Original Ottoman Turkish Text

Sakın kim kâfirüñ 'ahdine inanma
Yile arkañı virüp muhkem sanma
Akar su dîvâr olmaz iy karındaş
Ya kölge yasduk olmaz sen tayanma
Velî kâfirüñ iki nesnesin al
Biri kızın biri mâlın osanma

In English

1. Beware, do not believe an infidel's pact; do not turn your back to the wind and think it firm.

2. Brother, running water does not make a wall; nor is a shadow a pillow, do not lean on it.

3. But take two things from the infidel: one his daughter, the other his wealth; do not tire of it.

Literary and Historical Commentary

The Serbian Frontier

After Yörgüç's deeds in Rum, the hundred and third chapter turns to Rumelia and the khan's troubles on the frontiers. Murad has entrusted the frontiers to valiant lords; the frontier against the Laz, that is Serbia, has been given to İshak Beg. But whenever İshak Beg wants to go raiding, the despot plays "the devil" and no booty comes from the raid. İshak Beg reports the matter to the khan; the khan takes back whatever he had given the despot and gives it to his own slaves. The despot, realising that the khan will come against him, sends an envoy: "My fortunate sultan, accept my daughter too as a slave girl, for your grandfather Bayezid also took a daughter from us." He sends a great sum as well. The paşas win the khan over; everything from Alacahisar to the despot's own land is handed over to the khan, and it is agreed that wealth will be sent every year. The raids are turned towards Bosnia; the despot also undertakes that the Hungarians will not harm the Muslims. Murad believes that the infidel's word is true and that he has conquered the land of the Laz; here the author hints at a doubt. The date is 831 (1427-28).

Water and Shadow

The doubt that the word "sandı", believed, hints at in the prose is stated openly in the first couplet: an infidel's pact is not to be trusted. The second couplet uses two strong popular images: running water does not make a wall, a shadow is not a pillow. These images express the emptiness of trusting something that looks firm but cannot be held. The third couplet gives practical advice: only two things should be taken from the infidel, his daughter and his wealth. This counsel is the verse counterpart of the despot's offer of his daughter and the sum of money; it also alludes to Yıldırım Bayezid's marriage to Lazar's daughter. The refrain "-anma" states a prohibition at the end of every couplet: inanma, sanma, tayanma, osanma.

Bibliography

  • Âşık Paşazade, Osmanoğulları'nın Tarihi, ed. Kemal Yavuz, M. A. Yekta Saraç, Istanbul: K Kitaplığı, 2003, pp. 457-458 (transliterated text, bâb 103).