быⷭ҇ в моунᲅьꙗнскои земли греческыѧ вѣры хрᲅⷭ҇їанинъ воевода именеⷨ҇ дракоула влашескиⷨ҇ ꙗзыкоⷨ҇, а нашиⷨ҇ дїаволъ. There was in the MuntenianMuntenia is an Old Slavic term for Greater Wallachia land, a Christian voivodeVoivode is a term for princes and appointed rulers of Wallachia and Moldavia. of the Greek faith named Dracula in the Wallachian tongue, but in ours, the DevilThe narrative describes the life of Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler) who ruled Wallachia. Vlad Tepes’ moniker “Dracula” is most likely a reference to his father’s moniker “Dracul,” which means “devil” in Romanian. For more on the etymology, see: Matei Cazacu. Dracula. Boston: Brill, 2017. 3.. ᲅолико злом҇дръ ꙗкоⷤ҇ по имени его, (// 204v) ᲅако и жиᲅїе его. His life was so wicked, like his name.  Прїидоша к немоу нѣкогда ѿ ᲅоурьскаⷢ҇ поклисарїе. Once, ambassadors from the Turkish tsar came to him. и егда внидоша к немоу и поклонишаⷭ҇ по своемоу ѡбычаю, а капъ своиⷯ҇ з главъ не снѧша. And when they came in they lowered their heads according to their custom, but they did not take off their caps from their heads. ѡн же вопроси иⷯ҇, чᲅо ра󰀣 ᲅако оучинисᲅе, ко гдр҇ю великоу прїидосᲅе, и ᲅаковоу срамоᲅоу ми оучинисᲅе. And he asked them, “Why did you do that – you came to a great lord and you subjected me to such humiliation?” ѡниⷤ҇ ѿвѣщаша, ᲅаковъ, ѡбычаи нашь гдр҇ь и землѧ наша имѣе. And they responded, “Such, Master, is the custom of our land.” ѡн же гл҇а имъ, и азъ хощоу вашеⷢ҇ закона поᲅвердиᲅи, да крѣпко сᲅоиᲅе. He said to them, “And I want to confirm your custom so that you may observe it firmly.” и повелѣ имъ гвоздїемъ малыⷨ҇ желѣзныⷨ҇ ко глава҇ⷨ прибиᲅи капы. And he commanded that their caps be nailed to their heads with small metal spikes. и ѿпоусᲅи ихъ, рекъ имъ, шеⷣше скажиᲅе гдр҇ю вашемꙋ, ѡнъ навыкъ ѿ ваⷭ҇, ᲅоу, срамоᲅоу ᲅерпѣᲅи. мыⷤ҇ не навыкохоⷨ҇. And he released them and said, “Go and explain to your master: if he is used to enduring humiliation from you, we are not used to it. да не посылае своеⷢ҇ ѡбычаѧ (// 205r) ко иныⷨ҇ гдр҇емъ, кои не хоᲅѧ его имѣᲅи, но оу себе его да держи. And let him not send his custom to other rulers, who do not want to have it, but let him keep it to himself.”

Ц҇рь же велми разсердиᲅи себе ѡ ᲅоⷨ҇ и поиде воинсᲅвоⷨ҇ на неⷢ҇ и прїиде на неⷢ҇ со многими силами. And the tsar was very angry about this and set off against Dracula with his army, and came against him with considerable forces. ѡн же, собравъ елико имѣаше оу себе воиска и оудари на ᲅоурковъ нощїю, и мноⷤ҇сᲅво изби иⷯ҇, и невозмо҇ⷤ проᲅивоу великоⷢ҇ воиска малыми люⷣми, и възраᲅисѧ. He [Dracula], having gathered as much of his own army as he had, attacked the Turks at night and killed a great number of them. But not being able withstand a great army with so few people, Dracula turned back. и кои с нимъ з бою ᲅоⷢ҇ прїидоша. и нача ихъ саⷨ҇ смоᲅриᲅи, кои раненъ спре󰀣, ᲅомоу чᲅⷭ҇ь велїю поваше, и виᲅѧзеⷨ҇ его оучинѧше, коих же сза󰀣, ᲅоⷢ҇ на колъ повелѣ всажаᲅи проходоⷨ҇. And he began to examine those who came with him from the battle; to those wounded in the front, he gave great honor and bestowed knighthood, but he commanded those wounded from behind to be impaled on a stake, гл҇ѧ ᲅы еси не моуⷤ҇ но жена. а ᲅогⷣа коли поиде на ᲅоуркы. ᲅако гл҇а всемоу воискоу своемоу. saying, “You are not a man, but a woman.” And when he went to the Turks again, he said to all his warriors: кᲅо хоще смр҇ᲅь помышлѧᲅи. ᲅои не хо󰀣 (// 205v) со мною ѡсᲅани зде. “He who thinks about death, let him not go with me, but remain here.” цр҇ь , слышавъ ᲅо, поиде прочь с великою срамоᲅою, безчислено изгоуби воиска, не смѣ на неⷢ҇ поиᲅи.  Having heard that, the tsar went away with great shame; having lost countless of his army, he dared not go against Dracula.

