第28章
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  Theforeignerlookedatmeforamoment,somewhatcontemptuously,throughthesmoke,thensaid,inavoiceofthunder,\"AHungarian!\"

  \"Whatavoicethechaphaswhenhepleases!\"interposedthejockey;\"whatishesaying?\"

  \"MerelythatheisaHungarian,\"saidI;butIadded,\"theconversationofthisgentlemanandmyselfinalanguagewhichyoucan’tunderstandmustbeverytedioustoyou,wehadbettergiveitup。\"

  \"Keeponwithit,\"saidthejockey,\"IshallgoonlisteningverycontentedlytillIfallasleep,nobadthingtodoatmosttimes。\"

  CHAPTERXXXIX

  TheHungarian。

  \"THENyouareacountrymanofTekeli,andofthequeenwhomadethecelebratedwater,\"saidI,speakingtotheHungarianinGerman,whichIwasabletodotolerablywell,owingtomyhavingtranslatedthePublisher’sphilosophyintothatlanguage,alwaysprovidedIdidnotattempttosaymuchatatime。

  HUNGARIAN。Ah!youhaveheardofTekeli,andofL’eaudelaReined’Hongrie。Howisthat?

  MYSELF。Ihaveseenaplayacted,foundedontheexploitsofTekeli,andhavereadPigaultLeBrun’sbeautifulromance,entitledthe\"BaronsofFelsheim,\"inwhichheismentioned。

  Asforthewater,Ihaveheardalady,thewifeofamasterofmine,speakofit。

  HUNGARIAN。Wasshehandsome?

  MYSELF。Very。

  HUNGARIAN。Didshepossessthewater?

  MYSELF。Ishouldsaynot;forIhaveheardherexpressagreatcuriosityaboutit。

  HUNGARIAN。Wasshegrowingold?

  MYSELF。Ofcoursenot;butwhydoyouputallthesequestions?

  HUNGARIAN。Becausethewaterissaidtomakepeoplehandsome,andaboveall,torestoretotheagedthebeautyoftheiryouth。Well!Tekeliwasmycountryman,andIhavethehonourofhavingsomeofthebloodoftheTekelisinmyveins,butwithrespecttothequeen,pardonmeifItellyouthatshewasnotanHungarian;shewasaPole—Ersebetbyname,daughterofWladislausLocticusKingofPoland;shewasthefourthspouseofCarolytheSecond,KingoftheMagyarcountry,whomarriedherin1320。Shewasagreatwomanandcelebratedpolitician,thoughatpresentchieflyknownbyherwater。

  MYSELF。Howcameshetoinventit?

  HUNGARIAN。Ifherownaccountmaybebelieved,shedidnotinventit。Afterherdeath,asIhavereadinFlorentiusofBuda,therewasfoundastatementofthemannerinwhichshecamebyit,writteninherownhand,onafly—leafofherbreviary,tothefollowingeffect:—Beingafflictedwithagrievousdisorderattheageofseventy—two,shereceivedthemedicinewhichwascalledherwater,fromanoldhermitwhomsheneversawbeforeorafterwards;itnotonlycuredher,butrestoredtoherallherformerbeauty,sothattheKingofPolandfellinlovewithher,andmadeheranofferofmarriage,whichsherefusedforthegloryofGod,fromwhoseholyangelshebelievedshehadreceivedthewater。Thereceiptformakingitanddirectionsforusingit,werealsofoundonthefly—leaf。Theprincipalcomponentpartswereburntwineandrosemary,passedthroughanalembic;adrachmofitwastobetakenonceaweek,\"etelbennvagyitalbann,\"

  inthefoodorthedrink,earlyinthemorning,andthecheeksweretobemoistenedwithiteveryday。Theeffectsaccordingtothestatement,werewonderful—andperhapstheywereuponthequeen;butwhetherthewaterhasbeenequallyefficaciousonotherpeople,isapointwhichIcannotdetermine。IshouldwishtoseesomeoldwomanwhohasbeenrestoredtoyouthfulbeautybytheuseofL’eaudelaReined’Hongrie。

  MYSELF。Perhaps,ifyoudid,theoldgentlewomanwouldhardlybesoingenuousasthequeen。ButwhoaretheHungarians—descendantsofAttilaandhispeople?

