The Istanbul letters of Antun Vrančić: Croatian and English translation of selected Latin letters (1553–1568)

CXX.
Gregoriancz Pálnak Verancsics.
Paulo Gregorianzio Verancius.

1554. Oct. 31. Non committo ad te ut non scribam aliquando;
verum quod non crebro, ut tu cupias et ipse debeam
propter tuam erga me summam benevolentiam, dudum
novisti causas, quas accusare debes. Res itaque pon-
deris et quae publicae rei nostrae statum respiciunt,
tutoque nudis litteris in epistolas mitti nequeunt, ha-
bes ex notis, quas cum collega meo ad regem damus.
Tecum ipse familiaria tractabo, quaeque in vulgi ratio-
nibus posita, sine etiam notarum velamentis tuta
sunt. Haec autem tantum jucunditatis adferent, quan-
tum poterunt peregrina, quae quidem sunt ejusmodi,
ut nostris proprius comparata, magis rideas quam ad-
mirere et pensi facias. Totum hoc triduum ac trino-
ctium proximum ob res Turcarum bene apud Persas
gestas, quod ipsi credi volunt, deque ejusdem salvo a
bello reditu, publice hic in triumphi cujusdam speciem
acta est laetitia, quam tibi paucis descripturus, ne
hujus gentis triumphi formam ignores, talem fuisse
scito. Denunciata enim populo memorata laetitia a
praeconibus per insigniora urbis loca pridie quam agi
incepisset, poena etiam omnibus est gravissima con-
stituta, quicunque propalam laetari aut respuisset aut
neglexisset. Consuetum hoc Turcis laetitiae genus est,
quod jam pridem a majoribus in Europam transgressis
acceperunt, quandocunque eorum principes aeque et
victoriis potiti et jacturas passi, vel etiam aspecto
tantum hostili solo salvi ab expeditionibus revertun-
tur; nihili hominum caedem, ut terrae filiorum, quo
- 361 -
genere apud Turcas omnes fere habentur, quod pauci
parentes cognoverunt, nihili dedecus, nihili demum
omnia detrimenta aestimantes, principe sospite et re-
duce. Si vero a me quaeris, quid sibi isthaec laetitia?
Triumphum equidem ipse arbitror, consideratis causis.
Quid Turcae? Hos quoque istud ipsum arbitrari puto,
sed prorsus ignorare, quonam magnificentiae appa-
ratu, quo sumptu, quo ordine ac ratione fieri deberet,
propterea dum se triumphare magnifice existimant,
nundinarum quarumdam, mea quidem sententia, simu-
lacrum referunt. Omnes enim cives quibus est domus
et res, nullo ordine et conditione excepta, suggestus
quosdam assericios prae aedibus singuli opere tumul-
tuario construunt, inde quicquid cuique est laneae, li-
neae, sericiaeque supellectilis quam in pretio ponunt,
rerumque aliarum, quae spectari, admirari et detinere
oculos hominum valent, producunt, suggestum late
circumvestiunt, consternuntque pictis tum stragulis
tum tapetibus, appositisque etiam circum pulvinaribus,
sed non iis, quae deorum olim immortalium erant,
quamquam alio atque alio speciosiore phrygionum
opere eleboratis, aut saltem auro sericoque intextis
pannis, ut cuique fortunae sunt, obvolutis; demum ipsi
etiam festis induti vestibus, consident quique in suis,
et die noctuque in aperto epulantur, tantumque vel ex
lege quilibet obsoniorum in culinam conferre debet, ut
nullo ne momento quidem cesset cocorum ministerium,
et omnibus transeuntibus qui vel sponte sua ad se
diverterint, vel comiter invitati et attracti fuerint,
epulae identidem apponi possint. Magis autem multo
laetitia atque ardor ejusmodi convictus fervet aestu
atque ad lychnos, quorum per coronam laquearium
suggesti, quam plura quisque possit, suspendunt, vi-
- 362 -
gilante interim reliquo populo pene universo et per
urbem divagante, quam ardere totam diceres, tanta
