The Center for Hellenic Studies

The Singer of Tales

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Appendix II. Comparison of Four Versions of “Marko and Nina” by Petar Vidić























Parry 6 Parry 804 Parry 805 Parry 846
Marko is drinking wine with his mother, his wife, and his sister (1-4). Marko arises early in his stone
tower and drinks raki. With him are his mother, his wife, and his sister Anđelija (1-7).		 Marko arises early in his tower in Prilip and drinks raki. With him are
his mother, his wife, and his sister Anđelija (1-6).		 Marko arises early in his stone tower. With him are his mother and his wife (1-5).
He tells them that they may look for the sun and the moon, but never again for him. His mother asks him where he is going, and he tells her that he is going into the sultan’s army for seven years (5-15).

 

He tells his mother that he has caused much sorrow and done many heroic deeds, and that yesterday a letter came from the sultan calling him to the army. He is to bring his horse and his sword, and stay for a period of a year and fifteen days (8-20).

 Marko says that a letter arrived the day before from the sultan calling him to serve in the army for nine years (7-10). A messenger arrives with a letter for Marko. He reads it and is silent. His mother asks him where the letter is from and why it makes him sad. Marko says the letter is from the sultan calling him to serve in the army for nine years and to bring his horse and sword (6-30).
 

 

He tells her that when Nina of Koštun hears that Marko has gone, he will come to Prilip, capture his tower, steal his treasure and his wife, and tread upon his mother. If that happens, she is to write him a letter and send it by falcon. Then the sultan will send him against Nina (21-38).

 He tells his mother that if Nina of Koštun should come and capture his tower, take away his wife and sister, and tread on his mother, she should write him a letter and send it to him
by his falcon (11-22).		 If Nina of Koštun hears, he will come to Prilip, tread on Marko’s mother, and take away his wife and sister Anđelija. If that happens, his mother is to send him a letter by his falcon, who will be able to find him in the army. His mother agrees to do this (31-54).
  Marko prepares himself and says farewell to his mother, repeating the instructions just given. He departs (39-51).   Marko prepares to depart. He tells his wife to look for the sun and moon, but never again for him. He goes to Carigrad (55-65).
When Marko joins the army, he greets the sultan, who takes away his sword and his horse, Marko is to serve for seven years and then his sword and horse will be returned to him (16-24). Marko goes to the army (52).   When Marko joins the army he greets the sultan, who takes his horse and sword. Marko serves the sultan for nine years (66-77).
  When Nina hears that Marko has gone, he comes with his brothers to Prilip, burns Marko’s tower, treads on his mother, and takes his wife and sister captive (53-63). Nina and his three brothers capture Marko’s tower, take his wife and sister, and tread on his mother (23-30). Nina and his four brothers hear (in the ninth year) that Marko is in the army, and they go to Prilip. They capture Marko’s tower, take away his wife and sister, and tread on his mother (78-96).

 

Marko receives a letter from his mother saying that his tower has been captured by Nina, his mother trodden upon, and his wife taken captive (25-30).

 Marko’s mother writes him a letter, and sends it by his falcon (64-71). Marko’s mother writes a letter telling him what has happened, and sends it by his falcon (31-46). Marko’s mother writes a letter telling him what has happened, and sends it by his falcon (97-112).
  When the falcon arrives he seeks out Marko and delivers the letter (72-77). The falcon seeks out Marko and delivers the letter (47-51). The falcon seeks out Marko and delivers the letter (123-127).
He goes to the sultan and asks for his horse and sword, his blood-brother Aliagha, and 12 warriors, that he may attack Nina. His request is granted, Marko dresses himself and his men in monks’ clothing, but they keep their weapons under their robes (31-48).

 

Marko reads the letter and flies into a rage. He writes a petition to the sultan, {236|237} telling him the story. He asks permission from Delibaša Ibro to present it to the sultan. The permission is granted, the sultan reads the petition and tells Marko to choose 12 warriors, with Ibro at their head, to take his sword and his horse, and to bring back Nina’s head. Marko chooses his men and horses (78-113).

 Marko reads and is angry. He writes to the sultan, who gives him back his horse and sword, and his choice of
12 warriors. The sultan says to bring back Nina’s head (52-71).		 Marko reads and is angry. He shows the letter to the sultan, who gives him {237|238} back his horse and sword, and his choice of 12 warriors with Delibaša Ibro at their head. The sultan says to bring back Nina’s head. Marko chooses his men (128-154).
They depart and travel until they are near Koštun (49-51). They depart, Marko urging them to ride hard to the city of Prilip (114-120). They depart (72-75). They depart (155-159).
 

 

When they come to a spring, they sit down to rest and drink. Marko tells his companions that it will not be easy to take Koštun, but there is a church nearby where he will ask for some monks’ robes for himself and them. They go to the church, and Marko makes his request. The monk refuses. Marko kills him and his 12 neophytes, and he and his companions put on their disguises. Thence they proceed to Koštun (121-179).