  TheHungarianshookhishead,andgavemetounderstandthathedidnotbelievethathisnationwerethedescendantsofAttilaandhispeople,thoughheacknowledgedthattheywereprobablyofthesamerace。Attilaandhisarmies,hesaid,cameanddisappearedinaverymysteriousmanner,andthatnothingcouldbesaidwithpositivenessaboutthem;thatthepeoplenowknownasMagyarsfirstmadetheirappearanceinMuscovyintheyear884,undertheleadershipofAlmus,calledsofromAlom,which,intheHungarianlanguage,signifiesadream;hismother,beforehisbirth,havingdreamtthatthechildwithwhichshewasenceintewouldbethefatherofalongsuccessionofkings,which,infact,wasthecase;thatafterbeatingtheRussiansheenteredHungary,andcomingtoaplacecalledUngvar,fromwhichmanypeoplebelievedthatmodernHungaryderiveditsname,hecapturedit,andheldinitagrandfestival,whichlastedfourdays,attheendofwhichtimeheresignedtheleadershipoftheMagyarstohissonArpad。ThisArpadandhisMagyarsutterlysubduedPannonia—thatis,HungaryandTransylvania,wrestingthegovernmentofitfromtheSclavoniantribeswhoinhabitedit,andsettlingdownamongstthemasconquerors!

  Aftergivingmethisinformation,theHungarianexclaimedwithmuchanimation,—\"Agoodlycountrythatwhichtheyhadenteredon,consistingofaplainsurroundedbymountains,someofwhichintersectithereandthere,withnoblerapidrivers,thegrandestofwhichisthemightyDunau;acountrywithtinyvolcanoes,castinguppuffsofsmokeandsteam,andfromwhichhotspringsarise,goodforthesick;withmanyfountains,someofwhicharesopleasanttothetasteastobepreferredtowine;withageneroussoilwhich,warmedbyabeautifulsun,isabletoproducecorn,grapes,andeventheIndianweed;infact,oneofthefinestcountriesintheworld,whichevenaSpaniardwouldpronouncetobenearlyequaltoSpain。Heretheyrested—meditating,however,freshconquests。Oh,theMagyarssoonshowedthemselvesamightypeople。BesidesHungaryandTransylvania,theysubduedBulgariaandBosnia,andthelandofTot,nowcalledSclavonia。ThegeneralsofZoltan,thesonofArpad,ledtroopsofhorsementothebanksoftheRhine。Oneofthem,attheheadofahost,besiegedConstantinople。ItwasthenthatBotondengagedincombatwithaGreekofgiganticstature,whocameoutofthecityandchallengedthetwobestmenintheMagyararmy。’IamthefeeblestoftheMagyars,’

  saidBotond,’butIwillkillthee;’andheperformedhisword,havingpreviouslygivenaproofofthefeeblenessofhisarmbystrikinghisbattle—axethroughthebrazengate,makingaholesobigthatachildoffiveyearsoldcouldwalkthroughit。\"

  MYSELF。OfwhatreligionweretheoldHungarians?

  HUNGARIAN。TheyhadsomeideaofaSupremeBeing,whomtheycalledIsten,whichwordisstillusedbytheMagyarsforGod;buttheirchiefdevotionwasdirectedtosorcerersandsoothsayers,somethingliketheSchamansoftheSiberiansteppes。TheywereconvertedtoChristianitychieflythroughtheinstrumentalityofIstvanorStephen,calledafterhisdeathSt。Istvan,whoascendedthethroneintheyearonethousand。Hewasborninheathenesse,andhisoriginalnamewasVojk:hewasthefirstkiraly,orkingoftheMagyars。

  Theirformerleadershadbeencalledfejedelmek,ordukes。

  TheMagyarlanguagehasproperlynotermeitherforkingorhouse。KiralyisawordderivedfromtheSclaves;haz,orhouse,fromtheGermans,whofirsttaughtthemtobuildhouses,theiroriginaldwellingshavingbeentiltedwaggons。

