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POETRY OR THE MAGYARS, 
 
 PRECEDED BY A SKETCH 
 
 LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE OF HUNGARY 
 AND TRANSYLVANIA. 
 
 JOHN BOWRINGj 
 
 LL.D. F.L.S.M.R.J1.S: 
 
 HONORARY CORRESPONDENT OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF THE NETHER- 
 LANDS, AND MEMBER OF THE LITERARY SOCIETIES OF FRIESLAND, 
 GRONINGEN, PARIS, LEYDEN, LEEUWARDEN, ATHENS, 
 TURIN, SHEFFIELD, &C, &C. 
 
 Eggy Istenerf, eggy Hazaert 
 
 'Egett hajdan, durvan hiv, — 
 Eggy matka£rt, nyoszolya£rt — 
 
 A' torzsokos Magyar sziv. 
 
 Kisfaludy K. 
 
 LONDON: 
 PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, 
 
 AND SOLD BY ROBERT HEWARD, 2, WELLINGTON STREET, 
 STRAND ; ROWLAND HUNTER, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD, 
 LONDON J AND OTTO WIGAND, PESTH. 
 
 1830. 
 
3* 
 
 4< 
 
 PRINTED BY GEORGE SMALLFIELD, HACKNEY. 
 
HIS HIGHNESS, PRINCE 
 
 PAUL ESZTERHAZY DE GALANTHA, 
 
 GRAND CROSS OF THE ROYAL ORDER OF ST. STEPHEN OF HUNGARY, 
 
 OF THE ORDER OF THE GUELPHS, AND OF ST. FERDINAND 
 
 OF NAPLES ; CHAMBERLAIN AND PRIVY COUNCILLOR OF 
 
 HIS IMPERIAL AND ROYAL APOSTOLIC MAJESTY, AND 
 
 HIS EXTRAORDINARY AMBASSADOR TO HIS 
 
 BRITANNIC MAJESTY, 
 
 WHOSE ILLUSTRIOUS NAME HAS BEEN FOR AGES SO 
 
 PRE-EMINENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE HISTORY 
 
 OF THE MAGYARS, 
 
 2H)te Volume 
 
 IS, BY PERMISSION, MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, 
 BY HIS OBEDIENT, HUMBLE SERVANT, 
 
 THE TRANSLATOR. 
 
 London, January 30 th, L830. 
 
 a2 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 I should think with less concern of the 
 delay which has taken place since the an- 
 nouncement of this Volume, if I believed I 
 had succeeded even to the extent of my 
 own anticipations in producing a work of 
 interest and value. Nothing can be more 
 indulgent than the criticisms which, from 
 time to time, have noticed the attempts I 
 have made to bring the Poetry of other 
 lands to the hearths and homes of England. 
 I can truly say, had I myself been the critic 
 they would have been judged with far greater 
 severity. Another race of poets are now 
 candidates in my hands for the good opi- 
 nion of my countrymen; but on this occa- 
 
VI TREFACEv 
 
 sion the claim to a candid, to a forbearing 
 judgment, is stronger than I have ever before 
 had to urge. 
 
 The Magyar language stands afar off 
 and alone. The study of other tongues will 
 be found of exceedingly little use towards 
 its right understanding. It is moulded in 
 a form essentially its own, and its construc- 
 tion and composition may be safely referred 
 to an epoch when most of the living tongues 
 of Europe either had no existence, or no in- 
 fluence on the Hungarian region. 
 
 Distance, too, has made the mission of 
 books, and even the communication of ideas, 
 tardy, uncertain, and expensive. Many 
 valuable documents have been lost, or have 
 lingered beyond the period when I could 
 employ them usefully. One delav becomes 
 
PREFACE. Vll 
 
 the parent of many, and in the mean time 
 the mind gets diverted, as mine has too 
 frequently been, to other and more imme- 
 diately attractive topics. My book goes 
 forward, then, 
 
 " With all its imperfections on its head." 
 
 They would have been many more but for 
 the watchful care of my friend Mayer, to 
 whom I offer this public testimony of my 
 thanks. 
 
 There are some, I know, who look upon 
 the occupations of a Translator as ignoble and 
 unworthy of literary ambition. I am well 
 content to stand at respectful distance from 
 those great intellects whose works are borne 
 on the wings of an all-pervading fame to 
 every country where the ear of civilization 
 is listening. Yet I cannot believe that my 
 
Vlll PREFACE- 
 
 humble labors are useless, nor have I ever 
 wanted, and I hope I never shall want while 
 health is vouchsafed to me, both encourage- 
 ment and enthusiasm to pursue them. My 
 mission, at all events, is one of benevolence. 
 I have never left the ark of my country 
 but with the wish to return to it, bearing 
 fresh olive branches of peace and fresh gar- 
 lands of poetry. I never yet visited the 
 land where I found not much to love, to 
 learn, to imitate, to honor. I never yet saw 
 man utterly despoiled of his humanities. 
 In Europe, at least, there are no moral nor 
 intellectual wildernesses. Let others go 
 forth with me to gather its fruits and 
 flowers. 
 
 J. B, 
 
TO 
 
 FR. J. SCHEDEL. 
 
 I follow in thy footsteps, yet afar ; 
 
 Thou hear'st the voice — I but the echoes hear. 
 
 Of the time-consecrated Magyar ; 
 
 And while they vibrate in my spirit, bear 
 
 The music, ere it dies upon the ear, 
 
 To the old halls of England — where there are 
 
 Spirits of love, of sympathy sincere, 
 
 To welcome, as from some new-beaming star, 
 
 All I can bring of beauty, light, and song. 
 
 Say to Hungaria, she shall stand among 
 
 The lands which Poetry with glory girds ; 
 
 And if not mine, some happier lot 'twill be 
 
 To fling the wreath of fame o'er her and thee, 
 
 With sweeter harmony and loftier words. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 On the Magyar Language 
 
 On Magyar Literature xxii 
 
 Magyar Biographical Sketches xxx 
 
 DEMETRIUS CSATI. 
 
 Conquest of the Magyar Land 2 
 
 ANONYMOUS. 
 
 Ballad of the Emperor's Daughter ; or the History 
 of Michael Szilagyi and Ladislaus Hajmasi 11 
 
 MICHAEL ZRINYI. 
 
 Song of the Turkish Youth 17 
 
 FRANCIS FALUDI. 
 
 The Gay-plumed Bird 20 
 
 Dangers of Love 22 
 
 The False Maid 24 
 
 The Answer 26 
 
 GIDEON RADAY. 
 
 Water, Wind, Reputation 29 
 
 The Three Idlers of King Matthew Corvinus 30 
 
 LORENZO ORCZY. 
 
 The Bugaczian Csarda c 32 
 
 DAVID SZAB<5 BARoTI. 
 
 The Wren and the Owl 37 
 
 BENEDICT VIRAG. 
 
 To the Muses , 41 
 
Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Stillness 42 
 
 Song 43 
 
 Aurora 44 
 
 PAUL STEPHEN ANYOS. 
 
 Elegiac Stanzas 46 
 
 To the Moon 48 
 
 The Shepherd and the Tree 50 
 
 FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 
 
 The Frogs 52 
 
 Her Image 58 
 
 Fable :— The Badger and the Squirrel 59 
 
 The Beloved 60 
 
 The Epigram 62 
 
 Sonnet 63 
 
 Versification 65 
 
 To Minni 66 
 
 To my Joy- Giver 67 
 
 Separation 68 
 
 Cupid on a Lion 69 
 
 GABRIEL DAYKA. 
 
 The Faithful Maiden 71 
 
 Secret Sorrow 72 
 
 JOHN KIS. 
 
 Hymn to Wisdom t . . . 74 
 
 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 I. Dal. 7 79 
 
 I. Dal. 13 80 
 
 I. Dal. 26 81 
 
 I. Dal. 51 82 
 
 I. Dal. 57 83 
 
 I. Dal. 154 84 
 
 I. Dal. 172 85 
 
 1. Dal. 176 „ 86 
 
CONTENTS. Xlll 
 
 Page 
 
 II. Dal. 16 87 
 
 II. Dal. 41 88 
 
 II. Dal. 44 , 89 
 
 II. Dal. 75 90 
 
 II. Dal. 87 91 
 
 II. Dal. 130 92 
 
 II. Dal. 168 93 
 
 MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 
 
 Shepherd Song of Furedi , 95 
 
 Cottager's Song . 97 
 
 Love and Friendship 99 
 
 To Lidi , 100 
 
 Entreaty ' 101 
 
 To Czenczi 102 
 
 To Czenczi 103 
 
 The Moon 104 
 
 To an Envious Man 105 
 
 MICHAEL CSOKONAI. 
 
 The Strawberry 107 
 
 To Bacchus 109 
 
 To my Friend 113 
 
 DANIEL BERZSENYI. 
 
 Evening Twilight 115 
 
 To Ernestine 117 
 
 The Dance 119 
 
 Phillis 121 
 
 My Portion 122 
 
 Spring 124 
 
 EMILIUS BUCZI. 
 
 The Little Tree 126 
 
 Spring's Termination 127 
 
 The Forest 128 
 
 Merit 129 
 
XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 PAUL SZEMERE. 
 
 To Hope 131 
 
 Isabel ; 132 
 
 The Happy Pair 133 
 
 Echo 134 
 
 GABRIEL DOBRENTEI. 
 
 The Enthusiast and Philosopher 136 
 
 Hussar Song 1 38 
 
 Rules and Nature 140 
 
 CHARLES KISFALUDY. 
 
 Life and Fancy 142 
 
 Ages of Life 147 
 
 Sound of Song 152 
 
 FRANCIS KoLCSEY. 
 
 Lovely Lenka 154 
 
 Boat Song 157 
 
 To Fancy , 159 
 
 LADISLAUS ToTH. 
 
 Goddess of Youth , 162 
 
 The Playful Eros 163 
 
 ALOJS SZENTMIKLoSSY. 
 
 Love's Festival , 166 
 
 The Flower- Gatherer 168 
 
 My Wish 169 
 
 To my Fair One 170 
 
 The Mistake 171 
 
 MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 
 
 Lovely Maid , 173 
 
 Cserhalom 176 
 
 FRANCIS VERSEGHI. 
 
 To my Beloved 197 
 
 To Justice 198 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 Page 
 
 True Wisdom 200 
 
 To Envy 201 
 
 JOHN ENDRODI. 
 
 The Sun 204 
 
 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 The Kiss 206 
 
 The Shower 207 
 
 The Little and the Great Boy 208 
 
 Time 209 
 
 The Beloved 210 
 
 The Fair and the Brown Maiden 212 
 
 Slavonian Danceress 213 
 
 Reproach 214 
 
 Dirge 216 
 
 A Bacsian Song 217 
 
 Comfort 218 
 
 The Difference 221 
 
 Invitation ... 222 
 
 The Idler 224 
 
 The Pipkin 225 
 
 Dancing Song 226 
 
 Pastoral 228 
 
 One Word 230 
 
 The Little Bird 231 
 
 The Complaint of the Young Wife 232 
 
 Song of the Vesprems 233 
 
 Miska 235 
 
 Marosian Song 236 
 
 The Stork 237 
 
 The Brown Maiden 238 
 
 The Betyar's Song 239 
 
 Song of the Shepherd of Matra 240 
 
 The Parting Girl 243 
 
 Sympathy 245 
 
XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Sweet Stephen 248 
 
 Song 249 
 
 Sweet Spirit 250 
 
 Come Hither 251 
 
 Discovery 252 
 
 Love's Conquest 253 
 
 Unrequited Love 256 
 
 Bliss 259 
 
 Despondency , . 260 
 
 Examination 261 
 
 The Human Heart 263 
 
 Youth 265 
 
 The Bride 267 
 
 The Magyar Dance 269 
 
 Disdain 272 
 
 My Error 273 
 
 The Pilgrimage 4 275 
 
 Drinking Song 277 
 
 The Tiszian 279 
 
 Fortuue 281 
 
 Departure 282 
 
 Farewell 283 
 
 My Angel , 284 
 
 Constancy 285 
 
 Life 286 
 
 Passion 287 
 
 The Csutora Song 289 
 
 True Love 291 
 
 Sincerity 292 
 
 Trembling 293 
 
 Korosian Waters 294 
 
 Song of Farsan 295 
 
 The Magyar Maid 296 
 
 Furedi Festal Song , 297 
 
 Popular Dancing Song 298 
 
 List of Subscribers , , 301 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 A' MAGYAR NYELV. 
 
 <©n tjjt JWagpi: Hanguage. 
 
INTRODUCTION, 
 
 After a long period of inertness and almost of 
 oblivion, the language and literature of Hungary 
 seem starting into a new and vigorous existence. 
 A band of distinguished writers have appeared 
 with the present generation, whose privilege it 
 has been at once to will and to effect the regene- 
 ration of their native idiom, which had been sink- 
 ing under the indifference of some and the attacks 
 of others. Its history has been marked by many 
 vicissitudes. Originating in an age too remote 
 to be defined or even discovered, and receiving 
 from time to time infusions from the various 
 tribes and tongues who have visited or been visit- 
 ed by the Magyar race, it has yet retained all its 
 essential peculiarities, and offers to the inquirer 
 some of the most curious topics of research. 
 Space, however, will allow nothing here but a 
 b 2 
 
IV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 slight sketch of some of its more remarkable cha- 
 racteristics. 
 
 The roots of the Magyar are for the most part 
 exceedingly simple and monosyllabic, but their 
 ramifications are numerous, consistent, and beau- 
 tiful. I know of no language which presents such 
 a variety of elementary stamina, and none which 
 lends itself so easily and gracefully to all the mo- 
 difications growing out of its simple principles. 
 These modifications are almost always postfixed, 
 and invariably they harmonize with the preceding 
 part of the word. 
 
 The accent is not necessarily on the root of a 
 word, which in verbs is to be sought in the third 
 person singular of the present tense. The ana- 
 logy between words and things is very striking 
 and not only extends to objects with which sound 
 is associated, but sometimes is observable even 
 to the eye. Dbrog (it thunders) affects the ear ; 
 villdm (it lightens) has an obvious propriety even 
 in the appearance of the words. Many noises are 
 admirably represented by the words which convey 
 the idea; as, forr (it boils), tor (it breaks), cseng 
 (it rings), peng (it rings, i. e. speaking of coins), 
 hang (sound). No eight monosyllables in any 
 language could convey a more complete image of 
 the horrors of war than does Kisfaludy's verse : 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. V 
 
 Mars mord duhe a' rait er, rag, 
 Bout, dort, tor, rout, dul, sujt, ol.* 
 
 The voices of animals are also represented by 
 characteristic words — the bear moi^og, the lion 
 ordit, the owl Mekong, the cock kukorit, the bull 
 b'ombol, the cow bog, the goat mekeg, the lamb 
 beget, the pig r'ofdg, the goose gdgog. 
 
 The most remarkable character of the Magyar, 
 and that which gives and preserves a euphony 
 beyond the reach of any other language, is the 
 separation of the vowels into two classes — a, o, u, 
 male, and e, i, 6, and u, female ; while each class 
 possesses a separate set of instruments for cre- 
 ating all conjugates.! If the last syllable of a 
 word have, for example, a masculine vowel, the 
 affix must be made to agree with it. A wonder- 
 ful uniformity of character and harmony of sound 
 
 * The murderous rage of Mars, which, whatever it reaches, 
 cuts, 
 Wastes, shakes, creaks, destroys, uprends, scatters, and 
 slays. 
 
 f Verseghi divides the vowels into four classes, which he calls, 
 
 1, Base-vowels — a, o, aud u. 
 
 2, Ten or- vowels — 6 and ii. 
 
 3, Alt-vowel — e. 
 
 4, Discant-vowel— i. 
 
 The first, he says, must have a base-vowel for its suffix. 
 The second and third can never take a suffix from the first. 
 The fourth is neutral, and sometimes takes a suffix from ail the 
 others. 
 
VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 are the necessary consequence of this simple and 
 appropriate machinery. Thus, for example, andd 
 and endd are the signs of the participle future, 
 and are used the first for the male, as hot, root 
 of haldl (death), makes halando, will die, or 
 dieable ; and the second for the female, as 4g, 
 root of egni (to burn), Agendo, will burn, or 
 burnable — as and es, as olvasds (reading), from 
 the root olvas, reads — and szenvedes (suffering), 
 from szenved suffers — at and et, as gondolat 
 (thought), from gondol, thinks — epulet (a build- 
 ing), from dpiil, builds. So, again, the compara- 
 tive is formed of abb or ebb, according to the 
 ultimate syllable ; as drdga dear, drdgdbb dearer 
 — boles wise, bolcsebb wiser. Sag and seg make 
 a quality from a personification — bardtsdg, friend- 
 ship, from bar at, friend — ember seg, manhood, from 
 ember, man : talan, telen, denote absence ; as, 
 szobdtalan, without a chamber — keretlen, unasked, 
 i. e. without asking. And so are the Hungarian 
 plurals, according to the vowels of the singular, 
 formed in ak, ok, or ek. The same modification 
 runs through all the declensions and conjugations. 
 This division of the language into male and 
 female words may be pursued in its influences to 
 some very curious results. It will be found that 
 the letters a and o are usually employed in the 
 words to which the ideas of grandeur, vastness, 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. VII 
 
 weight, and pomp, attach, such as t6, the lake ; 
 nap, the sun ; hold, the moon ; tabor, a camp ; 
 had, war — that e and i occur where swiftness or 
 alacrity are denoted ; as, vig, gay ; vidit, to exhi- 
 lirate — that disagreeable associations are usually 
 connected with u; as, rut, ugly; buta, stupid; 
 bit, grief: o and u generally represent vagueness 
 and confusion ; as, goz, vapor ; fast, smoke ; sottft, 
 dark ; g'ddor, ditch ; suru, thick. So the short 
 vowels for the most part express rapidity, and the 
 long ones slowness; as sebes, hasty ; ropul, to fly; 
 szalad, to run — lassu, slow ; csusz, creeps ; mdsz, 
 crawls, In the same manner it will be found 
 that the hard and soft consonants are adapted to 
 the different ideas conveyed ; as for example, ko, 
 stone ; hard, sabre ; durva, rude ; while Idgy, 
 anya, ledny, soft, mother, girl, have a sweetness 
 suited to the objects they represent.* 
 
 * A veiy curious example of two distinct meaniugs to the 
 same syllables, when differently arranged, is given in the Szep 
 Literaturai Ajandek, for 1820, p. 65. 
 
 Boris te ! nem amor ostoba 
 
 Nyila zorombol. Tsoje 
 Meg tompult a' laugon. 
 
 Domboru tan Bora kedvelloje. 
 
 Bor Istene ! mamoros tdba 
 
 Nyil az orom boltsoje 
 Megtompul talan gondom 
 
 Por utan. Bor a' kedv Elloje. 
 
Vlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Whatever changes the language, brought by the 
 Magyars into Europe, has undergone in conse- 
 quence of their intercourse with their neighbours, 
 the construction has been little changed, and re- 
 tains its Asiatic forms. The words which have 
 been introduced have mostly undergone an Hun- 
 garian modification, and of late the language has 
 obtained a decided mastery over the Latin, which, 
 for many centuries, had been the instrument of 
 law and literature. That it presents many diffi- 
 culties to the student, is certain. It has sounds 
 which, though they may be collected from other 
 languages, are combined in none — the French 
 eu, u, and j, the German 6 and u, the Spanish li, 
 fi, the Russian *J and XIL the Italian gi, and 
 many others. Then again its Eastern peculiari- 
 ties. Its precision, however, facilitates the right 
 understanding of it, as do the simple and efficient 
 rules by which all its conjugates are made. Of any 
 adjective an active verb may be formed by the 
 addition of etni, and a substantive by the addi- 
 tion of sag or s£g. The same form of conjugates 
 is used for substantives, pronouns, adjectives, 
 numerals, and verbs. These conjugates are sim- 
 ple additions to, and never alterations of, the root, 
 and are throughout postpositions, which some- 
 times, when gathered up one after another, pre- 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. 
 
 sent a curious aspect; as Idt (sees), the root; 
 Idthat, he can see ; latds (seeing or sight) ; Idto, 
 the seeer (the prophet) ; Idtni, to see ; latatlan, 
 unseen ; Idthato, seeable ; Idthatosdg, seeable- 
 ness ; Idtatatlan, unseeable ; Mthattalafc, I might 
 have seen thee ; Idthatatlansdg, unseeableness ; 
 Idthatatlonoknak, to the unseeable (pi. Dat.). 
 
 In the Magyar alphabet the z/, after g, 1, n, and 
 t, produces that sound which melts into the fol- 
 lowing letter; as, in French, gn, 11, in mon- 
 tagne, medaille : cs, ts, are equivalent to our 
 ch ; sz, to s ; zs, to the French j ; tz or cz to 
 z; and s to the English sh. The effect of an 
 accent is to lengthen the vowel ; 6 and il (o and 
 u, or o and u long) have nearly the sounds of the 
 French eu and u. The whole number of sounds 
 in the Magyar is thirty-eight, and their ortho- 
 graphy, like that of all the Gothic and Slavo- 
 nic nations, has to struggle with the imper- 
 fections of the Roman alphabet in representing 
 sounds unknown to the Latins. The character- 
 istic of the Latin alphabet is poverty, and its 
 inconvenience and inaptitude to many of the 
 idioms into which it has been introduced, are 
 very striking. It is thus that strangers are so 
 perplexed with our two th's, as in thing and that ; 
 the J? and the $ of the Anglo Saxons, the and 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the & of the modern Greeks. If the Polish and 
 Bohemian tongues present a strange appear- 
 ance to the eye, it arises from the blending to- 
 gether of many consonants to represent a single 
 sound. The letters c, q, and x, are wanting to 
 the Magyar alphabet. Some of the inconveni- 
 ences of the small number of letters are avoided 
 by accents. In the word ertelem, for example, 
 the e has three distinct sounds. 
 
 The introduction of an accent frequently gives 
 a word a completely different signification. — Sas, 
 eagle ; sds, reed ; szii, woodworm ; szu, heart ; 
 por, dust ; por, peasant. 
 
 So again many words have two meanings; as, 
 ido, time and weather; fat, week and seven; 
 nap, sun and day. — These, however, bear the ob- 
 vious names of original identity. 
 
 The native Hungarian cannot combine two 
 consonants in the same syllable. The words in 
 the language which present such a combination 
 are foreign. The presence of many consonants 
 in a word is always a source of difficulty to 
 foreigners, and is one of the main sources of mo- 
 difications. In Spanish, s followed by a conso- 
 nant has almost always an e, making another 
 syllable before it; as, estrada, for strada; espada, 
 for spada : so the Magyar iskola for school. 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. XI 
 
 la the Finnic branches of language some very 
 extraordinary changes will be found, produced by 
 this circumstance. And in Hungarian scarcely 
 less ; as, Gorog, Greek ; Ferencz, Francis. 
 
 The Magyar is absolutely devoid of genders, 
 and the female sex is always expressed by a dis- 
 tinct word.* It has only a definite article, az } ez y \ 
 which is at the same time a demonstrative pro- 
 noun. It has only one declension, and the pos- 
 sessive pronouns are suffixa to the nouns, as are 
 the personal pronouns to the verbs, modifying 
 both nouns and verbs to a singular uniformity ; 
 as for example, 
 
 szeretet, love ; 
 
 szeretetem, 
 
 my love; 
 
 szeretetunk, 
 
 our love. 
 
 szeretni, to love; 
 
 szeretem, 
 
 I love ; 
 
 szeretunk, 
 
 we love. 
 
 
 szereteted, 
 
 thy love ; 
 
 szeretetek, 
 
 your love. 
 
 
 szereted, 
 
 thou lovest ; 
 
 szerettek, 
 
 you love. 
 
 
 szeretete, 
 
 his love ; 
 
 
 
 
 szereti, 
 
 he loves. 
 
 
 
 Gibbon says, that " the Hungarian bears a 
 close and clear affinity to the idiom of the Fennic 
 race, i. e. the Finnish, Laplandish, and Estho- 
 nian." He is an indifferent authority in philo- 
 logical matters. The words of identity are really 
 few — far fewer than will be found common to the 
 
 * It is a curious fact that him is oue of the words which re- 
 present the male gender in Magyar. 
 
 f Egy (one) is a numeral and not an article. 
 
XII INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Magyar and German, or even the Magyar and 
 Latin. There are some curious affinities, but 
 they are not peculiar in the construction of the 
 Finnish and the Hungarian : the copulative con- 
 junctions, prepositions, interrogative adverbs, and 
 possessive pronouns, are all postfixed to the 
 nouns. The adjectival termination es, and the 
 possessive em, are common to the Lappish and 
 the Magyar. The Magyar mene, and the Estho- 
 nian minne, are conjugates of substantives de- 
 noting action, and k4 is a diminutive in both. 
 The Hungarian and Finmark plural nominative 
 ok, ek, are identical ; in Finnish the plural is 
 formed by h. Bei;egassi's work* has traced the 
 affinities of the Magyar into twenty eastern and 
 half the number of western languages. Gyar- 
 mathf has written with extreme minuteness on 
 the resemblance between the Hungarian and the 
 Finnish. He produces a number of words 
 ending, for the most part, in as, es, is, os, 
 and ad, which are common to both. Neither 
 has any gender, and they each form their com- 
 
 * Ueber die Aehnlichkeit der Hungarischen Spracbe mit den 
 morgenlasndischen nebst einer Entwickelung der Natur und man- 
 cher bisher unbekannten Eigensehafften desselben von P. Bere- 
 gassi. 4to. Leipzig. 1796. 
 
 f Affinitas Linguae Hungaricae cum Linguis Fennicae originis 
 Grammatice demon strata. Gottingae. 1799. 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. 
 
 Xlll 
 
 parative in b. Every noun may in both be 
 formed into a verb, while the verbs of both have 
 some of those peculiar tenses which are not very 
 
 *si!y translatable into Engl 
 
 ish ; as for example, 
 
 Laplandish. 
 
 Hungarian which Gyarmath thus Latinizes. 
 
 Etsab 
 
 szeretek 
 
 a:no. 
 
 Etsam 
 
 szerettem 
 
 amavi. 
 
 Etsehtattam 
 
 szeretd'ddm 
 
 amor. 
 
 Etsahtallam 
 
 
 inaxime arao. 
 
 Etsehtam 
 
 szerettetem 
 
 euro ut amet. 
 
 Etsatzjam 
 
 
 frequenter amo. 
 
 Etseelam 
 
 szeretdegesem 
 
 frequenter quidem sed 
 nimus amo. 
 
 Etseslam 
 
 szeretgetem 
 
 amo aliquautulum 
 
 Etsolestam 
 
 szeretintem 
 
 omnium minime amo. 
 
 Etsehtattatlam 
 
 szerettetgetem 
 
 faeio ut alterum ?sepe et 
 diu amet. 
 
 In Finnish, Laplandish, and Hungarian, the ad- 
 jectives precede the nouns, except where a verb 
 interposes. The singular number follows all nu- 
 merals, as kilentz nap, nine day, not nine days. 
 In both a superlative idea is often communicated 
 by a repetition of the positive noun, as kieura, 
 kieura almats, (Lap.,) Eros eros ember, (Hung.,) 
 a strong, strong man. The verb to have is want- 
 ing in the two branches; possession is expressed 
 by, to be to, Le musne kirje, (Lap.,) van nekem 
 k'dnyvem — A book is to me, i. e. I have a book. 
 Both frequently suppress the verb to be, as J6 
 az t that (is) good, and both employ it in the ge- 
 
XIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 rundial form for the present of the infinite, JSv'q- 
 ben vagyok, (Hung.,) Lden porriem, (Lap.,) I 
 am eating.* The Esthonian and Hungarian pro- 
 nouns have a strong resemblance. 
 
 Esthonian 
 
 mis 
 
 ke 
 
 kegi minna 
 
 mere 
 
 teie 
 
 Hungarian 
 
 mi 
 
 ki 
 
 kiki en 
 
 mi 
 
 ti 
 
 
 what 
 
 who 
 
 whoever I 
 
 we 
 
 you, 
 
 And in their expressions of endearment there is 
 much similarity of phrase, as Kalla Herra, (Est.,) 
 Aranyos Ura??i, (Hung.,) My golden Sir ! 
 
 The affinities with some of the remoter idioms, 
 are very remarkable. The word atya, father, is 
 (as is well known) one found in a variety of dif- 
 ferent tongues, though I suspect its resemblance 
 to the first lispings of a child is the secret of 
 its extension. But blended with a possessive 
 pronoun, the affinities are extraordinary. 
 
 Cheremissian 
 
 Atjain 
 
 atjat 
 
 atjase 
 
 Hungarian 
 
 Atyam 
 
 atyad 
 
 attya 
 
 Laplandish 
 
 Attjain 
 
 attjatt 
 
 attjes 
 
 
 My father 
 
 thy father 
 
 his father 
 
 Cheremissian 
 
 Atjane 
 
 atjada 
 
 atjast 
 
 Hungarian 
 
 Atyank 
 
 atyatok 
 
 attyok 
 
 Laplandish 
 
 Mo attjeh 
 
 to atjeh 
 
 attjehs 
 
 
 our father 
 
 your father 
 
 their father, f 
 
 * But Gyarmath is full of extravagant fancies. Many of his 
 affinities are as far removed as possible. Who but he would 
 have seen a resemblance between Jubmel and Isten, Adde Stal- 
 pai and Addfarhesnah ? 
 
 f Those who would pursue these researches into Tartary, 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. 
 
 XV 
 
 Of the affinities of the Magyar with the lan- 
 guages which it has been supposed to resemble, 
 the following Numerals will enable the reader to 
 judge : 
 
 Hungarian 
 
 Laplandish 
 
 Esthonian 
 
 Votjak Cheremissian 
 
 1 Egy 
 
 Agd 
 
 Uks 
 
 Odik Iktet 
 
 2 Ketto or 
 
 Kuahte 
 
 Kaks 
 
 Kik Koktot 
 
 Ket 
 
 
 
 
 3 Horraa or 
 
 Harm a 
 
 Kolin 
 
 Kain Kumut 
 
 Harom 
 
 
 
 
 4 Negy 
 
 Nelje 
 
 Nelli 
 
 Nil Nilit 
 
 5 Ot 
 
 Wit 
 
 ' Viis 
 
 Vity Vizit 
 
 6 Hat 
 
 Kot 
 
 Kuuz 
 
 Kuaty Kudut 
 
 7 H6t 
 
 Kietja 
 
 Seits 
 
 Szezim Szimit 
 
 8 Nyoltz 
 
 Kaktse 
 
 Kapheksa 
 
 Kiamiz Kandase 
 
 9 Kilentz 
 
 Aktse 
 
 Uhheksa 
 
 Ukmiz Indese 
 
 10 Eleg or 
 
 Logie 
 
 Kiimme 
 
 Daz Lu 
 
 Tiz 
 
 
 
 
 11 Egy -eleg - 
 
 Akht- 
 
 loge-nal 
 
 Dazodik Luatckle 
 
 nel or Ti 
 
 z- 
 
 
 
 egyik 
 
 
 
 
 12 Ketto eleg 
 
 Kuahte loge nal 
 
 Dazkik Luatkoktot 
 
 nel 
 
 
 
 
 2QK6t-elegor Kuahte loge . 
 
 Kiz Kolo 
 
 Husz 
 
 
 
 
 100 Szaz 
 
 Tjuote 
 
 Sadda 
 
 Sziu Sjudo 
 
 1000 Ezer 
 
 Tusan 
 
 Tuhhat 
 
 Sziurz Tuseni 
 
 Volguls 
 
 Pennic 
 
 Ostiaks ' Finnish 
 
 1 Akw 
 
 Otek 
 
 Eiet 
 
 Iksi 
 
 2 Kiteg 
 
 Ktik 
 
 Katu 
 
 Kaksi 
 
 may consult Witseu's Noord en Oost Tartarye, Amsterdam, 1705 ; 
 the Collection of Russian Histories, Petersburgh, 1758; and they 
 will find a few materials in Pallas's comparative Dictionary. 
 
XVI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 
 Volgnk 
 
 Pennic 
 
 Ostiaks 
 
 Finnish 
 
 3 Kuioin 
 
 Kuum 
 
 Chulom 
 
 Kolmi 
 
 4 Nilli 
 
 Njol 
 
 Nilha 
 
 Nelja 
 
 5 At 
 
 Vit 
 
 Uwat 
 
 Viisi 
 
 6 Kot 
 
 Kuat 
 
 Chot 
 
 Kuusi 
 
 7 Sat 
 
 Sisira 
 
 Sabat 
 
 Seitsemati 
 
 8 Nollon 
 
 Kokjammas 
 
 Nicha 
 
 Kahdeksan 
 
 9 Ontollon 
 
 Ukmus 
 
 Artjan 
 
 Yhdeksan 
 
 10 Lou 
 
 Dass 
 
 Jong 
 
 Kymmenau 
 
 11 Akukniplon 
 
 
 Igut-jong 
 
 Iksitoistakym- 
 menta 
 
 12 Kitkniplon 
 
 
 Katchutjong 
 
 Kaksitoistakym- 
 menta 
 
 20 Kus 
 
 
 Chus 
 
 Kaksikymmenta 
 
 100 Shat 
 
 
 Sot 
 
 Sata 
 
 1000 Shotz 
 
 
 Tunes 
 
 Tuhans. 
 
 The prosody of the Magyar is very remarkable. 
 There is no measure of Latin or Greek rythmus 
 to which it does not lend itself. Pyrrhics and 
 Spondees abound. The tribrach and molossus are 
 not wanting ; and all the intermixtures of long 
 and short feet, Iambics, Trochees, Dactyls, and 
 anapests. Virag's Magyar Prosodia & Magyar 
 Iras,* contains specimens of every classical mea- 
 sure. Other specimens of the adaptation of the 
 Magyar may be found in his Poesia, at the end of 
 his Tragedy of Hunyadi Ldszlo.f The first ex- 
 ample of measured verse is of the date of 1541. 
 
 The dialects of Hungary are not much unlike; 
 
 * Buda. 8vc 
 
 1820. 
 
 f Buda. 8vo. 1817. 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. XVli 
 
 and there is no part of the country where the 
 Magyar is so spoken, as not to be intelligible in 
 every other part. The varieties are principally in 
 confounding a and o, and e and i, and in length- 
 ening the syllables and words. Two prize Essays, 
 one by Horvat, and the other by Gati, on the Dia- 
 lects of the Hungarian, were published in 1821. 
 The two most distinct idioms are those of Raab 
 and Bihar. The Transylvanians, especially the 
 Szekely, have a drawling manner of pronouncing 
 words which is very singular. They are of Tatar 
 origin, and have preserved a greater number of 
 their original terms.* 
 
 The Hungarians invariably write the baptismal 
 after the family name. Thus, Thaisz Andrds 
 (Andrew Thaisz, the translator of the Scottish 
 Romances) ; this rule even extends to foreign 
 names, as in the title to these translations, Scott 
 Walter Romdnjai, Hungarian women do not 
 abandon their family names when they marry. 
 
 As in every other tongue of ancient date, a de- 
 mand for new words, accommodated to an ad- 
 vanced cultivation, has been felt in the Hungarian. 
 
 * Consult, for some curious particulars concerning them, En- 
 gel's Geschichte des Ungarischen Reichs and seiner Nebelander. 
 Halle, 1797. 
 
XV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Nothing can be so pernicious as to shut out use- 
 ful novelties from a language, and, under the 
 name of purity, to provide for its permanent po- 
 verty. In 1653, Professor Apaczai Csere Janos 
 introduced many valuable words into his Hunga- 
 rian Cyclopedia, but they did not take root. In 
 1787 3 Szabo David made the experiment of em- 
 ploying many words of German origin. Kazinczy, 
 who, in early life, had taken a decided part 
 against innovation, became afterwards the advo- 
 cate for the use of a foreign phraseology in mat- 
 ters of foreign origin. He was violently attacked 
 in a satire, entitled Mondolat, and an active con- 
 troversy was excited, in which many of the prin- 
 cipal Magyar writers took an active part. 
 
 In Hungarian the title is always given in con- 
 versation, and the form of address is in the third 
 person singular, az Ur 9 az Aszszohy, the gentle- 
 man, the lady ; as, Hogy van az Urf How does 
 the gentleman do ? From inferiors the usual ex- 
 pression is Tekinteles Ur 9 Courteous Sir \ to in- 
 feriors, Kend or Ked is the title used, which is 
 probably an abbreviation of Kegyelmed or Kehned, 
 Your Grace, a form still much used. Dobrentei 
 has proposed the word Kegyed for common use, 
 and it has been employed in the writings of Kis, 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. XIX 
 
 Kisfaludy, and Thaisz. Perhaps there is no lan- 
 guage in which the introduction of titular expres- 
 sions of courtesy is so piquant as in the Magyar. 
 Though many Hungarian writers report that 
 the Magyars brought with them from Asia works 
 in the native oriental character, nothing of this 
 description is now remaining. The introduction 
 of Christianity introduced the Latin alphabet in 
 the time of Stephen the First (A.D. 997— 
 1034). The Christian teachers, being originally 
 strangers, employed the Roman letters ; but not 
 for nearly a century the Latin language, the use 
 of which was first decreed by the Synod of 1114. 
 There are two documents in Hungarian to 
 which Dobrentei assigns the date of A.D. 1192, 
 1210. They are funeral discourses, and thus 
 begin : Latjatne feleym zumtuchel mic rogmuc — 
 and Scerelmes bratym uimaggomuc ez scegen 
 ember lilkeert. * There is also a biography of 
 Margaret, daughter of King Bela the Fourth, who 
 died in 1271. 
 
 From the fourteenth to the beginning of the 
 sixteenth century, under the domination of fo- 
 
 * In modern Magyar, Ldjdtok feleim szemetehhel mik vagyunk 
 — You see, my kinsmen what we are ; and, Szerelmes bardtim 
 imadjunk ez szegeny ember lelkeerl — My beloved friends! let us 
 pray for this poor man's soul. 
 
 c2 
 
XX IxXTRODUCTION. 
 
 reign kings, the Hungarian was employed for laws 
 and ordinances, and was used as the Court lan- 
 guage under Charles and Louis of Anjon. There 
 is a Magyar partition-document, dated 1339. 
 There are, too, Hungarian oaths sometimes at- 
 tached to Latin laws, for the better understanding 
 of the people. The form of the Coronation Ap- 
 peal, used at this epoch by the Primate of the 
 kingdom, the Archbishop of Gran, to the assem- 
 bled orders, is still preserved. Three times he 
 demanded Akarjatok 4 hogy e jelenlevo N. JV. 
 kirdlysctgra koro?idztdssek, " Will you that N. N. 
 here present be crowned for our king?" And 
 the answer thrice repeated was, Akarjuk fljen, 
 eljen, 6ljen> a' kirdly — " We will, — Live, live, live 
 the king." 
 
 There have been from time to time royal de- 
 clarations in favour of the Hungarian language. 
 In 1527, Ferdinand the First publicly declared 
 that " he would preserve the Magyar tongue and 
 people with all his power and means;" and, in 
 1569, there is in the statutes of Maximilian the 
 following words : "Et casu quo suam majestatem 
 a regno longius abesse contingeret unum ex filiis 
 loco sui et si usque possibile sit, in Ungaria ut 
 linguam quoque gentis addiscant, relinquere." 
 
 The Princes of the Habsburgh House have 
 
THE MAGYAR LANGUAGE. XXI 
 
 given all possible encouragement to the predomi- 
 nance of the German tongue in Hungary. As 
 there has been for centuries no kingly court at 
 Buda, the language has suffered something from 
 the want of that protection which fashion com- 
 municates. The Emperor Joseph issued a Hun- 
 garian decree during the tumults which disturbed 
 his reign ; and, in 1/90, the Diet encouraged the 
 language by a specific law ; but the Diet has not 
 ventured to make the Magyar the recognized lan- 
 guage for official communication. Something like 
 this was anticipated from their last assembly in 
 1825-27, but the public expectation was disap- 
 pointed. 
 
 There are many Hungarian grammars, of which 
 the oldest is that of John Erdosi, printed at 
 Vissigath, in 1539. Another was published by 
 Albert Molnar in 1610, of which an improved 
 edition appeared at Vienna in 1788. Meliboi's 
 Ungarischer Sjirachmeister, (Presburg, 1787, 6th 
 ed.,) and Jos. Farkas' Grundliche und Neu Vier- 
 besserte Ungarische Sprachlehre, originally printed 
 in \77h have been reprinted from time to time, 
 the latter with additions and amendments by P. de 
 Kis Szonto, and Jos. von Marton. Sam. Gyar- 
 math's Kritische Grammati/c, in 2 vols., is a more 
 elaborate production ; and Paul Bersgszdszis 
 Versuch einer Magyarischen Sprachlehre has a 
 
XX11 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 particular view to the affinities between the Hun- 
 garian and the Oriental tongues. This is also 
 the object of Verseghi's A' tiszta Magyarsag, 
 or " the pure Hungarian tongue/' which has led 
 to a philological controversy, in which he has 
 been attacked by Joh. Miklosi, in a volume enti- 
 tled Verseghi Ferentz nek Tisztdtalan Magyar sa- 
 ga, or Fr. Verseghi* s impure Hungarian Tongue.* 
 Jos. von Marton's Hungarian and German Dic- 
 tionary is the best. The last edition of Fr. Paris 
 Papais' Dictionarum Latine-Himgaricum con- 
 tains a history of all the vocabularies of the Ma- 
 gyar tongue. 
 
 * Mithridates, Vol. II. 781-3. 
 
A' MAGYAR LITERATURA. 
 
 <©n iWaggar literature. 
 
ON 
 
 MAGYAR LITERATURE. 
 
 Various are the opinions respecting the origin 
 of the Hungarian people. Dr. F. Thomas has 
 written three volumes to prove them to be de- 
 scended from the ancient Egyptians.* The word 
 Hungariai is of Mogol root, and was originally 
 Ugur or Ingur, meaning foreigner or stranger. 
 The Hungariai denominate themselves and their 
 language Magyar, which was undoubtedly the 
 name of one of the tribes from which they sprung. 
 In the fourth century they took possession of the 
 land of the Bashkir (Tartars), between the Volga, 
 Tobol, and Jaik. They were subdued by the 
 Turks in the sixth century ; and in the seventh, 
 eighth, and ninth, they associated themselves with 
 the Chazars in Lebedia, (now the province of 
 Katherinoslav, ) and subsisted by robbery and 
 ravage. In the middle of the ninth century they 
 
 * Conjecturge de Origine, prima sede et lingua Hungarorum. 
 Bud*, 1806. 3 Vols. 
 
XXVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 were called in by Ratislaw, Duke of Moravia, to 
 assist him against the Germans ; and not long 
 after, their territory being intruded on by the 
 Pechenegers, they took up their abode under the 
 Carpathian mountains, and combined with King 
 Arnulf against their former Moravian allies. In 
 their absence the Bulgarians had devastated their 
 province, and they took possession of a part of 
 Galicia, but afterwards broke through the Car- 
 paths towards Munkach, attacked the Bulga- 
 rians on the river Theiss, and seized a part of 
 Pannonia. They were at this period composed 
 of seven tribes, of which the Magyar was the 
 strongest, and ultimately gave its name to all the 
 rest. A part of the race still occupied Bashkiria, 
 and are mentioned by Carpini in 1246, and Ru- 
 brivis in 1251, who speak of them as having ori- 
 ginally gone forth from the Bashkirs. In our 
 time, however, no fragments of the Magyar lan- 
 guage are left in Bashkiria, though Von Orlay 
 reports that one of the Caucasian tribes is still 
 called Ugrichi (Hungarians) by the Russians, and 
 uses an Hungarian dialect. Among the Hunga- 
 rians it has always been a favorite theory to con- 
 sider themselves as Huns, with little other reason 
 than the similarity of name. The Hum were 
 undoubtedly a Mongolian race, and nothing can 
 
MAGYAR LITERATURE. XXvil 
 
 be more unlike than the languages, characters, 
 persons, and habits, of the Hungarians and the 
 Mongolians. Of late, a theory that the Hunga- 
 rians and Finlanders have a common origin, has 
 found many intelligent advocates ; but probably 
 nothing more than the orientalism of both can be 
 deduced from the affinities of their language. 
 
 We know little of Etele (Attila), except from 
 testimony which must be received with the great- 
 est distrust, Priscus Rhetor, who was sent by 
 Theodosius the Second to the Court of Etele, 
 speaks of the fondness of the Huns for their na- 
 tive language, and of the festal songs in which, 
 after their festivals, the deeds of their heroes were 
 celebrated in so touching a style, that the aged 
 men of the assembly shed many tears. He men- 
 tions also, that when Etele returned to his castle, 
 he was met by maidens in white veils, who greet- 
 ed him with Scythian hymns. During the reign 
 of the Arpadian kings, which brings us down to 
 the beginning of the 14th century, (Andreas Ve- 
 neta having been poisoned in 1301,) many are the 
 references to the Joculators and Trufator s,* the 
 Poets and Jesters, who were always to be found 
 
 * Trufator, Trufa, (now Trefa,) is an old Magyar word for 
 Jest. Schedel asks if Troubadour, Trobador, and Trufator, may 
 not be synonymous. 
 
XXV1I1 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 about the person of the monarch. And Galeotti, 
 the librarian of King Matthias, asserts that his fa- 
 ther, the celebrated John Hunyadi, awakened the 
 martial spirit of his master by the hero-songs 
 which he caused to be recited to him. " At table 
 too," he says, " musicians and cithara players 
 sung the deeds of valiant warriors in their native 
 tongue to the music of the lyre — an usage," he 
 continues, " brought from Rome, and which 
 passed from us (Italians) even to the Hungari- 
 ans."* At this period the literary influence of 
 Italy upon Hungary was very remarkable, and 
 Dante has expressed in his Paradise a bright an- 
 ticipation for the 
 
 Beata Ungria ! se non si lascia 
 
 Piu malmenare. Cant. xix. 
 
 But of this period little remains, except such 
 scattered notices and fragments as are scarcely 
 remarkable enough to occupy a place in this brief 
 notice. 
 
 Simon von Reza is the first of the Hungarian 
 Chroniclers. His history is from the earliest 
 times down to the end of the thirteenth century. 
 
 * Of one of the Hungarian Bishops, Galeotti writes, " Per- 
 placuit etiain mihi ilia familiae suae dignitas et elegantia semper 
 enim in ejus domo aut oratur aut studetur aut carmen cantatur 
 ad lyram aut sermo liabetnr honcstus." Cap. 31. 
 
