Two Days in Chujava, chapter 1 · Slovak

Deň škaredý

A Miserable Day

I

Nech nedrží niže svojej hodnosti čitateľ, navyknutý na samých firštov, grófov, barónov, markízov, bankárov a ich vyvoštené paláce, potom na skvostné mestá s ich vysočiznými domami, vydláždenými a plynom osvietenými ulicami, hlučnými námestiami; nech nedrží niže svojej hodnosti vstúpiť raz na jeden deň v myšlienkach i do biednej Chujavy, v akej snáď i sám telesne prebývať ráči.

Let no reader accustomed to nothing but princes, counts, barons, marquises, bankers and their splendid palaces, and to magnificent cities with their towering buildings, paved streets illuminated by gas, and bustling squares, consider it beneath his dignity to spend a day in his thoughts in wretched Chujava, a place where he may perhaps even deign to reside in person.

Rok, do ktorého prítomná povesť padá, bol 1865, keď už Bach so svojím cudzozemským úradníctvom a so svojou rovnoprávnosťou všetkých s výlučným panovaním Nemcov vygazdoval a uhorskí Slováci mali svoje domorodé, samovolené vrchnosti, samých plnokrvných, zo slovenských rodičov narodených Maďarov.

The year in which this tale takes place was 1865, by which time Bach, with his foreign bureaucracy and his equality for all under the exclusive rule of the Germans, had already been driven out, and the Hungarian Slovaks had acquired their own native, self-appointed authorities, all thoroughbred Hungarians born of Slovak parents.

Lestní chujavskí sedliaci stoja s richtárom na hradskej ceste, od ktorej trochu nabok čuší medzi zelenými stromami Chujava s vyčnievajúcim Kobzayho a menším židovským kaštieľom.

The shrewd peasants of Chujava stand with the village magistrate on the main road. A little way off, nestled among the green trees, lies Chujava, with the prominent Kobzay mansion and a smaller Jewish manor house.

Všetci majú na hlavách širáky, na bedrách veličizné remenné opasky, na nohách až po kolená vysoké čižmy, na drieku krátke košieľky s rozpustenými rukávmi, nohavice z drelichu na remeň, na prsiach červeným vyšívané lajblíky.

All wear broad-brimmed hats on their heads, enormous leather belts around their waists, knee-high boots, short shirts with loose sleeves, drill-cloth trousers held up by belts, and waistcoats embroidered in red across the chest.

Len vysoký, chudorľavý Lipnický je bosý a bez lajblíka.

Only the tall, emaciated Lipnický is barefoot and without a waistcoat.

Hlava sa mu trasie, ako čo by vždy dačo schvaľoval alebo zapieral.

His head trembles as though he were constantly agreeing with or denying something.

Trasú sa mu i nohy i ruky, keď ich podvihne.

His legs and arms tremble too whenever he raises them.

Na príčine je planý krčmár, že mu dnes pálenku na úver nedal.

The culprit is the mean-spirited innkeeper, who refused to give him spirits on credit today.

Bo u Lipnického tremula len vtedy prestane, keď holbičku buchne do seba.

For Lipnický's trembling stops only when he knocks back a mug of liquor.

Najbližší v lumpáckom výzore je mu Humenský.

The closest match to him in disreputable appearance is Humenský.

Čižmy ani jeho neomínajú a partica z vetchého klobúka visí mu po kusoch na plecia.

His boots pinch him no more than Lipnický's do, and scraps of the ribbon from his shabby hat hang down over his shoulders.

A predsa tento spustlý muž chodil za štyri roky do latinských škôl.

And yet this dissolute man attended Latin school for four years.

Je nevrlý, bo i jeho pripravila židovská neprajnosť o obyčajné raňajky.

He is in a foul mood, for Jewish spite has deprived him of his usual breakfast as well.

Za ním nasleduje územčistý, ale širokoplecí muž.

Next comes a short, stocky but broad-shouldered man.

Má cez plecia prehodený nový kožuch, ale nohavice samá záplata a jedna týchto sa opála odpáraná práve na samom zadku.

He has a new sheepskin coat thrown over his shoulders, but his trousers are covered in patches, one of which has come loose and hangs open right over his backside.

To je najdrzejší v celej obci korheľ, nestydatý Kožuch.

This is the most shameless drunkard in the entire village, the brazen Kožuch.

Blčí mu i teraz lieh z tučnej červenej tvári.

Even now, liquor seems to blaze from his fat, red face.

Zajac, tiež územčistý chlapík, s opičou tvárou, bývalý husár, teraz dedinský šašo a ošemeta, tiež milovník krčiem, vyznačoval sa svojimi krpcami.

Zajac, another short, stocky fellow with a monkey-like face, a former hussar and now the village clown and good-for-nothing, also a lover of taverns, was distinguished by his peasant shoes.

Trčala mu z nich na piaď slama.

A hand's breadth of straw stuck out of them.

Ostatní môžu byť oblečení ako sú.

The others may as well remain dressed as they are.

Veď už sedemnásť rokov tomu, čo panština prestala.

After all, it has been seventeen years since the old feudal order came to an end.

Najparádnejší však zo všetkých je richtár Hučko.

But the finest dressed of them all is the village magistrate, Hučko.

Na ňom všetko nové a čisté.

Everything he wears is new and clean.

Má síce len pol úreku, ale pálenku nepije.

He may have only half a measure of land, but he does not drink spirits.

Pre túto zriedkavú vlastnosť ocitla sa v jeho ruke i palica richtárska, hoc je ešte muž mladý.

It was thanks to this rare quality that the village magistrate's staff came into his hands, though he is still a young man.

Čakajú na príchod slúžneho a cestovného pána, majúc odovzdať stolici navozené kôpky štrku.

They are waiting for the arrival of the district magistrate and the travelling official, in order to hand over the little heaps of gravel they have hauled in for the county.

Vrava medzi nimi je hlučná.

Their conversation is loud and boisterous.

Najmenej zo všetkých hovorí richtár, najviac Kožuch.

The village magistrate speaks the least of them all, Kožuch the most.

Tento korheľ rád majstroval každého, trkotal vždy, čo mu slina priniesla na jazyk, bol dosť drzý postaviť sa i vrchnosti.

This drunkard loved to pick on everyone, always babbling whatever came into his head, and was brazen enough to stand up even to the authorities.

Bol by mohol platiť za ochrancu pravdy, platil však len za prvého bezočivca a podliaka v obci, ktorý už kúty všetkých žalárov povytieral, s každým sa vadil, hrdloval, i vlastnú matku za vlasy povláčil, pritom i kradol.

He might have passed for a defender of the truth, but in reality he was merely the foremost insolent rogue and scoundrel in the village, a man who had already worn out the corners of every prison cell, quarrelled and fought with everyone, dragged even his own mother around by the hair, and stolen besides.

Mlel ústami a robil oškrdy, rehotal sa, prekáral každého i podnapitý Zajac so slamenými ostrohami.

He kept moving his mouth and pulling faces, guffawed, and mocked everyone; so too did the slightly drunk Zajac, whose straw-stuffed shoes sported makeshift spurs.

Jazyky týchto ošemetníkov rozviazali sa zvlášť vtedy, keď zočili sedliaci dva prichádzajúce vozíky.

The tongues of these rascals became especially loose when the peasants caught sight of two carts approaching.

Napred hádali, či ide slúžny sám.

At first they speculated whether the district magistrate was travelling alone.

„Nie,“ rozhodol Kožuch.

“No,” Kožuch declared.

Slúžny sedí na vozíku a ohliada sa okolo s podoprenými bokmi, tak, ako čo by sa opytoval:

The district magistrate is sitting in the cart, looking about him with his hands on his hips, as though asking:

„Kde ešte druhý svet pre mňa? Tohoto mi málo.“

“Where is there another world for me to conquer? This one is not enough.”

Nadul sa pritom a ukázal veľké fúzy.

As he said this, he puffed himself up and displayed his great moustache.

„To nie je jeho postava,“ prisvedčil Zajac, skrčiac sa napoly.

“That's not his build,” Zajac agreed, half-crouching.

„Nepovedám?“

“Didn't I tell you?”

vykríkol za tým čoskoro.

he soon shouted after him.