  MYSELF。Manythanksforyouraccountofthegreatmenofyourcountry。

  HUNGARIAN。Thegreatmenofmycountry!Ihaveonlytoldyouofthe—Well,IacknowledgethatAlmusandArpadweregreatmen,butHungaryhasproducedmanygreater;Iwillnottroubleyoubyrecapitulatingall,butthereisonenameI

  cannotforbearmentioning—butyouhaveheardofit—evenatHorncastle,thenameofHunyadimustbefamiliar。

  MYSELF。Itmaybeso,thoughIratherdoubtit;but,howeverthatmaybe,Iconfessmyignorance。Ihavenever,untilthismoment,heardthenameofHunyadi。

  HUNGARIAN。NotofHunyadiJanos,notofHunyadiJohn—forthegeniusofourlanguagecompelsustoputaman’sChristiannameafterhisother;perhapsyouhaveheardofthenameofCorvinus?

  MYSELF。Yes,IhaveheardthenameofCorvinus。

  HUNGARIAN。BymyGod,Iamgladofit;Ithoughtourhammerofdestruction,ourthunderbolt,whomtheGreekscalledAchilles,mustbeknowntothepeopleofHorncastle。Well,HunyadiandCorvinusarethesame。

  MYSELF。Corvinusmeansthemanofthecrow,orraven。I

  supposethatyourJohn,whenaboy,climbeduptoacroworaraven’snest,andstoletheyoung;aboldfeat,wellbefittingayounghero。

  HUNGARIAN。ByIsten,youareanacuteguesser;arobberytherewas,butitwasnotHunyadiwhorobbedtheraven,buttheravenwhorobbedHunyadi。

  MYSELF。Howwasthat?

  HUNGARIAN。Inthismanner:Hunyadi,accordingtotradition,wasthesonofKingSigmond,byapeasant’sdaughter。Thekingsawandfellinlovewithher,whilstmarchingagainstthevaivodeofWallachia。Hehadsomedifficultyinpersuadinghertoconsenttohiswishes,andsheonlyyieldedatlast,onthekingmakingherasolemnpromisethat,intheeventofherbecomingwithchildbyhim,hewouldhandsomelyprovideforherandtheinfant。Thekingproceededonhisexpedition;andonhisreturningintriumphfromWallachia,againsawthegirl,whoinformedhimthatshewasenceintebyhim;thekingwasdelightedwiththeintelligence,gavethegirlmoney,andatthesametimearing,requestingher,ifshebroughtforthason,tobringtheringtoBudawiththechild,andpresentittohim。Whenhertimewasup,thepeasant’sdaughterbroughtforthafairson,whowasbaptizedbythenameofJohn。Aftersometimetheyoungwomancommunicatedthewholeaffairtoherelderbrother,whosenamewasGaspar,andbeggedhimtoconveyherandthechildtothekingatBuda。Thebrotherconsented,andbothsetout,takingthechildwiththem。Ontheirway,thewoman,wantingtowashherclothes,laidthechilddown,givingittheking’sringtoplaywith。Araven,whosawtheglitteringring,cameflying,andpluckingitoutofthechild’shand,carrieditupintoatree;thechildsuddenlybegantocry,andthemother,hearingit,leftherwashing,andrunningtothechild,forthwithmissedthering,buthearingtheravencroakinthetree,shelifteduphereyes,andsawitwiththeringinitsbeak。Thewoman,ingreatterror,calledherbrother,andtoldhimwhathadhappened,addingthatshedurstnotapproachthekingiftheraventookawaythering。Gaspar,seizinghiscross—bowandquiver,rantothetree,wheretheravenwasyetwiththering,anddischargedanarrowatit,but,beinginagreathurry,hemissedit;withhissecondshothewasmorelucky,forhehittheraveninthebreast,which,togetherwiththering,felltotheground。Takingupthering,theywentontheirway,andshortlyarrivedatBuda。Oneday,asthekingwaswalkingafterdinnerinhisouterhall,thewomanappearedbeforehimwiththechild,and,showinghimthering,said,\"Mightylord!beholdthistoken!andtakepityuponmeandyourownson。\"KingSigmondtookthechildandkissedit,and,afterapause,saidtothemother,\"Youhavedonerightinbringingmetheboy;Iwilltakecareofyou,andmakehimanobleman。\"Thekingwasasgoodashisword,heprovidedforthemother;causedtheboytobeinstructedinknightlyexercises,andmadehimapresentofthetownofHunyad,inTransylvania,onwhichaccounthewasafterwardscalledHunyadi,andgavehim,asanarmorialsign,aravenbearingaringinhisbeak。

