Canto VIII

The army marched and marched, far, very far,
And reached the centre of the land of Tar,
The dog-faced Tartars lived within this land,
The Magyars new: great danger is at hand.

The dog-faced Tartar's King spoke thus: "Hussars!
How dare you come into this land of Tars?
To have come here, ye madman, was too rash
Do you not now, we feed on human flesh?"

The Magyar's fright was great. A hundred they,
Four hundred thousand Tartars' easy prey.
Good fortune 's theirs, a righteous Moorish King
— The Tartar's guest, — the needful heep doth bring.

The moorish King was quick to take their part.
He knew the Magyar people's noble heart.
He traveled once in Magyarland, where he
Enjoyed the kindest hospitality.
The Moorish King had not forgotten this.
To save his friends he felt his duty is.
He took his friend, the Tartar King aside
To pacify him with this speech then tried. ,

"My great, good friend, don't hurt this people here.
They will not harm your land, you need not fear:
I know them well. To let them pass your land,
As token of our friendship, I demand."

"For your sake, comrade, I shall let them go,"
— The Tartar King replied; — "I shall bestow
My help on them, to pass safe through my land,
And everywhere receive a helping hand."

Indeed, no harm had come to them, 't is true,
Still, they were glad when they had said adieu
Forever to the land where they could fare
On naught else but on figs and flesh of bear.