„To pán s veľkým nosom.“

“That's the gentleman with the big nose.”

Tak nazývali pomocníka slúžneho pre jeho neobyčajne veľký nos, do ktorého pchal ustavične čierny tabak, i začali ho otrepávať.

That was what they called the district magistrate's assistant, on account of his extraordinarily large nose, into which he was constantly stuffing black snuff, and they began making fun of him.

„Ta taký,“ ukázal Kožuch somárske uši.

“Just look at that fellow,” Kožuch said, making donkey ears with his fingers.

„Bol taký žiak, že pre neho školské roky boli samé prázdniny. Utekal domov ako plané prasa z poľa. Otec mu vždy sľuboval, že ho dá za svinského pastiera. A teraz, hľa! Pri všetkých prevratoch, či Nemci panujú, či Maďari, on v úrade.“

“He was such a pupil that his school years were nothing but holidays. He used to run home from school like a wild boar fleeing a field. His father was always threatening to make him a swineherd. And now, would you look at him! Through every upheaval, whether the Germans rule or the Hungarians, there he is, holding an office.”

„Páni majú s panským žobrákom poľutovanie,“ odpľul s kyslou tvárou Humanský.

“The gentlemen take pity on their master's beggar,” Humanský spat, his face sour.

„Prišiel na mizinu pre parádnicu ženu. Kapitula pustila jeho majetok na bubon. Aby nezahynul hladom, pchajú ho páni pri každej premene do úradu.“

“He was ruined by his extravagant wife. The chapter put his property up for auction. So that he wouldn't starve to death, the gentlemen push him into some office whenever the administration changes.”

„Terajší jeho úrad nie ,stoličný',“ protirečil Pelechavý, muž chudobne odetý, ale prvý boháč v obci, bo i najväčší skrbec.

“His present position isn't a county office,” Pelechavý objected, a poorly dressed man who was nevertheless the richest man in the village, and also its greatest miser.

„Slúžny si ho len sám vzal za pomocníka. Platí mu zo svojho mešca, aby chodil za neho po ochodzi ako kočujúca spravodlivosť, keď on dozerá na svojich panštiarov alebo poľuje. Čo mu chýba, doháňa mu z nášho.“

“The district magistrate took him on as his own personal assistant. He pays him out of his own pocket to go around the district in his place, dispensing itinerant justice whenever he is supervising his estate tenants or out hunting. Whatever he lacks, he makes up for from our pockets.”

„A trubač tomu rozumie,“ ozval sa Bučak, jediný medzi sedliakmi, ktorý nosil bajúzy, lebo býval vojakom, ináč tvár sprostá, mravy samá neokresaná hrubosť.

“And the bugler knows all about that,” Bučak chimed in, the only one among the peasants who wore a moustache, since he had once been a soldier. Otherwise, he had a coarse face and manners consisting of nothing but uncultivated vulgarity.

„Kam príde, všade zdiera nestydate, ako čo by mu teraz sedliaci mali nahradiť, čo premárnil. Bojím sa, že ani k nám darmo nejde ten bankrot.“

“Wherever he goes, he shamelessly fleeces everyone, as though the peasants now owed him compensation for everything he squandered. I'm afraid that this bankrupt fellow hasn't come to us for nothing either.”

Zajac vysmieval sa z jeho vozíka a pohoniča, Maďara v kučme a bunde.

Zajac made fun of his cart and its driver, a Hungarian wearing a fur cap and jacket.

„Hotový strachopud do konopí,“ rehotal sa, „ja jeho boha!“

“A regular coward in the hemp field,” he guffawed. “Damn him!”

„A tie škapky,“ smial sa Kožuch, „pravé maďarské tátoše. Prisahám bohu, horšie od mojich.“

“And those nags,” Kožuch laughed, “are genuine Hungarian steeds. I swear to God, they're worse than mine.”

Dostalo sa i cestovnému pánovi, sediacemu na druhom vozíku, ktorého pre jeho plachý pohľad len stydlivou Zuzankou nazývali.

The travelling official sitting in the second cart was not spared either. Because of his timid expression, they called him nothing but Bashful Little Zuzanka.

„Má celé tri slivy,“ rehotal sa Zajac, „a pol piatej brázdy zdedil po otcovi.“

“He's got a whole three plum trees,” Zajac roared with laughter, “and inherited half of a fourth furrow from his father.”

„Ale je majster vo svojom remesle,“ smial sa Kožuch, „a vynašiel i dačo nového. Nemci vynašli spôsob stlať cesty železom, on slamou.“

“But he's a master of his trade,” Kožuch laughed, “and he's invented something new, too. The Germans invented a way of paving roads with iron; he does it with straw.”

„Už ozaj,“ uškrnul sa zasmušilý Bučak.

“Indeed, he has,” the gloomy Bučak sneered.

„Sotva zaujal úrad nový cestovný pán, už mu šlo z každej obce po jednom voze slamy. Že sa to nehanbí takej žobračky!“

“The new travelling official had barely taken office when he started demanding a cartload of straw from every village. How can he not be ashamed of such begging!”

„Cesty teraz už len vtedy budú dobré,“ vtipkoval Zajac, „keď sa vystelú slamou.“

“From now on, the roads will only be any good,” Zajac joked, “if they're lined with straw.”

„A keď skutočne bude tak!“

“And what if that's exactly how things turn out!”

pokýval hlavou richtár Hučko.

the village magistrate Hučko said, nodding his head.

„Mohli by sme i my odviezť tých dakoľko otepí ako iné obce. Uvidíte, že to zaplatíme.“

“We might as well deliver a few bundles ourselves, like the other villages. You'll see, we'll pay for it.”

Tak posudzovali sedliaci pánov, blížiacich sa na vozíkoch.

Such were the peasants' opinions of the gentlemen approaching in their carts.

Pri tom všetkom zložili klobúky s pokorou, keď ešte boli vzdialení na dohodenie kameňa, i vysoký, kydavý pán s veľkým nosom, i nízky, chudučký cestovný pán s maličkou zahanbenou tváričkou.

For all their mockery, they respectfully removed their hats while the gentlemen were still a stone's throw away: both the tall, corpulent gentleman with the large nose and the short, skinny travelling official with his tiny, sheepish face.

Príduc k sedliakom bez pozdravenia, dali sa hneď ohliadať kôpky štrku.

Having approached the peasants without greeting them, they immediately set about inspecting the piles of gravel.

Len Maďar v koženej bunde a hajdúch v červených nohaviciach zostali na vozíku.

Only the Hungarian in the leather jacket and the bailiff in red trousers remained in the cart.

Maďar, keď zbadal, že si ho sedliaci zvedavo a s utajeným smiechom ohliadajú, vyplazil na nich jazyk:

When the Hungarian noticed the peasants examining him curiously, with barely concealed laughter, he stuck out his tongue at them:

„Nikdy ste také čudo, abadta tótja, nevideli?“

“Never seen such a wonder before, you cursed Slovaks?”

Zajac sa zarehotal hlasite:

Zajac burst out laughing loudly:

„Nem hneválni, pán Maďar, nem hneválni, bo hriech.“

“Don't be angry, Mr Hungarian, don't be angry, it's a sin.”

Vysoký pán s veľkým nosom kráčal nemo zhrbený od kôpky ku kôpke.

The tall gentleman with the large nose walked silently, stooping as he moved from one pile to the next.

Len do nosiska pchal podchvíľou čierny tabak a potom ho vydúval do ohavne zašpinenej plátennej šatky.

Every now and then he stuffed black snuff into his enormous nose, then blew it out into a disgustingly filthy linen handkerchief.

Pre toto ustavičné zapchávanie fafáka hovoril kydavý muž, ako kto má nádchu.

Because he was constantly stuffing up his snout, the corpulent man spoke as though he had a cold.

Cestovný hanil kôpky.

The travelling official found fault with the piles.

Hneď neuderili mieru, hneď štrk bol planý.

If they failed to meet the required measure by so much as a little, the gravel was immediately declared defective.

Sprvu to bolo len hľadané hanenie, ale potom prišli ku kôpkam, ktoré skutočne sotva polovicu miery uderili.

At first, his complaints were merely contrived fault-finding, but then they came to piles that genuinely fell short of even half the required measure.

„Aha, už ich mám,“ zaplesala duša v stydlivej Zuzanke.

