the legend of the wondrous hunt

The legend of the wondrous hunt.

THELegend of the Wondrous Hunt.

BY JOHN ARANY.

WITH A FEW

MISCELLANEOUS PIECES AND FOLK-SONGS.

TRANSLATED FROM THE MAGYAR BY

E. D. BUTLER, F.R.G.S.,

ASSISTANT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PRINTED BOOKS, BRITISH MUSEUM, ANDFOREIGN MEMBER OF THE KISFALUDY SOCIETY.

LONDON:

TRBNER AND CO.

57 AND 59, LUDGATE HILL.

1881.

Preface.

THE Legend of the Wondrous Hunt (Rege a csoda-szarvasrl), which forms the sixth canto of Aranys epic poem, The Death of Buda (Buda halla), is one of the most popular of the many Magyar ballads written by this poet. The argument is as follows: - Hunor and Magyar, the sons of Mnrt (Nimrod) by Enh, start with their followers upon a hunting expedition from Havilah, the land of their parents. Led on by the chase, the huntsmen, after coursing along the south-western borders of the Caspian Sea, arrive at the banks of the Kur. Feeling mysteriously impelled to follow the deer, they swim across the river, and continue from day to day to pursue the chase, until, having overrun the intervening country, they at length come to the shores of the Sea of Azov. The deer now vanishing from view, the huntsmen settle upon an island near the coast. In the course of a predatory expedition on the neighbouring mainland, they are attracted by the sounds of distant music. Upon arriving at the spot whence the sounds proceeded, they find a group of maidens, whom they at once carry off, and make their wives. The two noblest of these fall to the choice of Hunor and Magyar, who become respectively the founders of the Hun and Magyar races; the followers of the former removing to Scythia, and those of the latter settling along the Don.

The translator has ventured to add, and generally in the original metre, a few Folk-Songs and other pieces, reprinted from the Klausenburg Journal of Comparative Literature. Owing to the exertions of the editor, Dr. Hugo Meltzl, the short lyrical piece by Petfi, The Quivering Bush, has been rendered into numerous languages and dialects, amongst which may be mentioned - Armenian, Chinese, French, Gaelic, German and German dialects, Greek, Icelandic, Italian, Old Norse, Romany or Gipsy dialect, Roumanian, Lowland Scotch, Swedish, and English. Mr. King, the Australian writer of a second English version, has not inaptly styled it A Polyglot Love Song.

London, February, 1881.

TARTALOM

REGEDAL.

Rege a csoda-szarvasrlArany JnosVEGYES DARABOK.

Reszket a bokorPetfi SndorAz rva lenyPetfi SndorMikor a napVajda JnosA szerelem mheCzuczor GergelyEmberi plyaSzentmiklssy AlajosA halszlegnyBernt GsprNPDALOK.

I.Hajnalodik, harmatozik

II.Nem anytl lettl

III.Cserebogr, srga cserebogr

IV.Olyan a szemed jrsa

V.Meghalok Csurgrt, de nem a vrosrt

VI.Vrs brsony svegem

VII.lom, lom, des lom

VIII.Csillagos az g, csillagos

IX.Kka tvin klt a rucza

X.Kinek nincsen szeretje

XI.A merre n jrok

XII.Hervad az a rzsa

XIII.Ha n rzsa volnk

XIV.Mikor n kis gyermek voltam

XV.Kis kutya, nagy kutya

XVI.Feljtt mr a hajnal

XVII.Karmazsin pntlika a hajadba fonva

CONTENTS

BALLAD.

The Legend of the Wondrous Hunt.John AranyMISCELLAEOUS PIECES.

The Quivering BushAlexander PetfiThe Orphan Maiden Alexander PetfiCarpe DiemJohn VajdaThe Honey-BeeGregory CzuczorHuman lifeAlois SzentmiklssyThe fisher-ladCaspar BerntFOLK SONGS.

I.Dew-drops fall, the dawn is peeping

II.Thee no love maternal

III.Golden May-chafer, I ask not of thee

IV.As a star that brightly gleameth

V.For Csurg would I die

VI.Gay the life which glads me now

VII.Dreaming, dreaming, sweet is dreaming

VIII.Starry, starry shine yon heavens blue

IX.The duck her young midst rushes rears

X.He that yearns for her he loveth

XI.Een the trees are wailing

XII.As the rose must wither

XIII.As a rose to wither

XIV.When a little wayward boy

XV.A little dog, a great one, too

XVI.See, the risen morning

XVII.With crimson riband bound upon thy head

Regedal.

REGE A CSODA-SZARVASRL.

Szll a madr, grul gra,Szll az nek, szjrul szjra;F kizldl sirhanton,Bajnok bred hsi lanton.

Vadat zni feljvnekHs fiai szp Enh-nek:Hunor s Magyar, kt dalia,Kt egy testvr, Mnrt fia.

tven-tven j leventtKiszemeltek, hogy kvetnk;Mint valamely vres hadra,Fegyverkeztek knny vadra.

Vad elttk vrbe fekszik,z vagy szarvas nem menekszik;Elejtettk mr a hmet -ldzik a szarvas-gmet.

Gm utn k egyre trnekPuszta martjn ss tengernek,Hol a farkas, hol a medveSohasem jrt, eltvedne.

De a prducz, vad oroszlnVgig vlt a nagy pusztn,Srga tigris ott klykezik,Fit eszi ha hezik.

Szll a madr, szll az nekKt firl szp Enhnek;Zeng madr grul gra,Zeng nek szjrul szjra.

