Regoch, beneath the forest beside the golden fields!"

- klikne Kosjenka.

cried Kosjenka.

"Hajde da izađemo."

"Let us go out."

Pruži se nato Regoč i stade glavom probijati zemlju.

Thereupon Regoch stretched himself and began to break through the ground with his head.

Nad njima zaista bijaše šuma i to baš šumska uvala na međi dvaju sela i dvaju kotara.

Above them indeed lay the forest, in a woodland dell right on the boundary between two villages and two districts.

U tu uvalu nitko ne dolažaše, van čobani i čobanice iz obaju sela i obaju kotara.

Into that dell came none save the shepherd boys and girls from both villages and both districts.

Bila je pak ljuta svađa među ona dva sela - svađa radi gumna i radi pašnjaka, radi mlinova i radi drvosjeka, a ponajpače radi palice starješinske, što je odavna jedno selo svojatalo, a drugo ne htjelo da je izdade.

Now there was a bitter feud between those two villages — a quarrel over threshing floors and pastures, over mills and timber-felling, and above all over the elder's staff, which one village had long claimed for itself while the other refused to surrender it.

I tako bila ona dva sela dušmanska jedno drugome.

And so those two villages were sworn enemies to one another.

Ali čobani i čobanice iz obaju sela bijahu luda djeca i nisu marili ni razumjeli pravde starijih, nego bi se oni svakoga dana sastajali na međi obaju sela i obaju kotara.

Yet the shepherd boys and girls of both villages were simple children; they neither cared for nor understood the disputes of the elders, but met every day upon the boundary between the two villages and districts.

Dok bi se ovce njihove miješale i pasle zajedno, igrali bi se čobani zajedno - a od velike igre više puta i zakasnili predvečer kući s ovcama.

While their sheep mingled and grazed side by side, the young shepherds played together — and so engrossed were they in their play that often at nightfall they returned home late with their flocks.

Radi toga bilo u oba sela graje i vike na djecu.

Because of this, there was shouting and scolding directed at the children in both villages.

Ali bijahu u jednom selu šukunbaba i šukundjed, koji pamćahu sve, što je ikada bilo u oba sela.

Yet in one village there lived a great-great-grandmother and a great-great-grandfather, who remembered all that had ever come to pass in both villages.

Oni su govorili: -

They used to say: —

"Pustite, ljudi, djecu. Boljim će plodom uroditi dječja igra po planini, negoli vaše žito po poljima."

"Leave the children be, good folk. The play of children upon the mountain shall yield a fairer harvest than all your corn in the fields."

A čobani, kao i prije dolažahu na ono mjesto s ovcama, jer baš odviše i ne pitahu stariji, što rade djeca.

And the young shepherds, just as before, kept coming with their sheep to that spot, for the elders did not inquire too closely into what the children did.

Tako isto i toga dana, kada Regoč stade probijati zemlju na onom mjestu.

So it was on that very day, when Regoch began to break through the ground at that place.

Upravo se čobani i čobanice sastali pod najvećim hrastom i spremali se, da krenu kući.

The shepherd boys and girls had just gathered beneath the largest oak and were preparing to turn for home.

Koji pritezao opančiće, koji privezivao bič o bičalo, a čobanice sakupljale ovce.

One was tightening his moccasins, another binding the lash to his whip-handle, while the shepherd girls were rounding up the sheep.

Kad al začuju oni, kako nešto upravo pod njihovim nogama strahovito lupa o zemlju.

When suddenly they heard something pounding frightfully against the earth right beneath their feet.

Udari jedanput, dvaput - a kad po treći put udari, pukne zemlja i izađe upravo među čobane, strahovito velika glava kao badanj, a na njoj brada kao stog kukuruzovine, a po bradi silno inje još od Legena grada.

It struck once, twice — and when it struck the third time, the earth broke open and right among the shepherds emerged an awfully enormous head, large as a vat, with a beard like a stack of corn husks, and upon the beard thick rime still clinging from the city of Legen.

Zavrisnuše djeca od straha i popadaše na zemlju kao mrtvi - još i ne bi toliko od glave, što bijaše kao badanj, nego više od brade, što se vidjela kao stog kukuruzovine.

The children shrieked with terror and fell to the ground like dead men — not so much at the head that was like a vat, but even more so at the beard that looked like a stack of corn husks.

Popadaše sva djeca, samo ne htjede mali Liljo, koji bijaše najljepše i najmudrije dijete obaju sela i obaju kotara.

All the children fell down, but little Liljo refused to do so. He was the handsomest and wisest child in both villages and both districts.

Ostade Liljo na nogama i dođe da vidi iz bližega: koje je ovo čudo?

Liljo remained standing and came closer to see what this marvel was.

- "Ne bojte se, braćo", - govoraše Liljo čobanima,

"Do not be afraid, brothers," Liljo said to the shepherds,

"nije mogao Bog ovoliku grdosiju na zlo stvoriti, jer da je zla, već bi odavna pol svijeta pomorila."

"God could not have created such an enormous creature for evil, for if it were evil, it would have destroyed half the world long ago."

Priđe Liljo k Regoču, a Regoč baš skinuo košić sa Kosjenkom sa uha i metnuo ga na ledinu.

Liljo approached Regoč, who had just taken the little basket containing Kosjenka from his ear and placed it on the meadow.

- "Dođite, dođite, braćo", - kliknu Liljo, -

"Come, come, brothers!" Liljo cried,

"evo je s njime djevojka, malena a krasna kao zvijezda."

