Original Ottoman Turkish Text

Bu çarh bir dahı devrân itmek ister
N'idiser ma'ni-y-ilen bize göster
Kılıçlar çalına kanlar dökile
Süñüler ola leşker içre nişter
Gāziler şehîd ola kâfir kırıla
Hanı şehîd ide bir hâyin ebter
Döne bu 'âlümüñ tâli'i bu dem
Neler ide göresiz size ahter

In English

1. This wheel wishes to turn once more; show us what it will do, with its meaning.

2. Let swords be struck, let blood be shed; let spears be lancets within the army.

3. Let gazis be martyred, let the infidel be cut down; let a treacherous, cut-off wretch make the khan a martyr.

4. Let the fortune of this world turn at this moment; you will see what the star will do to you.

Literary and Historical Commentary

Kara Temür Paşa

After Lala Şahin's death the governorship goes, as the fifty-fifth chapter tells, to Kara Temür Paşa. He is sent first to the province of Saruhan, drives out the nomads there and takes them to Serres. Then he turns towards Albania and Manastır; he has a large army and Manastır submits at once, and tribute is imposed. Then raids are made towards Salonica, as far as Karlıili. The author dates the conquest to 787 (1385) and, saying "let me tell that too", prepares for the next event, Kosovo.

Foretold

These four couplets do something rare in the work: they announce in advance an event not yet told. The wheel, the turning heaven, wishes to turn once more; swords will be struck, gazis will be martyred, the infidel will be cut down, and "bir hâyin ebter", a treacherous, cut-off wretch, will make the khan a martyr. This last detail clearly points to the killing of Murad Han by Miloš Obilić at the battle of Kosovo. "Ebter" means one whose line is cut off, worthless, and was used earlier for the son who will not take his father's counsel. "Ahter" in the last couplet is the star, the star of fortune. The images of the wheel of heaven and the star reflect an old view that ties the events of history to the turning of the sky; Âşıkpaşazâde uses this language in many places in his history, especially before great disasters. Together with "ebter" and "ahter", ister, göster and nişter rhyme on "-ter".

Bibliography

  • Âşık Paşazade, Osmanoğulları'nın Tarihi, ed. Kemal Yavuz, M. A. Yekta Saraç, Istanbul: K Kitaplığı, 2003, pp. 391-392 (transliterated text, bâb 55).