MAGYAR LITERATURE. XXIX 
 
 John von Kiikullo wrote the Life of Lewis the 
 First, 1342—1382, and John De Turocz publish- 
 ed a Chronicle of the Kingdom of Hungary clown 
 to the year 1473, in which he has introduced, 
 word for word, the writings of his above-men- 
 tioned predecessors, as well as the Chronicon 
 Budense of an anonymous author printed at Buda 
 in 1473.* 
 
 The battle of Mohacs (1526) is the "Dies 
 irae" of the Hungarians, and its story of defeat 
 and humiliation is more melancholy from its so 
 immediately following a period of hope and of 
 brightness. Hungary had been enlightened by the 
 efforts of her own sons, and by the influx of illus- 
 trious strangers, as if merely to contrast with the 
 darkness of Turkish oppression. The Reformation 
 which soon after this period broke in upon the 
 land, did much for the language. The spirit of 
 Lutheranism was essentially popular. Its instru- 
 ment, the vernacular tongue, especially repre- 
 sented in that mighty machine of knowledge and 
 of power, the Press, whose efforts have changed 
 and continue to change the character of nations, 
 and which acts as a security against their perma- 
 nent decline and fall, began to exert its beneficial 
 influences. 
 
 * Eichorn, Geschichte der Litteratar, II. 319. 
 
XXX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In the sixteenth century many printing presses 
 existed in Hungary. The great circulation of the 
 Bible in the vernacular tongue produced a great 
 demand for books. In the cities of Bartfeld, De- 
 bretzen, Varad, Neusohl, Kassa, were printing 
 establishments supported by the public, and the 
 Magnates assisted those of Detrekb, Ujszigeth, 
 Galgocz, Alsohendra, Nemethujvar, and Papa. 
 In the following century presses were erected in 
 Trentsin, Silein, Senitz, Puchov, Leutschan, and 
 Csessreg. No censorship existed in any shape 
 during this period. 
 
 The names of Magyar authors begin now to 
 thicken, and a list of chroniclers and poets occupy 
 the pages of literary story. The works of this 
 period are for the most part biographical and his- 
 torical.* The poetry can hardly be said to be 
 much elevated above dull and sober prose, the 
 ars poetica of the age being little more than the 
 art of making common -place sentences dance to 
 the jingle of a rhyme. The best poet of the day 
 was Tinodi, who wrote both foreign and do- 
 mestic history, and who does not seem to have 
 had patronage enough to exalt him even above 
 bodily suffering ; for in a single verse, which he 
 
 * See a Catalogue of these early productions in Sandor's Ma- 
 gyar Konyveshdz, Raab, 1803, in 8vo. 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. XXXI 
 
 introduces more than once, he gives a descrip- 
 tion of himself which brings him and his misery 
 pictorially before us. It may thus be rendered : 
 
 This was written in his chamber by the penniless Tinodi, 
 Often blowing on his fingers, for the cold was in his body.* 
 
 Tinodi nourished in the middle of the sixteenth 
 century. He was employed as a literatus in the 
 suite of Valentine Torok, who being led captive 
 by the Turks to the seven towers, left his poor 
 bard to wander over Hungary and Transylvania. 
 His works were collected by himself into two 
 small quarto volumes in 1554. 
 
 Balassa (born 1550, died 1594) has a few com- 
 positions of some energy and feeling, and one or 
 two of his warlike songs are martial and fiery. 
 He fell in the siege of Gran. How many of the 
 poets of war have been its victims ! His first 
 introduction to notice was on occasion of the 
 crowning of Rudolf at Presburg in 1572, when he 
 exhibited a grotesque peasant dance to the court, 
 exciting, says his biographer, the wonder of the 
 royal family and of all who saw him. His love 
 for poetry is manifest from the pieces he wrote 
 
 * Ennek Ion irasa a' jo kolosvarba 
 Tinodi Sebestyen konyvnyomtatasaba ; 
 Szerze nagy buaba, egy hideg szobaba, 
 Gyakran fu kormebe, mert nines p£nz tasolyaba. 
 
XXXll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 amidst the clang of arms, a few days before his 
 death. 
 
 Some dramatic writers belong to this epoch. 
 Karadi's Balassa Menyhdrt and Bornemisza's 
 Klytemnestra are the most remarkable. A few 
 years after, we find a description of the sort of 
 plays performed in Transylvania. " Hinc pub- 
 lican fabulse exhibitae et comsedise expugnationem 
 Caniszensem, Turcarum trepidationem fugam et 
 futuram stragem, repraesententes." But both tra- 
 gedies and comedies were represented by strolling 
 players, both in Hungarian and Latin, to which 
 the Jesuits contributed a great number. 
 
 Rimai is not without some merit as a didactic 
 and meditative poet. He was a contemporary of 
 Balassa, though the exact dates are unknown of 
 his birth and death. 
 
 Erdosi made the first attempt to break through 
 the fetters which rhymes imposed upon the Ma- 
 gyar poets, and to introduce the classical proso- 
 dial forms. The Bohemians had attempted this 
 before, and the first Sapphics of the Germans are 
 of the year 1537. In 1 541, Erdosi wrote his " A' 
 Magyar nepnek ki czt olvassa," an address to such 
 of the Magyars as would read it, in flowing hex- 
 ameters. He had for a long time no followers, 
 and the singular aptitude of the Hungarian Ian- 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. XXXIII 
 
 guage for the Greek and Roman measures, seems 
 to have continued unobserved for nearly two cen- 
 turies longer. 
 
 Zrinyi appeared at a period which several na- 
 tions are disposed to claim as the golden age of 
 their literature. He was born in the year in which 
 Shakspeare and Cervantes died — the proud era of 
 Italy, England, Spain, and Portugal. Zrinyi is, 
 however, the founder of the modern poetry of the 
 Magyars. In 1651, appeared his Zrirdad, an 
 epic poem, the produce of those hours which 
 military and civil service left him in his busy ex- 
 istence. His verses, consisting of four lines of 
 twelve syllables, with a common rhyme, have 
 given a name to this peculiar stanza. Little can 
 be said in favor of his language, style, or versifi- 
 cation. They are careless and incorrect, and his 
 battle descriptions are tedious indeed. Yet are 
 his conceptions bold and strong. His portraits 
 are well drawn, and his groupings happy. His 
 facility of writing led him astray ; yet, withal, he 
 is undoubtedly far above any poet that had pre- 
 ceded him, or any that followed, for a century at 
 least. In some of his shorter poems there is 
 evidence of a playful and busy fancy. He was 
 the representative of a family of great antiquity, 
 and was the son of that Ban of Croatia, who was 
 
 d 
 
XXXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 poisoned by Wallenstein in 1626. It has been 
 said that his sword had been stained with Turkish 
 blood before he was ten years old ; and that, in 
 after times, crowds of Osmanlis rushed to see a 
 hero, " the beautiful, tall, thin hero/' who had 
 been so much the object of their dread. There 
 is an address of Soliman to the Grand Vizier, in 
 which he directs him not to desist from attack 
 until he has captured Zrinyi, " the author of so 
 much mischief." Zrinyi fought and won many 
 battles, but was killed by a wild boar on the 18th 
 November, 1664. He had been covered with 
 honours from many of the powers of Christendom, 
 and was as distinguished for his learning as for 
 his courage. He spoke six languages, and was a 
 master of the literature of ancient and modern 
 times. The first edition of his works appeared at 
 Vienna, in 4to., in 1651.* 
 
 Liszti, a man of considerable condition but of 
 barren fancy, printed a long Epic, Mohacsi ves- 
 zedelem, on the Mohacs' defeat. It is in six-lined 
 stanzas, the lines of six and seven syllables fol- 
 lowing one another, and the whole effect intole- 
 rably monotonous. His Lyrics have not this 
 defect. In 1659, on account of some charge made 
 against him by the King's Fiscal, he was tried by 
 * A'driai teugernek Syrenaja, Grof Zrinyi Miklos. 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. XXXV 
 
 the Diet, and lost his paternal possessions. This 
 is the solitary fact preserved of his history. 
 
 The songs of Benjczky, who lived in the be- 
 ginning of the seventeenth century, are not 
 without merit. His P&dabesz&lek (Proverbs) are 
 excellent and condensed moral lessons. He was 
 an Eques auratus, but complains in one of his 
 poems of his defective education. Of his history 
 little is known. His works have been several 
 times reprinted, and are popular among the mid- 
 dle orders. 
 
 Gyongyosi deserves little praise except on ac- 
 count of his rhymes, which are generally perfect. 
 He wrote with great facility ; but he could not re- 
 lieve himself from the trammels of ancient my- 
 thology, and he has little that is natural or cha- 
 racteristic about him. He has passages of beauty, 
 and advanced the cultivation of his native tongue; 
 but his allegories are often inappropriate, and his 
 sentimentality not very natural. Gyongyosi is 
 supposed to have been born in 1620, and from 
 the early development of talent was called, as a 
 page, to the Court of the Palatine in 1640. He 
 sang the charms of the Palatiness, Countess Szecsi, 
 as the Venus of Murany, so successfully, that she 
 rewarded him with the village of Babaluska. In 
 1681, he became a representative in the Diet, 
 d2 
 
XXXVI ; INTRODUCTION. 
 
 obtained the favour of the then Palatine Eszter- 
 hazy, and continued to hold different distinguished 
 offices to the time of his death, having reached 
 the age of eighty-four. His Kem&iyiad, an epic 
 poem, in four books and thirty cantos, was re- 
 ceived with great enthusiasm, and his name was 
 long one of the most honoured among Hungarian 
 writers. In 1796, a complete edition of his works 
 was published by Dugonics.* 
 
 Koiiari did the service, with Beniczy, of break- 
 ing down the monotony of the Zrinian quar- 
 tet rhyme. He is a moralist, " dwelling among 
 the tombs," and bringing the shortness and the 
 nothingness of life to bear constantly on his 
 moralities. He was born in 1648. He was in 
 military service, and suffered all the miseries of 
 dungeons and chains and cold and thirst and 
 hunger. Delivered from imprisonment, he was 
 received with marked distinction j but soon after, 
 being again engaged in war, his right arm was shot 
 away by the Turks. Charles the Third advanced 
 him to high office — and that of Oberstreichs- 
 richter, and gave him the privilege of employing 
 a silver stamp for his signature, which is often 
 mentioned as the Lamina Koharii, in the Corpus 
 
 * Gyongyosi Istvannak koltemenyes maradvanyai. 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. XXXVll 
 
 Juris of Hungary. His Lyrics he published un- 
 der the Latin title of Tintinabulum Tripudian- 
 tiurn. Some of his poems were translated into 
 Latin by Sztrakos, and he himself wrote in Latin 
 elegantly, as is evidenced by his C/ironologra- 
 phica BudcB composita (1706), and Antidota Me- 
 lancholies (1722). He spent the latest part of 
 his life in his Castle of Csabrag, where he died in 
 1730, leaving a reputation for integrity, which has 
 passed into a proverb. 
 
 We come now to an epoch of absolute bar- 
 renness. 
 
 The extinction of the Transylvanian Court was 
 a serious blow to the Hungarian tongue ; for its 
 employment there made it the language of cour- 
 tesy and of commerce. The constant attraction 
 of Vienna drew away from the land of the Ma- 
 gyars those who might best have given encou- 
 ragement to the idiom of their forefathers ; and if 
 they returned home, they returned with other 
 tastes. Latin and German seemed gradually pre- 
 ponderating, and driving out the Magyar from the 
 circle of civilization. 
 
 But a reaction at last occurred, and we dis- 
 cover a marked revival of Magyar literature. In- 
 tercourse with Germany, which at first was the 
 bane, became afterwards the blessing, of Hungary; 
 
XXXV111 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and the writers who agitated Germany with a 
 literary reformation, reflected back their influence 
 upon the Magyars. And thenceforward, amidst 
 some vicissitudes, a gradual progress may be traced 
 to the present day; it is obvious the language has 
 grown stronger and stronger by exercise, and its 
 literature spread wider and wider by cultivation. 
 Newspapers and literary journals in the Magyar 
 tongue became active agents in its diffusion, and 
 it slowly rose from that depression, that persecu- 
 tion rather, by which it had so long been visited. 
 
 Radai, (Pal,) who figures in history as the 
 negociator of the peace of Shemnitz with Leopold 
 the First, and the representative of Prince Ra- 
 koczi, who had been nominated by the French 
 Court as the arbitrator between Peter the Great 
 and Charles XII., and who struggled for the li- 
 berties of his fellow-Protestants with so much 
 zeal and talent, published a volume of poetry, 
 entitled Lelki Hodolds, (Spiritual Worship,) which 
 has preserved its hold on the affections of the 
 Hungarians. 
 
 Amade was Paul Radai's contemporary, and 
 was once deemed the first of Magyar Lyric Poets. 
 His verses were learned by heart, and circulated 
 in MS. over the land. A few have been printed 
 by Kultsar, in his Mulatsdgok, (Amusements, 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. XXXIX 
 
 1827,) and others are in the progress of publica- 
 tion. They do not seem to possess any special 
 value. 
 
 But Faludi is the first poet on whose works it 
 is possible to dwell with real satisfaction. He 
 indeed awoke the Hungarian language, which was 
 half- slumbering in his time. The Magyars speak 
 of him as the Magyar poet. He caught the spirit 
 of some of the Spanish poets, and has translated 
 one at least of Gongora's romances. His Tiln- 
 dfrkert (Enchanted Garden) is admirable. Few 
 Lyrics flow more naturally and sweetly than his. 
 They are music both to the eye and the ear. 
 They are natural outpourings of a happy temper. 
 One wishes the ancient mythology far away 
 whenever it interrupts, as it frequently does, the 
 current of his feelings. Faludi was a Jesuit, and 
 spent some years at Rome. He taught Law af- 
 terwards in the Vienna Academy, translated 
 Gracian, wrote a drama, and was made Librarian 
 at Poson. He published a series of volumes 
 on Manners, several of which were from transla- 
 tions from English. Revai collected his works 
 into two volumes, which appeared at Gyor (Raab) 
 1786-7. A second edition almost immediately 
 followed. Faludi wrote Latin and French as well 
 
Xl INTRODUCTION. 
 
 as Magyar verses, and these also are to be found 
 in his works. 
 
 Gvadanyi is one of the few, the very few, co- 
 mic poets of the Magyars. His account of the life, 
 death, and journey to Tartarus, of a village no- 
 tary,* is witty and amusing, though not always 
 in good taste. In his adventures of Count Beny- 
 ovsky, and his Paul Ronto, which are the delight 
 of the lower orders of the Hungarians, he is 
 coarse and vulgar, and his composition is through- 
 out careless and incorrect. He was born at Ru- 
 dabanya in 1725, entered the army in his 19th 
 year, made many campaigns, and underwent the 
 discipline of wounds and imprisonment ; became 
 a general in 1773, and died at Skaliz in 1801. 
 
 Bessenyei has been accused of supplantiug a 
 greater evil by a lesser one, instead of getting 
 rid of both, when he drove out the Zrinian to 
 introduce the Alexandrine measure. The charge 
 appears to me well founded. The Alexandrine 
 verse is one of the most monotonous of the 
 
 * It is in three parts : 
 
 Falusi notarius' Budai utazasa (Presburg, 1790). 
 Falusi notarius' pokolba menetele (Basil, 1790). 
 Falusi notarius' elmelkede'se, betegs^ge £s halala (Poson, 
 1796). 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xli 
 
 forms of poetry, and is especially monotonous 
 in the Magyar, which, with its many poetical 
 capabilities, undoubtedly wants variety in its 
 ryhmes. But Bessenyei was the representative 
 of the French school, and it has been said of 
 him, as of many of the French dramatists, that 
 his Greeks and Romans are all disfigured French- 
 men. Bessenyei was the son of an obscure 
 tavern-keeper at Berczel, and was born in 1 740. 
 He learnt a little Latin in the preliminary school, 
 which he soon forgot, and in the course of time 
 became a soldier in the Hungarian body-guards 
 at Vienna. There he began again to study, mas- 
 tered the French language, and was captivated by 
 the French literature. He wrote several drama- 
 tic pieces, and an imitation of Pope's Essay on 
 Man, Az embernek probdja. In the later part of 
 his life he became almost wholly a prose writer, and 
 published several philosophical works. His ex- 
 ample served greatly to impede the project of the 
 Emperor Joseph, whose determination to drive 
 out the Hungarian by means of the German lan- 
 guage, was rash and futile. Bessenyei died in 
 1811, an object of great affection and interest 
 among the Hungarians. 
 
 Orczy has much that is artificial. He was al- 
 most unknown as a poet, until Revai published 
 
Xlii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 his works at Presburg in 1 787-9. He was an 
 officer in the service of Maria Theresa, and ob- 
 tained many military honours. 
 
 Barcsai was of the race of the Transylvanian 
 Prince of his name, and was born at Piskiin 1742. 
 He, like so many other literary men of Hungary, 
 took military service, in 1762. He became a Ca- 
 tholic in 1779, having been first known as a poet 
 about two years before. ReVai did for his writings 
 the same service he rendered those of Orczy. The 
 works of both were printed in one volume ; and so 
 striking is their resemblance that they seem the ema- 
 nations of one single mind. They are for the most 
 part epistles. I n 1 794, Barcsai retreated to his rural 
 estates in Maros-Solymos, and Csora, which had 
 been ravaged by the Wallachians about ten years 
 before. In 1806, he was found mortally wounded, 
 under a favourite apple-tree, which had been the 
 device of his seal, with the inscription, 'Amytikban 
 zoldiil (Growing under its shadow). Count Haller 
 wrote a funeral oration in French, which was af- 
 terwards translated into Hungarian by Kazinczy. 
 
 Anyos was a follower of Bessenyei in the 
 general form of his compositions, but their spi- 
 rit J is more decidedly Hungarian. There is 
 a melancholy tone and tendency in his writ- 
 ings which are very harmonious, and portray 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xliii 
 
 throughout the gentle and amiable man. He 
 obtained early academical honours, and, encou- 
 raged by the writing of Bessenyei and Baroczi, 
 and yet more by the personal influence of Bare- 
 sai, he became a decided votary of literature, 
 which, amidst the high mountains and deep soli- 
 tudes of the convent where he dwelt, (for Anyos 
 was a monk,) he pursued with unwearied exer- 
 tions. But amidst his brethren of the convent he 
 found no kindred spirit, and he left the cloisters 
 of Felso-Elefant for the gymnasium of Sze'kes- 
 Feje'rvar, in 1782 ; but his health was broken, 
 and he died, aged only twenty- eight, two years 
 after his settlement there. He was gifted by 
 nature with strong sensibilities and kindly affec- 
 tions. His works were collected by Baczanyi, 
 and published at Vienna, in 1798.* 
 
 Horvath (Adam) was the son of a Calvinist 
 preacher, and was born in 1760. His mind had 
 much versatility, and he devoted himself not to 
 poetry alone, but to the study of philosophy, 
 theology, mathematics, and history. His Lyrics 
 first appeared in the Magyar Musa, a weekly 
 periodical of Hungary. In 1787? he published an 
 Epic Poem (Hunnias), of which John Hunyadi is 
 
 * Anyos Pal' munkaji. 8vo. 
 
xliv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the hero, which had a brilliant but a short-en- 
 during fame. His collection of Trans danubian 
 Popular Songs, is interesting and valuable. His 
 Plays are scarcely worth notice. He wrote with 
 wonderful ease, sometimes producing a hundred 
 strophes in a day. But to write fast and to write 
 well are not the same thing ; and the offer which 
 he once made to write a drama per week, is a poor 
 credential for his reputation. He was rash in his 
 judgments, though honest in his purposes ; con- 
 demned the literature of other countries, because 
 he did not understand it ; and, like too many 
 critics, imagined that censure and snarling were 
 wisdom and wit. He began an Encyclopedia, 
 which was a great desideratum for his country. 
 Spite of his weaknesses, he was beloved and ho- 
 nored, and died in 1820, having obtained the 
 office of District Judge and Curator of the Re- 
 formed Church. 
 
 Dugonics lived at a period when the policy of 
 the Austrian Emperor, in attempting to root out 
 the national tongue of the Magyars, aroused a body 
 of patriotic opposers. His national romances 
 greatly aided the popular feeling — but his higher 
 flights are all failures. He was born in 1740, at 
 Szegedin, and was received as a priest among 
 the Transylvanian Piarists. Dwelling amidst the 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xlv 
 
 scenes, and dreaming of the events of ancient 
 Dacia, his mind was soon wholly engaged in an- 
 tiquarian studies. The first of his romances, 
 which obtained distinguished attention, was his 
 Etelka. (Poson, 1787-) ^ e wrote many dra- 
 mas, but they have little value, and several prose 
 histories. The most valuable by far of all his 
 productions is his Magyar p^lda hesz6dek 4s jeles 
 Monddsoh, a very useful philological work. He 
 wrote less for the highly cultivated than for the 
 middling classes, among whom he labored with 
 great effect. He was a man of fine presence 
 and ready wit, and he died, after a happy old age, 
 in 1818. 
 
 Molnar had, in 1760, opposed the universal 
 employment of hexameters, and introduced with 
 much acceptableness many of the ancient mea- 
 sures. A classical school soon grew up. Its 
 leaders were Baroti Szabo, the translator of Virgil, 
 a man who was thoroughly imbued with the cha- 
 racteristics of the Augustan age, and who, by dint 
 of labour, managed to give specimens of most of 
 the ancient forms of verse ; Rajnis, not a great 
 poet certainly, but an agreeable poetical painter ; 
 and the third, Revai, an admirable translator, and 
 a grammarian, whose writings on language have 
 
xlvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 been important auxiliaries to the Magyar stu- 
 dent.* 
 
 Baroti was born at Barot in Transylvania, and 
 was educated by the Jesuits at Trencsen. When 
 the order was abolished he obtained a professor- 
 ship at Kassa (Kaschau Germ.), having previously 
 made those experiments on the Magyar prosody 
 which proved that it might be easily and happily 
 adapted to all the antique forms of poetry. These 
 novelties led to much literary discussion, and the 
 controversy gave him new encouragement to pro- 
 ceed in his classical career. He knew no lan- 
 guage except Hungarian and Latin, and fighting 
 his way with honour through many a philological 
 controversy, he died, aged fourscore, amidst 
 " labor/' but not amidst sorrow. 
 
 Rajnis was the son of a German, and born in 
 1741. Educated by the Jesuits, and thoroughly 
 acquainted with the Greek language, he began, in 
 early life, to write Hungarian verses in the clas- 
 sical measures. To this form of composition he 
 continued devoted, and published, in 1781, at 
 Gyor, a collection entitled Magyar Helikomra 
 vez&lo Jcalauz, Guide to the Magyar Helicon. In 
 
 * Especially his Grammar. 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xlvii 
 
 this he insists on the peculiar adaptation of the 
 Magyar to the ancient metrical standard, and 
 gives his own verses as evidence. He also trans- 
 lated Virgil. A bitter controversy grew up be- 
 tween him and Bacsanyi, which led to his ApuU- 
 jus tukore, Apuleius's Mirror. It is a very erudite 
 work, but he desisted from any farther attack on 
 his adversary when he learned that Bacsanyi had 
 been visited by misfortune. He wrote a free 
 translation from Plautus, Az Ifcerek (The Twins), 
 in iambics, and died in 1812. His talents were 
 considerable — his learning more so ; but the 
 scorn, bitterness, and self-esteem, which charac- 
 terize his literary polemics, leave no favorable 
 impression of his moral qualities. 
 
 Far more amiable is the portraiture of Re vai — 
 one of the best poets of his day. He was born 
 in 1749, and in the 16th year of his age obtained 
 considerable notice by some admirable Latin 
 translations. In 17/8 he published a volume of 
 Elegiac Poems.* In 1780, his oration on Maria 
 Theresa's death obtained great popularity; and 
 in 1784, he established his Magazine, Hirmondo 
 (News-giver) at Poson. He endeavored, in 1784, 
 to obtain the concurrence of Joseph the Second, in 
 
 * A' Magyar alagyaknak elso konyvok. 
 
xlviii INTRODUCTION'. 
 
 the formation of a Literary Society, but failed in 
 the attempt. In 1/90, the Diet reintroduced the 
 Hungarian language into the elementary public 
 schools, and established Magyar chairs in the uni- 
 versity academies. A number of small societies 
 have since grown up, and each in its little circle 
 has co-operated for the common object. It was 
 only by assisting such minor associations that 
 Revai and others could forward their patriotic 
 designs in favour of the language of their 
 nation. Revai published many Latin poems. 
 Notwithstanding his broken health, he, on being 
 called to the professorship of Hungarian Litera- 
 ture at Pest, devoted himself with unbounded 
 and unbroken zeal to the topics of his chair. 
 His large Hungarian Grammar appeared 1803-6. 
 He died in 1807, leaving behind him many va- 
 luable philological MSS. and translations from 
 the Greek, Latin, and German. 
 
 Szabo was a Transylvanian, who also belongs 
 to the classical school. Some of his Epigrams 
 are happy, and his works were deemed excellent 
 for their classical correctness. He wrote on Ma- 
 gyar prosody, and a description of rural life. 
 The criticisms of Kacinczy have diminished the 
 number of Szabo's admirers. 
 
 Raday (Gedeon), the son of Pal, made some 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. xllX 
 
 farther experiments in rhyme by introducing 
 many of the stanzas of the southern nations of 
 Europe. He exerted an influence greater than 
 that of his writings in furthering the cultivation 
 of the Magyar language, and pointing out to the 
 young inquirers around him the pathway of taste 
 and talent. He thus led forward Kazinczy and 
 Dayka, two of the most accomplished and in- 
 dustrious writers of their age. Raday had been 
 educated in the University of Germany. He 
 founded the excellent library of Peczel, and died 
 in 1792. 
 
 To Bacsanyi's history an interest, political as 
 well as poetical, attaches. He was born in 1763, 
 at Tapolcza, and first obtained great notice from 
 his valuable contributions to the Magyar Museum 
 from 1788 to 1792. He treated in them of poe- 
 try, morals, and general literature. He began a 
 translation of Ossian, which he has lately com- 
 pleted. But his opinions made him at an early 
 period the object of mistrust, and being asso- 
 ciated with other enthusiasts in what was called 
 the jacobin conspiracy of the Abbe* Martinovics, 
 in 1794, he was conveyed as a state prisoner, 
 first to Munkacs, and afterwards to Rufstein. 
 He obtained his release in 1798, and took up his 
 abode at Vienna, where, in 1799, he married the 
 e 
 
1 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 German poetess Gabriella Baumberg. Betrayed 
 into hope by the superb display of Napoleon's 
 power, and miscalculating the chances that the 
 arms of the despot might serve the cause of li- 
 berty, he translated into Magyar, in 1809, the 
 French emperor's appeal to the Hungarian peo- 
 ple. When peace was restored, he hastened to 
 Paris for security, where he found employment 
 in a public printing-office. When the Austrians 
 entered Paris, in 1814, they seized him as a state 
 prisoner, and conveyed him home, whence, after 
 another imprisonment, he was banished to Linz, 
 where he still lives, struggling with misfortune. 
 His literary influence would have been great 
 could he have pursued his career, but it has been 
 often interrupted and broken by cruel political vi- 
 sitations, which have flung him out of the sphere 
 in which he was successfully labouring. In 1791 
 he published the poems of Anyos; in 1821 an 
 address to the learned of his country, A' Magyar 
 Tudosokhoz; in 1824 he reprinted Faludi's poems; 
 his own works he is now engaged in watching 
 through the press, but coming from the solitude 
 of his retreat, it is only the voice of one crying in 
 the desert " Prepare." Bacsanyi's sufferings 
 were shared by Szentjobi Szabo (Laszlo), whose 
 poetical merits were also of a very high order. 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. li 
 
 He was Bacsanyi's fellow-labourer in the Magyar 
 Museum. His works were gathered together in 
 1701, and published under the title of K6ltem4- 
 nyes Munkdji, (Poetical Works); and on occa- 
 sion of the coronation of Francis I. appeared his 
 drama in three acts, Maty as Kirdly vagy a y nep 
 szeretete jdmbor fejedelmek 1 jutalma (King Mat- 
 thew — a People's Love the Recompense of a 
 good Prince. Buda, 1792). His lyrics want the 
 polish of critical thought, but contain the germs 
 of fine conceptions. 
 
 Dayka was overpraised — as all poets are who 
 die in their youth \ sympathy for their early loss 
 is a basis on which biography often builds up 
 a false reputation. Dayka has, however, much 
 merit, though he studied apparently in the artifi- 
 cial school of the French — a school growing out 
 of a poor and unpoetical language, requiring a 
 machinery of frigid rules of construction to ele- 
 vate it above ordinary prose, from which, in fact, 
 little French poetry is distinguishable, except by 
 the clinquant of the rhyme. Correctness and ele- 
 gance cannot be denied to Dayka, and his Ana- 
 creontic verses are airy and agreeable. He was 
 the son of a laboring tailor, and his talents and 
 good qualities having won the affections of two 
 Cisterian monks of Eger, they gave him a gra- 
 e2 
 
lii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tuitous education. His existence was disturbed 
 by many annoyances, and he died in his twenty- 
 eighth year, when it was believed he had purified 
 and elevated his style. Kazinczy published his 
 poems, (Pest, 1813,) and has devoted a preface 
 to an interesting and touching account of a fa- 
 vorite and friend. 
 
 Verseghy's Prosody is a great improvement 
 on that of most of his predecessors. He, too, has 
 written a Grammar of the Magyar, which, though 
 less profound and critical than Revai's, is a very 
 useful work. His poetry has not much that is 
 original, but he made the best use of the powers 
 he possessed, and elaborated his productions into 
 correctness. The place of his birth was Szolnok; 
 of his education, Eger. He became a member of 
 the religious order of the Paulists, and when it was 
 suppressed he entered the army during the Turk- 
 ish campaign. Ill health compelled him to aban- 
 don the military profession, and he became a fre- 
 quent and a valuable contributor to the Magyar 
 Museum. He wrote on Thorough Bass, being an 
 excellent singer, and on many topics of history, 
 theology, and ethics. But being involved in poli- 
 tical discussions, he was proceeded against capi- 
 tally, and his sentence commuted to a nine years' 
 imprisonment, which ended in 1804. He pub- 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. liii 
 
 lished two humorous satires in the same year. 
 His works make up nearly forty volumes. He 
 took an active part against the Rev ay en school in 
 defending what he deemed the purity of the Ma- 
 gyar tongue. He might have enriched it, instead 
 of endeavouring to close the door upon foreign 
 contributions, for he was the master of nine lan- 
 guages. Schedel says of him, " In his literary 
 contests he had not acquired the art of yielding, 
 was exceedingly irritable, and sometimes coarse. 
 But in his domestic relations he was gentle, 
 friendly, and generous, and in society amiable." 
 
 Of the classical school, Virag is the most im- 
 portant auxiliary. He always writes in full pos- 
 session of his subject — vigorous, clear, and strong. 
 His odes might for their purity have belonged to 
 the Augustan age. But they do not come home 
 to us ; they are the representatives of something 
 remote and afar ; they are of the past, unlinked 
 to the present — cold as antique marble sculpture, 
 and as motionless too. Virag was a regular priest 
 of the Paulist order. In 1781, he was made Pro- 
 fessor at the Gymnasium of Szekes-Fejervar, and 
 in 1799 published his Odes, which obtained for 
 him the name of the Magyar Horace. His Fables 
 (Buda, 18J9J are excellent. His prose works 
 are many and good. Among them his Pragmatic 
 
llV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 History of Hungary (Magyar szdzadok, Buda, 
 1808—16) is entitled to distinction. Virag still 
 lives at Buda, full of literary activity. 
 
 Csokonai has contributed to literature both good 
 and evil things. He is often slovenly, sometimes 
 coarse, sometimes exalted. His Dorrotya has 
 much of fine wit and sharp satire in it, but is 
 often degraded by low vulgarity. He was badly 
 trained, and vibrated, as it were, from scholastic 
 trammels into an unrestrained freedom of style. 
 Writing always and about all things, he disap- 
 pointed the expectations he had created. Schedel 
 says he had in him all the elements of a popular 
 lyric poet. In his wiser and happier vein he is 
 charming. He helped, however, to redeem Hun- 
 garian poetry from the artificial coldness which 
 had long frozen its genial spirit, and, with Ka- 
 zinczi, Verseghy, and Dayka, to give it a genuine 
 national character. Csokonai's birth-place was 
 Debretzen. In his twentieth year he was chosen 
 to fill the chair of Poetry, but was speedily dis- 
 missed on account of his irregularities. The fol- 
 lowing year (1796) he went to Poson (Presburg), 
 where he published a poem on the then sitting 
 Diet, which won him great praise. In 1797, he 
 became enamored of the lady to whom man} 7 of 
 his lyrics are addressed under the name of Lilla. 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. lv 
 
 She refused her hand; and he, in his gloom, 
 abandoned the Professorship which Count Feste- 
 tics had given him at Csurgo. He lost his health, 
 and died in his thirty-first year. His reading was 
 considerable, and spread over many oriental as 
 well as European tongues. His history is a me- 
 lancholy one of flightiness and folly. He lived, 
 his epitaph says, somewhat slanderously towards 
 his art, poetce more. After his disappointment he 
 became indifferent to opinion, and produced a 
 series of profligate writings, whose highest privi- 
 lege will be — oblivion. 
 
 The present century dawned prosperously for 
 Magyar literature. The first volume of Alexan- 
 der Kisfaludy's Himfy was published in 1801. 
 No book was ever known to produce such an im- 
 pression in Hungary as was awakened by this 
 volume ; nor was the success of the second part, 
 which appeared in 1807, less than that of the 
 first. He pursued his successful career with his 
 Sagas (Regek) and his Gyula, winning " golden 
 opinions," and becoming alike the companion of 
 the learned and the light-hearted. His Himfy is 
 a series of short descriptive lyrics, the first part 
 celebrating an unsuccessful, the second a happy, 
 love. The main topic is, however, relieved by 
 much beautiful philosophy and salutary moraliz- 
 
Ivi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ing. Between the 400 shorter Dalok or Songs, 
 are introduced 28 Canzonets, somewhat in the 
 Petrarchan style. There is throughout a mas- 
 terly condensation of thought, without any em- 
 barrassment of language. Kazinczy called these 
 productions the Epigrams of Love. They have 
 many novel forms of expression, some uncommon 
 words ; but they approve themselves constantly 
 to the mind. His Reg^k are the very images of 
 Hungarian life. In his Dramas, whether histori- 
 cal or domestic, he has been less successful ; the 
 characters rather describe than develop them- 
 selves. Kisfaludy was born of an ancient Hun- 
 garian family at Siimeg ; educated at Gyor (Raab) 
 and Poson ; entered the army in his twentieth 
 year ; fought the Italian campaign, and was taken 
 prisoner by the French in 1J96. Visiting Avig- 
 non, it seems as if the mantle of Petrarch had 
 descended upon him, and that out of the fountain 
 of Vaucluse he had drunk of the Italian Helicon. 
 In 1800, he left military service and married the 
 Lisa of his songs. They were published anony- 
 mously, and he was for a time " the Great Un- 
 known" of Hungary. His later lyrics have been 
 all welcomed with enthusiasm. In 1809, he enlist- 
 ed among the Hungarian insurgents, and wrote a 
 history of the campaign. His abode is at Siimeg, 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. lvii 
 
 where he was born, in a spot said to be one of 
 romantic beauties. 
 
 Kazinczy's active spirit has poured upon his 
 country many streams of foreign literature. His 
 prose is admirable. He had to fight a hard battle 
 in favour of improvements which the Hungarian 
 language demanded, in order to accommodate it- 
 self to an improved civilization. The man who 
 introduces one really useful word or expression 
 into his native language, is entitled to great ap- 
 plause. It has been by a series of benefactions 
 of this sort that our English tongue has become 
 what it is, and that it promises to go on gather- 
 ing strength and riches with the progress of time. 
 The foolish resistance to such melioration has 
 left the French language in nakedness and po- 
 verty, unable to communicate a thousand shades 
 of thought and feeling which find representatives 
 in the greater opulence of other idioms. The 
 prejudices of what is called nationality — a word 
 the random use of which may to an unbounded 
 extent impede good and encourage evil — are easily 
 awakened ; but Kazinczy has struggled success- 
 fully against them — and he has done well 5 for 
 the author who gives to the mind any new in- 
 strument of power, who assists the development 
 and the lucidness of ideas by finding appropriate 
 
lviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 expressions for them, plants the best seeds of 
 knowledge. Kazinczy aroused a strong opposi- 
 tion against him, as if he had polluted his mother 
 tongue ; but that good sense which at last tri- 
 umphs over narrow prejudices, has recognized 
 him as a well-doer. He has translated much, 
 and from many languages. His parents were 
 Calvinists, and he was born at Er-Semlyen in 
 1759. He pursued his studies with great activity 
 and success at Sarospatak, and in his eighteenth 
 year had published a geographical work. In 17S6, 
 he was placed at the head of the national schools 
 of the Kassa district, extending over nearly a 
 fourth part of Hungary. His literary history is 
 one of continued labor and successful exertion. 
 With Baroti and Bacsanyi, he produced the Ma- 
 gyar Museum, and in 1790 he himself established 
 the Orpheus, a monthly literary periodical. When 
 the ancient crown of Hungary was deposited at 
 Buda in 1790, Kazinczy was deputed with the 
 congratulations of the Abauj district. With this 
 event the awakening enthusiasm of the Magyars 
 was connected. Hungarian dramas were repre- 
 sented, Hungarian Anthologies printed, and the 
 works of many a celebrated foreign poet first wore 
 an Hungarian dress. The revival of Hungarian 
 emotions was not agreeable to the court, and Ka- 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. llX 
 
 zinczy, like many of his literary friends, became 
 obnoxious, and was visited by state prosecution, 
 whose sentence was commuted by the king into 
 seven years' imprisonment. He left his jail in 
 1801, and married a Catholic lady, Sophia, the 
 daughter of Count Tordk. On the breaking out 
 of the war with France, he was one of the twelve 
 Deputies chosen to organize the insurrection 
 against the enemy ; and in 1801, with Count 
 Joseph Dezsofi, was appointed to plan the monu- 
 ment to those who had fallen at Gyor, which now 
 ornaments Ujhely, in the neighbourhood of which 
 Kazinczy dwells. A collection of his works on 
 Belles Lettres, in nine volumes, has been publish- 
 ed.* That part of his Erdelyi Levelek (Transyl- 
 vanian Letters) which has been printed — the result 
 of a journey through that country— is much va- 
 lued. Hs name is, in a word, spread over the 
 whole field of modern Magyar literature, and will 
 be found as a contributor to every periodical of 
 distinction which has appeared in his native 
 country. 
 
 Kis has acted silently, but remarkably, on the 
 literature of Hungary. It can hardly be said that 
 he surprises his reader, but he affects and pleases 
 
 * Kazinczy 'Munkaji Szep Literatfira. Pest, 1814 — 16. 
 
lx INTRODUCTION. 
 
 him. His is a philosophical temperament, and 
 his style is clear and bright. He has published 
 much original poetry and many translations. No- 
 thing can be farther removed from affectation 
 than his writings, and his verses especially flow 
 like a stream down a gentle declivity. He was 
 born of poor parents at Szent-Andras, in Soprony. 
 His mother taught him to read, his father to 
 write. When he entered the Soprony Gymna- 
 sium, a benevolent German Professor (Schwart- 
 ner) took much notice of him, and greatly as- 
 sisted the cultivation of his mind. In his twenty- 
 first year, (1791,) accompanied by a school -fellow, 
 he undertook a pedestrian tour through a great 
 part of Hungary, for the purpose of making the 
 personal acquaintance of the eminent writers of 
 the time. He travelled into Germany, and fol- 
 lowed the courses of some of the distinguished 
 Professors of Gottingen and Jena ; on his return 
 to Hungary he was made a professor, and ele- 
 vated to many distinguished offices in the career 
 of education. He was one of the founders of the 
 Magyar Society at Soprony for the cultivation of 
 the poetical literature of Hungary. He obtained 
 the prize which was offered in 1804, by an Hun- 
 garian patriot, for the best essay on the cultiva- 
 tion and extension of the Magyar tongue, In 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Ixi 
 
 1822, he was called to the ranks of nobility. He 
 translated Lowth's Choice of Hercules from the 
 English. His works are very numerous — sixty 
 volumes at least, independently of many contri- 
 butions to periodicals. They consist of versions 
 from the classics, school-books, and ethics^ and 
 poetry on many topics. 
 
 Of Berzsenyi, opinions are various and some- 
 times contrary. He has been admired for his 
 originality by some, and attacked for his servility 
 by others. Dobrentei, however, says of him in a 
 letter to me, "Berzsenyi is truly a national poet, 
 fiery, glowing, soft, and exalted. His language 
 the purest Hungarian." I have heard him com- 
 pared to a lark soaring and singing in the heavens. 
 The thoughts, and sometimes the phrases, of the 
 Latin and German classics may be traced in some 
 of his works. Nothing can be more natural than 
 the flow of his strains, more awakened and 
 awakening than his sensibilities, more lively than 
 his imagination. The Hungarians call him their 
 national bard, as a special distinction. His com- 
 positions are fervent and fiery, and so frequently 
 breathe those warm and passionate appeals to the 
 patriotic feelings of his countrymen which agitate 
 their minds like an intellectual tempest. They 
 
Ixti INTRODUCTION. 
 
 speak of Berzsenyi with a wild enthusiasm. He 
 has fanned and flattered the strongest of the Ma- 
 gyar sensibilities — has sung the ancient glories of 
 the Hunnish race — and, with deep pathos, has 
 poured strains of plaintiveness over their present 
 decay. Rumy says of him, that as a boy he was 
 C( non sine Dis animosus infans." It has been 
 objected to him that his style is sometimes in- 
 flated and degraded by provincialisms, but his 
 severest critics are willing to allow that he has 
 many distinguished merits. His place of birth 
 was Hetye, and he became in early life the friend 
 of Kis, and the correspondent of Kazinczy. In 
 one of the assemblies of the different orders at 
 Sumeg in 3812, Count Teleki presented our 
 poet as the treasure of the Hungarian Parnassus. 
 His works were published in three volumes by 
 Helmeczy, in 1813. Berzsenyi was one of those 
 who were sharply attacked by the Mondolat, a 
 satire on the Neologists, as they were called, or 
 the introducers of novelties. His present abode 
 is Mikla. 
 
 Helmeczy has ventured far in introducing new 
 words and new combinations of words, particu- 
 larly in his translations from Schiller and Tasso, 
 in the original measures. Perhaps he is not al- 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Ixiii 
 
 ways happy in his experiments, but he has, at 
 all events, added something to the riches of his 
 native tongue. 
 
 Szemere's Sonnets are the best existing in the 
 Hungarian.* He, too, has been a translator from 
 other idioms, and has published a version of Kdr- 
 ner's Zrinyi, a drama recommended to the Ma- 
 gyars by its connexion with their history. Sze- 
 mere was of an ancient and noble family ; his 
 studies were pursued through many schools and 
 colleges ; in his twenty-third year he became an 
 advocate, and about ten years after was made 
 Vice Fiscal of Pest. He has written many phi- 
 lological papers, and taken an active part in the 
 strife as to the improvements of the Magyar 
 tongue. ' He published a collection of songs in 
 1812, f and has been actively engaged with Kol- 
 csey in the editorship of Life and Literature, 
 Elet 6s Litteratura. His place of abode is 
 usually either P£czel or Pest. 
 
 In 1782, Szasz was born in Dedrad-Szeplak, 
 and educated in the College of Maros-Vasarhely. 
 Patronized by Count Teleki, he visited Vienna 
 
 * Tolteuyi has written, too, a great number of sonnets, but 
 they are not very happily constructed. The sonnets of Bartfay 
 are melodious. 
 
 f Dalok azoknak, a' kik szeretnek. 
 
hiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 and Jena to be trained to the office of Librarian. 
 After an absence of two years he returned, and 
 died in his thirtieth year, in 1S12. His friend 
 Dobrentei published some of his poems in the 
 Erdelyi Museum, with an affectionate and eulo- 
 gistic notice (Pt. II. pp. 102—116). 
 
 Dobrentei has translated several of Shak- 
 speare's plays, and his Magyar Macbeth was re- 
 presented at Poson during the sittings of the 
 Diet in 1825. His epic Kenyermezei Diadal, 
 Victory of Kenyermezo, a sort of Ossianic com- 
 position, has been translated into German by 
 Count Mailath. There is a charming popular 
 tone about some of his productions, while others 
 give evidence of a high and cultivated taste. His 
 origin is noble— -his birth-place Hogy^sz. His 
 early productions obtained for him the favor of 
 the Soprony Literary Society, whose transactions 
 he edited in 1804. After travel in foreign lands, 
 he became the preceptor of the young Count 
 Gyulai, of Transylvania. He again left his coun- 
 try for Italy in 1814, and on his return established 
 the Erdelyi Museum at Kolosvar, one of the 
 most valuable contributions to Magyar literature. 
 Men of every sect united to assist this interesting 
 undertaking, and its pages will be found orna- 
 mented with the works of Catholics and Calvin- 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Ixv 
 
 ists, Lutherans, and Unitarians. Ever labouring 
 for the advance of his country's literature, he laid 
 the foundations of a society of Belles Lettres on 
 an extended scale, which has been sanctioned and 
 recommended by many of the authorities, but 
 has not yet obtained the patronage of the King. 
 In 1825, he was made commissary of the Buda 
 district, and there is his place of abode. He is 
 one of the most zealous, one of the most enlight- 
 ened and fascinating of the Magyar writers. He 
 is the author of the article in the Leipzig Conver- 
 sations Lexicon on the literature of his country, 
 and his name will be found associated with ho- 
 nourable titles to distinction and affection over 
 the whole field of Magyar intelligence. 
 