Цр҇ь же поклисарѧ посла к немоу да емоу даⷭ҇ дань. And the tsar sent an ambassador to demand tribute from him. дракоула же велми почⷭ҇ᲅи поклисарѧ ѡноⷢ҇. и показа емоу все свое имѣнїе, и ре҇ⷱ емоу, азъ не ᲅокмо хощоу дань даваᲅи цр҇ю, And Dracula received that ambassador with great honor, and showed to him all his possessions, and said to him, “I not only want to give tribute to the tsar, но сⷪ всѣмъ своимъ воинсᲅвоⷨ҇ и со всею казною хощоу к немоу иᲅи на слоуⷤ҇боу. да како ми повелиᲅъ, ᲅако емоу служоу. but with all my army and all my coffers, I want to go into his service. And as he commands me, so I will serve him. и ᲅы, возвѣсᲅи цр҇ю какъ поидоу к немоу, да не велиᲅь ц҇рь по своеи земли никоего зла оучꙵниᲅи мнѣ, и моимъ людеⷨ҇. а ꙗзъ скⷪро хощоу по ᲅебѣ ко цр҇ю иᲅи. And you, tell the tsar this: when I go to him, let him command that no evil will be done to me or my people in his land. I will go to the tsar soon, following you, и дань принесоу и самъ к немꙋ (// 206r) прїидоу. and I will bring him the tribute and come to him myself.” ц҇рь же оуслыша҇ ⷡ ᲅо ѿ посла своего чᲅо дракоула хоще прїиᲅи к немоу на службоу. The tsar, hearing this from his envoy, that Dracula wanted to come to him in service, и посла еⷢ҇ почⷭ҇ᲅи и ѡдари много. bestowed honors and many gifts upon his envoy. и велми раⷣ быⷭ҇ бѣ бо ᲅогаⷣ раᲅоуѧсѧ со восᲅочными. And he was very glad because he was then waging war in the east.

и посла скоро по всѣⷨ҇ⷨ градоⷨ҇ⷨ и по земли, да когда дракоула поиде, никоегоⷤ зла никᲅо, да бы, дракоулѣ не оучинилъ. And the tsar sent a message to all the cities across the land so that when Dracula went through, no one should cause him any harm, но еще и чᲅⷭ҇ь емоу воздавали. дракоула же поиде, събравсѧ съ всѣⷨ҇ⷨ воиньсᲅвоⷨ҇. but instead should honor him. And Dracula set off, having assembled his entire army, и присᲅавове црⷭ҇ᲅїи с нимъ. и велїю чесᲅь емоу воздавахоу. and the tsar’s wardens accompanied him and greatly honored him. ѡн же преиде по земли его ꙗко, е҇, дн҇и. и внезапоу верноусѧ и нача҇ плѣниᲅи градове и села. And he passed through the tsar’s land [Turkish land] for five days, and suddenly turned back and began to capture towns and villages. и мно҇ⷤⷤсᲅво много поплѣни и изсѣче. ѡвыⷯ҇ на колїе сажахоу ᲅоурко҇ⷡ. а иныⷯ҇ (//206v) на полы пресѣкаꙗ и жжигаꙗ. и до ссоущиⷯ҇ млаⷣнець. And Dracula captured and killed great multitudes: some Turks he impaled on a stake, and others he cut in half and burned, including suckling infants. ничᲅо҇ⷤⷤⷤ ѡсᲅави всю землю ᲅоу поусᲅоу оучини. прочиⷯ҇ же иже соу. хрⷭ҇ᲅїѧне на свою землю прегна и насели. He left nothing, emptying the entire land, and those who were Christians he drove to his land and resettled. и мно҇ⷤⷤсᲅво много корисᲅи взеⷨ҇ⷨ возвраᲅиⷭ҇. присᲅавовъ ᲅѣⷯ҇ почᲅи ѿпусᲅи. And he returned, having seized a great multitude of riches and, having honored the wardens, he let them go, реⷦ҇, шеⷣше повѣсᲅе цр҇ю вашемоу ꙗко҇ⷤ видѣсᲅе. сколко могоⷯ҇ ᲅолико есмь емоу послꙋжиⷧ҇ⷧ҇. saying: “Go tell your tsar what you saw – I served him as much as I could, и буде емоу оугоⷣна моѧ слоуⷤ҇ⷤба. и азъ еще хощоу емоу ᲅако слоужиᲅи, какова ми есᲅь сила. and if my service pleases him, I am ready to serve him this way again, as much as I can.” цр҇ь же ничᲅо҇ⷤ емꙋ не може оучиниᲅи. но срамоⷨ҇ побѣженъ быⷭ҇.  And the tsar could do nothing against him but was defeated with shame.

И ᲅолико ненавидѧ во своеи земли зла. ꙗко хᲅо оучини кое зло. ᲅаᲅбоу или разбои. или коую (//207r) лжоу или неправдоу. ᲅои никако не боуде҇ живъ. And he [Dracula] hated the evil in his own land so much that if anyone committed any crime, theft, robbery, lie or injury, he would not live. ащеⷧ҇ велики болѧринъ. иⷧ҇ сщ҇енниⷦ҇ⷦ, иⷧ҇ иноⷦ҇, или просᲅы. аще и велико баⷢ҇ᲅьсᲅво имѣл бы кᲅо, не може искоупиᲅиⷭ҇ ѿ смр҇ᲅи. и ᲅолико грозенъ быⷭ҇. Whether he be a noble boyarBoyars were the highest-ranking nobles of the Russian and Eastern European nobility., a priest, a monk, or a commoner, even if he had great wealth, still he could not ransom himself from death. And that is how formidable Dracula was. исᲅочникъ его и кладѧⷥ҇ на единоⷨ҇ мѣсᲅѣ, и к ᲅомоу кладѧзоу и исᲅочникоу пришли поуᲅїе мнози ѿ многыⷯ҇ сᲅранъ. There was a well and its spring in his land, and many routes from many lands converged at this spring and well. и прихожⷣахоу люⷣ̏е мнозии пїѧхоу ѿ кладѧзѧ и исᲅочника водоу сᲅоудена бо бѣ и слаⷣка. And many people arrived and drank the cold and sweet water from the well and spring. ѡн же оу ᲅого кладѧзѧ на поусᲅоⷨ҇ⷨ мѣсᲅѣ посᲅави чароу велїю и дивноу злаᲅоу. и хᲅо хоᲅѧще водоу пиᲅи, да ᲅою чарою пїеᲅъ на ᲅоⷨ҇ⷨ мѣсᲅѣ да посᲅави. He took (moved) the well to an empty space and there he placed a large, beautiful golden goblet, and anyone who wanted to drink the water could drink from the goblet in that set place.

