Down at the barren field, near the reed beds,
a crab has become a dragon and is devouring the bravest men.
He ate Phokas’ black steed, he ate Nikiphoros,
he ate Ephtatrachilos, the man whom everybody feared.
When the king heard that, he was far from pleased,
and sent word to Kostantis.
– Kostantis, come hither, you’re wanted by your king.
In the time he took to say “Stay well”, he was a thousand miles away,
and in the time they took to say him “Fare well”, he was at the king’s door.
– Hail, my lord and king. What is it that you want?
If it’s to war you’d have me go, I’ll grab my sword.
If it’s to a feast, I’ll grab my lute.
– Kostantis, you fool, what are you blathering about?
Down at the barren field, near the reed beds,
a crab has become a dragon and is devouring our bravest men.
He ate Phokas’ black steed, he ate Nikiphoros,
he ate Ephtatrachilos, the man whom everybody feared.
Ιn the time he took to say “Stay well”, he was a thousand miles away,
and in the time they took to say him “Fare well”, he was at the crab-hole.
When the crab saw him, it was pleased as punch.
– This mouthful will do for breakfast and for lunchtime,
with enough left over to fill me at supper, too.
– May you have carrion for breakfast and get the colic at lunchtime,
and may my knife be all that fills you when the sun goes down.
So Kostantis and the crab joined in battle.
Wherever Kostantis gripped, bones cracked,
and wherever the crab grabbed, blood spurted in rivers.
Finding himself in need, Kostantis shouted out to Saint George:
– Saint George, my lord up upon your mount,
this crab will strip me of the graces you bestowed on me.1
– Kostantis, you fool, are you afraid of the crab?
Draw your sword from its silver scabbard
and plunge it in the crab’s belly, below the navel.
He drew his silver sword from its silver scabbard
and plunged it in the crab’s belly, below the navel.
He made a tent out of the crab’s shell
and invited the king and his vizier.
Translated by Michael Eleftheriou
1We first come across a hero summoning divine power and assistance from above in the written Byzantine variation on the ‘Song of Amouris’ (see Kalomoiris and the Saracen).
