Page:Poetry of the Magyars.djvu/117

BALLAD OF THE EMPEROR'S DAUGHTER; OR
THE HISTORY OF MICHAEL SZILAGYI AND
LADISLAUS HAJMASI.

I have an interesting tale to tell you,
Such as you never heard. List! for 'twill charm you;
'Tis of the Turkish Emperor's lovely daughter.

Two youthful heroes were of old made prisoners,
Sent to Constantinople to the Emperor,
And by the Turkish Emperor flung in prison.

The prison was adjacent to the palace;
The heroes' names were, Szilagy Mihály
The one—Hajmási Laszlo was the other.

Szilagyi, looking through the prison trellice,
('Twas Whitsun day,) play'd an harmonious ditty
On his guitar—'twas sweet, yet melancholy:

And spake, 'midst deepest sighs—"With father, mother,
And with mine own dear sister, this day twelvemonth,
This very day, I was so very happy!"