“Aha, now I've got them!” rejoiced the soul of Bashful Little Zuzanka.

Nájduc skutočnú príčinu, žiadal vyslovenie pokuty; a pán s veľkým nosom, nelenivý, určil ju v tridsiatich zlatých.

Having found a genuine reason, he demanded that a fine be imposed; and the gentleman with the large nose, never one to waste time, set it at thirty florins.

„Dobre, pán veľkomožný,“ ozve sa richtár Hučko, „ale to netýka sa nás sedliakov, bo chybné kôpky sú panské, tieto pána veľkomožného Kobzayho a tieto pána veľkomožného Schelma.“

“Very well, Your Lordship,” the village magistrate Hučko replied, “but this does not concern us peasants, since the defective piles belong to the landlords: these are His Lordship Kobzay's, and those are His Lordship Schelm's.”

To trochu zmiatlo i stydlivú Zuzanku, i pána s veľkým nosom.

This somewhat bewildered both Bashful Little Zuzanka and the gentleman with the large nose.

Postúpili na stranu a zhovárali sa tichunko.

They stepped aside and spoke together in hushed voices.

Pán s veľkým nosom radil dať pokoj, bo práve mal byť Kobzayho hosťom, ale cestovný stál na pokutovaní obce.

The gentleman with the large nose advised letting the matter drop, since he was just about to be Kobzay's guest, but the travelling official insisted that the village be fined.

Aby kočujúca spravodlivosť bola ochotnejšia, dodal, aby pokutu vybral pre seba.

To make this itinerant justice more amenable, he added that the official could collect the fine for himself.

To sa neminulo s účinkom.

This had the desired effect.

Pán s veľkým nosom sa osvedčil, že csakugyan štróf zaplatí, izé, gmina pod štrnástimi dňami a dodal s dôrazom, že musí byť oddaný jemu do ruky.

The gentleman with the large nose declared that, indeed, the fine would be paid, er, by the village within fourteen days, adding emphatically that it must be handed directly into his own hands.

Užasnutí sedliaci šepcú, štuchajú do richtára.

The astonished peasants whisper among themselves and nudge the village magistrate.

Tento sa teda spytuje:

So he asks:

„Mám teda pokutu vybrať od pánov?“

“Am I therefore to collect the fine from the landlords?”

„Ja ti nepovedám,“ okríkol ho pán s veľkým nosom, „od koho máš vybrať. Povedám len, že štróf zaplatí gmina. A s tým dosť. Viac ani slova.“

“I'm not telling you,” the gentleman with the large nose snapped at him, “from whom you are to collect it. I'm telling you only that the village will pay the fine. And that's enough. Not another word.”

„Dobre, pán veľkomožný,“ pokoril sa podľa svojej obyčaje ulíhavý richtár.

“Very well, Your Lordship,” the submissive village magistrate yielded, as was his custom.

Ale sedliaci kývali hlavami a odpľúvali.

But the peasants shook their heads and spat.

Kožuch sa ozval hlasite:

Kožuch spoke up loudly:

„Ja, prisahám bohu, za pánov neplatím.“

“I swear to God, I'm not paying for the landlords.”

Sudcovia sa stavali, akoby nič neboli počuli, sadli na vozíky a rozišli sa.

The officials pretended they had heard nothing, climbed into their carts, and went their separate ways.

Stydlivá Zuzanka šla hradskou cestou ďalej, pán s veľkým nosom obrátil sa k Chujave a prikázal sedliakom nasledovať ho.

Bashful Little Zuzanka continued along the main road, while the gentleman with the large nose turned towards Chujava and ordered the peasants to follow him.

Títo teda šli za vozíkom, kľajúc tejto kočujúcej spravodlivosti a všetkým pánom vôbec.

So they followed the cart, cursing this itinerant justice and all gentlemen in general.

„Ja som hneď povedal, že bude zle,“ riekol Kožuch, „náhle tú uhorskú zástavu zo stoličného domu vyvesili.“

“I said from the very beginning that things would go badly,” said Kožuch, “as soon as they hoisted that Hungarian flag over the county hall.”

„A náhle uviedli zase tú maďarčinu,“ dodal Bučak.

“And as soon as they brought Hungarian back again,” Bučak added.

„Panská reč, panská spravodlivosť.“

“The masters' language, the masters' justice.”

Dali sa potom vychvaľovať roku 1860 postupne vyhnaných Nemcov.

They then began extolling the Germans, who had been driven out one after another in 1860.

Ale richtár ich ohriakol:

But the village magistrate rebuked them:

„Dajte pokoj! Dosť sme sa nareptali na nich a smiali sme sa, keď spievali páni ,Huncút Nemec'. Nám by ani boh nevyhovel.“

“Enough of that! We grumbled about them plenty and laughed when the gentlemen sang ‘The German Rogue’. Not even God could satisfy us.”

„Ty vždy s pánmi,“ sekol ho Kožuch, „nás nebrániš, ústa za nás neotvoríš, na všetko kýveš hlavou ako káčer.“

“You're always siding with the gentlemen,” Kožuch snapped at him. “You never defend us, never open your mouth on our behalf, and nod your head at everything like a drake.”

Odpľul a sedliaci mu prisvedčovali, najmä Humenský, ktorý Hučkovo richtárenie považoval za svoju najväčšiu krivdu.

He spat, and the peasants agreed with him, especially Humenský, who regarded Hučko's appointment as village magistrate as the greatest injustice ever done to him.

Ako by i nie?

And why wouldn't he?

On, písmák a latinák, je v obci nič a taký krížikár, taký chlapčisko, richtár.

He, a learned man who could read and write Latin, was a nobody in the village, while such an ignorant fellow, such a mere boy, had become magistrate.

Tento bodol hnevne paličkou do zeme:

He angrily thrust his walking stick into the ground:

„Povinnosť svoju znám a plním, kde môžem. Čelom do steny bije blázon. Vidíte, že páni držia spolu ako reťaz. Bohatí vypustili na nás rotu hladošov a títo nás neľutujú. Myslia si: čokoľvek im necháme, vezmú židia; teda len ber! Žijeme ako hovädá, nuž zachádzajú s nami ako s hovädami. Povedal som sám i teraz. Bolo dať tej stydlivej Zuzanke po pár otepí, ta by nás teraz neboli zadreli.“

“I know my duty and fulfil it whenever I can. Only a fool bangs his head against a wall. You can see that the gentlemen stick together like links in a chain. The rich have unleashed a whole regiment of hungry parasites upon us, and these fellows show us no mercy. They think: whatever we leave them, the Jews will take; so just keep taking! We live like cattle, and so they treat us like cattle. I said so myself just now. We should have given that Bashful Little Zuzanka a few bundles each, and then they wouldn't have fleeced us like this.”

„Ja pokutu tú neplatím,“ tvrdil znovu, prisahal a bil sa do pŕs Kožuch.

“I'm not paying that fine,” Kožuch insisted again, swearing and beating his chest.

To isté činil i hrubý Buček a skrbný Pelechavý.

The coarse Buček and the miserly Pelechavý did the same.

„Ba veru platíte,“ mrštil richtár paličkou.

“Oh, yes, you certainly will pay,” the magistrate retorted, flinging his walking stick.

„I zbijú ťa, i plakať ti nedajú. Počuli ste to lživé osvedčenie tej priepasti nespravodlivosti. Vždy tvrdí len svoje, že štróf platí gmina. Kto je to tá gmina? Vie on dobre, že ma i pán i žid vystrčí, keď prídem pýtať od neho pokutu.“

“They'll beat you, and they won't even let you cry about it. You heard that lying declaration from that abyss of injustice. He keeps insisting on his own version, that the village pays the fine. And who exactly is this village? He knows perfectly well that both the landlord and the Jew will throw me out if I go to demand the fine from them.”

II

S takýmito rečami prišli ku krčme pri hradskej ceste, odkiaľ viedla bočná cesta do Chujavy, blízkej na dve strelenia.

With such talk they reached the inn beside the main road, from which a side road led to Chujava, barely two gunshots away.

Predo dvermi stála cudzia obstarná ženština v rúchu dlhom, lež vetchom a biednom.

Before the door stood a strange, middle-aged woman wearing a long but shabby and threadbare garment.