Mr a nap is lemenben,Tzet rakott a felhben;k a szarvast egyre zik, - Alkonyatkor im eltnik.

rtek vala jszakraKur vznek a partjra;Foly vznek partja mellettParipjok jl legelhet.

Monda Hunor: itt leszlljunk,Megitassunk, meg is hljunk,Monda Magyar: viradattalVisszatrjnk a csapattal. -

Haj, vitzek! haj, leventk!Micsoda fld ez a vidk,Hogy itt a nap szll keletre?Nem, mint mshol, naplementre?

Szlt egy bajnok: n ugy nzem,Hogy lement az dli rszen.Szlt egy msik: nem gondolnm:Ott vrslik szak ormn.

Folyamparton k leszlltak,Megitattak, meg is hltak,Hogy majd reggel, viradattalHazatrnek a csapattal.

Szell tmad hs hajnalra,Bborodik az g alja;Ht a szarvas nagy merszenOtt szkdcsel, tl a vizen.


Nosza rajta, gyors legnyek!rjk utl azt a gmet.s - akarva, akaratlan -zik ismt szakadatlan.

Kur folyt k talsztk,Mg vadabbak olt a pusztk,Ember ottan egy fszlat,Egy cspp vizet nem tallhat.

A fld hta flomolvn,Szikst izzad csupasz ormn,Forrs vize nem ihat,Knkves bzt lehel a t.

Forrs keble olajt buzog;Itt is, ott is gnek azok,Mint sok rtz sett jjelLobban a lng szerteszlyel.

Minden este bnva bnjk,Hogy e vadat mr kivnjk,Mrt is zik egyre, nyomba, -Tvelyit bs vadonba.

Mgis, mgis, ha reggel lett,A gmszarvast zni kellett,Mint tviset szl jtka,Mint madarat az rnyka.


Vadont s a Dont k felverikA Mejti kis tengerig;Sppedkes mly tavaknakSzigetre k behatnak.

Ott a szarvas, mint a pra - Kd eltte, kd utna -Mig az ember szlyelnzne:Szemk ell elenysze.

Hha! hha! Hol van a vad? - Egy kiltja: ihon szalad!Ms kiltja: itt van, itten!A harmadik: sehol sincsen!

Minden zugot megldznek,Minden bokrot taldfnek;Gyik ha rezzen, fajd ha rebben:De a gmvad nincs ezekben.

Szla Magyar: hej! ki tudjaMerre van a haznk tja?Kerek az g mindenfel - Anym, anym, meghalsz bel!

Szla Hunor: itt maradjunk!Tanyt verjnk; itthon vagyunk;Selyem a f, des a vz,Fa-odbl cspg a mz.

Kk folyam ad fnyes halat,Vrheny vad izes falat,Feszes az jj sebes a nyl,Harczkalandon zskmny a dj.

Szll a madr, szll az nekKt firl szp Enhnek,Zeng madr grul gra,Zeng nek szjrul szjra.

Hogy eluntak otthon lni,Halat csalni, zet zni:j kalandra, szebb csatraEreszkedtek a pusztra.

Puszta fldn, sik fenyrenZene hallik stt jen,Zene, sp, dob, mly vadonban,Mintha gbl, mint lomban.

Tndr lynyok ottan laknak,Tnczot ropnak, ugy mulatnak;Szve kdbl storuk van:Ugy mulatnak storukban.

Frfi egy sincs kzelbe;De a fldi lynyok szpe:Lynyai Belrnak, Dlnak,Tndrsget ott tanulnak.

Dl kirly, legszebb, kett;Agg Belr tizenkett;sszesen mind: szz meg kettA tndrr vlni kezd.

Kemny prba: frfit lni,Kilencz ifjat megbvlni,Szerelemre csalogatni,Szerelemtl szz maradni.

gy tanulnak tndrsget,Szivszakaszt mestersget;Minden jjel szmot adnak,S minden jjel gy vigadnak.


Hang utn k, szembe szllel,Fny utn k, fdve jjel,Mennek vst, mennek rnyon;Ki lept fog, lopva jrjon.

Monda Magyar: ez a sp-hang,Btya, bennem vgig csikland;Monda Hunor: vrem hatjaSzzek rnya-fordulatja.

Haj vitzek! haj elbe!Kiki egyet az lbe!Vigyk haza asszonyunkat;Fjja felszl a nyomunkat.

Sarkantyba lovat vesznek,Kantrszrat megeresztnek;A lenysg benn, a krbe - Mind a krbe, sok az lbe.

Nagy sikolts erre tmad,Futna szlyel a lenyhad;Ell tzbe, htul vzbe,Mindenkp jut frfi kzbe.

Tndr lynyok ott eltntek,Szrnyok lvn elrepltek;De a tbbi hova legyen?Fldbe bjjon? elslyedjen?

Abbul immr nincsen semmi:Szzi daczczal tndr lenni;Vgtat a l, s a pusztnNagy res j hallgat oztn.

Szll a madr, szll az nekKt firl szp Enhnek,Zeng madr grul gra,Zeng nek szjrul szjra.

Dl lenyi, a legszebbek,Hunor, Magyar nje lettek;S a leventk, pen szzan,Megosztoztak mind a szzon.

Bszke lynyok ott idvelMegbkltek asszony fvel;Haza tbb nem kszltekEngesztelni fiat szllek.

T szigetje des honn,Storuk ln szp otthonn,gyok ldott nyugalomm:Nincs egyb, mi ket vonn.