  Such,ohyoungmanofHorncastle!isthepopularaccountofthebirthofthegreatcaptainofHungary,asrelatedbyFlorentiusofBuda。Thereareotheraccountsofhisbirth,whichis,indeed,involvedinmuchmystery,andofthereasonofhisbeingcalledCorvinus,butasthisisthemostpleasing,andis,uponthewhole,foundedonquiteasgoodevidenceastheothers,Ihaveselecteditforrecitation。

  MYSELF。Iheartilythankyou;butyoumusttellmesomethingmoreofHunyadi。Youcallhimyourgreatcaptain;whatdidhedo?

  HUNGARIAN。Do!whatnoothermanofhisdaycouldhavedone。

  HebrokethepoweroftheTurkwhenhewascomingtooverwhelmEurope。FromtheblowsinflictedbyHunyadi,theTurkneverthoroughlyrecovered;hehasbeenfrequentlyworstedinlattertimes,butnonebutHunyadicouldhaveroutedthearmiesofAmurathandMahomedtheSecond。

  MYSELF。Howwasitthathehadanopportunityofdisplayinghismilitarygenius?

  HUNGARIAN。Icanhardlytellyou,buthisvaloursoonmadehimfamous;KingAlbertmadehimBanofSzorenyi。HebecameeventuallywaivodeofTransylvania,andgovernorofHungary。

  HisfirstgrandactionwasthedefeatofBashawIsack;andthoughhimselfsurprisedandroutedatSt。Imre,hespeedilyregainedhisprestigebydefeatingtheTurks,withenormousslaughter,killingtheirleader,Mezerbeg;andsubsequently,atthebattleoftheIronGates,hedestroyedninetythousandTurks,sentbyAmurathtoavengethelatedisgrace。ItwasthenthattheGreekscalledhimAchilles。

  MYSELF。Hewasnotalwayssuccessful。

  HUNGARIAN。WhocouldbealwayssuccessfulagainsttheearlyTurk?HewasdefeatedinthebattleinwhichKingVladislauslosthislife,buthisvictoriesoutnumberedhisdefeatsthree—fold。Hisgrandestvictory—perhapsthegrandesteverachievedbyman—wasovertheterribleMahomedtheSecond;

  who,afterthetakingofConstantinoplein1453,said,\"OneGodinHeaven—onekingonearth;\"andmarchedtobesiegeBelgradeattheheadofonehundred,andfiftythousandmen;

  swearingbythebeardoftheprophet,\"Thathewouldsupwithiniteretwomonthswereelapsed。\"Hebroughtwithhimdogs,toeatthebodiesoftheChristianswhomheshouldtakeorslay;sosaysFlorentius;hearwhathealsosays:TheTurksatdownbeforethetowntowardstheendofJune,1454,coveringtheDunauandSzavawithships:andonthe4thofJulyhebegantocannonadeBelgradewithcannonstwenty—fivefeetlong,whoseroarcouldbeheardatSzeged,adistanceoftwenty—fourleagues,atwhichplaceHunyadihadassembledhisforces。Hunyadihadbeenabletoraiseonlyfifteenthousandofwell—armedanddisciplinedmen,thoughhehadwithhimvastbandsofpeople,whocalledthemselvesSoldiersoftheCross,butwhoconsistedofinexperiencedladsfromschool,peasants,andhermits,armedwithswords,slings,andclubs。

  Hunyadi,undismayedbythegreatdisparitybetweenhisforcesandthoseoftheTurk,advancedtorelieveBelgrade,andencampedatSzalankemenwithhisarmy。Therehesawatonce,thathisfirststepmustbetoattacktheflotilla;hethereforeprivatelyinformedSzilagy,hiswife’sbrother,whoatthattimedefendedBelgrade,thatitwashisintentiontoattacktheshipsoftheTurksonthe14thdayofJulyinfront,andrequestedhisco—operationintherear。Onthe14thcameonthecommencementofthegreatbattleofBelgrade,betweenHunyadiandtheTurk。Manydaysitlasted。

