Page:Poetry of the Magyars.djvu/119

Rh 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.