Kneževa kletva (The Curse of Prince Lazar)

Narodno predanje (folk tradition) kaže da je u pripremi Kosovske bitke Knez Lazar oko sebe okupio svu srpsku vlastelu (nobles) i pred njima izrekao kletvu za sve one koji ne dođu na Kosovo polje. Ova je kletva zabeležena i sačuvana u srpskoj narodnoj poeziji.Ona se vekovima prenosila s kolena na koleno kao opomena i mračni usud (destiny) što sledi za izdajništvo (treason) i nepatriotizam. Delovi kneževe kletve urezani su na spomenik kosovskim junacima na Gazi-Mestanu.

Ko je Srbin i srpskoga roda, Who is a Serb and descends from Serbs,
i od srpske krvi i kolena, And is of Serbian blood and origin,
a ne došo na boj na Kosovo, But comes not to fight at Kosovo,
ne imao od srca poroda, May he have not his heart’s progeny
ni muškoga ni devojačkoga! Any children neither male nor female!

Od ruke mu ništa ne rodilo, May his hand make everything turn barren,
ni u polju pšenica belica, Barren vineyards
ni u brdu vinova lozica! And the fields of wheat!
Rđom kapo dok mu je kolena! May he die scum to the end of time!*

*(meaning: may all of his descendants die that way until the family tree is extinct)

The Curse of Prince Lazar is written in the archaic vernacular of the epic saga and it makes an incredible impression by the simplicity and power of its poetic expression. The English translation is literal and relays neither the spirit nor the potency of the original verse.