и елико ѡно времѧ пребыⷭ҇. никᲅо҇ⷤ смѣаше ᲅоу чароу взѧᲅи.  (//207v) And much time passed, but no one there dared take the goblet. Единоюⷤ҇ поусᲅи по всеи земли свое велѣнїе, да кᲅо сᲅаръ иⷧ҇ немощенъ, иⷧ҇ чимъ вреденъ иⷧ҇ нищъ, вси да прїидоу к немоу. Once he sent an order across his lands that all who were old, weak, crippled, or poor, should come to him. и собрашаⷭ҇ бесчисленое мно҇ⷤⷤьсᲅвⷪ нищиⷯ҇ⷯ и сᲅранныⷯ҇ к немоу чающе ѿ него великїа млᲅⷭ҇и. And innumerable multitudes of the poor and wayfarers gathered before him awaiting his great mercy. ѡн же повелѣ собраᲅи всⷯ҇ⷯѣ во единоу храминꙋ, великоу на ᲅо оусᲅроеноу. He commanded them all to assemble in one great house. и повелѣ даᲅи имъ ꙗсᲅи и пиᲅи доволно, ѡниⷤ҇ⷤ ꙗдше и возвеселишаⷭ҇. And he commanded that they be given enough to eat and to drink. They feasted and rejoiced. ѡн же са҇ⷨⷨ приде к нимъ и гл҇а имъ чᲅо еще ᲅребоуеᲅе. ѡниⷤ҇ⷤ вси ѿвѣщаша вѣдае гдр҇ю вг҇ъ и ᲅвое величесᲅво, как ᲅѧ б҇ъ вразоуми. He came to them and said: “What more do you require?” They all answered him: “God knows, Master, Your Majesty, as God will instruct you.” ѡн же гл҇а к ниⷨ҇ хощеᲅе ли да соᲅворю ваⷭ҇ беспечалны на сеⷨ҇ свѣᲅѣ, и ничиⷨ҇ же ноужни боудеᲅе. He said to them, “So you want me to make you happy in this world, and you would need nothing more?” ѡниⷤ҇ чающе ѿ него велико нѣчᲅо. и гл҇аша (//208r) вси хощемъ гдр҇ю. They expected nothing grand from him and all said, “This is what we want, Master.” ѡн же повeлѣ запереᲅи хра҇ⷨⷨ и зажещи ѡгнеⷨ҇, и вси ᲅоу изгорѣша. He commanded that the building be locked up and set on fire, and all those who were there burned. и гл҇аше к болѧроⷨ҇ⷨ своимъ, да вѣсᲅе чᲅо оучиниⷯ҇ ᲅако. And he said to his boyars, “And now you know why I did this. и никᲅо҇ⷤ да не боудеᲅь нищь в моей земли, но вси боⷢ҇ᲅїи. And there will be no one poor in my land, but all (will be) rich. вᲅорое свободиⷯ҇ⷯ ихъ да не сᲅражоу никᲅо҇ⷤⷤ ѿ ниⷯ҇ⷯ на семъ свѣᲅѣ ѿ нищеᲅы иⷧ҇ ѿ недоуга.  Second, I emancipated them so that no one of this world would suffer from poverty or from illness.”