Fiat szltek hsi nemre,Szp lenyt is szerelemre;Dali trzsnek ifj got,Maguk helyett szz virgot.

Hs fiakbl ketten-ketten,Kt vezr ktszer-ketten,Feje ln mind egy-egy nemnek:Szznyolcz gra ezek mennek.

Hunor ga hn fajt nemzett,Magyar a magyar nemzet;Szaporsg ln temrdek:A szigetben nem is frtek.

Szittya fldet elznlk,Dl kirlynak ds rkjt; -s azta, hsk prja!Hretek szll szjrul szjra.

Ballad.

THE LEGEND OF THE WONDROUS HUNT.

From bough to bough the warbler flies;In song the voice to voice replies:Fresh verdure decks the time-worn grave;The tuneful lyre awakes the brave.

Away start forth to hunt the deerThe gallant sons of Enh fair;Twin heroes, Magyar and Hunor,Whom Enh erst to Mnrt bore.

A chosen train, the brothers ownEach fifty knights of fair renown,With weapons for the chase arrayed,As though for bloody strife displayed.

Before them lies the stricken prey,Nor roe nor stag escapes away:Succumbed so soon the panting hart - The hind ere long shall feel the dart.

In hot pursuit careers the bandAlong the salt seas desert strand;Where never wolf, where never bearHath strayed, behold the huntsmen there!

Een where the pard and lion prowl,And oer the desert fiercely howl;The tawny tigress casts her brood,But, starved, devours in frenzied mood.

As soars the bird, song rends the airIn praise of sons of Enh fair:From bough to bough the warbler flies;Harmonious, voice to voice replies.

Now hastes the sun, declining low,To gild yon clouds with ardent glow;And yet the men their course pursue,Till twilight hides the prey from view.

The hunt by darksome eventideHath reached the Kurs far-stretching side;Along the banks the pleasant meadsAre grateful to the weary steeds.

Saith Hunor: By this rivers brinkWell camp, and let our horses drink;Quoth Magyar: Soon as breaks the mornWe haply home shall all return.

Ho, valiant knights; ho, warriors, stand!What wondrous spell affects this land,That eastwards here the sun descends,Whose wonted setting westwards tends?

Methought, one hero made reply,The sun drew near the southern sky.A second said: I rather deemedThe northern heavens radiant gleamed.

Dismounting near the rivers bankThe men encamped, their horses drank,That early, waked by rosy morn,They haply all might home return.

It dawns; the zephyrs cool arise;A purple border streaks the skies.When, lo! beyond the flood appearThe stags who sport devoid of fear.


Rouse, comrades there! for, swift as wind,Must we pursue the fleeting hind.And - whether joy or grief it cause - They needs must hunt, nor dare to pause.

Across the river Kur they swim;But now the wild grows drear and grim:No single grass-blade sprouteth here;No drop of water far or near.

The barren soil shows rifts and cracks,Whence salt exudes in shining tracks;No draught springs fresh from bubbling well,But pools emit a sulphrous smell.

From out the earth oil turbid flows,And here and there it lurid glows;As watch-fires flare by dismal night,The flames burst forth with fitful light.

Each eve they, rueful, shed a tear,That thus so far theyve chased the deer;That still the prey they must pursue,With naught but desert sad in view.

And yet, when morning comes, they findNo choice but still to hunt the hind;As breezes drive the chaff away,Or shadows follow birds by day.

As soar the birds, so breezes bearThe praise of sons of Enh fair:From bough to bough the warblers fly;Melodious, lips to lips reply.

Beyond the Don the huntsmen fleeAlong the calm Maeotian sea.An island fair to reach, they passThrough treacherous pool and deep morass.

Dense mists arise, behind, before;Tis vain the chase to follow more.Whilst, unaware, the men pursue,The prey hath vanished far from view.

Holla! holla! where runs the deer? - One horseman shouts: Tis here, tis here!A second calls: It there must be!A third: I nowhere one can see!

A search in every nook they make,Through tangled weed and thorny brake;Though fowl and lizard start in fear,The frighted hind doth not appear.

Alas! saith Magyar, who shall sayHow we may win our homeward way?No beacon in the heavns I see:My mother! this is death to thee.

Saith Hunor: On this pleasant isleWe well may make our home awhile:Fresh grass and water clear I see,And honey drips from hollow tree.

Blue flows the stream, the fish is good;The fallow deer is choicest, food;The bow is strung, the arrow swift,And spoil, to heroes, fortunes gift.


Now tired of snaring, day by day,The finny or the antlered prey,They feel impelled to nobler pains,And, venture-loving, seek the plains.

Across the waste now faintly comeThe sounds of distant fife and drum;In darksome loneliness they seemLike heavenly music in a dream.

Here mystic state the fairies keep,Or neath the cloudy vapour sleep;Along the wilderness they dance,And revel in the vast expanse.

No man is near, but there are seenEarths maids of fair and noble mien:The daughters of Belr and Dl,Apt students in the fairy school.

Of Dls are two beyond compare,Belr has twelve of beauty rare:In all a hundred maids and twainThe syrens art will soon attain.

A test severe must they endure; - To hapless fate nine youths allure;Must hold enslavd in amorous chains,While fancy-free each maid remains.

Tis thus they learn the fairy art,To wield false hopes heart-piercing dart;Each eve recount the feats of day,Then dance the darksome hours away.


