“Do you know what they say about this well? Whoever drinks its water will always stay close by.”
Manda's Well
Mandino vrelo / Manda's Well
Nada Mihaljević
| Magla se lijeno, puzajući povlačila prema obroncima gore, ostavljajući iza sebe samo poneki sivi pramen kojega je vjetar njihao poput poderane krpe. | The mist was lazily lifting off the ground and creeping up the slopes with a few grey wisps that trailed behind and swayed in the wind like a torn rag. |
| Sunčeve su zrake u početku oprezno provirivale kroz razderane oblake, pomilovale lišće usamljenih stabala, razigrale se i ojačale, i na kraju bodro i veselo zasvjetlucale duž krovova zbijenih kućeraka. | The first sunrays cautiously peeked through broken clouds, lovingly touching the leaves of lonesome trees. Growing warmer and warmer, they glistened playfully upon the roofs of closely built tiny houses. |
| Tihi, pospani glasovi ubrzo su se pretvorili u žamor, a dječja cika ispunila je dvorišta. | Faint, sleepy voices of people soon turned into a hustle and bustle, and joyful screaming of children filled the yards. |
| Žene su užurbano, s krčazima i kablovima u rukama, krenule prema obližnjem bunaru. Izmijenile su međusobno tek kratke pozdrave, i čim bi koja napunila posudu vodom, vraćale se kućama. | Women grabbed their jars and buckets, then hurried to a nearby water-well. Briefly exchanging good mornings, they filled them with water and dashed home. |
| Jedina koja nije žurila bila je djevojka Manda. Ona je prema bunaru krenula posljednja, sitnim koracima, zastajkujući. | Only a girl named Manda seemed in no hurry. She was the last to set off towards the well, taking tiny steps, stopping every now and then. |
| Podigla je pogled prema Gradecu i njegovim zidinama, a zatim se okrenula prema jugu, promatrajući kamenu cestu koja se gubila u nizini. | Lifting her eyes up to Gradec and the city walls, she turned to the south and gazed at the stone road that was disappearing in the plain. |
| Neki se nejasan obris nazirao u daljini, i Manda zastane s rukom na čelu kako bi se obranila od blještavih sunčevih zraka i bolje vidjela. | Barely discerning a vague outline in the distance, she paused to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight and have a better view. |
| Nije bilo sumnje, netko je dolazio cestom, usamljeni jahač na umornu konju. | Someone was coming down the road: a lonely rider on a tired horse. |
| Da je konj umoran vidjelo se još izdaleka jer je hodao tromo, spuštene glave, a kad se približio, djevojka pažljivije promotri jahača. I njemu se na licu vidio umor. | From the distance, she could tell the animal was exhausted by its heavy trudge and its low dropped head. When the horse reached her, the girl looked at the rider more closely. Exhaustion showed on his face too. |
| Nekoć gizdava odora bila je prekrivena prašinom, znakom duga putovanja, a mač položen preko sedla svjedočio je brojnim bitkama. | Once glamorous vestment was now covered with a layer of dust, as a telling sign of long travelling; his sword that was laid down upon the saddle bore witness to numerous battles he had fought. |
| Djevojka ustuknu kad se konjanik sagnuo prema njoj, ali zatomi strah i ne pobježe, pažljivo ga motreći. | When the horseman bent down close to her, the girl shrank away, yet for some reason she felt her fear dissipate and decided not to run away. |
| "Kako se zoveš, djevojko?" upita konjanik promuklim glasom. | ‘What is your name, girl?’ asked the horseman in a hoarse voice. |
| "Manda", odgovori ona. | ‘Manda,’ she replied. |
| "Mando, dušo, zagrabi mi vode!" | ‘Mando, dušo, zagrabi mi vode!’ (Manda, honey, please scoop me some water from the well!) |
| Učas Manda zaboravi sav strah i nelagodu, pa zagrabi svježe vode nepoznatom vitezu jer bjelodano bijaše kako je na izmaku snaga. Utažiše žeđ i umorni jahač i njegov konj, a djevojka se osokoli pa će vitezu: | In an instant Manda forgot all her fears and discomfort, and she reached for a scoop of cool water for the unknown knight who was plainly ready to drop. When the worn-out rider and his horse quenched thirst, the girl now emboldened, spoke: |
| "Znaš li što kazuju za ovaj izvor? Tko se iz njega vode napije, ostat će mu blizu zauvijek." | ‘Do you know what they say about this well? Whoever drinks its water will always stay close by.’ |
