Translation:Daniel Sihastru

Beneath a barren bank, on a foaming river, Where a hesychast fled the world, As evening came a stranger arrived. — "Stephen of Moldavia has come to speak to you!" — "Stephen of Moldavia, Daniel tells him, To wait outside! I am at prayer." — "Good father! I am wounded and defeated, My own mother herself rejected me today! I have come to seek counsel if it would not be better For Moldavia henceforth to bow to the Turks?" Daniel Sihastru said to the prince — "Does my hearing deceive me or am I dreaming? The falchion does not cut off the bowed head, But the chain bends him humiliatingly! What then is life, if lived in serfdom? A holiday on which no one smiled? Life and serfdom cannot coexist, Peace and a tempest do not happen together. Prince! you have the right to turn into graves For freedom, mean and lands; But you cannot humble them! You can break them; but not enslave them! If the hand your sceptre presses on is weak, Cede your place to a more willing man! For better to be conquered and praised, Than a vassal prince in shame!"

After these words, Stephen gathered his troops And defeating the pagans raised a monastery.

Daniel Sihastru