 The odium theologicum, which may be trans- 
 lated malevolence in its worst shape, sometimes 
 breaks very offensively through the writings of 
 Hungarian divines. Yet I have heard from Do- 
 brentei a story so honourable to all concerned, 
 that I record it here with exceeding satisfaction. 
 Dobrentei is a Protestant, and one who, to my 
 knowledge, has made sacrifices to his religious 
 convictions. In 1822, when he returned from 
 Transylvania, he visited, in Tet, the well-known 
 Catholic Priest, Horvat Endre, who lived in 
 his Pdzmdndi Magmiy, (Pazmandian Solitude,) 
 
 / 
 
kvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 amidst the vineyards on the sides of the moun- 
 tain, where the ancient Benedictine convent 
 stands. There were present several Catholics, 
 and among them Giizmics Izidor, a Benedictine 
 monk, the translator of Theocritus into Magyar 
 Hexameters, and Szalai Imre, the grammarian, 
 now Professor at Pest. A little festival wel- 
 comed the poet. It was held in the open air, 
 under a large apple-tree. Horvat rose, and thus 
 addressed the party : " Friends, Dobrentei is here, 
 the Editor of the Erdelyi Museum. 1 take you 
 all to witness, that, in memory of this day, I 
 name this noble apple-tree the Gdbor Fdja" (Ga- 
 briel's Tree). The word was re-echoed by all 
 the company, they filled their glasses with Hun- 
 garian wine, and baptized the Gabor Faja. Giiz- 
 mics wrote a distich, which was suspended on 
 the tree, which has been since an object of con- 
 siderable attraction. 
 
 I owe much to Dobrentei, far more than my 
 thanks can repay. 
 
 Buczy is a native of Kolosvar — his poetry is of 
 the classic character, which has grown out of his 
 great devotion to the writers of Greece and Rome. 
 He was professor of rhetoric at Nagy Szeben 
 (Hermanstadt), but ill health compelled him to 
 abandon his chair, and to retire for some years to 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Ixvii 
 
 private life. On his recovery he was appointed to 
 the professorship of moral philosophy at Karoly- 
 Feje>var (Karlsburg), which occupies him at this 
 hour. Most of his poems are contributions to the 
 Erdelyi Museum, 
 
 Toth has more of erudition than of poetical ge- 
 nius, and his erudition is visible in the classical 
 character of his writings. His father was a 
 preacher of the Reformed Church at Kis-Tokaj, 
 and the young Toth made such progress in his 
 early studies of Latin and Greek, as to excite the 
 admiration of his teachers. In 1814 he came to 
 Pest in order to fit himself for the practice of me- 
 dicine. Two years afterwards he published his 
 first volume of poems ; and in 1818, his Greek 
 verses with their Hungarian translations. They 
 were favourably received and honorably noticed. 
 In 1816 he joined the Catholic church; but he 
 died of cholera, some have suspected of poison, in 
 1820. He was the first to introduce the Pindaric 
 Ode into the Magyar literature. His unpub- 
 lished writings were more numerous than his 
 published ones, and great hopes were indulged of 
 the services he might render by them to the 
 healing art. 
 
 While the paper is yet wet which bears these 
 translations from Vitkovics, I receive the intel- 
 /2 
 
Jxviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ligence that this interesting poet has ceased to 
 be. He died on the 9th of September, 1829. He 
 was a Servian by birth, and wrote his native and 
 his adopted language with equal purity. His 
 tones are easy, graceful, and airy, and he intro- 
 duced into Hungary those strains of popular song 
 which are so diffused among the Slavonian na- 
 tions. Eger (Eylau) was his birth-place, and 
 there was he educated. Having been chastised 
 as a boy for the offence of verse- making, he clung 
 to the art the more closely when he grew to be a 
 man. Professor Papay gave him the first in- 
 structions as to the composition of Magyar poe- 
 try. His Address to Horvat, and more especially 
 his Fables and Poems, (Mes4ji es versei : Pest, 
 1817,) were welcomed with high praise. His 
 writings are scattered over the fugitive Hunga- 
 rian papers of the present century. 
 
 Fay is a sharp and sparkling writer, from whose 
 pen mirth and laughter are constantly gushing 
 forth. He was born in 1786, at Kohany, and 
 was just that eager and sprightly youth who 
 might be expected to become the lively and witty 
 man. Having studied at Sarospatak and Poson, 
 he became a judge in the Pest district, where he 
 dwells. In 1807 he published a collection of his 
 fables and poems (Bokr&a), of which many were 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. kix 
 
 written before he had reached his fifteenth year. 
 Another collection, Fris BokrMa (Fresh Plumes), 
 appeared in 1818; and a third, consisting of Fables 
 and Aphorisms, in 1820. These are excellent, — 
 they are humorous and wise. In 1324 appeared 
 other Tales and a Prose Comedy, entitled Ked- 
 vesapongdsok (Pleasure Vibrations). Fay is one 
 of the most popular of the Hungarian writers. 
 
 In 1814, Horvat Andreas published his Zircz 
 Emltfkezete — Remembrance of Zircz, in hexa- 
 meters. The paucity of events is relieved by 
 many philosophical musings, and the language 
 and versification correct and easy. The date of 
 Horvat's birth is 1778. In 1798 he entered the 
 Cistercian order of Monks. In 1806 he was ap- 
 pointed to a Cure in Te% his present abode. At 
 the request of many of his admirers he under- 
 took a National Epic — to celebrate the founder 
 of the Hungarian Kingdom, Arpad, which is not 
 yet completed, though he has published speci- 
 mens in some of the periodicals, especially the 
 Aurora, where also may be found many other 
 productions of his pen. 
 
 The songs of Szentmiklossy Aloys are agree- 
 able, and his Epigrams pointed. He was the son 
 of a state councillor, who paid great attention to 
 his education, and on the completion of his stu- 
 
1XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 dies at Eger, in his twenty- sixth year, he was 
 made an Assessor at Borsod. In his early wri- 
 tings he appears to have made Faludi and Anyos 
 his models ; but Kazinczy obtained afterwards 
 great influence on his mind. The presence of a 
 number of French officers, prisoners of war, at 
 Eger, induced him to attend particularly to the 
 literature of their country. Szentmiklossy's wri- 
 tings have not, I believe, been collected into 
 volumes, but are spread through the different 
 periodicals of Hungary. 
 
 Kolcsey introduced the Ballad into the Hun- 
 garian literature. — His elegiac powers are great. 
 His remarks on his contemporaries have been 
 salutary, though sometimes severe. He was the 
 Editor of Elet <*s Litter atiir a (Life and Litera- 
 ture), a periodical of high reputation. His own 
 writings are warm and vigorous. Born at Szo 
 Demeter, in Transylvania, he studied at Debre- 
 czen, obtained honor as a classical scholar, and 
 mastered the literature of France and Germany. 
 In his nineteenth year he became a Jurat at Pest, 
 and there formed that intimate alliance with Hor- 
 vat, Vitkovics, and Szemere, which afterwards 
 exercised so important an influence on Magyar 
 criticism. His first productions appeared in the 
 Damatt Kalenddrioma (Ladies' Calendar), and the 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. lxxi 
 
 Transylvanian Museum. On a visit paid his 
 friend Szemere, he wrote the attack on Mondolat, 
 which was published without his cognizance in 
 1815. His criticisms on Csokonai, Kis, and Ber- 
 zsenyi, won him many enemies, and made him 
 the object of sharp censure, These criticisms 
 appeared in the Tudomdnyos Gyujtemeny (Lite- 
 rary Collection), and the intention of going over 
 the whole course of Hungarian literature in the 
 same spirit was abandoned. His critical produc- 
 tions are vigorous, eloquent, and useful. His 
 translation of Homer, if it can be judged of by 
 the specimens published, is very masterly. He 
 inhabits Cseke (Schwake). It is earnestly to be 
 desired that his vigorous, original, and for the 
 most part judicious, criticisms, should be con- 
 tinued. 
 
 Though so much of Kisfaludy's (Karoly) life 
 was passed far away from Hungary, a more cor- 
 rect painter of Hungarian manners has never ap- 
 peared. His Dramas are rich in fancy and re- 
 markable for their truth and tact. He has far 
 outstripped the expectations excited by his 
 earlier productions. He has won for himself 
 a dramatic, almost equal to his brother's lyric, 
 fame. In 1819 and 1820 his productions first 
 appeared on the stage, and followed one another 
 
lxxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 with great rapidity, each being welcomed with 
 new enthusiasm. He has taken his materials, 
 for the most part, from the interesting events of 
 Magyar history, and has presented admirable 
 pictures in which truth has furnished all their 
 bright lights and dark shadows. He deserves a 
 more special attention, and a more careful and 
 detailed criticism, than can be found room for 
 here ; but on some future occasion, I hope, with 
 the co-operation of a valuable friend, to introduce 
 some of his admirable works in their entirety to 
 English readers. His Aurora cannot be men- 
 tioned without praise. For some years it has 
 been the receptacle of the gems of modern Ma- 
 gyar poetry. It was here that Kolcsey first be- 
 came known. 
 
 Charles Kisfaludy is the younger brother of 
 Alexander, and was born at Tet, on the 19th of 
 March, 1790. In his fifteenth year he entered 
 the army, — was engaged in the campaign of Italy 
 in 1805, and that of Germany in 1809. It is said 
 that when he left his paternal home he had never 
 seen any other poetry than his brother's Himfy, 
 This, however, sufficed to enkindle the embers of 
 his imagination, and in Italy he wrote many 
 poems, which have seen the light at different 
 times, and in various ways. The first of his 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. lxxii 
 
 Dramas acted was the Tartars (Tatdrok). It 
 produced such a tempest of applause, that (says 
 Schedel) " the poet could hardly save himself 
 from the rush of young people, who, with loud 
 shouts of joy, insisted on producing him on the 
 stage." It was again and again represented with 
 boisterous applause. His second play, Zdcs, was 
 prohibited, — his third, Ilka, was scarcely less for- 
 tunate than the first. In the following year he 
 wrote his Stibor, a Drama, in four acts, — and, on 
 a notice of only ten days, his Sz&si, — and, in a 
 yet less period, Kemeny Simon. A number of 
 dramatic pieces followed these, and in 1S20, he 
 published an Apotheosis of Pannonics. His in- 
 timacy with Helmeczy led him to a more thorough- 
 ly philosophical examination of the character of 
 the Hungarian language, and to project the esta- 
 blishment of a school of art, for the furtherance 
 of a pure poetical taste. The Aurora dawned out 
 of this conception, and it is sprinkled over with 
 various works, in almost every class of com- 
 position. In many of these Kisfaludy adopted 
 pseudonymes, some of which became almost as 
 famous as his own. 
 
 Bajza's poetry has a melancholy expression 
 about it, and does not always appear to wear a 
 natural garb of gloom. Szucsi was his birth- 
 
lxxiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 place; his parents were noble; and in the seventh 
 year of his age (in 1811), he was sent to study 
 at Gyongyos ; from thence he went to Pest, and 
 afterwards to Poson. In 1S25, he was chosen 
 Secretary to the representatives to the diet of 
 the Heves district, and remained two years in 
 the capital. His writings are principally in the 
 Aurora ; one of them, a Bor&iek 9 or Wine Song, 
 was enthusiastically admired. 
 
 Czuczor's Augsburgi uthozet, (Battle of Augs- 
 burg, A. D. 910,) is an epic in four cantos. The 
 subject is too remote, and too little assisted by 
 historical facts, to excite much interest. It is an 
 energetic composition, but swelling at times into 
 an almost bombastic grandiosity. His Aradi 
 gyul'es (Diet of Arad, A. D. 1136,) in five cantos, 
 is happier in every respect. The actors are fine 
 and veracious portraits, the events both touching 
 and important. Less varied, less romantic than 
 Vorosmarty, he has more simplicity and unity 
 in his story, and more of individuality in his 
 actors. He was born at Andod in 1800, became 
 a Benedictine in 1S17 \ the following year he at- 
 tended a course of philosophy at Gyor. In 1824, 
 he became Latin Professor, and, in 1826, Pro- 
 fessor of Rhetoric there, and he still fills the 
 chair. 
 
MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. IxXV 
 
 Vorosmarty entered on dangerous ground when 
 he determined to try his fortune as an epic poet. 
 He had several living rivals ; among them Czuczor 
 and Horvat, who had published some specimens 
 of his Arpad. But Vorosmarty was not a man 
 of an every-day stamp. His rich and powerful 
 fancy has always been sufficient to his highest 
 intellectual conceptions. Not that he has formed 
 on all occasions a correct estimate of his own 
 powers. His mind is not fitted for dramatic 
 groupings. He is a master of description, not of 
 action. No fault can be found with the poetry 
 of his dramas ; but unless the doings of the stage 
 are as interesting as the sayings, there is no re- 
 demption for the work. Vorosmarty' s dramas 
 are failures. As an epic poet, however, Voros- 
 marty is really great.* Schedel speaks of the in- 
 exhaustible opulence of Vorosmarty's imagina- 
 tion, the infinite versatility of its creations, the 
 marvellously varied shades of thought and feel- 
 ing for which he has found expression, and espe- 
 cially of the felicitous sketches and personifica- 
 tions of woman which decorate his pages. His 
 Hexameters are beautiful, and truly national. In 
 
 * Sz^kely had published a short Transylvanian Epic in 1823.,. 
 The SeklerSf and soon afterwards Mohdcs. 
 
]xxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the field of poetry, it is of these epics that the 
 Hungarians feel most proud, and desire that these 
 should be deemed the representatives of their po- 
 etical cultivation. 
 
 Vorosmarty (Mihaly) was born on the 1st of 
 December, 1800, at Nyek, of noble Catholic pa- 
 rents. In 1816, he was a student at Pest. In 
 this year his father died, and he undertook the 
 office of tutor, which he filled for nine years. In 
 18*24, he became an Advocate, and has ever since 
 that period made Pest his place of abode, study- 
 ing the writings and benefiting by intercourse 
 with the distinguished men of his time. He vi- 
 sited Transylvania with his pupil in 1820-3, and 
 there began to study Shakspeare, his mind grow- 
 ing stronger and stronger by the communion 
 with noble spirits of other ages. He wrote se- 
 veral dramas, but did not receive the applause 
 which was to welcome his productions till his 
 Zalan appeared in 1825, which was received with 
 marks of uncommon delight. On Kisfaludy's 
 recommendation, he engaged in celebrating the 
 conquest of King Salomon over the Rumanians — 
 a popular and successful enterprise. Other pieces 
 followed, both historical and critical; and in- 
 vested now with the Editorship of the Tudomd- 
 
MAGYAR LITERATURE. lxxVli 
 
 nyos Gyujt4meny 9 he is one of the most influen- 
 tial, as undoubtedly one of the most distinguished, 
 of the literary men of his country. 
 
 The lyrics of Szenvey are more remarkable for 
 their form, than their correctness of language. 
 He is a preceptor at Maglod, and was born in 
 1798. The greater part of his manhood was 
 passed in the neighbourhood of Visegrad, " the 
 paradise of Hungary, in the midst of those ruins 
 which make the memory of the past so beautiful, 
 living a life of enthusiasm and of song."* He 
 has written seven tragedies, and many ballads. 
 
 I have thus gone through the list of those Ma- 
 gyar authors who seem more particularly entitled 
 to notice. I trust in this good work I am the 
 forerunner of wiser and more successful men. 
 
 That the Magyar language and literature will 
 receive greater attention from foreigners, and 
 that the interest excited elsewhere will act upon 
 the better and brighter part of Hungarian am- 
 bition is certain. I see without jealousy the ar- 
 dent national feeling of the Magyars, and feel that 
 a nationality founded upon knowledge, and repre- 
 senting a spirit of freedom and independence, is 
 itself a virtue, and the parent of many virtues. 
 
 * Schedel. 
 
lxxviH INTRODUCTION. 
 
 And witnessing the anxiety and the interest which 
 these imperfect labors of mine have awakened 
 among the Magyars, I could not but derive encou- 
 ragement to continue them. They who have pa- 
 tronized the daring, as well as they who have 
 experienced the difficulties, will find indulgence 
 for me. 
 
 It may be deemed that originality is wanting 
 in these compositions. But it should not be for- 
 gotten that something of originality is lost by the 
 transfusion of any thought into a different idiom ; 
 that an English verse of necessity becomes in 
 some degree English. There are other causes, 
 too, which act upon Magyar literature. 
 
 A people so closely connected with Austria as 
 are the inhabitants of Hungary, and whose learn- 
 ed men almost without exception speak and write 
 the German tongue, do undoubtedly, though 
 sometimes almost imperceptibly, adopt the cha- 
 racter of a literature with which they are so fami- 
 liar. This familiarity, if it sometimes trench on 
 their nationality, does at the same time keep a 
 high standard ever present to their minds, and 
 leads to comparisons and contrasts which are on 
 the whole favorable to the exercise of the intel- 
 lectual powers. A German critic* has denied to 
 
 * See Wiener Zahrbucher for 1829, No. xlv. 
 
MAGYAR POPULAR POETRY. lxxifc 
 
 the Magyars a poetical temperament. He says 
 the national tone is noble, generous, gallant, sus- 
 ceptible, good-natured, loving, easily won, sharp- 
 witted, and imaginative. Now, are not these 
 elements enough for the creation of poets and 
 poetry ? And how can a nation be deemed unpo- 
 etical which can offer to the world such a roll of 
 poets as Hungary presents ? 
 
 Of the popular poetry of the Magyars, little 
 can be referred to a high antiquity. A fragment 
 of an ancient poem is still sung by Hungarian 
 children, thus : 
 
 Lengyel Laszlo jo kiralyunk 
 Az is nekunk ellens6gunk.* 
 
 Nothing, however, but these two lines remain. 
 The martial songs of their warlike ancestors have 
 not been saved out of the oblivion of old time. 
 Of the historical songs none are earlier than those 
 of the wars of the last Hungarian revolution. Of 
 the oral stories \Mes4k or Regdkj of the Magyars, 
 I shall translate Mailath's interesting descrip- 
 tion : 
 
 " The Magyar story-tellers are one of the many 
 evidences of the oriental origin of the people. 
 Like the Night- fablers of Arabia, they go on by 
 
 * Laszlo the Pole— the good king — he 
 He also is our enemy. 
 
 
1XXX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the hour — aye, by the night long — without wea- 
 rying their hearers. These are for the most part 
 to be found among soldiers and peasants. The 
 stories which in other lands are preserved only 
 in work-rooms and nurseries to our days, are 
 narrated in Hungary in the porch, by watch and 
 shepherd fires, and amidst the night labors of the 
 field. The character of the Magyar tale is wholly 
 unlike that of southern lands. The hero is gene- 
 rally a student, a soldier, or a king's son; his 
 companion, a magic horse called Tatos, who is 
 his counsellor and saviour. His enemy is often 
 a dragon with six, nine, or twelve heads, and the 
 hero must undergo three ordeals ; and this num- 
 ber is the ruling one throughout the story. There 
 is a sharpness and oddity about the conception, 
 and an original development of the plot. The 
 scenery, and the deeds of the principal actors, 
 shew that the stories emanate from a people who 
 lived in elevated places. The narrator sometimes 
 unites two or three stories in one — sometimes 
 divides one into many — elaborates or changes it 
 according to his own caprice or the demands of 
 his audience. — It has happened that many tales 
 of foreign origin have been introduced, which 
 have been all nationalized by time. T remember 
 to have heard a celebrated story-telling woman in 
 
MAGYAR POPULAR POETRY. Ixxxi 
 
 the Abaujvar district, narrate one of Gozzi's best 
 tales ; and the well-known and foreign c Swan 
 Maiden' is current all over Hungary. The na- 
 tional may be immediately distinguished from the 
 exotic." * 
 
 Of the Lyrics of the nation, the collection I 
 have translated will serve to give a fair idea. To 
 advocate their merits as literary compositions is 
 no part of my task. I have given nearly the whole 
 that have reached me, in order to shew what are 
 the Songs of the Magyar people. Hungarian 
 towns and villages, and rivers and plains, and 
 hills and valleys, have been painted and described 
 by many. Here are some of the thoughts of those 
 who dwell there. The dresses of Hungary and 
 Transylvania decorate many books, and are the 
 subject of many pictures. Here are some of the 
 adornings of the inward man — here is something 
 of the costume of mind. 
 
 The Ecclesiastical History of a country is un- 
 doubtedly closely connected with its Literature ; 
 but I have been compelled to avoid entering on 
 so wide and interesting a field. Those who wish 
 to study this part of the subject may consult 
 
 Bartholomaedes Comentario de Bohemis Kis-Henthensibus.— • 
 Edit. 2. Poson, 1796, 4to. 
 
 * Magyarische Sagen tind Maohrchen. Brunn, 1825. 
 
 g 
 
lxxxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Historia Diplomatica de statu Religionis Evangel : in Hungaria. 
 
 1710, fol. 
 Lampe (Paul Ember) Historia Ecclesise Reformats in Hungaria 
 
 et Transylvania. Poolsum, 1728, 4to. 
 Memorabilia Augustanse Confessionis in Hungaria. Ed. Joan. 
 
 Roboni. Posou, 1792. (An admirable book.) 
 Novi ecclesiastici et scbolastiei Auuales Evangelicorum Aug. et 
 
 Hel. Conf. in Ditionibus Domus Aust. Herid. Ed. Sam. Am- 
 
 brosius Shemnicii, 1793, 4to. 
 Protestans Ekklesiak Historiaja Magyar es Erd£ly Orszagbann. 
 
 K£szitette s' kiadta. Toth Ferentz, 8 Komaron, 1808. 
 J. S. Klein's Nach rich ten von den Lebensumstaenden evangelis- 
 
 cher Predeger in Ungaria. 3 vols. Leipzig, 1789. 
 Kurze Geschichte der Evangelischen Lutherischen Kirche in Un- 
 
 garn von Anfang der Reformation bis auf Leopold II. Got- 
 
 tingen, 1794. 
 And the historians of Hungary, such as Von Engel, Fessler, 
 Katona (40 volumes) , Budai, Palma, and others. 
 
 Schedel (under the name of Toldy Ferencz) has 
 done acceptable service to the Magyar literature 
 by his well- selected Anthology, Handbuch der 
 Ungrischen Poesie,* which is in itself a little, 
 agreeable Magyar library of poetry. His coad- 
 jutor in this excellent labor is George Stettner, 
 who adopts the pseudonyme of Fenyery Julius. 
 It contains not only a series of well-selected spe- 
 cimens, but the most important facts in the bio- 
 graphy of the principal poets of Hungary. On 
 this I have ventured to draw largely. It has fur- 
 
 * In two volumes 8vo. Pest and Vienna, 1828. 
 
MAGYAR POPULAR POETRY. lxxxiii 
 
 nished me with the greater part of my materials. 
 And scarcely less am I indebted to Count Mai- 
 lath's Magyarische Gedichte* Without the assist- 
 ance of these valuable writers I could not have 
 effected a labor, of whose incompleteness and 
 imperfections no individual can be more sensible 
 than myself. But to do something, though feebly 
 and unsatisfactorily, where nothing has been done 
 before — to bring some mementos, though few and 
 small, from an undescribed country— to introduce 
 a little knowledge, in the place of much ignorance 
 — may haply be a not unworthy service. Criti- 
 cism will estimate the difficulties which surround 
 " the stranger in a strange land," and will deal 
 out an indulgent award. 
 
 * In one volume 12mo. Stuttgart and Tubingen, 1825. 
 
CSATI DEMETER, 
 
 DATE UNCERTAIN. 
 
 Ex ungue leonem. 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. 
 
 CONQUEST OF THE MAGYAR LAND. 
 
 Emlekezziink regiekrol, 
 A v Szitlyiabol kijottekrol 
 Magyaroknak eleikrol, 
 'Es azoknak vite'zsegekrol.* 
 
 Remember we our sires of old, 
 Their flight from the Scythian land ; 
 The patriarchs of the Magyars, 
 And the valor of their band ! 
 
 Forth from the Scythian land they came, 
 This better land to see ; 
 By Isten f led, they onwards sped 
 Adown to Erdely.X 
 
 * Respecting the date of this poem there are many different 
 opinions. Revai quotes it as one of the national ballads sung at 
 the public festivals of the Magyars, attributing it to the twelfth 
 century as its earliest date ; but it is generally supposed to be a 
 composition of the fourteenth century. The three last stanzas 
 were first published by Schedel in his collection. The rhymes are 
 very irregular, and some of the verses not very intelligible ; but 
 there is much historical interest in the production, which Gruber 
 has translated into German. 
 
 f Isten, God. X Transylvania. 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. 3 
 
 And glorious were their doings then : 
 Seven bands composed the host ; 
 Seven vaiiant chieftains led the men, 
 And each a Var * could boast. 
 
 In their communion all was union, 
 And valor in the fray ; 
 No thought of fear was ever there, 
 But safety kept the sway. 
 
 They conquered long — like Samson strong, 
 All foemen they subdued ; 
 With lion-hearts overwhelming all — 
 A fearful multitude. 
 
 Of all the band, the Magyars' pride 
 Was the renowned Arpad ; 
 He was the highest, noblest chief, 
 And greatest riches had. 
 
 And soon they found, while wandering round, 
 The Duna'sf waters clear ; 
 In beauteous road those waters flow'd — 
 No clearer waters were. 
 
 They hurried then a messenger, 
 The Duna's stream to track ; 
 And, did its name deserve its fame, 
 The borders to attack. 
 
 * Vav, a castle, a fortified elevation — a word which is found 
 hi many oriental tongues. 
 f The Danube. 
 
 B2 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. 
 
 The messenger pursued the stream, 
 The banks, the fields, the flood ; 
 He drank of Duna's water there, 
 And swore that it was good. 
 
 ;=> 
 
 A Lengyel* Lord was ruler then, 
 Of all the land the Lord; 
 Veszprem his court — but over all 
 Was spread a Ncmetf horde. 
 
 The messenger to Veszprem came, 
 The Polish Count to see ; 
 And bow'd his head in reverence, 
 And thus spoke cunningly : 
 
 " I came to see thy land and thee, 
 And, Herczeg,% this the cause 
 That I resort to Veszprem's court : — 
 To learn thy people's laws." 
 
 This pleased the Count, and nobly he 
 The Magyar entertain'd ; 
 And much he saw of Lord and law, 
 And much instruction gain'd. 
 
 An empty flask he dar'd to ask, 
 Where Duna's waters pass ; 
 The flask he filled, some earth he took, 
 And pluck'd a little grass. 
 
 * A Pole. f German. X Duke. 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. 
 
 And hastened back to Erdely, 
 And sought the chief, Arpad ; 
 And much joyed he, the things to see, 
 The faithful Magyar had. 
 
 He called together all the chiefs, 
 He shewed the water clear, 
 The bit of earth, the blades of grass, 
 And held a council there. 
 
 And then decreed, a snow-white steed 
 The Magyar should convey ; 
 With golden bit, and saddle rich, 
 And thus be charged to say : 
 
 " The men who out of Scythia came, 
 Have sent this steed to thee ; 
 And from thy grace, they ask a place 
 To settle quietly." 
 
 The Count saw nought of what was thought 
 By those the steed who sent ; 
 And for the love of snow-white steed, 
 His land was from him rent. 
 
 " Go, messenger," he said ; " declare"— 
 
 His folly went so far — 
 
 " I give whatever lands they ask, 
 
 To the brave Magyar." 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. 
 
 The messengers delighted heard ; 
 Their bosoms fill'd with glee, " 
 They said, " Farewell !" and went to tell 
 Their tale in Erdely. 
 
 They made a call on heroes all, 
 And straight a council held ; 
 And summoned every man to meet 
 The Herczeg in the field. 
 
 And thrice on Isten's name they called, 
 The Deus of their prayer ; 
 And then the Godhead's title gave 
 To Szamos' city there.* 
 
 And yet we recollect the day, 
 And in all bargains we 
 Still loudly " Deus ! Deus !" say, 
 In that time's memory. 
 
 And when the bands were ready all, 
 They order'd heralds three ; 
 The Polish Lord, with this bold word, 
 To visit speedily : 
 
 * Istent ok ott imadanak 
 Haromszor Deust kialtanak ; 
 Arrol neveztek ott a' varost, 
 Szamos* menteben, a' nemos Deusnek. 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. 
 
 " Remember, Herczeg ! what thou dost — 
 To leave the land prepare ; 
 Which thou hast sold to Magyars bold— 
 The Magyars hasten here." 
 
 The heralds sought the Polish Count, 
 And bent them low and meek ; 
 Yet free from fright, they spoke outright, 
 As Arpad bade them speak. 
 
 " For snow-white steed thou gav'st the land 
 For golden bit, the grass ; 
 For the rich saddle, Duna's stream — 
 Now bring the deed to pass." 
 
 The Herczeg laugh'd at first, nor cared 
 For what the heralds brought ; 
 But soon his rage o'ercame his mirth, 
 And thus he spoke his thought : 
 
 " 'Twere better to have slain the steed, 
 Than sport such dangerous wit ; 
 The saddle hide 'neath Duna's stream- — 
 Beneath the grass, the bit." 
 
 The heralds to the Herczeg said, 
 " Your Highness need not storm ; 
 The bargain made with Magyar men, 
 Your Highness must perform. 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. 
 
 " We °;ive not milk-white steed to hounds, 
 
 To fish, no saddles gay ; 
 
 To reapers give no golden bits — 
 
 We know not what they'd say." 
 
 And so the heralds hasten back ; 
 While, fiU'd with dread alarms, 
 Retreating wide to Duna's side, 
 The Count his army arms. 
 
 At Kelemfold, Arpad the bold 
 O'er Duna's waters goes ; 
 At Cseke's land his forces mann'd — 
 In Tetem were the foes. 
 
 The Magyar throng in Erd was strong, 
 And on Szaszhalom's plain : 
 In those proud wars, the Magyars, 
 By God upheld, their foemen quell'd, 
 And mighty was their gain. 
 
 His brave-ones dead, the Herczeg fled — 
 Alone he fled — alone : 
 The Magyar ranks reach'd Duna's banks — 
 The Polish Count was gone. 
 
 Alone he ran, poor flying man ! 
 What could he do but leap — 
 To save himself in Duna's stream, 
 And hide him in the deep r 
 
DEMETRIUS CSATI. b 
 
 Arpad look'd round with joy to see 
 His conquests fair and far ; 
 And more while from a mountain's top 
 He look'd on Fejervar.* 
 
 The kingdom thus was won by us, 
 And Magyar-orszag f hight ; 
 From Nemet men we won it then, 
 And still 'tis ours by right. 
 
 [Several stanzas are wanting here. It concludes thus :] 
 
 Of those who gain'd the Magyar land, 
 A chief as bold as any, 
 Was Buda, who when Arpad died, 
 Was Magyar's Kapitany.% 
 
 He rear'd his throne by Duna's banks, 
 Near Pesth along the hill ; 
 And Buda's city, fair and rich, 
 Preserves his memory still. 
 
 * Szekes Fejervar, literally chair of the white castle. Teut. 
 Stuhlweissenburg. 
 f Magyar-orszag, Hungary — i e. the land of the Magyars. 
 X Chieftain. 
 
( io 
 
 ANONYMOUS. 
 
 A. D. 1571. 
 
 J61 teszed baratom, ha mcghazasodol. 
 
 KlSFALUDY K. 
 
ANONYMOUS. 1 1 
 
 BALLAD OF THE EMPEROR'S DAUGHTER ; OR 
 THE HISTORY OF MICHAEL SZILAGYI AND 
 LADISLAUS HAJMASI. 
 
 I have an interesting tale to tell you, 
 
 Such as you never heard. List ! for 'twill charm you ; 
 
 'Tis of the Turkish Emperor's lovely daughter. 
 
 Two youthful heroes were of old made prisoners, 
 
 Sent to Constantinople to the Emperor, 
 
 And by the Turkish Emperor flung in prison. 
 
 The prison was adjacent to the palace ; 
 The heroes' names were, Szilagy Mihaly 
 The one — Hajmasi Laszlo was the other. 
 
 Szilagyi, looking through the prison trellice, 
 ('Twas Whitsun day,) play'd an harmonious ditty 
 On his guitar — 'twas sweet, yet melancholy : 
 
 And spake, 'midst deepest sighs — "With father, mother, 
 And with mine own dear sister, this day twelvemonth, 
 This very day, I was so very happy !" 
 
12 ANONYMOUS. 
 
 The Emperor's daughter, standing near the window, 
 Heard him— look'd in— and soon was moved to pity 
 Besides, Szilagyi's form had pleased the maiden. 
 
 And suddenly she sought the prison's portal, 
 And pour'd sweet comfort on Szilagyi's bosom, 
 And gently, sweetly, held this flattering language : 
 
 " Young hero ! if upon thy knightly honor 
 Thou swear to bring me to the Magyar country, 
 And swear too (should I prosper) to espouse me — 
 
 " I shall be satisfied — and I will free thee ; 
 
 Yes ! I will free thee from thy prison's darkness : 
 
 So swear me by thy faith and by thine honor !" 
 
 And soon Szilagyi answered — " Free me, maiden ! 
 And I will wed thee — by my faith and honor 
 I swear to wed thee, thou imperial daughter 1" 
 
 And so the maiden won the prison keeper ; — 
 Aroused at midnight both the sleeping heroes, 
 And led them forth to the imperial stables : 
 
 Gave each a sharpen'd sword in golden scabbard ; 
 They kill'd the stable-keepers and attendants, 
 And the three fleetest horses swiftly saddled. 
 
 The morning brought the tidings to the Emperor — 
 The prisoners were out-broken from the prison — 
 The boys, the keepers of the stables, murder'd. 
 
ANONYMOUS. 13 
 
 They stopp'd the heroes at the gate of customs, 
 
 Ask'd them where speeding. " Out to Nagy-Szombat,* 
 
 Among the wolves — with Isten's holy favor." f 
 
 Five of his choicest chiefs the Emperor summon'd, 
 And thus commanded them : " Pursue the flying — 
 Capture them — and produce them in my presence." 
 
 And the five chieftains hasten'd to the borders, 
 
 Bidding the guards arrest the flying heroes, 
 
 And bear them swiftly to the Emperor's presence. 
 
 They fell upon the heroes at the border — 
 Strove to arrest them — but they fought so bravely, 
 They forced their way, and passed in safety onward. 
 
 The chieftains heard it, and pursued the flying — 
 O'ertook them — and there was a bloody combat : 
 The chieftains fell— it was the will of Isten ! 
 
 The heroes sent the maid for her protection, 
 What time the battle lasted, to an island, 
 An island not remote. The battle ended, 
 
 The heroes sought again the hidden maiden, 
 And then Szilagyi heard a voice of wailing — 
 Szilagyi saw the maiden sorely troubled. 
 
 * Tyman (Germanice). 
 
 t The meaning (says Schedel) is, " We go to Tyman to join 
 the Turkish troops, who are terrible to the enemy (the Hunga- 
 rians) as wolves to sheep." 
 
14 ANONYMOUS. 
 
 Uttering despairing tones of lamentation, 
 " Merciful Isten ! I have left my dwelling : 
 What will befal me in this dreary desert ? 
 
 " miserable fortune ! But my fortune 
 
 Is far less grievous than those youthful heroes', 
 
 Who fell beneath the sword-strokes of the foeman. 
 
 " For them, I'll haste to death — for them, I'll make me 
 
 A burial-bed upon the gloomy desert : 
 
 God ! let the wolves and wild fowl be my mourners. 
 
 " Into God's hand I now my soul deliver." 
 
 Szilagyi hasten'd thither — and the maiden 
 
 Smiled joyous while he led her forth. They journey'd 
 
 Towards the Magyar land ; they reach'd the borders ; 
 
 And then Hajmasi said to his companion, 
 
 " Let's strive who shall possess the lovely maiden." 
 
 But swift Szilagyi turn'd upon Hajmasi : 
 
 " Nay, at thy peril ; thou art wed already 
 
 To a fair bride : I'm pledged unto the maiden." 
 
 Then cried the imperial daughter to the heroes, 
 " Nay ! not for me shall hero blood be wasted : 
 Fling me upon the sword — not your own bosoms." * 
 
 * " Hanyjatokinkabb engem szablyara, mintezt miveljetek." 
 This is an Hungarian idiom for " Kill me, not yourselves." 
 
ANONYMOUS. 15 
 
 Hajmasi still persisted, and their weapons, 
 Unsheathed, were swiftly drawn upon each other ; 
 And sorely, sorely was Hajmasi wounded. 
 
 Then spoke the wounded man to his companion, 
 " Forgive me, friend ! for I am well rewarded : 
 Well recompensed is he who breaks his duty. 
 
 " I had a gentle wife and two fair children— 
 
 The thought overwhelms me — I am justly punish'd : 
 
 Brother in arms! farewell — and O forgive me !" 
 
 So each bestow' d on each a friendly greeting ; 
 Szilagyi took the maiden to his dwelling, 
 And made a bride of that imperial maiden. 
 
 [This Ballad has been just published by Schedel. He has done 
 me the honor of dedicating the volume which contains it, to me, 
 in terms far too flattering for any deserts of mine. There is a 
 concluding stanza which says that the Ballad was taken from an 
 old History, and writteu in 1571. Schedel thinks it not impro- 
 bable that the Michael Szilagyi of the Poem was afterwards the 
 Governor of Hungary, and the uncle of the famous Matthias. 
 The character of the Ballad in form and manner remarkably 
 resembles the narrative poetry of the Slavonian nations ] 
 
( 16) 
 
 ZRINYI MIKLOS. 
 
 BORN 1616 — DIED 1665. 
 
 Sors bona — nihil alhid. Zrfnyi's Motto. 
 
MICHAEL Z-RINYI. 17 
 
 SONG OF THE TURKISH YOUTH. 
 
 Miert panaszkodjam, Szerencse, ellened, 
 Ha bovied mindennap en oromemet ? 
 
 O Fortune ! I fling no reproaches at thee, 
 For thou hast been gentle and gen'rous to me ; 
 And ne'er would I echo the slanders unkind, 
 Which call thee unjust, or vindictive, or blind. 
 
 Thou look'st on my love with no menacing air, 
 But wouldst help me to win while I worship the fair ; 
 And while joy piled on joy flings delight on my days, 
 Let thine be the glory, and thine be the praise* 
 
 The first vernal song, and the first vernal leaf, 
 And Nature's sweet childhood — so beauteous and brief; 
 And the nightingale's strain — and the rivulet's fall— 
 And the light breeze — are thine — music, beauty, and all. 
 
 And the summer, when cypresses shade me from heat, 
 And the zephyrs come freshen'd, to kiss my retreat ; 
 Where the tent is above, and the wine-cup goes round, 
 And the flowers smile below — thou, O Fortune ! art found. 
 
 From autumn's rich harvest thou hasten'st to pour 
 Pomegranates and citrons — a limitless store ; 
 Or leadst to the chace, when I follow the prey — 
 The bird in its flight, or wild beast on its way. 
 c 
 
18 MICHAEL ZRINYI. 
 
 When winter comes on, with its loud-rolling storms, 
 And the snow and the ice in their marvellous forms, 
 Am I wretched ? O no ! I hang over my fire, 
 And have more than I want — aye ! and all I desire. 
 
 I have honour and fame, full enough for my lot ; 
 And my gettings still add to the treasures I've got : 
 My horse is my glory — my sabre is true — 
 And O, my sweet maid ! thou art faithfulness too. 
 
 O Fortune ! thou wearest my fetters — art bound 
 In my bonds — and 1 look without terror around : 
 No evil will chance me — I feel that the chain 
 But binds thee more firmly to bless me again. 
 
 [This Song is from the Third Book of the Zrnyiad, verses 32 
 -39.J 
 
( 19 
 
 FALUDI FERENCZ. 
 
 BORN 1704— DIED 17/9. 
 
 Die Spraclie ist das Palladium eines Volks. 
 
 Spalding, 
 
 O 2 
 
20 FRANCIS FALUDI. 
 
 THE GAY-PLUMED BIRD. 
 Egy kis tarka madar vig kedveben. 
 
 Thou gay-plumed bird, whose never-bridled flight 
 O'er field, o'er forest, is one long delight ; 
 Were I a gay-plumed bird, how blest 'twould be 
 Thy songs to sing, to fly, to rest with thee, 
 Thou gay-plumed bird ! 
 
 Thou gay-plumed bird, thou canst no longer sing ! 
 Thou art imprisoned by the fowler's spring; 
 Were I a gay-plumed bird, 1 would not go 
 Sporting with such delusive treacheries. No ! 
 Thou gay-plumed bird ! 
 
 Thou gay-plumed bird, though liberty is gone, 
 Yet kindness waits thy every want upon ; 
 Were I a gay-plumed bird, I still should long 
 For the free heaven and the wild woodland song, 
 Thou gay-plumed bird ! 
 
 Thou gay-plumed bird, thy golden chain to me 
 Were but a decorated misery ! 
 Were I a gay-plumed bird, I would not fill 
 Thy gaudy prison, were it gaudier still, 
 Thou gay-plumed bird ! 
 
FRANCIS FALUDI. 21 
 
 Thou gay-plumed bird, they bring thee sugar'd meat, 
 Use flattering words, caressing while they cheat ; 
 Were I a gay-plumed bird, that sweetened waste 
 Were worse than very poison to my taste, 
 Thou gay-plumed bird ! 
 
 Thou luckless bird ! Alas ! and thou hast lost 
 That plumage, once thy brightness and thy boast ! 
 Were I a gay-plumed bird, I could not dwell 
 A prisoner in thy solitary cell, 
 Thou gay-plumed bird ! 
 
22 FRANCIS FALUDI. 
 
 DANGERS OF LOVE. 
 
 Nera leszek tobbe szerelmes. 
 
 To Love no more my vows I'll bring, 
 For Love is such a dangerous thing ; 
 There's poison hid in every dart, 
 And canker-worms in every heart, 
 
 Where Love doth dwell. 
 
 I know the little treacherous boy — 
 Have fought beneath his flag with joy, 
 Which brought deep grief: I've worn his chain, 
 And wasted many months of pain, 
 
 In his dark cell. 
 
 For she who loves bears doom of woe ; 
 Let her not trust the traitor's bow 
 Which I have trusted, just to be 
 Pierced through and through with misery, 
 
 With misery. 
 
 O forest trees ! so tall that are ; 
 O dovelet mine ! that flies so far ; 
 Would I could fell that giant grove ! 
 Would I could reach that flitting dove ! * 
 
 It may not be ! 
 
 * Ha azt az erdot le vaghatnam 
 Galambomat meg lathatiiam. 
 Vagnt, to hew, to fell — vaghathi, to be able to hew, Lathi, to 
 see—lathatni } to be able to see. 
 
FRANCIS FALUDI. 23 
 
 How idle on a rush to lean, 
 Though waving bright its stem of green ! 
 For when the noisy tempest wakes, 
 How soon it bends ! how trembling shakes ! 
 And bows its head. 
 
 I leaned upon a treacherous rush ; — 
 
 He turn'd away, without a blush, 
 
 To other maids : but I was young — 
 
 Truth in my spirit, on my tongue, 
 
 Without parade, 
 i 
 
 smitten by high Heaven be he 
 Who gives his love to two, to three ! 
 
 1 love but one — and if he fail me, 
 O how could other love avail me ! 
 
 Me — hapless maid ! 
 
24 FRANCIS FALUDI. 
 
 THE FALSE MAID. 
 
 Uri nemzet eredete 
 Deli, jeles, ep termetc. 
 
 She is born of noble stem, 
 Fairer than the fairest gem 
 Which upon her robe doth shine, 
 Graceful, beautiful, divine. 
 
 What avails it all to me ? 
 
 She is false as false can be ! 
 
 She has eyes like damsons black, 
 Shining like the comet's track ; 
 Mouth of witchery — lightning glance- 
 Heaven is in her countenance. 
 
 What avails it all to me ? 
 
 She is false as false can be ! 
 
 Neck of alabaster, lips 
 Crimson roses to eclipse, 
 Chin of marble's smoothest glow, 
 Shoulders piled of purest snow. 
 
 What avails it all to me ? 
 
 She is false as false can be ! 
 
FRANCIS FALUDI. 25 
 
 Fair when distant, fair when near, 
 Fair her smile, and fair her tear ; 
 Fair when bending, fair erect — 
 Unadorn'd, or gem-bedeck'd. 
 
 What avails it all to me ? 
 
 She is false as false can be ! 
 
 She has wit, and song, and sense- 
 Mirth and sport and eloquence ; 
 She has smiles of ecstacy — 
 Grace and beauty's treasury. 
 
 What avails it all to me ? 
 
 She is false as false can be ! 
 
 I have been on Pindus hill, 
 I have heard her music fill- 
 Fill with glory heaven and earth — 
 Ne'er such glorious songs had birth. 
 
 What avails it all to me ? 
 
 She is false as false can be ! 
 
26 FRANCIS FALUDI. 
 
 THE ANSWER. 
 
 Hires forend nemzet£ben, 
 Nincsen hiba termeteben. 
 
 He is of illustrious name, 
 
 Free from spot, and free from blame ; 
 
 Bred as noble minds are bred, 
 
 Leading, too, as he was led : 
 Yet I love him not — and I 
 Know full well the reason why ! 
 
 Lustrous are his eyes as light, 
 And as milk his skin is white ; 
 Never did vermillion streak 
 Beauty fairer than his cheek : 
 Yet I love him not — and I 
 Know full well the reason why ! 
 
 Wisdom all his forehead arches, 
 He is tall as mountain larches ; 
 Waving locks of chesnut hair, 
 Lips as twilight dawning fair : 
 Yet I love him not — and I 
 Know full well the reason why \ 
 
FRANCIS FALUDI. 27 
 
 When be sits upon his steed, 
 
 Mars must yield for strength and speed ; 
 
 Here and there, and to and fro, 
 
 Like a Centaur, see, they go : 
 Yet I love him not — and I 
 Know full well the reason why ! 
 
 Witty, wise and honor'd, too ; 
 
 Tasteful, learned, thro' and thro' ; 
 
 Calm, courageous, just, urbane ; 
 
 Courteous, aye ! without a stain : 
 Yet I love him not — and I 
 Know full well the reason why ! 
 
 When he smiles, delight is nigh ; 
 Joy salutes him, passing by ; 
 Pleasure in his steps is treading, 
 And his friendship, 'tis an Eden : 
 
 Yet I love him not — for I 
 
 Heard him call me false — that's why ! 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 RADAY GEDEON. 
 
 BORN 1713— DIED 1/92. 
 
 Hints rdzsat e' sirra, Magyar ! 's erezzed az ege, 
 Szellemet arczaidon : Raday uyugoszik ott. 
 
 Kolcsev. 
 
GIDEON RADAY. 29 
 
 " WATER, WIND, REPUTATION." 
 
 Meg gyermekl6temben hallam e' szep meset. 
 
 I was a boy and heard this pretty story : 
 That Wind and Water play'd with Reputation 
 At hide-and-seek together. 
 
 The Water rushed adown the mountain passes, 
 But was discovered after long pursuing 
 In the deep valleys. 
 
 The Wind flew upwards : 
 
 But it was followed to the mountain summits, 
 
 And soon entrapp'd there. 
 
 Then Reputation was to be imprisoned, 
 
 And Reputation whispered 
 
 In a sonorous voice to her companions : 
 
 " Know, if you lose me — know, if once I hide me, 
 
 I'm lost for ever." 
 
