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20 FRANCIS FALUDI.
THE GAY-PLUMED BIRD.
Egy kis tarka mad&r vig kedvlben.
THOU gay-plumed bird, whose never-bridled flight O'er field, o'er forest, is one long delight;
Were I a gay-plumed bird, how blest 'twould be Thy songs to sing, to fly, to rest with thee, Thou gay-plumed bird!
Thou gay-plumed bird, thou canst no longer sing!
Thou art imprisoned by the fowler's spring;
Were I a gay-plumed bird, I would not go Sporting with such delusive treacheries. No ! Thou gay-plumed bird!
Thou gay-plumed bird, though liberty is gone, Yet kindness waits thy every want upon;
Were I a gay-plumed bird, I still should long For the free heaven and the wild woodland song, Thou gay-plumed bird !
Thou gay-plumed bird, thy golden chain to me Were but a decorated misery !
Were I a gay-plumed bird, I would not fill Thy gaudy prison, were it gaudier still, Thou gay-plumed bird !
FRANCIS FALUDI. 21 Thou gay-plumed bird, they bring thee sugar'd meat, Use flattering words, caressing while they cheat;
Were I a gay-plumed bird, that sweetened waste Were worse than very poison to my taste, Thou gay-plumed bird!
Thou luckless bird! Alas! and thou hast lost That plumage, once thy brightness and thy. boast!
Were I a gay-plumed bird, I could not dwell A prisoner in thy solitary cell,
Thou gay-plumed bird!
r
22 FRANCIS FALUDI.
DANGERS OF LOVE.
Nem leszek t6bbe eterelme*.
To Love no more my vows Til bring, For Love is such a dangerous thing;
There's poison hid in every dart, And canker-worms in every heart,
Where Love doth dwell.
I know the little treacherous boy—
Have fought beneath his flag with joy,
Which brought deep grief: I've worn his chain, And wasted many months of pain,
In his dark cell.
For she who loves bears doom of woe;
Let her not trust the traitor's bow Which I have trusted, just to be
Pierced through and through with misery, With misery, O forest trees! so tall that are ;
O dovelet mine! that flies so for;
Would I could fell that giant grove!
Would I could reach that flitting dove ! * It may not be !
* Ha azt az erdpt le vaghatnam Galaiubomat meg lathatnain.
Vagni, to hew, to fell—vaghatni, to be able to hew. Lathi, to sec—lathatni, to be able to sec.
FRANCIS FALUDI. 23 How idle on a rush to lean,
Though waving bright its stem of green ! For when the noisy tempest wakes, How soon it bends! how trembling shakes!
And bows its head.
I leaned upon a treacherous rush;—
He turn'd away, without a blush, To other maids: but I was young—
Truth in my spirit, on my tongue,
Without parade.
O. smitten by high Heaven be he Who gives his love to two, to three!
I love but one—and if he fail me, 0 how could other love avail me!
Me—hapless maid!
24 FRANCIS FALUBI,
THE FALSE MAID.
Uri ncmzet eredete Deli, jeles, £p terniete.
SHE id born of noble stem, Fairer than the fairest gem Which upon her robe doth shine, Graceful, beautiful, divine.
What avails it all to me ? She is false as false can be!
She has eyes like damsons black, Shining like the comet's track;
Mouth of witchery—lightning glance-Heaven is in her countenance.
What avails it all to me ? She is false as false can be ! Neck of alabaster, lips
Crimson roses to eclipse, Chin of marble's smoothest glow, Shoulders piled of purest snow.
What avails it all to me ? She is false as false can be 1
FRANCIS FALUDI. 25 Fair when distant, fair when near,
Fair her smile, and fair her tear;
Fair when bending, fair erect—
Unadorn'd, or gera-bedeck'd.
What avails it all to me ? She is false as false can be ! She has wit, and song, and sense—
Mirth and sport and eloquence;
She has smiles of ecstasy—
Grace and beauty's treasury.
What avails it all to me ? She is false as false can be!
I have been on Pindus hill, I have heard her music f i l l Fill with glory heaven and e a r t h -Ne'er such glorious songs had birth.
What avails it all to me ? She is false as false can be 1
26 FRANCIS FALUDI.
T H E ANSWER.
Hires forend nemzetlben, Ntncacn faiba 4ermete*ben.
H E is of illustrious name,
Free from spot, and free from blame;
Bred as noble minds are bred, Leading, too, as he was led:
Yet I love him not—and I . Know full well the reason why ! Lustrous are his eyes as light, And as milk his skin is white;
Never did vermillion streak Beauty fairer than his cheek:
Yet I love him not—and I Know full well the reason why!
Wisdom all his forehead arches, He is tall as mountain larches;
Waving locks of chesnut hair, Lips as twilight dawning fair : Yet I love him not—and I Know full well the reason why!
FRANCIS FALUD1. 27 When he sits upon his steed,
Mars must yield for strength and speed;
Here and there, and to and fro, Like a Centaur, see, they go:
Yet I love him not—and I Know full well the reason why ! Witty, wise and honor'd, too;
Tasteful, learned, thro9 and thro';
Calm, courageous, just, urbane ; Courteous, aye! without a stain :
Yet I love him not—and I Know full well the reason why!
When he smiles, delight is nigh;
Joy salutes him, passing by;
Pleasure in his steps is treading, And his friendship, 'tis an Eden:
Yet I love him not—for I
Heard him call me false—that's why !
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