[1] It is based on the real events of the murder of Bosnian Ottoman army general (aga) Smail-aga Čengić by Montenegrin vojvoda Novica Cerović in 1840.
In the poem, Smail-aga is famous for his bravery, but disparaged for his truculence; the main motif is his death, happening after he engages in a battle against the Herzegovinian Montenegrins.
The poem is divided into five sections: Smail-aga's Display of Power (Croatian: Agovanje), The Night Traveller (Noćnik), A Company (Četa), A Tribute (Harač) and Doom (Kob).
He also brings out Durak, an old man who advised him to release his prisoners, fearing a reprisal from the Orthodox population ("Vlachs") if he were to execute them.
In a moment of awe and fury, he lashes out on Durak for advising him against his brutal ways, and threatens to hang him in front of his son, Novica.
Novica travels by night towards Cetinje, knowing that he could not get through Montenegro alive in broad daylight, since he participated in battles against them with Smail-aga.
Novica introduces himself as a fighter from Tušina, a village under Durmitor mountain, desperate after Čengić killed his compatriots from Morača and his father, and looking for revenge.
Bauk mocks Smail-aga, singing about a Rizvan-aga who collected haraç in Kosovo, but got copper instead of gold sequins, skinny rams and was provided with old women to rape.
He wears all of his old clothes and weapons, but the mannequin is made to put his hands together and bow to a cross, triggered by a tap on the floor.
Croatian literary historian Ivo Frangeš, while generally agreeing with Šulek, points out several issues with his terminology.
[2] Ljutit aga mrko gleda Gdje se silom divit mora Silan arslan gorskom mišu.