 And so it was — she hid her ; all inquiry 
 Was wasted in the seeking ; 
 Nothing can renovate that perishM treasure, 
 If thou have lost it - thou hast lost all with it. 
 
30 GIDEON RADAY. 
 
 THE THREE IDLERS OF KING MATTHEW 
 CORVINUS. 
 
 AN OLD TRADITION. 
 
 Helves mondas, a* rest csak foldnek terhe. 
 
 There is an ancient saying — Idleness 
 
 Is the world's curse : and I have heard a story 
 
 Out of old time, instructive. 
 
 King Matthew once, half-tipsy, put three fellows — 
 Three idle fellows — in a house to fatten ; 
 And fate, or forethought, set the house on fire. 
 " Ah ! see, the house is burning !" cried the first ; 
 " If the King want us," said the second knave, 
 " Why he will send and save us." In a rage, 
 " Your tongue is very glib," exclaimed the third ; 
 And the house went on burning, and they perish'd. 
 
 O there are many idle dogs like these — 
 Many who open wide their lazy mouths, 
 And think that roasted ortolans will enter. 
 
(31 
 
 ORCZY LORINCZ. 
 
 BORN 1718— DIED 1789. 
 
 Sok utas liyugodjon faladnak tov£ben. 
 
32 LORENZO ORCZY 
 
 THE BUGACZIAN* CSARDA.f 
 Csikos *s gulyas nep clubbja rossz vityillo. 
 
 Now, Csikos,X Gulyas 9 % now— come hither — hither, 
 
 And make your way through fly-swarms numberless, 
 
 And armies of loud croaking frogs, and legions 
 
 Of insects which torment the herdsjj — come hither, 
 
 Forth from the robbers' nest, and tell me who 
 
 Placed thee in that wild waste. Not what thou seemest 
 
 Art thou. The badges of mine host^[ thou bearest 
 
 Deceitful, for thou hast no welcome. Four 
 
 Blank walls, a stable into ruin falling, 
 
 A roof that's like a wash-trough — fitful sport 
 
 For the wild winds— and all thy wealth is told. 
 
 Nay ! there's a ditch hard by, in which is hidden 
 
 Thy dirty, red-cheeked helpmate — and two blocks, 
 
 * Bugacz, a Hungarian village. 
 
 f A sort of inn or public house found in Hungary on the 
 wide plains where the wild cattle are sent to roam. These 
 Csardas are visited by the keepers of the herds of horses and 
 horned beasts, which are pastured on these almost boundless 
 steppes. 
 .% A keeper of wild horses. 
 
 § A keeper of wild oxen. 
 
 || Immense quantities of insects congregate about the cattle on 
 the Hungarian plaius. 
 
 ^f The keepers of the Csardas dress like landlords. 
 
LORENZO ORCZY. 33 
 
 Rammed into earth and rotting, where a horseman 
 
 May tie his steed up. Then the broken kettle, 
 
 And the crack'd pot, still reeking with the odors, 
 
 Not fragrant, of the last long by-gone guests. 
 
 Its bearer looks suspicious, and the travellers 
 
 Rather lie down without, night-frozen, waiting 
 
 The morning, or fly hurrying by, impatient 
 
 To reach their journey's end, than tarry here. 
 
 But when the heaven is veiPd in threat'ning darkness, 
 
 And the fierce battle of the clouds begins, 
 
 And lightning, thundering, burst the furious storms, 
 
 And the winds rage, and down the torrents rush, 
 
 And all the plain becomes a sudden sea — 
 
 O, then we are less delicate — O, then 
 
 We seek not Farkas,* nor Arany-Sas,f 
 
 Vad-cmber^ Het E lector ,§ — satisfied 
 
 With something less than best. No quarrel then 
 
 With John the waiter, who has left the key 
 
 Behind him. No ! a little room suffices, 
 
 And we judge not the architect. The love 
 
 Of gorgeous buildings is a vanity, 
 
 And it devours the land— till, ere too late, 
 
 They and the country totter. He who seeks 
 
 For peace and quiet, will condense his soul, 
 
 Narrow his circle, nor extend desire. 
 
 These marble church-high walls — these glass-clad pillars, || 
 
 * Farkas, the Wolf, f Arany-Sas, the Golden Eagle. J Vad- 
 ember, the W. Id-man. § Het Elector, the Electoral Prince. These 
 are names of celebrated inns at Vienna and Pesth. 
 || Tiumeauk. 
 D 
 
34 LORENZO ORCZY. 
 
 Superb recesses,* sparkling chandeliers, 
 Vases of China, and Carrara urns, 
 And the carved woods of distant worlds — do ye 
 Give peace ? Are ye the evidence of bliss ? 
 Doth happiness dwell with ye ? 
 
 Men of old 
 Had better witnesses of joy. The oak, 
 The ash, and the wild pear-tree, furnished all 
 Their dwellings, and the lofty pine their floors, 
 Or oft the solid earth. One chamber made 
 A home — when guests, however numerous, came, 
 A blanket flung around them well suffic'd. 
 No rich superfluous beds — the roof was thatch — 
 And the walls hung with friendly arms around ; 
 Not silk or paper tap'stry — wooden stools 
 Or benches round the smiling board, and plates 
 Of earthenware or tin — but bliss was there, 
 And mirth, and song, and friendship. We possess 
 The show, but the reality is gone. 
 How many are the cabinets where now 
 An honest Chizma-f may not tread — shut out 
 By slippers, socks, and other fantasies, 
 With which a man must garnish, or remain 
 In th' outer chamber. 
 
 Csarda ! Unto me 
 Thy desolate retreats are dearer far 
 
 * Parquetek. 
 
 f These are the boots worn by the Hungarians, forming 
 part of the national dress. 
 
LORENZO ORCZY. 35 
 
 Than all these follies. Come I— night or day — 
 
 Splash'd, streaming, soak'd, and even with forty guests, 
 
 I am as welcome as a monarch coming 
 
 To peace unbroken : then thy oven gives 
 
 Bread finer than Keskemeths,* and thy vaults 
 
 Flow with the richest of Korosianf wines. 
 
 O let the pilgrim rest in thy sweet shades ! 
 
 * A town in the Pesth district, renowned for the peculiar 
 excellence of its bread. 
 
 t Koros, the name of many villages in Hungary and Transyl- 
 vania. It is a favorite name in poetry. I am not aware which 
 Koros is particularly distinguished for its wines. Altenbnrg in 
 Transylvania is Korosbanya in the Magyar. 
 
 [The above is from a modernized version of Kazinczy.] 
 
 1>2 
 
( 36). 
 
 BAROTI SZABO DAVID. 
 
 BORN 1739— DIED 1819. 
 
 Hol majd az osz Szabo ? 
 
 Dayka. 
 
DAVID SZABO BAROTI. 37 
 
 THE WREN AND THE OWL. 
 
 Say, why all birds hate the Wren and the Owl ? I will 
 tell you the reason : 
 
 Once, heaven's feather'd inhabitants, aping the manners, 
 of mortals, 
 
 Swore they would make them a monarch. So they all 
 gather' d together : 
 
 Great was the noise, and unbounded the strife, and loud 
 the confusion. 
 
 Lastly, they all agreed, and every one promised obedience : 
 
 He who the highest can soar 'midst the lofty clouds of 
 heaven, 
 
 He shall be king. 'Twas said — and each, on pinions am- 
 bitious, 
 
 Urged his upward flight — but the mightier influence of 
 Phoebus 
 
 Depressed them down to earth. Some fluttered in midway 
 regions-=— 
 
 Some were exhausted and fell — some rose aloft like an 
 arrow, 
 
 And like an arrow they sunk. Passion and power brought 
 weakness — 
 
 Weakness and dire defeat — and all earth's face was co- 
 vered, 
 
38 DAVID SZABO BAROTI. 
 
 And all the lower skies, with the wrecks of pride and pre- 
 sumption. 
 
 Lost in the crowd, the small Wren looked on in destitute 
 sadness : 
 
 Poor little flutterer ! how should he hope to soar over his 
 brethren ? 
 
 Who would have thought that his cunning would serve him 
 in trial far better — 
 
 Better than strength ? You shall hear how ingenious his 
 dextrous devices : 
 
 The Eagle was rising aloft — he sprung on his wing, till he 
 mounted 
 
 High in the clouds — through the clouds ; while the little 
 Wren, silently crouching, 
 
 Rose with the Eagle, and saw the combatants vanquished 
 beneath them — 
 
 Heard their loud voices which cried — All hail to our So- 
 vereign and Ruler ! 
 
 Pride is too confident oft, and slippery the footsteps of mo- 
 narchs. 
 
 Perch' d on his pinions, the Wren soon stole all his honors 
 
 imperial ; 
 When he could speed no higher, the little Wren sprung 
 
 from the Eagle — 
 Sprung, and singing, still soared, and claimed the homage 
 
 of subjects. 
 Vain was his pride, reproved was his falsehood, and sad- 
 ness came with it ; 
 All the assembled tribes spurned the usurper with scoffings, 
 
DAVID SZABO BAROTI. 39 
 
 Bid the Owl go forth and arrest and watch over the traitor. 
 
 Great was his eye, and bright — so fitting was he for a 
 keeper. 
 
 Wisdom's not always wise, nor prudence over prudential. 
 
 Yet shall the Wren be king — imprisonment gives him the 
 sceptre. 
 
 Sleep o'ertook the Owl — the little Wren fluttered his pi- 
 nions, 
 
 Flew on the breezy wind, and escaped from the scene of 
 danger. 
 
 Justice summons her court — dispatches her minions to 
 bring him : 
 
 Lo ! the Owl asleep — and the Wren — go, ask of the sun- 
 beams. 
 
 Rage and reproaches cover the careless Owl — thenceforward 
 
 Crowds of birds pursue the sleeping, slovenly guardian : 
 
 Never again by day may he venture his hated intrusions — 
 
 Never, till twilight darkens, and night comes clouded in 
 blackness. 
 
 Even his voice, when heard, awakens the hate of the song- 
 sters. 
 
 He, like the crafty hound, has track'd the footsteps of 
 silence 
 
 Where the poor hare, thro' woods, o'er groves and lonely 
 places, 
 
 Flies to be hidden, in vain — the fugitive soon is discovered. 
 
 So the Owl's wild scream brings every bird about him — 
 
 One long torment is his, and a permanent persecution. 
 
40 
 
 VIRAG BENEDEK. 
 
 BORN 1/52 
 Bring Flowers S 
 
BENEDICT VI11AG. 41 
 
 TO THE MUSES. 
 
 Hova regadtok ? melly ligetek, 's setet. 
 
 Where do ye bear me ? Into what solitude 
 'Midst groves and valleys ? Daughters of Helicon ! 
 Have ye awakened new fires in my bosom ? 
 Have ye transported my spirit ? 
 
 Here in this quiet temple of loneliness 
 Will I pour out the songs of divinity 
 To the Hungarian Minerva, and worship 
 At the immortal one's altar. 
 
 Yes ! I will read all the deeds of futurity. 
 Dark-mantled groves, sweet fountains of gentleness, 
 Have ye not thoughts to overwhelm me with transport, 
 And to upbear me to heaven ? 
 
 As ye have borne the bright virgins of victory, 
 Whom with a passionate longing for blessedness 
 Fain I would follow ; and breathing of glory, 
 Heavenly sisters ! I hail ye. 
 
42 BENEDICT VIRAG. 
 
 STILLNESS. 
 
 Vad Traczianak durva lakossai. 
 
 To the uncivilized Thracian the wine-cup 
 Seems to drop poison ; he furiously seizes 
 The sabre, and wields it in passion, 
 And scatters around him the death-wounds. 
 
 Ye who were nursed at the breast of affection, 
 Nursed with the sweet milk of gentleness, — wherefore 
 This struggle — this raging of fury ? 
 Be still — cease the storm of the battle ! 
 
 Harper ! awake thy soft music — the music 
 Which charms thine own maiden — sing joyous : the moon- 
 light 
 That smiles on our cup so benignly, 
 Will soon be overshadowed in darkness. 
 
 High in the heaven doth the traveller linger, 
 Rolling her chariot in brightness and glory : 
 Doth she not feel that the mantle 
 Of twilight envelopes the morning ? 
 
BENEDICT VIRAG. 43 
 
 SONG. 
 
 Oh melly orommel nydjtanek. 
 
 passing sweet it were to me 
 A flowery wreath to offer thee ; 
 
 But ah ! the north wind's stormy blast 
 Has made my garden all a waste, 
 And every flower that rear'd its head 
 Is swept away — has perished. 
 
 The storm has swept the flowers away, 
 The thorns and nettles lingering stay ; 
 But saddest fate of all — too well 
 
 1 loved the rose, and lo ! it fell. 
 
 One thought of peace is left— that spring 
 Some other flowers of hope will bring, 
 And fate the perish'd good repair, 
 By dreams as fleeting, but as fair. 
 
44 BENEDICT VIRAG. 
 
 AURORA. 
 
 Melly szep neved van, mennyei harmatok*. 
 
 Sweet is thy name, Aurora — thou heavenly 
 Day-giver — sweeter thy deeds than thy name. 
 Smiling, thou lookest from thy chariot of gold, 
 And the darkness of night rolleth gently away. 
 
 Light beams and glows in thy glance — thou awakest 
 Life and arousest bright joy — at thy gifts 
 Innocent birdlets sing praises and bless thee, 
 Chanting their matin of exquisite tones. 
 
 Then do they fear the fierce vulture no longer — 
 Fear not the talons of evil — nor dread 
 Screech of the owl, in the sunny ray blinking — 
 Silent his voice and inactive his eye. 
 
 Beautiful change hath enamour'd creation : 
 'Tis the Creator — for He and His laws 
 Reign ever-during : all things are shifting- 
 All, but the godlike machine of the world. 
 
(45) 
 
 ANYOS ISTVAN PAL. 
 
 BORN 1756 — DIED 1784. 
 
 Bard of the solitary cloister, he 
 
46 PAUL STEPHEN ANYOS. 
 
 ELEGIAC STANZAS. 
 
 Im koporsod' ajtajanal all hiv szeretod ! 
 
 Thy faithful lover stands beside thy melancholy tomb ! 
 
 The tomb which shrouds thee from mine eyes in its unhal- 
 lowed gloom. 
 
 Awake ! arise ! — my open arms would tear thee from thy 
 
 pall- 
 Mingle thy heart with mine ! hear my anguish-moving 
 call! 
 
 The fates — the frightful fates — which closed the grave upon 
 thee there, 
 
 Dissolved my heart, my hope, in mists which melted in 
 the air. 
 
 Death ! why wert thou so cruel ? Why, with faithfulness 
 like ours, 
 
 Why didst thou blast mirth's opening bud, that soon would 
 bloom in flowers ? 
 
 Why trample on those morning gems which in such meek- 
 ness grew, 
 
 And just in morning's twilight smiled, and drank love's 
 early dew ? 
 
 Was it a triumph fit for thee a lowly stem to crush — 
 
 To break a feeble twig— to mow a bruised and broken 
 rush ? 
 
 I speak — she hears not — no reply — no echo can intrude, 
 
 No sound may vibrate from the grave, or break its solitude. 
 
PAUL STEPHEN ANYOS. 47 
 
 Once, even a whisper touch'd her soul — was music in her 
 
 ears; 
 Now is she senseless to my cries, and heedless of my tears : 
 A tear — which once could melt her heart and agitate her 
 
 thought, 
 Whate'er I felt she felt — to each a common doom was 
 
 brought ; 
 But death has cut the holy band — and now her heavenly 
 
 eye 
 Shall ne'er be wet with selfish tears, nor tears of sympathy. 
 Sleep, sleep, sweet spirit ! sleep in peace — I will not mourn 
 
 —I feel, 
 Though thou art silent, yet I dwell within thy bosom still. 
 But I, while still I toil along through life's devoted road, 
 Must bear in hopelessness and grief my overwhelming load. 
 
48 PAUT. STEPHEN ANYOS. 
 
 TO THE MOON. 
 
 Szomoru csillagzat ! raelly bus sugatokkal. 
 
 Thou gloomy star ! whose melancholy glances 
 Play with the gentle streamlet softly murmuring, 
 Thou hast awaked thee with the wretched mourners, 
 And their hearts vibrate yet with heavy sorrow. 
 Thou hear'st their sighings in the evening darkness, 
 While all the earth, in silence shrouded, slumbers. 
 There is no slumber in the house of mourning ; 
 Slumber takes flight to the abodes of gladness. 
 In the dull churchyard, lo ! a cross is standing, 
 And the light breezes shake the dark-leaved cypress, 
 As it o'ershadows many a mouldering mortal — 
 Mortals who bore, as I now bear, life's burden. 
 From the deep tomb I see a spirit rising- — 
 Rising from death's Upyielding dormitory : 
 Is it not one of that distressful number 
 Borne down like me by heavy, heartfelt trouble ? 
 Came it not tow'rds me ? Why should I avoid it ? 
 Comfort is more in that night- walking spirit 
 Than in the vain illusions of the living, 
 Who have betray'd me with their treacherous favors ! 
 Spirit ! come. Ah ! 'tis fled ! — how soon departed ! 
 Soon as it glanced my falling tears, it vanish'd. 
 
PAUL STEPHEN ANYOS. 49 
 
 Is there, of earth or heaven, no one to hear me — 
 
 No one to sooth this bitterness of anguish ? 
 
 Strike, thou blest hour ! whose summoning voice shall call 
 
 me 
 Out of my sorrows into my seclusion : 
 Free my torn heart from this tormented bosom, 
 And let the earth receive its earth and ashes : 
 Then, when I speak, some friendly hand may garland 
 O'er the tall cross some melancholy flowrets — 
 Friendship's mementoes— truth's sweets breathing pledges- 
 Dropping a tear upon my clayey ruins. 
 
50 PAUL STEPHEN ANYOS. 
 
 THE SHEPHERD AND THE TREE. 
 
 Holy, peace-giving stillness ! my spirit's retreat ! and the 
 
 witness 
 Grief chooses to hear her appeals and her longing desires ; 
 I carve on the tree-bark the name of the only beloved 
 Phillis — it grows — 'tis an emblem and pledge of my love. 
 
( 51 ) 
 
 KAZINCZI FERENCZ. 
 
 BORN 1759. 
 
 Omnia cantat, omnia ornat. 
 Poeta vagy 's historicus. 
 
 KAZINCZf, 
 
 k2 
 
52 FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 
 
 THE FROGS. 
 
 Brekeke, 
 Brekeke, brekeke ! 
 Koax, too-oo ! 
 Brekeke, koax — brekeke, too-oo ! 
 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke, 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke, brekeke ; 
 Koax, koax — too-oo, too-oo ; 
 Brekeke, too-oo ! 
 Brekeke, brekeke ! 
 'Tis the dawn of delight to the sons of the pond ; 
 From its green bed they look to the bright moon beyond. 
 Brekeke, brekeke, 
 Koax, too-oo ; 
 Koax, koax — too-oo, too-oo ! 
 The thunderer made us the favorites of Heaven ; 
 'Neath the green-vaulted wave how we thrive and have 
 
 thriven ! 
 All honor and praise to his wisdom be given. 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke ; 
 Koax, koax — too-oo, too-oo ! 
 
 In ages departed, 
 Our home was the sky ; 
 But hot Phoebus darted 
 His rays from on high ; 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 53 
 
 And then we descended, 
 
 And so we are here, 
 
 No helper attended, 
 
 No helping was near ; 
 
 The heads of our nation 
 
 Look'd up from the wave, 
 
 And called for salvation 
 
 On him who could save. 
 
 He turned away frowning, 
 
 And Nemesis cried, 
 
 " Jove ! doom them to drowning!" 
 
 He laugh'd at our pride, 
 
 Nor thought of the danger 
 
 Of waking our power. 
 
 At last his hot anger 
 
 Passed quietly o'er ; 
 
 An epoch of blessings 
 
 Soon dawn'd on our race ; 
 
 And Juno's caressings, 
 
 More sweet than before, 
 O'ershadow'd with glory this beautiful place. 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke ; 
 Koax, koax — too-oo, too-oo ! 
 
 Our temple is bright as 
 The temple above ; 
 Its arches as light as 
 Heaven's arches of love. 
 
54 FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 
 
 Our water's of crystal, 
 
 Where shelter'd we dwell ; 
 
 And the arrows have miss'd all 
 
 From Phoebus that fell. 
 
 Poseidon, the brother 
 
 Of Jove, is our sire, 
 
 Our guardian — no other 
 
 We own nor desire ; 
 
 Each Nereid and Triton 
 
 Belongs to our band. 
 
 When Sirius shines bright on 
 
 The ocean and land, 
 
 The Gods spread their curtain 
 
 Their favorites to shield ; 
 
 All danger averting 
 
 On fountain and field. 
 So thanks, cordial thanks, to the thunderer of heaven, 
 Who pour'd out the waves where we thrive and have 
 
 thriven ; 
 All honor and praise to his wisdom be given. 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke ; 
 Koax, koax — too-oo, too-oo ! 
 
 Be still, all ye dwellers 
 The waters among : 
 Hark ! hark ! the excellers 
 In music and sotog — 
 We, taught by Apollo, 
 
FRANCIS KAZINtZI. 55 
 
 Be silent, and hear, 
 Thou Anadiomene ; 
 Peace, and give ear, 
 Whales— sturgeons shall follow. 
 The frogs care not how many 
 Listeners appear, 
 If silence respectful be here ; 
 For we in the waters, 
 Of all their vast throng, 
 Are melody's daughters, 
 And heirs of sweet song. 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke, 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke, brekeke ; 
 Koax, koax — too-oo, too-oo ; 
 Koax, too-oo ! 
 
 When tuning our vesper, 
 
 As twilight appears, 
 
 The sweet-smiling Hesper 
 
 Oft lingers and hears ; 
 
 And Cynthia, she tarries 
 
 To list and admire, 
 
 While every fair star is 
 
 All jealous desire ; 
 And often we hear them exclaiming, How blest, 
 In these tranquil green waters to revel and rest ! 
 
 The reverend Tellus, 
 
 She wonders — what power 
 
 To such songs can impel us ; 
 
 On us doth she shower 
 
56 FRANCiS KAZIiXCZf. 
 
 Her brightness and glory, 
 
 The valleys around ; 
 
 The mountains, though hoary, 
 
 Grow young at the sound. 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke, brekeke ; 
 Too-oo — koax, koax — too-oo, too-oo ! 
 
 There is in the forest 
 
 A colorless bird, 
 
 Whose song is the poorest 
 
 And saddest e'er heard — 
 
 Deep, deep in the bushes 
 
 The creature is hidden, 
 
 Whence oft his noise gushes— 
 
 O, why not forbidden ! 
 
 His voice thrilling o'er us 
 
 Confuses our chorus. 
 
 The Gods, interfering, 
 
 Have punish'd the fool, 
 
 And given him a hearing 
 
 Of melody's school ; 
 
 He flies with his riot, 
 
 He hurries away, 
 
 Leaves heaven to its quiet, 
 
 And earth to be gay. 
 Yes! gay with our music till winter, and then 
 We bury our voice in sad silence again, 
 Till the spring breaks anew on the freshness of youth, 
 And we walk in the spirit of music and truth, 
 To pour forth our anthems o'er forest and plain. 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 57 
 
 Brekeke, brekeke, brekeke! 
 The thundcrer made us the favorites of heaven, 
 In the green shallow waters we thrive and have thriven, 
 All honor and praise to his wisdom be given. 
 Brekeke, brekeke, 
 Koax, koax ! — Too-oo, too-oo ! 
 
58 FRANCIS KAZ1NCZI. 
 
 HER IMAGE. 
 
 Midun az hajnal elveri almouat. 
 
 'Tis morning and I wake — the earliest vision 
 
 That beams upon me is thy face divine ; 
 
 And then my spirit floats in light elysian, 
 
 And bliss springs youthful from those smiles of thine. 
 
 " 'Tis she — 'tis she !" I cry, — swift flow my veins, 
 
 I kiss the air, as if her breath had bless'd it — 
 
 I bow to earth, as if her feet had press'd it — 
 
 Yes! she was here, and still her influence reigns. 
 
 Fair Representative ! the sweet infection 
 
 Of power is with thee — gentle, but supreme; 
 
 Blending such dreams of hope and recollection — 
 
 And gilding with new glory every dream : 
 
 Look ! — for the sun is up, and on thy face 
 
 Throws all its lustre, light, and heavenly grace. 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 59 
 
 FABLE :— THE BADGER AND THE SQUIRREL. 
 
 A' tunya borz szennyes godr£tyen nezte szokeseit. 
 
 A dirty badger, from his noisome dwelling, 
 Observ'd from branch to branch a squirrel springing : 
 'Twas near the badger's den where dwelt the squirrel, 
 On an old tree, to Pan once consecrated. 
 " Ho ! Cousin, Ho !" so cried the dirty badger, 
 " Hast thou forgotten, say, that thou by nature 
 Art classed among the quadrupeds ? 'Tis folly 
 And an unseemly vanity that make thee 
 Ashamed of earth — and seeking habitation 
 Among the fowls of heaven. Descend, companion ; 
 Come dwell among thy kindred, and abandon 
 Thy towering friskings. Cousin bear leaps often, 
 I too, sometimes — but then it is with discretion." 
 The little creature listened to the counsel, 
 And answered meekly — " I am but a squirrel, 
 And thou — a badger." 
 
60 FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 
 
 THE BELOVED. 
 
 Where the gay streamlet 
 
 Springs from the mountain, 
 
 Laughing and dancing 
 
 Came a sweet maiden 
 
 Bearing a violet, 
 
 Azure and odorous ; 
 
 Smiling she dropt it 
 
 Into my bosom; 
 
 And on my forehead, 
 
 Planted warm kisses 
 
 Many and glowing — 
 
 " Breathe thro' thy harp-strings," 
 
 Thus said the maiden ; 
 
 " Breathe out the spirit 
 
 I have awakened" — 
 
 Swiftly she vanished. 
 
 Then came a dovelet, 
 Flutt'ring, complaining, 
 And a green cradle 
 Made of young branches, 
 Touching my lips 
 With sweet dewy honey. 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 61 
 
 As I grew older, 
 Beautiful visions 
 Glanc'd thro' the foliage 
 Of the old oak trees ; 
 Near the clear streamlet 
 Rising irriguous, 
 Visions of beauty 
 Which my song chaunted. 
 Then did my country 
 And her bright children 
 Waken its music — 
 Then did love's passion 
 Thrill thro' the harp-strings, 
 And the bright eye-balls 
 Of that divine one, 
 Who in the darkness . 
 Of the green garden, 
 Beam'd — and fled smiling. 
 Wicked one ! darling; 
 Into my bosom — 
 And then departing. 
 
62 FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 
 
 THE EPIGRAM. 
 Szokj,' Epigramma, di nem mint njil melly czeira fut £s 51. 
 
 Fly, Epigram, fly, but not like a barb that wounds as it 
 
 hurries ; 
 Fly like a kiss, which the loving one tremblingly steals ; 
 Lo ! 'tis just heard and retain'd — from the fire of the 
 
 odorous maiden 
 Flames have been waked on my lips, and a heat has pos- 
 
 sess'd all my heart. 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 63 
 
 SONNET. 
 
 My little bark of life is gently speeding 
 
 Adown the stream 'midst rocks, and sands, and eddies, 
 
 And gathering storms, and dark'ning clouds — unheeding, 
 
 Its quiet course thro" waves and winds it steadies. 
 
 My love is with me — and my babes — whose kisses 
 
 Sweep sorrow's trace from off my brow as fast 
 
 As gathering there — and hung upon the mast 
 
 Are harp and myrtle flowers, that shed their blisses 
 
 On the sweet air. Is darkness on my path ? 
 
 Then beams bright radiance from a star that hath 
 
 Its temple in the heaven. As firm as youth 
 
 I urge my onward way — there is no fear 
 
 For honest spirits. — Even the fates revere 
 
 And recompense — love, minstrelsy, and truth. 
 
64 FRANCIS KAZ1NCZI. 
 
 SONNET. 
 
 O ! I have passed a day of ecstacy ! 
 
 Leading two lovely sisters forth among 
 
 The flowers, the meadows, and the forest song, 
 
 To the still stream where murmuring poplars be — 
 
 There did we sit beneath th' o'ershadowing tree, 
 
 Watching the waters as they roll'd along. 
 
 She sang — O joy ! what smiles — what blushes throng 
 
 Upon those cheeks — and what delight for me ! 
 
 What witchery in those silver-sounding notes ! 
 
 How all enchanting that soft music floats ! 
 
 The air is thrilling with its sounds divine : 
 
 But sweeter, sweeter far — when on my ear 
 
 Enraptured — one blest breathing fell — i: My dear — 
 
 My dear— delighted listener ! I am thine." 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 65 
 
 VERSIFICATION. 
 
 Add te Pysched* nekem> 'Eros, oh add ! 's vedd lantomat erte. 
 
 " Give me thy Psyche, young Eros! Ogive, and my lute 
 will I give thee — 
 
 Doubled thy influence, Mighty One ! doubled thy tran- 
 sports shall be." 
 
 I, for thy lute, give my Psyche, Apollo ? My lute is mine 
 arrow : 
 
 Said — and straight heaven- ward the magical arrow up 
 flew ; . . . 
 
 Full on hexameters rush'd the arrow's loud whizzing as- 
 cension, 
 
 And as it whispering fell a pentameter woke. 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 
 
 TO MINNI. 
 
 'Egtem Srted 's te szerettll. 
 
 'Twas for thee I burned — thou burnedst- 
 
 Still I burn, but thou art frozen ; 
 Thou dost hide thy thoughts — returnedst 
 
 Not the love which thou hadst chosen. 
 Still thy heart, to thee appealing, 
 
 Tells thee of thy faithless deeds ; 
 Mine, all shades of misery feeling, 
 
 Only dreams, and weeps, and bleeds. 
 
 All dispersed, and all departed, 
 
 Are those visions once so drear ; 
 Wounded, bleeding, broken-hearted, 
 
 No reproaches shalt thou hear. 
 May thy bliss desert thee never — 
 
 Never let my gloom be thine ; 
 I, with proud emotion ever, 
 
 Think that Minni's heart was mine. 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZL 67 
 
 TO MY JOY-GIVER. 
 
 Milliok kozott sines egy kit a' fene. 
 
 Of the earth's many millions, none like me 
 Hath the blind Ate marked for sorrow — none ; 
 Each, each his share of gloom and grief may see, 
 Yet have their guardian angels every one. 
 I have no guardian angel — left alone 
 By heaven and by the world ; and misery 
 E'en in my bone-pith — helpless, woe-begone ; 
 No balsam — nought but tears, shed ceaselessly. 
 
 E'en Eros multiplies my sad alarms : 
 
 " Let Ate's anger sooth his joys," he said ; 
 
 And Sophie slumbered sweetly in my arms : 
 
 Now is a light upon my darkness shed ; 
 
 And I, by love's strong influence shielded o'er, 
 
 Hear Ate's savage threatenings no more. 
 
 f2 
 
68 FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 
 
 SEPARATION. 
 
 Ever absent, ever near ; 
 Still I see thee, still I hear ; 
 Yet I cannot reach thee, dear ! 
 
FRANCIS KAZINCZI. 69 
 
 CUPID ON A LION. 
 
 How the fierce beast the gentle child obeys, 
 And love's mild power the wildest spirit sways ! 
 Lo ! how the baby lifts his kingly hand, 
 Both earth and heaven submit to his command ; 
 And I, sweet Nice ! since I wore thy chain, 
 Seek to rebel against his rule, in vain. 
 
(70) 
 
 DAYKA GABOR, 
 
 BORN 1/68 — DIED 1/96, 
 
 Hunc tantum populo monstrarunt fata. 
 
 VfRGIL. 
 
GABRIEL DAYKA. 71 
 
 THE FAITHFUL MAIDEN. 
 
 Az 6n szerelmes emnek. 
 
 I have made a part of mine, 
 All my loved one's being ; 
 Trifling when he trifles, 
 Smiling when he smiles, 
 Mourning when he mourns, 
 And joyous when he joys ; 
 But when he, forgetting me, 
 Frequent kiss to Phillis gives, 
 O, I weep, I weep. 
 
72 GABRIEL DAYKA, 
 
 SECRET SORROW, 
 
 Homalyos banat dulja lelkcmct. 
 
 My soul is troubled with an ancient sorrow, 
 Which grows again anew ; and gloomy themes, 
 Gathering afresh, o'ershadow me with dreams 
 Of a mysterious darkness on the morrow. 
 I fain would weep, and yet can find no tears — 
 Nought but the broken sigh and stifled groan : 
 These are the tenants of my heart alone, 
 And their deep underminings steal my years. 
 
 O that the tears, joy's freshening tears, would fall ! 
 
 They come not to the weak and wounded breast ; 
 
 They rush both for and from the fount of rest. 
 
 If thou art not than marble harder all, 
 
 Know that the silent pang, the grief that speaks not, 
 
 Is of all woes the deadliest — and to bear 
 
 The heart that throbs and burns, while yet it breaks not, 
 
 Is worse than death — for death a blessing were. 
 
(73) 
 
 KIS JANOS. 
 
 BORN 1/70. 
 
 Oh reg mar, reg, hogy e Szepek Szepet 
 Nyomozom, raert Istens6g 'keze 
 
 Lelkembe metszette o szent kepet 
 Hogy lelekkd neveze. 
 
 Kis. 
 
74 JOHN K1S. 
 
 HYMN TO WISDOM, 
 
 Szlvcmnck legfelsegesl balvanya. 
 
 Goddess of thy votary's heart! 
 Wisdom ! tell me where thou art! 
 Holy virgin ! in the throng 
 Of mighty worlds I seek thy throne— 
 I seek thee, and have sought thee long— 
 Of loveliest ones, the loveliest one ! 
 The right hand of the Deity 
 Graved in my heart thine image bright, 
 And the reflected ray from thee 
 Makes nature's darkness melt in light. 
 
 Blest daughter of the skies, who sheddest 
 Undying beams, and smiling spreadest 
 Th' eternal green and gifts of spring — 
 Thou, who o'er heaven's crystal gates dost fling 
 A light of purest, fairest glistening, 
 And standest at the portal listening 
 To songs which angel voices sing. 
 
JOHN KIS. 75 
 
 , Sister of heavenly sisters ! Truth 
 Goes with thee, and untainted youth. 
 Thou on the flowery mounds dost sport 
 With Innocence, while thy fair cheek 
 The roses of contentment streak, 
 And glorious palms thy hands support. 
 Thy thoughts, thy feelings and desire, 
 The harmonious choirs of heaven inspire ; 
 Thou passion's furies know'st to bridle, 
 Things as they are thy bright eyes see ; 
 Thou wilt not bow thee to the idol, 
 However bright the diamond be, 
 Fixed on his brow of mystery. 
 
 The golden chains of order bound 
 The everlasting spheres around 
 Thou measurest, as those spheres advance 
 Like bright-eyed virgins in the dance 
 Of beauty; and no poisoned spear 
 Wielded by demon hand is there 
 To wound the heart, the bliss to steal, 
 Which all creation's tenants feel. 
 
 Th' All-former's hidden works are known 
 To thee — his everlasting will — 
 Thou seest all upward mounting, still- 
 Still higher mounting, to the throne, 
 Where Good, pure Good, resides alone ; 
 
76 JOHN KIS, 
 
 Thou seest the fires of discipline, 
 Improve, sublime, correct, refiner- 
 Till as the mists dissolve away, 
 In the diffusing smiles of day, 
 Man glides from mortal to divine. 
 
 Dweller in heaven, from heav'n upsprung- 
 All — all has heavenly looks for thee ; 
 Thou nearest songs in every tongue, 
 In every motion melody; 
 Thou bathest in eternal streams 
 Of endless hope and joy, and findest 
 Repose and light in all heaven's schemes, 
 Which seem the strangest and the blindest. 
 
 Thou hallowed goddess of my heart, 
 Tell me, O tell me where thou art ! 
 Where thine eternal home ? and say, 
 May not my spirit wend its way 
 (For passionate longing might find pinions 
 To reach even thy sublime dominions) 
 To thine abode ? Can nought but spirit 
 Thy presence seek, thy friendship merit ? 
 Why struggling after thee, O why, 
 Sink we in deep obscurity ? 
 
 Yet when at morning-dawn I bring 
 A matin-incense to thine altar — 
 When, tho' I scarcely breathe, but falter, 
 And at the evening twilight fling 
 
JOHN KIS. 77 
 
 My heart before thee, — on the wing 
 Of the calm breeze, methinks I hear 
 Thy voice — O tell me, art thou there ? 
 Methinks, when at the midnight hour, 
 In solemn silence fluttering by, 
 The whisper that some viewless power 
 Passes, in angel-chariot, nigh ; 
 Methinks that whisper needs must be 
 Some herald's voice announcing thee. 
 
( ?8 ) 
 
 KISFALUDY SANDOR. 
 
 BORN 1772. 
 
 Eggy Istennert, eggy Hazaert 
 
 'Egett hajdan, durvan hiv,— 
 Eggy Matkaert, nyoszobjaert — 
 
 A' torzsokos Magyar sziv ; 
 De se Isten, se Hazahoz 
 
 Sok Kigyalfiltt Magyar sziv, 
 Se szavahoz se Parjahoz 
 
 Se magahoz most nem hiv ! 
 Eggy Isten em, eggy a' hazam 
 Erzi szivem, *s vallya a' szam ; 
 
 'S eggy szerelme szivemnek 
 Mint szlve eggy keblemnek. 
 
 LIU. Dal. 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 79 
 
 I. DAL. 7. 
 Mint a* szarvas, kit megGre. 
 
 As the suffering hart confounded 
 
 By the lance that tears his veins ; 
 Flies — in vain — for he. is wounded, 
 
 Vainly flies to woods or plains : 
 Since thy piercing eye look'd thro' me, 
 
 So I flee — and vainly flee ; 
 Still thy magic barbs pursue me — 
 
 I am wounded, maid ! by thee. 
 And the wound but seems the stronger, 
 As my flight is further — longer— 
 
 Smitten heart ! alas ! thy pain 
 
 Seeks relief or rest in vain. 
 
80 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 I. DAL. 13. 
 
 Boldog vagy te, czifra niadar ! 
 
 Thee I envied, joyous bird ! 
 
 Singing love-songs in the dell 
 To thy mate : each note I heard 
 
 Seem'd with joy and truth to swell. 
 I have also songs, which sweetly 
 
 Tell the tale of love— yet fall 
 Unobserved, however meetly 
 
 Answering beauty's fancied call. 
 Happy bird ! that singst love's joy — 
 I, its sorrows, its annoy — 
 
 Would I had th' alternative, 
 
 For thy song my soul to give ! 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 I. DAL, 26. 
 
 Termeszetnek 'Eltctoje. 
 
 Tnou sublimest life-creator, 
 
 Who didst breath and being give, 
 Thou, all worlds' regenerator, 
 
 In and by whose life we live : 
 Heart-controller — thou hast chosen 
 
 Thus its boiling streams to move ; 
 Belter were it chill'd and frozen, 
 
 Than tormented thus by love. 
 O ! condemn me not, my father ! 
 If I err — but pity rather — 
 
 As she stole my reason— she, 
 And not I, must guilty be. 
 
82 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 I. DAL. 51. 
 
 Midon a' Hold' vilugaban. 
 
 Oft in fancy's rapturous noonlight 
 
 Thy resplendent face I see : 
 Oft, when wandering 'neath the moonlight, 
 
 On the waves, I welcome thee. 
 In my dreams I hold communion 
 
 With thy bright love-laughing eyes ; 
 Thoughts of sympathy and union 
 
 From my broken heart arise. 
 O the blest, the heavenly greeting ! 
 Vision fair — as fair as fleeting : 
 
 Soon the illusions all decay, 
 
 As thine image glides away. 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 83 
 
 I. DAL. 5/. 
 
 Gyermeksegem' szep kleji. 
 
 Swift the golden moments flitted 
 
 Of my childhood's blissful days— 
 Soon the smiling joys retreated, 
 
 Which o'er boyhood flung their rays. 
 Spring, whose footstep never lingers, 
 
 Flowers upon the vernal field, 
 All the forest's plumy singers, 
 
 All the lights that nature gild — 
 Will not winter's breath destroy them ? 
 Other springs shall re-enjoy them ; 
 
 Youth rekindles not its beam — 
 
 Why do 1 so idly dream ? 
 
 g 2 
 
84 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 I DAL. 154. 
 Mint tanczolt O, a' Graczia ! 
 
 As the zephyrs, gay and airy, 
 
 Glance thro' nature's flowery hall ; 
 
 So she glides — a graceful fairy, 
 Thro* the mazes of the ball. 
 
 O how stately are her paces ! 
 O how princely is her gait ! 
 
 All her path is led by graces, 
 Light and beauty on her wait. 
 
 And those lips that smile so brightly, 
 
 And that breast that heaves so lightly ; 
 On how many hearts did she 
 Fling the chains of slavery ! 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 85 
 
 I. DAL. 172. 
 
 Teged' latlak az Egeknek. 
 
 In the blue horizon's beaming, - 
 Thee, sweet maid ! alone I see ; 
 
 In the silver wavelets streaming, 
 Thee, sweet maiden ! only thee. 
 
 Thee, in day's resplendent noonlight, 
 Glancing from the sun afar ; 
 
 Thee, in midnight's softer moonlight ; 
 Thee, in every trembling star. 
 
 Wheresoe'er I go, I meet thee ; 
 
 Wheresoe'er I stay, I greet thee ; 
 Following always — everywhere : 
 Cruel maiden ! O, forbear ! 
 
86 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY, 
 
 I. DAL. 176. 
 Szclid Miizsak ! jol tudom €n. 
 
 Muses ! honour her — the sweetest- 
 
 Her by smiling graces nurst ; 
 Music ! when the fair thou greetest, 
 
 Greet her fairest — greet her first. 
 I have seen her bright eyes glisten 
 
 When the poet touch'd his chord 
 Yet she will not deign to listen 
 
 To mine unobtrusive word. 
 Maiden ! wherefore so capricious ? 
 Is the minstrel too ambitious ? 
 
 Doth his silence please thy will ? 
 
 Listen, maiden ! he is still. 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 87 
 
 II. DAL. 16. 
 
 Mas a' Vilag' abrazattya. 
 
 All the bright world's charms seem brighter, 
 
 All the frowns of grief are gone ; 
 Livelier beats my heart — and lighter ; 
 
 Sweeter is my harp's sweet tone. 
 Life's fresh spring is renovated, 
 
 Bliss finds wings of pride and power, 
 Nobler passions are created, 
 
 Being's struggles upward tower : 
 I, a new-born life possessing, 
 Lov'd and loving — bless'd and blessing — 
 
 Darkening thoughts have pass'd away, 
 
 All is new delight and day. 
 
$8 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 U. DAL. 4\, 
 
 TeJle jiiunek, Hozza ternefk. 
 
 Thou of all my thoughts' vibrations 
 
 Art the origin and end ; 
 All my spirit's agitations 
 
 From thee spring, and to thee tend. 
 All that fortune frees or fetters, 
 
 What it builds, and what it breaks, 
 All it banns, and all it betters, 
 
 All — from thee its image takes. 
 By her smile of beauty lighted, 
 By her look of sorrow blighted, 
 
 All receives its powers from her, 
 
 Love's divine interpreter. 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 89 
 
 II. DAL. 44. 
 Mint elozi akaratom'. 
 
 O how sweet to see thee cumbered 
 With my happiness — to see 
 
 All the little cares unnumbered, 
 Fond affection takes for me ! 
 
 Heaven has nought to give us sweeter 
 Than a joy-conferring wife, 
 
 And a smile of love to greet her— 
 'Tis the unclouded heaven of life. 
 
 Like a sunbeam she enhances 
 
 Love's own radiance with her glances : 
 And where'er the sweet one is, 
 There is peace and there is bliss. 
 
90 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 II. DAL. 75. 
 
 Ncm ki nevert, dicsosegert. 
 
 Not the songs to Pindus brought, 
 
 By the unholy thirst for glory ; 
 Not the songs by riches bought — 
 
 The perfidiousness of story : 
 No ! but that life-sparkling fountain, 
 
 Springing forth from transport's soul, 
 Up to joy's delirium mounting, 
 
 Gladdening nature's glowing whole, 
 Winging love's cloud-piercing arrow 
 Thro' time's boundaries, dark and narrow, 
 
 Wending tow'rds the heavens along, 
 
 This — this only be my song. 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 91 
 
 II. DAL. 87. 
 
 Ez' orauak lejarttaval. 
 
 Now another century blended 
 With past centuries rolls away ; 
 
 When another century's ended, 
 All that lives will be but clay. 
 
 Thou and I — a pair so joyous, 
 Spite of dance and song must die ; 
 
 Time, rude tempest, will destroy us, 
 On his death-piles shall we lie. 
 
 Dost thou mourn > O mourn no longer ! 
 
 Death is strong, but love is stronger ; 
 And where'er we go, shall go, 
 Sheltering us from lonely woe. 
 
92 ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 
 
 II. DAL. 130. 
 Alig nezi magiit koiiil. 
 
 Scarce upon the troubled ocean 
 
 Doth life's steersman seek a home, 
 Ere he feels an awful motion 
 
 Drag him downwards to the tomb. 
 In the very bud of being 
 
 Lies the hidden seed of death ; 
 And we feel, and hear, and see in 
 
 All, perdition's withering breath. 
 'Tis a hasty, busy meeting, 
 An eternal farewell greeting, 
 
 Hurrying all our paths along 
 
 Life as fugitive as song. 
 
ALEXANDER KISFALUDY. 93 
 
 II. DAL. 163. 
 Oily szukseges szivemnek O. 
 
 Tell me, can the human breast 
 Live — no breath, no air inspiring ? 
 
 Can the soul of man be blest 
 
 If sweet love pour not its fire in ? 
 
 What to life are soul and spirit, 
 Is the glow of love to me ; 
 
 Loveless, what do I inherit — 
 What ? but blank mortality. 
 
 Love, smile on ! and fears and dangers 
 
 To my bosom shall be strangers ; 
 Roll the storm, and fall the rain — ■ 
 All their menaces are vain. 
 
(94) 
 
 VITKOVICS MIHALY. 
 
 BORN 1772. 
 
 Verset aliarsz tolem, Lidi ? 'En csak hur vagyolc. Amor 
 A' lantos. Tolem verset akarsz e ? szeress. 
 
 Vitkovics. 
 
MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 95 
 
 SHEPHERD SONG OF FUREDI. 
 