ubique lychnorum copia per vicos lucet, nec is o-
mnino apparatus posset dici confusus, quia quilibet
mechanicorum pro suo artificio proponit sua opera,
suas mercator merces, pictor tabulas, miles arma, et
alii in hunc modum alia. Quibus vero fortunarum et
supellectilis speciosioris minus est, ut multis civibus
nulla professione praeditis, ii commodato acceptis
rebus exornantur, et coquinae addunt si non pretio-
siora, at oriza tantum, ut excedat ordinarium. Verum
caput hujus tantae laetitiae in II. bezestanis cernitur,
ubi omnia praestantiora exponuntur, quae ad pannos
duntaxat serico divites et auro clavatos attinet. His
enim quilibet institor supra suam stationem sic murum
obducit quam possit elegantius, ut, quaecunque obtutu
percurreris, pannos duntaxat ejusmodi et epulantem
turbam eminentius in suggestibus ibidem quoque ex-
citatis aspicias, sine tamen foeminarum consortio,
quibus ne templa quidem fas est accedere, musicoque
instrumento admodum raro admisso, tuba vero et
tympano et fistulis prorsus nulla; colloquendo epulan-
doque tota haec sive erit laetitia sive triumphus ce-
lebratur. Hi autem bezestani II. sunt porticus quadra-
tae, sed in plures testudinatas cryptas, pilis crassiori-
bus, quanquam minuto lapide structis sustentatas,
distinctaequae, obtinenturbis emporium, in quo quicquid
opum rerumque pretiosiorum possident etiam privati
homines, servatur et reponitur, tum propter metum
incendii, tum ingruente tumultu aliquo janizarum, po-
tissimum autem in principum mutationibus. Visitur
autem ab exteris, ut quiddam pro Turcarum judicio
rarum et excellenter conspicuum, nullibi visum. Passae,
- 363 -
caeterique urbis magistratus intra tecta, solis vacan-
tes epulis, celebravere laetitiam, oratores largius as-
sentati, quidam ludos etiam et certamina quaedam
edidere in publico praemiis propositis. Nos pendente
adhuc pacis nostrae cum Turca fine, caventes ne no-
taremur, si aut parum aut nimis ostentassemus animos,
mediocritate usi sumus. Valvas enim hospitii malis
haud tamen obscuris obduximus tapetis, epulasque
magis copiosas quam sumptuosas suppeditari in sug-
gestum nostrum curavimus, ut quicunque accurissent,
omnes quod manducarent praesto atque ubertim ha-
berent. Hujuscemodi triumpho Turcae prosecuti sunt
sospitis imperatoris Turcarum reditum, nec aliud
quicquam in eo mihi accidit magis admirandum, quam
quod in tanto concursu convictuque et compotatione
gentis barbarae et ferae, quae cum pota est supra
modum, non stertit aut leniter jurgatur, ut potatores
nostri, sed immaniter furit, nullae lites, nulli tumul-
tus inciderunt, ne turbulentiores quidem in tam multa
et varia turba exauditae sunt vociferationes Unam
domum agere diceres, quod agebat tota civitas et ea
quidem quae vastissima est, crebrasque habet solitu-
dines totis jugis interclusas, licentiae et latrociniis per-
accomodas; quod tamen mitibus Turcarum moribus
nequaquam tribuas, sed janizarum fustibus, quorum
per singulos pene urbis passus dispositae stationes
omnium prohibebantur insolentiae; hic triumphi hujus,
hic laetitiae finis fuit. Caeterum a me ejusmodi habe-
bis etiam posthaec, quaecunque inciderint in his locis,
neque ullo tempore patiar ut officium meum desideres.
Quae vero isthic accidunt, si ea tu quoque ad me per-
scribes, quoties erit cui litteras dare commode pote-
ris, aeque mihi gratum feceris, ut a me tibi fieri cupis;
- 364 -
cum inter amicos officia tunc producent fructus uberes
et suaves, cum sint mutua.