"Here is a girl with him, tiny but as beautiful as a star."

Čobani i čobanice poustajaše, pa stadoše viriti, sve jedan iza drugoga stojeći, na Kosjenku, a onda oni, koji se bijahu najgore uplašili, najprije priđoše k njoj, jer bijahu u svemu najhitriji.

The shepherd boys and girls all got to their feet and began peeking at Kosjenka, standing one behind another. Then those who had been most frightened approached her first, for they were the quickest in everything.

Odmah zavolješe čobani i čobanice prekrasnu Kosjenku, izvadiše je iz košića, povedoše na najljepšu ledinu i stadoše se diviti njezinim prekrasnim haljinama, koje bijahu sjajne i mekane kao jutarnje svjetlo.

The shepherd boys and girls immediately took a liking to the lovely Kosjenka. They lifted her out of the basket, led her to the prettiest meadow, and began admiring her beautiful dresses, which were as bright and soft as the morning light.

A najviše od svega divljahu se njezinoj vilinskoj kopreni, kojom samo malo mahnu, pa se odmah digne nad ledinu i poleti.

Most of all, they marvelled at her fairy veil. She gave it just a little wave, and it rose at once above the meadow and flew away.

Zaigraše kolo čobanice, čobani i Kosjenka i zavedoše igre svakojake.

The shepherd girls, the shepherd boys, and Kosjenka began dancing in a circle and playing all sorts of games.

A Kosjenki sve poigravaju od radosti male nožice i smiju joj se oči i ustašca, što se našla u društvu, kojemu se mili ono, što se i njoj mili.

Kosjenka's little feet danced with joy, and her eyes and tiny mouth smiled because she had found herself among companions who loved the very things she loved.

Zatim izvadi Kosjenka svoju vrećicu bisera i stade darivati i radovati drugove i družice svoje.

Then Kosjenka took out her little bag of pearls and began giving gifts to her companions, delighting the boys and girls alike.

Odbaci ona jedan biserak, i stvori se među njima drvce, a na drvcu šarene vrpce, svilene maramice i crveni đerdan za čobanice. - Odbaci drugi biserak, i došetaše sa svih strana iz šume gizdavi pauni; došetaše, prošetaše, poletješe, i prosipalo se po ledini sjajno perje, te se cakli sva ledina.

She tossed away one little pearl, and a small tree appeared among them, bearing colourful ribbons, silk handkerchiefs, and red necklaces for the shepherd girls. She tossed away a second pearl, and from every direction in the forest came strutting splendid peacocks. They strutted about, paraded to and fro, and took flight, scattering brilliant feathers across the meadow until the whole place shimmered.

A čobani zakitiše perjem kape i prsluke. -Još jedan biserak odbaci Kosjenka, i stvori se o jednoj visokoj grani zlatna njihaljka na svilenim konopcima - a kad se ljuljaju čobani i čobanice, tada njihaljka leti i spušta se tako visoko kao lastavica, a tako tihano kao duždeva galija.

The shepherd boys adorned their caps and waistcoats with feathers. Kosjenka tossed away another little pearl, and a golden swing on silk ropes appeared, hanging from a high branch. When the shepherd boys and girls swung on it, the swing soared and swooped as high as a swallow, and glided as quietly as a doge's galley.

Djeca cikću od radosti, a Kosjenka baca sve biserak za biserkom i ne misli, da bi ih trebalo sačuvati, jer Kosjenka ništa na svijetu nije voljela toliko, koliko krasne igre i mile pjesmice. - Tako potroši ona baš sve i do posljednjeg zrnca, - a Bog zna gdje bi joj moglo doskora trebati, i njoj i čobanima!

The children squealed with delight, while Kosjenka kept tossing away one pearl after another, never thinking that she ought to save them. For there was nothing in the world that Kosjenka loved as much as beautiful games and sweet little songs. And so she spent every last one, right down to the very smallest grain. Yet who knew where they might soon be needed, both by her and by the shepherds!

- "Nikad više neću od vas otići", - klicaše radosno Kosjenka, a čobani i čobanice pljeskahu u ručice i bacahu uvis kape od veselja, kad ona to reče.

"I shall never leave you again!" Kosjenka cried joyfully, and when she said this, the shepherd boys and girls clapped their hands and tossed their caps into the air with delight.

Samo Liljo ne bijaše pošao za njima, da se igra, jer bijaše danas nešto nujan i neveseo.

Only Liljo had not gone off to play with them, for that day he felt rather gloomy and unhappy.

Ostao je nedaleko Regoča i odanle promatrao, kako je prekrasna Kosjenka i koliko čudesa stvara po ovoj dubravi.

He had stayed not far from Regoč and watched from there, admiring Kosjenka's beauty and the many wonders she created throughout this grove.

Međutim, bijaše Regoč izašao iz svoje rupe.

Meanwhile, Regoč had come out of his hole.

Izašao i podigao se među drvećem šumskim - a kad tamo, njegova glava viri iznad čitave stoljetne šume, tako strahovito velik bijaše orijaš Regoč.

He emerged and rose up among the forest trees—and there he stood, his head towering above the entire ancient forest, for the giant Regoč was fearfully enormous.

Ogleda se Regoč preko šume po ravnici.

Regoč gazed out across the forest towards the plain.

A ono bijaše sunce već zapalo, a nebo bijaše vrlo rumeno.

The sun had already set, and the sky was a deep crimson.

U ravnici vidjela se dva zlatna polja kao dvije zlatne marame, a u poljima dva sela kao dva bijela goluba.

