boris & gleb 2

And a messenger came to Boris... 

informing him of his father's death. 

How his father Vasilii - for that was the name given to him in holy baptism - had passed away, and how Sviatopolk had concealed the death of his father... 

and how at night in Berestovo [an estate near Kiev, which belonged to Vladimir], after taking up the floor and wrapping him in a rug [kleed], they had lowered him to the ground with ropes, took him by sledge and placed him in the Church of the Holy Mother of God. 

And when the saintly Boris heard this, he grew weak in the body, and his entire face was covered with tears. And being choked with tears, he could not speak, but in his heart he began to speak thusly: 

"Woe unto me, light of my eyes, radiance and dawn of my face, bridle [teugel] of my youth, admonition [vermaning] of my foolishness! Woe unto me, my father and lord! To whom shall I turn, to whom shall I look, where shall I sate [gaan zitten] myself with the good instruction and admonitions of your understanding? Woe unto me, woe unto me! 

My heart burns, my soul confuses my mind, and I know not to whom to turn, and to whom to show this bitter sorrow. To the brother whom I would have in place of a father? But he, methinks, has learned worldly vanities and contemplates my murder. 

If he sheds my blood and attempts to slay me, then a martyr shall I be unto my Lord. For I shall not resist, as it is written: "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" [James 4:6]

Therefore, what shall I say or what shall I do? Lo, shall I go to my brother and say, "Be a father to me. You are my brother and elder. What is your command, my lord?"" 

And musing thus in his mind, he set off to his brother, and he said in his heart: "Were I at least to see the face of my younger brother Gleb, as Joseph did Benjamin."

[bron]