Page:Poetry of the Magyars.djvu/136

30 THE THREE IDLERS OF KING MATTHEW

CORVINUS.

AN OLD TRADITION.

Helyes mondás, a' rest csak földnek terhe.

is an ancient saying—Idleness

Is the world's curse: and I have heard a story

Out of old time, instructive.

King Matthew once, half-tipsy, put three fellows —

Three idle fellows—in a house to fatten;

And fate, or forethought, set the house on fire.

"Ah! see, the house is burning!" cried the first;

"If the King want us," said the second knave,

"Why he will send and save us," In a rage,

"Your tongue is very glib," exclaimed the third;

And the house went on burning, and they perish'd.

O there are many idle dogs like these—

Many who open wide their lazy mouths,

And think that roasted ortolans will enter.