Единоюⷤ҇ прїидоша к немоу ѿ оугорскыѧ земли два лаᲅинска мниха млᲅⷭ҇ыни раⷣ. Once two Latin [Catholic] monks came to him from the Hungarian lands for alms. ѡн же повелѣ ихъ развесᲅи разно. He ordered them to separate. и призва к себѣ единого ѿ ниⷯ҇ и показа емоу окроуⷢ҇ двора мно҇ⷤⷤьсᲅво бесчисленое людеи на колѣхъ и на колесⷯ҇ѣ, и вопроси его добро ли ᲅако съᲅвориⷯ҇ⷯ и како ᲅи соу иже на колїи. (//208v) And he summoned one of them to him; he showed him around the courtyard—the innumerable number of people on stakes and on the wheel—and asked him: “Did I do well? How are those on the stake?” ѡн же гл҇а ни гдр҇ю зло чиниш а, без млⷭ҇ᲅи казниши, поⷣбае гдр҇ю млⷭ҇ᲅивоу быᲅи. He [the monk] said, “No, Master, you do evil and punish without mercy. A master ought to be merciful. а ᲅи же на кольи м꙽҇иц҇и соу. призвав же и дроугаго и вопроси его ᲅако҇ⷤ. But you on the wheel are martyrs.” Dracula summoned the other and asked him the same. ѡн же ѿвѣща. ᲅы гдр҇ь ѿ ва҃ посᲅавленъ еси лⷯиⷪ ᲅворѧщиⷯ҇ казниᲅи. He answered: “You, Master, are placed from God to excessively punish evildoers, а добро ᲅворѧщиⷯ҇ жаловаᲅи. а ᲅи лихо ᲅворили по своимъ дѣломъ въспрїали, ѡн же призвавъ перваго. and to grieve those who do good. But you carry out your accepted deeds in excess.” He [Dracula] summoned the first [monk] и гл҇а к немоу, да почᲅо ᲅы из монасᲅырѧ и ис келїи своеѧ ходиши по великыⷨ҇ гдр҇емъ не знаꙗ ничᲅо҇ⷤ. and said to him: “Why did you come from the monastery and from your cell to a great master, not knowing anything? а нн҇ѣ самъ еси гл҇алъ, ꙗко ᲅи мⷱ҇нц҇и соу. And now the same will be said: that you are a martyr. азъ и ᲅебе хощоу мⷱ҇нк҇а оучиниᲅи. да и ᲅы с ними боудеши мⷱ҇нк҇ъ. I want you to be made a martyr, and you will be a martyr with them.” и повелѣ его на колъ посадиᲅи про (//209r) ходомъ, а дроугомоу повелѣ даᲅи. Н҇ доукаᲅъ злаᲅа. And he commanded him to be put on the stake but ordered the other to be given 50 gold ducats, гл҇ѧ ᲅы еси разоуменъ моуⷤ҇ и повелѣ его на возѣ с почесᲅїемъ ѿвесᲅи и до оугорскыѧ земли.  saying: “You are a knowledgeable man.” He ordered him into the cart and to be lead away with honor to the Hungarian land.

Нѣкогдаⷤ҇ прїиде коупець госᲅь нѣкы ѿ оугорскыѧ земли въ его граⷣ. и по его заповѣди ѡсᲅави возъ свои на оулици града преⷣ полаᲅою. Once a merchant guest came to his town from the Hungarian lands. According to his [Dracula’s] instructions, he [the merchant] left his own cart in the street in front of the palace и ᲅоваръ свои на возѣ. а самъ спаше в полаᲅѣ. и пришеⷣ нѣкᲅо, оукраде с воза. рѯ҇, доукаᲅъ злаᲅа. and his goods in the cart, while he slept in the palace. And someone came and stole 160 ducats of gold from the cart. купець же иде къ дракоулѣ. повѣда емоу изгоубленїе злаᲅа. And the merchant went to Dracula and told him about the loss of the gold. дракоула же гл҇а емоу. поиди всїю нощь ѡбрѧщеши злаᲅо. и повелѣ по всемоу градоу искаᲅи ᲅаᲅѧ. гл҇ѧ, аще не ѡбрѧщеᲅсѧ ᲅаᲅь. Dracula then said to him, “Go, and tonight you will discover the gold.” And he commanded that the thief be searched for through the entire town, saying, “If the thief is not found, ᲅо ве (//209v) сь граⷣ погоублю. и повелѣ свое злаᲅо несъ положиᲅи на возѣ в нощи. и приложи единъ злаᲅои. I will destroy the entire town.” And he ordered his own gold to be brought and put in the cart at night, and he added one piece of gold. коупец же въсᲅавъ и ѡбрѣᲅе злаᲅо. и проче единою и дващи. ѡбрѣᲅашеⷭ҇ единъ лишнїи злаᲅои. и шеⷣ къ дракоулѣ гл҇а, гдр҇ю ѡбреᲅоⷯ҇ⷯ злаᲅо. The merchant got up and discovered the gold and after he counted it once and twice he found one extra piece of gold. And he went to Dracula and said, “Master, I found the gold и се есᲅь единъ злаᲅои не мои, лишнїи. ᲅогⷣа же приведоша и ᲅаᲅѧ ѡноⷢ҇ и съ злаᲅоⷨ. and this is one extra piece of gold that is not mine.” And at the same time, the thief was brought in with the gold. и гл҇а коупцю иди с мироⷨ҇. аще бы ми еси не повѣдалъ злаᲅо, гоᲅовъ быⷯ҇ⷯ и ᲅебе с симъ ᲅаᲅемъ на колъ посадиᲅи.  And Dracula said to the merchant, “Go in peace; if you had not told me about the [extra] gold, I was going to impale you with the thief on the stake.”

Аще жена, каѧ ѿ моужа прелюбы съᲅвори. If any wife committed adultery against her husband, ѡн же велѧше срамъ еи вырѣзаᲅи и кожю содраᲅи. he [Dracula] would order them to cut out her shame“Shame” in this context is a euphemism for a woman’s genitalia. and rip off her skin и привѧзаᲅи еѧ нагоу и ко (//210r)жоу ᲅоу на сᲅолпѣ среⷣ града и ᲅорга повѣсиᲅи, и двц҇амъ кои дв҇ьсᲅва не сохранѧ, и вдова҇ⷨ ᲅако҇ⷤ, а иныⷨ҇ сосца ѿрезахꙋ. and bind her naked, and her skin would be put on a pillar in the middle of town to be hung up in the marketplace. Dracula ordered the same be done to a virgin whose virginity was not protected; and in the case of widows, their breasts cut off. ѡвыⷨ҇ же кожоу содравше со срама еѧ, и роженъ желѣзенъ разжегши вонзахоу въ сра҇ⷨⷨ еи, и оусᲅы исхожаше. In other cases, they ripped off the skin from the woman’s shame, and brought hot irons which they thrust into her shame and out of her mouth. и ᲅако привѧзана сᲅоѧше оу сᲅолпа нага. дондеⷤ҇ пло и косᲅи еи распадоуᲅсѧ, иⷧ҇ пᲅица҇ⷨ в сиⷣѣ боуде. And thus, she would stand, bound naked to the pillar, until her body and bones fell apart or she became food for the birds.

