Page:Poetry of the Magyars.djvu/138

THE BUGACZIAN^[1] CSARDA^[2]

Csikós 's gulyás nép clubbja rossz vityilló.

Now, Csikos,^[3] Gulyas,^[4] now—come hither—hither,
And make your way through fly-swarms numberless,
And armies of loud croaking frogs, and legions
Of insects which torment the herds^[5]—come hither,
Forth from the robbers' nest, and tell me who
Placed thee in that wild waste. Not what thou seemest
Art thou. The badges of mine host^[6] thou bearest
Deceitful, for thou hast no welcome. Four
Blank walls, a stable into ruin falling,
A roof that's like a wash-trough—fitful sport
For the wild winds—and all thy wealth is told.
Nay! there's a ditch hard by, in which is hidden

Thy dirty, red-cheeked helpmate—and two blocks,

1. Bugacz, a Hungarian village.
2. A sort of inn or public house found in Hungary on the wide plains where the wild cattle are sent to roam. These Csardas are visited by the keepers of the herds of horses and horned beasts, which are pastured on these almost boundless steppes.
3. A keeper of wild horses.
4. A keeper of wild oxen.
5. Immense quantities of insects congregate about the cattle on the Hungarian plains.
6. The keepers of the Csardas dress like landlords.