On the plain lay two golden fields, like two golden kerchiefs, and within them stood two villages, like two white doves.

Tamo pak podalje od obaju sela tekla silna voda Zlovoda, a sve uz vodu bijahu podignuti nasipi, koji se zelenjeli od trave.

Farther away from both villages flowed the mighty waters of the Zlovoda, with embankments raised all along its banks, green with grass.

Po nasipima vide se stada i pastiri.

Herds and shepherds could be seen along the embankments.

- "E, zaista", - reče Regoč,

"Ah, indeed," said Regoč,

"u što sam boravio hiljadu godina u Legenu, u onoj pustoši, kad na svijetu ima ovakve divote."

"why did I spend a thousand years in Legen, in that desolate place, when such wonders exist in the world?"

Tako se svidjelo Regoču gledati po ravnici, da je samo desno i lijevo okretao glavu, veliku kao badanj, te se je ona kao ogromno strašilo zibala nad šumom.

Regoč enjoyed gazing out over the plain so much that he kept turning his head, as large as a vat, from side to side, making it sway above the forest like an enormous scarecrow.

Ali ga doskora Liljo zovnu:

But before long, Liljo called to him:

-

"Sjedni, baća, da te ne opaze seoski starješine."

"Sit down, big brother, so the village elders don't notice you."

Regoč sjedne, i njih dvojica stadoše razgovarati, te Liljo pričaše Regoču, radi čega je danas tako žalostan.

Regoč sat down, and the two began to talk. Liljo told Regoč why he was so sad that day.

- "Veliko će se zlo još večeras dogoditi", - reče Liljo.

"A great calamity will happen this very evening," said Liljo.

"Slušao sam, gdje se noćas starješine našeg sela dogovarahu, govoreći: 'Hajdemo da provrtamo nasip vode Zlovode. Voda će proširiti rupu, nasip će se provaliti, voda će udariti na dušmansko selo, po topit će ljude, žene, polja i groblje i izravnat će se voda nad njima, pak će biti more, gdje bijaše prije selo dušmansko. A naša su polja viša i selo na uzvisini, pak nam ništa biti neće.' Tako se dogovarahu, a onda zaista odoše i ponesoše veliki svrdao, te tajno u noći provrtaše nasip. A ja, baća moj", - dovrši Liljo,

"I heard our village elders conferring last night, saying, 'Let us bore a hole through the embankment of the Zlovoda. The water will widen the hole, the embankment will collapse, and the water will rush into the enemy village. It will drown the people, the women, the fields, and the graveyard, and the water will close over them until there is a sea where the enemy village once stood. Our fields are higher, and our village lies on elevated ground, so nothing will happen to us.' That was what they agreed upon. Then they really did go out, taking a large auger with them, and secretly bored through the embankment in the night. But I, my big brother," Liljo concluded,

"znam, da naša polja i selo naše nisu tako visoki i znam, da će se voda i nad nama sklopiti, i bit će još noćas more, gdje bijahu naša dva sela. Radi toga sam ti tužan toliko."

"know that our fields and our village are not so high, and I know that the water will close over us too. Before this night is over, there will be a sea where our two villages once stood. That is why I am so sad."

Još oni tako u govoru, kad al se podigne strahovita vika i halabuka u ravnici.

They were still talking when a terrible uproar and commotion suddenly rose from the plain.

-

"Eto! gotova je nesreća!"

"There! The disaster has happened!"

- kliknu Liljo.

Liljo cried out.

Uspravi se Regoč, podiže Lilju i pogledaše po ravnici.

Regoč straightened up, lifted Liljo, and they looked out across the plain.

Bila je žalost pogledati!

It was a heartbreaking sight!

Provalio se nasip, a tamna silna voda Zlovoda valjala se u dva rukava preko onih krasnih polja.

The embankment had burst, and the dark, mighty waters of the Zlovoda rolled in two great streams across those beautiful fields.

Ide jedan rukav prema jednom selu, a drugi prema drugome.

One stream was heading towards one village, and the other towards the second.

Potopila se stada, nestaje pod vodom zlatnih polja, valjaju se križevi sa grobova - a u oba sela vika i halabuka!

The herds were drowning, the golden fields were disappearing beneath the water, and crosses were tumbling from the graves—all while cries and commotion filled both villages!

Izašli u oba sela starješine na gumno sa talambasima, sa bubnjevima i sviralama, te biju i bubnjaju jedno selo drugome uz prkos, tako bijahu od zlobe poludjeli.

In both villages, the elders had come out onto the threshing floors with tambourines, drums, and pipes. They beat and drummed in defiance of one another, so crazed had they become with spite.

A još veća bijaše halabuka, jer su uza to zavijali seoski psi, a plakale i naricale žene i djeca.

The uproar grew even louder, for the village dogs were howling, while the women and children wept and wailed.

-"Baća moj", -viknu Liljo,

"My big brother!" Liljo cried,

"zašto nemam tvoje ruke, da ustavim ovu vodu!"

"Why don't I have your strength, so that I could stop this water!"

Al uto se sakupe oko Regoča i Lilje čobani i čobanice sa Kosjenkom, uplašeni i smućeni onom strašnom vikom u ravnici.

Just then, the shepherd boys and girls gathered around Regoč and Liljo, together with Kosjenka, frightened and bewildered by the terrible uproar on the plain.

Kad je Kosjenka čula, što se zbiva, reče ona, hitra i bistra kao mala vila:

When Kosjenka heard what was happening, she spoke, quick-witted and bright as a little fairy:

-

"Hajdemo, Regoču, ustavit ćeš vodu!"