Единоюⷤ҇ ѧздѧщоу емоу поуᲅеⷨ҇ и оузрѣ на нѣкоеⷨ҇ сиромахѣ срачицю издраноу хоудоу. и въпроси его, имаши ли женоу. Once Dracula was being driven along the road and noticed a poor man and asked him whether he had a wife. ѡн же ѿвѣща имамъ, гдр҇ю. ѡн же гл҇а веди мѧ в доⷨ҇ ᲅвои да вижю. и оузрѣ женоу его младоу соущоу и зрⷣавоу. He answered: “I do, Master.” Dracula then said: “Bring me to your home, so I can see.” And he beheld his young and healthy wife, и гл҇а моужоу еѧ. вѣ сили ленꙸ (//210v) сѣѧлъ. and said to her husband: “Do you sow linen?” ѡн же ѿвѣща гиⷭ҇ много имаⷨ лноу и показа емоу много лноу, и гл҇а женѣ его да почᲅо ᲅы лѣносᲅь имѣеши к моужоу своемоу. He answered: “Master, I have many linens.” And he showed him the many linens. And Dracula said to the wife, “Why do you show idleness toward your own husband? ѡнъ долженъ есᲅь сѣѧᲅи и ѡраᲅи и ᲅебе храниᲅи. He must sow and plough and protect you. а ᲅы должна еси на моужа своего ѡдежю свѣᲅлоу и лѣпоу чиниᲅи. And you must make your husband light and decent clothing. а ᲅы и срачици не хощеши емоу оучиниᲅи, а зрⷣавоу соущоу ᲅѣлоⷨ҇. But you do not want to make him shirts, though your body is healthy. ᲅы еси повинна а не моужь ᲅвои. ащеⷧ҇ бы моуⷤ҇ⷤ не сѣѧлъ лноу. ᲅо бы, моуⷤ ᲅвои повиненъ быⷧ҇. You are guilty, but not your husband. If your husband did not sow linen, then your husband would be guilty.” и повелѣ еи роуцѣ ѿсѣщи. и ᲅроупъ еѧ на колъ всадиᲅи.  And he commanded her hand chopped off and her corpse put on the stake.

Нѣкогдаⷤ҇ ѡбѣдоваше поⷣ ᲅроупїемъ мрᲅ҇выⷯ҇ члв҇къ, иже (//211r) на колїе саженыⷯ҇, мно҇ⷤсмво бо ѡкроуⷢ҇ сᲅола его. Sometimes he dined under the corpses of the dead, who were impaled on the stake, a number [of them] around his table. ѡн же среди ихъ ꙗдѧше, и ᲅѣмъ оуслажашеⷭ҇. He ate in the middle of them and took delight [in it]. слоугаⷤ҇ его иⷤ҇ преⷣ нимъ ꙗсᲅи сᲅавлѧше. смрадоу ѡного не моги ᲅерпѣᲅи, и заᲅкноу носъ. и на сᲅранꙋ главоу свою склони. His servant, having placed [the food] in front of him to eat, could not endure the stench and shut his nose and turned his head to the side. ѡн же вопроси его, чᲅо раⷣ̏ ᲅак оуинишь. ѡн же ѿᲅвѣща гдр҇ю не могу смрада сего ᲅерпѣᲅи. Dracula asked him “Why did you do that?” He answered: “Master, I can not endure the stench.” дракоула же, ᲅоу, и повелѣ его на колъ всадиᲅи. гл҇ѧ, ᲅамо ᲅи есᲅь высоко жиᲅи смраⷣ не можеᲅь ᲅебе доиᲅи.  Dracula then commanded him to be impaled on the stake, saying: “There you dwell so high, the stench cannot reach you.”