Táto sa priblížila s pokorou k pánu richtárovi a prosila o dovolenie zahrať večer komédiu s pumprlíkmi.

She approached the village magistrate humbly and asked permission to perform a puppet comedy that evening.

„Dobrá žena,“ uškrnul sa richtár, „máme my tu dosť komédií, každý deň Inakšiu; ale už len hrajte, ak chcete.“

“Good woman,” the magistrate sneered, “we have plenty of comedies here, a different one every day; but go ahead and perform if you wish.”

Ostatní vbehli do krčmy potúžiť sa a potom sa vhrnuli do dvora Kobzayho.

The others rushed into the inn to fortify themselves with a drink, then poured into Kobzay's courtyard.

Vstúpili s obnaženými hlavami, s nimi aj staručký evanjelický učiteľ, súčasne zapisovateľ obce, Koreň.

They entered bareheaded, accompanied by the elderly Protestant schoolteacher, who also served as the village clerk, Koreň.

Panstvo už sedelo na povýšenom, krytom predodverí so štyrmi stĺpmi.

The gentry were already seated on the raised, covered porch supported by four pillars.

Pán s veľkým nosom, Kobzay a evanjelický farár Čulík sedeli pri okrúhlom jedľovom stole na sieťových stoličkách.

The gentleman with the large nose, Kobzay, and the Protestant pastor Čulík sat on woven chairs around a round firwood table.

Pred nimi stál súdoček dohánu a sklenička likéru s kalíškami.

Before them stood a small cask of tobacco and a bottle of liqueur with little glasses.

Úradník Rozumovský fajčil dymku trochu stranou.

The official Rozumovský was smoking a pipe a little way apart.

Okolo neho všetečil chlapček a dve malé dievčatká s bábikami.

A little boy and two small girls with dolls were bustling inquisitively around him.

Po chvíli ozve sa, smrknúc tabak, pán s veľkým nosom:

After a while, the gentleman with the large nose spoke up, snorting snuff:

„Slúchajte, nebože! Ja som dnes, föképen, na to prišiel, miesto veľkomožného pána főszolgabíróa, aby som ustálil, izé, előleges költségvetés pre gminu. „Rozumiete?“

“Listen, good people! Today I have come here, föképen, in place of His Lordship the chief district magistrate, to draw up, er, an előleges költségvetés for the village. Do you understand?”

„Ba veru nerozumieme,“ ozval sa richtár.

“Indeed, we certainly don't understand,” the village magistrate replied.

Pán s veľkým nosom pukol si prstom na maľovanú tabačnicu:

The gentleman with the large nose tapped his painted snuffbox with a finger:

„Nerozumieme, nerozumieme! Tak je to, keď sa len tú sprostú slovenčinu učíte v škole.“

“You don't understand, you don't understand! That's what happens when all you learn at school is that foolish Slovak language.”

„Pekná pochvala pre učiteľa!“ doplnil harušenie Kobzay,“ keď potom sprostáci ani slávnych megyei tisztov nerozumejú.“

“What a fine compliment to the teacher!” Kobzay added mockingly. “The fools don't even understand the distinguished county officials.”

„Počujete?“

“Do you hear that?”

šepol učiteľ Koreň sedliakom.

the teacher Koreň whispered to the peasants.

„Prečo sa neučíte reč pánov?“

“Why don't you learn the language of the gentlemen?”

Na povýšenom predodverí hodil farár Čulík hnevne rukou, potom šepol Kobzaymu:

On the raised porch, Pastor Čulík waved his hand angrily, then whispered to Kobzay:

„Musel by napred sám učiteľ po maďarsky vedieť.“

“The teacher himself would first have to know Hungarian.”

A Kobzay nato:

And Kobzay replied:

„Ukážeme mu cestu z Chujavy.“

“We'll show him the way out of Chujava.”

Pán s veľkým nosom takto ráčil vysvetliť vec sprostákom:

The gentleman with the large nose graciously deigned to explain the matter to the simpletons as follows:

„Költségvetés, to je, izé, nech povedia, pán farár, čo.“

“Költségvetés, that is, er, what do you call it, Pastor?”

„Rozpočet kelčíkov,“ ozval sa Čulík hrdo.

“A budget of expenses,” Čulík declared proudly.

„Tak jest,“ prisvedčil pán s veľkým nosom, „rozpočet kelčíkov. Vysoký helytartótanács ráčil elrendelovať, aby sa kelčíky gminy nakoľko len možno znížili.“

“Precisely,” the gentleman with the large nose agreed. “A budget of expenses. The High Council of Lieutenancy has graciously ordered that the village's expenses be reduced as much as possible.”

„Veru dobre, pán veľkomožný,“ prisvedčovali sedliaci.

“Quite right, Your Lordship,” the peasants agreed.

„To sa teda bude végrehajtovať. Richtár .bral do tohoto času dvadsať i tri esteraichské zlaté. Z toho tri dolu.“

“And so this shall be végrehajtovať. Up to now, the village magistrate has received twenty-three Austrian florins. Three are to be deducted from that.”

„Dobre, dobre,“ schvaľovali to sedliaci.

“Good, good,” the peasants approved.

„Notáriuš má dvanásť esteraichských zlatých. I tu dva dolu.“

“The notary receives twelve Austrian florins. Two are to be deducted here as well.”

I to odobrili sedliaci s radosťou.

The peasants gladly approved this too.

„Zgazdovali sme päť esteraichských zlatých,“ pokračoval pán s veľkým nosom.

“We have saved five Austrian florins,” continued the gentleman with the large nose.

„Dodáte k tomu osem, ta budeme jártatovať ,Krajana' a ,Gazdasági lapok'.“

“You will add eight more, and then we shall subscribe to the Krajana and the Gazdasági Lapok.”

Tu už sedliaci ovesili nosy a mrmlali.

At this, the peasants hung their heads and began grumbling.

Učiteľ Koreň sa ohliadol po nich a riekol:

The teacher Koreň glanced around at them and said:

„Maďarské noviny tu nikto čítať nebude, bo nemôže.“

“Nobody here will read Hungarian newspapers, because nobody can.”

„Vaša chyba!“

“That's your fault!”

osopil sa na neho pán s veľkým nosom.

the gentleman with the large nose snapped at him.

Kobzayho vyctil za to slovo, ,maďarské'.

He reproached Kobzay for using the word “Hungarian.”

To vraj len panslávi nazvali Maďarov Maďarmi.

Apparently, only the Pan-Slavists called the Hungarians by that name.

Farár Čulík ďubal si prstom do čela:

Pastor Čulík tapped his forehead with a finger:

„Nerobte mi aspoň hanbu, vy trúp!“

“At least don't disgrace me, you fool!”

Pri tom všetkom navrhol ešte učiteľ, osmeľovaný sedliakmi, zvážiť radšej „Obzor“, keď už obec má držať noviny.

Despite all this, encouraged by the peasants, the teacher proposed that they consider subscribing to Obzor instead, if the village was going to subscribe to a newspaper at all.

„To ešte, to!“

“Not that, certainly not that!”

ohriakol ho Čulík.

Čulík rebuked him.

„,Obzor' sú noviny panslavistické.“

“Obzor is a Pan-Slavist newspaper.”

Nato sa už zahniezdil i úradník Rozumovský, hľadiaci chmúrne pred seba:

At this, the official Rozumovský, who had been staring gloomily ahead, shifted uneasily in his seat:

„To som ešte nevedel, že jesto i panslavistické pluhy a brány.“

“I wasn't aware that there were Pan-Slavist ploughs and harrows as well.”

Ale to veru len pri tom zostalo, že „Obzor“ sú noviny panslavistické a že sa musí napomáhať spisba maďarská.

But that was as far as things went: Obzor was declared a Pan-Slavist newspaper, and Hungarian literature was to be supported.

Do zápisnice pošlo, že sa majú zvážiť na všeobecnú žiadosť konštitucionálnych občanov, „Gazdasági lapok“.

The minutes recorded that, at the unanimous request of the constitutionally minded citizens, Gazdasági Lapok was to be considered for subscription.

Len „krajan“ buchol.

Only the subscription to Krajana was rejected.