The wind confronting, lightly speedThe knights, whom sound and glimmer lead;Their stealthy movements darkness hides: - The flutterer-seeker cautious glides.

Saith Magyar first: The flute tones moveMy inmost heart to tender love.Then Hunor: Rather me entranceYon sylph-like forms and shadowy dance.

Rouse, comrades there, and forward spring!Make captive all the dancing ring;Let every man a partner seize;Dispels all trace the northern breeze.

Their steeds five horsemen goad and lash;With loosened rein they onward dash;The maids, foreboding no alarms,Are, dancing, caught within their arms.

With sudden shriek and anguished cry,Away each startled maid would fly;But, fire before and stream behind,No way of rescue can they find.

Now rise and melt in shades of nightThe fairies poised on pinions light,But woe these luckless nymphs betide!In earths deep caves they fain would hide.

The maids with meek resolve no moreMay hope to learn the fairy-lore.The coursers speed; oer all the plains,Forsaken now, dull silence reigns.


Hunor and Magyar thus obtainAs wives the Dl-sprung noble twain;The hundred knights have each their shareAmong the hundred maidens fair.

Content their honoured lot to know,The wives no rancorous feeling show;Nor yearning homeward would remove,Restrained by strong maternal love.

The island now more lovely grew;Their tent alone as home they knew.Enjoying peace their rest was sure:What higher bliss could them allure!

Their sons grow up a warlike race;Their daughters famed for maiden grace:From warrior stem shoot branches green,While virgin flowers are round them seen.

Of offspring every knight has twain,The leaders, two, and two again;They each become a tribal head,A proud and numerous host to lead.

In Hunors line the Huns we trace,From Magyar springs the Magyar race:Too many for their island home,They soon are forced again to roam.

Oer Scythian soil they spread, and gainFair lands where Dl was wont to reign.Henceforth your fame, ye warrior pair!Exultant praise afar shall bear.

VEGYES DARABOK.

RESZKET A BOKOR.

Reszket a bokor, mertMadrka szllott r.Reszket a lelkem, mertEszembe jutottl,Eszembe jutottl,Kicsiny kis lenyka,Te a nagy vilgnakLegnagyobb gymntja!

Teli van a Duna,Tn mg ki is szalad.Szivemben is aligFr meg az indulat.Szeretsz, rzsaszlam?n ugyan szeretlek,Apd-anyd nlamJobban nem szerethet.

Mikor egytt voltunk,Tudom, hogy szerettl.Akkor meleg nyr volt,Most tl van, hideg tl.Hogyha mr nem szeretsz,Az Isten ldjon meg,De ha mg szeretsz, gy,Ezerszer ldjon meg!

AZ RVA LENY.

Virgot ltettemAnym srhalmra,Harmat nem is kell, mertKnnyem csorog rja.

Mg holta utn isKedvt keresem n,Ezen virgokatCsak azrt ltetm.

Kedvelje volt aVirgoknak anym,Szp intst minthaMg most is hallanm:

Szeresd a virgots ne fltsd szivedet,Mert ki ezt szereti,Rosz ember nem lehet;

A virg s az, ernyKt atyafi gyermek;Egy szvben egymssalNem ellenkezhetnek.

Tudod, mi a virg?A fldnek jsga;Tudod, mi a jsg?A llek virga. -

Virgot ltettemAnym srhalmra.Le az gbl, anym,Tekintesz-e rja?

Ltod-e az gblVirul srodat,S virul srodnlHervadt lenyodat?

MIKOR A NAP.

(Sirmok xiike)Mikor a nap st az gen,Kigy jr a zld levlen,s irigyen sziszeg alant,Bg fltte a vadgalamb;

Mikor nyri nap st rtok:Szedjtek meg a virgot,S lvezztek - nem gondolvaSe tvisre, se kigyra...

Elmegy a nap - melegvel;Megjn a hs szi jjel:Kigy nem lesz a virgon,De galamb se szl az gon...!

A SZERELEM MHE.

A szerelem kis mhecske,Szrnyain des mzecske,De fjdalmat szerez lngja,Mint a mhecske fulnkja.

Ha fulnkos, Isten neki,Csak mr felm replne ki,Fulnkjtl nem rettegnk,Csak mznek rlhetnk.

EMBERI PLYA.

A boldogsgrt szletnk, s nlkle halunk meg.Mrt van ez? - rnykt zve, elle futunk.

A HALSZLEGNY.

Az Alfldn halszlegny vagyok n,Tisza partjn kis kunyhban lakom n,Szelid lnykm, jjj be hozzm pihenni,des anym majd gondodat viseli.

Stt felhk tornyosodnak az gen,Hull a zpor az alfldi trsgen;Barna kis lny, selyemkendd megzik,Hszin nyakad, piros orczd megfzik.

Sztoszoltak mr a stt fellegek,Szivem nlad marad, de n elmegyek;lj boldogl, a j Isten ldjon meg,Olykor, olykor rlam is emlkezz meg!MISCELLAEOUS PIECES.

THE QUIVERING BUSH.

A POLYGLOT LOVE-SONG.

A bird flew here to rest; The boughs still quivering move;Thus tremor thrills my breast At thought of thee, my Love!I think of thee, my Love; For dear art thou to me:Though all the world I rove, I find no gem like thee.

The Danube brimming flows, Yea, een oerfloods the fields:No bounds my passion knows, To naught my ardour yields.O! lovst thou me, my Rose, Who fondly thee adore?No parent truer shows, Nor eer could love thee more.