Иногдаⷤ҇ прїиде ѿ оугорскаⷢ҇ королѧ маᲅᲅѣашѧ а поклисарь до него, члв҇къ не малъ болѧринъ, в лѧсⷯ҇ⷯѣ родоⷨ҇. Another time an ambassador from the Hungarian King MatthiasMatthias Corvinus, Matthias I, of Hungary and Croatia (ruled 1458-1490). It is believed that his court is the place of origin of the Dracula tale. came to him; the person was a noble boyarBoyars were the highest-ranking nobles of the Russian and Eastern European nobility., a Pole by birth. и повелѣ емꙋ сѣсᲅи с собою на ѡбѣдѣ среⷣ̏ (//211v) ᲅроупїѧ ᲅого. And he commanded him to sit with him for dinner in the middle of the corpses. и преⷣ нимъ лежаше единъ колъ велми дебелъ и высокъ весь позлащенъ. и вопроси а поклисарѧ дракоула. And before them lay one thick, golden, and high stake, and Dracula asked the ambassador, чᲅо раⷣ̏ оучинихъ сеи кол, ᲅако повѣж ми,“Tell me, why did I make the stake this way?” “Tell me, why did I make the stake this way?” посол же ᲅой велми оубоѧсѧ и гл҇а. гдр҇ю мниᲅ ми сѧ ᲅако нѣки великїи члв҇къ преⷣ ᲅобою согрѣши. The envoy was very frightened and said: “Master, I assume thus: a great person before you sinned. и хощеши емоу почᲅеноу смр҇ᲅь оучиниᲅи паче ниыⷯ҇. And you want to make his death more honorable than others’.” дракоула же гл҇а, право реклъ еси ᲅы еси велика гдр҇ѧ посолъ кралевьскьї ᲅебѣ оучиниⷯ҇ сеи колъ. Dracula said: “You spoke correctly, you are an envoy of a great master. This stake is prepared for you.” ѡн же ѿвѣща, гдр҇ю аще досᲅоиное смр҇ᲅи содѣлалъ боудоу, ᲅвори еⷤ҇ хощеши првⷣиы бо еси соуⷣѧ, не ᲅы повиненъ моеи смр҇ᲅи но азъ (//212r) самъ. He answered, “Master, if I have done something suitable for death, do as you wish. Righteous is your judgement. You are not guilty of my death, but I am.” дракоулаⷤ҇ расмиѧсѧ и ре꙽҇꙽, аще бы ми еси не ᲅако ѿвѣщаⷧ҇ воисᲅиноу бы, быⷧ҇ еси на семъ колѣ. Dracula laughed and said: “If you had not answered me truthfully, you would have been on that same stake.” и почᲅи его велми и ѡдаривъ ѿпусᲅи гл҇ѧ. ᲅы, вправдоу ходи на поклисарсᲅво ѿ великыⷯ҇ гдр҇еи к великыⷨ҇ ѡ гдр҇емъ. He showed him great honor and released him, saying, “You justly go in embassy from a great master to a great master. наоучен бо еси съ гдр҇ьми великыми говориᲅи. прочїи же да не дерзноуᲅь. You know how to speak with great rulers. The rest will not dare In this instance, it is possible Dracula is saying that other ambassadors would not dare to speak to Dracula in such an honest manner. но первое оучими боудоуᲅь какъ имъ съ гдр҇ьми великыми бесѣдоваᲅи. But first they will be taught how to converse with great masters.”

ᲅаковъ ѡбычаи имѣаше дракоула. ѿколе к немꙋ прихожⷣаше посолъ. Dracula had such a custom that when an unrefined envoy came to him, ѿ цр҇ѧ иⷧ҇ ѿ королѧ неизѧщенъ и не оумѣаше проᲅивъ кознеⷨ҇ кᲅо ѿвѣщаᲅи, ᲅо, на колъ его всажаше, гл҇ѧ не азъ повиненъ ᲅвоеи смр҇ᲅи, иⷧ҇ гдр҇ь ᲅвои. from a tsar or king and did not know how to answer his cunning [questions], then he was impaled on the stake, saying: “I am not guilty of your death, or your master,” иⷧ҇ ᲅы (// 212v) самъ, на мене ничтоⷤ҇ рци зла. аще гдр҇ь ᲅвои вѣдаꙗ ᲅебе малоумна и не наоучена послал ᲅѧ есᲅь ко мнѣ к великооумноу гдр҇ю. “or you yourself. But say nothing ill about me. If your master, knowing you are unwise and uneducated, sent you here to me, to a wise master, ᲅо гдр҇ь ᲅвои оубил ᲅѧ есᲅь. ащеⷧ҇ самъ дерзнⷶ҇лъ еси не наоучивсѧ. ᲅо самъ оубилъ еси себѧ ᲅако поклисарю оучинѧше колъ высокъ. и позлащенъ весь, then your master killed you; if you brought yourself, unprepared, then you killed yourself.” Thus (he) arranged for the ambassador the highly gilded stake и на него всажⷣаше. и гдр҇ю его ᲅѣ рѣчи ѿписоваше с прочими. and impaled him on it, and sent a complaint to his master with another (envoy) да не шле к великоумноу гдр҇ю малооумна и ненаоучена мꙋжа в посольсᲅво.  so that the ruler would not send a wise leader an unwise and uneducated man as an ambassador.

Оучиниша же емоу масᲅери бочкы желѣзны. ѡн же насыпа иⷯ҇ⷯ злаᲅа в рѣкоу положи. The craftsmen made iron cisterns for him; Dracula filled them with gold and placed them in the river. а масᲅеровъ ᲅѣⷯ҇ посѣщи повелѣ, да никтоⷤ҇ оувѣсᲅь съдѣла(// 213v) ннаго имъ ѡкаансᲅва, ᲅо кмо ᲅезо имениᲅы емоу дїавол.  And Dracula commanded those craftsmen killed so that no one who carried out the deceit would take them, only he of the same name as the devilThis line infers that Dracula killed the craftsmen so only he would know where the gold-filled cisterns were..

