The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-11-08
ONLY ONCE.
Quaint Origin of Familiar Hungarian
Proverb.

|
"There was but once dogs fair at
| Buda." The originator of this proverb,
King Matthias Corvinus, was the great
monarch of Hungary. He was genius,
and Hungary's mightiest monarch, and
regned in the fifteenth century. He
was young when he died, and in spite
of his youth the people exclaimed at his
departure: king Matthias dead-just-
ice is dead" From this one saying of
the people we can judge the King. In
fact, hundreds of proverbs originated
directly with him. Even now, when we
Hungarians want to say that something
very good has happened, and is not
| likely to happen again, we use this say
| ing, which became a proverb: ''There
YVES but one dogs fair at Buda." My
duty as narrator is to tell how it orig
mated 1t is quite story, and, if the
kind reader peruses these lines with the
same pleasure | take in writing them,
we will be even.
| ORIGIN OF THE PRovERB.
At the time of our just and great King
Matthias lived a poor and very good
| shepherd in the southern part of Hun
1 VI
was Just as wicked, and above all, a
great miser. The shepherd fulfilled his
| duties well. The focks were always
do was to find his sheep multiplied and
in the very best order All the good
ness, however, was on the side
of the shepherd; all the wickedness
on the side of the landlord. The wick
| oJ ~; Oh laI
service. He took everything and gave
nothing.
Such state of things can last, but
not forever. Even the shepherd had
enough of it. So the poor fellow studied
for good while how he might anchor
ate his wretched situation. After think
ing many days upon his sad condition,
suddenly happy idea struck him. He
heard of the young Kings goodhearted
ness and Justice, ami be heard also that
the poorest man could go to him and
tell him his grief, and, if it were in the
Kings power, he surely would find some
means of doing justice. After many
days of sorrow he went to his landlord,
counted the sheep, which were found in
good shape, and told him that his in
tention was to leave him and to look for
another situation. All he had to say
was that he hoped the landlord might
find another faithful shepherd just as
patient and submissive as he. The
landlord did not even thank him.
The shepherd went his way, followed
by his five dogs. He started towards
the Capital of Hungary, where the King
lived, towards Buda The journey last
ed many days, but finally he arrived.
The poor fellow was tired and lay down
in ditch, surrounded by his dogs, and
fell asleep. How long his sleep lasted
| we do not know, but we do know that
he was awakened by a very handsome
young man in whose eyes goodness
beamed, and who apostrophized him as
| follows:
THE KING AND THE SHEPHERD.
''My dear shepherd friend, what are
YOU doing here in the ditch with your
five dogs around you? You must be
tired to find no better resting place than
this"
| 30, yes, am tired, and / have come
a long way" was the shepherds reply.
| ''Where do You come from?'' asked
the young man.
From the southern part of Hungary,
and | have walked all the way Now
you can well understand how tired |
am; but what care |? | am young and
| come to tell the King my grief. |
know he will give me good advice and
| tell me how to redress the injustice done
me-"
"Well, my dear friend" replied the
young man, Il am special friend of
the Kings, and you might as well tell
me your grief, and you may rest assur-
ed / will lay the matter before him. He
is still young, but he knows what he is
about
| The shepherd did not quite see why
he should confide his griefs to another
knowing well that everybody was adj
mitted into the presence of the King, no
matter who he was So he simply said:
'No, it is useless, will tell all to my
King himself, but I thank you all the
same for your kindness"
''Do as you like; but / can assure you,
my dear friend" replied the young
man, ''that it would greatly forward
| your interests if You would tell me at
once all your sorrows, as the King HIS
a great deal to do, and has to listen to
many grievances: and /, as his friend,
make it a special duty to tell him all
such matters which, by chance or other
wise. come to my knowledge from diff
| ferent sources. So the King knows
many matters beforehand"
'.Well, then, will tell you all, and
frankly" The shepherd began his
story.
| THE SHEPHERD STORY.
"You see, my dear cir, that / am even
younger than you are, but youth does
not exclude the sense of duty, and, al
| though only simple shepherd, / had
charge of large dock of sheep belong
tnx - RICH landlord. This selfish,