Arany János celebrated in Wales – magyar költőt ünnepeltek

Dezsényi I. - Salánki Á. — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 12:44:12 +0000

There is a Welsh legend, barely known in Wales, but known by almost every Hungarian. Surprising, isn’t it? Those who have been around St. John the Baptist Church in the centre of Cardiff in the evening of 21 October could learn about the fascinating story of 500 Welsh bards.

Wondering why this story is so well known in Hungary? According to legends, 500 bards were executed by King Edward I for failing to sing his praises at a banquet in Montgomery Castle in 1277. Their story became the symbol of the passive resistance against the Habsburg oppression in the 19th century in Hungary. The great Hungarian poet János Arany wrote a ballad about it (selling it as a translation of a Welsh song to slip through censorship) after refusing to write a poem celebrating the Emperor of Austria, Franz Joseph, in the decade of the absolutist rule following the defeat of the Hungarian revolution of 1848.

Prof Robert Evans, Regius Professor of History at the University of Oxford, said Hungary considered itself similar to Wales, as a nation that had suffered oppression.

“The idea that the bards refused King Edward was part of the Romantic culture of Britain in the 19th Century,” he said. “It was well known even in Europe but it was picked up by Arany due to [political] circumstances which made it famous.”

The poem was only published after Hungary gained independence.

Since then literally every Hungarian has learnt the poem by heart in school. The poem has been translated into English and Welsh, and Welsh composer Karl Jenkins also wrote a cantata based on it in 2011. This makes a really exciting link between Welsh and Hungarian culture, don’t you think?

‘Local people know very little about it at all. In fact it is only recently that I have been spreading the word about it’, Montgomery Mayor Eric Fairbrother told BBC Radio Wales in March 2017 .

Projection mapping is an exciting new projection technique that can turn almost any surface into an interactive, dynamic video display. Instead of projecting on a flat screen, light is mapped onto any surface –this time on the beautiful facade of the centrally located St John the Baptist Church.

The Hungarian Cultural Centre London organised this spectacular show as the year 2017 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the author of the poem, the Hungarian “Shakespeare of ballads” János Arany. The animation was projected 4 times every hour from 7pm to 10pm on 21 October.

The show was designed by a group of talented Hungarian visual artists, the Glowing Bulbs / Kiégő Izzók.

The event wasn’t the first to celebrate the renowned Hungarian poet in Wales. On the 2nd of March a special celebration of the life of the poet behind “The Bards of Wales” was held in Budapest. The Mayor of Montgomery, Eric Fairbrother, also participated in the event in Hungary and said that the poem was a “great link” between the two countries. During the televised ceremony Mr Fairbrother presented the honorary status of Freeman of Montgomery to the famous poet posthumously.

source: bbc, YouTube

Quite a lot of of Arany János poems have been translated into English. Can you match the Hungarian and the English titles?

1. Patience and Courage	a. Ősszel
2. The Legend of the Miraculous Hind	b. Enyhülés
3. I Lay Down the Lyre	c. Fiamnak
4. In Autumn	d. Letészem a lantot
5. To My Son	e. Rege a csodaszarvasról
6. Top Hat	f. Családi kör
7. Family Circle	g. Cilinder

Key

1. b.

2. e.

3. d.

4. a.

5. c.

6. g.

7. f.

The Bards of Wales – Arany János verse angolul

Dezsényi I. - Salánki Á. — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 13:16:39 +0000