| "Ništa mi ne bi bilo draže", odgovori vitez smiješeći se "jer sam daleko putovao, i nigdje ne vidjeh ovakve ljepotice, niti okusih ovako slatke, studene vode." | ‘There’s nothing I’d like more than that,’ said the knight smiling at her, ‘for I have journeyed near and far, and nowhere have I seen a girl so beautiful, nor tasted water so sweet and cool.’ |
| Tako i bude! Vitez se nastani podno zidina Gradeca i ubrzo oženi lijepu Mandu. Oboje su često spominjali priču o svom prvom susretu. Ona bi se razdragano prisjećala kako ju je oslovio "Mando, dušo!" Zbog toga taj bunar ljudi s vremenom prozvaše Manduševac. | And so the knight settled at the foot of the hill on which the 'Upper Town' Gradec was situated, and soon enough he wedded beautiful Manda. Many a time have they retold the story of their first encounter. Glowing with happiness, she would recall the way he approached her: ‘Mando, dušo…!’ (Manda, honey…!) So, in time, people named the well Manduševac. |
| A on, on je očarano pričao o mjestu na kojemu je Manda za njega vodu zagrabila, pa cijelo to mjesto oko bunara počeše zvati Zagrab, a kasnije i Zagreb. | He, on the other hand, used to talk about the place where Manda scooped (zagrabila in Croatian) water with such great fascination that the whole area around the well became known as Zagrab and later on Zagreb. |
| Prohujale su mnoge godine, i mnoge priče padoše u zaborav. Srušile se i zidine Gradeca, ali još živi Mandino vrelo i ime Manduševac, kao i bijeli Zagreb grad. | Many years have passed from that time, many stories sank into oblivion. The city walls around the old town Gradec crumbled down too, but Manda’s well, along with the names Manduševac and Zagreb, the white city live on to this day. |
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Title of the story, Naslov priče: Manda’s well = Mandino vrelo
Title of the book, Naslov knjige: /
Author, Autor: written by Nadica Mihaljević = napisala Nadica Mihaljević
Other type of responsibilities, Drugi podaci o odgovornosti: /
Place of publishing, Mjesto izdavanja: /
Publisher, Nakladnik: /
Date of publishing, Godina izdavanja: /
Language, Jezik: Croatian = Hrvatski
Script, Pismo: Latin = Latinica
Format: PDF
URL: /
Rights, Prava: CC BY
Description, Opis: Story based on a famous Zagreb legend Manduševac. Priča temeljena na poznatoj zagrebačkoj legendi o Manduševcu.
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El pozo de Manda
La niebla se levantaba perezosa del suelo, cubriendo las laderas con algunas vetas grises que se quedaban atrás y se balanceaban con el viento como si fuesen jirones de tela. Los primeros rayos de sol aparecieron tímidamente a través de las nubes dispersas, acariciando las hojas de los árboles solitarios. Volviéndose más y más cálidos, relucían en los tejados de las casitas más cercanas. Las tenues y adormiladas voces de la gente pronto se convirtieron en bullicio y los gritos alegres de los niños llenaron los patios. Las mujeres cogieron sus cántaros y cubos, tras lo cual se apresuraron hacia un pozo de agua cercano y los llenaron con agua mientras se daban los buenos días brevemente para luego volver deprisa a casa.
Tan solo una muchacha llamada Manda parecía no tener prisa. Era la última en encaminarse hacia el pozo, pasito a pasito, parándose de cuando en cuando. Alzando los ojos hacia Gradec y las murallas, se volvió hacia el sur y dirigió su mirada a la carretera de piedra que desaparecía en la llanura. Apenas distinguiendo una vaga silueta en la distancia, se detuvo para proteger sus ojos de la cegadora luz del sol y poder ver mejor. Alguien llegaba por la carretera: un jinete solitario montado en un caballo cansado. Desde la distancia, se dio cuenta de que el animal, cabizbajo, estaba exhausto por el largo camino que había recorrido. Cuando el caballo se acercó, la muchacha examinó más de cerca al jinete. Su cara también reflejaba cansancio. Su vestimenta, una vez elegante, ahora estaba cubierta por una capa de polvo, señal que delataba un largo viaje; su espada, colocada en la montura daba testimonio de las numerosas batallas que había luchado.
El caballero se inclinó hacia ella y la muchacha se encogió, pero por alguna razón sintió que su miedo se disipaba y decidió no salir corriendo.
“¿Cómo te llamas, muchacha?” preguntó el caballero con voz ronca.