  MYSELF。Describeit。

  HUNGARIAN。Icannot。Onehasdescribeditwell—FlorentiusofBuda。Icanonlyrepeatafewofhiswords:—\"Ontheappointedday,Hunyadi,withtwohundredvessels,attackedtheTurkishflotillainfront,whilstSzilagy,withfortyvessels,filledwiththemenofBelgrade,assaileditintherear;strivingforthesameobject,theysunkmanyoftheTurkishvessels,capturedseventy—four,burntmany,andutterlyannihilatedthewholefleet。Afterthisvictory,Hunyadi,withhisarmy,enteredBelgrade,tothegreatjoyoftheMagyars。ButthoughtheforceofMahomeduponthewaterwasdestroyed,thatuponthelandremainedentire;andwiththis,duringsixdaysandnights,heattackedthecitywithoutintermission,destroyingitswallsinmanyparts。

  Hislastandmostdesperateassaultwasmadeonthe21stdayofJuly。TwicedidtheTurksgainpossessionoftheoutertown,andtwicewasitretakenwithindescribableslaughter。

  Thenextdaythecombatragedwithoutceasingtillmid—day,whentheTurkswereagainbeatenoutofthetown,andpursuedbytheMagyarstotheircamp。Therethecombatwasrenewed,bothsidesdisplayingthegreatestobstinacy,untilMahomedreceivedagreatwoundoverhislefteye。TheTurksthen,turningtheirfaces,fled,leavingbehindthemthreehundredcannoninthehandsoftheChristians,andmorethantwenty—

  fourthousandslainonthefieldofbattle。\"

  MYSELF。Afterthatbattle,IsupposeHunyadienjoyedhistriumphsinpeace?

  HUNGARIAN。Inthedeepest,forheshortlydied。Hisgreatsoulquittedhisbody,whichwasexhaustedbyalmostsuperhumanexertions,onthe11thofAugust,1456。Shortlybeforehedied,accordingtoFlorentius,acometappeared,sent,asitwouldseem,toannouncehiscomingend。ThewholeChristianworldmournedhisloss。ThePopeorderedthecardinalstoperformafuneralceremonyatRomeinhishonour。Hisgreatenemyhimselfgrievedforhim,andpronouncedhisfinesteulogium。WhenMahomedtheSecondheardofhisdeath,hestruckhisheadforsometimeagainstthegroundwithoutspeaking。Suddenlyhebrokesilencewiththesewords,\"Notwithstandinghewasmyenemy,yetdoI

  bewailhisloss;sincethesunhasshoneinheaven,noPrincehadeveryetsuchaman。\"

  MYSELF。WhatwasthenameofhisPrince?

  HUNGARIAN。LaszlotheFifth;who,thoughunderinfiniteobligationstoHunyadi,wasanythingbutgratefultohim;forheonceconsentedtoaplanwhichwaslaidtoassassinatehim,contrivedbyhismortalenemyUlrik,CountofCilejia;

  andafterHunyadi’sdeath,causedhiseldestson,HunyadiLaszlo,tobeexecutedonafalseaccusation,andimprisonedhisyoungerson,Matyas,who,onthedeathofLaszlo,waselectedbytheMagyarstobetheirking,onthe24thofJanuary,1458。

  MYSELF。WasthisMatyasagoodking?

  HUNGARIAN。WasMatyasCorvinusagoodking?OyoungmanofHorncastle!hewasthebestandgreatestthateverHungarypossessed,and,afterhisfather,themostrenownedwarrior,—someofourbestlawswereframedbyhim。ItwashewhoorganizedtheHussarforce,anditwashewhotookVienna。

  WhydoesyourGovernmentalwayssendfoolstorepresentitatVienna?

  MYSELF。Ireallycannotsay;butwithrespecttotheHussarforce,isitofHungarianorigin?

  HUNGARIAN。Itsnameshowsitsorigin。Huz,inHungarian,istwentyandtheHussarforceissocalledbecauseitisformedoftwentieths。AlawwasissuedbywhichitwasorderedthateveryHungariannobleman,outofeverytwentydependents,shouldproduceawell—equippedhorseman,andwithhimproceedtothefieldofbattle。

  MYSELF。WhydidMatyascaptureVenna?