When last with thee alone, Thou lovedst me, I know:Warm shone the summer sun; Tis cruel winter now.* Feelst thou no tender thrill, Heavens smile yet oer thee shine!But, if thou love me still, Unmeasured bliss be thine!

THE ORPHAN MAIDEN.**

Fairest blossoms have I scattered On my mothers lowly bed:Rain, or dew, they need not; watered By the filial tears I shed.

Dear to her their budding beauty; All their varied scent and bloom:Meetly, now, in grateful duty, As a veil they wrap her tomb.

Why she loved each fragrant blossom, Tenderly she told to me;And a watchword in my bosom Her desire shall ever be.

Keep, said she, the love of flowers In your heart of hearts, my child:Cold the nature, dull its powers, Callous to their influence mild.

Love of flowrs and virtues features Are in closest union bound:In the highest, noblest natures Both are ever to be found.

For, what else the flowerets sweetness, Than the earths heart-goodness shown?What is Virtues fair completeness, But the souls bud, fully blown?

Flowers, from their stems fresh-riven, Lay I on the new-made grave:Mother! haply, you, from heaven, See my sighs their petals wave.

Mother! from your home of blessing, See your weeping child, to-day,From the grave, she has been dressing, Pale and trembling, turn away.

F. M. M. C.

CARPE DIEM.***

While the noon-day heat abideth,Through the grass the serpent glideth ,He may hiss with venomd power,Cooes the dove in yonder bower.

While the summer sun is smiling,Flowrs are all our path beguiling;Pluck the blossoms gay appearing,Neither thorn nor venom fearing!

For when days bright orb is waningSighs the evning breeze, complaining;Lurks no serpent neath the flowers,Cooes no dove in leafy bowers.

THE HONEY-BEE.

Love is like the honey-bee, Bearing sweetness on its wing: - Woe to him that sippeth! He Must endure its poignant sting.

Yet, though love be fraught with pain, Still Id seek the dangrous thing;Daring all its force again, For the honey on its wing.

HUMAN LIFE.

Though formed for joy in endless measure, We fail to reach it: - why?We but the shadow seek of pleasure, Which onward still doth fly.

THE FISHER-LAD.

Mine a lowland home, and mine the fishers lot:Here by banks of Tisza stands my humble cot.Come and rest, sweet maid; the fishers hut is near,Where, to greet and tend thee, waits my mother dear.

Dark the lowring clouds across the concave wend:Streaming showers of rain upon the plain descend.Drenched is all thy vesture, all thy flaxen hair:Nipping winds have chilled thy snowy neck, my fair.

Nay, the clouds are parting; brighter grows the day:Here remains my heart, but I must haste away.Fare thee well! May Heavens best blessings rest on thee!Sometimes yet remember, sometimes think of me.

NPDALOK.

I.

Hajnalodik, harmatozik TC "Hajnalodik, harmatozik" \f C \l "2" ,S a lynka mg lmadozik;Piros ajka csak gy nevet,Hej be hamis lma lehet.

Hamis lom lenydolog,Szive olyan furcsn dobog;Hej ha mr az lom ilyen,Ht a valsga milyen?

Piros ajk kis galambom,Soh se bslj e bajodon,Hiszen mi is legny-fajtkgy vagyunk az istenadtk.

II.

Nem anytl lettl TC "Nem anytl lettl" \f C \l "2" ,Rzsafn termettl,Piros pnkst napjnHajnalban szlettl.

Orczid rzsiHa kzel volnnak,g szivem mellTznm bokrtnak.

III.

Cserebogr, srga cserebogr TC "Cserebogr, srga cserebogr" \f C \l "2" ,Nem krdem n tled: mikor lesz nyr?Azt sem krdem sokig lek-e?Csak azt mondd meg: rzsm leszek-e?

Nem krdem n te tled, kis madr:Derl-e mg letemre tbb nyr.Ugyis hv nyr emszti ltemet,Mita rzsm birja szivemet.

IV.

Olyan a szemed jrsa TC "Olyan a szemed jrsa" \f C \l "2" ,Mint a csillag ragyogsa,Olyan a szd mosolgsa,Mint a hajnal hasadsa.

A te szemed olyan kerek,A mennyit lt annyit szeret.Lm, az enym olyan igaz,Szz kzl is egyet vlaszt.

V.

Meghalok Csurgrt, de nem a vrosrt TC "Meghalok Csurgrt, de nem a vrosrt" \f C \l "2" ,

Hej nem a vrosrt, csak egyik utczrt,

De nem az utczrt, csak egyik hzrt,

Hej ebben nvekedett barna galambomrt.

VI.

Vrs brsony svegem TC "Vrs brsony svegem" \f C \l "2" ,Most lem gyngyletem.Bokrta van mellette,Barna babm kttte.

Ha kttte jl tette,Cskot kapott rette.Kss mg rzsm msszor is,Megcskollak szzszor is.

Nyisd ki, babm, az ajtt;Magyar kopogtat, nem tt.Hej be sok nyitod ki,Mint ha nem tudnd, hogy ki.

Tudom biz n, de flek,Mert a frfi rosz llek;Azt eskszi, hogy szeret,Egyet fordul, kinevet.

VII.

lom, lom, des lom TC "lom, lom, des lom" \f C \l "2" ,des a hajnali lom!De desebb az az lom,Melyben galambomat ltom.

Ersebb a csk a bornl,desebb a czukornl,De desebb a szerelem,Mikor galambom lelem.