Edward király, angol király Léptet fakó lován: Hadd látom, úgymond, mennyit ér A velszi tartomány.	Edward the king, the English king, Bestrides his tawny steed, “For I will see if Wales” said he, “Accepts my rule indeed.”
Van-e ott folyó és földje jó? Legelőin fű kövér? Használt-e a megöntözés: A pártos honfivér?	“Are stream and mountain fair to see? Are meadow grasses good? Do corn-lands bear a crop more rare Since wash’d with rebel’s blood?”
S a nép, az istenadta nép, Ha oly boldog-e rajt’ Mint akarom, s mint a barom, Melyet igába hajt?	“And are the wretched people there, Whose insolence I broke, As happy as the oxen are Beneath the driver’s yoke?”
Felség! valóban koronád Legszebb gyémántja Velsz: Földet, folyót, legelni jót, Hegy-völgyet benne lelsz.	In truth this Wales, Sire, is a gem, The fairest in thy crown: The stream and field rich harvest yield, And fair are dale and down.”
S a nép, az istenadta nép Oly boldog rajta, Sire! Kunyhói mind hallgatva, mint Megannyi puszta sir.	“And all the wretched people there Are calm as man could crave; Their hovels stand throughout the land As silent as the grave.”
Edward király, angol király Léptet fakó lován: Körötte csend amerre ment, És néma tartomány.	Edward the king, the English king, Bestrides his tawny steed; A silence deep his subjects keep And Wales is mute indeed.
Montgomery a vár neve, Hol aznap este szállt; Montgomery, a vár ura, Vendégli a királyt.	The castle named Montgomery Ends that day’s journeying; The castle’s lord, Montgomery, Must entertain the king.
Vadat és halat, s mi jó falat Szem-szájnak ingere, Sürgő csoport, száz szolga hord, Hogy nézni is tereh;	Then game and fish and ev’ry dish That lures the taste and sight A hundred hurrying servants bear To please the appetite.
S mind, amiket e szép sziget Ételt-italt terem; S mind, ami bor pezsegve forr Túl messzi tengeren.	With all of worth the isle brings forth In dainty drink and food, And all the wines of foreign vines Beyond the distant flood.
Ti urak, ti urak! hát senkisem Koccint értem pohárt? Ti urak, ti urak!… ti velsz ebek! Ne éljen Eduárd?	“Ye lords, ye lords, will none consent His glass with mine to ring? What! Each one fails, ye dogs of Wales, to toast the English king?”
Vadat és halat, s mi az ég alatt Szem-szájnak kellemes, Azt látok én: de ördög itt Belül minden nemes.	“Though game and fish and ev’ry dish That lures the taste and sight Your hand supplies, your mood defies My person with a sight.
Ti urak, ti urak, hitvány ebek! Ne éljen Eduárd? Hol van, ki zengje tetteim – Elő egy velszi bárd!	“Ye rascal lords, ye dogs of Wales, Will none for Edward cheer? To serve my needs and chant my deeds Then let a bard appear!”
Egymásra néz a sok vitéz, A vendég velsz urak; Orcáikon, mint félelem, Sápadt el a harag.	The nobles gaze in fierce amaze, Their cheeks grow deadly pale; Not fear but rage their looks engage, They blench but do not quail.
Szó bennszakad, hang fennakad, Lehellet megszegik. – Ajtó megől fehér galamb, Ősz bárd emelkedik.	All voices cease in soundless peace, All breathe in silent pain; Then at the door a harper hoar Comes in with grave disdain:
Itt van, király, ki tetteidet Elzengi, mond az agg; S fegyver csörög, haló hörög Amint húrjába csap.	“Lo, here I stand, at thy command, To chant thy deeds, O king!” And weapons clash and hauberks crash Responsive to his string.
“Fegyver csörög, haló hörög, A nap vértóba száll, Vérszagra gyűl az éji vad: Te tetted ezt, király!	“Harsh weapons clash and hauberks crash, And sunset sees us bleed, The crow and wolf our dead engulf This, Edward, is thy deed!
Levágva népünk ezrei, Halomba, mint kereszt, Hogy sirva tallóz aki él: Király, te tetted ezt!”	“A thousand lie beneath the sky, They rot beneath the sun, And we who live shall not forgive This deed thy hand hath done!”
Máglyára! el! igen kemény – Parancsol Eduárd – Ha! lágyabb ének kell nekünk; S belép egy ifju bárd.	“Now let him perish! I must have” (The monarch’s voice is hard) “Your softest songs, and not your wrongs!” In steps a boyish bard:
“Ah! lágyan kél az esti szél Milford-öböl felé; Szüzek siralma, özvegyek Panasza nyög belé.	“The breeze is soft at eve, that oft From Milford Haven moans; It whispers maidens’ stifled cries, It breathes of widows’ groans.”
Ne szülj rabot, te szűz! anya Ne szoptass csecsemőt!…” S int a király. S elérte még A máglyára menőt.	“Ye maidens bear no captive babes! Ye mothers rear them not!” The fierce king nods. The lad is seiz’d And hurried from the spot.
De vakmerőn s hivatlanúl Előáll harmadik; Kobzán a dal magára vall, Ez ige hallatik:	Unbidden then, among the men, There comes a dauntless third. With speech of fire he tunes his lyre, And bitter is his word:
“Elhullt csatában a derék – No halld meg Eduárd: Neved ki diccsel ejtené, Nem él oly velszi bárd.	“Our bravest died to slake thy pride. Proud Edward hear my lays! No Welsh bards live who e’er will give Thy name a song of praise.”
Emléke sír a lanton még – No halld meg Eduárd: Átok fejedre minden dal, Melyet zeng velszi bárd.”	“Our harps with dead men’s memories weep Welsh bards to thee will sing One changeless verse our blackest curse To blast thy soul, O king!”
Meglátom én! – S parancsot ád Király rettenetest: Máglyára, ki ellenszegűl, Minden velsz énekest!	“No more! Enough!” cries out the king. In rage his orders break: “Seek through these vales all bards of Wales And burn them at the stake!”
Szolgái szét száguldanak, Ország-szerin, tova. Montgomeryben így esett A híres lakoma. –	His man ride forth to south and north, They ride to west and east. Thus ends in grim Montgomery The celebrated feast.
S Edward király, angol király Vágtat fakó lován; Körötte ég földszint az ég: A velszi tartomány.	Edward the king, the English king Spurs on his tawny steed; Across the skies red flames arise As if Wales burned indeed.
Ötszáz, bizony, dalolva ment Lángsírba velszi bárd: De egy se birta mondani Hogy: éljen Eduárd. –	In martyrship, with song on lip, Five hundred Welsh bards died; Not one was mov’d to say he lov’d The tyrant in his pride.
Ha, ha! mi zúg?… mi éji dal London utcáin ez? Felköttetem a lord-majort, Ha bosszant bármi nesz!	” ‘Ods blood! What songs this night resound Upon our London streets? The mayor should feel my irate heel If aught that sound repeats!”
Áll néma csend; légy szárnya bent, Se künn, nem hallatik: “Fejére szól, ki szót emel! Király nem alhatik.”	Each voice is hush’d; through silent lanes To silent homes they creep. “Now dies the hound that makes a sound; The sick king cannot sleep.”
Ha, ha! elő síp, dob, zene! Harsogjon harsona: Fülembe zúgja átkait A velszi lakoma…	“Ha! Bring me fife and drum and horn, And let the trumpet blare! In ceaseless hum their curses come… I see their dead eyes glare…”
De túl zenén, túl síp-dobon, Riadó kürtön át: Ötszáz énekli hangosan A vértanúk dalát.	But high above all drum and fife And all trumpets’ shrill debate, Five hundred martyr’d voices chant Their hymn of deathless hate.