  HUNGARIAN。BecausetheEmperorFredericktookpartagainsthimwiththeKingofPoland,whoclaimedthekingdomofHungaryforhisson,andhadalsoassistedtheTurk。Hecaptureditintheyear1487,butdidnotsurvivehistriumphlong,expiringthereintheyear1490。Hewassoveraciousaman,thatitwassaidofhim,afterhisdeath,\"TruthdiedwithMatyas。\"ItmightbeaddedthatthegloryofHungarydepartedwithhim。IwishtosaynothingmoreconnectedwithHungarianhistory。

  MYSELF。Anotherword。DidMatyasleaveason?

  HUNGARIAN。Anaturalson,HunyadiJohn,calledsoafterthegreatman。HewouldhavebeenuniversallyacknowledgedasKingofHungarybutfortheillegitimacyofhisbirth。Asitwas,Ulaszlo,thesonoftheKingofPoland,afterwardscalledUlaszlotheSecond,whoclaimedHungaryasbeingdescendedfromAlbert,wasnominatedkingbyagreatmajorityoftheMagyarelectors。HunyadiJohnforsometimedisputedthethronewithhim;therewassomebloodshed,butHunyadiJohneventuallysubmitted,andbecamethefaithfulcaptainofUlaszlo,notwithstandingthattheTurkofferedtoassisthimwithanarmyoftwohundredthousandmen。

  MYSELF。Goon。

  HUNGARIAN。Towhat?TcheDrak,totheMohacsVeszedelem。

  Ulaszloleftason,LajostheSecond,bornwithoutskin,asitissaid,certainlywithoutahead。He,contrarytotheadviceofallhiswisecounsellors,—andamongstthemwasBatoryStephen,whobecameeventuallyKingofPoland—

  engaged,withtwenty—fivethousandmen,atMohacs,SolimantheTurk,whohadanarmyoftwohundredthousand。Drak!theMagyarswereannihilated,KingLajosdisappearedwithhisheavyhorseandarmourinabog。Wecallthatbattle,whichwasfoughtonthe29thofAugust,1526,thedestructionofMohacs,butitwasthedestructionofHungary。

  MYSELF。Youhavetwiceusedtheworddrak,whatisthemeaningofit?IsitHungarian?

  HUNGARIAN。No!itbelongstothemadWallacks。TheyareanationofmadmenontheothersideofTransylvania。TheircountrywasformerlyafiefofHungary,likeMoldavia,whichisinhabitedbythesamerace,whospeakthesamelanguageandareequallymad。

  MYSELF。Whatlanguagedotheyspeak?

  HUNGARIAN。AstrangemixtureofLatinandSclavonian—theythemselvesbeingamixedraceofRomansandSclavonians。

  TrajansentcertainlegionstoformmilitarycoloniesinDacia;andthepresentWallacksandMoldaviansare,toacertainextent,thedescendantsoftheRomansoldiers,whomarriedthewomenofthecountry。Isaytoacertainextent,fortheSclavonianelementbothinbloodandlanguageseemstoprevail。

  MYSELF。Andwhatisdrak?

  HUNGARIAN。Dragon;whichtheWallacksusefor\"devil。\"Thetermiscurious,asitshowsthattheoldRomanslookeduponthedragonasaninfernalbeing。

  MYSELF。YouhavebeeninWallachia?

  HUNGARIAN。Ihave,andgladIwastogetoutofit。IhatethemadWallacks。

  MYSELF。Whydoyoucallthemmad?

  HUNGARIAN。Theyarealwaysdrinkingortalking。IneversawaWallachianeatingorsilent。Theytalklikemadmen,anddrinklikemadmen。Indrinkingtheyusesmallphials,thecontentsofwhichtheypourdowntheirthroats。WhenIfirstwentamongstthemIthoughtthewholenationwasunderacourseofphysic,buttheterriblejabberoftheirtonguessoonundeceivedme。DrakwasthefirstwordIheardonenteringDacia,andthelastwhenIleftit。TheMoldaves,ifpossible,drinkmore,andtalkmorethantheWallachians。

  MYSELF。ItissingularenoughthattheonlyMoldavianIhaveknowncouldnotspeak。Isupposehewasborndumb。