Nincs szebb virg a rzsnl,Nincs szebb let a prosnl;A rzsa is csak ott nyilik,Hol ketten egymst szeretik.

A gerlicze nem rzsvalTartja prjt, de cskjval;Cskajndk, cskjutalom,Tbbet nem krek, angyalom.

VIII.

Csillagos az g, csillagos TC "Csillagos az g, csillagos" \f C \l "2" ,Rzsafa levele harmatos;Rzsafa levele, szakadj rm,Kedves des rzsm, nzz rem.

Csillagos az g, csillagos,B szllt a szivemre, bnatos;Akrhova hajtsam fejemet,Sehol sem tallom helyemet.

IX.

Kka tvin klt a rucza TC "Kka tvin klt a rucza" \f C \l "2" ,J fldben terem a buza;De a hol a h lny teremAzt a helyet nem ismerem.

Se-hol-sem!

Ki van az n szemem sirva,Mert a rzsmat ms birja;Pedig fogadta az egyet:Rajtam kivl mst nem szeret.

Se-hol-sem!

Ha tudtad, hogy nem szerettl,Hldba mrt keritettl?Hagytl volna bkt nekem,Ms is elvett volna engem.

Va-la-ha!

Azrt hogy n szegny lettem,S mst vlasztottl helyettem,Lesz nekem is vg napom mg;Boru utn derl az g.

Va-la-ha!

X.

Kinek nincsen szeretje TC "Kinek nincsen szeretje" \f C \l "2" ,Menjen ki a zld erdre,Irja fel a fa levlre,Hogy nincs neki szeretje.

n szerettem a szp Julcst,Mint a gerlicze a prjt;Hajh! de a sors elrablotta,Szivem tle megfosztotta.

Mikor mg gyenge karjaiKzt folytak ltem napjai:Jl aludtam s jl bredtem,Boldog volt egsz letem.

De most oda boldogsgom,Nem lem tbb vilgom;Oda minden, rmeim,Hasztalan folynak knyeim.

XI.

A merre n jrok TC "A merre n jrok" \f C \l "2" ,Mg a fk is sirnak,Gyenge gairulA levelek hullnak.

Hulljatok levelek,Rejtsetek el engem,Mert az n galambomSirva keres engem.

Hulljatok levelek,Srn az utamraHogy ne tudna rzsm,Merre ment galambja.

XII.

Hervad az a rzsa TC "Hervad az a rzsa" \f C \l "2" ,Kinek tve nincsen.Elhervadok n is,Mert szeretm nincsen.

Hervadj rzsm, hervadj,Mr az enym nem vagy;Mig az enym voltl,Piros rzsa voltl.

Piros rzsa voltam,De mr elhervadtam.Sr knyeimmelOrczmat lemostam.

Jobb lett volna nekemVilgra sem lennem,Mintsem ily kinokatKelletik szenvednem.

Elmehetek mr nAl s fel az utczn,Nem mondjk mr nekem:Gyere be violm!

Gyere be, violm,Cskold meg az orczm,n is megcskolomSzzszor egymsutn.

XIII.

Ha n rzsa volnk TC "Ha n rzsa volnk" \f C \l "2" ,Hamar elhervadnk,Senki rm nem nzve,Senki nem szeretne.

Ne mondj ht rzsnakEngem, violnak;Egy viola-szegftA nyri nap elst.

Bizony ha lehetnk,n csak galamb lennk;Oh hov nem mennk,Ha most replhetnk;

Sem rzsa nem leszek,Sem galamb nem leszek.Mert n, des rzsm,Csak a tied leszek.

XIV.

Mikor n kis gyermek voltam TC "Mikor n kis gyermek voltam" \f C \l "2" ,A dirt majd megholtam,De mr mivel nagyobb vagyok,A lenyrt majd meghalok.

Mikor n kis leny voltam,Mindig babval jtszottam;Mg akkor magam sem tudtam,Most tudom mr, mit akartam.

A kis gyermek gyermekre vr,A kis leny lenynyal jr;De a legny lenynyal jr,A leny meg legnyre vr.

XV.

Kis kutya, nagy kutya TC "Kis kutya, nagy kutya" \f C \l "2" Nem ugat hiba,Van nekem szeretm,Nns vrosba.Olyan mind a kettMint az arany vessz,Szke is, barna is,Szeret mind a kett.

Egyiket nem adnmNns vrosrt;Msikat nem adnmA vilg kincsert,Olyan mind a kettMint az arany vessz,Szke is, barna isSzeret mind a kett.

XVI.

Feljtt mr a hajnal TC "Feljtt mr a hajnal" \f C \l "2" ,Hajnali szp csillag,Egy szp piros legnyAblakomon hallgat.Ki kellene menni,Be kellene hni,Kt piros orczjtMeg kne cskolni. - Ki is fogok menni,Be is fogom hni,S azt a kerek szjtEgyszer megcskolni.

XVII.

Karmazsin pntlika a hajadba fonva TC "Karmazsin pntlika a hajadba fonva" \f C \l "2" ,Knny kis lbad a fldet alig nyomja,A f is csak alig hajlik meg alatta,Flemeli fejt, s nz utnad lopva.

Csak n ne ltnlak, ne hajtanlak,Ms felesgnek csak n ne tudnlak,Ne nevezhetnlek szemem vilgnak,Tnd letem, lelkem hallnak.

Meg vagyok n halva, csak ugy jrok kelek,Mint szszel a szegny, hidegvette szelek,Mint szszel a deres, hullong levelek,Mint a vrz szarvas, kit szivn lttenek.

