There were once two neighbours.  They lived together happily like brothers.  Neither, without the other, liked to drink a glass of brandy; neither would have hurt the other for all the treasures of this world.  Both had only sons, of the same year, and the children loved each other as their fathers did.
    If there was work to do, they did it together; if a spinning feast, they were both at the spinning feast; if a wedding they were both at the wedding.
    They were always together and always with their arms round each other's necks.  And as they went they would sing, like two fair maidens.  Dear children!  The name of one was Branko and of the other Iliya.
    Parents held these two up as examples to their children.  "Why do you quarrel, why are you rude to each others!  Look at Branko and Iliya and be ashamed of yourselves.  Even brothers do not love each other as they do." (Jugo-Slav Stories, Popović, 1921)