 Hej juhasz bojtar ! hoi a' juh ? 
 
 Say, Shepherd ! where thy sheep are gone, 
 
 And why this discontented frown ? 
 They're wending forth to Balaton,* 
 
 And heavy sorrows press me down. 
 I eat not, drink not — but I lie 
 
 Like a fell'd trunk upon the plain ; 
 The sun sinks downwards from the sky, 
 
 And gives me up to night and pain. 
 O hopeless doom ! She turns away, 
 
 Indifference in her eyes I see ; 
 In vain my Shepherd's pipe I play — 
 
 She listens not, nor looks on me. 
 The freshest milk, the whitest lamb, 
 
 And wreaths of knots, to her I bore ; 
 And all I have, and all I am — 
 
 Life, soul — would give, to win her o'er. 
 Her face f I press'd with kisses sweet, 
 
 Upon her breast my sighs outpour' d, 
 Fell, like a pilgrim, at her feet, 
 
 And drank her every breath and word. 
 
 * The lake of Balaton. 
 
 f Kepere, face — meaning picture. 
 
96 MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 
 
 But what of this ? She knows it all, 
 
 And all forgets — she laughs at woe ; 
 No pity on despair lets fall ; 
 
 For other youth her passions glow. 
 But God shall punish her. O why, 
 
 Why was that lovely maid untrue ? 
 Why did she bid my pleasure die r 
 
 Why pierce my heart, and pierce it through ? 
 When shepherdless my sheep shall stray, 
 
 And madness thought and hope destroy, 
 " Shame on the maid !" the youths will say ; 
 
 " Poor fool ! beloved Shepherd boy !" 
 
MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 97 
 
 COTTAGER'S SONG. 
 
 Nem adott az Isten n£kem nagy palotat. 
 
 No elegant palace God raised o'er my head, 
 
 Rich tapestry gave not, nor silk to my bed ; 
 
 But a cottage of peace, and a rude, healthy life, 
 
 And, to crown my enjoyments, a brown, cheerful wife. 
 
 Together we earn the coarse bread which we eat, 
 
 And love makes it taste more delightfully sweet ; 
 
 When our labours are ended, together we rest, 
 
 And each to the other's bare bosom is prest. 
 
 The sun rises up — and we rise, full of joy, 
 
 Full of strength, to the busy day's wonted employ. 
 
 Then the spring dawns in green, and the fields smile anew, 
 
 And every fresh flow'ret is dripping with dew ; 
 
 And the song of the lark pours its melodies sweet, 
 
 Like a zephyr of freshness on summer's close heat. 
 
 Then comes the gay vintage — the red grapes we bear, 
 
 And alike of the labor and recompence share. 
 
 The winter puts on its white robes — we retire 
 
 At even — and bend o'er our own cottage fire. 
 
 My Sari turns round the gay spindle and sings, 
 
 And out of our happiness time makes its wings. 
 
 I have handicraft labors — and, happy the thought, 
 
 For this pay no taxes to Germans — nor ought. 
 
 H 
 
98 MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 
 
 The sabbath comes round, and in holiday gear 
 
 I go to God's dwelling— then quietly steer 
 
 To the Kortsma* where, cheer'd by a wine-loving brother, 
 
 We pledge a full glass, and we laugh with each other ; 
 
 Get warm, and we call on the Gipsies to play. 
 
 I know of no care, roll the world as it may : 
 
 I nothing am owed, and to nobody owe — 
 
 Hurting none, none will hurt me — so smiling we go 
 
 On the rude path of life — when its labors are past, 
 
 Death will find us both ready and cheerful at last. 
 
 * I nu. 
 
MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 99 
 
 LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 A' szerelem, Lidikem ! ollyan, mint regel az arnyek. 
 
 Love, my sweet Lidi ! resembles the fugitive shadows of 
 morning ; 
 Shorter and shorter they grow, and at length disappear. 
 Friendship — our friendship— is like the beautiful shadows 
 of evening, 
 Spreading and growing till life and its light pass away. 
 
 h2 
 
100 MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 
 
 TO LIDI. 
 Verset akarsz tolem Lidi ? 'En csak h6r vagj ok. 
 
 You ask me for song — I am but the lyre ; 
 The harper is Cupid — fair maiden ! inspire ! 
 
MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 101 
 
 ENTREATY. 
 
 Konnyeket, o feleseg ! ha szeretsz, siromra ne csorgass. 
 
 Wife ! if thou love me, O mourn not upon the death-sod 
 
 of thy husband : 
 Tears will ne'er summon me back to the regions of time ; 
 Tears from thine eyes will disturb death's calm slumber of 
 
 silence — 
 Bliss was our portion on earth — shall I weep in the grave ? 
 
102 MICHAEL V1TKOVICS. 
 
 TO CZENCZI, 
 
 Mikepen ozek a' fris. 
 
 As the hart the freshening waters, 
 As the bee the balmy flow' rets, 
 
 So I love the joyous wine-drops, 
 So I love the wine-drops, mingled 
 
 With sweet songs — and sweet songs blended 
 With thy kisses, rosy Czenczi ! 
 
 Drinking wine, — then joys awaken ; 
 
 Joys awakening, waken music ; 
 And the power of love gives being 
 
 To thy love — -nor can I envy 
 Even the hallow'd monarch's purple. 
 
 Nor the bliss that others covet. 
 
 Happy am I with the wine-cup, 
 
 And with music's song yet happier ; 
 
 But of all the happiest, Czenczi, 
 Happiest, Czenczi ! with thy kisses. 
 
MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 103 
 
 TO CZENCZI. 
 
 Bar Matrahegy lehetnek. 
 
 Were I but the Matra-hill, 
 Czenczi ! that for centuries long 
 Thou mightst look upon my brow ! 
 Were I the pale Duna-stream, 
 The proud Duna-stream, that thou 
 Hundred years in me mightst bathe ! 
 Were I iEtna's burning mount, 
 That for ages I might be, 
 Czenczi ! warmth and glow to thee ! 
 But, not Matra-hill, nor pale 
 Duna — ah ! nor burning iEtna, 
 Can I ever, ever be. 
 
 Well, then, let us both improve 
 The swift lightning-flash of time, 
 Life ! nor let the rapid spark 
 Hurry unenjoy'd away. 
 Let us seize them — we enjoy 
 Hundred years — aye ! thousand years ; 
 Though we are — but what we were, 
 And must needs be — mortal things. 
 
104 michael"Vitkovics. 
 
 THE MOON, 
 
 The moon (who hides her face by day) the darkness doth 
 
 uncover, 
 Just like the thief— and sad to say, she is just like the 
 
 lover. 
 
MICHAEL VITKOVICS. 105 
 
 TO AN ENVIOUS MAN. 
 Annyi veszelyek utan, hogy boldog lettem, irigyled ? 
 
 What ! dost thou envy my happiness, bought with such 
 
 struggles and perils ? 
 I wish thy happiness too — and when will it bless thee ? 
 
 In death. 
 
( 106) 
 
 CSOKONAI MIHALY. 
 
 BORN 1774— DIED 1805. 
 
 Dudolj verset ! Kinek ? A' Magyar Nemzetnek. 
 
 SZILAGYI. 
 
MICHAEL CSOKONAI. 107 
 
 THE STRAWBERRY. 
 
 Illatja rozmarinnak. 
 
 Breath of rosemary, honey-sweetness 
 Of the fig, the daisy scarlet, — 
 To the smell, the taste, the eyesight, 
 All are equally delightful. 
 
 Did they never, never mingle 
 All these graces— ne'er unite ? 
 Look upon the ripen'd cherry, 
 It is red, and it is sweet ; 
 Fragrant is the golden melon, 
 Fragrant nectar to the taste ; 
 Roses are as fair as satin, 
 And their odours amber all ; 
 But the rosemary, the daisy, 
 Fig and cherry, melon, rose, 
 All are marvellously united 
 In the lovely strawberry : 
 Beauteous to the eye its color, 
 Honey to the lips its taste, 
 And its breath is exquisite. 
 
108 MICHAEL CSOKONAI. 
 
 I will set thee, lovely Strawberry, 
 On the table of the Gods ; 
 If thy tongue could find a language 
 Or a kiss, thou wouldst resemble 
 Lilla's ever-beauteous lips. 
 
MICHAEL CSdKONAI. 109 
 
 TO BACCHUS. 
 
 Evoe ! 
 
 Evoe ! 
 Bacchus ! Evan ! Evoe" ! 
 Evoe ! 
 Bacchus ! fill up the spirit with glee ! 
 What though the snows of the winter may fall- 
 Bring wine to me ! 
 Bring wine to me — bring wine to all ! 
 Evoe ! 
 
 Sinyle voice, 
 Bacchus ! with cheerful voice, 
 
 Praise to thee devotion brings ; 
 Where thou art the heavens rejoice, 
 
 And the earth sings. 
 Swarms of joys our bosoms give, 
 Each harmonious as a bee ; 
 In thy life alone we live. 
 Evoe ! 
 
 Chord's. 
 Evoe ! 
 Bacchus ! Evan ! Evoe ! 
 
 &c, &c, &c. 
 
110 MICHAEL CSOKONAI. 
 
 Another voice. 
 Thou canst give to poverty 
 
 Riches, blessing, and respect ; 
 Make it proud as proud ones be ; 
 
 Lift its horn, its head erect. 
 Folly is made wise by wine ; 
 
 Yes ! than wisdom wiser still ; 
 Fill up that cup of thine — 
 
 Fill ! fill ! fill ! 
 
 Chorus. 
 Evoe ! 
 
 &c, &c, &c. 
 
 Single voice. 
 Sympathy pervades thy breast, 
 
 Sweet sympathy ; 
 And thy griefs are calmed to rest 
 
 So tranquilly. 
 Blessedness is beaming o'er thee, 
 
 Love's best prize is won ; 
 There is not a grief before thee — 
 
 None ! none ! none ! 
 
 Chorus. 
 Evoe ! 
 
 &c, &c, &c. 
 
 Another voice. 
 God of joy ! thou hast possess'd us ; 
 
 O leave us never ! 
 God of joy ! that once hast blest us ; 
 
 O bless us ever ! 
 
MICHAEL CSOKONAI. Ill 
 
 Death may come — but melancholy 
 
 Shall not life annoy : 
 Joy ! — for sorrow is but folly — 
 
 Joy ! joy ! joy s 
 
 Chorus. 
 Evoe ! 
 
 &c, &c, &c. 
 
 Single voice. 
 Thou dost watch the holy light 
 
 On love's own shrine, 
 And if tears be ever bright. 
 
 Those tears are thine. 
 Thou canst fill life's dullness up 
 
 With warmth divine : 
 Fill with wine the glowing cup — 
 
 Wine ! wine ! wine ! 
 
 Chorus, 
 Evoe ! 
 
 &c, &c, &c. 
 
 Another voice. 
 Wine, says Eld, may be pernicious — 
 
 That's both wise and true ; 
 So may every feast delicious — 
 
 What is that to you ? 
 Here's no priest — be here no preaching : 
 
 Press the goblet to your lip ; 
 Trip the dance — 'tis wiser teaching— 
 
 Trip ! trip ! trip ! 
 
112 MICHAEL CSOKONAI. 
 
 Chorus. 
 Evoe ! 
 Bacchus ! Evan ! Evoe" ! 
 
 Evoe ! 
 Bacchus ! fill the soul with glee ! 
 Though the wintry snows may fall, 
 
 Bring wine to me ! 
 Wine to me, and wine to all ! 
 Evoe ! 
 
MICHAEL CSOKONAf. 113 
 
 TO MY FRIEND. 
 Parnassz' vadon hegyenel. 
 
 Not from Pindus' darksome mountain , 
 Not from the Castalian fountain, 
 Not from Tempe's desert valley, 
 Do the heavenly Muses sally ; 
 Vainly there ye seek to find them, 
 Ages left their shades behind them. 
 
 They were Muses wild and savage, 
 Headed by a boor-Apollo : 
 Time's regenerating ravage 
 Brought a better race to follow ; 
 And our Muses, young and laughing, 
 Dwell in vineyards of Tokay ; 
 Ever there the grape-juice quaffing, 
 Ever gratulant and gay. 
 
 i 
 
( 114) 
 
 BERZSENYI DANIEL. 
 
 BORN 1776. 
 
 Csak te legy v£lem te szelid Camoena ! 
 Itt is aldast hint kezed tlletemre, 
 'S a vadon tajek kideriilt virany lesz 
 Gyonge dalodra. 
 
 BERZSENYI. 
 
DANIEL BERZSENYI. 115 
 
 EVENING TWILIGHT. 
 
 Emeld fel bibor kepedet. 
 
 Come with thy purple smiles, and bring 
 
 To nature quiet rest: 
 Come, gentle light of eve, and fling 
 
 The dew o'er nature's breast. 
 
 Send to the weary eye repose 
 
 And happy dreams to-night : 
 And bid the veil of darkness dose 
 
 O'er holy love's delight. 
 
 The rose-tree hides its fairest flowers 
 
 While eve glides calmly by, 
 And life's most bright and blessed hours 
 
 Are hid in mystery. 
 
 I have a secret— but 'tis mine — 
 
 No word shall reach thine ear ; 
 'Tis buried in my heart's own shrine, 
 
 And lock'd in safety there. 
 
 I will not tell my thought — nor shame 
 
 My maiden with a fear ; 
 I will not tell my maiden's name 
 
 Nor what I feel for her. 
 i2 
 
116 DANIEL BERZSENYI. 
 
 I told it to the silent moon, 
 She saw my hour of bliss — 
 
 The tears of joy I shed — the boon, 
 The beauty and the kiss. 
 
DANIEL BERZSENYI. 117 
 
 TO ERNESTINE. 
 
 Szep, szep az Elet Eszti ! 
 
 Sweet is life, my Ernestine ! 
 In the od'rous myrtle grove, 
 In the arras of holy love, 
 In Dione's, or in thine. 
 Sweet is life, my Ernestine ! 
 Some may fear lest wind and wave 
 Delve for all their wealth a grave ; 
 Some may heap Golconda's store, 
 Ever adding more to more ; 
 Warriors climb the slippery hill 
 Crown'd by glory's citadel ;* 
 Welcoming the Peans loud 
 Victory wakens from the crowd ; 
 But, with thee, my Ernestine, 
 Yes ! with thee to live be mine. 
 Silenced every worldly tone, 
 O how sweet to live alone ! 
 Seeing— wishing not to see 
 Aught but those bright smiles of thine ; 
 
 * Villogjon a' dicsoseg' 
 Polczau Napoleonnal. 
 
11$ DANIEL BERZSENYI. 
 
 Thee, my love — and only thee — 
 Hearing nought but thy soft breathing, 
 Or thy gentle rustling, wreathing 
 Little flowers of love for me. 
 
DANIEL BERZSENYI. 119 
 
 THE DANCE. 
 
 Nezzd a' tancz' nemeit, mint festik jatszi ecsettel. 
 
 Look at the dance ! You may trace in its playful and 
 varying changes 
 
 National manners and habits — the feelings and thoughts of 
 the people. 
 
 First, see the German come forward — and, waltzing three 
 paces, he seizes 
 
 Her whom he loves, and he gracefully wheels her in light- 
 footed circle : 
 
 Simple and quiet in all things — his very enjoyments are 
 tranquil : 
 
 One and one only he claims — if he love her, his love will 
 be faithful. 
 
 Giddy and graceful and vain, comes the Frenchman, and, 
 ogling and sporting, 
 
 Flits from one maid to another — to this and to that his 
 hand proffers : 
 
 Fiery and rash as a child, like a child he is light and capri- 
 cious ; 
 
 Changes his mistress at will, and humours his fancy till 
 weary. 
 
 Whelmed in a passionate storm, the Magyar's turbulent 
 spirit 
 
 Blends in the dance all the heat of his struggling and glow- 
 ing affection, 
 
120 DANIEL BERZSENYI. 
 
 Like a sweet breeze — and his soul-piercing softness insi- 
 nuates 
 
 All that is hid in the depths of his gen'rous and love-flow- 
 ing spirit. 
 
 Link'd and dissevered, he leads or is led by the lovely 
 Hungarian ; 
 
 Dances alone in his joy, while all the earth trembles de- 
 lighted. 
 
 This is the warrior's dance, which Kinysi, with blood- 
 spotted weapons, 
 
 Danced with his followers around the heaps of his enemies 
 scatter' d. 
 
 Here are no rules of art, no masters of science assembled ; 
 
 This is her own bright law — 'tis fancy's own free-pinion'd 
 charier. 
 
 Let ev'ry man who is born to the dance of the Magyar be 
 joyful ; 
 
 Strength and vigor are hi?, inspiring his spirit with firm- 
 ness. 
 
DANIEL BERZSENYI. 121 
 
 PHILLIS. 
 
 Meg most teljes orczfiimon. 
 
 Upon two cheeks of sunny glow 
 Two lovely living roses grow ; 
 While flung o'er alabaster rocks 
 I see thy wandering auburn locks. 
 
 A paradise is round me, where 
 All, all is smiling, bright, and fair : 
 I am the heir of joy. Advance, 
 
 heart ! to thine inheritance. 
 
 From laughing love and song and jest, 
 From blessing, I would fain be blest : 
 Bliss flaps my soul on every breeze, 
 And am I blest with thoughts like these ? 
 
 1 breathe the balmy breath of youth, 
 I have no cause for restless ruth ; 
 Why should I not enjoy the peace 
 Which sooths our mortal recklessness ? 
 
 The dove that flits about the groves, 
 Is he not blest ? He loves, he loves ; 
 And wheresoe'er he takes his flight, 
 A sweet voice sooths him to delight. 
 
122 DANIEL BERZSENYI. 
 
 MY PORTION. 
 
 Partra szallottam. Levonom vitorlam'. 
 
 What though the waves roll awfully before me — 
 Quicksands and tempests — from the Ocean border 
 Calmly I launch me, all my sails unfurling, 
 Laughing at danger. 
 
 Peace has returned, I drop my quiet anchor, 
 Beautiful visions have no power to charm me — 
 Welcome the wanderer to thy cheerful bosom, 
 Land of retirement ! 
 
 Are not my meadows verdant as Tarentum ? 
 Are not my fields as lovely as Larissa ? 
 Flows not the Tiber with majestic beaming 
 Through my dark forest ? 
 
 Have I not vines and golden corn-ears dancing 
 In the gay winds, and doth not heavenly freedom 
 Dwell in my dwelling ? — Yes! the gods have given me 
 All I could envy. 
 
 Fate may indulge its infinite caprices. 
 Sheltered from want, unconquerable courage 
 Trains me to look secure, serene, contented, 
 Up to the heavens. 
 
DANIEL BERZSENYI. 123 
 
 Thou, thou, my lyre ! if thou dispense thy blessings 
 Bright on the tortuous pathway of existence, 
 Deserts shall smile, wastes wax them into gladness, 
 Charm'd by thy music. 
 
 Place me among the eternal snows of Greenland, 
 Place me among the burning sands of Zaara, 
 There shall your bosoms warm me, gentle Muses-, 
 Here your breath freshen. 
 
124 DANIEL BERZSENYI. 
 
 o' 
 
 SPRING. 
 
 A v tavasz, rozsas kebelet kitarva. 
 
 Spring, gentle Spring, the rose's breast unfolding. 
 Sinks in light dews upon the emerald meadows, 
 While round his ringlets happy zephyrs playing, 
 
 Drink of their fragrance 
 
 O'er all the earth he spreads birth-giving ether, 
 Waking to life what wintry cold had frozen, 
 Calling to joy, and budding into being, 
 
 Countless creations. 
 
 Flora attends him with her smiles of beauty, 
 Scattering before him violets and roses ; 
 Laughter and love and bliss, and all the graces, 
 Follow his footsteps. 
 
 I too, e'en I, my festal hymn am pouring ; 
 
 I too have twined a wreath for thee, blest Emma ! 
 
 'Tis for thy breast — 'tis beautiful as thou art — 
 
 And as both —fleeting. 
 
( 125) 
 
 BUCZI EMIL. 
 
 BORN 1784. 
 
 Az erezesnek 
 Szentelem en ezt. 
 
 Buczi. 
 
126 EMILIUS BUCZI. 
 
 THE LITTLE TREE. 
 
 Oh Dryas ! Keggyel mosolyogj ezen kis. 
 
 Dryads ! smile sweetly on the tree I planted ; 
 Call forth its blossoms — shelter it from tempests ; 
 I have that tree to Sympathy devoted ; 
 
 Smile on the tribute. 
 
 Smile, ye good angels ! Fling your deeds of virtue 
 On the uncovered bosom of misfortune ; 
 Fling your soft arms of charity around it; 
 
 To your breast press it. 
 
EMILIUS BUCZL 127 
 
 SPRING'S TERMINATION. 
 
 Ah melly borongo felleg emelkedik. 
 
 What a black cloud is gathering in heaven's dome ! 
 From the blue dome the fierce rain dashes downward, 
 And the Septentrion furies, rushing wildly, 
 Visit with ruin all earth's loveliest things. 
 
 Lo ! the rose droops upon its wounded stem — 
 The rude shower breaks the beautiful cup of odours 
 Hung on the emerald pillar — and thejilies 
 Bend down their snowy heads, and weep, and die. 
 
 E'en the sweet solitary violet, crush'd, 
 Scatters no more its wonted dews of fragrance 
 O'er the dark forest turf. All, all departed, 
 All the transporting charms of early spring. 
 
128 EMILIUS BUCZI. 
 
 THE FOREST. 
 
 Deep in the stillness of the solemn forest 
 Peace sings her hymns of solitude, Apollo ! 
 While the light zephyrs, listening to the music, 
 Glide along slowly. 
 
 Through the green boughs what friendly spirits vibrate 
 Round the old roots what gentle streamlets murmur ! 
 Brightening with influence full of joy and beauty 
 Life and its struggles. 
 
 I, when I look upon those lovely meadows — 
 Streams full of light — and hymn-impassioned songsters- 
 Forests and flowrets — feel that woe's oppression 
 Smites me no longer. 
 
 Shades of the forest ! to your calm recesses 
 
 Pride never wends, nor passion. When the branches 
 
 Of your green trees are fluttering in the breezes, 
 
 Bear me their freshness. 
 
EMIUUS BUCZI. 129 
 
 MERIT. 
 
 Rettenthetetlen lelked' az erezes'. 
 
 Onward ! still onward ! in the path of duty, 
 On to the goal — guard every sacred feeling. 
 What though the deeds of most heroic virtue, 
 Impudent folly tarnish with her slander ? 
 
 Bear thee on boldly — Virtue's gloomiest cypress 
 Shading, shall shield thee. Hate may hide thy greatness, 
 Envy torment thee, but thy patriot actions, 
 Blessing thy country, shall endure for ever. 
 
 Think not that envy can destroy the temple 
 Rear'd to thy glory. Merit wreathes the garland 
 Fated for thee ; mankind shall be thy judges, 
 Covering thy name with an undying honour,, 
 
130 ) 
 
 SZEMERE PAL. 
 
 BORN 1785. 
 
 Ali, joj, 's ringassd-el e' liagy kinokat. 
 
 SZEMERE, 
 
PAUL SZEMERE. 131 
 
 TO HOPE. 
 
 Szeliden, mint a' szep esttiinemeny. 
 
 Thou smilest on me like an evening ray, 
 
 Or like the lovely Eos. When thou smilest, 
 
 All fate's dark enmity thou reconcilest, 
 
 And grief and sighing sadness glide away. 
 
 My house was whelmed in desolate decay, 
 
 Midst mists, and storms, and torrents. Art thou nigh me ? 
 
 For time brings gloomy thoughts as time flits by me, 
 
 And my heart is a field of battle-fray. 
 
 Come, cradle all my sorrows into rest ! 
 
 And, like Endymion, in his rosy garden 
 
 Bless me with dreams, and be mine angel warden, 
 
 As Cynthia his ; and as that waking boy 
 
 Found himself breathing into Dian's breast, 
 
 So be thou mine — mine own sweet bride and joy ! 
 
 k2 
 
132 PAUL SZEMERE. 
 
 ISABEL. 
 
 Szokdelve, mint hullain kozt a* halak. 
 
 Joyous as the wild squirrel in the forest, 
 
 Or in the dancing waves the silver eel, 
 
 Till thou, to the bright heaven, in which thou soarest, 
 
 Didst fascinate my footsteps, Isabel ! 
 
 O, I was happy — now, alas ! thou pourest 
 
 A stream of sorrow into my heart's well ; 
 
 And hill and valley's echoes wake the sorest 
 
 Of all the pangs of grief ineffable, 
 
 That thou — thou art another's — that sad thought 
 
 Breaks up my heart — and o'er my being flings 
 
 The deepest clouds of darkness — they have brought 
 
 Garlands of flowers to crown thee at the shrine 
 
 Of Hymen. Joy the marriage-anthem sings — 
 
 Yet they have brought thee not a love like mine. 
 
PAUL SZEMERE. 133 
 
 THE HAPPY PAIR. 
 
 Egy titkos ah felthn, 's egy elpirulat. 
 
 I heard a gentle breathing, like a sigh, 
 , I saw a quiet smiling, like the dawn, 
 A bosom heaving 'neath th' o'ershadowing lawn, 
 Half hidden, half unveil' d. A raptur'd cry 
 Broke from me — " Yes ! 'tis thou :" and then I flung 
 My arms around thee, and in passionate bliss 
 Joy followed joy, and kiss gave way to kiss, 
 And rapture fetter'd both — and thus she sung: 
 " Thou I so long have sought for, thou art mine ; 
 Thine is the maiden's sweetest kiss, and thine 
 All that the maiden's heart and soul possess." 
 I listen' d — and such flutterings of delight 
 Shook all my senses, I was silent quite — 
 Thoughts overpower'd expression. Could they less ? 
 
131 PAUL SZEMERE. 
 
 ECHO. 
 
 Hallgatsz, 's csak sohajtasid lengenck. 
 
 Thou art mute, all but thy sighing— and the tear 
 
 Rolls down thy cheek its sad and silent way ; 
 
 And thou dost turn to mortal men, and say, 
 
 " Pour out your sympathy, and sooth me here." 
 
 Thou dreaming, hapless creature ! learn, that they 
 
 Will turn on thee a cold and listless ear ; 
 
 And thou thy gloomy pilgrimage mayst steer 
 
 Through mists and storms and sorrows. They are gay. 
 
 However dark thy grief ; no sympathy 
 
 Is in their breasts. But come, come to me, 
 
 Who am a mourner too — and I will mourn 
 
 With thee. Hath death distress'd thee ? Tell the name 
 
 Of thy lost love — I will repeat the same, 
 
 And we will weep together o'er her urn. 
 
 [This is the only poem in the Magyar language of which I 
 remember to have seen an English translation. It will be found 
 in Toldy's Handbuch der Ungrischen Poesie, Vol. II. p. 426.] 
 
( 135) 
 
 DOBRENTEI GABOR. 
 
 BORN 1786. 
 
 When, wandering in Hungaria's land, 
 I sought a firm and friendly hand 
 
 To guide me through the path unknown— 
 I, 'midst the Magyar Muses' throng, 
 Leading the Magyar sons of song, 
 
 Heard — would I could resound '.—thine own. 
 
 J.B. 
 
136 GABRIEL BOBRENTEI. 
 
 THE ENTHUSIAST AND PHILOSOPHER 
 
 Hogyan tehat ? 
 
 Enthusiast. " Is't thus ? 
 And if not thus, say how? 
 For a wild fire is burning in my bosom, 
 Which I can quench not — which I cannot guide. 
 I strive to build the fair — to build the fairest 
 Upon the wise — as thou would teach me ; I 
 Would blend my spirit and my heart in one, 
 Making my hymn both beautiful and strong ; 
 That it may teach — and teaching, may transport 
 With ecstacy. I ask, with prayerful tear, 
 My way to fame's bright goal : thou hast the crown — 
 Teach me to win and wear it — I beseech thee, 
 With passionate longings I beseech thee — say, 
 Say — thus? Ah, no! 'tis sweet — but not successful. 
 I cannot reach the bourn — and life to me 
 Is melancholy waste of life!" 
 
 Philos. " Give thy feelings ample room, 
 Time shall soon disperse their gloom. 
 When bound in snows the wild-stream leaves its bed 
 Murmuring ; and as it maddens bears along 
 Rocks, mud, and forest-branches, cans't thou see 
 Young flowers, and the blue heaven upon its face ? 
 
GABRIEL DOBRENTEI. 137 
 
 Thou turns't away in sadness from its waves 
 So troubled— for 'tis purity that charms. 
 And quiet. Think on this, and be at rest. 
 The muse is a soft maiden, whose bright wand, 
 Whose odorous ringlets, flinging light around, 
 Thy lips may kiss. She is not wooed by fierceness, 
 But turns, deep blushing, to her own sweet self, 
 From the wild turbulent grasp of stormy thought. 
 
 " Glow — but glow not with blind and savage heat ; 
 Approach, with gentleness, and she will wake 
 Her own responses from thy feeling breast ; 
 Her bright eye will enkindle loveliest light, 
 Thy soul transporting. Gently, gently come, 
 And she shall press thee to her breast — that breast 
 So soft, so warm — and gently kiss her lips; 
 Her breath shall then impregnate thee — her fires 
 Bear thee aloft above a thousand stars, 
 And summon from thy soul harmonious songs." 
 
138 GABRIEL DOBRENTEI, 
 
 HUSSAR SONG. 
 Sirtal, Anyam, egykor ertem. 
 
 Mother ! dost weep that thy boy's right hand 
 Hath taken a sword for his father-land ? 
 Mother ! where should the brave one be 
 But in the ranks of bravery ? 
 
 Mother I and was it not sad to leave 
 Mine own sweet maiden alone to grieve ? 
 Julia ! where should the brave one be 
 But in the ranks of bravery ? 
 
 Mother ! if thou in death were laid, 
 Julia ! if thou were a treacherous maid ; 
 O then it were well that the brave should be 
 In the front ranks of bravery. 
 
 Mother ! the thought brings heavy tears, 
 And I look round on my youth's compeers ; 
 They have their griefs and loves like me, 
 Touching the brave in their bravery. 
 
GABRIFX DOBRENTEI. 139 
 
 Mother ! my guardian ! O be still ; 
 Maiden ! let hope thy bosom fill ; 
 Kiral* and country ! how sweet to be 
 Battling for both in bravery ! 
 
 Bravery — aye — and victory's hand 
 Shall wreath my Sakif with golden band — 
 And in the camp the shout shall be, 
 O ! how he fought for liberty ! 
 
 * Kiral — King. 
 
 f Saki— the French military cap. 
 
HO GABRIEL DOBRENTEI. 
 
 RULES AND NATURE. 
 
 Olvasom a' regulat, mint kell ezt irni 's amazt is. 
 
 Many a rule have I read of this way of writing and t'other, 
 Chilling and harassing dogmas that dry up the sources 
 of thought. 
 Give me the burst of the heart, the spirit's emphatic out- 
 pourings ; 
 They can awaken my soul, and bid the tear gush from 
 mine eye. 
 Read and inquire — 'tis wise to learn the commandments; 
 then open 
 The sluice of thy soul, and its streams shall flow forth in 
 their glory and power. 
 
( 141 ) 
 
 KISFALUDY KAROLY. 
 
 BORN 1790. 
 
 Par nobile fratrum. 
 
 Minden orom hangot szul, a' bu 's fajdalom ismet, 
 A' kikelet' zoldj£n zeng philoni&la panaszt. 
 
 Ott, hoi ero 's szerelem parul, nines messze az enek : 
 A' nyelv dalra fakad, hogya vezerli szived. 
 
 KlSFALUDY K. 
 
142 CHARLES K1SFALUDY. 
 
 LIFE AND FANCY. 
 
 Dark-vested spirits 
 Hidden in vapours, 
 Point out and fashion 
 Man's gloomy journey ; 
 Thro' his life's myst'ries, 
 Heartless and silent, 
 Over his path- way 
 Sharp thorns they scatter, 
 And with cold grasp 
 They fling the poor mortal 
 In the rough ocean 
 Of time's dreary desert. 
 Loud-foaming billows, 
 Stormy winds struggling, 
 Whelming and whirling 
 Life's little bark ; 
 Now on the wave-top 
 Flung in their fury, 
 Up to the clouds ; 
 Now in abysses 
 Yawning destruction, 
 Deep as the grave : 
 Fearful the struggle — 
 
CHARLES KISFALUDY. 143 
 
 With furies unbridled, 
 Wresting and wrestling 
 In the fierce storm. 
 Now with swoln bosom 
 Drives he for land, 
 Out of the darkness 
 Dawning — but distant, 
 Hope with her smiles 
 Looks from the strand. 
 Lo ! an Aurora, 
 Promising beauty, 
 Pours out bright dew-drops 
 Fluttering with bliss ; 
 Nay ! granite mountains, 
 Spurn back the ocean : 
 Warm is the contest — 
 Back with the waves — 
 And they roll fiercer, 
 While with strong passion 
 Stronger and stronger 
 Strives the poor swimmer ; 
 One drop of water, 
 Fresh, pure, and sparkling, 
 One — and one only, 
 Vainly to reach. 
 Serpents cling round him, 
 Laughing like demons 
 Most when he writhes ; 
 Doubts dreary tempests 
 
144 CHARLES KISFALUDY. 
 
 Rattling above him 
 Chase the sweet dreamings 
 Justice and virtue 
 Waked in the frozen 
 Shrines of his soul. 
 Wild he looks round 
 On the desolate world. 
 Shadows attend him 
 Beckoning and trembling, 
 Mists, glooms, and terrors, 
 Flit o'er the waste. 
 One ray of lightning 
 Now and then brightning 
 O'er his griefs' gloom ; 
 When his eyes weeping 
 In the vast void 
 Sees hope-directed — 
 
 The tomb. 
 Light is descending; 
 See, from the clouds, 
 Dovelets attending, 
 A goddess appears ! 
 Waked by her glances, 
 Beautiful spirits 
 Flit in their transports 
 Through the gay scene ; 
 Dew-drops of heaven 
 Shine in her eyes, 
 Seraphs of brightness 
 
CHARLES KISFALUDY. 145 
 
 Bend from the skies, 
 
 And Edens of bliss 
 
 Out of deserts arise. 
 
 The winds sport together, 
 
 In gentleness blending 
 
 O'er flower-sprinkled fields 
 
 Their cups full of honey, 
 
 Their lips of perfume, 
 
 They dream of delight ; 
 
 All nature is laughing, 
 
 And e'en the grave's height 
 
 Has its bloom. -• 
 
 Man waxes divine, 
 
 And is wafted above ; 
 
 In spring and in beauty, 
 
 In brightness and virtue, 
 
 He clasps to his bosom 
 
 Young nature — in love. 
 
 He feels that his lot 
 
 Is immortal ; the fire 
 
 Of the Godhead within him 
 
 Is burning— still burning, 
 
 And thought ever turning 
 
 To prospects eternal, 
 
 Eternal desire. 
 
 His dust may not waken 
 
 Till heavenly breath 
 
 Has melted the fetters 
 
 Of darkness and death. 
 
 L 
 
146 
 
 CHARLES KISFALUDY. 
 
 He lies on the border, 
 Faint — helpless — till fancy, 
 That sweet mate of reason, 
 Hath broken his fetters, 
 And led him to light. 
 And still let her flight 
 Be unbridled — beyond 
 The precincts of vision, 
 Her glories still weaving 
 In beauty and light. 
 
CHARLES KISFALUDV. 147 
 
 AGES OF LIFE. 
 
 Gyongen ringatva jo auyank' oleben. 
 
 Mid smiling friends and sports, far, far from sorrow, 
 
 Hanging around a mother's lap, we play 
 In the bright sunshine of our childhood's morrow, 
 
 Nor dream of any darker future day : 
 We smile on smiling hours that pass, and borrow 
 
 No gloom from all the mists that dim our way ; 
 But rise and fall on every floating wave, 
 And with each image sweet communion have. 
 
 Each blessed sunbeam in that glorious time 
 Wakes us to never-palling jests and joys ; 
 
 And transport — in those days, unstained by crime, 
 Flings all around her, roses — nor annoys 
 
 Our innocent paths with pains. Though not sublime, 
 Yet sweet as honey dew, the hours when boys 
 
 Dance on the emerald grave-heaps of the dead, 
 
 And upward, heavenward, all their footsteps tread. 
 
 And now the bud of lovely Hope is bursting, 
 And a new life its streams of passion pours ; 
 
 And, like sweet, shadowed dreams, which fancy nurs'd in 
 Our parents' bosoms, all the household shores 
 l2 
 
148 CHARLES KISFALUDY. 
 
 Which seemed so bright and beautiful at first, in 
 
 Dimness are shaded. Yet the spirit soars 
 To something far above its narrow cell, 
 And seeks with brighter thoughts than earth's to dwell. 
 
 There is an impulse bidding us break through 
 Our prison's bounds : a world before us lies 
 
 Gladdened with glories fascinating, new, 
 And fragrant flow'rs and lovely fantasies : 
 
 So the soul waxes strong, and to pursue 
 Its noble destiny and high emprise 
 
 Will wrestle with all foes — all storms will meet, 
 
 Crushing all disappointments 'neath its feet. 
 
 The spirit feels its dignity of birth 
 
 And destination, in the mighty strife 
 It holds with all the storminess of earth : 
 
 It bends not to the yoke of mortal life, 
 But strives at something greater — feels a dearth 
 
 In worldly luxury — in aspirings rife 
 It mounts on mightier wings than time's — and flies 
 To heights which o'er heaven's highest torches rise. 
 
 It clads itself in purple like the morn's, 
 s And walks in its imperial dignity — . 
 Dives to the deepest seats of thought — adorns 
 
 The very dreamings which around us lie-~ 
 Wakes images of light and beauty — scorns 
 
 Th' infirmities of human destiny, 
 
CHARLES KISFALUDY. 149 
 
 Pointing to hope's own pyramid sublime — 
 
 A watch-tower o'er the waves and storms of time. 
 
 First, youth's pure love develops the high source 
 
 Of intellect within him— gives it wings 
 Heavenward to urge its passion-prompted course. 
 
 While to his breast the lovely loved-one clings, 
 Into one maddening moment is the force 
 
 Of all existence flung — and angel-wings 
 Are borrowed for a time — while Hymen's breeze 
 Wafis two united spirits' harmonies. 
 
 And so sweet chains surround us till we die, 
 And when we die, we sleep — we toil, we rest : 
 
 The visions of life's morning-twilight fly — 
 
 Grief cools the life-blood boiling in our breast— . 
 
 The buds arel^lown away— the fruit is nigh — 
 And man by time's strong urgency is press'd. 
 
 On, on to labor — duty must be heard ; 
 
 She speaks in majesty the mighty word, 
 
 " Country !" — the invaders on her bosom tread : 
 Up to the field — he stands among the brave ; 
 
 His cheeks with freedom's roseate glow are red, 
 And he is there to sink, or there to save. 
 
 Amidst the ghastly forms of death, no dread 
 Is his — indifferent if a hero's grave 
 
 Or garland wait him — if he dies, or lives, 
 
 Some brighter pledge he to the future gives, 
 
150 CHARLES KISFALUDY. 
 
 Trembles ? He trembles as the granite trembles, 
 Lashed by the waves ; for the courageous heart 
 
 Bastions of brass around its shrines assembles, 
 Which snap or spurn away the sharpest dart. 
 
 Duty becomes delight, toil joy resembles, 
 And health and bliss are labor's better part ; 
 
 While love for lovely women — and for friend 
 
 Friendship— and tenderness for children — blend, 
 
 Blend in a beauteous light. Creation's power 
 Flings radiance on the soul, and leads it on, 
 
 Firm as a column, through its mortal hour, 
 Stretching for higher recompense. Anon 
 
 Both heaven and earth their benedictions shower 
 On that which is their kindred, and hath won 
 
 Their own reflection — while its torch will light 
 
 Through the world's darkness and its own dark night. 
 
 So speed we — so we sink — so disappear — 
 So fades our little lamp — and so we fade. 
 
 Winter will scatter snow-storms on our bier, 
 
 And midnight mantle darkness round our head — ' 
 
 And graves will yawn — and death, with frown austere. 
 Fill up our hearts with ashes of the dead — 
 
 And joy will be a grief — and lust will pall — 
 
 And all be tasteless, hopeless — heartless "all. 
 
 And all life's painted shadows disappear, 
 While solitude puts out her frozen hand 
 
CHARLES KISFALUDY. 151 
 
 To lead us, hapless, to that unknown sphere 
 Which ignorance has called the promised land, 
 
 And blindness, peace. Cold mistiness is there, 
 Clouding around that superhuman band 
 
 Which shines like moonlight rays upon the waves, 
 
 And rears green altars over mouldering graves. 
 
 It may be — nay ! it is — a sleep as sweet 
 As ever infant slept. 'Tis more : to hope 
 
 Is nothing — confidence and faith are meet 
 For mortals : there is an eternal scope 
 
 For immortality. When death we greet, 
 We greet a resurrection — and we ope 
 
 Heaven's mansions, making room for other mortals 
 
 As death wafts our poor ashes through life's portals. 
 
152 CHARLES KISFALUDY, 
 
 SOUND OF SONG. 
 Miiiden Grom hangot szu'l, a* bu 's fajdalom ismet. 
 
 Joy has its voice — so has grief ! There are eloquent tears ; 
 
 and deep sorrows 
 Melt into songs — in the fields which grow green the sweet 
 
 nightingale sings ; 
 Genius and Love never meet but the spirit of music is near 
 
 them ; 
 When the heart speaks, lend thine ear — lend thine ear, for 
 
 its language is song. 
 
( 153 
 
 KOLCSEY FERENZ. 
 
 BORN 1790. 
 
 Nektek szent legyen e' lant : 'Amor, Gratia, Phosbus. 
 Hangjat Phoebus ada, tuzit 'Amor, Gratia bajat. 
 
 Kolcsey. 
 
154 FRANCIS KOLCSEY. 
 
 LOVELY LENKA. 
 
 Szep Lenka var a' part felett. 
 
 He lingers on the ocean shore, 
 
 The seaman in his boat ; 
 The water-spirit's music o'er 
 
 The ruffled wave doth float. 
 *' Maiden of beauty ! counselled be, 
 The tempest wakes from out the sea." 
 
 " I may not stay," the maiden cried, 
 " Tho' loud the tempest blow; 
 
 That meadow on the water side— 
 That cottage — bids me go. 
 
 That shady grove, that murmurs near, 
 
 Invites me — he I love is there." 
 
 " The wave is high — the storm is loud, 
 And dangers rise anon." — 
 
 " But hope sits smiling on the cloud, 
 Storms drive the vessel on, 
 
 And joy and sorrow both convey 
 
 Man's mortal bark along its way." 
 
 Into the seaman's boat she stept, 
 The helm the seaman took ; 
 
 The storming billows fiercely swept, 
 And all the horizon shook. 
 
FRANCIS KOLCSEY. 155 
 
 The maiden spoke — " Ye fears, be gone ! 
 The storm-wind drives the vessel on." 
 
 " O maiden ! darker is the sky, 
 
 And fiercer is the wind ; 
 Alas ! there is no harbour nigh, 
 
 No refuge can we find. 
 A whirlpool is the angry sea, 
 It will engulph both thee and me." 
 
 " No, seaman ! fortune always shone 
 
 And still will shine on me ; 
 Soon will the stormy clouds be gone, 
 
 And sunbeams calm the sea, 
 And evening bring the promised dove, 
 And evening guide me to my love." 
 
 She turned her to the distant strand, 
 
 (He stood upon the spot) — 
 In sweet delirium stretched her hand, 
 
 And winds and waves forgot. 
 So is love's spirit overfraught 
 With love's intensity of thought. 
 
 He stood — a statue on the shore, 
 
 A pale — ice-hardened form : 
 The billows battling more and more, 
 
 And louder waxed the storm. 
 Clouds-— waves, all mingled—and the boat ? 
 Its scattered planks asunder float. 
 
156 FRANCIS KOLCSEY. 
 
 Where is she ? Ask the storm ! for he 
 
 No single tear has shed ; 
 And he ? Go ask the silent sea — 
 
 Its echoes answer " Dead !" 
 I held communion with its waves, 
 But could not find the lovers' graves. 
 
FRANCIS KOLCSEY. 157 
 
 BOAT SONG. 
 
 Ultem csolnakomban. 
 
 O'er th' unsteady wavelets 
 
 I my boat sped, 
 Heard the crane's wing fluttering 
 
 Over my head ; 
 Thou, heaven's pilgrim, flying 
 
 O'er land and sea, 
 Would it were my privilege 
 
 To fly with thee. 
 
 Wisely art thou seeking 
 
 Some fairer clime, 
 Springtide's vernal beauties, 
 
 Summer's bright time ; 
 Thy blest track I follow, 
 
 With thee I roam, 
 Seek a better country 
 
 And a sweet home. 
 
 Seek a home of sweetness 
 
 'Neath heaven's blue, 
 Where no winter darkens, 
 
 No noisome dew : 
 
158 FRANCIS KOLCSEY. 
 
 Where are lovely rainbows 
 Made by hope bright, 
 
 Morning waking morning, 
 Glorious in light. 
 
 Thro 1 the verdant branches, 
 
 Soft west- winds sigh ; 
 Near my hut a streamlet 
 
 Glides gently by. 
 Boat ! may God be with thee — 
 
 Thou stormy strand ! 
 See my sweet one calls me, 
 
 Waving her hand. 
 
 O'er th' unsteady wavelets, 
 
 I my boat sped, 
 Heard the crane's wing fluttering 
 
 Over my head; 
 Fly, thou heavenly pilgrim, 
 
 O'er earth and sea, 
 But my fate forbids me 
 
 To fly with thee. 
 
FRANCIS KoLCSEY, 159 
 
 TO FANCY. 
 
 Come, bright-eyed Fancy, smiling, and unlock me 
 
 Those dreamy regions where thou reignest yet ; 
 In thy bright cradle curtain me and rock me, 
 
 As Venus rocks young Cupid, her sweet pet. 
 As through life's dark and solitary forest 
 
 I tread, surround me with thy balmy air ; 
 Let the glad notes of melody thou pourest, 
 
 Be like the nightingales' that warble there. 
 
 Dreaming upon thy lap, I call the maiden 
 
 Mine, who is mine no longer — and am blest ; 
 Dreaming upon thy lap — though sorrow-laden, 
 
 I find in silent tears the thought of rest. 
 Thou misery's burden wondrously dost lighten, 
 
 And minglest joy with such creative power, 
 That shadow'd doubts, to hope, to rapture, brighten, 
 
 And patience dawns upon the troubled hour. 
 
