Hungarian Heritage Review, 1986 (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1986-01-01 / 1. szám
THE ENCHANTED STAG Long, long ago, in the faraway land of the East, there was a beautiful site. It was bordered by tall mountains to the North, and sparkling seas to the South. From the mountains, two large rivers wound their majestic way toward the sea, between gentle rolling hills and spacious grasslands. The hills were covered with forest, teeming with game. Huge herds of cattle and sheep inhabited the grasslands. The people who lived there were not only mighty warriors, butdiligent in work and outstanding in knowledge and wisdom. They lived in abundance and prosperity. King Nimrod was their mighty Ruler. King Nimrod had two sons, Hunor and Magor. Mighty warriors, like their father, they were accustomed to leading a group of select young warriors deep into the woods in their search for game and youthful adventure. One day the two brothers were out hunting mounted on their favorite horses. Each led one hundred chosen young braves. As they rode across hills and glades, searching for game, they suddenly jumped a beautiful white stag. It was by far the noblest game they had ever seen. Its silvery-white coat looked as if made of moon-beams, with a thousand sparkling stars glittering on his antlers. Fascinated by the beautiful beast, the two brothers and their warriors gave chase. Up hill, down hill, across glades and meadows, the chase went on all day. At dusk, the stage vanished. Hunor and Magor camped down with their men, resting their horses and catching a little sleep. When morning came, there was the beautiful stag again across the meadow, waiting for them. The chase began anew, from dawn to dusk, into the high mountains toward the North. Again they camped down for the night, ready to return home the next day, but in the morning the stag appeared as though waiting for them. The chase went on day after day. Across high mountains, across deep valleys, farther and farther to the North, into a land they had never seen before. After crossing the mountains, the enchanted stag lured them for seven days and seven nights, through treacherous swamps and bottomless marshes, until at the end of the seventh day, they reached a land of exceeding beauty, a land rich in velvety meadows, sparkling brooks and beautiful forests, abundant in fish and teeming with game. Here the white stag leaped into a pond and disappeared forever. The two brothers and their men pitched camp near the pond and fell asleep. In the middle of the night they were awakened suddenly by the sound of heavenly music. The full moon shone in the sky. Cautiously following the sounds through a small grove of willow trees, the two brothers suddenly beheld a scene so beautiful that for a moment or two, their very hearts stopped beating. It was the most breath-taking sight they had ever seen. On the shore of the little pond, on the exact spot where the beautiful stag had disappeared, the two beautiful daughters of King Dul were dancing, clad only in silvery moonlight, surrounded by two hundred maidens. In one second, the two brothers fell in love with the two lovely princesses and took them for their wives. The two hundred warriors married the two hundred maidens, and they all settled on the new land. Thus the descendents of Hunor and his men became known as the Huns in years to come, while the descendents of Magor and his men were destined to be called the Magyars. From: SELECTED HUNGARIAN LEGENDS Compiled By: ALBERT WASS DANUBIAN TRESS
