Canto XI

France is so fine a realm, she justifies
Her name: a new Canaan, a paradise.
The sweet tooth of the Turks ached for the land,
They reached for it with thievish, murderous hand.

When our Magyar Hussars arrived, they found
Them hard at work — the robbers — all around.
They robbed the church, the altar and the grave,
And stole the wine from cellar and from cave.

Found burning cities' flames light up the sky
And countless dead and wounded meets their eye.
The King was driven from the royal quarter,
And stolen his beloved, only daughter.

Our men thus found, just by a lucky chance,
The homeless, roaming, exiled King of France.
And when the Magyar Hussars met him thus,
They shed for him a tear, real dolorous.

The exiled King thus spoke to them: "Is not
" — My friends — my share in life a cruel lot?
"With Darius' wealth my treasures could compete,
"Extreme want is now mine in my retreat."

To cheer him up, the leader said to him:
"Don't worry King of France, we are in trim,
"We'll meet the heathen horde, we'll make them

dance
"For daring thus to treat the King of France.

"To night we'll take a rest, we need a rest,
"The road was long we feel somewhat depressed;
"To-morrow morning when the sun shall rise,
"We'll reconquer for you your Paradise."

"But how about my child, my daughter fair," —
Laments the King, — "where is she! Where?

"A Turk carried her off; upon my life!

"Who brings her back receives her as his wife."

By this fine speech the Hussars were inspired,
The heart of each with golden hope was fired.
One great resolve causeth each heart to stir:
I'll bring her back or else I'll die for her!

John Kukoricza was. the only one

Whose mind, — from what he heard, — no fancies

spun.
John's mind was wandering, far, far away...
He thought of sweet Helen, his darling fay.