„Bo v akomkoľvek duchu sa píšu tie noviny,“ riekol farár Čulík, „sú predsa len slovenské.“

“For whatever spirit those newspapers may be written in,” said Pastor Čulík, “they are Slovak newspapers all the same.”

A to bolo i panstvu po chuti i sedliakom.

This suited both the gentry and the peasants.

Prišiel potom rad na neočakávané výdavky.

Next came the matter of unforeseen expenses.

Pán s veľkým nosom navrhol päť zlatých.

The gentleman with the large nose proposed five florins.

Ale richtár zhíkol:

But the village magistrate cried out:

„Čo to? Psovi mucha. Mne tu kedykoľvek príde na krk či dáky pán z daňového úradu, či stoličný lekár, či pandúr, či hajdúch: richtár dávaj! Koľko to do roka toho po štyri, po päť zlatých! Veď nás teraz odrazu pán veľkomožný na tridsať zlatých pokutovali. Či mám platiť zo svojho?“

“What's that supposed to cover? It's a mere drop in the ocean. Any time someone turns up here—a gentleman from the tax office, the county doctor, a constable or a bailiff—they all demand the same thing: ‘Magistrate, pay up!’ How many times a year does that happen, four or five florins at a time! And now Your Lordship has suddenly fined us thirty florins. Am I supposed to pay that out of my own pocket?”

To sa trochu nemilo dotklo pána s veľkým nosom.

This was somewhat displeasing to the gentleman with the large nose.

Preto riešil vec narýchlo:

So he settled the matter in haste:

„Rozvrhni, čo príde na osminy. Tu len o to ide, vysoký, izé, helytartótanács myslel, že tu gmina málo má kelčíkov; a my si tu doma urobíme, ako príde, len do písma to prísť nesmie.“

“Draw up the budget in eighths, whatever the amount comes to. That's all there is to it, Your Honour—er, the Lieutenancy Council thought the municipality had too few little pots here; and we'll arrange things as we see fit at home, only it must never be put down in writing.”

„No, rozumieme,“ zamrmlal Kožuch.

“Well, we understand,” Kožuch muttered.

„Svet treba klamať.“

“The world must be deceived.”

„Čo ty tam brešeš?“

“What are you barking about over there?”

ukázal pán s veľkým nosom prstom na neho.

the gentleman with the large nose said, pointing a finger at him.

„To povedám,“ zohol Kožuch, „že pláca richtárova a notáriušova mohla by sa ešte napoly znížiť.“

“What I'm saying,” Kožuch replied, bowing his head, “is that the magistrate's and the notary's pay could be cut in half again.”

„Tys', ako vidím, veľký szájas,“ pohrozil mu pán s veľkým nosom.

“You're quite a big talker, I see,” the gentleman with the large nose threatened him.

„Ako ti meno?“

“What's your name?”

„Jano Kožuch.“

“Jano Kožuch.”

„Nehovor tak,“ opravil ho propagandista, „ale povedz pekne: Koszuch János. My tu teraz všetci Uhri.“

“Don't say it like that,” the propagandist corrected him. “Say it properly: János Koszuch. We're all Hungarians here now.”

Po ustálení celého rozvrhu dodal:

Once the whole budget had been settled, he added:

„Mne za túto prácu prisúdil pán veľkomožný főszolgabíró päť, izé, esteraichských zlatých, a tie mi gmina hneď zaplatiť musí.“

“For this work, His Lordship the chief district magistrate has awarded me five—er—Austrian florins, and the municipality must pay me that sum at once.”

Richtár vyriekol svoje obyčajné: dobre.

The village magistrate uttered his customary: “All right.”

Ale sedliaci krútili hlavami, šeptali, mrmlali.

But the peasants shook their heads, whispered and grumbled.

Hrubý Bučak zadudral so škaredým pohľadom:

The burly Bučak growled with an ugly look:

„Čert nech vezme takú spravodlivosť i s takými hladošmi!“

“The devil take such justice, along with the starving parasites who administer it!”

Kožuch šepol:

Kožuch whispered:

„To dobre. Cisár platí z nášho slúžnemu na úrad ročných tisíc dvesto zlatých; my zase budeme platiť jeho pomocníkovi za každý výkon zvlášť. Veď len svoju povinnosť plní.“

“That's a fine arrangement. The Emperor pays the district magistrate twelve hundred florins a year out of our money to do his job; now we'll have to pay his assistant separately for every little service. And all he's doing is his duty.”

„Ó, časy! Ó, spravodlivosť!“

“Oh, what times we live in! Oh, what justice!”

vzdychali sedliaci, pokiaľ sa pán s veľkým nosom zhováral s Kobzaym po maďarsky.

the peasants sighed while the gentleman with the large nose conversed with Kobzay in Hungarian.

III

Znateľ bol by sa divil maďarčine tohto čudáka, ktorý s toľkým úsilím hovoril po slovensky.

A linguist would have been astonished by the Hungarian of this odd fellow, who took such pains to speak Slovak.

Nielen výslovnosť maďarskú nemal, lež i zastával často a pomáhal si tu latinčinou, tam nemčinou, najviac ale slovenčinou, miešajúc babylonsky všetky tieto reči.

Not only did he lack a Hungarian accent, but he often stumbled and helped himself here with Latin, there with German, and most of all with Slovak, mixing all these languages together in a veritable Tower of Babel.

Keď hovoril spotvorenec po slovensky, zdalo sa, že je číry Maďar, a keď hovoril po maďarsky, kričal z neho Slovák.

When this linguistic monstrosity spoke Slovak, he sounded like a pure Hungarian; when he spoke Hungarian, the Slovak in him rang out loud and clear.

Rozdiel bol len ten, že maďarskú reč humpľoval z nedostatočnosti, slovenskú i úmyselne, aby si dodal, mrziak, vážnosti.

The only difference was that he mangled Hungarian out of ignorance, but mangled Slovak deliberately, the wretch, to make himself seem more important.

Ale počujme, o čom sa panstvo zhovára.

But let us hear what the gentlemen are talking about.

Pán s veľkým nosom oslovil pána Kobzayho s najhlbšou pokorou, s veľkým odpytovaním, čo ráči obetovať zo svojej panskej lásky pre dolnozemských Maďarov, navštívených neúrodou, a na stoličný špitál, ktorý pán županský námestník veľkomyseľne zakladá.

The gentleman with the large nose addressed Mr Kobzay with the utmost humility and many apologies, asking what he might graciously contribute, out of his noble love, to help the Hungarians of the Lower Lands, who had been struck by a poor harvest, and to support the county hospital that the deputy lord-lieutenant was so generously establishing.

„Nič,“ odsekol Kobzay bez okolkov.

“Nothing,” Kobzay snapped bluntly.

„Maďarom by som dal, ale nemôžem, bo i sám chatrné úrody som mal toho roku. Na stoličný chudobinec nedám nič, bo ani ja, ani moje deti nepôjdeme do neho. Kto chce zriadiť dobročinné závody, nech ich i zaopatrí, a nebude dobrodincom z cudzieho mešca.“

“I would give something to the Hungarians, but I cannot, for my own harvest was poor this year too. I shall give nothing to the county poorhouse, because neither I nor my children will ever go there. Whoever wants to establish charitable institutions should provide for them as well, instead of playing the benefactor with someone else's purse.”

„To veru lacné zásluhy,“ primastil farár Čulík, „navrhovať podniky a potom na ne žobrať. Ja, roztrúbený v novinách a zvečnený v zápisniciach, zakladateľ, a ty, obecenstvo, dávaj! To je terajšia dobročinnosť.“

“Those are certainly cheap merits,” Pastor Čulík chimed in. “First you propose institutions, then go begging for money to run them. I get my name trumpeted in the newspapers and immortalised in the minutes as the founder, while you, the public, are told to pay up! That's charity nowadays.”

Po tak uštipačnom poznamenaní pán s veľkým nosom ani neoslovil farára,. čo dá Maďarom alebo domácim chudobným, a na pána Kobzayho nenaliehal, lež dal mu za pravdu a odpytoval pekne, že sa osmelil znepokojiť, vyhovárajúc sa úradne naloženou povinnosťou.

After such a biting remark, the gentleman with the large nose did not even ask the pastor what he would give to the Hungarians or to the local poor. Nor did he press Mr Kobzay; instead, he conceded that he was right and politely apologised for having dared to disturb him, pleading that he had merely been carrying out his official duty.

Celkom ináč hovoril o tom so sedliakmi.

He spoke quite differently about the matter to the peasants.

Týchto sa nepýtal, či a čo dajú „Uhrom“.

He did not ask them whether they would give anything to the “Hungarians,” or how much.

Lež predstavil im vec ako stoličný rozkaz a naložil zosypať osem meríc žita.

Instead, he presented the matter as an order from the county authorities and commanded them to contribute eight measures of rye.

Sedliakom nič nespomohlo odvolávanie sa na neúrodný rok, ani mrmlanie, že im Maďari jedného zrna nedali, keď oni mreli hladom.

It did the peasants no good to plead that the harvest had been poor, or to grumble that the Hungarians had not given them a single grain when they themselves were starving.

Farár Čulík držal im peknú kázeň o kresťanskej láske a pán s veľkým nosom zapísal, že Chujava obetuje s najväčšou ochotou osem meríc žita.

Pastor Čulík gave them a fine sermon on Christian charity, and the gentleman with the large nose recorded that Chujava was willingly donating eight measures of rye.

Takéto od chudoby vynútené milodary šli potom na Dolnú zem pod menom dobrovoľných obetí.

Such alms, extorted from the poor, were then sent to the Lower Lands under the name of voluntary contributions.

Bo u nás všetko je lož a lživá hra.

For here, everything is lies and deceitful pretence.

Najväčšie opice Maďarov nedali im ničoho.

The biggest Hungarian bigwigs gave them nothing.

Ich láska len po mešec.

Their charity went no further than their purses.

Tak bolo i so stoličným chudobincom.

The same was true of the county poorhouse.

Sedliaci sa vzpierali nohami-rukami proti plateniu, ale pán s veľkým nosom donútil richtára i boženíkov podpísať hotový už úpis na ročné štyri merice.

The peasants resisted with all their might, refusing to pay, but the gentleman with the large nose forced the village magistrate and the jurors to sign a pledge, already drawn up, to provide four measures a year.

Darmo potom chodili so žalobou.

It was no use their going around afterwards lodging complaints.

„Hja, pomoci niet,“ odvetili im všade.

“Well, there's no help for it,” they were told everywhere.

„Podpísali ste sa, tu, hľa, vaše krížiky.“

“You signed it. Here, look—those are your crosses.”

Ani počet dotieravých tulákov to neumenšilo.

Nor did this reduce the number of troublesome vagrants.

Ako predtým, tak i potom hemžili sa bezočivou korheľskou háveďou dediny.

Just as before, the villages continued to swarm with shameless, drunken riffraff.

IV

Pri podpisovaní úpisu podal pán s veľkým nosom učiteľovi Koreňovi písmo o vyhratej pravote proti židovi Schelmovi, ktorý bol násilne zaujal jeho lúčku.

As the pledge was being signed, the gentleman with the large nose handed the teacher Koreň a document concerning the lawsuit he had won against the Jew Schelm, who had forcibly seized his little meadow.

Farár Čulík učinil svoju povinnosť, zaujal sa učiteľa, žiadal súdne naspäť uvedenie do úžitku a náhradu škody.

Pastor Čulík did his duty: he took up the teacher's cause and sought a court order restoring him to possession and awarding him compensation for the damage.

To sa i stalo, ale zrovnajme okolnosti pravoty učiteľovej s takou istou pravotou toho istého obrezaného pána.

And so it was done. But let us compare the circumstances of the teacher's lawsuit with those of an identical case involving that very same circumcised gentleman.

Jeho chalupník chodil za dlhší čas s vozom cez dvor susedného sedliaka Bučaka.

For some time, his tenant farmer had been driving his cart across the yard of the neighbouring peasant, Bučak.

Tento sa raz pohneval a nepustil viac panského chalupníka cez svoj dvor.

One day Bučak grew angry and refused to let the landlord's tenant pass through his yard any longer.

Schelm žiadal naspäť uvedenie i vyhral, navzdor mape.

Schelm sued to have the right of passage restored, and won, despite the map proving otherwise.

Sedliak musel otvoriť svoj dvor na večné časy panskému chalupníkovi a zaplatiť päťdesiat zlatých pravotných útrat.

The peasant was forced to keep his yard open to the landlord's tenant for all eternity and to pay fifty florins in legal costs.

To všetko sa skončilo za sedem dní. – Teraz vidíme, ako pokračoval ten istý sudca v tej istej obci, v takej istej pravote učiteľovej.

All this was settled in seven days. Now let us see how the very same judge proceeded in the same village, in the teacher's identical lawsuit.

Ťahala sa dva roky.

It dragged on for two years.

Farár musel žalovať na slúžneho a župana, že nerobí svoju povinnosť.

The pastor had to complain against the district magistrate and the lord-lieutenant for failing to do their duty.

Prvotné náklady, udané v pätnástich zlatých, znížil na štyri, škodu zhodil z deväťdesiatich na šesť.

The original costs, assessed at fifteen florins, were reduced to four, while the damages were cut from ninety florins to six.

Preto nie div, že farár zmenil farbu, keď mu učiteľ podal súdny výrok.

Small wonder, then, that the pastor's face changed colour when the teacher handed him the court's verdict.

„Eh, to je predsa hanba,“ hovoril stranou úradníkovi Rozumovskému, „čo tí ľudia robia, ako sa škľabia pravde. Ja som Maďar vlastenec, ale na tento spôsob poviem i ja so sedliakmi: Škoda Bacha a jeho Nemcov. Nemci boli samí Aristidovia proti týmto pašom nestydatým. Uvádzajú naspäť dávne časy. Osobujú si právo rozdávať spravodlivosť ako milodary, komu chcú.“

“Good heavens, it's a disgrace,” he said aside to the official Rozumovský. “What these people are doing, how they twist the truth! I am a Hungarian patriot, but when things are done this way, I too must agree with the peasants: what a pity Bach and his Germans are gone! The Germans were all Aristideses compared with these shameless pashas. They are bringing back the old days. They arrogate to themselves the right to dispense justice like alms, to whomever they please.”

Takto horlil i maďarón, akým bol Čulík.

Thus even a Magyarone like Čulík could grow indignant.

„Nič natoľko neodcudzí človeka od vlasti, ako keď niet v nej spravodlivosti.“

“Nothing estranges a person from his homeland more than the absence of justice.”

Učiteľ však poďakoval sa pokorne za lásku a žiadal, keby mu pán veľkomožný ešte v jednej veci ráčil pomôcť.

The teacher, however, humbly thanked him for his kindness and asked whether His Lordship might graciously help him with one more matter.

Sťažoval si, že učiteľský plat nemôže vydrieť od nevďačných farníkov.

He complained that he could not squeeze his teacher's salary out of his ungrateful parishioners.

„Ani ste ho nezaslúžili,“ ohriakol ho pán s veľkým nosom, „bo neučíte po maďarsky.“

“You haven't even earned it,” the gentleman with the large nose rebuked him, “because you don't teach in Hungarian.”

„Len by on učil po slovensky,“ vložil sa v to farár.

“If only he would teach in Slovak,” the pastor interjected.

„Škola je prázdna. Zo šesťdesiatich povinných detí chodí päť, i to sotva za jeden mesiac v roku.“

“The school is empty. Of the sixty children required to attend, only five come, and even they barely attend for one month of the year.”

„Tým horšie,“ chopil sa toho pán s veľkým nosom, „že neučí nijako. Keď neučí, niet mu za čo platiť.“

“So much the worse,” the gentleman with the large nose seized on this. “He doesn't teach at all, in any language. If he doesn't teach, there's no reason to pay him.”

„Veru, prosíme ponížene, ako pána veľkomožného,“ ozval sa hrubý Bučak, „my takého máme rechtora. Len po pijatikách chodí.“

“Indeed, we humbly beg Your Lordship,” the burly Bučak spoke up, “we have a schoolmaster like that. All he does is go drinking.”

Vyvinula sa z toho hlučná zvada.

A noisy quarrel broke out.

Sedliaci, hoci samí jeho kmotrovia, osopili sa ako osy na učiteľa, že neučí; učiteľ im sypal do očú, že sú planíci, že žalujú lžive, ako Židia na Krista Pána.

