Brothers three combined to build a fortress,

Brothers three, the brothers Mrnyavtchevitch,

Kraly Vukashin[2] was the eldest brother;

And the second was Uglesha-Voivode;

And the third, the youngest brother Goïko.

Full three years they labour’d at the fortress,

Skadra’s fortress on Boyana’s river;

Full three years three hundred workmen labour’d.

Vain th’ attempt to fix the wall’s foundation.

Vainer still to elevate the fortress: