The messenger pursued the stream,
The banks, the fields, the flood;
He drank of Duna's water there,
And swore that it was good.
A Lengyel[1] Lord was ruler then,
Of all the land the Lord;
Veszprem his court—but over all
Was spread a Nemet[2] horde.
The messenger to Veszprem came,
The Polish Count to see;
And bow'd his head in reverence,
And thus spoke cunningly:
"I came to see thy land and thee,
And, Herczeg,[3] this the cause
That I resort to Veszprem's court:—
To learn thy people's laws."
This pleased the Count, and nobly he
The Magyar entertain'd;
And much he saw of Lord and law,
And much instruction gain'd.
An empty flask he dar'd to ask,
Where Duna's waters pass;
The flask he filled, some earth he took,
And pluck'd a little grass.