 A dark blue veil upon the future lowers, 
 
 And hides my coming doom — -in vain I gaze ; 
 
 While from my heart a flame of light uptowers, 
 Flinging its radiance o'er departed days. 
 
160 FRANCIS KoLCSEY. 
 
 The present's narrow limits swifily widen, 
 And joy drives sorrow from the path of life ; 
 
 Sweet roses bloom beneath my feet unbidden, 
 While beauty takes the seat of woe and strife. 
 
 Then come the sylphids on their downy pinions ; 
 
 Then bows Favonius from his cloudy throne ; 
 Joy builds a shrine in the green earth's dominions, 
 
 And I hang smiling o'er my loving one. 
 So lives the butterfly — amidst the blisses 
 
 Of the fresh breeze enamour'd — on his bliss; 
 So — the sweet lips of balmy flowers he kisses, 
 
 Flowers that give back again his eager kiss. 
 
{ 161 ) 
 
 TOTH LASZLO. 
 
 BORN 1793— DIED 1820. 
 
 Tovis kozt nyiltanak ibolyaid 
 
 ^S te dal-hos hattyukent zengel felettek, 
 
 Sirtak sokan, sirtak mind kik szerettek, 
 
 "S koran n6mtiltak edes ajkaid. 
 
 Felbajlad a' Helle n£v' titkait, 
 
 A' hosek tetti Pharuszkent vezettek, 
 
 Magas zengtokben htirjaid repedtek, 
 
 "S csak a' sir szello sirja karjaid. 
 
 Harmoiiiava lettek zengemenyid, 
 
 A v szellemnek lehiilt por-bilincse 
 
 Uldozve hogy konny6t tobbe ne hincse. 
 
 Szarnyakra keltek hajnallo remenyid 
 
 Dagadt kebledbd'l sz£t folyt-eneked 
 
 *S itt a' Hou ott Muzsad font dijt neked. 
 
 Kovacsoczy. 
 
 M 
 
162 
 
 LADISLAUS ToTH. 
 
 GODDESS OF YOUTH. 
 
 Teged udvozlek, kegyes Isteo Aszszouy. 
 
 Goddess benignant — Hera's lovely daughter 
 Hebe ! rewarder thou of deeds heroic — 
 Bride of Heracles — he who in Olympus 
 Gloriously won thee. 
 
 Praise waits on thee — who on the Gods outpourest 
 Blessings — thy nectar gives renewing beauty ; 
 Kindling fresh life for him to whom thy goblet, 
 Smiling, thou givest. 
 
 Jove is immortal ; but as years roll onwards, 
 Joyous he drinks of the perfumed ambrosia ; 
 Nectar of heaven — though by thy fair hand proffered, 
 Zeus despiseth. 
 
 Pour it for me, for me, beloved Goddess ! 
 Give me some drops of thy delicious nectar ; 
 Joyful Pll wing me, for departure ready, 
 E'en in youth's spring-time. 
 
LADfSLAUS ToTIf. 163 
 
 THE PLAYFUL EROS.* 
 
 I was a boy, and a beautiful maid was my friend and 
 
 companion ; 
 Hers was I then— but no passion had yet been aroused in 
 
 our breasts. 
 Love found us sporting, and flung his smiles and his 
 
 glances as wonted. 
 
 EPOS 'O IIAI2I STMITAISON. 
 
 Ila^ en uv icpiXovv v.w§txv riva, kom //.' icf)lka<T£u 
 
 'A k6§cc, ov Se Trypb? r,cr^6[X£^' iv icpaS/ot. 
 '^HAS'e §' 6 ita7c, Yivita&oq, kou crvfAnccicroviri ica^idxac, 
 
 A' JATSZ6 EROSZ. 
 
 Egy lyanynak voltam gyermek lettemre baratja, 
 
 'S 6 az eny£m : sziviink nem tuda semmi tiizet. 
 Kuprisz gyermeke jatszva talalt's k6rt nyajasan egykor : 
 
 * The Greek compositions of Toth liave been much admired, 
 and I take this occasion to give the original of one of them, with 
 his Magyar version. 
 
 M 2 
 
164 LADISLAUS ToTH. 
 
 " Friends ! may a stranger," he said — " may a stranger 
 
 take part in your sports ?" 
 " Come !" cried we both ; but the sports that he taught us 
 
 were speedily alter'd ; 
 Loving together we played, but childish companions no 
 
 more. 
 
 5jV[A.'7tai'C l £W fllMV COV £fV0$ 7JT££T0. 
 
 Ae^ajxe^' cvv tov icoito 9 b tz naiyvia kcuvcx, t^d^aq 
 Upeiyptv (piktav sl<; egov 'faeregav. 
 
 Engednok koztunk jatszani 6t idegent. 
 Elfogad<5k : de azonnal 6 uj jateltra tanitott, 
 'S jatszank mar szeretok, nem csupa tarsak egyutt. 
 
( 165) 
 
 SZENTMIKLOSSY ALOJS. 
 
 BORN 1793. 
 
 Csak m6hk6nt izleld mezet e 9 gyenge viragnak. 
 
 SZENTMIKLOSSY, 
 
166 ALOJS SZENTMlKLoSSY. 
 
 LOVE'S FESTIVAL. 
 
 There are dark clouds upgathered in the heavens, 
 And the full moon can hardly look them through ; 
 All nature sleeps, wrapp'd round in misty dew, 
 And the stars shine not, while in slumber's arms 
 All find repose ; life's heavy load forgot. 
 All ? No ! I in the green shade slumber not ; - 
 For a transporting hope holds all my soul, 
 Round me the fragrant clouds of Jasmines roll. 
 'Twas here — 'twas here she spoke at eventide ; 
 Here said, Farewell ! And will she come again 
 When fair Chitona fills her lamp ? — In vain 
 I wait — that lamp is filled. Where tarries she ? 
 Impatience, weary of her lingering, stands, 
 And doubt comes on the mind o'erwhelmingly. 
 
 She comes ! she comes ! — I hear the rustling leaves; 
 Nay, 'twas the trembling which my sighs awaken, 
 As gliding thro' the branches idly shaken ; 
 They rouse delusive thought, which only grieves. 
 What, what forbids her to these arms to flee ! 
 Why would she make of love a mockery ? 
 Why will she trifle with my misery ? Why ? 
 O ye warm-breathings of my bosom — plaints 
 Of deepest-drawn emotion — hasten — fly — 
 
ALOJS SZENTMIKLoSSY. 167 
 
 Break on her proud repose — arouse and melt 
 Her frozen sympathies — awake, inspire 
 The sleeping passion, the concealed desire, 
 And make her feel what I so long have felt. 
 
 What ! do I feel those round and beauteous arms, 
 White as the snows, enfolding me ? 'Tis thou ! 
 O thou art pouring streams of transport now, 
 And my heart beats 'gainst thine — O how it beats ! 
 The raptures of thy spirit mine repeats — 
 And misery flies from mine exalted brow. 
 
 From thy sweet looks what peace and calmness flow ! 
 
 The clouds are all departing, 
 
 And from thine eyes a flame of beauty darting, 
 
 Kindles the stars. The heaven's bright blue 
 
 Smiles like a Lotos flower, and nightingales 
 
 Float their rich harmonies, 
 
 While odorous flow'r-sweets hang amidst the trees, 
 
 And silver- voices, in tuned madrigals, 
 
 Hang on the wings of love, breathing delight ; 
 
 All joy and blessings all — while this sweet place 
 
 Anadiomen's temple is — to lull 
 
 Our spirits to a rest so beautiful, 
 
 That here we may build up that temple bright 
 
 Where love's best incense shall the altar grace. 
 
168 ALOJS SZENTMIKLOSSV. 
 
 THE FLOWER-GATHERER, 
 
 Kisded viragos. 
 
 The lovely Chloe plucks a rose 
 From the gay garden where it grows, 
 And from its cup a wild bee flew, 
 Which from her lips drank honey too. 
 I heard it whisper, " This perfume 
 Is sweeter far than flow'ret's bloom.'* 
 Be gone, I say, thou miscreant bee ! 
 That odorous cup is not for thee ; 
 Those lips are sacred unto one ; 
 Those sweets distill'd for me alone. 
 
ALOJS SZENTMIKLOSSY. 169 
 
 MY WISH. 
 
 'Aon' berkeiben zaj nelkul folyjon-ei Altera. 
 
 Tranquil my love shall glide o'er the pastures Aonian, 
 Like to the crystal stream by verdant myrtles o'ershaded ; 
 Tho' a dark cloud sometimes may spread o'er heaven its 
 
 mantle, 
 Love, like the sun, shall chase its fugitive darkness ; and 
 
 calmly 
 Waiting the end, I'll look with cheerful eye on the future. 
 Sinking at last in peace in the lovely arms of the maiden, 
 Springs on my grave shall wake their ever-reviving 
 
 beauties, 
 Sweet forget-me-not shall bloom where my body reposes. 
 
170 ALOJS SZENTMIKLoSSY. 
 
 TO MY FAIR ONE. 
 
 Hogy szorhat villamot, bar mosolyogjon is, a' meiiny. 
 
 That heaven with smiles sends lightning flashes out, 
 No one who sees thy lips and eyes can doubt. 
 
ALOJS SZENTMIKLoSSY. 171 
 
 THE MISTAKE. 
 
 The spring is come ! the spring is come ! I heard the 
 
 nightingale rejoice ; 
 List to his warblings. deceit ! it was my Lollis' silver 
 
 voice. 
 
( 172) 
 
 VOROSMARTY MIHAL. 
 
 BORN 1800. 
 
 Vorosmarty's Leistungen gehoren zu den merkwurdigsten Er- 
 scheinungen in der neueru Ungrischen Litteratur. 
 
 Schedel, Iris, 1825, p. 207. 
 
. MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 173 
 
 LOVELY MAID. 
 
 Ho, vagy hab, vagy csillag r€mlik. 
 
 Is't snow, or star, or wavelet, 
 
 In the valley's depth that plays ? 
 'Tis neither — but a meteor 
 
 That sparkles — that betrays. 
 
 Neither snow, nor star, nor wavelet, 
 
 Is crown'd with ringlet hair ; 
 But a maiden crown'd with ringlets, 
 
 Bathes in the streamlet there. 
 
 With grace beyond expression 
 
 She bows her lovely head ; 
 Her hand holds up a flow'ret, 
 
 By those sweet waters fed. 
 
 The wind is whispering secrets 
 
 Into that maiden's ear ; 
 The branches trembling round her, 
 
 Seem all attracted near. 
 
 How swiftly would I bend me, 
 
 Were I but one of these ! 
 How fondly would I kiss her, 
 
 Were I a heavenly breeze ! 
 
174 MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 
 
 Around her beauteous members, 
 Delighted fishes play ; 
 
 The rivulet, hush'd to silence, 
 Long tarries on its way. 
 
 Still longer should I tarry, 
 Were I that silent stream ; 
 
 But midst those fish to revel, 
 Would be the bliss supreme. 
 
 Ne'er would I leave those waters, 
 Where tread that maiden's feet 
 
 But kiss and kiss untiring, 
 And die in bliss so sweet. 
 
 But how ! my eyes deceive me ; 
 
 This dream — tho' bright it be- 
 Is but a mortal likeness 
 
 Of one less fair than she. 
 
 As in her beauteous shadow, 
 All earthly beauties fade ; 
 
 So fades the maid's fair shadow, 
 Before the fairer maid. 
 
 'Twas but a feeble picture, 
 'Twas but a shadow rude, 
 
 That playing in the wavelets, 
 In maiden beauty stood. 
 
MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 175 
 
 Far lovelier in her sorrow, 
 
 On the ocean strand afar, 
 She stood — of love and feeling 
 
 The more than magic-star. 
 
176 MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 
 
 CSERHALOM. 
 
 Nema borogassal megy az 6'skor' lelke, folotted. 
 EXTRACT. 
 
 Round thee the soul of the past in the shadowy vapors of 
 
 silence, 
 Cserhalom ! wanders. Thou needst no pillars of bronze in 
 
 thy memory ; 
 Thou art a pillar thyself— a mountain of victory and battle. 
 Nature thee reared in her might and her majesty — building 
 Piles o'er ephemeral dust. No fugitive record of mortals 
 Thou, for thy head tow'rs aloft, and will tow'r, through all 
 
 ages undying — 
 Record and witness to tell of the fame of our valorous 
 
 fathers. 
 Arpad's dominions were peril'd in Solomon's dangerous 
 
 rule-time ; 
 Still it stood firm and unshaken — in strength of unperish- 
 
 ing manhood's 
 Heroes undaunted : and most in the happier days of their 
 
 concord ; 
 Countless their enemies' graves, as countless their enemies' 
 
 armies. 
 
MICHAEL VORoSMARTY. 177 
 
 Like a tall rock, that towers from the earth with a double- 
 crown'd summit, 
 
 Reaching to heav'n— from the east and from west reaching 
 upwards to heaven ; 
 
 Sunshine and day on its sides, while its brow is o'erturban'd 
 in darkness ; 
 
 Round it the lightning plays till weary, like innocent 
 childhood ; 
 
 Fixed are its roots in the earth, in its greatness and gran- 
 deur reposing : 
 
 Such was the land of Arpad, and the storms and the flash- 
 ings of danger 
 
 Roll'd unmolestingly by — all harmless the rage and the 
 thunder. 
 
 Then with his armies went forth, like the light-giving beam 
 of the noontide, 
 
 Solomon Kiral, with twain of the noblest and choicest of 
 heroes, 
 
 Bela's descendants — wise G£za, and he of the battle-axe, 
 Laszl6 — 
 
 Laszlo the terrible : both seemed bright as the blessing of 
 heaven. 
 
 Courage and power were theirs, and the union of tempe- 
 rate prudence 
 
 Shielded the land from the day of precipitate fall and per- 
 dition. 
 
 Lingering is now the course of the struggle of Sajo and 
 Mohacs ; 
 
 N 
 
178 MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 
 
 Tears flow forth from the eyes of the noblest son of his 
 
 country, 
 Laszlo. Doth Laszlo tremble? — the brave, the terrible 
 
 Laszl6 ? 
 Cserhalom ! thy proud brow is the proudest summit of 
 
 triumph. 
 
 Prince of the Kunians, Ozul — now where, with thy pas- 
 sionate legions ? 
 
 Backwards thy banners are blown with the breath of the 
 north wind chilling : 
 
 Thrice hath thy steed wheeled round — he will not bear 
 thee onward. 
 
 Look ! for the birds of prey are screaming frightfully o'er 
 thee, 
 
 Gathering together in crowds — the famishing broods are 
 impatient, 
 
 Waiting to feed their fill of thy multitudinous warriors ; 
 
 Lo ! how they hasten now ! for their glorious festival 
 longing. 
 
 There, as the wolf invades the fold of the shepherd, and 
 ruthless 
 
 Plunders, ravages, raves, 'midst the terror-struck flocks, till 
 the sheep-dogs 
 
 Howl in the distance, the dogs with the spike-girded col- 
 lars — the shepherd 
 
 Steps o'er the threshold, excited, the terrified robber pur- 
 suing, — 
 
MICHAEL VoRdSMARTY. 179 
 
 So in their murderous purpose the enemy came, and Nyerseg 
 Ravaged. Their footsteps of violence crushed all the fruits 
 
 of the Theiss, while 
 Blood spouted forth on her sands. Bihar saw the terrible 
 
 ruins — 
 Saw— 'twas too late : death sat on the gloom-cover'd brows 
 
 of the valiant ; 
 Grey-headed men o'er the dead sigh'd despairingly; all 
 
 their life-currents 
 Flow'd like a slow stream of bitterness. Babes on their 
 
 cradles disorder'd, 
 Wept in their innocent woe ; their mothers, OzuFs cruel 
 
 bandits 
 Led bound in cords : heavy chains they fetter'd on youths 
 
 and on maidens, 
 Driv'n into slavery — slavery hopeless of any redemption. 
 There was old Ernyei shorn of his fortune — one treasure, 
 
 one only ; 
 She of the auburn hair — Etelke — Etelke the lovely : 
 Nay! not Etelke — how hollow and heavy the sound of 
 
 " Etelke ! 
 " O, had I delved thy grave, had I made thee a bed on the 
 
 silent 
 Bosom of earth, I had known it ! If whelmed in the stream 
 
 of the Danube, 
 Borne on the fawn-color'd waters, pursued by an army of 
 
 fishes, 
 Still I had known it ! If, gather'd in desolate sadness and 
 sorrows, 
 
 N 2 
 
180 MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 
 
 Youths round thy death-couch were crowded, still, still 
 
 Shall my spirit 
 Sink in despair ? No ! I'll suffer and breathe resignation. 
 Blessed be God!— I look round me— I look — but mine 
 
 eyes can see nothing. 
 Loudly I call — and I hear but the echoes. Tears fall on 
 
 my bosom. 
 Groaning I ask, Doth a God still dwell in the precincts of 
 
 heaven — 
 One who old Ernyei hears and pities? Or, visiting 
 
 error, 
 Awfully flings he his bolts at the sins which stand blazing 
 
 before him ?" 
 So mourned the wretched old man, and buckled about him 
 
 his weapons, 
 Trembling. The King rises up; and the fame-covered 
 
 children of Bela 
 On to the field — 'twas in haste and in gloom — they were 
 
 girded for battle. 
 
 Round the hill, like clouds, the hosts of Ozul were col- 
 lected : 
 
 He, 'neath gorgeous tent, was laid on magnificent carpets : 
 
 Under his feet was his club ; at his head was the battle 
 trumpet ; 
 
 Stuck on his spear his cap ; but his sword to his side was 
 belted; 
 
 Firm in his terrible hand the sheath : around him singers 
 and dancers 
 
MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 181 
 
 Sported, and spread the spoil ; while sad and beautiful 
 
 women 
 Sung of OzuPs proud feats, and the horrible days of car- 
 nage. 
 Bonger's son alone, the stately one, Arbocz, scornful 
 Stood in the crowd, and flung his hate and his pride around 
 
 him. 
 He, like the eagle watching the timorous brood, seems to 
 
 linger 
 Most when most longing to pounce on the prey. In the" 
 
 silent 
 Rapture of joy and of fear in the circle he stood, where 
 
 approaching, 
 Fair as a statue of marble, Etelke, the brown-hair'd, the 
 
 lovely 
 Near'd. She looked round, if the dust of the plain by the 
 
 army of Laszl6 
 Rose — if her father were there with the well-known, the 
 
 wind-flapping banners. 
 All, all was silence — all silence— except the loud tones of 
 
 the mirthful 
 Girdling thy limits, Cserhalom ! and echo returned the 
 
 rejoicings. 
 Laszlo" appear'd not then — the wind-flapping banner ap- 
 
 pear'd not, 
 Held by her father aloft : but, many a youthful one greet- 
 ing. 
 Arbocz approach'd, whose eye was still fixed on the face of 
 
 the maiden. 
 
182 MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 
 
 First was the silence broke by the voice of the dark-eyed 
 Kodor : 
 
 " Beauteous is the swan, when calmly from heaven de- 
 scending 
 
 Towards his well-loved home from foreign and distant 
 waters : 
 
 Gracefully glides he on o'er his natural lake, while above him 
 
 Moon and stars scatter round their exquisite light-rays of 
 silver. 
 
 Thou, Bonger's fortunate son ! the maiden is far more 
 lovely ; 
 
 Whiter her breast than the snowy down of the swan's 
 snowy bosom. 
 
 See, she weeps, she weeps. Go, Arbocz— the tears of the 
 mourner 
 
 Dry ; on her brows sits hot sweat — and see, for her fore- 
 head is burning." 
 
 Frowningly look'd the son of Bonger, the stately one, 
 Arbocz : 
 
 " Light-thoughted Kodor ! enough of such sportive and 
 frivolous language ; 
 
 Words such as thine may provoke — I can bear them an 
 instant — no longer." 
 
 Kodor retired ; but there came a legion of boisterous com- 
 rades : 
 
 One thus laughingly spake : " Arbocz, I pray, if thou love 
 me, 
 
 Sell me one smile of the prisoner. She turns— how 
 lovely her motions ! 
 
MICHAEL VOllOSMARTY. 183 
 
 Covering her brow — what a languishing look ! what a 
 
 beautiful figure ! 
 Exquisite grace when she stirs ! — 'tis the beautiful bend of 
 
 the wavelet. 
 Speaks she r Ten pieces of gold would I give for each 
 
 word that she utters. 
 Give me her smile, and I'll give thee my bow with the 
 
 costly adornings." 
 " Arbocz," another cried — " thou foolish one ! leave me 
 
 an instant 
 Resting beneath the shade of her auburn hair, and my 
 
 spirit 
 More shall joy than to steal the pearls of a thousand oceans." 
 Then a third appear' d and began : " Thou art far too 
 
 flighty; 
 I alone deserve an exquisite word to utter. 
 Maiden ! thou dost right well not to hide thy feet so lovely ; 
 Beautiful they as the piles of the foam which the wind 
 
 awakens : 
 Happy indeed were I, could I bow me down and kiss 
 
 them. 
 May I not watch the print of her exquisite footsteps, Ar- 
 bocz ? 
 Prints she leaves in the sands ; on my shield I'll engrave 
 
 them, and bear them 
 Over the earth till I find a maiden whose foot-print shall 
 
 match them." 
 Dember the strong, Czika's son, was of all the most met- 
 tlesome youth there ; 
 
184 MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 
 
 Rosy his cheeks, while his locks fell in light-color'd shocks 
 
 on his shoulders ; 
 Slender and tall was his form ; his glance was a sharp- 
 pointed dagger ; 
 Stormy his soul when the flame flashed forth of the good 
 
 and the lovely. 
 Forward he sprung — saw the maid — was astounded — and 
 
 eloquent language 
 Burst unprepared from his lips : " Heaven certainly means 
 
 to chastise thee, 
 Arbocz, who steal est its gems — or the maid steals its beauty 
 
 from heaven — 
 Punished on earth for a while. No woman e'er bore such 
 
 a beauty ; 
 Milk never fed her ; she drank alone the ambrosia of Eden. 
 Breezes play timidly round her, and exquisite dews of the 
 
 morning 
 Damp her fair cheeks, which are fairer — aye, fairer by far, 
 
 than Aurora's, 
 Aurora's that blush with deep hues of shame and of jealousy 
 
 mingled. 
 Look on her eye — it has nought that is earthly — 'tis like a 
 
 black fragment 
 Torn from the midnight, and flung on the sun's burning 
 
 centre. Its glory 
 Not brighter than that of her glances. Speak, Arbocz ! — - 
 
 from morning I'll pray thee ; 
 Bring thee the sun and the torches of heaven to purchase 
 
 the maiden : 
 
MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 185 
 
 She is my life-giving day-light— beyond her all shadows 
 
 and darkness — 
 Darkness and nothingness all." But the maiden stood 
 
 trembling in sorrow. 
 Arbocz towVd up erect o'er the crowd ; he look'd on them 
 
 fiercely ; 
 Half unsheath'd his sword while he spoke : " Are ye more ? 
 
 Have ye fi nish'd ? 
 Babblers ! what would ye ? Have I — have I interrupted 
 
 your pleasures ? 
 Why will ye weary the ears with your childish and spirit- 
 less prattle ? 
 Fling yourselves off — far too long have I borne ye : and, 
 
 idle ones ! listen : 
 One — aye, one single word more of such insolent jeers, 
 
 and 'twere better, 
 Far better, the jeerer from birth had been blind and been 
 
 dumb ; for I'll smite him 
 With blindness and speechlessness here on the spot where 
 
 he sports with his insults." 
 Said— and the youths gather'd round the intemperate, pas- 
 sionate stormer : 
 Dember held fast his sword. Arbocz his harangue had but 
 
 ended 
 When the proud Ozul came forward, and glanced at the 
 
 maiden : 
 " Truly, 'twas not in vain Arbocz in the battle- tents tarried ; 
 He guards a beautiful treasure : but list to the word of. 
 
 Ozul now. 
 
186 MICHAEL VoRdSMARTY. 
 
 Give the maiden to me— and instead, take my daughter, 
 
 young Zeje ; 
 Rich is she in song, and bright as the brightest starlet ; 
 Softer is she than dew — and never has slept on man's 
 
 bosom. 
 Five good battle steeds of the strongest, swiftest, and 
 
 youngest, 
 Saddled, with gold and with riches caparison'd, cheerfully 
 
 give I. 
 This — yes, and more, will I give to the fortunate hero who 
 
 wins her." 
 Swift did Bonger's son, the stately one, Arbocz, answer : 
 " Victory-crown'd Ozul ! I give thee all thanks and all 
 
 honor ; 
 Great is thy favor to me — to me, last and least of thy 
 
 heroes — 
 Offering thy Zeje. Forgive my rejection : in vain from 
 
 the maiden 
 Strive I to tear my heart ; my heart she hath steadfastly 
 
 fetter'd. 
 Noble thy gifts, I own ; thy presents well worthy of princes ; 
 Yet, could thy battle steeds fly as swift as the swift winds 
 
 of heaven- 
 Were the trappings of gold pluck' d forth from the stars of 
 
 the concave, 
 Dazzling and glorious — in vain were they weigh'd in ex- 
 change for the maiden. 
 If ever dishearten'd in battle thou find me, produce her — 
 my courage 
 
MICHAEL VoROSMARTY. 187 
 
 Will wake and be worthy of thee." Thus Arbocz. Then 
 
 answer'd the hero, 
 " True, thou art proud ; but thy pride shall enkindle no 
 
 hatred towards thee : 
 Still, if thou long for the strife, being far more imprudent 
 
 than valiant, 
 Know that my arm shall overwhelm thee, and give the fair 
 
 maid to my servant." 
 " Never !" cried Arbocz — and, stinging with passion, he 
 
 started and seized his 
 Sword, while his rage brought blood to his eye-balls, glaring 
 
 with fury. 
 Ozfd withdrew with the youths. And such were the plea- 
 sant discussions 
 Gathering the people together. By Ernyei's trump-call 
 
 assembled, 
 Solomon's armies came : in might with the troops of the 
 
 monarch, 
 Geza was there, and the mighty one, Laszlo" : in furious 
 
 disorder 
 Pour'd they, a river resistless, o'er Bihar's all desolate 
 
 borders. 
 Arbocz grew calm at last, though vexation was rife within 
 
 him : 
 Spreading round him a mantle light, o'er his shield the 
 
 striped skin of the tiger, 
 Then he dried the tears of the maiden with gentle endear- 
 ment; 
 
188 MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 
 
 Low at her feet he sat, pouring words of love and of com- 
 fort. 
 
 Once did the maiden ope her pure and rose-tinged lips, 
 which 
 
 Breathed such beautiful tones, that the very breezes caught 
 them : 
 
 " Hero ! thou wert begot by a strong and generous father ; 
 
 Born of a joyous mother at morning's loveliest dawning. 
 
 Thou, thou didst grieve me not ; thou lettedst not others 
 grieve me ; 
 
 Soothing the prisoner's pang, and easing the chains of 
 bondage. 
 
 So, when I utter prayer, and sink at the Deity's footstool, 
 
 All thy fondest hopes shall mingle with my petitions. 
 
 Thee would I preserve in the bloody perils of battle ; 
 
 Thee, from the edge of the sword. Let thy destiny keep 
 thee from peril. 
 
 Hither, O hither, approach not. The lioness rearing her 
 cubs, the 
 
 Dragon that wastes the south, are milder when raging in 
 fury 
 
 Than the herd of the three-crown'd hill, than the fruitful 
 sons of Hunnia. 
 
 He rushes — they all arise — the youth are gather'd toge- 
 ther ; 
 
 Love's very wreaths forgot in that fearful hour of danger. 
 
 Power, powerful though it be, by a mightier power is van- 
 quish'd : 
 
MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 189 
 
 Aggression but calls up more terrible aggression. 
 
 Prince of the battle-axe — he, the dreadful and terrible 
 
 smiter, 
 Laszl6 — he only— he goes with his army to fight and to 
 
 conquest. 
 Arbocz, behold ! Well I know the troops of Ozul came to 
 
 ravage. 
 Perchance thou dost curse me — while I fain would find thee 
 
 a shelter of safety. 
 Fly ! fly ! I tell thee — aye, fly as far as thou canst — lest the 
 
 mountain 
 Cserhalom swallow thee up with the hosts of the overthrown 
 
 foemen, 
 Crush'd, blown away in the dust, by Solomon's far-spread- 
 ing army. 
 Come, rather lead me to dwell in the far distant hall of my 
 
 father : 
 He, white-hair'd old man, tears his hair in his sadness 
 
 and sorrow. 
 Come — when he sees us approach, he'll thank thee with 
 
 tears — O believe me ! 
 Thank thee with tears — who restorest his daughter— -and 
 
 cheerfully give thee 
 All that thou wilt to redeem me. Thy path is before thee 
 
 all darkness : 
 Stumbles thy war-steed there : it is cover'd with heaps of 
 
 the dying : 
 Birds of prey hover o'er. When the night and its clouds 
 
 are approaching, 
 
190 MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 
 
 Enemies gird thee round. ' Who is here ?' thou inquirest. 
 
 No answer. 
 Look on Oziil, for the moon shines bright on his blood- 
 
 cover'd forehead. 
 Nay ! thou wilt save the child, the child of the snowy-hair' d 
 
 hero; 
 Or wilt thou haste to the field, to the sorrow-clad field of 
 
 thy brethren ?" 
 Arbocz with gloomy heart to the words of the prisoner 
 
 listen'd ; 
 Still he repressed the storm of his easily- waken'd anger, 
 Look'd on the maiden's face and answer'd her — " Lovely 
 
 Etelke ! 
 Dreams, vain dreams, are these : words never made heroes 
 
 tremble : 
 Men, with murderous weapons, alone do this. But a mai- 
 den's 
 Menace ! — Nay ! Roses close their beautiful lips till the 
 
 morning 
 Warms their bosom anew with the light and joy of the sun- 
 shine ; 
 Dews on the leaflets shake, and the winds of the valley 
 
 blow gently ; 
 Then unveil they their charms, then fling they their smiles 
 
 around them : 
 So, if thou hide thy head in the clouds, the gloom is but 
 
 transient ; 
 Dark for an instant thine eyes, by those beautiful eye-brows 
 
 o'ershaded ; 
 
MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 191 
 
 Soon do they shine, as the rainbow the south-seeking sun 
 
 paints so gaily. 
 Sad art thou, maiden, and anxious — yet sportive and smil- 
 ing thou seemest ; 
 Lovelier far, and thy cheeks are more beautiful, hiding thy 
 
 sorrow. 
 List, and I'll tell thee why Arbocz elected thee : — 
 
 Maiden ! 
 Never again shall we reach the cherish'd abode of thy 
 
 comrades. 
 Joyful they sit in the porch, while they hear the old song 
 
 of the battle; 
 Pledging some distant companion — not knowing how idly 
 
 they pledge him 
 The death-glass — and he whom they pledge is departed for 
 
 ever. We hasten 
 On, on ; and in faith all your heroes may cut through the 
 
 far slower south- wind — 
 Follow the shadows that flit in the frown-curtain'd regions 
 
 of darkness, 
 Stretching in giant stride, like ghosts that grow- huger in 
 
 distance. 
 Truly, they never shall reach us ; and great is their fortune 
 
 and favor, 
 Spared by our darts, which might bring them the message 
 
 of death. But I'll bring thee 
 Home to some isle of the ocean, that smiles in the beams 
 
 of the morning ; 
 
192 MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 
 
 Sweetest the song of the nightingale, greenest the leaves 
 
 of the forest, 
 Softest the sounds of the winds, and brightest the azure 
 
 of heaven : 
 Apples of exquisite taste hang there on the ground-kissing 
 
 branches. 
 Thee shall no bird overtake — faint and feeble the flight 
 
 of the eagle ; 
 Tracking our course, shall he droop on his whirling and 
 
 wearisome pinions. 
 Tiresome the way for man ; not one of a thousand can 
 
 pass it. 
 Even the man thou didst name, the man of the battle-axe, 
 
 dreadful 
 Laszl6 — aye, cleanse he thy land for his followers — know, 
 
 he shall perish, 
 Perish— and all the wave's monsters shall feed on the wrecks 
 
 of his armies. 
 He — when his armour of brightness invites the great fish 
 
 of the ocean, 
 Moving glibly on, while the soak'd and wandering members 
 Fall in his man-devouring maw — shall die. Dost grieve 
 
 thou art helpless ? 
 Nothing thy pride can do 'gainst power. Far better the 
 
 transports 
 Love will give in the grasp of an age of youthful vigor. 
 Scorn not bliss that asks thy welcoming, but dispose thee, 
 Maid, for love — my hand— my hand of faith do I proffer. 
 
MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 193 
 
 Say, wilt be the slave, or rather the sovereign, of Arbocz ?" 
 
 Craftily thus he spoke, and bade her forget her country — 
 
 Bade her make him alone the care and love of her bosom. 
 
 Silly one ! O'er the plain the armies of bronze are shining ; 
 
 Dust in clouds upsoars, and crowds of heroes are coming. 
 
 " Talpra vitez !" * exclaim'd Ozul in his haughtiest bid- 
 ding; 
 
 " Talpra vitez !" around Cserhalom's borders was echoed. 
 
 Shouts and cries were heard where the Kunians march'd 
 with their weapons. 
 
 Arbocz trembled then — looking round with fright and 
 terror, 
 
 Like a sleeping man who is roused by the rumbling of 
 thunder : 
 
 So he stood — and the dreams of his folly and lust were 
 scatter'd ; 
 
 Other thoughts were his than the thoughts of the fair 
 Etelke. 
 
 Horrors came o'er his soul, like waves on the ocean trou- 
 bled. 
 
 Soon did the armorist come— he came with his lance and 
 charger. 
 
 Frighten'd, the lovely maid had hasten'd to meet him ; yet 
 pleasure, 
 
 Pleasure was in her soul, though tears in her eye — tears 
 of gladness : 
 
 * On, Warriors ! 
 o 
 
194 MICHAEL VOROSMARTY. 
 
 Yet she wept — she wept ; while, tossing his head in dis- 
 quiet, 
 
 Arbocz wander'd round, made hoarse by the longing for 
 combat : 
 
 All his gentleness gone, he utter' d these words of impa- 
 tience : 
 
 " Weeping, forsooth ! — yet these, all these, to their death- 
 bed are hast'ning. 
 
 Weep —thou shalt weep no more. Expect me delighted 
 from battle." 
 
 Said, and he sprung on his steed, and he rush'd 'midst the 
 thick of the squadrons. 
 
 Hark ! for the trump is loud, and the combatant weapons 
 are clashing; 
 
 Volumes of dust, shouts and cries, ascend from the crush 
 of the warriors — 
 
 Tones of confusion and moans, and the manifold accents of 
 passion. 
 
 Over the rest, Ozul, on his chestnut war-steed advancing, 
 
 Speeds through the ranks, and lets loose destruction's terri- 
 ble ploughshare — 
 
 Curses begetting rage, and devilish purpose of murder. 
 
 Soon the voice of joy is heard. On the top of Cserhalom's 
 mountain, 
 
 Lo ! a valiant band, their arms in the high heavens shaking. 
 
 'Midst a terrible crowd is Etelke— the feeble young flow- 
 ret : 
 
MICHAEL VoRoSMARTY. 195 
 
 Hope, with its sorrow-mix'd fear, and joy, in her spirit are 
 
 struggling. 
 Hard-hearted warriors surround her, wherever she turns for 
 
 protection : 
 Bending on trembling knee, she invokes the heavenly 
 
 Ruler. 
 Say, shall she perish ? In vain the question breaks forth 
 
 from her spirit. 
 Hear her, O Heaven ! in her bitterness — hear her : she 
 
 prays for her country. 
 Heaven ! thou hast heard her prayer — her country shall no 
 
 man wrest from her. 
 
 o 2 
 
{ -96 ) 
 
 VERSEGHI FERENZ. 
 
 BORN 1757— DIED 1823. 
 
 Melly irigysegbol oromunkbe szokta 
 Onteni m6rg6t. Verseghi. 
 
FRANCIS VERSEGHI. 197 
 
 TO MY BELOVED. 
 
 Szedjuk a' rozsat, valahol pir&lni. 
 
 Pluck we the roses — let us pluck the roses, 
 O my sweet maiden! when we find them blooming; 
 While they are smiling 'midst their thorny branches, 
 Pluck we the roses. 
 
 Bright as they seem, the spirit of perdition 
 Sweeps them ere morning: shall we lose the transports 
 Now pressing round us, in the distant dreaming 
 Future may promise ? 
 
 All that we have is blended in the present ; 
 Chances and changes trifle with the future; 
 Oft 'tis its task to mingle in joy's chalice 
 Drops of dark poison. 
 
 i 
 
198 FRANCIS VERSEGHI. 
 
 TO JUSTICE. 
 
 Voud-le mar egyszer, sanyaru Igaszag ! 
 
 Doff the thick veil that hides thy lovely visage, 
 Justice ! — 'tis time — the veil which in thy childhood 
 Sages flung o'er thee — let us look upon thee 
 In thine own beauty. 
 
 Kind was the thought — the countenance of evil 
 Shouldst thou not see, for thou wert its condemner ; 
 All the gold piles of wealth-encumbered proud ones, 
 Thee should not dazzle. 
 
 Doff the thick veil — hide thy bright eye no longer ; 
 Crime is too bold — look on in sternest beauty ; 
 See, for mankind are dragged to basest doings 
 By their own blindness. 
 
 Eyes sharp as thine are watching how thou holdest 
 High o'er thy head the scale ; but listen, Goddess ! 
 Didst thou not hear a piece of gold that tinkled 
 In thine own balance ? 
 
FRANCIS VERSEGHI. 199 
 
 Didst thou not know thy sword had lost its brightness ? 
 Trembled thy hand — the while a mighty villain 
 Whispered, and threatened thee with wrath and vengeance ? 
 Yes ! thy hand trembled. 
 
 Didst thou not know that thou hadst been deluded 
 By the vain pomp of words — hadst lost the spirit, 
 Seeking the letter, of thine holiest canon ? 
 Justice ! unveil thee. 
 
 Off with the veil — behold the heaven is cloudless, 
 And the sun mounts in unaccustomed glory; 
 See, all mankind are seeing — wilt thou only 
 Wear thine old blindness ? 
 
200 FRANCIS VERSEGHI. 
 
 TRUE WISDOM. 
 
 Nezzd a' buzakalaszt, biiszken emelodik az egnek. 
 
 Empty yet and green, that corn-ear tosses high its lofty 
 brow ; 
 
 See it ripe and full and golden, bend in meek submission 
 now. 
 
 Such is boyhood in its folly — shallow, proud, and inso- 
 lent ;— 
 
 Such is manhood in its wisdom — modest, and in calmness 
 bent. 
 
FRANCIS VERSEGHI. 201 
 
 TO ENVY. 
 
 Szunj mar meg egyszer buzgani ellenem. 
 
 Haunt me not, Envy ! why wouldst thou follow me ? 
 Wealth's possessions I lust not after, 
 Nor tread with the crowd who chase so eagerly 
 Vanities which my thoughts despise. 
 
 Office I covet not — all the cravings 
 Of thirsting ambition delude me never ; 
 They smile on others ; but golden treasure 
 And noisy titles I idle deem. 
 
 Wealth amasses in countless storehouses, 
 Harvests — and power, its piles upgathering, 
 Holds the keys which long-lin'd ancestry 
 Sends like sceptres from son to son. 
 
 Lo ! it pours from crystal glasses 
 The juice Tokayan, which earth provided 
 For favorites, in her capricious restlessness. 
 Lo ! they smile while they quaff the cup ; 
 
 I, in narrow chamber, quiet 
 My hunger with poor supply ; and quenching 
 My thirst with water-drops, ask the Deity 
 None but humble gifts like these : 
 
202 FRANCIS VERSEGHI. 
 
 Wife that feels, and breeze refreshing me ; 
 Thoughts unanxious, and youthful spirits 
 When age comes on ; and friends of faithfulness 
 Ever renewing the verdant song. 
 
( 203 ) 
 
 ENDRODI JANOS. 
 
 BORN 1757. 
 
 Baratim, hat ! ne heny£llyunk 
 A' kev6sbd'l sokat ellyiink 
 
 Mig a' tatoit sir befal 
 
 Kovid 61tunk, mint e' dal. 
 
 A. Kisfaludy. 
 
204 JOHN ENDRoDI. 
 
 THE SUN. 
 
 Cease thy reproaches, my friend, nor hastily blame me if, 
 
 weary, 
 Stretch'd on a pillow of down, I have tarried too long in 
 
 my slumbers ; 
 Say not, The sun is awake, and is mounting aloft to meri- 
 dian ; 
 Long, long before thee he rose ; but night is the time for 
 
 reposing. 
 Friend ! when the sun hastens down to the ocean at even, 
 
 what drinks he ? 
 When he seeks rest and sweet sleep, what drinks he ? 
 
 He drinks the salt billows; 
 Had he but drunk of the grape which grew on Szeszgard's* 
 
 lovely vineyard, 
 He had not roused him so soon, but had slept to this 
 
 moment, my friend ! 
 
 * Szeszgard is a village in the Tolna district, renowned for its 
 superior red wine. 
 
JWaggar Wemjett Dallofe. 
 
 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 The greater part of these compositions have been collected for 
 me by the care and kindness of Dr. George Charles Rumy. A num- 
 ber had been gathered together by my valuable correspondent Do- 
 brentei, but I regret to say that they have never reached me, and 
 the disappointment has been vexatious to me in the extreme. 
 The great difficulty of communication with Hungary and Tran- 
 sylvania will serve as an excuse for the incompleteness of this 
 collection. 
 
206 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE KISS. 
 
 Edes baba gyere ki. 
 
 Come hither, sweet maiden, come hither to me, 
 And bring of good wine a full measure with thee ; 
 And give me a kiss for the kiss I will give thee, 
 And do not deceive, and I will not deceive thee.* 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XII., p. 89, 181 
 
 * Original. Adj egy csokot, en meg mast, 
 Ugy nem csaljuk meg egymast. 
 i. e. Give me a kiss, I will give thee another, 
 So shall we not deceive one another. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 207 
 
 THE SHOWER. 
 
 Zapor eso utan eszterhaj megcsorchil. 
 
 The pent-house drops raindrops after the shower ; 
 And does thy heart spring up to mine, 
 Spring up to mine ? 
 No rain falls down, no storm-clouds lower, 
 
 But my sheep-skin is wetted through and through ; 
 Wet within, and without with dew. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XII., p. 89, 1818. 
 
208 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE LITTLE AND THE GREAT BOY 
 
 Mikor en kis gyermek voltani. 
 
 Time was, I knew no greater bliss 
 Than to pluck walnuts from the bough ; 
 But sweeter maidens' lips to kiss 
 Alone can make me happy now. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 209 
 
 TIME. 
 
 Az ido szarnyom jar. 
 
 Time flies on eagle- wings away, 
 It will not for a moment stay, 
 
 But like a stream glides on — glides on; 
 It never turns its footsteps back, 
 But sinks all ages in its track, 
 
 And reigns and rules alone. 
 The poor, the rich, alike pursues ; 
 The poor, the rich, alike subdues ; 
 
 Who can withstand it ? None ! 
 
 There's only one whose mightier strength 
 The strength of time overpowers at length, 
 
 And sits in quiet victory ; 
 Time's sickle mows it not ; time's flight 
 Brings nor decay, nor death, nor blight, 
 
 But passes harmless by ; 
 There's only one — 'tis virtuous fame, 
 Through shifting ages still the same, 
 
 It shines eternally. 
 
 This poem was written in 1657. 
 
210 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE BELOVED. 
 
 POPULAR SONG OF SH1MIG. (SOMO.) 
 
 A' kiliti falu vegen. 
 
 Above Kilite's * farthest verge 
 I saw a heavenly star emerge ; 
 A heavenly star, an earthly rose, 
 That far its light and fragrance throws. 
 
 'Tis long — 'tis ages since we met : 
 The rain-drops fall from Komor yet. 
 Thence comes my lover too — and see, 
 He swings his kalapf joyfully. 
 
 Upon Siofo's quiet lake, 
 Mark yonder dove its pinions shake ;% 
 What crowds around its margin tread ! 
 And why disturb the hazel maid ? 
 
 * Kilit is a village in the province of Shimig, about two En- 
 glish miles from Fok, on the other side of the Lake of Sio. 
 f Ernelgeti a' kalapjat. 
 
 He swings his hat. 
 J Siofoki Balatonba, 
 Forodik egy galambocska. 
 In the Balaton [Lake) of Siofo a Dove is bathing. Golubochik. 
 (Russ.) 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 211 
 
 Soon will the flowers of May-tide come, 
 And then the vintage fruits speed home ; 
 And then the busy days of tillage ; 
 And then — and then — our happy village 
 
 The marriage song of joy shall hear, 
 The youth and maiden shall be there ; 
 Girt like a knight that youth shall be, 
 Beloved — O how beloved, by me ! 
 
 Hasznos Muktsdgok, No. XXXIL, 1818. 
 
 
 ?2 
 
212 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE FAIR AND THE BROWN MAIDEN. 
 
 Eg a' kunyho, ropog a' nad. 
 
 The house is burning — the timbers crack ; 
 
 I rushed to the maidens brown and fair ; 
 I brought the brown in safety back, 
 
 The fair I left in danger there. 
 
 And then I longed for the light-hair' d one, 
 As we long for grapes from the tendrillM tree ; 
 
 But more, far more, for the maiden brown, 
 Who is dear as an apple is dear to me.* 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsagok, No. XXXII., p. 281, 1818. 
 * Mint a' borizu almara. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 213 
 
 SLAVONIAN DANCERESS. 
 
 Tot aszszonynak t6t a lanya. 
 
 With maiden of Slavonian race, 
 Clad in light robes of flowing grace, 
 I danced — and got me in her dress 
 Entangled, by her flauntiness. 
 
 I tried, but scarce could set me free, 
 And blushed at my perplexity ; 
 Involved within the folds far more, 
 And in the fringes, than before. 
 
 And then I made a vow, and said, 
 I'll have no fringed Slavonian maid ; 
 Hungaria's plain-dressed girls for me, 
 Hungaria's chaste simplicity. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgoh, No. XLIL, 1818. 
 
214 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 REPROACH. 
 
 Faj, faj, faj, faj, faj a' szivem, faj. 
 
 It smarts, it smarts, it smarts with pain ; 
 O my poor heart ! it smarts for thee ; 
 Thou wakenest to my memory, 
 And then it smarts, and smarts again. 
 