The peasants, although they were all his godparents, swarmed around the teacher like wasps, accusing him of not teaching. The teacher retorted that they were scoundrels, making false accusations just as the Jews had accused Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Farár sa zaujal za učiteľa.

The pastor took the teacher's side.

„Mrzkí ste ľudia,“ harušil i on farníkov.

“You are a vile lot,” he too scolded his parishioners.

„Či má učiteľ behať s povrázkom po dedine za vašimi deťmi? Neposielate ich do školy, a predsa sa žalujete, že ich učiteľ neučí. I ktorí posielate, nechcete potom ani ten žobrácky groš od nich zaplatiť.“

"Is the teacher supposed to run around the village with a rope after your children? You don't send them to school, and yet you complain that the teacher doesn't teach them. And those of you who do send them don't even want to pay that beggarly penny for them afterward."

„Čo im z tej školy?“

"What good is that school to them?"

ozval sa Humenský.

Humenský spoke up.

„Ja som sa deväť rokov mučil po školách a čo je zo mňa? Tu pozrite na mňa.“

"I tortured myself through schools for nine years, and what has become of me? Look at me here."

Na tom sa zasmiali chutne i páni i sedliaci.

At that, both the gentlemen and the peasants laughed heartily.

Husár Zajac sa osvedčil, že by dal vďačne ostatný halier od svojho koperdana, keby sa mu po nemecky a po maďarsky naučil, ale za sprostú slovenčinu že nedá nič.

The hussar Zajac declared that he would gladly give the last halier from his ragged purse if his child learned German and Hungarian, but for plain Slovak he would give nothing.

S takýmito rečami vytasuje sa všade náš na mysli aj v srdci krajne pokazený ľud.

With such talk, our people—utterly corrupted in mind and heart—come forward everywhere.

Sám podáva oproti sebe zbroj protivníkom svojho života.

They themselves hand weapons to the enemies of their own life.

Pán s veľkým nosom pochválil Zajaca za jeho osvedčenie, ale Čulík hodil nevrle rukou:

The gentleman with the big nose praised Zajac for his declaration, but Čulík waved his hand irritably:

„Ty galgan, ty! Nech zajtra sa započne výučba maďarská, ani deti do školy nepošlete, ani učiteľovi nič nedáte.“

"You rascal, you! Even if Hungarian instruction begins tomorrow, you won't send your children to school, nor will you give the teacher anything."

V tomto urobil naposledok, po mnohých schytralých rečiach, pán s veľkým nosom svoju povinnosť.

In this, at last, after many cunning speeches, the gentleman with the big nose did his duty.

Nakázal sedliakom, aby zaplatili bez meškania, čím sú povinní a podlžní.

He ordered the peasants to pay without delay what they are obliged and indebted to pay.

Ale práve vtedy, keď im to nakazoval cez zuby a nechutne zase, čo sa im už stokrát márne nakazovalo, predstaví sa krčmár žid so šelmovským úsmevom.

But just then, when he was ordering them through his teeth and distastefully repeating what had already been ordered to them a hundred times in vain, the Jewish innkeeper presented himself with a sly smile.

A tu sa zase makave objavil veľký rozdiel medzi právom židovským a právom učiteľovým.

And here again the great difference between Jewish law and the teacher's law quickly became apparent.

Pán s veľkým nosom neizékoval teraz do sveta, nespytoval sa čo ako, lež uhodil hneď na pravú cestu.

The gentleman with the big nose did not now hem and haw to the world, did not ask how and what, but struck straight onto the right path.

Osvedčil sa, že zajtra prídu pandúri a zostanú tam, pokiaľkoľvek židove dlžoby do babky vybrané nebudú.

He declared that tomorrow the gendarmes would come and would stay there until the Jew's debts were collected to the last penny.

To už bola inakšia reč, aj inakší dojem učinila.

That was a different kind of talk, and it made a different impression.

Pri dlžobe učiteľovej sedliaci sa len smiali, ale teraz zbledli a žid blysol na nich pri odchode víťazne.

At the teacher's debt the peasants only laughed, but now they turned pale, and the Jew flashed a victorious look at them as he left.

Pred krčmou potom podali si s pánom veľkomožným ruky a ľudia všeličo hovorili o tom, keď tento hneď potom strčil päsť do vrecka.

Outside the tavern, he and the gracious gentleman then shook hands, and people said all sorts of things about it when the latter immediately afterward thrust his fist into his pocket.

V

In

Po odbavenej židovskej záležitosti predniesol pán s veľkým nosom, že ho mohlo stretnúť na deravom moste nešťastie.

After the Jewish matter was settled, the gentleman with the big nose stated that misfortune could have befallen him on the broken bridge.

Maďarove kone len toľko, že sa neprepadli a nohy nepolámali.

The Magyar's horses only just avoided falling through and breaking their legs.

„Most musí byť,“ naložil sedliakom prísne, „za štrnásť dní zrobený.“ä

"The bridge must be," he sternly imposed on the peasants, "built within fourteen days."

„A ktože ho má zrobiť?“

"And who is supposed to build it?"

ozval sa Kožuch.

Kožuch spoke up.

„Nuž ktože by? Gmina.“

"Well, who else? The commune."

„My tu máme na chrbte lesy!“

"We have the forests on our backs here!"

mrdol plecom Bučak.

Bučak shrugged his shoulder.

„Už vyše tridsať rokov sa pravotíme o lesy,“ dodal Humenský, „a ešte sme vždy tam, kde sme boli na počiatku, ani to nie je rozhodnuté, či sme boli v úžitku drevobrania, či nie. Vždy sa nájde zámienka odložiť pokonanie na dva – tri roky. Raz sa uviedlo v platnosť, že tu si pán veľkomožný zlomili nohu a že bez nich nič sa konať nemôže. Iďte domov, o tri roky prídete zas, aby sme nič nevykonali.“

"We have been litigating over the forests for over thirty years," added Humenský, "and we are still always where we were at the beginning, and it is not even decided whether we benefited from the timber protection or not. There is always an excuse to postpone the settlement for two or three years. Once it was put into effect that the right honourable gentleman had broken his leg here and that without them nothing could be done. Go home, come back in three years, so that we accomplish nothing."

„Ej, už ozaj!“

"Oh, indeed!"

prisvedčovali sedliaci, druhí sa smiali, pán s veľkým nosom pukol prstom na tabačnicu:

the peasants assented, others laughed, the gentleman with the big nose flicked his finger on his snuffbox:

„To nepatrí sem, teraz sme nezasadli súdiť o lesoch.“

"That does not belong here, we have not sat down now to judge about the forests."

Bučak sa zase ozval:

Bučak spoke up again:

„Nech dá panstvo drevo, my ho privezieme a most zrobíme.“

"Let the estate give the wood, we will haul it and build the bridge."

„Akí múdri!“

"How clever!"

zaškaredil sa Kobzay.

Kobzay scowled.

„Panské lesy nie sú lesy obecné.“

"Manorial forests are not communal forests."

„A prečože všade inde majú sedliaci lesy?“

"And why do peasants have forests everywhere else?"

spýtal sa otrhaný Lipnický.

asked the ragged Lipnický.

„Len my máme také panstvo.“

"Only we have such an estate."

„Zadržujú nám,“ dodal Kožuch, „čo nám dávno vyšlo od cisára.“

"They are withholding from us," added Kožuch, "what was long ago granted to us by the emperor."

„Nemátožte s tým,“ vstal a kýval im pečlive úradník Rozumovský.

"Don't muddy the waters with that," the diligent official Rozumovský stood up and nodded to them.

„To je hlúpstvo a uvrhnete sa do nešťastia. Cisár vám nikdy nedá, čo vám súd nenasúdi. Majte trpezlivosť.“

"That is foolishness and you will plunge yourselves into misfortune. The emperor will never give you what the court does not award you. Have patience."

„A panstvo nech má trochu svedomia,“ zapálil sa Kožuch.

"And let the estate have a little conscience," Kožuch flared up.

„Chodí viac cez most než celá obec. Nech teda dá drevo.“

"It crosses the bridge more than the whole village. So let it give the wood."

