Ballad of the Emperor's Daughter

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, Szilágyi Mihály
The one—Hajmási 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!"

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!"

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.

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."

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.

Uttering despairing tones of lamentation,
"Merciful Isten! I have left my dwelling:
What will befal me in this dreary desert?

"O 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 hastened 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 Hajmási said to his companion,
"Let's strive who shall possess the lovely maiden."

But swift Szilagyi turn'd upon Hajmási:
"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."

Hajmási still persisted, and their weapons,
Unsheathed, were swiftly drawn upon each other;
And sorely, sorely was Hajmási 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 o'erwhelms 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.