Vale, et me absentem non solum diligas, sed
etiam authoritate tuearis, siquid invidiae negotiique ab
aemulis objiceretur. Constantinopoli, ultima Octo-
bris 1554.

CXX. Vrančić Pavlu Gregorijancu, sv. 3, str. 360–364.

Pismo Antuna Vrančića Pavlu Gregorijancu[1] od 31. listopada 1554. godine

Ne započinjem pismo time da ti nikada ne pišem; no ti već dugo znaš što moraš okriviti za to što ti ne pišem onoliko često koliko bi ti želio i koliko bih ja morao zbog silne dobrohotnosti koju mi iskazuješ. Dakle, važne stvari, kao i one koje se tiču položaja naše države i koje se ne mogu sigurno slati u nešifriranim pismima, doznat ćeš iz izvješća koje moj kolega i ja pišemo kralju. S tobom ću razgovarati o privatnim temama koje su oblikovane tako da mogu u javnost te su sigurne i bez tajnog zapisa. Ovaj, pak, strani svijet pruža prilično veliku nasladu, no ako se usporedi s našim, u većoj mjeri navodi na smijeh negoli na divljenje i razmišljanje. Čitava protekla tri dana i tri noći ovdje se odvijala javna zabava nalik na pobjedničku proslavu zbog uspješnog rata koji su Turci, kako to sami vole vjerovati, vodili protiv Perzijanaca i u čast sretnog povratka kući. Podrobno ću ti je opisati kako bi doznao nešto o načinu na koji ovaj narod slavi pobjedu. Izgledala je ovako. Spomenutu su zabavu dan prije početka objavljivali glasnici na svim važnijim mjestima u gradu. Osim toga, za svakoga tko bi je propustio ili odbio javno slaviti, određena je najteža kazna. To je uobičajena vrsta proslave kod Turaka. Nekoć su je preuzeli od predaka koji su prešli u Europu, a održava se kad god neki od njihovih prvaka doživi pobjedu ili pretrpi gubitak, pa čak i kada se samo naoko sretno vrati s ratnog pohoda protiv neprijatelja. Nisu nimalo zazirali od ubijanja ljudi, pa čak i vlastitih sinova. To je uobičajeno kod gotovo svih Turaka, a u to su se mogli uvjeriti mnogi roditelji. Osim toga, uopće ne smatraju sramotnim i štetnim ako se vladar vrati živ i zdrav. Ako me, pak,
- 106 -pitaš čemu služi takva zabava, reći ću ti da je, razmotrivši sve razloge, smatram proslavom pobjede. Što je ona za Turke? Mislim da je i oni smatraju proslavom pobjede, no uopće ne znaju s kakvim je sjajem i raskoši, uz koje troškove, kojim redom i na koji način treba organizirati. Upravo tada kada misle da veličanstveno slave pobjedu, to slavlje, po mome mišljenju, izgleda kao slika i prilika vašara. Svi građani koji posjeduju kuću i pokretnine, bez obzira na stalež i položaj, ispred zgrada od nekakvih greda zbrda-zdola podižu podije. Potom iznose svu svoju vunenu, lanenu ili svilenu opremu koju smatraju vrijednom, kao i druge stvari koje su lijepe, privlačne i ugodne oku, te njima sa svih strana oblažu podije. Potom ih pokrivaju oslikanim prekrivačima i sagovima, a oko njih postavljaju čak i jastuke, ali ne onakve kakve su nekoć imali besmrtni bogovi, premda su tu i tamo krasno urešeni zlatovezom. Ako ništa drugo, omotani su barem u zlatom ili svilom protkanu tkaninu, ovisno o tome koliko je tko imućan. Naposljetku svi odijevaju svečanu odjeću i sjedaju svatko na svoj podij, gdje danju i noću objeduju na otvorenome. Samo se, kao po pravilu, svakovrsne namirnice nose u kuhinju kako ni u jednom trenutku kuhari ne bi morali prekidati službu. Budući da svi idu amo-tamo, i oni koji su svojevoljno bili otišli i oni koji su ljubazno pozvani i dovedeni, više se puta mogu poslužiti jelom. Veselje i žar ovakvih gozbi raspaljuje i vrućina svjetiljaka koje hrpimice vješaju po stropovima, i to svatko što više može. U međuvremenu je gotovo čitav narod budan