“Manda,” respondió ella.
“¡Mando, dušo, zagrabi mi vode!”(Manda, cariño, ¡sácame un poco de agua del pozo por favor!)
En un instante, Manda se olvidó por completo de su miedo e inquietud y sacó un poco de agua fresca para el caballero desconocido, que estaba a punto de caerse. Cuando el agotado jinete y su caballo calmaron su sed, la muchacha ahora envalentonada, habló:
“¿Sabéis lo que dicen de este pozo? Quien beba de su agua siempre estará cerca de ella.”
“Nada me gustaría más que eso,” dijo el caballero sonriendo, “pues he viajado por todas partes y en ningún lugar he visto a una muchacha tan bonita ni he bebido un agua tan dulce y fresca.”
Y así, el caballero se quedó a los pies de la colina, donde se situaba la parte alta de Gradec, y pronto se casó con la bella Manda. Más de una vez narraron la historia de su primer encuentro. Irradiando felicidad, ella solía recordar la forma en la que él se le había acercado: “¡Mando, dušo…!”(¡Manda, cariño…!) Así que, con el tiempo, la gente bautizó el pozo con el nombre de Manduševac.
Él, por su parte, solía hablar del lugar de donde Manda había sacado (zagrabilaen croata) el agua con tal fascinación que toda la zona del pozo se hizo conocida por el nombre de Zagrab y, más tarde, Zagreb.
Muchos años han pasado desde ese momento, muchas historias se han perdido en el olvido. Las murallas alrededor de la vieja ciudad de Gradec también se derrumbaron, pero el pozo de Manda, junto con los nombres de Manduševac y Zagreb, la ciudad blanca, perviven hasta nuestros días.
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Το πηγάδι της Mάντας
Ομίχλη σηκώθηκε από το έδαφος και σερνόταν στις πλαγιές με μερικές γκρίζες απολήξεις που ακολουθούσαν πίσω και ταλαντεύονταν στον άνεμο σαν σκισμένο πανί. Οι πρώτες ακτίνες του ήλιου εμφανίζονταν προσεκτικά μέσα από τα σκισμένα σύννεφα αγγίζοντας με αγάπη τα φύλλα των μοναχικών δέντρων. Καθώς διαμορφώνονταν όλο και πιο ζεστά, έσκυβαν παιχνιδιάρικα στις στέγες των χτισμένων στενά μικροσκοπικών σπιτιών. Αχνές, νυσταγμένες φωνές ανθρώπων σύντομα μετατράπηκαν σε φασαρία και μια χαρούμενη κραυγή παιδιών γέμισε τις αυλές. Οι γυναίκες άρπαξαν τα βάζα και τους κουβάδες τους και έσπευσαν σε ένα κοντινό πηγάδι. Ανταλλάσσοντας εν συντομία καλημέρα, τους γέμισαν με νερό και έσπασαν το σπίτι τους.
Μόνο ένα κορίτσι με το όνομα Μάντα φάνηκε να μην βιάζεται. Ήταν η τελευταία που πήγε προς το πηγάδι, κάνοντας μικρά βήματα, σταματώντας κάθε τόσο. Σηκώνοντας τα μάτια της προς το Γκράντετς και τα τείχη της πόλης, γύρισε προς τα νότια και κοίταξε τον πέτρινο δρόμο που εξαφανίστηκε στην πεδιάδα. Διακρίνοντας αμυδρά στο βάθος ένα ασαφές περίγραμμα, σταμάτησε να προστατεύσει τα μάτια της από το έντονο φως του ήλιου και να έχει μια καλύτερη θέα.
Κάποιος ερχόταν από το δρόμο: ένας μοναχικός αναβάτης σε ένα κουρασμένο άλογο. Από απόσταση μπορούσε να πει ότι το ζώο είχε εξαντληθεί από το βαρύ βηματισμό και το χαμηλό κεφάλι του. Όταν το άλογο την έφτασε, το κορίτσι κοίταξε τον αναβάτη από κοντά. Η εξάντληση φαινόταν και στο πρόσωπό του. Ένα γοητευτικό πανωφόρι καλυπτόταν τώρα από ένα στρώμα σκόνη, ως σημάδι της μακράς διαδρομής. Το σπαθί του πάνω στη σέλα μαρτυρούσε πολλές μάχες στις οποίες είχε συμμετάσχει.
Όταν ο ιππέας έσκυψε κοντά της, το κορίτσι απομακρύνθηκε, αλλά για κάποιο λόγο ένιωσε ότι ο φόβος της διαλύθηκε και αποφάσισε να μην φύγει.
