BBC to commemorate János Arany, famous Hungarian poet

Even the BBC commemorated the 100th anniversary of János Arany, famous Hungarian poet’s birth. The author of The Bards of Wales was presented honorary status posthumously in Montgomery, Foter.ro reports.

Foter.ro notes that the poem was against the despot political system which followed the Revolution of 1848 in Hungary. The poet was unwilling to praise Francis Joseph I, as the bards of Wales also refused to eulogize Edward I. conquering Wales in 1277.

In relation to the story of the poem, Montgomery Mayor Eric Fairbrother told that, while the Hungarians do learn about the poem and its message at elementary schools, people in Montgomery have hardly heard about it. He believes, Fote.ro adds, that János Arany’s poem connects the two nations. Therefore the town decided to present the honorary status of Freeman of Montgomery to the Hungarian poet posthumously.

According to Foter.ro, Karl Jenkins Welsh composer composed a symphony based on The Bards of Wales, which is also not familiar to the majority of the locals in Montgomery.

[box] Listen Karl Jenkins’s The Bards of Wales Symphony here. [/box]

Read the poem below (visegradliterature.net):

The bards of Wales

Edward the King, the English King,
Rode on a dapple grey charger
‘I wish to know the worth’, said he,
‘of my Welsh lands over the border.

Is the grass rich for sheep and ox,
Are the soil and rivers good?
And are my provinces watered well
By rebel patriots’ blood?

And what of the people, the wretched people
Do they seem a contented folk?
Are they as docile, since I subdued them,
As their oxen in their yoke?’

‘Your Majesty Wales is the fairest jewel
You have in all your crown,
River and field and valley and hill
Are the best you may come upon.

And as for the people, the wretched people,
They live so happily, Sir,
Like so many graves their hamlets stand
And none there even stir.’

Edward the King, the English King,
Rode on a dapple grey charger,
Around him silence which way he want
In his Welsh lands over the border.

Montgomery the castle’s name,
Where he that night remained,
The castle’s lord, Montgomery,
His monarch entertained.

There was fish and flesh and whatever else
To sight and taste seemed good,
A rowdy throng, a hundred strong,
Bore in the heavy load.

All kinds were there, that isle could bear
Of meat and drink, with these
was bubbling wine that sparkling shone,
Carried from distant seas.

‘Ye Lords! ye lords! will no one here
His wine glass with me clink?
Ye lords! ye lords! ye rude Welsh curs,
Will none the King’s health drink?

There is fish and flesh and whatever else
To sight and taste seem best,
– That I can see, but the devil I know
Dwells in each noble’s breast.

Ye lords! ye lords! ye vile Welsh curs,
Come greet your Edward;
Where is the man to sing my deeds
A Welshman and a bard?’

Each night upon the other looked
Of the guests assembled there;
Upon their cheeks a furious rage
Paled to a ghastly fear.

And strangled breath from lips like death
Was all that could be heard;
When, like a white defenceless dove
Arose an ancient bard.

‘Here there is one to tell thy deeds,’
Chanted the ancient seer;
‘The clash of battle, the hoarse death rattle,
The plucked strings made them hear.

The clash of battle, the hoarse death rattle,
On blood the sun setting;
The stench that drew night – prowling beasts.
You did all this, O King!