i luta gradom, koji izgleda kao da gori dok po svim četvrtima svijetli toliko mnoštvo svjetiljaka. Ta se raskoš ne bi mogla nazvati potpuno neorganiziranom jer svaki od zanatlija daje proizvode svoga umijeća: trgovac robu, slikar slike, vojnik oružje, a i svi ostali na sličan način ostalo. Oni koji posjeduju manje stvari i raskošne opreme – s obzirom na to da mnogo građana nema nikakva zanimanja – prikladno se uređuju poklonjenim stvarima i, ako nemaju ništa vrednije, jelima dodaju samo rižu kako bi bila neobičnija. No vrhunac takve zabave može se vidjeti u dva bezistana, gdje se izlaže sve ono izvrsnije, što se posebice odnosi na tkanine urešene svilom i protkane zlatom. Svaki ih trgovac postavlja na zid iznad svoje trgovine najelegantnije što može, tako da, kamo god pogledaš, vidiš takve tkanine, kao i uglednije mnoštvo koje na ondje podignutim platformama objeduje,
- 107 -no bez pratnje žena, kojima nije dopušteno ići čak ni u bogomolje. Vrlo se rijetko odobrava svirka na instrumentima, a na trubama, talambasima i frulama gotovo nikad, tako da se sve zabave ili pobjede slave samo razgovarajući i objedujući. Ta, pak, dva bezistana imaju četvrtaste trijemove, ali se u mnogima nalaze nadsvođene arkade koje podržavaju debeli stupovi od isklesanog kamena koji su vrlo lijepo ukrašeni. Ondje je gradsko trgovište, gdje se čuvaju i odlažu vrednije i dragocjenije stvari. To čine čak i pojedinci, zbog straha od požara i pobuna janjičara, a ponajprije zbog nereda nakon promjena vladara. Posjećuju ih i stranci te su, prema mišljenju Turaka, rijedak i izvanredan prizor koji se nigdje drugdje ne može vidjeti. Paše i ostali gradski dužnosnici imali su slobodan dan. Slavili su unutra, i to samo gosteći se. Prilično su se ulagivali nama poslanicima, nudeći nam nagrade za neke igre i natjecanja koja su se javno odvijala. Budući da još uvijek nije bio siguran ishod naših mirovnih pregovora s Turcima, mi smo se držali odmjereno, bojeći se da ne privučemo pozornost ako bismo pokazivali previše ili premalo oduševljenja. Na vrata svojeg gostinjca navukli smo neke loše, no ne odveć tamne zastore i pobrinuli se da se na našem podiju poslužuje više obilan nego li raskošan objed, tako da svi koji krenu objedovati sve što jedu mogu pojesti brzo i u dovoljnim količinama. Nakon ovakve proslave pobjede, Turci su nastavili slaviti sretan povratak turskog sultana. Najviše me iznenadilo što tijekom gošćenja tolikog mnoštva ljudi iz ovoga divljeg i barbarskog naroda, gdje se usto i odviše pilo, pijanci nisu hrkali i svađali se buncajući, poput naših, nego su prekomjerno ludovali bez ijedne prepirke ili kavge. U tako velikom i šarolikom mnoštvu nije se čulo čak ni nešto glasnije vikanje. Stoga bi rekao da se događa u jednoj kući ono što se događa u čitavom gradu, koji je vrlo prostran i usto ima mnogo osama potpuno zatvorenih brežuljcima, koje su nadasve prikladne za raspušteno ponašanje i razbojništvo. To što toga nema, ne može se ipak pripisati blagosti turskih običaja, već batinama janjičara, čije su stražarske postaje raspoređene po gotovo svim gradskim prolazima i sprečavaju svaku opačinu. To je bio kraj ove proslave i zabave. I ubuduće ću ti pisati o sličnim temama i o svemu što se bude događalo na ovome mjestu, nikada ti ne uskraćujući ono što je moja dužnost. Jednako kao ja tebe, tako
- 108 -ćeš i ti mene razveseliti ako mi budeš pisao o onome što se događa kad god budeš pronašao nekoga po kome mi prikladno možeš poslati pismo. Prijateljske dužnosti, naime, donose obilne i slatke plodove samo onda kada su uzajamne.