Csak egy pillanatra az enym lehetnl,Csak egy pillanatra szivemen pihennl,Gynge karjaidban szpen melengetnl,Ne tudnm, hogy ltem, hogy mst is szerettl.

FOLK SONGS.

I.

Dew-drops fall, the dawn is peeping TC "Dew-drops fall, the dawn is peeping" \f C \l "2" .Still the little maid is sleeping;Though her rosy lips are smiling,Ah! her dreams may prove beguiling.

Maidens dreams are false and fleeting,Yet her heart is strangely beating;Dreamy fancies now partaking,What true fortune greets her waking?

Rosy-lippd, my dove, my dearest,Ills thou haply never fearest;We, although boy-natures given,Are not thus more blest of heaven!

II.

Thee no love maternal TC "Thee no love maternal" \f C \l "2" ,But the rose-bush vernal,Bore; at crimson dawningOf a Whitsun morning.

Here thy blushes hiding,Bashful, yet confiding;To my ardent bosomLet me clasp the blossom.

III.

Golden May-chafer, I ask not of thee TC "Golden May-chafer, I ask not of thee" \f C \l "2" If thou canst say, when the summer will be:Nor is my prayer, ah! how long may I live?But, will my darling her heart to me give?

Neer, little flutterer, need I implore,Whether glad summers for me are in store:Warm sunny rays ever round me will shine,If my own loved-ones affections be mine.

IV.

As a star that brightly gleameth TC "As a star that brightly gleameth" \f C \l "2" ,So thine eye with beauty beameth;Smiles are mingled with thy blushesRosy as Auroras flushes.

When thine eye around thee roveth,All within its reach it loveth;Mine regardeth more sincerely,Prizing one of all most clearly.

V.

For Csurg would I die TC "For Csurg would I die" \f C \l "2" ;Yet scarce the town so love;

No, not the town, but prizeOne street the rest above.

Yet not the street, one houseDoes all my fancy move;

For in that house there dwellsMy own, my sweet brown dove.

VI.

Gay the life which glads me now TC "Gay the life which glads me now" \f C \l "2" ;Red the cap that decks my brow;See the blossom wreath there laid,Bound by my brunette, sweet maid!

Well she bound it, but for thisKnow, that she obtained a kiss.Darling, bind for me, once more;I have kisses still in store.

Open the door, my maiden brave;Tis a Magyar knocks, no Slave.Why so slow to open, dear?Sure thou knowest who is here?

Ay, I know, but feel afraid:Ill is in mans nature laid.Though he vow that much he loves,Soon, with scorn, he hence removes.

VII.

Dreaming, dreaming, sweet is dreaming TC "Dreaming, dreaming, sweet is dreaming" \f C \l "2" ,When the dawn of day is beaming!But that dream is brightest, fairest,Which reveals to me my dearest.

More than wine the kisss power;Bee such sweet neer sippd from flower:Know I loves exceeding blessing,When my darling dove caressing.

Fairest flowers are surely rosesGladdest life loves bond encloses:Roses too are gayest showing,When in loving couples glowing.

As the dove his partner blesses,Not with roses, but caresses;Thus would I be thee rewarding,Angel! none beside regarding.

VIII.

Starry, starry shine yon heavens blue TC "Starry, starry shine yon heavens blue" \f C \l "2" ;All the roses bloom is gemmed with dew:Tearful flowr, distil thy treasures now:Dear, sweet Hose, a glance on me bestow.

Starry, starry shine yon heavens blue;Sorrow hovers oer my soul anew:Ah! whereer I lay my head opprest,Never find I more a place of rest.

IX.

The duck her young midst rushes rears TC "The duck her young midst rushes rears" \f C \l "2" ;The mellow field corn plenteous bears:But where young maids are true and kind,That happy spot I fail fo find.

Lack-a-day!

The tear-stream oer my eye-lids flows,Because another hath my Rose;Though erst she vowed and promised me,Mine only would she ever be.

Lack-a-day!

All! if of love thou wert not sure,How couldst thou to thy net allure?For doubtless, hadst thou left me free,A kinder would have taken me.

Well-a-day!

Een though I thus so poor have grown,And now thy heart another own;A joyous day will still be mine!The clouds dispelled, the sun will shine.

Well-a-day!

X.

He that yearns for her he loveth TC "He that yearns for her he loveth" \f C \l "2" ,Lonesome in the greenwood roveth,Writes on leaves his sad complaining,How loves loss his heart is paining.

Julia loved I once sincerely,As the dove its mate loves dearly;Fate her hence from me hath taken;Void my heart feels now, forsaken.

While I knew her fond caressings,Flew the days in constant blessings;Happy sleeping as in waking,All my life was joy partaking.

Fate of bliss hath now bereft me,All my happy world hath left me;Gone are joys, not one remaining,Nor can tears heal my complaining.

XI.

Een the trees are wailing TC "Een the trees are wailing" \f C \l "2" , Whither I am going;From their trembling branches Leafy burdens throwing.

Fall, ye leaves, around me, Hide me in your keeping;For my mate, my darling, Sadly seeks me, weeping.

Fall, ye leaves, enshroud me, All my footsteps cover;That my way be never Known unto my lover.

XII.

As the rose must wither TC "As the rose must wither" \f C \l "2" , From its stem when parted;So I waste and languish, Love-lorn, broken-hearted.

Fade my Rose, and wither, Now from me divided;When from me unseverd, Fair thy bloom abided.

