Far more important is the Slavonic literature of Ragusa, Slavonic, as I have said, only in language, but Italian in character. The first Ragusan to write verse in the vernacular was Šiško Menčetić or Sigismondo Menze (1457-1501), who may be called the father of Ragusan poetry. His compositions were chiefly love lyrics of the Provençal troubadour character, a form introduced into Ragusa through the Republic’s connection with the Spanish court of Naples. His canzoniere is entitled _Pjesni Ljuvesne_.[528] Of a similar character are the poems of Gjore Držić (died 1510), and those of Hannibal Lučić or Lucio (1480-1540), author of a play called _Robinja_, or the Slave girl, of which the subject is an episode of the Turkish wars.[529] He also wrote an ode in praise of Ragusa, of which the following is an extract: “My songs cannot in any way tell of all the lands with which the famous Ragusa trades. Over mountains and through forests, all the world over, does she send her merchants without let or hindrance, through lands where the sun shines from afar, where it burns moderately, and where it blazes overmuch. All receive the wares which they peacefully bring, and what is given in exchange they peacefully carry away. Worthy is the city that she should everywhere be praised, that God and men should bless her!” Nikola Vetranić-Čavčić (1482-1576) was much admired as a poet. He belonged to a noble Ragusan family, and was abbot of a monastery, but later in life he retired to a hermitage on a small island off the coast, where he continued to write poetry and keep up his intercourse with literary friends. His _Sacrifice of Abraham_ is considered one of the best of the Slavonic mystery plays, for it contains really artistic presentations of character and situations, while some of the episodes begin to resemble Servian popular poetry. In a poem called _Remeta_, or the Hermit, he describes his island retreat, and in the _Putnik_ (the Wanderer) Ragusan scenery. His _Italija_ is an ode to Italy, in which he shows that the Ragusans considered themselves almost Italians, for he hopes that her ancient glory may return to Italy, and that she will remain independent of the heathen (the Turks), and that neither the Eagle nor the Cock (the Empire and France) will do her any harm, and he wishes her freedom and unity. Vetranić is also the author of a translation of the Hecuba of Euripides. Andrija Čubranović (died about 1550), unlike the other poets mentioned, was a man of the people. His best known poem is the _Jegjupka_, or the Gipsy.[530] It seems to have been a carnival song, and recalls some of the Italian _Canti Carnascialeschi_. It is said to have been publicly recited at Ragusa in 1527, and is considered remarkable for the purity of the language. [Illustration: GIOVANNI GONDOLA (_From the Galleria di Ragusei Illustri_)]