"Come on, Regoč! You will stop the water!"

-

"Hajdemo, hajdemo!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

- vikahu čobani obaju sela i obaju kotara, koji ne prestajahu jaukati i naricati.

— cried the shepherd boys and girls from both villages and both districts, who could not stop wailing and lamenting.

"Hajdemo, Regoču, ponesi i nas!"

"Come on, Regoč, carry us too!"

Sagnu se Regoč, podiže na desnu ruku Lilju i Kosjenku (koja držaše svjetiljku svoju), a na lijevu ruku svu ostalu čobančad - i potrči Regoč korakom od deset sežanja po šumskom prosjeku dolje u ravnicu.

Regoč bent down and lifted Liljo and Kosjenka, who held her little lamp, onto his right arm, and all the other shepherd children onto his left. Then Regoč ran down through the forest clearing towards the plain, covering ten fathoms with every stride.

Za njima nagnuše i ovce, blejući uplašeno.

The sheep followed after them, bleating in fear.

Tako oni stigoše u ravnicu.

And so they reached the plain.

Kroz maglu i sumrak trči tako Regoč sa djecom u naručju, a za njima poplašeno stado u divljem bijegu - trče prema nasipu.

Through the mist and twilight, Regoč ran with the children in his arms, while the frightened flock fled wildly behind them. They were racing towards the embankment.

A njima u susret ide crna voda Zlovoda, mori i potapa sve na svojem putu.

Coming towards them was the black water of the Zlovoda, killing and drowning everything in its path.

Strahovito je jaka ona voda.

The water was terribly powerful.

Hoće li biti jača od Regoča?

Would it prove stronger than Regoč?

Hoće li povaliti i Regoča?

Would it bring even Regoč down?

Hoće li pomoriti onu sitnu čobančad, hoće li poginuti krasna mala vila Kosjenka, lijepa kao zvijezda?

Would it destroy those tiny shepherd children? Would the lovely little fairy Kosjenka, beautiful as a star, perish?

Tako trčeći preko livada, gdje još bijahu suhe, stiže Regoč sav bez daha začas do nasipa, gdje se bijaše provalila velika rupa i gdje voda grnjaše strašnom silom.

Running across the meadows, where the ground was still dry, Regoč soon reached the embankment, breathless. There a great hole had burst open, and the water was rushing through with terrible force.

- "Ustavi je, ustavi, Regoču", - cvile djeca.

"Stop it, stop it, Regoč!" the children cried plaintively.

Tamo u ravnici nedaleko nasipa bijaše malo brdašce nasuto.

There, on the plain not far from the embankment, stood a little mound of earth.

- "Metni nas na ono brdašce", - viknu Kosjenka hitro.

"Put us on that little mound," Kosjenka called quickly.

Spusti Regoč Lilju i Kosjenku, čobane i čobanice na to brdašce, a oko njih stisnuše se ovce i janjići.

Regoč set Liljo and Kosjenka, the shepherd boys and girls, down on the little mound, while the sheep and lambs huddled tightly around them.

Oko brdašca već se razlijevala voda.

The water was already spreading around the mound.

Regoč pak zagazi silnim stupom u vodu, legne prema nasipu i svojim ogromnim prsima zatvori rupu u nasipu.

Regoč then strode into the water with his mighty legs, lay down against the embankment, and blocked the hole with his enormous chest.

Začas voda stane, ali ona bijaše tako strahovito jaka, da joj ništa ne mogaše odoljeti.

For a moment, the water stopped. But it was so terribly powerful that nothing could withstand it.

Upre se voda, nasrne Regoču do ramena, te ispod njega, iznad njega, oko njega, sa svih strana provali opet - i dalje se valjaše po ravnici.

The water pressed against him and surged up to Regoč's shoulders. Then it burst through again beneath him, above him, around him, from every side, and continued rolling across the plain.

Raširio Regoč obje ruke, zgrće šakama zemlju; ali što god on zgrne, voda začas odnese.

Regoč stretched out both arms and scooped up earth with his great hands, but whatever he gathered, the water swept away in an instant.

Pa se voda po ravnici diže sve više i više - od polja, od sela, od blaga i od gumna ne vidi se ništa više.

The water on the plain kept rising higher and higher, until nothing could be seen of the fields, the villages, the livestock, or the threshing floors.

U oba sela samo krovovi i toranj crkveni vire iz vode.

In both villages, only the rooftops and the church towers still protruded above the water.

I oko brdašca, gdje bijahu čobani i čobanice sa Liljom i Kosjenkom, dizaše se voda sve više i više.

And around the little mound, where the shepherd boys and girls stood with Liljo and Kosjenka, the water kept rising higher and higher.

Plače i nariče jadna čobančad, koji za majkom, koji za bratom ili sestricom, a koji za kućom i baščom, jer vide, da su oba sela propala i da nikomu nema spasa - a i k njima se eto voda diže.

The poor shepherd children wept and wailed, some for their mothers, some for a brother or sister, and others for their homes and gardens, for they could see that both villages were lost and no one could be saved—and now the water was rising towards them, too.

Stisnuli se čobani sve više i više navrh brdašca, kupe se i stišću oko Lilje i Kosjenke, koji stoje jedno do drugoga usred djece.

The shepherd children huddled closer and closer together on top of the little mound, gathering tightly around Liljo and Kosjenka, who stood side by side in the midst of them.