I a rose was blooming: But my charms have perishd;Grief and tears consuming All my beauty cherishd.

Better had I never On this world intruded,Than such torments ever Suffer, thus deluded.

Though in old ways straying, Still to me the fairest,Now I hear none saying: Come, my Violet, dearest!

Violet, come, my dearest, Me thy kiss allowing;I with fond embraces Love sincerest showing.

XIII.

As a rose to wither TC "As a rose to wither" \f C \l "2" ,Wind-tost hither, thither:None, by look, approving;None, responsive, loving: -

Let it not befall me!Rose, nor Violet, call me!Violet, though it bloometh,Summers heat consumeth.

Rather, mine forsaking,And the doves form taking;Whither, fluttering, sighing,Would I not be flying!

No: bet not my dowerTo be bird, or flower:All excels the pleasureTo be thine, my treasure!

XIV.

When a little wayward boy TC "When a little wayward boy" \f C \l "2" ,Oft would nuts my search employ;But since older, wiser grown,Seek I womans love alone.

When a little bashful maid,With a senseless doll I played;Wishing what, I neer could tell,Though I now know very well.

Boys with boys may rudely play;Girls with girls beguile the day:But the youth seeks womans face,She her lovers manly grace.

XV.

A little dog, a great one, too TC "A little dog, a great one, too" \f C \l "2" , Bark, not vainly chiding;For they guard my sweethearts true, In Nns town abiding.Both incline to me alone, As the reed that waveth:Blonde is one, and brown is one, Love both hearts enslaveth.

Id not yield the foremosts love, Een for Nns pleasure:But the seconds worths above All earths richest treasure.Both incline to me alone, As the reed that waveth:Blonde is one, and brown is one; Love both hearts enslaveth.

XVI.

See, the risen morning TC "See, the risen morning" \f C \l "2" !Bright the day-star glistens.Fair, an urchin, smiling,At my casement listens.Forth go I, to meet him,Call and fondly greet him;On his ripe cheeks glowingKisses soft bestowing.Out Ill go, naught fearing;Call with words endearing,And his soft cheek, nearing,Kiss, nor dread beguiling.

XVII.

With crimson riband bound upon thy head TC "With crimson riband bound upon thy head" \f C \l "2" ,Light, oer the turf, thy dainty foot doth tread.Scarce bows the grass beneath it, rising freeTo cast soft, furtive glances after thee.

Oh, that I saw not, did not so admire,Nor know, another is thy hearts desire;Thou dearest light these weeping eyes can know,Bane of my life, my spirits deathful woe!

Alas, I die: I go, and leave behindNo record: as the frost-chilled autumn wind;As falling autumn leaves; or, as the hart,Who feels, within his bleeding breast, the dart.

Wouldst thou one moment own thee mine, and rest,But for that fleeting moment, on my breast,Reviving in thine arms, Id mindless beOf life, or of another loved by thee.

HUNGARIAN POEMS AND FABLES,

FOR ENGLISH READERS.

Selected and Translated by E. D. BUTLER, F.R.G.S., Assistant in the British Museum, and Foreign Member of the Kisfaludy Society.

The translations are marked by conscientious and faithful rendering of both the spirit and form of the original. - Athenum.

Mr. E. D. Butler has already attained a considerable reputation as a scholar of Hungarian, that most difficult language, and the present little volume, very conscientiously prepared, will certainly enhance his fame. - Examiner.

We compliment both author and illustrator on their work. - Poets Magazine.

Enough in it to amuse anyone who is at all interested in the land of Kossuth. - Pictorial World.

The printing of the book is excellent. - Academy.

In the fables and allegories... the native raciness and simplicity have been preserved. - Scotsman.

His translations have all the simplicity and directness of the originals - two qualities for which Hungarian poetry is especially conspicuous... The fables at the end of the volume are exceedingly good. - Morning Advertiser.

Well printed. - Holloway Press.

As regards care and fidelity in translating, these attempts are sufficient to gain for Mr. Butler a place in the first rank amongst those who have translated Hungarian poems into foreign languages. His conception is for the most part faultless. He renders back the sense faithfully, and moreover often line for line... We consider Mr. Butler far more competent to make known Hungarian poetry, than were his predecessors in English verse translation from the Magyar. - Buda-Pesti Szemle, Nov.-Dec., 1877. (Translation.)

We hope that he will perform many such services as successfully as this in the interest of the national reputation of our literature. - Kelet, Kolozsvar. (Translation.)

* I know that thou didst smile When last I saw thee, dear! Twas then the warm springtide; The winter now is near.

(From Mr. Kings version.)

Fu weel I wat that ye were kind That bonnie time we met - The couthie spring was smilin then, Noo winters at the yett.

(From Miss Gordons version.)

** This metrical version, as may be seen by the signature, is from another hand.

*** (Another version of the same)

The sun shines brightly on the brakeBeneath whose verdure hides the snake,With envy hissing, while above,Sits, cooing soft, the cushat dove.

When gaily smiles the summer morn,Pluck ye the rose, nor seek the thorn;Nor be your joy oercast with fearOf snake envenomd, lurking near.

The sun departs, his heat is gone;The cool autumnal eve comes on:No snake lies hid in verdure now;Nor dove sits cooing on the bough.

the legend of the wondrous hunt

Documents

wondrous hunt rege

magyar races

magyar ballads

kis kutya

german dialects

miscellaneous pieces

john aranymiscellaeous

ha n rzsa volnk