«Ποιο είναι το όνομά σου, κορίτσι;» ρώτησε ο ιππέας με βραχνή φωνή.
Μάντα, απάντησε.
Μάντα αγάπη μου, φέρε μου σε παρακαλώ λίγο νερό από το πηγάδι
Σε μια στιγμή η Μάντα ξέχασε όλους τους φόβους και την ταλαιπωρία της και έφερε νερό στον άγνωστο ιππότη που ήταν έτοιμος να πέσει. Όταν ο ταλαιπωρημένος αναβάτης και το άλογό του κάλυψαν τη δίψα τους, το κορίτσι τους ενθάρρυνε λέγοντας: «Ξέρετε τι λένε για αυτό το πηγάδι; Όποιος πίνει το νερό του θα μείνει πάντα κοντά»
«Δεν θα ήθελα τίποτα περισσότερο από αυτό», είπε ο ιππότης χαμογελώντας, «γιατί έχω ταξιδέψει κοντά και μακριά και πουθενά δεν έχω δει ένα κορίτσι τόσο όμορφο, ούτε έχω πιει νερό τόσο γλυκό και δροσερό».
Και έτσι ο ιππότης εγκαταστάθηκε στους πρόποδες του λόφου στον οποίο βρισκόταν η «Άνω Πόλη» (Gradec), και σύντομα παντρεύτηκε την όμορφη Μάντα. Πολλές φορές έχουν μεταφέρει την ιστορία της πρώτης τους συνάντησης. Λαμπερό και ευτυχισμένο θα θυμούνται τον τρόπο που την πλησίασε: « Μάντα, αγαπημένη μου…!» Έτσι, με την πάροδο του χρόνου, οι άνθρωποι ονόμασαν το πηγάδι «Το πηγάδι της Μάντας» (Μαντουέβατς).
Από την άλλη πλευρά, συνήθιζε να μιλάει για τον μέρος όπου η Μάντα κέρδισε (zagrabila στα Κροατικά) νερό με τόση μεγάλη γοητεία που ολόκληρη η περιοχή γύρω από το πηγάδι έγινε γνωστή ως Ζαγκράμπ και αργότερα ως Ζάγκρεμπ.
Έχουν περάσει πολλά χρόνια από εκείνη την εποχή, πολλές ιστορίες βυθίστηκαν στη λήθη. Τα τείχη της πόλης γύρω από την παλιά πόλη Gradec κατέρρευσαν επίσης, αλλά το πηγάδι της Μάντας, μαζί με τα ονόματα Manduševac και Zagreb (Ζάγκρεμπ), η λευκή πόλη υπάρχουν μέχρι σήμερα.
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Mandas avots
Migla pamazām cēlās augšup, tās pelēkās šķipsnas, rāpjoties augšup pa nogāzi, vietumis vilkās nopakaļ un šūpojās vējā līdzīgi saplēstai lupatai. Pirmie saules stari piesardzīgi parādījās caur mākoņu starpām, maigi skarot vientuļo koku lapas. Pamazām kļūstot arvien siltāki, tie rotaļīgi uzplaiksnījās uz mazo, cieši blakus sabūvēto mājiņu jumtiem.Tikko dzirdamās miegainās cilvēku balsis drīz vien pārvērtās rosībā un burzmā, un pagalmus piepildīja priecīgas bērnu klaigas. Sievietes paķēra savas krūkas un spaiņus, tad steidzās uz tuvējo avotu pēc ūdens. Steidzīgi apmainoties ar laba rīta vēlējumiem, viņas piepildīja traukus ar ūdeni un steidzās mājās.
Tikai kādai meitenei, vārdā Manda, steiga nebija ne prātā. Viņa bija pati pēdējā, kas devās akas virzienā, sperdama sīkus soļus un ik pa brīdim apstājoties. Pavērsusi acis uz Gradecu un pilsētas sienām, viņa pagriezās uz dienvidiem un skatījās uz akmeņaino ceļu, kas izgaisa līdzenumā. Tik tikko spēdama tālumā samanīt nenoteiktas kontūras, viņa apstājās, lai pasargātu acis no spilgtās saules gaismas un ieskatītos labāk.