Liljo stoji tih i blijed kao kamen, a Kosjenkine se oči sjaju, i ona podiže svjetiljku prema Regoču, da mu posao osvijetli.

Liljo stood silent and pale as stone, while Kosjenka's eyes shone brightly. She raised her lamp towards Regoč to light his work.

Kosjenkina koprena diže se i vije na noćnom vjetru i leprši povrh vode, kao da će sad na poletjeti mala vila i nestati iz ove grozote.

Kosjenka's veil rose and streamed in the night wind, fluttering above the water as though the little fairy might take flight at any moment and vanish from this terrible scene.

-

"Kosjenko! Kosjenko! Nemoj otići! Nemoj nas ostaviti!"

"Kosjenka! Kosjenka! Don't go away! Don't leave us!"

- nariču čobani, kojima se činilo, kao da je anđeo među njima, dok gledahu u Kosjenku.

the shepherd children wailed, for as they gazed at Kosjenka, she seemed to them like an angel among them.

-

"Ne idem, ne idem nikuda!"

"I'm not going, I'm not going anywhere!"

- kliče Kosjenka, - al njezina koprena podjednako leprši, kao da će je sama ponijeti preko voda u oblake.

Kosjenka cried, but her veil kept fluttering just the same, as though it might carry her by itself over the waters and up into the clouds.

Uto se začuje vrisak.

Just then, a scream rang out.

Bijaše se podigla voda, bijaše dohvatila rub na skutovima jedne čobanice i odvukla je, da je odnese.

The water had risen and caught the hem of one shepherd girl's skirt, dragging her away to carry her off.

Al se u čas spusti Liljo, uhvati čobanicu i privuče je opet na brdašce. - "Treba da se svežemo", - vikahu čobani,

But Liljo sprang down at once, caught the girl, and pulled her back onto the mound. "We must tie ourselves together," the shepherd children cried,

"da se svežemo jedan uz drugoga jer propadosmo."

"we must bind ourselves to one another, for we are doomed otherwise."

-

"Evo braćo, evo!"

"Here, brothers and sisters, here!"

- viknu Kosjenka, u koje bijaše vrlo milostivo srdašce.

Kosjenka cried, for her little heart was full of kindness.

Hitro skinu Kosjenka sa ramena svoju vilinsku koprenu i pruži je čobanima. - Istrgoše koprenu na trakove, povezaše trakove u dugačku vrpcu i svezaše se čobani jedan uz drugoga oko Lilje i Kosjenke, a oko čobana opet propinjahu se jadne ovčice, kako se ne bi potopile.

Quickly, Kosjenka took her fairy veil from her shoulders and handed it to the shepherd children. They tore the veil into strips, tied the strips together to make a long band, and bound themselves to one another around Liljo and Kosjenka. Meanwhile, the poor little sheep reared up around the children, trying not to drown.

Kosjenka pak bijaše sada u toj bijedi sirotica, kao i ostala čobančad.

Now Kosjenka, too, was helpless in this misery, just like the other shepherd children.

Svoj biser bijaše na igru potratila, a svoju vilinsku koprenu bijaše od dobrote srca poklonila i razderala - i sada ne mogaše ni poletjeti ni spasti se iz ove nevolje.

She had spent her pearls on games and, out of the goodness of her heart, had given away her fairy veil and let it be torn to pieces. Now she could neither fly away nor escape this calamity.

Ali Liljo bijaše zavolio Kosjenku više nego sve drugo na svijetu, pa kad im voda stade udarati već o noge, kliknu Liljo:

But Liljo had come to love Kosjenka more than anything else in the world. So when the water began to lap at their feet, he cried out:

-

"Ne boj se, Kosjenko! Čuvat ću te i držat ću te!"

"Don't be afraid, Kosjenka! I'll protect you and hold on to you!"

- te podiže Kosjenku na svoje ruke.

And he lifted Kosjenka into his arms.

Jednom rukom se uhvatila Kosjenka Lilji oko vrata, a drugom rukom držala je visoko svjetiljku naprama Regoču.

Kosjenka wrapped one arm around Liljo's neck and held her lamp high with the other, pointing it towards Regoč.

A Regoč ležeći prsima u vodi, bori se i bori sveudilj s vodom.

Meanwhile, Regoč lay with his chest in the water, struggling and struggling without pause against the flood.

Slijeva i desna kraj Regočevih ramena strše srušeni krajevi nasipa, kao dva velika roga.

To the left and right of Regoč's shoulders, the broken ends of the embankment jutted out like two great horns.

Na Regoču brada raščupana, plašt razderan - ramena mu krvava.

Regoč's beard was dishevelled, his cloak torn, and his shoulders bloody.

Al nikako Zlovode ustaviti ne može, nego ono more oko brdašca raste i raste, da potopi čobančad. - A bijaše već noći o ponoći.

Yet he could not stop the Zlovoda, and the sea around the little mound kept rising higher and higher, threatening to drown the shepherd children. It was already the middle of the night.

Kad al ujedared sinu misao Kosjenki, i ona se kroz jauk i plač čobana oglasi smijehom i viknu Regoču:

But suddenly an idea struck Kosjenka, and amid the shepherd children's wailing and weeping, she burst out laughing and shouted to Regoč:

-

"Regoču, luda glavo! Šta ne sjedneš među one rogove od nasipa! Što ne zatvoriš leđima vodu!"

"Regoč, you silly fool! Why don't you sit down between those horns of the embankment? Why don't you block the water with your back?"