Нѣкогдаⷤ҇ поиде на неⷢ҇ воинсᲅвоⷨ҇ король оугорскы маᲅᲅѣашь, ѡн же поиде проᲅивъ емоу, и срѣᲅесѧ с ниⷨ҇ и оударишаⷭ҇ь ѡбои, и оухваᲅиша дракоулоу жива, ѿ своихъ изданъ по крамолѣ. Once the Hungarian King Matthias went against him with his warriors. Dracula met with him, went against him, and both fought, and he [Matthias] captured Dracula alive, handed over by his own [men] in an act of treachery. и приведень быⷭⷭ дракоула ко кралю, и повелѣ єго меᲅноуᲅи в ᲅемницю. Dracula was brought to the king, and he commanded him to be thrown in prison. и сѣдє в вышеградѣ на доунаи выше воудина. ві҇ лѣ. And he was there in VisegradA castle town in Pest, Hungary, where Matthias Corvinus held a palace. on the Danube, four miles past Buda, for twelve years. а на моунᲅьанскои земли посади иного воеводоу.  And another voivodeVoivode is a term for princes and appointed rulers of Wallachia and Moldavia. sat in the Wallachian land. оумершу же ᲅомоу воеводѣ. и краль поусᲅи к немоу в ᲅемнⷩцю. When this voivode died, the king went to him [Dracula] in prisonLines 125-128 illustrate a slight discrepancy in the manuscript’s story. How could Dracula go to the marketplace and farm while in prison? It is possible because of his noble status that he was imprisoned within his land holdings. , да аще восхоще быᲅи воевода на моунᲅїꙗнскои земли. ꙗко҇ⷤⷤ и первїе, ᲅо да лаᲅинь (//214 v)скую вѣроу прїимеᲅь. and [said] if he wanted to be the voivode in the Wallachian lands, he would first accept the Latin faith. ащеⷧ҇ же ни, ᲅо оумреᲅи в ᲅемници хощеᲅь. If not, then he wanted to die in prison. дракоула же возлюби паче временнаго свѣᲅа сладосᲅь, нежели вѣчнаго и бесконечнаго, и ѿпаде православїѧ. Dracula desired the temporary pleasure of this world, rather than the eternal and infinite [pleasure of the afterlife], and retreated from Orthodoxy. и ѿсᲅоупи ѿ исᲅинны. и ѡсᲅави свѣᲅъ и прїа ᲅмоу. оувы не возможе ᲅемничныѧ временныѧ ᲅѧгоᲅы понесᲅи. And [he] shrank back from the truth and left the light to go into the darkness. Alas, unable to bear the temporary burden of prison, и оугоᲅовасѧ на бесконечное мчн҇їе , и ѡсᲅави православноую нашоу вѣроу. и прїаᲅъ лаᲅыньскоую прелесᲅь. and ready for infinite torment, he left our Orthodox faith and received the Latin deceit.

крал же не ᲅокмо дасᲅь емоу воевоⷣсᲅво на моунᲅьꙗнскои земли. The king not only gave him the voivodship in the Wallachian lands, но и сесᲅроу (//215 r) свою роⷣноую дасᲅь емоу в женоу. ѿ неѧ же роⷣ два сн҇а. but he gave him his own birth sister as a wife; from her two sons were born. пожив же мало ꙗко. і̑. лѣ. и ᲅако скончасѧ в ᲅои прельсᲅи.  Dracula lived a brief time, ten years, and was tortured in his deceit. Гл҇юᲅ же ѡ немь ꙗко и в ᲅемници сѣдѧ не ѡсᲅасѧ своего злаго ѡбычаꙗ. They say about him, that sitting in prison, he did not repudiate his wicked customs, но мыши ловѧ и пᲅици на ᲅоргоу покоупаꙗ и ᲅако казнѧше ихъ. but caught mice and bought birds at the market and tortured them. ѡвоу на колъ посажаше. а инои главꙋ ѿсѣкаше, а со иныѧ перїе ѡщипⷡав поускаше. Either [he] put them on the stake or cut off their heads, and from others plucked out the feathers. и наоучисѧ шиᲅи, и ᲅѣмъ в ᲅемници кормлѧшеⷭ҇. He learned how to sow, and so fed himself in prison.

егдаⷤ҇ краль изведе его ис ᲅемници, и приведе его на бᲂудинъ. и дасᲅь емоу домъ в пещи проᲅивоу бᲂудина. When the king liberated him from the prison and summoned him to Buda, he gave him a home in Pest opposite Buda. и еще оукралѧ не былъ. слоучисѧ нѣкоемоу злодѣю оуиᲅи на его дворъ и съхра (//215v)нисѧ. But he was not at the king’s court. It happened that some criminal went into his [Dracula’s] courtyard and hid there. гонѧщїи же прїидоша и начаша искаᲅи и наидоша его. Hunters arrived and began to search for [the criminal] and came upon him. дракоула же восᲅавъ взеⷨ҇ⷨ мечь свой и скочи с полаᲅы, и ѿсѣче главоу присᲅавꙋ ѡномоу держащемоу злодѣѧ, а злодѣѧ ѿпоусᲅи. Dracula got up, took his sword, galloped from the palace, and cut off the head of the steward who had held the criminal, but released the criminal. прочїи же бѣжаша и прїидоша к биревоу, и повѣдаша емоу бывшее. The other escaped and came to an administrative official and told him what occurred. бирев же съ всѣми посадникы, иде ко кралю, жалуѧсѧ на дракоулу. корол же посла к немоу вопрашаѧ. The administrative official, along with all the princes, went to the king to lament about Dracula. The King questioned him: чᲅо раⷣ̏ ᲅаково зло оучини. ѡн же ᲅако ѿвеща. зло никоеⷤ҇ оучиниⷯ҇. но ѡнъ самъ себе оубиⷧ҇. “Why did you do such evil?” Dracula then answered that no one could commit a wicked act, without Dracula killing the wrongdoer himself. Находѧ разбойнически на великаго гд҇рѧ. домъ всѧкъ ᲅакъ погибнеᲅь. Approaching the robber in the great master’s home, he killed him. ащеⷧ҇ ᲅо (//216r) ко мнѣ пришел ꙗвиⷧ҇ бы. и азъ во своемъ домоу нашел бы ᲅого злодѣѧ, или бы выдалъ. “If he [the steward] had come to me and announced [what happened], then I would have found a criminal in my own house or handed [him] over, или просиⷧ҇ его ѿ смр҇ᲅи. kралюⷤ҇ повѣдаша. kоролю же нача смѣѧᲅисѧ и дивиᲅиⷭ҇ его срцⷣю.  or set him free from death (not have killed him).” He was brought to the King. The King began to laugh and marveled at his courage.