Pa ceļu kāds tuvojās – vientuļš jātnieks uz noguruša zirga. Jau pa gabalu viņa varēja nojaust, ka dzīvnieks ir novārdzis – tas velkas tik nespēcīgiem soļiem, zemu nolaidis galvu. Kad zirgs pienāca gluži tuvu, meitene vērīgāk paskatījās uz jātnieku. Arī viņa sejā bija jūtams spēku izsīkums. Kādreiz krāšņās drēbes tagad klāja putekļu kārta, uzskatāmi liecinot par garu ceļojumu; viņa zobens, kas bija pārlikts virs segliem, liecināja par daudzām sadursmēm, kurās viņš bija cīnījies.
Kad jātnieks pieliecās viņai tuvāk klāt, meitene sarāvās, tomēr kāda neizprotama iemesla dēļ viņa juta bailes pagaistam, tādēļ nolēma nebēgt.
Kāds ir tavs vārds, meitēn?” -jātnieks jautāja aizsmakušā balsī.
Manda, – viņa atbildēja.
“Mando, dušo, zagrabi mi vode!” (Manda, mīļumiņ, lūdzu, iesmel man no avota ūdeni!)
Vienā mirklī Manda aizmirsa visas savas bailes un satraukumu, un steidzās pasniegt vēsa ūdens kausu nezināmajam bruņiniekam, kurš acīmredzami bija tuvu tam, lai bezspēkā nokristu. Kad līdz nāvei nogurušais jātnieks un viņa zirgs bija remdējuši slāpes, meitene, tagad jau saņēmusi dūšu, teica: – Vai jūs zināt, ko par šo avotu stāsta? Ikviens, kas dzer tā ūdeni, vienmēr paliks tā tuvumā.
Tieši to es vēlētos vairāk par visu pasaulē,” – sacīja bruņinieks, uzsmaidot viņai. -“Jo es esmu ceļojis gan tuvu, gan tālu, bet nekur neesmu redzējis tik skaistu meiteni, ne arī dzēris tik garšīgu un vēsu ūdeni.”
Un tā bruņinieks apmetās kalna, uz kura atrodas Gradecas “Augšpilsēta”, pakājē, un drīz vien viņš apprecēja skaisto Mandu. Daudzas reizes viņi ir atkārtojuši stāstu par savu pirmo tikšanos. Starojot aiz laimes, viņa mēdza atsaukt atmiņā, kā viņš to uzrunāja : “Mando, dušo…!” (Manda, mīļumiņ…!) Un tā laikam ejot, cilvēki piešķīra avotam vārdu Manduševaca.
Savukārt viņš ar tik lielu aizrautību runāja par vietu, kur Manda iesmēla (zagrabila horvātu valodā) ūdeni, ka visa teritorija ap avotu kļuva pazīstama kā Zagrab un vēlāk Zagreba.
Kopš tā laika ir pagājuši daudzi gadi, daudzi stāsti ir iegrimuši aizmirstībā. Arī pilsētas mūri ap veco Gradecas pilsētu ir sagāzušies, bet Mandas avots, kopā ar nosaukumiem Manduševaca un baltā pilsēta Zagreba, dzīvo līdz pat šai dienai.
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Mandino vrelo
Magla se lijeno, puzajući povlačila prema obroncima gore, ostavljajući iza sebe samo poneki sivi pramen kojega je vjetar njihao poput poderane krpe. Sunčeve su zrake u početku oprezno provirivale kroz razderane oblake, pomilovale lišće usamljenih stabala, razigrale se i ojačale, i na kraju bodro i veselo zasvjetlucale duž krovova zbijenih kućeraka. Tihi, pospani glasovi ubrzo su se pretvorili u žamor, a dječja cika ispunila je dvorišta. Žene su užurbano, s krčazima i kablovima u rukama, krenule prema obližnjem bunaru. Izmijenile su međusobno tek kratke pozdrave, i čim bi koja napunila posudu vodom, vraćale se kućama.
Jedina koja nije žurila bila je djevojka Manda. Ona je prema bunaru krenula posljednja, sitnim koracima, zastajkujući. Podigla je pogled prema Gradecu i njegovim zidinama, a zatim se okrenula prema jugu, promatrajući kamenu cestu koja se gubila u nizini. Neki se nejasan obris nazirao u daljini, i Manda zastane s rukom na čelu kako bi se obranila od blještavih sunčevih zraka i bolje vidjela. Nije bilo sumnje, netko je dolazio cestom, usamljeni jahač na umornu konju. Da je konj umoran vidjelo se još izdaleka jer je hodao tromo, spuštene glave, a kad se približio, djevojka pažljivije promotri jahača. I njemu se na licu vidio umor. Nekoć gizdava odora bila je prekrivena prašinom, znakom duga putovanja, a mač položen preko sedla svjedočio je brojnim bitkama.