Čobani i čobanice načas umukoše od velikoga čuda, kako li se nitko ne bijaše tome dosjetio!

The shepherd boys and girls fell silent for a moment in utter amazement. How had no one thought of that before!

-

"Uhuhu!"

"Ha ha ha!"

- čulo se tamo, kako se Regoč smije - a nije šala, kad se Regoč nasmije!

Regoč's laughter rang out from over there—and it was no small matter when Regoč laughed!

Sve bućka i klokoće oko njega ono more, kako se Regoč trese od smijeha, što bijaše tako lud.

The sea bubbled and gurgled all around him as Regoč shook with laughter at how foolish he had been.

A onda ustane Regoč, okrene se i - eto ti ga na! - sjedne među one rogove!

Then Regoč stood up, turned around, and—would you believe it!—sat down between those horns!

Čuda li velikoga, Bože moj!

What a mighty wonder, dear God!

Stade voda Zlovoda, kao da si stijenu navalio na nasip!

The waters of the Zlovoda stopped, as though a great rock had been thrust against the embankment!

Stade - ne može preko pleći Regoču, nego poče teći svojim koritom, kuda je i prije tekla - sve stružući uz leđa Regoču.

They stopped—they could not flow over Regoč's shoulders, so they began running through their own channel again, just as they had before, scraping along Regoč's back as they passed.

Ele, Bože, čuda i spasenja!

Good heavens, what a wonder and what a salvation!

Spaseni bijahu sada čobani i čobanice od najgore nevolje, a Regoč, lijepo sjedeći, dohvaćao rukama zemlje i zatrpavao sve polagano ispod sebe i ukraj sebe nasip. - Počeo on noći o ponoći, a kad stala zora svanjivati, bio je posao gotov.

The shepherd boys and girls were now saved from the worst of the disaster. Regoč sat comfortably and scooped up earth with his hands, slowly filling in the embankment beneath and beside him. He had begun at midnight, and by the time dawn broke, the work was finished.

Upravo sunce sinulo, kad je Regoč ustao sa nasipa od gotova posla, da pročisti bradu, u koju se bijaše nahvatalo mulja i granja i sitnih ribica.

The sun had just risen when Regoč got up from the embankment, his work done, to clean his beard, which had become tangled with mud, branches, and little fish.

Ali još ne bijaše došao kraj nevolji one jadne čobančadi, jer kuda će i komu će oni poći?

But the troubles of the poor shepherd children were not yet over, for where could they go, and to whom?

Stoje čobani navrh brdašca.

The shepherd children stood atop the little mound.

Sve oko njih ono pusto more.

All around them stretched that desolate sea.

Od obaju sela viri samo još po koji krović, a u selima nitko živ ne osta.

Only a few rooftops still protruded from the water where the two villages had been, and not a single living soul remained in either village.

Još bi se seljani i spasli, da su bježali pred vodom na svoje tavane.

The villagers might still have been saved if they had fled from the rising water into their attics.

Ali u oba sela bijahu svi seljani izašli na gumna sa sviralama i talambasima, da se raduju i da gledaju jedno selo u propast drugoga.

But in both villages, everyone had gone out onto the threshing floors with pipes and tambourines, rejoicing as they watched one village bring about the other's destruction.

Pa kada već i jednima i drugima bijaše voda do pojasa, oni još udarahu u talambase, a kad im bila voda i do grla, oni još puhahu u sviralice od zloradosti.

Even when the water reached the waists of the people in both villages, they continued beating their tambourines. And when the water rose to their throats, they were still blowing their little pipes out of spiteful delight.

I tako se potopiše svi do jednoga, sa talambasima i sa sviralicama, a bijaše to pravedna kazna Božja za zlobu njihovu.

And so they all drowned, every last one of them, with their tambourines and pipes. It was God's just punishment for their wickedness.

Al eto jadna čobančad ostala sada bez ikoga živoga, da je hrani i brani, i osta bez kuće i kućišta.

But now the poor shepherd children were left without a single living person to feed and protect them, and without homes or shelter.

- "Nismo vrapci, da na krovu živimo", - rekoše tužno čobani, gledajući, kako samo krovovi od sela vire iz mora,

"We are not sparrows, to live on rooftops," the shepherd children said sadly, looking at the rooftops that alone remained above the sea where their villages had stood,

"a nismo ni lisice, da u planini po dupljima živimo. Da nam je kako osloboditi naša sela od ove vode, još bi se dalo živjeti - al ovako najbolje da skočimo u vodu sa našim stadom, pak da se i mi potopimo, kad eto nemamo ni kamo da se sklonimo."

"nor are we foxes, to live in mountain hollows. If only there were some way to free our villages from this water, we could still manage to live. But as things are, we might as well jump into the water with our flocks and drown ourselves, since we have nowhere left to take shelter."

To bijaše vrlo tužno, i samome Regoču vrlo se nažao dalo - ali tomu zlu ne mogaše nikako doskočiti, te govoraše, gledajući ono more: -

This was a very sad thing, and Regoč himself felt deeply grieved by it. Yet he could find no way to remedy this misfortune, and so he said, gazing out over the sea:

"Ovoliku vodu ni izgrabiti ni posrkati ne mogu, da vam oslobodim sela. Što ću vam, ele, djeco moja?"

"I cannot bail out or suck up all this water to free your villages. What am I to do for you, my children?"