 Woe, woe, woe, woe ! — my doom is woe ; 
 Thou fann'st my feelings into fire \ 
 And irony that's worse than ire, 
 Its venom o'er my wounds doth throw. 
 
 It weeps, it weeps— my heart it weeps 
 Far bitterer tears than when the bird 
 Its mate's imprisoned song has heard, 
 And its lone watch of sorrow keeps. 
 
 No ! no, no, no ! I will not wear 
 A monarch's gems— but rather hold 
 Love's chains of grief than pomps of gold, 
 And lay them on my bosom bare. 
 
 None, none, none, none, O none but thee, 
 Where'er I tarry, tread, or turn ; 
 For thee alone life's flame shall burn 
 Till trampled by mortality. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 215 
 
 O angel ! angel mine ! what eye 
 Can see, what heart can feel-— nor own 
 Thy charms — and love thee, thee alone, 
 Soul of the kiss of ecstacy ! 
 
 How sweet, how sweet, how sweet to dwell 
 In love's transporting joys ! — to sail 
 Down life's sweet stream, with favoring gale, 
 Till reaching death's unwelcome cell ! 
 
 Blest of creation — thou divine 
 Light of mine eyes — thou living rose, 
 That fragrance o'er my being throws, 
 Let blessings light that path of thine ! 
 
216 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 DIRGE. 
 Faj, fa). 
 
 Woe, woe ! 
 Woe ! my soul's woe ! 
 
 She is departed, 
 
 I — broken hearted ; 
 Woe ! my soul's woe ! 
 
 O'er my dark hours 
 Wretchedness pours 
 Thousands of curses and pains — 
 Nothing remains. 
 
 Nothing for sorrow 
 To smite with to-morrow ; 
 Sorrow has emptied its quiver, 
 Emptied for ever. 
 
 And my sad soul 
 Stands at the goal 
 Where suffering's exhausted ; I crave 
 Nought but a grave. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 217 
 
 A BACSIAN SONG. 
 
 Van egy szep Bacs Varmegyebcn. 
 
 There is on Bacsia's happy land, 
 There is upon the Tiszian strand, 
 A maiden — from whose face there streameth 
 Light, as from any star that beameth. 
 
 She holds a fragrant violet, 
 
 And a red paony, that's wet, 
 
 That's wet, that's fed with heavenly dew — 
 
 A favorite of the maiden too. 
 
 She is as radiant as the mom, 
 Her eye-light pierces like a thorn ; 
 Her form is grace and majesty ; 
 r £he world has nought so fair as she. 
 
 Her graceful, gentle, easy gait ; 
 Her tones so soft, so smooth, so sweet : 
 It were no sin * to build a shrine, 
 And bend before her as divine. 
 
 Hasznos Midatsdgok, No. XXII., p. 169, 1819, 
 * Neni kar volna. It were no pity. 
 
218 HUNGARIAN POfULAR SONGS. 
 
 COMFORT. 
 
 De mit torom fejeraet ? 
 
 O why, O why should I repine, 
 As if there were no griefs but mine, 
 
 No woes like these ? 
 Since others have their cares — not few — 
 And others sing their dirges too 
 
 And elegies. 
 There's none whose bliss may not be broken, 
 There's none whose language has not spoken 
 
 Of sad distress : 
 No eyes that tears have never wet, 
 No heart above the influence set 
 
 Of bitterness. 
 
 Poor man ! he deems it sweet to know, 
 When thistles round his path-way grow, 
 
 They grow for all ; 
 That he, a pilgrim, only fares 
 As other pilgrims fare — and shares 
 
 Man's common call. 
 And thus, the universal lot 
 He bears — and bearing, murmurs not — 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 219 
 
 'Twere vain annoy ; 
 But, with his fellow-travellers speeds 
 Over the plain, 'midst flowers and weeds, 
 
 In social joy. 
 
 Then yield not, yield not to despair, 
 But bid the bud of sorrow bear 
 
 A flower of peace ; 
 For peace is virtue's favorite twin, 
 And grief is close allied to sin ; 
 
 And changeless ease 
 Is not a child of earth : there's nought 
 But quiet courage, tranquil thought, 
 
 To smooth our path : 
 Pain will be there — 'tis yours, 'tis mine, 
 'Tis all men's. Misery its decline 
 
 And rising hath. 
 
 Thus I subdue my stubborn will, 
 And though my grief were greater still, 
 
 Would patient bow. 
 Calmer and happier there are many, 
 And yet I would not change with any 
 
 My being now : 
 For I have learnt 'tis well ! and spring 
 A joyous, renovated thing, 
 
 From grief and gloom. 
 'Tis well ! I'll utter through the day 
 'Tis well ! upon my bed I'll say, 
 
 Through time to come. 
 
220 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Friends ! I have triumphed ! I have found 
 Comfort — now pass the wine-glass round ; 
 
 We'll pledge anew. 
 Among your social ranks I'll stand, 
 I'll grasp again each friendly hand, 
 
 And so do you ! 
 If absence exile us — if 1, 
 Divided, distant — need must sigh 
 
 O'er life's vexations, — 
 I'll think that every pain is light, 
 And every hour of darkness bright, 
 
 Save separation's. 
 
 [This Song, the origiual of which is exquisitely versified, was 
 first published by Adam von Horvath, himself a Hungarian poet. 
 In the province of the White Mountains (Stuhlweisseubergcr), 
 it is universally known and sung, and is one of the most popular 
 pieces of Magyavian poetry. The present translation was printed 
 in the Pledge of Friendship for 1828.] 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 221 
 
 THE DIFFERENCE. 
 
 Mas a' ver£b, mas a' fecske. 
 
 The sparrow is no swallow, the gad-fly is no bee, 
 The crowfoot* is no rose, and no grape the gooseberry ; 
 No brass is gold, no bran as honey-comb is sweet, 
 And summer when it comes the thrush is pleased to greet 
 The ducats of the rich, however bright and many, 
 Need never blush to own the poor man's single penny. 
 
 * Beka-virag. Ranunculus acris. Linn. 
 
222 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 INVITATION. 
 
 Gyere Rdszam Enyingre. 
 
 come, my Rosa ! let me flee 
 
 To Enyin, o'er the world, with thee, 
 
 Where roses in the markets be, 
 
 Which thou shalt wreathe and wreathe for me. 
 
 Sweet Bodis hath a garland bound, 
 And twined it all my sleeve around ; 
 What thanks I owe her ! — she hath crown' d 
 With thick-strewed flowers the wreaths she wound. 
 
 The elder-tree is dead and dry ; 
 Where, where at evening shall we lie ? 
 Soon to our pillow must we fly ; 
 Our bridal bed awaits us nigh. 
 
 Dost go, my Rose ? Indeed I go. 
 Wilt leave me here ? Aye ! be it so. 
 And wilt thou not repent thee ? No ! 
 
 1 cross the Rhine-waves when they flow.* 
 
 * The singular construction of the original of this verse is 
 here preserved : 
 
 El megy Ruzsam ? el biz' en. 
 Itt hagysz engem ? itt biz' en. 
 Nem szannal e' ? nem biz' en : 
 At menek Rajna viz£n. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 223 
 
 Nine golden florins must be mine, 
 What I desire — dost thou decline ? 
 No ! I desire not. Dream of thine ; — 
 I leave thee now to cross the Rhine. 
 
 I will not struggle for thee now, 
 Nor in the year to come, I vow ; 
 I go, I go, I tell thee so, 
 To where the Rhine's old waters flow. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XXIII. p. 177, 1819. 
 
224 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE IDLER. 
 
 Nincseii nekem semmi bajom, csak hog}' szegthiy vagyok. 
 
 Nothing, nothing do I want, and yet I'm very poor ; 
 An idler all my life have been, yet am afflicted sore ; 
 Stores of wheat I call my own, and still I have no bread ; 
 I have been married long, though now no wife adorns my 
 
 bed. 
 A son is born to me, and yet no father has that son ; 
 He has not been baptized as yet — there is no priest, not 
 
 one; 
 I fain would call a priest — no priest can any where be 
 
 found ; 
 I fain would call a friend — no friend is visible around. 
 Bring wine ! bring wine ! Alas ! no wine within my vaults 
 
 may be ; 
 Go buy ! go buy ! but who will sell or trust to me— to 
 
 me ? 
 O God ! what shall I think of now in this sad poverty ? 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. V. p. 33, 1822. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 225 
 
 THE PIPKIN. 
 
 Oh be paranyi kis csnpor. 
 
 O silly pipkin ! storming so 
 With such a little fire below ; 
 O silly love ! that burns and burns, 
 And all my senses overturns. 
 
 It is not hard a fish to snare, 
 But of the fish's bones take care ; 
 Not hard with her you love to be, 
 But ! the parting misery ! 
 
 The sun, the rain, the wind combine 
 To ripen grape-fruits on the vine ; 
 And in due time those fruits are press'd, 
 And maidens for the altar dress'd. 
 
 What ! would they hide me from my love, 
 Mine own, mine own, my favorite dove ? 
 They called me weak — they did me wrong; 
 They called me weak — but I am strong. 
 
 I would not on the ridge be thrown, 
 I would not by the scythe be mown ; 
 My right-hand lost, O ! who would knead 
 For thee the white, the wheaten bread ? 
 
 Hasznos Mutaisdgpk, No. VIII. 1823. 
 Q 
 
226 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 DANCING SONG. 
 
 Ron to in, bontom, testem csontom. 
 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 Half transported, half afraid ; 
 To my lightly-dancing maid 
 Stretch I out my arms, while she 
 Sees my knees sink under me : 
 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 Half transported, half afraid. 
 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 Like a magpie skip I round ; 
 When I dance, my joys abound, 
 And I see my maiden's knees 
 Trembling, just as tremble these : 
 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 Like a magpie skip I round. 
 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 Still I dance in joy and fear ; 
 O the grievous burden here ! 
 Heavy on my heart I feel 
 More concern than love can heal : 
 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 O the grievous burden here ! 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 227 
 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 
 I must throw my nadrdg off;* 
 
 Thou thy maiden-robes must doff ; 
 
 Death shall find us if thou please, 
 
 Dancing dances gay as these :f 
 Aching, quaking, tottering, shaking, 
 
 I must throw my nadrdg off. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XL. p. 301, 1819. 
 
 * Hadd repedjen a' szuk nadrag — I must tear off my garments. 
 f Vigan kozakost tanczolva. 
 
 I have introduced the above as a specimen of the free and 
 popular songs of the Hungarians, rather than from any sense of 
 its merit, beyond that lively and joyous spirit which distinguishes 
 the original. 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 PASTORAL. 
 
 Hej ! Katiczani, Katiczam ! 
 
 George, 
 
 Ah ! Kitty, my Kitty, 
 Dost love me sincerely, 
 Devotedly, dearly ? 
 
 Then turn not away. 
 
 Catherine. 
 Ah ! Geordie, my Geordie, 
 Dost love me sincerely, 
 Devotedly, dearly ? 
 Beloved one, say ! 
 
 George, 
 O couldst thou but know, love, 
 How I have been sighing, 
 'Twixt living and dying, 
 And sickening for thee. 
 
 Catherine, 
 Poor patient ! console thee ; 
 Affection will borrow 
 A charm out of sorrow, 
 If faithful thou be. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 229 
 
 George, 
 
 O ! if thine affection 
 For others is glowing, 
 The streamlet here flowing 
 Shall roll o'er my grave. 
 
 Catherine. 
 Scribe, bailiff, and shepherd, 
 And landlord, and rheinhard, 
 The ox, and the swineherd, 
 My answer shall have. 
 
 George. 
 
 O mis'ry of mis'ries ! 
 
 Why sport thus to grieve me ? 
 Thou canst not, love ! leave me ; 
 Indeed thou art mine. 
 
 Catherine. 
 
 Be calm, and I'll tell thee — 
 That thee — thee alone, I 
 Will call all mine own — I 
 Will only be thine. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. IV. p. 25, 1823. 
 
230 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 ONE WORD. 
 
 'Allj ineg, Rozsara egy szoia ! 
 
 One word, one only word — and then 
 Off, maiden ! to thy toils again ; 
 I ask no kiss, I only say, 
 One word, one word, and then away. 
 
 Whene'er you see a youth outpour 
 Rose-water all his visage o'er ; 
 And wash and stroke his whiskers, know 
 'Tis love alone impels him so. 
 
 And when you see a maiden throw 
 Rose-water o'er her snowy brow, 
 Be sure she loves some chosen man, 
 And she will have him if she can. 
 
 A house there is on Duna's* shore, 
 And a fair maid — but on the door 
 There are nine locks — but what are they ? 
 I'll break their nine-fold bolts away. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XVI. p. 127, 1819. 
 
 * The Danube. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 231 
 
 THE LITTLE BIRD. 
 
 Sik mezoben, z51d erdoben. 
 
 Oe'r the meadows, to the forest, 
 
 Little birdlet flew : 
 Green his pinions, bright his flying,* 
 
 Beautiful to view. 
 And he calls me — "Come, go with me, 
 
 " I'll go with thee too." 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XLI. p. 321, 1819. 
 * Piros laba — bis flight is red. 
 
232 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE COMPLAINT OF THE YOUNG WIFE. 
 Tiszta liszboi sul a* kalacs. 
 
 Her labouring hands the meal must knead, 
 Her busy toil must bake the bread ; 
 The priest may read his records o'er : 
 The lord and master take the air :* 
 But there is nought but grievous care. 
 And heavy labour for the poor. 
 
 As from the rock the mad cascade 
 Falls— so did I— a thoughtless maid — 
 Wed — when it had been well to tarry. 
 
 could I be a maid again, 
 
 That man must be a man of men, 
 Who should seduce the maid to marry !f 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XXXV. p. 281, 1818. 
 
 * Urat, mestert a' setalas. 
 t The original has — 
 
 " J61 megneznem kihez mennek 
 Megvalasztanam a' Jegenyt, 
 Mint piarczon az edenyt." 
 ** I would look carefully around me before I married ;. 
 
 1 would so choose a youth 
 
 As I choose a vessel in the market-place." 
 Feijhez menni (to go to the man) is the Hungarian phrase for 
 the woman's marrying (nubere). The marriage of the bride- 
 groom i.s called Felesegitl venni (to take a wife) ducere. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 233 
 
 SONG OF THE VESPREMS, 
 
 Sikra valek, ott talalek kincs— kincs — kiticsre. 
 
 Upon the ground, I found, I found, a tre-tre-treasure ; 
 
 I guide my boat, when once afloat — and hur-hur- 
 
 Hurry to the Inchian lands, where mine own beloved stands. 
 
 I go, I go, to Baknejo,* my fa-fa-father-land ; 
 And all the scene, is fair and green ; an or-or- 
 Orphan was I once, but now covet I a maiden's vow. 
 
 Amidst the throng, I sought her long — and haste-haste- 
 hastened 
 By joy impell'd — my glassf I held — and rest-rest- 
 Rested on my plighted faith — strong as love, and strong as 
 death. 
 
 Let no disdain, sweet maiden, pain thy love-love- lover, 
 But let us share our frugal fare — be hap-hap- 
 Happy on those gifts to live, which the Pa pa- field J shall 
 give. 
 
 * Bako-ny is an extensive forest in Vestprim, and Papa is a 
 remarkably pretty market-town in the same province. 
 
 t Tukorommel, mirror. Doubtless to exhibit the face of the 
 lady. 
 
 X Field of the Priest. 
 
234 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Some simple dish of bread and fish— our dai-dai-dainties : 
 Hungarians brave — no more would have. The coach- 
 
 coach- 
 Coachmen swiftest steeds convey, but the blind-man gropes 
 
 his way.* 
 
 And thus, and thus, sweet maid for us, shall age, age, ages, 
 With gentle tread, glide o'er our head— and he-he- 
 Heaven's benignity divine, grant us bread and grant us 
 wine. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, p. 1, 1820. 
 
 * Szanra siet a' kocsis, talpra tapod a' vak is. The coachman 
 hurries over the sledge-path, and the blind man treads upon his 
 own soles ; i. e. some move fast, some slow ; and no man is 
 master of his own destiny. The curious rythmus of the original 
 is preserved in this translation, thus : 
 
 Sikra val6k, ott talalek kincs, kincs,' kincsre 
 Tiszta kezem mar ev'ezem incs, incs, 
 Incsre sietve megyek, hogy szeietbe legyek. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 235 
 
 MISKA. 
 
 Sarga csizsmas Miska sarban jar. 
 
 Miska comes with yellow boots, and in scarlet clothes, 
 On the streamlet's farther bank Panni lingering goes ; 
 Wait not Panni — wait not now, for that foppish fellow 
 Will not spoil his scarlet clothes nor his boots of yellow. 
 
 Would he risk his scarlet clothes — still thy tarrying lover 
 Could not cross the parting stream — would not ford it over; 
 For the plank is borne away by the o'erflowing tide,* 
 Panni too has turned her eye from the youth aside. 
 
 Not the scarlet, not the stream, nor the barking hound, 
 Mighty heaven ! far other cause — 'twas the envious sound, 
 Sound which slander's voice had waked — and the love long 
 
 fed 
 Out of ancient happy thoughts — faded, fainted, fled. 
 
 * In these lines are two vulgarisms : 
 
 A' vizeu at' (1) m£g sem mehetne, 
 A' padot elmosta vot (2) az arviz. 
 He could not go through the water, 
 The overflowing carried the plank away. 
 (1) AV for dltal (through). Vot for volt. 
 
236 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 IVJAROSIAN SONG. 
 
 Arad a' viz, meg elapad. 
 
 The waters ebb and the waters flow, 
 My head is aching with anxious woe ; 
 But come, my rose, and sit down with me, 
 Soon calm and sunny hours will beam ; 
 My heart shall find tranquillity, 
 And be as bright as Maros' stream. 
 
 Sweet dovelet ! thou art as sad as I ; . 
 List ! for the stork goes flapping by : 
 See ! for the courser seeks the glade ; 
 The grass is hung with gems of dew. 
 Let's seek the fields, my lovely maid, 
 Let's mount our steeds, and be joyful too. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XXVIII. p. 209, 1819. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 237 
 
 THE STORK. 
 
 Stork ! Stork ! poor Stork ! 
 
 Why is thy foot so bloody ? 
 A Turkish boy hath torn it, 
 Hungarian boy will heal it, 
 
 With viols, fifes, and drums. 
 
 The original of this curious composition is as follows : 
 
 G<51ya, g<5lya, golicza ! 
 
 Mert veres a' labod ? 
 Torok gyerek vagta ; 
 Magyar gyerek gyogyitotta 
 
 Sippal, dobbal, nadi hegeduvel. 
 
 [When in the spring the storks first appear on Csalokoz, (one 
 of the islands of the Danube,) the boys of Hungary assemble 
 with drums, and fifes, and violins, and welcome the birds with 
 this simple song. It is an universal opinion among the lower 
 classes of the Hungarians, that the storks (which they look upon 
 with great tenderness) pass their winter in Turkey, where, ac- 
 cording to the stories of the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth 
 centuries, every species of cruelty was practised upon them.] 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. LI. 1820. 
 
238 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE BROWN MAIDEN. 
 
 Nem jotteii volna en ide. 
 
 why am I here, O why am I bound 
 In magic fetters now ? 
 
 A brown maiden's eyebrows have girt my heart round, 
 
 The eyebrows that gird her brow ; 
 And were it not so, and were it not so, 
 
 1 could not from that brown maiden go. 
 
 Brown maiden ! O thou hast betray'd the youth — 
 
 Thou, erst so beloved and true ; 
 Thou hast trapp'd in a snare my spirit of truth, 
 
 Thou art falsehood and fickleness too ! 
 And all thou hast done, and all thou hast said, 
 O'erflow'd with deceit, thou treacherous maid ! 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XXII. 1820. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 239 
 
 THE BEGGAR'S SONG. 
 
 Csaplarosne galambom. 
 
 Now, hostess, now ! my pretty bird, 
 
 Fill up the cup with wine ; 
 So I, the poor Hungarian boy, 
 
 Shall chase the griefs of mine. 
 
 And blessings on thee, comrade dear ! 
 
 Heaven shield thy head from woes, 
 From penal laws, and fiscal claws,* 
 
 And Turks and Tartar foes. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XXXVII. 1820. 
 
 [This song is called a Betydr Datt. Betydr is a miserable dog, 
 a poor devil (as the French use pauvre diable) ; the word also 
 means herdsman y and particularly swineherd.] 
 
 * Varmegy6tdl, Fiscustol — literally, from the justices or autho- 
 rities of the laws ; and from the Fiscal, (Justitiarius,) or Amt- 
 mann, in Germany. The arbitrary acts of these personages are 
 very notorious, and the wish to be freed from them a most natu- 
 ral prayer ; nor is the desire to be safe from Turks and Tartars a 
 less appropriate one in the mouth of a wretched Hungarian. 
 
240 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 SONG OF THE SHEPHERD OF MATRA.* 
 
 Magambau nevetem. 
 
 I often laugh contentedly 
 
 On the world's evil and its good; 
 Far dearer than the world to me 
 
 Is this, my mountain solitude. 
 
 I eat and drink — my spirit-ease, 
 
 No legal squabbles drive away ; 
 I lay me down at eve in peace, 
 
 And joy awakes me when 'tis day. 
 
 And every cottage is my home, 
 
 And every shepherd is my friend ; f 
 Their wealth is mine— mine theirs — they come 
 
 In common bliss, our bliss to blend. 
 
 Sweet songs I know are sometimes heard, 
 
 But none so sweet, so dear as these, 
 When the gray thrush, ecstatic bird ! 
 
 O'er Matra pours its ecstacies. 
 
 * Matra is a high mountain in the province of Chenestz. 
 T Emberem, verbally my man; jobb ember em, as here, my best 
 man, my friend. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 24] 
 
 The robber's plots, the murderer's hands, 
 
 Intrude not on our mountain glen ; 
 Our robbers are the Wolfine bands, 
 
 But not the fiercer bands of men. 
 
 No sorrows make my visage white, 
 
 Or from my cheeks their smiles convey ; 
 
 My pipe I kindle with delight, 
 
 While round its smoky volumes play. 
 
 The noonday sun shines hot above, 
 
 Then with my herds I hasten home, 
 Milk the white ewes to please my love, 
 
 And know a sweet reward will come. 
 
 Again we seek the hills — I seize 
 
 My furyla, * and wake its song ; 
 And, scattering music on the breeze, 
 
 I walk my listening sheep among. 
 
 Then to the Linden trees I go, 
 
 Each Linden seems to welcome me ; 
 My body on the turf I throw, 
 
 Where spread the shadows of the tree. 
 
 But who is there ? My rose, my rose ! 
 
 My heart is buried in her breast, 
 As in a shrine. O see ! she goes 
 
 Clad in her short and modest vest, f 
 
 * Fnrulya, Furuglya, is the Hungarian shepherd's pipe. 
 + Szoknyabau : the short under garment of the Hungarians. 
 R 
 
242 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Sweet Pere ! aye ! thou art as sweet 
 
 As is forgiveness ; * on thy face 
 I saw two smiling angels meet, 
 
 Two little loves thy cheeks did grace. 
 
 Where art thou wandering — Pere ! mine ! 
 
 My flocks are scattered widely now ; 
 For thee I look, for thee I pine ; 
 
 Sweet maiden ! tell me where art thou ! 
 
 * Ollyam vagy te Pere, 
 Mint az engedelem : 
 " So art thou, Pere, like forgiveness :" i. e. thou art ready to 
 forgive, thou art forgiveness itself. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 243 
 
 THE PARTING GIRL. 
 
 Nesze vedd eljegy gyiSrudet. 
 
 O take the wedding-ring away, 
 And take the wedding-kerchief, pray ! 
 
 take them back — it may not be — 
 
 1 must not share my fate with thee. 
 
 Alas ! my sisters are thy foes, 
 
 And father, mother, friends oppose ; 
 
 blame me not, it was not I — 
 
 1 struggled 'gainst the misery. 
 
 Could I have will'd, a different lot 
 Were thine and mine— O blame me not! 
 I am a poor and feeble one, 
 Whom pity might look down upon. 
 
 O'er me there shines a baleful star, 
 Whose rays of disappointment are ; 
 The spring for me hath dofPd its bloom, 
 And comes all clad in garb of gloom. 
 
 I plant young roses — and the rose 
 To briars and to wormwood grows ; 
 O wormwood ! wormwood ! plant of death, 
 Of thee I'll twine myself a wreath. 
 r2 
 
244 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Thou shalt my bridal-garland be, 
 To crown a sad festivity; 
 Then in the peasant's hats shalt wave, 
 When I am carried to my grave. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XLV. 1823. 
 
HUNGARIAx\ POPULAR SONGS. 245 
 
 SYMPATHY 
 
 Hirtelen no a' szerelem. 
 
 He. 
 
 How sudden love's creation is, 
 
 My heart's experience well may deem ; 
 
 'Tis full of pain, 'tis full of bliss, 
 A light, mysterious, lovely dream : 
 
 A transport heaving in my breast, 
 A fire that burns my cheeks, a storm 
 
 That rocks my heart, and rends my rest- — 
 
 love ! thou sweetest, saddest form ; 
 Thou complicated maze, that throws 
 
 My mind into perplexity ! 
 O soothe it with thy kiss, my rose ! 
 
 Since for one kiss of love from thee 
 The world I'd freely give ; — but hide 
 
 Thy beauties from my anxious glance ; 
 O turn thy little mouth aside, 
 
 And veil thy rosy countenance : 
 Thy swelling hills of purest snow,* 
 
 Thine arms so round and so enchanting, 
 Sweet violet ! they wound me so, 
 
 1 dare not look, for light is wanting. 
 
 * Szckdocsclo ho halmaid. Thy swelling snow-hills, i. e. thy 
 swelling snow-white bosom. 
 
246 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Nay ! bend thy lips of love to mine, 
 And list to songs, tho' sad yet dear : 
 
 I languish for a smile of thine, 
 
 And tremble, while I hope and fear. 
 
 She. 
 
 I know that loves grow up unwonted ; 
 
 My breast, youth ! vibrates to thy breast ; 
 My rest, brown boy ! is also haunted 
 
 By visions such as haunt thy rest : 
 The sweet, transporting pain, I share it ; 
 
 Love's mandate, I, like thee, obey ; 
 And if thou bear its weight, I bear it, 
 
 And walk with thee its thorny way. 
 Sweet grief, — sad pleasure — let us dwell 
 
 Together, sharing bane and bliss ; 
 And if a kiss can bless us — well ! 
 
 Take, take, my love ! the maiden's kiss ; 
 And these white hills of swelling snow, 
 
 And those round arms — if they can bring 
 A solace or a screen from woe. 
 
 Woe soon will fly on hurried wing. 
 I'll bend my lips of love to thine, 
 
 My happiest smile shall light on thee ; 
 Sing not sad songs, dear heart of mine, 
 
 But songs of joy and victory. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 247 
 
 Both. 
 Our kiss shall be the pledge of faith, 
 
 The pledge of love, the heart's sweet pain ; 
 And each to each here swears that death 
 
 Alone shall part our souls again. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. V. 1824. 
 
248 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 SWEET STEPHEN. 
 
 Pista szivem, de alhatnam ! 
 
 Sweet Stephen ! my heart ! I am sleepy — so throw, 
 That I may repose, thy coarse garment * below ; 
 " O sweet were the sleep I should sleep,f could I be 
 Fast lock'd in the arms of a virgin like thee ; 
 The arms of the virgin encircled in mine. 
 
 O privileged day ! 
 The kiss of the virgin my kisses shall shrine 
 
 As sweeter than they." 
 
 But O if thou leave me, thy hand shall not break 
 From the stem of the rose-tree a rose-bud so weak ; 
 Tho' the hedge may be high, deep the grave tho' it be, 
 Yes, Stephen ! my heart ! I will wait upon thee. 
 " In thy soft virgin arms will I rest till decay 
 
 Shall over me roll ; 
 And the sweet virgin honey;*; thy kisses convey, 
 
 Shall be food for my soul. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. L. p. 393, 1822. 
 
 * Sziiiod' terits'd, peasant's cloak. 
 
 f Alinat alhatnam, an orientalism, to sleep a sleep. 
 
 } Szii'z mezetiil, virgin honey. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 249 
 
 SONG. 
 
 'Enekl6sben, musihabafi. 
 
 O the ecstatic bliss of song ! 
 It bears my heart in streams along ; 
 And my lips cry — Again, again ! 
 But of all strains the sweetest strain 
 Is that which fills the soul and sense 
 With overpowering eloquence — 
 Without its soul all song is vain. 
 
250 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 SWEET SPIRIT! 
 
 Szeretlek hat, a' ni£g elek, nemes lelek tegedlet. 
 
 Sweet spirit ! while life has an impulse, thou'lt be 
 
 In sorrow and sadness an angel to me ; 
 
 Be mine as I'm thine — let's be mutually blest 
 
 As the love-warbling songsters that watch their green rest. 
 
 Come hither ! to sink on my bosom — for thou, 
 Thou only shalt welcome the poet's first vow ; 
 His truth shall be met by thy truth — thou alone 
 Can'st judge of its purity, sweet ! by thine own. 
 
 My name and my glory are waiting on thee, 
 My heart melts in thine— my saint wilt thou be, 
 My hope and my heaven, my being, my bliss ? 
 Joy-giver — what joy can'st thou give more than this ? 
 
 My heart is thy temple, and, living or dead, 
 Thy light on its altars will ever be shed ; 
 And death, when it flings the poor ruin to clay, 
 Shall rescue thy name from the wrecks of decay. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 251 
 
 COME HITHER. 
 
 Gyere be, Rozsam, gyere be. 
 
 Come hither, come hither, sweet rosebud, I say, 
 
 Come hither, come hither to me 
 The door is wide open — come hither, I pray, 
 
 I am lonely and waiting for thee. 
 
252 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 DISCOVERY. 
 
 O szerencsetlen fejemet mind jarja. 
 
 A thousand perplexities hang on my brow, 
 
 My heart is a streamlet of bitterness now ; 
 
 For I find that thy love is but trifling and scorn ; 
 
 Thou hast smitten a rock where a fountain of tears 
 
 Springs forth — and a passion which grew with my years, 
 
 And blends with my being, hath left me forlorn. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 253 
 
 LOVE'S CONQUEST. 
 
 Nem hibaztal, a' kis Amor. 
 
 Love ! thou hast vanquish'd me at last, 
 
 And I am smitten through and through ; 
 What thou couldst not do, time long past, 
 
 Thou hast at length contrived to do. 
 All my resistance is subdued, 
 
 I prostrate fall in thy divan ; 
 I stand no longer where I stood, 
 
 I feel, I own, I am but man. 
 
 I never asked nor pledged a vow, 
 
 I never bowed to thy command ; 
 I was a child — but now, O now, 
 
 Too well thy sway I understand. 
 I am thy slave— I wear thy chains — 
 
 My heart is subject all to thee ; 
 One passion flows thro' all my veins, 
 
 One sole sweet thought has mastered me. 
 
 That lovely form ! 'tis Venus' own, 
 By all the smiling graces blent ; 
 
 The roselets in the garden grown 
 Are far less fair, less redolent. 
 
254 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Thine influence, gentle as the dew ; 
 
 Thy motions, faultless ; and thy soul 
 Is bright ! aye, bright and blessed too ! 
 
 A beautiful, a perfect whole. 
 
 Yes I thou art beauteous in thy smile, 
 
 And beauteous in thy falling tears ; 
 Beauteous in silence, beauteous while 
 
 Thy living language charms our ears. 
 Even while I own thy tyranny, 
 
 And know I am thy slave, 'tis blest 
 To bend my fettered soul to thee, 
 
 And, ruled by thee, to feel at rest. 
 
 Happy, who stretches to the goal, 
 
 And sits beneath love's flowery tree, 
 And gathers from a blooming soul 
 
 The fruits of blessed sympathy. 
 There is no bliss but this — for bliss 
 
 Apart from love is all a dream ; 
 It dwells upon a maiden's kiss, 
 
 And consecrates the lover's theme. 
 
 Hung on his maiden's arm, distress 
 
 A garb of peace and pleasure wears ; 
 And want itself is blessedness, 
 
 When love looks smiling on its cares : 
 So that love's pains their pleasures bring, 
 
 And all its burthens wax them light, 
 While hope's sweet beamings sun-rays fling, 
 
 Thro' many a darkened day and night. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 255 
 
 My freedom is for ever lost 
 
 Since thee I found, and at thy feet 
 I fall and worship, with the host 
 
 Of mine affections, strong and sweet. 
 O yes ! I build a shrine to thee, 
 
 And thou my worship'd idol art ; 
 I, a poor pilgrim, reverently 
 
 For incense offer mine own heart! 
 
 My heart ! yes ! bath'd in fragrant sighs, 
 
 And mingled with untainted love ; 
 With faith and truth, the odours rise 
 
 To thee, who smilest from above. 
 My prayers shall be mine incense, dear 1 
 
 And for an offering worthy thee, 
 I'll pour the unaffected tear — 
 
 O grant a meet return to me ! 
 
256 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 UNREQUITED LOVE. 
 'Egek erted, de nera latod nem is erzed tiizemet. 
 
 I burn for thee, and thou art cold, yet canst not quench 
 
 my fire ; 
 Why wilt thou smile on my despair, and not on my desire ? 
 Yet could I break away from thee, I would not wear the 
 
 chain, 
 Nor dash among the breakers wild, a sailor on the main. 
 
 There's no reward for constancy, no honour waits on 
 
 truth, 
 And love awakens misery, and faithlessness, and ruth : 
 Passion's remorseless scourges give more painful pangs to 
 
 pain, 
 And danger sits, and discord comes, where fondness has 
 
 her reign ; 
 
 And fear, that doubles all distress, hies thither with its 
 frown, 
 
 And bondage, taking freedom's name, impels the spirit 
 down. 
 
 I see thee not— I hear thee not — how dark my path ap- 
 pears ! 
 
 I know not which o'erhangs it most, my passion or my 
 fears. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 257 
 
 Two pointed barbs have pierced me through ; one is with 
 
 magic charmed, 
 One dipp'd in poison ; b'otb, alas ! with awful terrors 
 
 armed ; 
 Freezing or firing, waking joys, or renovating woes; 
 But every wavelet of my heart disturbs it as it flows. 
 
 Dragg'd, dragg'd by misery on, life's press intolerably 
 
 great, 
 For, loveless, truthless, who could bear his melancholy 
 
 fate ? 
 For disappointment brings distress, and fearful thoughts 
 
 impend, 
 And life will linger, linger on, as if it had no end ; 
 
 Unless my love for thee should break life's melancholy 
 
 thread ! 
 They ask me whence my gloomy dreams, and why I bend 
 
 my head, 
 And why- 1 sigh and weep, nor know why sorrows cloud 
 
 my brow. 
 And shall I tell the dreary tale, and shall I say 'tis thou ! 
 
 Who brought me to this dark abyss ? 'tis thou — my tongue 
 
 is still ; 
 I will not blame thee ; I will bow submissive to heaven's 
 
 will; 
 
 s 
 
258 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Wait patient for that sweet repose which crowns all mortal 
 
 care, 
 And love, while living — live to love — I swear it, maid ! I 
 
 swear. 
 
 My truth shall last as long as life — shall have no end but 
 death ; 
 
 I turn to thee, I call on thee, with hot and eager breath : 
 
 And shall I tell thee all I feel — that all, what words can 
 tell ? 
 
 For death alone the waves can calm that in my bosom 
 swell ! 
 
 Yes ! Welcome ! I would say to him — I say to thee, Fare- 
 well ! 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 259 
 
 BLISS. 
 
 Gyaszba borult gondolatim szunjetek. 
 
 Thoughts that have slept in darkness, vanish now ; 
 Ye have too long o'ershadow'd my sad brow ; 
 And I am summoned to that golden hour, 
 When bliss, not sorrow, wields its mighty power. 
 
 A brighter vision beams upon mine eyes, 
 With dreams of thee and thy sweet courtesies ; 
 And kiss-returning kisses — odorous words, 
 And all the smiles and sweets that love affords. 
 
 The radiance bursting from thine orbs of day, 
 The dimpled graces near thy lips which play ; 
 They have possessed my spirit — waked a fire 
 That burns and brightens, and can ne'er expire. 
 
 A fair pearl floating in my vision seems — 
 Is it a dream ? — Then life has nought but dreams. 
 Is she not mine ? Am I not hers ? Then thought, 
 Sense, suffering, pain, and pleasure — all are nought 
 
 Call honey, bitter — I will not mistrust ; 
 Call justice, knavery — I will still be just : 
 Say all that glitters is not gold — 'tis true ; 
 That hearts are morbid — and I'll say so too. 
 s2 
 
260 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 DESPOiNDENCY. 
 Gerliczenkgttt nyogdocselek. 
 
 Like a turtle-dove complaining 
 
 That no joy is now remaining ; 
 
 What shall hope's sweet dreams renew me, 
 All life's desert, bare and gloomy ? 
 
 One sad thought pursues me ever — 
 Love is fled, returning never ; 
 
 She who was my love's first blossom, 
 
 Sleeps upon another's bosom. 
 
 What is left for love and gladness ? 
 
 Sorrow, solitude, and sadness : 
 For the dreams of peace departed, 
 Sighs have burst and tears have started. 
 
 But the trees and flowers I summon, 
 " Bring me back that lovely woman !" 
 
 Then I think that she is sitting 
 
 In her castle, me forgetting. 
 
 So doth every matin, dawning, 
 
 Shade my thought with gloomiest awning ; 
 
 Hope deferred, and bliss retreating, 
 
 Shall I ever hear thy greeting ? 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 261 
 
 EXAMINATION. 
 
 Mond meg, szivein ! igaz vagy a' hozzam vagy csak csalogatsz. 
 
 Now tell me, heart ! art thou sincere, or art dis- 
 sembling still ? 
 Art sporting with my happiness, and trifling with my will ? 
 
 What sin have I committed ? What duty left undone ? 
 
 Have I been faithless ? No! I've been untrue to none ! 
 
 A thousand, and a thousand times, I pledged to thee my 
 
 vow; 
 If I have in a tittle failed, be my accuser now ! 
 
 Now, while again I swear, through life and time to be 
 
 Devoted to thyself, devoted all to thee. 
 
 O how I love thy English face ! and love no face but 
 
 thine ! * 
 Yes ! all but thine, and all but thee, no love shall have of 
 mine. 
 Return, my love, sweet mind ! for such a blest return 
 Will wake all smiling thoughts, and check all thoughts 
 that mourn. 
 
 * Tisztolem Angyali kepet, mast soha nem szeretek. 
 
262 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Here, hovering round thy lovely form, till death shall smite 
 
 thee, maid ; 
 And dreaming of that better world which death shall ne'er 
 invade. 
 Sweet thought ! which time can bring from blest eternity ; 
 Sweet thought ! eternal joy ! to dwell in heaven with thee. 
 
 Thou bidst me leave thee. Yes! I'll leave, when love 
 
 grows cold, or I 
 Can plant another in my breast ; or, tired of thee, I die : 
 
 Of thee, for whom I all abandon and despise ; 
 
 Of thee, with whom the rays of pleasure set and rise. 
 
 O scorn me not — thy scorn is pour'd on truth, on love — on 
 
 all 
 That earth adores, that heaven approves ; thy marriage 
 festival 
 May see a fairer swain — a prouder train may show, 
 But faithfulness like mine, and fondness, maiden, No ! 
 
 Yet come what will, and frown what may, I'll worship thee, 
 
 my fair! 
 All pains, all pangs, all martyrdoms, for thee I'll voiceless 
 bear. 
 There is no death I dread, if from its suffering thou 
 Would rouse thy love's sweet smile and consecrate my 
 vow. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 263 
 
 THE HUMAN HEART. 
 
 Bator a' sziv, eios is. 
 
 The human heart is bold and strong, 
 Yet oft betrayed or guided wrong, 
 With little flattering, soft carresses, 
 Or gilded words that love expresses ; 
 With fascinating smiles and kisses, 
 And present dreams and promised blisses. 
 
 The human heart is strong and bold, 
 Yet often wounded, oft controll'd ; 
 
 Listening to fancy's strange transportings, 
 And falsehood's wiles, and woman's courtings ; 
 A thousand treacherous darts go through it, 
 And then it bleeds, and then — we rue it. 
 
 The human heart is strong and bold, 
 A granite castle's mural hold, 
 
 Where fetters rattle — ah ! those fetters 
 Have chained me, and they chain my betters. 
 Sweet rose ! why should thy thorns surround me, 
 Thus to perplex, and thus to wound me ? 
 
264 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 The human heart is strong and bold, 
 But thine, a woman's, proud and cold ; 
 Its iciness a fire has lighted, 
 Its pride, my buds of hope has blighted. 
 Strange that such power to thee was given 
 To make, by love, a hell of heaven. 
 
 Heart ! then be cautious, nor attend 
 To whispering wiles, nor slippery friend ; 
 The honied speech hath verjuice in it, 
 And ecstacy's swift-pinion'd minute 
 
 Brings years of pain : if love betray thee r 
 Nought can its miseries repay thee. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 265 
 
 YOUTH. 
 
 Vigan elek a' vilagon. 
 
 Youth's the season of enjoyment, 
 So I'll give full scope to joy ; 
 
 Pleasure, wisdom's best employment, 
 Shall my thoughts and dreams employ. 
 
 Let the sad ally with sadness, 
 
 I have made my peace with gladness. 
 
 Full of smiles and cheerful-hearted, 
 Spring leaves winter's dreary den ; 
 
 Night's dark demons, when departed, 
 Bring day's sunny sprites again. 
 
 In the abyss of grief the deepest, 
 
 Thou, sweet consolation ! sleepest. 
 
 Life is fleeting — then improve it ; 
 
 Lo ! it melts beneath thy touch ; 
 'Tis too lovely not to love it, 
 
 'Tis too vain to love too much : 
 It has honey-giving flowers, 
 It has balsam-bearing bowers. 
 
266 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Gather round thee friends of kindness, 
 To their hearts thy heart be given ; 
 
 Friendship in our mortal blindness 
 Is the only light of heaven. 
 
 For the faithless friends thou ruest, 
 
 Cling to one, or two, the truest. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 267 
 
 THE BRIDE. 
 
 Bezzeg vagyon nekem is mar feles£gem. 
 
 I got me a bride — ah ! I got me a bride, 
 And a pretty good portion of trouble beside ; 
 I have buried the peace and the joy of my life, 
 Which I shouldn't have done had I buried my wife. 
 
 I know not what fiend with the witch has combin'd ; 
 He dived to his den, but he left her behind : 
 I asked her for wine, and I asked her for bread, 
 And she flung first abuse— then her fist at my head. 
 
 When I think of that excellent landlady who 
 Gives me food — gives me drink, and so cheerfully too ; 
 And turn to that dragon,* whom tiger-milk nurst, 
 My heart splits in two when I feel how I'm curst. 
 
 Only two nights ago —who had dreamt she was nigh ? 
 When thinking and meaning no evil, not I ; 
 I was bound to a neighbor's — the hideous one came 
 And vomited vengeance, and fury, and flame. 
 
 * Feni fereg — Hideous worm — a common Magyar appellation 
 for the devil, or dragon (Sarkany). 
 
268 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 " Thou scoundrel! thou vagabond ! wench-hunting knave!"* 
 This, this was the welcome the evil one gave ; 
 She roared like a lion that springs from his nook ; 
 And, O ! how I tottered, and trembled, and shook. f 
 
 How long, O thou work of the devil ! how long ? 
 Every day thou art here does thy destiny wrong : 
 I know what thy doom is, I know it full well ; 
 But why, while on earth, am I driven to hell ? 
 
 * Te, kurafi ! mit csinalsz itt kurvanyadban ? 
 
 Kurvanya literally means, mother of harlots. Kurva is the 
 Slavonic for courtezan ; though it is hardly to be supposed the 
 Magyars were universally chaste before they borrowed the un- 
 chastity-denoting word from their neighbours. There is an old 
 Hungarian word ringyo, meaning the lowest of prostitutes. 
 
 f This is somewhat too free in the original : 
 
 Ijedtemben bevizeltem a' gatyamban. 
 
 The gatya is the linen underdrcss (drawers) worn by the Hun- 
 garians in warm weather. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 269 
 
 THE MAGYAR DANCE. 
 
 Meg azt mondjak : nem illik a' tancz a' Magyarnak. 
 
 A very pretty piece of dreaming to fancy that a Magyar 
 
 lad, 
 In leathern shoes and shortened breeches,* can dance ! O, 
 
 no; but see him clad 
 In rattling spurs and plumy head-dress ; f and then, and 
 
 then, when full of joy, 
 Before his pearl-browed J Magyar maiden, O then behold 
 
 the Magyar boy. 
 
 * The Magyars hold the short breeches and shoes of their Ger- 
 man neighbours in very great contempt, and deem spurs so essential 
 to a dancer, that they have an expression betokening that " a 
 dancer without his spurs is a soup without salt, a kiss without a 
 beard." 
 
 f The kalpag, or Hungarian national cap. It is made of fur, 
 and decorated with rows of feathers. Feathers are used in Hun- 
 gary on many occasions similar to those in which ribbons are 
 employed by us, as for example, by recruiting parties. 
 
 X The pasta is the ornamented head-dress of the unmarried 
 women of Hungary, Slovakia, and Servia. Formerly none but 
 virgins were allowed to wear it, and it was taken from the bride 
 with many ceremonies on the day of marriage, when conducted, 
 to the abode of the bridegroom. On the following morning mar- 
 ried women replaced it, or rather surmounted it by the Foko- 
 to. The pasta is composed of a number of bandages turned 
 
270 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Our Magyar dance they say is lonely, a melancholy dance 
 
 they say; 
 But see a Magyar foot when twinkling — is it not sportive, 
 
 glad and gay ? 
 Go to the Shirnian fields and tell me, if ever fancy's busy 
 
 glance 
 Dwelt on a scene so brightly joyous, or followed a more 
 
 rapturous dance.* 
 
 The dance of Gaul is affectation ; and light though German 
 dances be, 
 
 They are but an eternal sameness— a wearisome mono- 
 tony : f 
 
 round the head, and often ornamented with pearls. A hair pin, 
 generally of silver, and in the form of a dagger, was struck 
 through it. 
 
 * Lam Somogy Varmegyeben a' tanczot meg jarjak 
 Sot hogy ugrost vonnjanak, azt is alig varjak. 
 
