KOLOMBO

My companions capable and trustworthy,

who for eternal honor,

ready to sail with me

the waves of the ocean!

Courageous Hercules whose pride

beneath the bright sun shines,

whose great honor till the end of time

the dark sky will not hide.

Past companions once haughty

surrounded by ill comradery,

and all oceans our surrounding

further sailed without fear.

In the deep blue ocean

his heart forbidding him to enter,

the ocean marked

to pass no further.

But no boundaries however grand

can stop our determination,

stronger than all else, and

all together short our voyage seems.

Celebrated honorable and courageous,

afraid of no challenges,

from various parts of the world

has brought us together,

to humbly follow

Hercules path,

to dance with clear minds

upon the powerful ocean.

Spanish and Latin lands

knights are here chosen,

the flower of the Slavic land

celebrated in all the people of Dubrovnik.

This youth, this army

with sharp knowledge, with fierce strength,

against the force of angry waves

is capable of conquering.

I see, I see my dear companions,

the eternal voice over the world

voices of our worthy honor

and our noble courage;

every one of us recalls

the old Greek knights,

in discovery of

new lands and new worlds;

where holy Christian religion

spreads as part of our rule

.and the world over

is embraced with much honor.

Beside the brightness of our light,

the darkness of evils weak and pale;

none of us will be afraid

to follow in the footsteps of Kolombo.

This celebrated voyage

for the furtherance of said goodness;

will rejoice to the heavens

and all nations will celebrate,

evil wish for gold

like with earlier knights,

is not the reason for our striving

nor for our voyage:

For spreading of the faith

every one of us strives and hurries

to find new lands,

we sail across the good and moody ocean.

Therefore chosen companions

humbly go forth

toward unknown ends of the world

to achieve eternal honor.

Let us go on the ship, good hope

gather all our wishes;

heaven always helps those

who rightly think and work.

Junije Palmotic, 1607-1675, Dubrovnik

Translated by Ivanka Nikolich