 On the mountain they stop to drink. Marko says they will go to a church and ask for monks’ clothes, and they do. The monks refuse, and Marko
kills them, and he and his
companions disguise themselves in
monks’ clothes. They proceed to Koštun (76-110).		 On the mountain they stop to drink. Marko says they will go to a church and ask for monks’ clothes. The monks refuse, and Marko kills them, and he and his companions disguise themselves in monks’ clothes. They proceed to Koštun (160-194).
At the spring Zloglav they meet twelve women washing clothes, among them Marko’s wife. She does not recognize him, but she recognizes his horse and weeps. She asks the monk where he got Šarac, and Marko tells her that Marko is dead, and that in return for burying him, he had given him the horse. The monk has come to Nina with his companions to marry him to Marko’s wife. He tells her to take word to Nina that he will be there that evening. This she does, telling Nina the whole
story about Marko and the monks (52-88).		 When they arrive, Marko rides into the courtyard. Marko’s wife is at the window, and she asks him where he got her master’s horse. He tells her that Marko died nine years ago and that he had given him the horse in return for burying him. He says that he has heard that Nina has taken Marko’s wife and sister, and he has come to marry them. He is admitted (180-212). When they arrive at a spring near Koštun where Marko’s wife and sister are washing clothes, his wife recognizes Šarac, and asks where the monk got Marko’s horse. Marko says that he died nine years ago. He has heard that Nina will marry and he has come for that. He sent his wife to tell Nina. Marko tells his men to stay outside. Nina asks where Marko got the horse, and he says Marko gave it to him for burying him. Marko goes into the tower (111-155). When they arrive at a spring near Koštun where Marko’s wife and sister are washing clothes, his wife recognizes Šarac, and asks where the monk got Marko’s horse. Marko says that he died nine years ago, and gave him the horse for burying him. He sends his wife to tell Nina that the monk has come to marry the two. He leaves his men outside and rides into the courtyard. Nina asks where he got the horse, and Marko tells him. He also tells him that he has come to marry him. They enter the tower (195-241).
Marko and his companions arrive and are welcomed by Nina. Marko’s wife serves them wine. Marko asks permission to dance a little and it is granted (89-103). Nina entertains them with raki, wine, and meat, and asks Marko to drink to the soul of Marko and the health of Nina. Marko says he will drink a little and then dance. He will perform the {238|239} marriage in church the next day. Nina says to sing as much as he wants (213-228). Nina entertains Marko with wine, and Marko asks permission to dance a little for the soul of Marko and the health of Nina. The permission is granted (156-165). Nina entertains Marko with wine and meat and Marko asks permission to dance and sing a little for the soul of Marko and the health of Nina. The permission is granted (242-256). {239|240}
Marko dances and the tower shakes. Nina says that others have danced, but the tower has never shaken. Marko says that others have danced, but
never Kraljević Marko. He swings his sword and cuts off Nina’s head, and kills some of the servants (104-119).

 

Marko dances and sings to the soul of Marko and the health of Nina. Nina asks where he got such strength; all Kostun is shaking. Then Marko cries out: “For the soul of Nina, and the health of Kraljevíc Marko! He swings his sword and kills Nina (229-247).

 Marko dances, and Nina says he shakes the tower. Marko asks permission to sing, and it is granted. Marko shouts: “For the soul of Nina!”, swings his sword and cuts off Nina’s head (166-177). Marko dances, and Koštun shakes. Nina says that to judge by his strength this must be Marko. Marko dances and sings for the soul of Nina and the health of Marko. His sword swings and he kills Nina (257-271).
Marko sets fire to the tower. Nina’s brothers flee, and Marko pursues them. He kills Jasenko at Rudine, which was afterwards called Jasena; he kills Šćepan at Rudman, which was afterwards called Šćepan’s Cross; he kills Radoje at Ravno, which was afterwards called Radimlja (120-133). Nina’s brothers flee and Marko and his companions pursue them. They kill Šćepan at Šćepan’s Cross, Jasenko at Jasena, Radoje at Radimlja, and Mina at Mejdan Pusti. (The version is confused here.) They set up a monument, and then gather up the heads (248-273). Nina’s three brothers flee and Marko and his men pursue them. He kills Šćepan at Šćepan’s Cross, Jasenko at Jasena, and Radoje at Radimlja. He erects a monument at each place. He gathers their heads. He himself has lost only one man (178-191). Nina’s brothers flee and Marko and his men pursue them. They kill Šćepan at Šćepan’s Cross, Jasenko at Jasena, and Radoje at Radimlja. They erect monuments at each place (272-285).

 

Nina’s retainers meet Marko, Aliagha, and the 12 warriors in the ravines, and Aliagha and the warriors are killed. Marko erects a monument to them. Then he catches the last brother and cuts off his head. Here too he erects a monument (134-149).

      
Marko returns and takes his wife away to Prilip (150-154). They return to Koštun. Marko and Ibro set fire to the tower (274-279). {240|241} Marko returns with his wife, his sister, and his men to Prilip (192-200). They return to Koštun. Marko gathers the heads in a bag, and returns to Prilip, having set fire to Koštun. Ibro is missing (286-310).
   

 

In Prilip Marko shows Nina’s head to his mother, and tells her that he will trouble her no more. Marko eats and drinks (201-212).

 They go to Marko’s tower and eat and drink and rest (311-317).
   

 

Marko goes to the sultan. He gives him the heads and reports that Ibro has been killed. The sultan rewards him and sends him back to Prilip, with greetings to his mother, and the offer of assistance whenever Marko needs help. Marko returns to Prilip (213-234).

 Marko takes the heads to the sultan, who sends him home to Prilip with the offer of assistance whenever he needs it. Marko returns to Prilip (318-324). {241|]