 See how, in the province of Somog, they dance that dance ; 
 
 There is no lingering, till the agros is danced through. 
 The Ugros is the gay and cheerful dance ; the Verburikos the slow 
 and formal— it is used when recruits are engaged. 
 
 t This is true of the German waltzes, to which it refers. The 
 Magyar dance is exceedingly varied in its figures. Dr. Rumy tells 
 me, that on one occasion an English traveller noted down the 
 many changes of figure in a Magyar dance, and they amounted to 
 more thau a hundred. My friend, who thinks that there is a 
 strong resemblance between the uational character of the En- 
 glish and the Magyars, will have it that even in their dances this 
 is the case. The general tone of the Magyar feeling is melan- 
 choly and pathetic. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 271 
 
 And gloomy are the English dances — a heavy and a tire- 
 some chain ; 
 
 But ours, but ours were consecrated, aye ! down from old 
 King David's reign. 
 
272 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 DISDAIN. 
 
 Ha te engeni' csak mulatsagbol szeretsz. 
 
 Thy very smiles my heart o'ershade, 
 They speak but of thy cold disdain ; 
 Could I uproot thee thence, fair maid ! 
 My heart might rest in peace again. 
 
 Thy gentle spirit cannot know 
 What hours of woe I pass for thee ; 
 Thou couldst not try affection so, 
 Nor trifle with a wretch like me. 
 
 How oft, in evening's twilight hour, 
 I've pass'd for thee thy dwelling round, 
 And struggling 'gainst love's mighty power, 
 With heavier, heavier chains was bound ! 
 
 List, O my treasure ! List ! for all 
 Are thine of thought's best offerings : 
 List to thy slave's, thy suppliant's call — 
 Break his dark chains, and lend thy wings. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 273 
 
 MY ERROR. 
 
 Nem bitten volua hogy igy tegy. 
 
 I never dream'd that thou couldst be 
 So treacherous and so cold to me ; 
 Once thou o'erflow'd'st with tenderness, 
 As now with pride and scorn's excess. 
 Thy love was but a faint esteem — 
 Mine, bright and warm, as summer-beam ; 
 And thine indifference wounds me more 
 Than hate or grief could wound before. 
 I vow'd — I will not break the vow, 
 Though pledged to one so cold as thou ; 
 I'll keep the sacred oath I swore, 
 Till o'er me death shall close its door ; 
 And then, even then, my slumbering clay,* 
 My crumbling bones, from day to day 
 Shall pour forth sighs to thee — to thee— - 
 Till not a fragment rests of me. 
 Then say upon my grave's green breast, 
 " Here slumbers in his bed of rest. 
 One whom I loved — and to despair 
 Betrayed him. Yes ! he slumbers here." 
 
 * AUkor is meg hiilt poraim — Then will my cold dust — 
 from por. Poraim with the plural suffix : pulveres mei. 
 T 
 
274 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 I have no other wish, no prayer. 
 Say that my passion was sincere, 
 And my reward, to die — and say, 
 I pined in silent thought away ; 
 And in my dying agony 
 I spoke, I thought, alone of thee. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 275 
 
 THE PILGRIMAGE. 
 
 Bokros bu habjai ream todultanak. 
 
 O'er me are affliction's waters in their heaviest currents 
 
 pour'd; 
 They have swept away all pleasure — every pleasure time 
 
 had stor'd ; 
 Slanderous, poisoning tongues have pierced me with their 
 
 hideous calumnies. 
 Hence I hang my head in sorrow — hence my trackless 
 
 miseries. 
 
 Mourn for me, ye gloomy forests — mourn for me, ye dew- 
 hung trees — 
 
 Mourn for me, ye scattered roses— have ye witnessed griefs 
 like these ? 
 
 Wandering for the maid I cherish'd — vainly for that maid 
 I roam ; 
 
 'Twas for her I left my father's, mother's, brother's, sis- 
 ter's, home. 
 
 I must wander ! heavy burthen is my heart ! a weight like 
 
 lead ; 
 Here for me is no abiding — where shall I repose my head ? 
 t 2 
 
276 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 I have nought but foes around me — brother, friend, ac- 
 quaintance, none ; 
 
 They would fain betray the wanderer — fain would hear his 
 dying groan. 
 
 But disease sits darkly on me, and I feel my strength de- 
 cay ; 
 
 Here I may not tarry longer — Pilgrim of the earth, away ! 
 
 Come away ! the steeds are waiting — I am ready to be 
 gone : 
 
 Forward, forward on thy journey— time is calling — on- 
 ward — on. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 277 
 
 DRINKING SONG. 
 
 Kurva az annya rosz cmbernek, egy szo ugy mint szaz ! 
 
 Out with it ! the knave is a miscreant, and more, 
 
 Who behind your back says what he wont say before ; 
 
 To the yells of foul slander as little I list, 
 
 As I list to the howl of a dog in the mist. 
 
 Let his tongue in his mouth-roof to rottenness turn ; 
 
 My God shall assist me his slanders to spurn. 
 
 Let the world go to wreck, if the vine-trees be spared, 
 And their rich ruby drops without culture be reared ; 
 
 Our minds to enlighten, 
 
 Our spirits to brighten, 
 Hurra ! and hurra ! and hurra ! to the pledge ; 
 Dive down to the crystalline deeps from the edge. 
 
 I know of a city, and Buda its name ; 
 Near Buda flows onwards the Duna of fame ; 
 In Duna's a fish — 'tis the Hartsa* — o'er all 
 May the blessing of God's own benignity fall ; 
 And joy with the honest and excellent be, 
 While the worthless are given to infamy. 
 
 * Hartsa — Silurus glanis. Linn. 
 
278 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Yes ! let bliss be with all from God's bounty divine, 
 And the clouds drop down rain, and the cellar give wine ; 
 And our garments be free from the taint of a spot ; * 
 Our Magyars rule Oldh, and Xemet, and Tot.-f 
 
 God give us all blessing, 
 
 Wine, roast, salt possessing ; 
 
 Give oats to the Pole, 
 
 To our foes the grave's hole, 
 
 To Magyar community, 
 
 Health, peace, and unity, 
 
 Wine and roasted meat beside, 
 
 But first a good and lovely bride. + 
 
 * Ne legyeu ruhankon semmiuemii folt — ou our clothes let 
 there be no spot. Foltos N6met — Spotted German is in Hungary 
 a common term of opprobrium. 
 
 f Oldh — Wallachian. Nemet — German. Tot — Slavonian. 
 
 X The original has all this variety of measure. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 279 
 
 THE TISZIAN. 
 
 Rakos mezdu egykor, Pesti vasarkor. 
 
 From the smiling fields of Rakosh,* on the market-day of 
 
 Pest, 
 Lo ! an Over-Tiszian Chikosh in his snowy bunda drest ;f 
 
 Bunda wearing, bagpipes bearing, 
 And he seeks the " Three Cups' " Tavern, where they sell 
 
 of wine the best. 
 
 There they jok'd the sheep-clad Chikosh — asked him if in 
 Tiszian land 
 
 People spoke the Magyar language, and could Magyar un- 
 derstand ? 
 
 Or if Tiszians spoke like Grecians ? 
 
 So when they had ceased their laughing, thus he answered 
 out of hand : 
 
 " Our Hungarians out of pitchers drink the overflowing 
 wine; 
 
 Spice their food with rich paprika, and from ancient plat- 
 ters dine ; 
 
 Your Hungarians are Barbarians, 
 
 And the manners of our fathers, scouted by such sons, de- 
 cline. 
 
 * Rakosh is an extensive plain near Pest. 
 
 f Tula' Tiszan levo Csikos bundastul. The Csikos is the 
 keeper of wild horses. Their dress (the bunda) is a covering of 
 sheep-skins and linen trousers. They generally carry bagpipes. 
 
280 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 " Your Danubeans, not Hungarians — out of tinkling glasses 
 
 drink, 
 Eat their roast from lattin dishes, pleased to hear their 
 
 glasses chink ; 
 
 Silly traitors ! — while their betters 
 Think they are but bastard Magyars, though they say not 
 
 all they think. 
 
 "We have not a Tiszian hostess — none! but speaks our 
 Magyar ; 
 
 Here they prattle out their German — pretty patriots they 
 are ! 
 
 But if German they prefer, man, 
 
 Soon would each wine-drinking Magyar fly from their in- 
 fected bar. 
 
 " Priests and preachers midst our Tiszians speak our Ma- 
 gyar tongue alone ; 
 
 E'en our Rusniakian papas make the Magyar tongue their 
 own ; 
 
 Here, Teutonic, or Ratzonic;* 
 
 Any, any thing but Magyar — and of Magyar nothing 
 known." 
 
 [This composition is very characteristic of the Hungarian feel- 
 ing', and notwithstanding a certain air of vulgarity about it, I 
 have thought it well worth preserving.] 
 
 * Razek, Servian. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 281 
 
 FORTUNE. 
 
 A' szercncse csak jatszik. 
 
 O fortune ! thou capricious thing ! 
 
 Flitting on low or lofty wing ; 
 
 Now scattering round thee honey-dew, 
 
 Now dark drops of poison too : 
 
 All thy vanities well I know, 
 
 Joy is a heap of mountain-snow ; 
 
 Fond words are the forms in the stream that dwell, 
 
 As sweet and brittle as the honey-cell. 
 
 Thy heart I worship — and dwell with thee 
 
 Wherever thou go, whatever thou be ; 
 
 For thee to live, and for thee to die, 
 
 Were a bright and a blessed destiny. 
 
 But a time may come, when my heart, set free, 
 
 Shall bring no tribute of love to thee ; 
 
 And the sunshine of joy, long veil'd, may soon 
 
 Pour in my path the light of noon. 
 
282 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 DEPARTURE. 
 
 Hat mar csak Isten hozzatok : igy 6nekelek. 
 
 God bless ye ! God bless ye ! God bless ye ! I say ; 
 The horses are harnessed,* and I must away ! 
 
 Old friends ! Early home ! 
 
 All blessings be yours ! 
 Let angels look smilingly down from heav'n's shores, 
 Let the grace of the Deity hitherward come, 
 And fling all its light o'er futurity's day. 
 
 Farewell, holy Love ! Sweet Affection, farewell ! 
 Here let sports full of joy, gay-toned harmony dwell, 
 
 And freedom and peace. 
 
 Can I linger ? O no ! 
 The steeds are prepar'd — I must go — I must go ; 
 For the duties of life will allow no release, 
 And its pleasures are buried in memory's cell. 
 
 * Indulnak mar a' szekerek — Already are the carriages on the 
 road. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 283 
 
 FAREWELL. 
 
 Szomorti az ido,* el akar valtozni. 
 
 Dark is the day — when shall it grow clearer ? 
 Gone is my love — and gone, his name is dearer ; 
 Peace bless his path ; let no unkindness meet him ; 
 Joy ever greet him ! 
 
 Linger, sweet rose. ! my tear of sorrow dews thee ; 
 Fair as thou art, I know that I must lose thee ; 
 Long is my journey — gloomy clouds flit by me ; 
 Wilt thou be nigh me ? 
 
 Callous to fate, and careless of my being, 
 Thee, only thee, I love — thee only seeing ; 
 Star of my heaven — my sweet dove hov'ring over, 
 Smile on thy lover ! 
 
 * Ido— The time, the weather. 
 
284 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 MY ANGEL. 
 
 Angyalocskam, Angyalocskam. 
 
 Angel ! bright angel of mine ! 
 Azure-eyed maiden divine ! 
 Would that sweet slumbers would chase thee,* 
 And from my bosom displace thee ! 
 
 Can I that moment forget ? 
 Thou with thy eyelids so wet, 
 Glidedst before me— to greet thee, 
 Never as then shall I meet thee. 
 
 Dost thou forget it ? Forget ! 
 Maidens will smile on me yet ; 
 Maidens far brighter and fairer, 
 One, thou false maid ! shall be dearer ! 
 
 * Bar csak egy almat alhatnam — " Would that I could sleep 
 a sleep," or " dream a dream." 'Atom signifies, indifferently, 
 sleep and dream. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 285 
 
 CONSTANCY. 
 
 Lelkem ! sirva le borulok; 
 
 Spirit ! weeping, at thy feet 
 I would sit, and rest with thee ; 
 
 Nothing else is half so sweet, 
 Nothing half so dear to me. 
 
 When I leave my cottage door, 
 From thy window glance on me ; 
 
 See the gloomy tears I pour — • 
 See me — soon thou will not see. 
 
 Call me. Were my sufferings known 
 Thine indifference soon would pass ; 
 
 Pity break thy heart, though stone — 
 Melt it, tho' it were of glass. 
 
 Thine indifference ? Shall I tear 
 
 Thy bright form from memory ? No ! 
 
 More and more I love thee, dear ! 
 As my sufferings stronger grow. 
 
286 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 LIFE. 
 
 Az elet ollyan, mint a' szel. 
 
 Life is like the stormy breezes 
 
 Raging with a restless sway ; 
 Like the wintry wind that freezes 
 
 Snow-heaps which soon melt away.* 
 
 Age, age — year, year overpowers ; 
 
 Still they flow, and still they must ; 
 And while children gather flower?, 
 
 Aged fathers sleep in dust. 
 
 Rouse thee, up to noble doing, 
 Noble cares and thoughts pursue ; 
 
 Even the boisterous wind, pursuing 
 Its fierce course, wafts drops of dew. 
 
 * De mint a' zivataros tel 
 Kiadvan merged valtozik, i. e. 
 
 Like the stormy winter, 
 
 It changes when it has given out its poisou (or anger). Mereg 
 means both. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 287 
 
 PASSION. 
 
 Angyali k£p termete. 
 
 Methought there came from heaven above 
 
 An angel in heaven's beauty clad, 
 
 Bearing a talisman of love, 
 
 That over earth dominion had ; 
 
 She flung her amulet on me, 
 
 I bowed— what could I do, to ward 
 
 That heaven-directed witchery, 
 
 I, a poor sighing, tremulous bard ? 
 
 'Twas love that formed her — love that filPd 
 Her frame with spirit — when I heard 
 Her name, my heart with transport thrill'd,. 
 A heavenly echo was the word ! 
 A voice descended — sounds divine 
 Pour'd heavenly music on mine ears ; 
 Sweet voices uttering — " She is thine, 
 And thou, blest son of song ! art hers." 
 
 Yes ! I am thine — this thought alone 
 Fills all my soul with ecstacy, 
 And two divided hearts are one ; 
 O wonderous miracle ! to see 
 
288 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Such blending — such dissolving bliss ! 
 Two hearts — one feeling — one desire — 
 A doubled joy concentred — this, 
 This only could love's power inspire. 
 
 But midst life's transitory things, 
 
 Love must be transient — time, which flies 
 
 With all life's treasures on its wings, 
 
 Will not forget life's ecstacies. 
 
 Yet, come what may — and chance what will, 
 
 If love and faith in union be, 
 
 There will be bliss in loving still, 
 
 x\nd this shall be a bliss for me. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 289 
 
 THE CSUTORA SONG. 
 
 A, A, A Eijen a' nagy csutora. 
 
 A, A, A life to the gay Csutora : 
 A greater joy than to revel o'er a 
 
 Flowing cup can the heart desire ? 
 A, A, A life to the gay Chutora. 
 
 E, E, Excellent is the embrace 
 
 Of a friendly hand and a friendly face ; 
 
 Pour the cup, and fill it higher : 
 E, E, Excellent love's embrace ! 
 
 I, I, I'll embrace it, nor i- 
 Dly from its dewy lip- press fly ; 
 
 Deeply drink, and lift it high ; 
 I, I, I'll embrace it — I ! 
 
 O, O, ! it sparkles so, 
 Joy, love, beauty overflow ; 
 
 Envy shall pass us sighing by ; 
 0,0,0! it sparkles so ! 
 
 U, U, Union and joy the fw- 
 Ture days shall brighten of me and you, 
 Sorrow shall fling its burdens down ; 
 U, U, Union for me and U. 
 u 
 
290 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 Y, Y, Youth flits speedily by, 
 Rapture is here with her lightning eye; 
 
 Sorrow, begone with thy funeral frown — 
 Y, Y, Youth flits speedily by. 
 
 A, E, I, O, U, Y, should we throw 
 
 A cloud of darkness o'er pleasure's brow ? 
 
 A, E, I, O, U, Y, 
 Y should we darken pleasure, Y ? 
 
 The Csutora is the wine-flask which is used by Hungarians 
 on their journeys. This composition I have introduced as a spe- 
 cimen of a not unfrequent play upon letters and words among 
 the Magyars. It must be read with indulgence ; but it was 
 desirable to give correct notions of the varieties of popular 
 composition. As illustrative of my translation, I copy the two 
 first verses of the original : 
 
 A' nagy csutorahoz. 
 
 A, A, A 'Eljen a' nagy csutora 
 Szomjas torok ttitora 
 Ki ne fogyjon a' bora ! 
 A, A, A 'Eljen a' nagy csutora. 
 
 E, E, E Adjuk egymas kezibe 
 Hadd folyjon ki izibe 
 A' mi szorult kozibe 
 E, E, E Adjuk egymas kezibe. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 291 
 
 TRUE LOVE. 
 
 Kertem alatt szant egy eke. 
 
 A plough was ploughing near my garden, 
 And near the plough a stripling * stood ; 
 
 So fair his form— -I could not leave him, 
 I could not leave him if I would. 
 
 There is recruiting in the village ; 
 
 They say, Wilt thou a soldier be ? 
 And once I said, In truth I'm willing ; 
 
 O ! many a maiden wept for me. 
 
 The heaven is white, is white o'er Buda ; 
 
 And lov'st thou me, my lovely one ? 
 O if I lov'd thee not, had ever 
 
 Thy maid her arms around thee thrown "} 
 
 But I have fallen now — and anguish 
 
 Of body, heart, and soul is mine ; 
 My youth I clad in weeds of sorrow, 
 
 And o'er departed pleasures pine. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. XLVII. p. 360, 1819. 
 
 * Original Fattyk — bastard ; sometimes used sportively, as the 
 English word fellow — sad fellow, good fellow. 
 
292 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 SINCERITY. 
 
 'Edes Kincsem, Tubiczam. 
 
 My darling dove, my treasure dear, 
 And is thy love indeed sincere ? 
 If not sincere, O tell me so; 
 I will no longer near thee go. 
 
 'Twas long — and it will longer be 
 Ere other maid takes place of thee, 
 Whose feeble arms on me shall rest, 
 Upon my weary shoulders prest. 
 
 Plague on her, plague upon her name ! 
 The maiden is a haughty dame ; 
 Her mother is a witch,* and they 
 Have plotted only to betray. 
 
 Hasznos Mulatsdgok, No. VIII. 1820. 
 * Boszorkany — Sorceress. 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 293 
 
 TREMBLING. 
 
 Nem vagy legeny, nem vagy nem mersz tolem kerui. 
 
 A very pretty fellow, you, 
 Who know not what to say nor do, 
 But stuttering stand, like one afraid — 
 Heaven help the boy ! — ah! well-a-day! 
 Who knows not what to do or say 
 To please a laughing Magyar maid. 
 
294 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 KOROSIAN WATERS. 
 
 Viz, viz, viz. 
 
 Where are waters bright and clear 
 As Korosian waters are ? 
 Fairest fish have here their home, 
 Here the sweetest maidens come ; 
 Where are waters half so fair ? 
 Where ? where ? where ? 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 295 
 
 SONG OF FARSAN. 
 
 Kis csupor, nagy csupor, mind egy ha el fogy a' bor. 
 
 Little cup, or great cup, all is one when both are void ; 
 When my wife can keep them full, both are equally en- 
 joyed. 
 
 Little glass, or great glass, all is one when fill'd with air, 
 And my wife storms just the same when she finds that no- 
 thing's there. 
 
 Little spoon, or great spoon, all is one when dinner's wait- 
 ing, 
 
 But my wife finds fault with both when she learns there's 
 nought for eating. 
 
 Little lid, or great lid, all is one when nothing's under ; 
 When my wife peeps in she shows far more waspishness 
 than wonder. 
 
 Little store, or great store, all is one for hungry sinner ; 
 Give my wife the food to dress, and I'll answer for our 
 dinner. 
 
296 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE MAGYAR MAID. 
 
 Csak azert szeretem. 
 
 The Magyar maid alone should be 
 
 The wife of Magyar man, 
 For she can cook, and only she, 
 
 Our soup of red cayenne.* 
 
 I'll nestle at the village end, 
 There make my peaceful home, 
 
 For there the gentle dovelets wend, 
 And there my dove shall come. 
 
 I mowed the grass, the sheaves I bound, 
 
 And labor' d through the day, 
 Then fell exhausted on the ground — 
 
 My maiden was away. 
 
 Alas ! my heart is orphaned now, 
 
 And laid in sorrow's train : 
 The flowers are dead that wreath'd my brow, 
 
 My sickle is in twain. 
 
 * A' borsos levecsket — the pepper soup, or paprika soup, made 
 of the capsicum annuum of Linue. It is a favorite dish among 
 Magyars, Turks, and Servians, 
 
HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 297 
 
 FUREDI FESTAL SONG. 
 
 Felse Barat ! nines itt Klastrom. 
 
 Monk, avaunt ! no cloister's this, 
 
 Here no cloister's rules ; 
 Doctor, off ! for here is bliss, 
 
 Take your pills to fools : 
 Wine alone, and joyous cheer — 
 Joyous cheer and wine are here ! 
 
 Life we know is swift and vain, 
 
 On its wings we ride ; 
 With its pleasure, not its pain, 
 
 Would we be supplied : 
 Wine alone and joyous cheer — 
 Joyous cheer and wine are here ! 
 
 If the Mantis fl?o his wing,* 
 
 'Tis but a command 
 Friendship's cheerful glass to bring 
 
 With a steadier hand : 
 Wine alone and joyous cheer — 
 Joyous cheer and wine are here. 
 
 * Usse Mano ! Let the Mantis take it ! Mario means, at the 
 same time, the Evil Spirit. 
 
 X 
 
298 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 POPULAR DANCING SONG. 
 
 Nosza legeny a' tanczba ! 
 
 Lads ! come hasten to the ball ! 
 See the lasses waiting all ; 
 Shake your feet and form the line : 
 See the maidens ! Bring the wine ! 
 Life is strung with pearls. 
 
 Hark ! the spurs are tinkling sweet, 
 Csizmas* echo on the feet ; 
 Feet and hands move joyously, 
 And the dance is full of glee : 
 Life is strung with pearls. 
 
 Where the smiling maidens be, 
 There the happy youths we see ; 
 Up and down the waving row, 
 With Tartarianf steps they go : 
 Life is full of pearls. 
 
 * The csizmas or boots of the Hungarians. 
 
 f The irruption of the Tatars in the time of Bela the Fourth, 
 has still left its influences on the manners and language of the 
 Magyars. 
 

 HUNGARIAN POPULAR SONGS. '299 
 
 Woman ! thou whose spring is past, 
 Join the dance, though 'twere the last ; 
 Bask thee in the genial heat, 
 Warm thy heart, and shake thy feet : 
 Life is full of pearls ! 
 
 x2 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Andrassy, Count George, of Szentkiraly and Krasznas- 
 
 torka. 
 Academy of Science and Literary of Hungary. 
 Aikin, Mrs., Hampstead. 
 Aikin, Miss, ditto. 
 Alexander, Mr. W., Yarmouth. 
 Alsager, T. M., Esq. 
 Amersfoord, H., Esq., Leeuwarden. 
 Ames, G. H., Esq., Clifton. 
 Ames, Mrs. George, ditto. 
 Amory, Samuel, Esq., Throgmorton Street. 
 Amory, Mrs. Samuel, Upper Homerton. 
 Amory, William, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Anderson, , Esq., Nuneham, near Cambridge. 
 
 Ashton, Thomas, Esq., Manchester. 
 Aspland, Rev. Robert, Hackney. 
 Astley, Miss, Chesterfield. 
 
 Bedford, his Grace the Duke of. 
 Badams, John, Esq., Birmingham. 
 Bannatyne, Dugald, Esq., Glasgow. 
 
302 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Barker, Edward Henry, Esq., Thetford. 
 
 Barnard, John, Esq., Harlow. 
 
 Barton, Bernard, Esq., Woodbridge. 
 
 Belcher, James, Esq., Birmingham. 
 
 Bell, E. R., Esq., Montague Close. 
 
 Bell, William, Esq., 150, Cheapside. 
 
 Bentham, Jeremy, Esq., Westminster. 
 
 Berry, Kemp, Esq., Bached Row. 
 
 Bevan, Dr. E., Ross. 
 
 Bezeredy, de Bezered, Stephen, Tolna. 
 
 Bicknell, Elhanan, Esq., Heme Hill. 
 
 Birmingham New Hall-street Book Society. 
 
 Bolton, Thomas, Esq., Liverpool. 
 
 Bowring, Charles, Esq., Exeter. 
 
 Bowring, Samuel, Esq., Stockwell. 
 
 Bowring, Mrs., ditto. 
 
 Brooks, S. R., Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Broom, John, Esq., Broomfieid Hall, Kidderminster. 
 
 Broom, Mr. H., Elderfield. 
 
 Broom, Miss, Blakebrook Cottage. 
 
 Broom, Nevill, Esq , Kidderminster. 
 
 Buchanan, Walter, Esq., 10, Upper Woburn Place. 
 
 Buckingham, J. S., Esq., Tavistock Square. 
 
 Burnley, J., Esq., 6, Bryanstone Square. 
 
 Burnett, Mr., 1, Bury Place, Bloomsbury. 
 
 Burrell, Walter, Esq., M.P., 37, Conduit Street 
 
 Csaky, Count Joseph, of Keresztszeg. 
 Cartwright, Mr., 10, Regent's Park Place. 
 Cartwright, Miss F., ditto. 
 Cave, R. 0. r Esq., M.P., Suffolk Street, 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 303 
 
 Chapman, Rev. E., Greenwich. 
 
 Chorley, W. B., Esq., St. Anne's Street, Liverpool. 
 
 Cobb, T. R., Esq. 
 
 Coles, John, Esq., Harpur Street. 
 
 Collins, Richard, Esq., Travis Isle, Manchester. 
 
 Compigne, Samuel, Esq., Brixton. 
 
 Cooper, George, Esq., Brighton. 
 
 Cordell, Mr. J., Bishopsgate Street. 
 
 Corrie, Mrs., Birmingham. 
 
 Croft, Miss, Chesterfield. 
 
 Croinpton, Miss. 
 
 Dessewffy, Count Aurelius, of Csernek and Tarko. 
 
 Dessevvffy, Count Joseph, of ditto. 
 
 Donegal, Marchioness Dowager of, \7, Curzon Street. 
 
 Darbishire, John, Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Darbishire, Mrs., ditto. 
 
 Darby, Francis, Esq., Colebrook Dale. 
 
 Davy, Isaac, Esq., Fordton. 
 
 Deres^nyi, John, of Derczen. 
 
 Doane, Richard, Esq., 2, Queen's- Square Place. 
 
 Dobrentei, Gabriel, Pesth. 
 
 Doughty, Miss Mary, Yarmouth. 
 
 Druce, Alexander, Esq., Kidderminster, 
 
 Dudin, Henry, Esq., Sydenham. 
 
 Durant, Richard, Esq., Copthall Court. 
 
 Durant, George, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Dyer, George, Esq , Clifford's Inn. 
 
 Eszterhazy, His Highness the Prince. 
 Eszterhazy, Her Highness the Princess. 
 
304 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Erdoiy, Count Alexander, of Monyoro-Kerek. 
 
 Eckersley, Peter, Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Egerton, J., Esq., Peckham. 
 
 Ellice, Edward, Esq., Grosvenor Street. 
 
 Ellice, Lady Hannah, ditto. 
 
 Ellis, Charles, Esq., Stockwell. 
 
 Ellison, Michael, Esq., Farm, near Sheffield. 
 
 Evans, Colonel de Lacy. 
 
 Eyre, Charles, Esq. 
 
 Favell, Samuel, Esq , 1 70, Fenchurch Street. 
 
 Feilding, Lady Elizabeth, 32, Sackville Street. 
 
 Fernie, Joseph, Esq., Leadenhall Street. 
 
 Field, Charles, Esq., Clapham. 
 
 Fisher, — Esq., St. Ives, Huntingdon. 
 
 Fisher, John, Esq., Highbury Park. 
 
 Fisher, Mrs. John, ditto. 
 
 Fisher, Thomas, Esq., Dorchester. 
 
 Fisher, Miss, ditto. 
 
 Fletcher, Rev. Charles, Nottingham. 
 
 Flower, Miss, Dalston. 
 
 Fontein, F. D., Esq., Harlingen. 
 
 Fox, Rev. W. J., Dalston. 
 
 Fraser, William, Esq. 
 
 Freese, J. H., Esq., Hackney. 
 
 Frend, William, Esq., Stoke Newington. 
 
 Frisian Society of History, Antiquity, and Languages. 
 
 Gyulai, Count Lewis, of Maros-Nemeti. 
 
 Gyulai, Count Albert, Jim , of Maros-Ne'meti and Nodaska, 
 
 George, John, Jun.,Esq,, Clapham Rise. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 305 
 
 Gibson, Thomas, Esq., Milk Street. 
 
 Gill, George, Esq , Salford, near Manchester. 
 
 Godfrey, Miss, 1 7, Curzon Street. 
 
 Goldsmid, Isaac Lyon, Esq. 
 
 Grant, Daniel, Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Grant, William, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Greg, R. H., Esq., ditto. 
 
 Gregory, G. P. F., Esq., 48, Gower Street. 
 
 Gregory, J. S., Esq., 1, Bedford Row. 
 
 Grey, Right Honourable Earl. 
 
 Groningen University Library. 
 
 Grote, George, Esq., Threadneedle Street. 
 
 Grote, George, Esq , Jun., ditto. 
 
 Hunyady, Count Francis, Chamberlain of H. I. M. the 
 
 Emperor of Austria. 
 Holland, Right Honourable Lord. 
 Hacon, Dennis, Esq., Hackney. 
 Hall, Andrew, Esq., Manchester. 
 Hamaker, Professor, Leyden. 
 Hamond, John, Esq., Fen Stanton, Hants. 
 Harden, Philip, Esq., 83, Upper Thames Street. 
 Harris, Rev. George, Glasgow. 
 Harrison, Frederic, Esq., Threadneedle Street. 
 Harvey, Mrs., 105, Guildford Street. 
 Heron, James Knight, Esq. 
 Heygate, James, Esq., Hampstead. 
 Heygate, William, Esq. 
 
 Hichens, Robert, Esq., 11, Threadneedle Street. 
 Hichens, William, Esq., ditto. 
 Hill, M. D., Esq., Chancery Lane. 
 
306 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Hill, Rowland, Esq., Bruce Castle. 
 
 Hitson, Dr. G., Bristol. 
 
 Hobhouse, J. C, Esq., M. P., Albany Court. 
 
 Hodges, G. L., Esq., Clifton. 
 
 Hodgetts, Jos., Esq., 34, Burton Crescent. 
 
 Hodgetts, J. W.j Esq., ditto. 
 
 Hornby, Thomas, Esq., Swithin's Lane. 
 
 Houtenvile, William, Esq., Clifton. 
 
 Hoyle, Thomas, Esq., Mayfield, near Manchester. 
 
 Hughes, Miss Susan, Devizes. 
 
 Hume, Joseph, Esq., M.P., 6, Bryanstone Square. 
 
 Hume, Mrs., ditto. 
 
 Hunt, Rev. D., Bedford. 
 
 Hutchinson, Mrs., Clapton. 
 
 Irvine, George, Esq., New Shoreham. 
 Jackson, Jabez, Esq., New City Chambers. 
 James, Evan, Esq., Kidderminster. 
 James, Thomas, Esq., Doughty Street. 
 Jeffrey, John, Esq., Weymouth Street. 
 Jeffrey, Miss, Peckham. 
 Jervis, Rev. John, Brompton Grove. 
 Johns, Rev. W., Manchester. 
 
 Karolyi, Count George, of Nagy-Karoly. 
 Karolyi, Count Lewis, ditto. 
 Karolyi, Count Stephen, ditto. 
 Kendeffi, Count Adam, of Malomviz. 
 Kay, Samuel, Esq., Manchester. 
 Kenrick, Miss, Hampstead. 
 Kenrick, Rev. John, York, 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 307 
 
 Kentish, Dr., Bristol. 
 
 Kentish, Mrs., Bristol. 
 
 Kinder, Henry, Esq., Hampstead. 
 
 Kinder, Miss, ditto. 
 
 Kinder, Miss M., ditto. 
 
 Kington, Thomas, Esq., Charlton House, near Bristol. 
 
 Kirkby, Samuel, Esq., Grove House, near Sheffield, 
 
 Knowles, J. S., Esq., Glasgow. 
 
 Lane, Miss, Bishopsgate Street. 
 Lawford, Edward, Esq., Drapers* Hall. 
 Lawford, John, Esq , Hackney. 
 Lee, Roger, Esq., Clapham Common. 
 Leeuwarden Constanter Society. 
 Lewin, Samuel Hawtayne, Esq., Hackney. 
 Lewin, Thomas Fox, Esq., ditto. 
 Lewis, Rev. L., Dorchester. 
 Lister, Daniel, Esq., Hackney. 
 Lister, Daniel Neal, Esq., ditto. 
 Lister, Dr., Lincoln's Inn Fields. 
 Lister, Mr., ditto 
 Lockhart, J. G., Esq. 
 
 Mednyanszky, Baron Aloys, of Mednyes. 
 Monk, Honourable W. R., M. P., Regent's Park, 
 Mackay, Alexander, Esq., Stockwell. 
 Mackmurdo, — Esq., Hackney. 
 Malkin, Henry, Esq., Chesterfield. 
 Malkin, Miss, ditto. 
 Manchester College, York, 
 Manning, Miss. 
 
308 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Marshall, Lawrence, Esq., Clapton.. 
 
 Marshall, John, Esq., Dalston. 
 
 Marshall, Samuel, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Marshall, William, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Marshall, Mr., ditto. 
 
 Marshall, Miss, ditto. 
 
 Marshall, Miss M., ditto. 
 
 Martineau, John, Esq., Stamford Hill. 
 
 Martineau, Mrs., Manchester. 
 
 Methuen, Paul, Esq., Corsham House, Chippenham. 
 
 Montagu, Basil, Esq., 25, Bedford Square. 
 
 Montgomery, James, Esq., Sheffield. 
 
 Moore, Thomas, Esq., Sloperton Cottage, Devizes. 
 
 Moore, James, Esq., Salford, near Manchester. 
 
 Morell, Rev. Dr., Brighton. 
 
 Morgan, Miss, Clifton. 
 
 Morgan, W., Esq., Equitable Assurance. 
 
 Morgan, Arthur, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Muir, Thomas, Esq., Glasgow. 
 
 Muir, Thomas, Jun., ditto. 
 
 Museum, National, Hungarian. 
 
 Mushet, Miss Mary, Coleford. 
 
 Napier, Thomas, Esq., Peckham. 
 Naylor, Benjamin, Esq., Manchester. 
 Neild, James, Esq., 12, Paper Buildings. 
 
 Orleans, His R. H. the Duke of. 
 Ogden, W. B., Esq., St. Mildred's Court. 
 Oszler, — Esq., Birmingham. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 309 
 
 Palfreyman, Luke, Esq., Sheffield. 
 
 Parkes, Joseph, Esq., Birmingham. 
 
 Pecchio, the Chevalier, Brighton. 
 
 Pett, Mrs., Clapton. 
 
 Pett, Francis, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Pett, Samuel, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Philips, Mark, Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Philips, Mrs., ditto. 
 
 Philips, Miss, ditto. 
 
 Philips, Miss J., ditto. 
 
 Philips, Miss P., ditto. 
 
 Philips, Robert, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Phipson, J. W., Esq., Birmingham. 
 
 Phipson, Mrs. W., ditto. 
 
 Piper, Rev. H. H., Norton, near Sheffield. 
 
 Potter, Richard, Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Potter, Thomas, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Prescott, W. G., Esq., Threadneedle Street. 
 
 Pryme, George, Esq., Cambridge. 
 
 Puigblanch, Dr. Antonio, Camberwell. 
 
 Pulley, Miss L., Hackney. 
 
 Reviczky, Count Adam, of Revisnye, Chancellor Royal of 
 
 Hungary. 
 Red], Baron, Emeric, of Rasztina. 
 Read, John, Esq., Norton, near Sheffield. 
 Redding, C, Esq., 47, Berner's Street. 
 Rees, Rev. Dr. T., Lark-Hall Lane, Clapham. 
 Reid, T. "W., Esq., Hampstead. 
 Reid, Mrs. W., ditto. 
 Richmond, Christopher, Esq., Middle Temple. 
 
310 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Robberds, Rev. J. G., Manchester. 
 
 Rothwell, R. H., Esq., ditto. 
 
 Russell, Lord John, M. P., Woburn Abbey. 
 
 Russell, Lord, Wriothesley. 
 
 Rutt, — Esq., Hackney. 
 
 Rutt, Mrs. Henry, ditto. 
 
 Rutter, John, Esq., M. D., St. Anne's Street, Liverpool. 
 
 Sz^che'nyi, Count Paul, of Sarvari Felso Vidik. 
 
 Sz6ch<jnyi, Count Stephen, ditto. 
 
 Samworth, John, Esq , Greenwich. 
 
 Sanderson, T. R., Chowbent, near Manchester. 
 
 Sampson, William, Esq., New York. 
 
 Sapsford, — Esq , Queen Anne Street. 
 
 Scott, Sir Walter, Bart., Abbotsford. 
 
 Scott, Thomas, Esq., Park Cottage, Devizes. 
 
 Shore, Miss, Norton Hall. 
 
 Shore, Offley, Esq , ditto. 
 
 Shore, Samuel, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Skene, P. O., Esq., Temple. 
 
 Slade, Robert, Esq , Doctors' Commons. 
 
 Slade, William, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Slater, Miss, Hampstead. 
 
 Smale, John, Esq., Exeter. 
 
 Smith, George, Esq., French Buildings, Liverpool. 
 
 Smith, John, Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Smith, Mrs., Dunstan Hall, near Chesterfield. 
 
 Spencer, Miss, Clapton. 
 
 Spyring, J. S. S., Esq., Brighton. 
 
 Stanger, James, Jun., Esq., 53, Doughty Street, 
 
 Steele, Joseph, Esq., St. Saviour's. 
 
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 311 
 
 Stevens, , Esq., Charter-House. 
 
 Stevenson, William, Esq., Treasury. 
 
 Stokes, Mrs., Chesterfield. 
 
 Storin, Mrs. M., Newbold, near Chesterfield. 
 
 Stutfield, C. B., Esq , Hackney. 
 
 Stutfield, W., Esq., ditto. 
 
 Suringar, W. H., Esq., of Leeuwarden. 
 
 Surridge, Mr. Richard, Newgate Street. 
 
 Sweet, Miss, Birmingham. 
 
 Szemere, George, of Szemere. 
 
 Szemere, Paul, of ditto. 
 
 Teleki, Countess Dowager of, Baroness of M6szaros. 
 
 Teleki, Count Joseph, of Szek. 
 
 Tagart, Rev. E., Torrington Square. 
 
 Talbot, George, Esq., Green Hill, Kidderminster. 
 
 Talbot, George, Jun., Esq., Honey Brook, ditto. 
 
 Talbot, Henry, Esq., Oakland, ditto. 
 
 Tayler. J. E , Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Taylor, Edward, Esq , London. 
 
 Taylor, Henry, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Taylor, Richard, Esq., ditto. 
 
 Taylor, John, Esq., Finsbury Square. 
 
 Terrell, James, Esq., Exeter. 
 
 Thomas, Mrs., Chesterfield. 
 
 Thomas, W., Esq., Lombard Street. 
 
 Thomson, W., Esq., Glasgow. 
 
 Tooke, W. E., Esq., Broad Street. 
 
 Unitarian Chapel Library, Glasgow. 
 
 Valle, Frederick, Esq. 
 
 Vowler, William, Esq., St. Paul's Churchyard. 
 
312 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Wesselenyi, Baron Nicholas, of Hadud. 
 
 Wakefield, Francis, Esq., Mansfield. 
 
 Wakefield, Robert, Esq., Hackney. 
 
 Wakefield, Samuel, Esq., Hackney. 
 
 Wallace, Rev. J. C. 
 
 Walley, Mrs., Hackney. 
 
 Walter, John, Esq., Barewood. 
 
 Ward, T. A., Esq., Park House, Sheffield. 
 
 W T atson, John, Esq., Holborn Hill. 
 
 Waymouth, Henry, Esq., Bryanstone Square. 
 
 Wiffen, J. H., Esq., Woburn. 
 
 Wigan, A. L., Esq., 1, Ulster Place, Regent's Park. 
 
 Wilkinson, , Esq., Sheffield. 
 
 Wilkinson, Mrs. A , Chesterfield. 
 
 Winkworth, Thomas, Esq., 150, Cheapside. 
 
 Wood, G. W., Esq., Manchester. 
 
 Wood, Mrs. G. W., ditto. 
 
 Wood, Alderman Matthew, M. P., 5, George Street. 
 
 Wood, Thomas, Esq., Little St. Thomas Apostle. 
 
 Wright, J., Esq., Dalston. 
 
 Ziehy, Count Nicholas, of Vasonyko, 
 
 G. SMALLF1ELD, PRINTER, HACKNEY. 
 
ADDITIONAL SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 Eszterhazy, His Highness Prince Nicholas. 
 
 Appony, Count, H. I. M. Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 Appony, Countess. 
 
 Odescalchi, His Highness Prince. 
 
 Powle, John, Esq. 
 
 Hart, Samuel, Esq., Spitalfields. 
 
 Strachan, Mrs., Chandos House. 
 
 Tekete, — Esq., ditto. 
 
 Hardegg, Count F. 
 
 Szap&ry, Count. 
 
 Karolyi, Count Louis de. 
 
 Karolyi, Count George. 
 
 Wielopolski, Count Adam. 
 
 Roller, Baron. 
 
 Niczky, — Esq. 
 
 Butlin, — Esq., Hackney. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 P. 2, for " Szitlyiabol," read Szittyiabol 
 
 " Erdely," Erdely 
 
 6, Idem, Idem 
 
 9, " Magyar-orszag," Magyar-orszag 
 
 11 — 15, " Szilagyi," Szilagyi 
 
 17, " bovied," bovited 
 
 22, "tobbe," , .... tobbe 
 
 35, " Korosbanya," Korosbanya 
 
 40, " Virag" Virug 
 
 41 , " regadtok," ragadtok 
 
 43, " nyujtanek," nyujtanek 
 
 45, " Any os Istvan Pal" .... Anyos 1st van Pal 
 
 58, " almonat," almomat 
 
 62, "di," de 
 
 65, "PyschSd'," PsycbSd' 
 
 67, " Milliok," Milliok 
 
 "sines," sines 
 
 71, " szerelmes emnek," .... szerelmesernnek 
 
 73, "e," e' 
 
 " 'keze," keze 
 
 74, " Szlvemnek legfelsegesl," Szivemnek legfelsegesb 
 78, " Istennert," Istenert 
 
 " nyoszobjaert," nyoszolyaert 
 
 " Hazahoz," Hazahoz 
 
 " szavaboz," szavahoz 
 
 " magahoz," magahoz 
 
 " szam," szam 
 
 83, " szep," sz6p 
 
 91, "ez'," ez 
 
 93, " szukseges," sziikseges 
 
 99, " regel," reggel 
 
. 103, 
 105, 
 114, 
 117, 
 
 119, 
 139, 
 141, 
 
 147, 
 161, 
 
 164, 
 165, 
 200, 
 203, 
 204, 
 
 206, 
 
 207, 
 
 209, 
 210, 
 
 212, 
 220, 
 
 221, 
 222, 
 
 227, 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 for " lehetnek," read lehetnek 
 
 "utan," utan 
 
 "a',*' a 
 
 " Elet," 'Elet 
 
 " Polczan," Polczan 
 
 " Nezzd," Nezd 
 
 "Kiral," Kiraly 
 
 " bu," bu 
 
 "hogya," hogyha 
 
 " anyank," anyank 
 
 " Pharuszkent," Pharuszkent 
 
 " dal hos," dal-hos 
 
 " &>v," 0)1/ 
 
 " viragnak," viragnak 
 
 " emelodik," emelodik 
 
 " eltunk," eltunk 
 
 " Szeszgard," Sz£gszard 
 
 " district," County 
 
 " eD," 6n 
 
 " mast," mast 
 
 " egymast," egymast 
 
 " utan eszterhaj meges- utan eszterhaj meges- 
 
 orchil," ordul 
 
 "szarnyom," ........... szarnyou 
 
 " Shhnig (Somq) ," Shimeg (Somogy) 
 
 " ernclgeti," Emelgeti 
 
 " nad," » nad 
 
 " Province of the White County of Sz6kes Fejer- 
 
 Mountaius (Stuhlweis- var ( Stuhlweissen- 
 
 senberger) ," burg.) 
 
 " virag," , . virag 
 
 " Ruszam," Ruzsam 
 
 "At," 'At 
 
 " szuk," szuk 
 
 add after " garments," or rather, Let my tight nadrag 
 
 be torn 
 " vigan," , , ,;.,., .',..,, . read vigan 
 
P. 227, 
 231, 
 232, 
 
 233, 
 235, 
 
 236, 
 237, 
 238, 
 240, 
 
 242, 
 248, 
 249, 
 250, 
 261, 
 
 267, 
 
 268, 
 270, 
 
 278, 
 284, 
 
 285, 
 286, 
 290, 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 for " kozakost," read kozakost 
 
 "flight," foot 
 
 " liszbol," lisztbol 
 
 " megvalasztanam," .... megvalasztanam 
 
 " Vestprim," Veszprim 
 
 " Sarga," , . Sarga 
 
 "At," 'At 
 
 " vot," vot 
 
 "Avad," 'Avad 
 
 " gyogyitotta," gyogyitotta 
 
 "jotten," jottem 
 
 " Matra," Matra 
 
 " Province of Chenestz," County of Heves 
 
 " Ollyam," Ollyan 
 
 read Szii'r, peasant's cloak, Szuz mez, virgin honey 
 
 for " musikaban," muzsikaban 
 
 ' ' legedlet," tegedet 
 
 "a'," e' 
 
 "kepef," keped' 
 
 " Feni," Fene 
 
 " Sarkany," Sarkany 
 
 " ringyo," ringyo 
 
 " ugros," Ugros 
 
 " semminemii," seminin&nii 
 
 " Angyalocskam," Angyalocskam 
 
 " alhatnam," alhatuam 
 
 " bornlok," borulok 
 
 " szel," sz£l 
 
 "szomjas." szomjus 
 
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