Hop to Hungary - Country #5

Sopron-a beautiful Hungarian city

HUNGARIAN POET/HERO

Petőfi Sándor, one of the most popular Hungarian poets, wrote aesthetic expressions of genuinely felt human experiences. They celebrated nature, the joys and sorrows of common folk, married love, family life, and patriotism. His language, images, folklore, and characters were rooted in the Hungarian Great Plains. Petőfi was a key member in starting the Hungarian Revolution (1848-49). It was during this time he penned the inspirational Nemzeti Dal (National Song). Unfortunately, he disappeared at the age of 26 on July 31, 1849, in a battle against Russian forces. He was probably buried in a mass grave.

Petőfi's rebelliousness served as role model for would-be revolutionaries of every political color ever since.

His statue stands in Sopron in the center of the square overlooking the Petőfi Theater.

Plague Statue in City Square

NEMZETI DAL (March 18, 1848)

Hungarian poem by Petőfi Sándor

Talpra magyar, hĂ­ a haza!
Itt az idő, most vagy soha!
Rabok legyĂĽnk, vagy szabadok?
Ez a kérdés, válasszatok!
A magyarok istenére
EskĂĽszĂĽnk,
Esküszünk, hogy rabok tovább
Nem leszĂĽnk!
 

Rabok voltunk mostanáig,
Kárhozottak ősapáink,
Kik szabadon Ă©ltek-haltak,
Szolgaföldben nem nyughatnak.
A magyarok istenére
EskĂĽszĂĽnk,
EskĂĽszĂĽnk, hogy rabok tovább 
Nem leszĂĽnk!
 

Sehonnai bitang ember,
Ki most, ha kell, halni nem mer,
Kinek drágább rongy élete,
Mint a haza becsĂĽlete.
A magyarok istenére
EskĂĽszĂĽnk,
EskĂĽszĂĽnk, hogy rabok tovább 
Nem leszĂĽnk!
 

Fényesebb a láncnál a kard,
Jobban Ă©kesĂ­ti a kart,
És mi mégis láncot hordtunk!
Ide veled, régi kardunk!
A magyarok istenére
EskĂĽszĂĽnk,
EskĂĽszĂĽnk, hogy rabok tovább 
Nem leszĂĽnk!
 

A magyar név megint szép lesz,
Méltó régi nagy hiréhez;
Mit rákentek a századok,
Lemossuk a gyalázatot!
A magyarok istenére
EskĂĽszĂĽnk,
EskĂĽszĂĽnk, hogy rabok tovább 
Nem leszĂĽnk!
 

Hol sĂ­rjaink domborulnak,
Unokáink leborulnak,
És áldó imádság mellett
Mondják el szent neveinket.

Feuerturm built in 12th century

NATIONAL SONG (March 13. 1848)

Hungarian poem by Petőfi Sándor

Translated by Adam Makkai

Rise up, Magyar, the country calls!
It's 'now or never' what fate befalls...
Shall we live as slaves or free men?
That's the question - choose your 'Amen"!
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

For up till now we lived like slaves,
Damned lie our forefathers in their graves - 
They who lived and died in freedom
Cannot rest in dusts of thraldom.

Area inhabited since ancient times

A coward and a lowly bastard
Is he, who dares not raise the standard - 
He whose wretched life is dearer
Than the country's sacred honor.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Sabers outshine chains and fetters,
It's the sword that one's arm betters.
Yet we wear grim chains and shackles.
Swords, slash through damned manacles!
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!

Magyar's name will tell the story
Worthy of our erstwhile glory
we must wash off - fiercely cleansing
Centuries of shame and condensing.

Sopron produces red and white wines

Where our grave-mounds bulge and huddle
Our grandson will kneel and cuddle,
While in grateful prayer they mention
All our sainted names' ascension.
God of Hungarians, we swear unto Thee,
We swear unto Thee - that slaves we shall no longer be!