The learned Franciscan friar, archaeologist, linguist and writer Matija Petar Katančić (Valpovo 1750 – Buda 1825) spent time in the Samobor area towards the end of the 18th century. Captivated by its beauty, he published one of his finest poems in the Croatian language, dedicating it to the grape harvest in Molvice, then known as Molbice. The poem was written in 1791 in the Ikavian dialect customary in Slavonia — the language of his native region.
O green little hill of Molbice, fair and pleasant,
honoured by young wives and maidens, graceful and fruitful;
dear art thou to every maiden, every nymph doth thee desire;
rich art thou in good wine and orchard's pleasant yield.
Within thee lies a little garden, a branch leafy and green,
and in the midst soft grass, and the violet of the woodland kin;
around thee the slender vine and the hillside like a garland,
and through thee walks the beloved maiden fair.
Hither come the young men of the wood, merry and light,
with them the nimble young wives, and the Nymphs long to join the round;
they take each other's hands in harmony, light feet beat the ground,
Pan strikes up his tune. "Hop!" cries the Satyr.
In the round are Milica, Lubica, dear sisters all,
outside the round Danica, Ančica and other nymphs;
there Milica sings a song, and Lubica answers her,
the Nymphs share the dance in orderly measure with song.
Young Bacchus approaches, adorned, worth six parduses:
in his hand a double cup of sweet and pleasant taste,
on his head a garland of grapes, around his waist a chain of leaves,
garlands of sweetly fragrant grapes adorn the round.
Past the Nymphs he passes, yet the merry sister looks not his way,
behind come the Bacchae, garlanded, drunken, with furrowed brow,
they mock the Satyrs with hands and feet in playful scorn:
this the nymphs behold, and the villages behold it too.
O green valley, O mountain, fair enough art thou,
thou art the image of brief joy, thou art the picture of the world's delight;
Farewell, nymphs, farewell your dwelling! Remember our song!
O Molbice, farewell, paradise of youth!
