"Better is it to be hewn to pieces than to be captive!"

"I wish to lay down my head and to drink of the Don in my helmet!"

"Wizard Boyán, scion of Véles."

"The trumpets blare at Nóvgorod, the banners stand fast at Putívl."

"Div arose crying calls on the tree-top."

"But the Pólovtsy on trackless roads ran to the mighty Don."

"There have been the ages of Troyán; the years of Yarosláv have declined. There have been the armies of Olég, Olég Svy…"

"Then, in the time of Olég, Boris wrought for evil: feuds were sown and grew apace, the life of [Russia] the scion of …"

"From early moon until the evening, from the evening until the day-light, tempered arrows fly, the sabres thunder abou…"

"They fought one day, they fought another; on the third day, close on noon, the standards of Ígoŕ fell."