Ali se uto javi Liljo, najmudrije dijete onih kotara:

But just then Liljo, the wisest child in those districts, spoke up:

-

"Regoču, baća moj, ako ne možeš ti da posrčeš ovoliku vodu, zemlja će ju posrkati, zemlja! Probij rupu u zemlji, propusti ovo more u zemlju."

"Regoč, my big brother, if you cannot suck up all this water yourself, the earth will swallow it, the earth! Make a hole in the ground and let this sea flow into the earth."

Bože moj, kolika je mudrost u djeteta, koje nije veće nego prst Regočev!

Good heavens, what wisdom in a child no bigger than Regoč's finger!

Zaista udari Regoč o zemlju, probije rupu, a zemlja, kao žedna aždaja, stane srkati, srkati, gutati i navlačiti u se ono silno more sa čitave ravnice.

Regoč struck the ground and broke a hole in it. Then the earth, like a thirsty dragon, began sucking and sucking, gulping down and drawing into itself the mighty sea that covered the entire plain.

Ne potraja dugo i posrka zemlja svu vodu i ukazaše se opet sela, polja i livade, povaljane i zamuljene, ali svako na svom mjestu.

It was not long before the earth had swallowed all the water, and the villages, fields, and meadows appeared once more, battered and covered in mud, but each in its proper place.

Obradovaše se tužni čobani i čobanice, ali najradosnija od svih bijaše Kosjenka.

The sorrowful shepherd boys and girls rejoiced, but Kosjenka was the happiest of them all.

Pljesnu ona u ručice i povika:

She clapped her little hands and cried:

-

"Alaj, divote li, kad se ova polja opet pozlate i livade zazelene!"

"Oh, how wonderful it will be when these fields turn golden again and the meadows grow green!"

Ali nato opet oboriše glavu čobani i čobanice, a Lilja reče:

But at this, the shepherd boys and girls lowered their heads again, and Liljo said:

-

"A tko će nas uputiti, kako da posijemo polja i oremo njive, kad nam nitko stariji ne osta?"

"But who will teach us how to sow the fields and plough the land, now that not a single grown-up is left?"

I zaista na daleko i široko ne bijaše nikoga starijega nego samo ova hrpa jadne djece u ovoj povaljenoj ravnici, a s njima Regoč, koji bijaše toliko golem, nespretan i neuputan, da nije mogao ni glavom zaviriti pod njihove krovove, niti se što razumio u njihova polja i plugove.

And indeed, far and wide there was no one older than this little group of poor children in the devastated plain, except Regoč, who was so enormous, clumsy, and inexperienced that he could not even peek beneath their rooftops, much less understand anything about their fields and ploughs.

Snuždiše se iznova svi, a ponajviše Regoč, koji bijaše toliko zavolio prekrasnu Kosjenku - a sada eto ne mogaše ni njoj ni čobančadi da bude od kakve koristi.

Everyone grew downcast once more, especially Regoč, who had grown so fond of the lovely Kosjenka, yet now could be of no help either to her or to the shepherd children.

A što je bilo najgore: zaželio se Regoč silno svoga pustoga Legena!

And worst of all, Regoč had begun to long terribly for his desolate Legen!

Bijaše se on prve noći nagutao mulja za hiljadu godina i nagledao strahota i suviše.

That first night, he had swallowed enough mud for a thousand years and witnessed more than enough horrors.

Zato ga velika želja morila za golemim i pustim Legenom, gdje je u miru brojao kamen tolike stotine godina.

That was why he yearned so deeply for vast, desolate Legen, where he had spent so many hundreds of years peacefully counting stones.

Snuždeni dakle stoje čobani, snužden Liljo, a snužden ponajviše Regoč.

And so the shepherd children stood dejected, Liljo stood dejected, and Regoč was more dejected than any of them.

Zaista bijaše žalosno pogledati ovu hrpu dječice, što će bez svojih starijih morati poginuti i povenuti kao cvijet bez korijena.

It was truly a sorrowful sight: this little band of children, who without their elders would surely perish and wither like flowers without roots.

Samo Kosjenka radosno zvirkaše amo-tamo, jer ona nikada ne bijaše tužna.

Only Kosjenka cheerfully glanced this way and that, for she was never sad.

Ujedared poviknu Kosjenka:

Suddenly Kosjenka cried out:

-

"Gledite! gledite! Kakvi su ono ljudi? Alaj ti moraju znati čudesa i pripovijesti!"

"Look! Look! Who are those people? Oh, they must know all sorts of wonders and stories!"

Svi pogledaše napram selu, a kad tamo, na jednom prozoru ukazale se dvije glave: starac i starica.

Everyone looked towards the village, and there, in one of the windows, two heads appeared: an old man and an old woman.

Domahuju maramicom, zovu djecu po imenu i smiju se, da im se sve sjaje ona navorana lica.

They waved a handkerchief, called the children by name, and smiled so broadly that their wrinkled faces seemed to shine.

Bijahu to šukundjed i šukunbaba, što bijahu jedini mudri u dva sela te se spasoše na tavan.

They were the children's great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother, the only wise people in the two villages, who had saved themselves by fleeing to the attic.

Alaj Bože!

Oh, thank God!

Da su djeca ugledala na ovom tavanu sunce od istoči i zvijezdu Danicu, ne bi toliko vrisnula od radosti.

If the children had seen the rising sun and the morning star on that attic, they could not have cried out with any greater joy.

Sve se do neba čuje, kako vrište:

Their cries of joy rang all the way to the heavens:

-

"Bako! Djede!"

"Grandmother! Grandfather!"