translated by Watson Kirkconnell

The Bards of Wales is a ballad by Hungarian poet János Arany, written in 1857. Alongside the Toldi trilogy it is one of his most important works.

Arany was asked to write a poem of praise for the visit of Franz Joseph I of Austria, as were other Hungarian poets. Arany instead wrote about the tale of the 500 Welsh bards sent to the stake by Edward I of England for failing to sing his praises at a banquet in Montgomery Castle. The poem was intended as a metaphor to criticise the Habsburg rule over Hungary after the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. It was a method of passive resistance to the repressive politics of Alexander von Bach in Hungary, and the planned visit of the monarch.

The poem was written “for the desk drawer” and was first published six years later in 1863, disguised as a translation of an Old English ballad, in order to evade censorship.

The poem is considered to be a manifesto of the passive resistance which led to the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. Arany wrote his own preface to the poem:

The historians doubt it, but it strongly stands in the legend that Edward I of England sent 500 Welsh bards to the stake after his victory over the Welsh (1277) to prevent them from arousing the country and destroying English rule by telling of the glorious past of their nation.

The royal form of bardic tradition ceased in the 13th century, when the 1282 Edwardian conquest permanently ended the rule of the Welsh princes. The legendary suicide of The Last Bard (c. 1283), was commemorated in this poem from 1857, as a way of encoded resistance to the suppression of the Habsburg politics of his own time.

The best-known English translation was made by Canadian scholar Watson Kirkconnell in 1933.

In the 6th grade of elementary school, every Hungarian student is required to learn “The Bards of Wales”.

a walesi bárdok angolul – Ingyenes Angol online nyelvtanulás minden nap

Arany János celebrated in Wales – magyar költőt ünnepeltek

The Bards of Wales – Arany János verse angolul