Djevojka ustuknu kad se konjanik sagnuo prema njoj, ali zatomi strah i ne pobježe, pažljivo ga motreći.
– Kako se zoveš, djevojko? – upita konjanik promuklim glasom.
– Manda – odgovori ona.
– Mando, dušo, zagrabi mi vode!
Učas Manda zaboravi sav strah i nelagodu, pa zagrabi svježe vode nepoznatom vitezu jer bjelodano bijaše kako je na izmaku snaga. Utažiše žeđ i umorni jahač i njegov konj, a djevojka se osokoli pa će vitezu:
– Znaš li što kazuju za ovaj izvor? Tko se iz njega vode napije, ostat će mu blizu zauvijek.
– Ništa mi ne bi bilo draže – odgovori vitez smiješeći se – jer sam daleko putovao, i nigdje ne vidjeh ovakve ljepotice, niti okusih ovako slatke, studene vode.
Tako i bude! Vitez se nastani podno zidina Gradeca i ubrzo oženi lijepu Mandu. Oboje su često spominjali priču o svom prvom susretu. Ona bi se razdragano prisjećala kako ju je oslovio „Mando, dušo!“ Zbog toga taj bunar ljudi s vremenom prozvaše Manduševac.
A on, on je očarano pričao o mjestu na kojemu je Manda za njega vodu zagrabila, pa cijelo to mjesto oko bunara počeše zvati Zagrab, a kasnije i Zagreb.
Prohujale su mnoge godine, i mnoge priče padoše u zaborav. Srušile se i zidine Gradeca, ali još živi Mandino vrelo i ime Manduševac, kao i bijeli Zagreb grad.
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Manda’s Well
The mist was lazily lifting off the ground and creeping up the slopes with a few grey wisps that trailed behind and swayed in the wind like a torn rag. The first sunrays cautiously peeked through broken clouds, lovingly touching the leaves of lonesome trees. Growing warmer and warmer, they glistened playfully upon the roofs of closely built tiny houses. Faint, sleepy voices of people soon turned into a hustle and bustle, and joyful screaming of children filled the yards. Women grabbed their jars and buckets, then hurried to a nearby water-well. Briefly exchanging good mornings, they filled them with water and dashed home.
Only a girl named Manda seemed in no hurry. She was the last to set off towards the well, taking tiny steps, stopping every now and then. Lifting her eyes up to Gradec and the city walls, she turned to the south and gazed at the stone road that was disappearing in the plain. Barely discerning a vague outline in the distance, she paused to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight and have a better view. Someone was coming down the road: a lonely rider on a tired horse. From the distance, she could tell the animal was exhausted by its heavy trudge and its low dropped head. When the horse reached her, the girl looked at the rider more closely. Exhaustion showed on his face too. Once glamorous vestment was now covered with a layer of dust, as a telling sign of long travelling; his sword that was laid down upon the saddle bore witness to numerous battles he had fought.
When the horseman bent down close to her, the girl shrank away, yet for some reason she felt her fear dissipate and decided not to run away.
‘What is your name, girl?’ asked the horseman in a hoarse voice.
‘Manda,’ she replied.
‘Mando, dušo, zagrabi mi vode!’ (Manda, honey, please scoop me some water from the well!)
In an instant Manda forgot all her fears and discomfort, and she reached for a scoop of cool water for the unknown knight who was plainly ready to drop. When the worn-out rider and his horse quenched thirst, the girl now emboldened, spoke:
‘Do you know what they say about this well? Whoever drinks its water will always stay close by.’
‘There’s nothing I’d like more than that,’ said the knight smiling at her, ‘for I have journeyed near and far, and nowhere have I seen a girl so beautiful, nor tasted water so sweet and cool.’
And so the knight settled at the foot of the hill on which the “Upper Town” Gradec was situated, and soon enough he wedded beautiful Manda. Many a time have they retold the story of their first encounter. Glowing with happiness, she would recall the way he approached her: ‘Mando, dušo…!’ (Manda, honey…!) So, in time, people named the well Manduševac.
He, on the other hand, used to talk about the place where Manda scooped (zagrabila in Croatian) water with such great fascination that the whole area around the well became known as Zagrab and later on Zagreb.
Many years have passed from that time, many stories sank into oblivion. The city walls around the old town Gradec crumbled down too, but Manda’s well, along with the names Manduševac and Zagreb, the white city live on to this day.
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