  HUNGARIAN。AMoldavianborndumb!Excuseme,thethingisimpossible,—allMoldaviansareborntalking!IhaveknownaMoldavianwhocouldnotspeak,buthewasnotborndumb。

  Hismaster,anArmenian,snippedoffpartofhistongueatAdrianople。Hedrovehimmadwithhisjabber。HeisnowinLondon,wherehismasterhasahouse。Ihavelettersofcreditonthehouse:theclerkpaidmemoneyinLondon,themasterwasabsent;themoneywhichyoureceivedforthehorsebelongedtothathouse。

  MYSELF。AnotherwordwithrespecttoHungarianhistory。

  HUNGARIAN。Drak!IwishtosaynothingmoreaboutHungarianhistory。

  MYSELF。TheTurk,Isuppose,afterMohacs,gotpossessionofHungary?

  HUNGARIAN。Notexactly。TheTurk,uponthewhole,showedgreatmoderation;notsotheAustrian。FerdinandtheFirstclaimedthecrownofHungaryasbeingthecousinofMaria,widowofLajos;hefoundtoomanydisposedtosupporthim。

  Hisclaim,however,wasresistedbyZapolyaJohn,aHungarianmagnate,whocausedhimselftobeelectedking。HungarywasforalongtimedevastatedbywarsbetweenthepartisansofZapolyaandFerdinand。AtlastZapolyacalledintheTurk。

  Solimanbehavedgenerouslytohim,andafterhisdeathbefriendedhisyoungson,andIsabellahisqueen;eventuallytheTurksbecamemastersofTransylvaniaandthegreaterpartofHungary。Theywerenotbadmasters,andhadmanyfriendsinHungary,especiallyamongstthoseofthereformedfaith,towhichIhavemyselfthehonourofbelonging;thoseofthereformedfaithfoundtheMuftimoretolerantthanthePope。

  ManyHungarianswentwiththeTurkstothesiegeofVienna,whilstTekeliandhishorsemenguardedHungaryforthem。A

  gallantenterprisethatsiegeofVienna,thelastgreateffortoftheTurk;itfailed,andhespeedilylostHungary,buthedidnotsneakfromHungarylikeafrightenedhound。

  HisdefenceofBudawillnotbesoonforgotten,whereAptyBasha,thegovernor,diedfightinglikealioninthebreach。

  There’smanyaHungarianwouldpreferStamboultoVienna。

  WhydoesyourGovernmentalwayssendfoolstorepresentitatVienna?

  MYSELF。IhavealreadytoldyouthatIcannotsay。WhatbecameofTekeli?

  HUNGARIAN。WhenHungarywaslostheretiredwiththeTurksintoTurkey。CountRenoncourt,inhisMemoirs,mentionshavingseenhimatAdrianople。TheSultan,inconsiderationoftheserviceswhichhehadrenderedtotheMosleminHungary,madeovertherevenuesofcertaintownsanddistrictsforhissubsistence。Thecountsaysthathealwayswentarmedtotheteeth,andwasalwaysattendedbyayoungfemaledressedinmaleattire,whohadfollowedhiminhiswars,andhadmorethanoncesavedhislife。Hisendiswrappedinmystery,I—whosegreatestboast,nexttobeingaHungarian,istobeofhisblood—knownothingofhisend。

  MYSELF。Allowmetoaskwhoyouare?

  HUNGARIAN。EgyszegenyMagyarNemesember,apoorHungariannobleman,sonofoneyetpoorer。IwasborninTransylvania,notfartothewestofgoodColoscvar。IservedsometimeintheAustrianarmyasanobleHussar,butamnowequerrytoagreatnobleman,towhomIamdistantlyrelated。InhisserviceIhavetravelledfarandwide,buyinghorses。IhavebeeninRussiaandinTurkey,andamnowatHorncastle,whereIhavehadthesatisfactiontomeetwithyou,andtobuyyourhorse,whichis,intruth,anoblebrute。

  MYSELF。Forasoldierandequerryyouseemtoknowagreatdealofthehistoryofyourcountry。

  HUNGARIAN。AllIknowisderivedfromFlorentiusofBuda,whomwecallBudaiFerentz。HewasprofessorofGreekandLatinattheReformedCollegeofDebreczen,whereIwaseducated;hewroteaworkentitled\"MagyarPolgariLexicon,\"

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