Конец же его сице, живѧше на мᲂунᲅїанскои земли. и прїидоша на землю еⷢ҇ ᲅоурци, начаша плѣниᲅи. Dracula’s end was thus: he lived in the Wallachian land, and the Turks attacked his land, and began to take prisoners. ѡн же оудари на ниⷯ҇ и побѣгоша ᲅоурци. дракули но҇ⷤⷤ воиско безъ млᲅⷭ҇и начаша иⷯ҇ сѣщи. He struck them and defeated the Turks. Dracula’s army began to cut them down without mercy. и гнаша иⷯ҇ⷯ дракоулаⷤ҇ ѿ радосᲅи възгнавъ на гороу да видиᲅь како сѣкоуᲅь ᲅоурковъ. Dracula, in joy, rode up the hill to see the Turks cut down. и ѿᲅоргъсѧ ѿ воиска ближи ꙶи его, мнѧщиⷭ҇ ꙗко ᲅоурчинъ. And [he] pulled away from his army, which, close to him, assumed he was a Turk и оудари его единъ копїемъ. ѡн же видѣвъ ꙗко ѿ своиⷯ҇ⷯ (//216v) оубиваемъ. and one of them hit him with a lance. Dracula, seeing that he had been wounded, и ᲅоу оуби своиⷯ҇ⷯ оубїиць мечеⷨ҇ своимъ. then killed his own murderer with his sword. є҇. его҇ⷤⷤ мнозими копїи сбодоша. и ᲅако оубїенъ быⷭ҇.  Five more lances pierced him, and thus he died.

корол же сесᲅроу свою взѧ, и со двѣма сыими, въ оугорскоую землⷻ на боудинъ. единъ при кралевѣ си҇ѣ живе. The King took his sister, along with the two sons, to Buda in the Hungarian land. One son lived under the king. а дроугїи быⷧ҇ оу вараⷣнскоⷢ҇ бископа и при наⷭ҇ оумре, а ᲅреѧго си҇а сᲅарѣишаⷢ҇ михаила ᲅᲂу же на бᲂуⷣинᲂу видѣхоⷨ҇, ѿ џр҇ѧ ᲅꙋрскаⷢ҇ прибѣгъ ко кралю, The other was a bishop in Varndinsky and died among us; a third son, the eldest, Mikhail, they saw there in Bud, running to the king from the Turkish tsarThis can be interpreted as indicating that the son changed allegiances from the Moldavian king to the Turkish tsar. еще не женивсѧ прижиⷧ҇ его дракоула съ единою дѣвкою, сᲅефан же молдовскыи з кралевы воли посаⷣ на мꙋнᲅьꙗнскои земли нѣкоего воевоⷣскаго сн҇а влада именеⷨ҇, Still unmarried, Dracula had him [Mikhail] with a girl. Stefan the same MoldovanReference to Stefan III of Moldavia (1457-1504), who had the military support of Vlad Tepes., following the king’s will, placed in the Wallachian land a son of a voivode named Vlad5 It seems that this son of the voivode Vlad is Dracula’s replacement. . быⷭ҇ бо ᲅои владъ (//217r) ѿ младенсᲅва инокъ. поᲅомъ и сщ҇енникъ и игоуменъ в монасᲅыри. This Vlad was the one who was alone from childhood, then a priest, and the superior in a monastery. поᲅомъ росᲅригсѧ и сѣл на воевоⷣсᲅво и женилсѧ, понѧлъ воевоⷣскоую женоу. иже после дракоулы мало побилъ. Then [Vlad] defrocked and settled down into the voivodship and married. He took the wife of the voivode who was killed a little after Dracula. и оубил его сᲅефанъ волосьскьї, ᲅого женоу понѧлъ и нн҇ѣ воевода на моунᲅьꙗнскои земли владъ, иже бывьї чернець и игоуменъ ⁖ Stefan of Moldavia killed him, then took that wife. Now the voivode in the Wallachian land is [another] Vlad, who was a hermit and solitary.  В лѣ ѕ҇. ч҇. ч҇. д҇. феⷠ҇ гі҇ преⷤ҇ писаⷧ҇, ᲅаⷤ҇, в лѣᲅ ѕ҇. ч҇. чи҇. геⷩ҇. ки҇. в дроуⷢ҇е преписаⷯ҇ азъ грѣшныⷯ҇ єфросинъ ⁖ I, the sinful Efrosin, wrote the above on February 12 in the year 6994 [1486], then I rewrote it again in January 28 in the year 6998 [1490]Efrosin, as an Eastern Orthodox Monk, used the Byzantine Calendar. This calendar takes the year 5508 BCE as year one, so to convert a year to the common era, we can subtract 5508..