There on the field of Kossovo, the "field of blackbirds," June 15, 1389, was fought one of the decisive battles of history. It was a bitter defeat for Serbia, though as many Turks as Serbs perished on the field. On the eve of the battle Murat I had been assassinated. The brave Lazar with the flower of the Serb nation lay dead—Lazar first made prisoner, then beheaded. Of all Serbian rulers, the memory of Lazar was held the dearest. "A pious and generous prince, a brave but unsuccessful general."

There was no longer any question as to supremacy in the Balkan Peninsula. The independence of Serbia and the liberties of all the smaller states were now the property of the unspeakable Turk.

Lazar, it is said, was warned of his fate by a letter from Heaven even before the battle, but he still went forward to fight for his country. Bowring's translation of the heroic pesma (Battle of Kossovo) gives an idea of this event. Before the battle Lazar receives the mysterious letter:

"Tzar Lasar! thou tzar of noble lineage!
Tell me now, what kingdom hast thou chosen?
Wilt thou have heaven's kingdom for thy portion,
Or an earthly kingdom? If an earthly,
Saddle thy good steed—and gird him tightly;
Let thy heroes buckle on their sabres,
Smite the Turkish legions like a tempest,
And these legions all will fly before thee.
But if thou wilt have heaven's kingdom rather,
Speedily erect upon Kossova,
Speedily erect a church of marble;
Not of marble, but of silk and scarlet;
That the army, to its vespers going,
May from sin be purged—for death be ready;
For thy warriors all are dooméd to stumble;
Thou, too, prince, wilt perish with thy army!"

When the Tzar Lasar had read the writing,
Many were his thoughts and long his musings.
"Lord, my God! what—which shall be my portion,
Which my choice of these two proffer'd kingdoms?
Shall I choose heaven's kingdom? shall I rather
Choose an earthly one? for what is earthly
Is as fleeting, vain, and unsubstantial;
Heavenly things are lasting, firm, eternal."

So the Tzar preferr'd a heavenly kingdom
Rather than an earthly. On Kossova
Straight he built a church, but not of marble;
Not of marble, but of silk and scarlet.
Then he calls the patriarch of Servia,
Calls around him all the twelve archbishops,
Bids them make the holy supper ready,
Purify the warriors from their errors,
And for death's last conflict make them ready.

So the warriors were prepared for battle,
And the Turkish hosts approach Kossova.
Bogdan leads his valiant heroes forward,
With his sons—nine sons—the Jugocichi,
Sharp and keen—nine gray and noble falcons.
Each led on nine thousand Servian warriors;
And the aged Jug led twenty thousand.

With the Turks began the bloody battle.
Seven pashas were overcome and scatter'd,
But the eighth pasha came onward boldly,
And the aged Jug Bogdan has fallen.

....*....*....*....*

Then Lasar, the noble lord of Servia,
Seeks Kossova with his mighty army;
Seven and seventy thousand Servian warriors.
How the infidels retire before him,
Dare not look upon his awful visage!
Now indeed begins the glorious battle.
He had triumph'd then, had triumph'd proudly,
But that Vuk—the curse of God be on him!
He betrays his father at Kossova.