I poletješe djeca kao mlada vižlad naprama selu - pred svima Kosjenka, kojoj zlatna kosa na vjetru prši, a za njima ovce i janjići.

The children raced towards the village like a pack of young hounds, with Kosjenka in the lead, her golden hair flying in the wind, and the sheep and lambs following behind.

Ne ustaviše se sve do sela, gdje ih dočekaše na kućnim vratima djed i baka.

They did not stop until they reached the village, where Grandfather and Grandmother were waiting for them at the door of their house.

Dočekaše ih, uhvatiše ih u naručaj, te ne znadoše svi zajedno, kako da Bogu zahvale, što je dao babi i djedu toliko mudrosti, te se spasoše na tavan.

The old couple welcomed them and gathered them into their arms, and together they could hardly find words to thank God for giving Grandmother and Grandfather such wisdom that they had saved themselves by taking refuge in the attic.

Ovo pak i radi toga bijaše dobro, što ono bijahu sasvim priprosta sela, te u njih ne bijaše knjiga ni upisa tko bi spominjao čobančadi o nesreći, koja bješe nastala od zlobe, kad ne bi ostali djed i baka živi.

This was fortunate, too, because the villages were very simple places, with no books or written records to remind the shepherd children of the disaster caused by wickedness, had Grandfather and Grandmother not survived.

Kad se dakle bijahu izgrlili, sjetiše se Regoča.

After they had embraced one another to their hearts' content, they remembered Regoč.

Obazreše se po ravnici - ali Regoča nema!

They looked around the plain—but Regoč was nowhere to be seen!

Nema ga nigdje - nestao je ujedared, onolika grdosija, nestao, kao miš u rupi.

He was nowhere at all. That enormous giant had suddenly vanished, disappeared like a mouse into its hole.

I zaista bijaše Regoč nestao kao miš u rupi.

And indeed, Regoč had disappeared like a mouse into its hole.

Kad se naime ukazaše na tavanu djed i baka, uplašio se Regoč kao još nikada u svom životu.

For when Grandfather and Grandmother appeared in the attic, Regoč was more frightened than he had ever been in his life.

Uplašio se on strahovito njihovih navoranih išaranih staračkih lica.

Their wrinkled, weathered old faces filled him with terrible fear.

- "Ele, Bože moj, koliko li su strahota ovi starci doživjeli u ovome kraju, kad su im lica takva", - pomisli Regoč i od prevelikog straha skoči istim časom u onu rupu, kuda bijaše propala Zlovoda - i uteče putem natrag do svog pustog Legena grada.

"Good heavens, how many horrors these old people must have endured in this land for their faces to look like that," Regoč thought. Overwhelmed with fear, he immediately leapt into the hole through which the Zlovoda had disappeared and fled back along the passage to his desolate city of Legen.

Sve je pošlo po dobru u selu.

Everything went well in the village.

Djed i baka upućivahu djecu, te djeca orala i sijala.

Grandfather and Grandmother guided the children, who ploughed and sowed the fields.

Po savjetu djeda i bake učiniše samo jedno selo i jedno gumno, jednu crkvu i jedno groblje, kako više ne bi bilo zlobe ni nesreće.

Following Grandfather and Grandmother's advice, they made just one village and one threshing floor, one church and one graveyard, so that there would be no more malice or misfortune.

Sve je pošlo po dobru, no najljepše od svega bijaše, što imađahu nasred sela krasnu kulu od gorskoga mramora, a navrh kule bijahu učinili vrt, gdje cvatijahu naranče i dafine.

Everything went well, but the loveliest thing of all was that, in the middle of the village, they had a beautiful tower built of mountain marble, with a garden on its roof where orange trees and oleanders bloomed.

Tu je obitavala prekrasna Kosjenka i gledala sa kule kao sa oblaka, po svemu onome kraju, koji joj bijaše toliko omilio, čim bijaše prvi put sašla na zemlju.

There the lovely Kosjenka made her home, looking out from the tower as though from a cloud over all the surrounding countryside, which she had loved so dearly from the very first moment she had descended to earth.

A uvečer, kad poljski posao bijaše gotov, dovodio Liljo na kulu čobanice i čobane, te na mjesečini u vrtu kolo igrahu i pjesme pjevahu sa prekrasnom, milokrvnom, radosnom Kosjenkom.

And in the evening, when the work in the fields was done, Liljo would bring the shepherd boys and girls up to the tower, where, by moonlight in the garden, they danced in a circle and sang songs with the beautiful, gentle-hearted, joyful Kosjenka.

Regoč se pak pod zemljom još sastade sa vodom Zlovodom, te bućkalo i tutnjilo pod zemljom, gdje se on s njome rvaše, dok je ne propusti sve dublje i dublje, do dna pakla, da nikad više ne posluži zlobi ljudskoj.

Meanwhile, beneath the earth, Regoč encountered the waters of the Zlovoda once more. They bubbled and rumbled underground as he wrestled with them, forcing them deeper and deeper, all the way down to the depths of hell, so that they could never again serve human wickedness.

A onda dalje pođe Regoč do svog Legena.

Then Regoč continued on his way to his Legen.

Tamo i sad sjedi, kamen broji i Bogu se moli, da ga nikad više ne odvede od silnoga i pustoga Legen-grada, kuda bijaše najbolje pristao onako golem i neuputan.

There he still sits to this day, counting stones and praying to God never again to lead him away from the mighty, desolate city of Legen, where, so enormous and unworldly as he was, he belonged best of all.

Tales of Long Ago: Regoč

5 more chapters of Tales of Long Ago