Zbogom i u mojoj me odsutnosti ne samo ljubi nego i pazi na moj ugled, ako bi ga zavist i spletke mojih takmaca pokušali narušiti. U Carigradu, posljednjeg dana mjeseca listopada 1554. godine.

CXX. Vrančić to Pavao Gregorijanec, Vol. 3, pp. 360–364.[1]

October 31, 1554

I am not beginning this letter by saying that I never write to you; however, you have for a long time been aware of the reasons which are to be blamed for me not writing you as often as you would wish and as I should, because of the enormous benevolence which you have extended to me. Therefore, you will be informed about the important matters, as well as the ones concerning the position of our small state, which cannot be securely transmitted through unencoded letters, from the reports which my colleague and I are sending to the King. I will discuss private topics with you formulating them so that they can be released to the public, be safe, and without the secret entry. This foreign world, however, offers a rather great delight, but if compared to our own, it is more laughable than to be admired or reflected upon. A public party went on here for the past three days and three nights, celebrating their victory in the war the Turks, as they like to believe it themselves, successfully fought against the Persians, and in honor of their felicitous return home. I will describe it to you in detail, in order for you to learn something about the manner in which this nation celebrates victory. It looked like this. The mentioned party, the day before its beginning, was announced by the messengers on all most important locations in the city. Moreover, for anyone who would miss it or would refuse to publicly celebrate it, the most severe punishment was determined. This is a common type of celebration among the Turks. They have appropriated it a long
- 106 -time ago from their ancestors who had crossed over to Europe, and it takes place whenever one of their leaders either emerges victorious or suffers a defeat, and even when he returns from a war campaign against the enemies seemingly felicitous. They do not shrink at all from murdering people, even their own sons. This is common among almost all Turks, and many parents have attested to this. Furthermore, they do not find anything to be disgraceful or detrimental if the ruler returns safe and sound. And if you were to ask me what the purpose of such a party is, I would tell you, after considering all the reasons, that I find it to be a celebration of victory. What does it represent for the Turks? I believe them to consider it a celebration of victory too, but they do not know at all with what glamour and opulence, with what expenses, in which order and in which manner it should be organized. Precisely at the moment when they believe they are magnificently celebrating a victory, this festivity, in my opinion, begins to resemble a flea market. All townsmen who own a house or property, regardless of their class or rank, hastily elevate podiums consisting of some beams in front of buildings. Afterwards they bring out all woolen, silk and flax accessories that they have and find valuable, as well as other things that are pretty, attractive and pleasing to the eye, and cover the podiums on all sides. Then they cover them with painted blankets and carpets, and put even pillows around them, but not the ones which the immortal gods once had, although here and there these are beautifully adorned with gold thread embroidery. If nothing else, these are at least wrapped with fabrics embroidered with gold or silk, depending on how wealthy one is. Finally everyone dresses in festive clothes and sits on their podiums, where day and night they dine out in the open. As if according to a rule, they bring various victuals to the kitchens, so that the cooks would not be forced to discontinue their service at any moment. Considering that everyone walks back and forth, both the ones who had departed of their own free will, and the ones who were kindly invited and brought forth, they can help themselves with food repeatedly. The joy and fervor of these feasts is incited by the heat of the lanterns that are hanging in clusters from the ceilings as high as they could be mounted. In the meantime, almost the entire population is
- 107 -awake and roaming the city which looks like it is burning, as such a multitude of lanterns are shining throughout all the quarters. This splendor could not be described as being completely disorganized because every craftsman gives the products of his workmanship: the trader his goods, the painter his paintings, the soldier his weaponry, and all the rest give in a similar manner. Those who have less riches and luxurious accessories – since many townsmen do not have any professions – are appropriately adorned with gifted accessories and, if they do not have anything valuable, they add only rice to their meals in order to make them more unusual. But the culmination is a celebration which can be seen in two bedestans, where the most exquisite products are being displayed, especially concerning silk and gold embroidered fabrics. Every trader puts them on the wall above his shop as elegantly as he can, so that wherever you look, you see such fabrics, as well as the more notable masses who dine there on the elevated podiums, but without the company of women, who are not allowed to go even to the temples. Musical instruments are rarely allowed; trumpets, kettle drums and flutes practically never, so that all parties and victories are celebrated only by conversing and dining. Those two bedestans, however, have square porticos, but in many of these there are vaulted arcades that are support by massive columns built out of carved stone which are very beautifully ornamented. There is the city marketplace, where the most valuable and precious objects are being kept and stored. This is done by individuals, out of fear of fires, as well as rebellions of janissaries; however first and foremost, it is due to disorders after transitions of rulers. They are visited by foreigners too, and in the opinion of the Turks, they are a rare and exceptional sight which cannot be seen anywhere else. Pashas and other city officials had a day off. They celebrated indoors and only by feasting. They flattered us emissaries a lot, offering us prizes for some games and contests which took place in public. Since the outcome of our peace negotiations with the Turks was still not certain, we comported ourselves with dignity, being afraid to attract attention if we were to demonstrate too much or too little excitement. We drew some shoddy curtains, but not too dark, on the door of our lodging, and took care that more abundant than lux- - 108 -urious meals were served at our podium, so that everyone who starts to dine could have eaten everything fast and in sufficient quantities. After such a celebration of victory, the Turks continued to celebrate the felicitous return of the Turkish sultan. What surprised me the most was that during the dining of such a multitude of people of this wild and barbarous nation who, moreover, drank too much, the drunkards did not snore and argue ramblingly, like ours, but romped excessively; however, no altercations or fights happened. In such a huge and colorful crowd not even a somewhat louder yelling could be heard. Thus you could say that what was happening in the whole city, was actually happening in one house only; and the city was very spacious and there were also numerous solitary places completely enclosed by hills, which are especially appropriate for unrestrained behavior and banditry. The fact that these do not occur, cannot be attributed to the mildness of Turkish customs, but to the beatings by the janissaries, whose guard stations are distributed throughout almost all city passages, thus stopping every wickedness. That was the end of this celebration and party. I will write to you in the future, too, about similar topics and about everything that will happen in this place, never denying you that which is my duty. Equally as I will write to you, you will cheer me up if you would write me about future events, whenever you find someone through whom you can appropriately send a letter to me. Amicable duties, you see, bring abundant and sweet fruits only when they are mutual.

Goodbye to you and in my absence not only love me, but take care of my reputation too, if envy and intrigues of my rivals would strive to undermine it. In Istanbul, on the last day of the month of October, in the year 1554.