„Mosty stavať a udržovať“, riekol srdite pán s veľkým nosom, „je povinnosťou gminy.“

"To build and maintain bridges," said the gentleman with the big nose heartily, "is the duty of the commune."

„Zase tá prekliata gmina!“

"That cursed commune again!"

odpľul Bučak.

Bučak spat.

„Všade, kde treba platiť, tam obec; a obec sme my sedliaci.“

"Everywhere something needs to be paid, there is the commune; and the commune is us peasants."

Kobzay riekol:

Kobzay said:

„Keby ste boli vďační, nuž by i panstvo nehľadelo. Ale ste planí ľudia, nikdy v ničom neposlúžite. Činím vás zodpovednými za škodu. Ak si zlomí môj statok na moste nohu, zaplatíte ho.“

"If you were grateful, then even the estate would not look away. But you are good-for-nothing people, you will never be of service in anything. I hold you responsible for the damage. If my livestock breaks a leg on the bridge, you will pay for it."

„My teda pôjdeme kupovať drevo,“ rozhadzoval sa Kožuch, „a budeme stavať mosty pre panstvo, ktoré i naše lesy drží!“

"So we will go buy wood," Kožuch gestured wildly, "and we will build bridges for an estate that keeps even our forests!"

„Mlč!“

"Quiet!"

postrčil ho richtár.

the mayor pushed him.

„A čo by tak žiadali, pán veľkomožný, od nás za drevo potrebné na most?“

"And what would you, right honourable gentleman, ask from us for the wood needed for the bridge?"

„Po jednom statkovom dni z domu,“ odvetil Kobzay.

"One livestock day from each house," replied Kobzay.

A pán s veľkým nosom poznamenal, siakajúc si fafák do zašpinenej šatky, že to veľká láska od veľkomožného panstva.

And the gentleman with the big nose remarked, sniffling his pipe into a dirty handkerchief, that it was great love from the right honourable estate.

I farár Čulík bol tej mienky, že to bude pre obe stránky výhodné.

Even the priest Čulík was of the opinion that it would be advantageous for both sides.

„Pán veľkomožný potrebujú robotu, vy drevo.“

"The right honourable gentleman needs labour, you have wood."

Úradník Rozumovský sa uškrnul trpko, ale mlčal, bo musel.

The official Rozumovský smirked bitterly, but kept silent, for he had to.

Sedliaci počali rokovať o tom medzi sebou.

The peasants began to deliberate about it among themselves.

Veľmi mnohí sa chceli podrobiť, ale rátavý Pelechavý riekol:

Very many wanted to submit, but the calculating Pelechavý said:

„Hm! To by bolo štyridsať dní v cene sto i šesťdesiat zlatých; a drevo by mohlo stáť najviac dvadsať. To by bola pekná kúpa. Radšej od žida.“

"Hm! That would be forty days at a price of one hundred and sixty gulden; and the wood could cost at most twenty. That would be a fine bargain. Better from a Jew."

„Keby to mal každý tak groše,“ namietol trasohlavý Lipnický, „ako ty, skrbec!“

"If everyone had as many coins," objected the shaky-headed Lipnický, "as you, you miser!"

Väčšina však prijala mienku Pelechavého.

However, the majority accepted Pelechavý's opinion.

Osvedčili sa, že radšej kúpia drevo od žida.

They declared that they would rather buy wood from a Jew.

„Hoc od čerta a jeho matere,“ mrštil srdite rukou pán s veľkým nosom, „len, izé, most nech bude za štrnásť dní hotový. Ináč vám pošlem majstra z mesta a budete štrófaní na dvadsať zlatých.“

"Even from the devil and his mother," the gentleman with the big nose flung his hand heartily, "only, you see, the bridge must be finished in fourteen days. Otherwise I will send you a master from the town and you will be fined twenty gulden."

„Ó, čo my to všetko za tých štrnásť dní poplatiť máme!“

"Oh, what all we have to pay in these fourteen days!"

vzdychol Kožuch.

Kožuch sighed.

Richtár vyslovil svoje obyčajné: dobre.

The mayor uttered his usual: fine.

VI

Povstala potom medzi sedliakmi vrava.

Then a hubbub arose among the peasants.

Šepkali medzi sebou, štuchali do richtára:

They whispered among themselves, nudged the mayor:

„Ozvi sa, povedz!“

"Speak up, say it!"

„Čo má povedať?“

"What is he supposed to say?"

spytuje sa putujúca spravodlivosť.

asks wandering justice.

„Nuž to,“ vetí po odkašlaní richtár, „že veľkomožné panstvo spása svojím statkom náš urbársky chotár.“

"Well, this," says the mayor after clearing his throat, "that the right honourable estate grazes our urbarial land with its livestock."

„Veru tak!“

"Indeed so!"

prisvedčovali sedliaci.

the peasants assented.

Kožuch riekol:

Kožuch said:

„Náš statok nech len kročí na panské územie, hneď desať zlatých pokuty; a pán veľkomožný naženú na naše pastvisko, úhory, strniská, lúky tisíc oviec a vypasú všetko za jeden deň.“

"Let our livestock but step onto the estate's territory, and immediately a ten-gulden fine; and the right honourable gentleman drives a thousand sheep onto our pasture, fallow land, stubble fields, meadows and grazes everything in one day."

„Tak my tu v tejto našej Chujave ubiedení ľudia!“

"So we here in this Chujava of ours are wretched people!"

vzdychali sedliaci.

the peasants sighed.

Pán s veľkým nosom smrkol tabaku a pozrel spýtavo na Kobzayho. Tento sa zapálil a riekol srdito: ,,I ja som sedliak.“

The gentleman with the big nose sniffed tobacco and looked at Kobzay questioningly. The latter flushed and said heartily: "I too am a peasant."

„Kde treba užívať, sedliak,“ skočil mu do reči Kožuch, „ale kde treba platiť, nie sedliak.“

"Where there is something to enjoy, a peasant," Kožuch cut in, "but where there is something to pay, not a peasant."

„Som sedliak!“

"I am a peasant!"

skríkol s ešte väčším dôrazom Kobzay.

Kobzay shouted with even greater emphasis.

„Mám štyri osminy. Ja vám nerozkazujem, koľko statku máte nahnať, ani vy mne nerozkážete. Kto koľko má, toľko ženie.“

"I have four eighths. I do not order you how much livestock you must drive, nor will you order me. Whoever has how much, drives that much."

„Keď i my sedliaci poženieme statok na panskú držobnosť,“ nástojil spitý Kožuch, „vtedy bude po pravde, my sme spokojní. Nech pasie všade každý, kde chce, ako bývalo zadávna, pokiaľ nebolo terajšej židovskej lakomosti.“

"When we peasants too drive our livestock onto the estate's holding," insisted the drunken Kožuch, "then it will be according to justice, and we are satisfied. Let everyone graze everywhere they want, as it used to be long ago, before the present Jewish greed."

„To bude spravodlivé,“ prisvedčovali mu sedliaci.

"That will be just," the peasants assented to him.

Ale pán s veľkým nosom dupol nohou:

But the gentleman with the big nose stamped his foot:

„Od panského vám coky, vy, izé, buriči!“

"Not a scrap from the estate to you, you rebels, you see!"

„To je práve tak,“ odpľul Kožuch, „ako keď sa žartujeme: Čo tvoje, to i moje, tebe do môjho nič.“

"That is just like," Kožuch spat, "when we joke: What is yours is also mine, but you have no business in mine."

„Títo ľudia,“ zateremtetoval Kobzay, „sú už vcele nabratí tou komunistickou myšlienkou, že všetky veci majú byť všetkým spoločné.“

"These people," Kobzay rattled on, "are already completely taken with that communist idea that all things should be common to all."

Kočujúca spravodlivosť poukázala prstom na Kožucha:

Wandering justice pointed a finger at Kožuch:

„Ty, ako vidím, tu najväčší izé.“

"You, as I see it, are the biggest rebel here."

„Áno,“ prisvedčil Kobzay.

"Yes," Kobzay assented.

„Ten korheľ, ten zlorečník, ten bitkár, ten stokrát ostrihaný otco- a matkobijca, popudzuje všetkých. Pyskuje vždy o hriešnych sedliackych osminách, ktoré samy všetky bremená znášať musia.“

"That drunkard, that scoundrel, that brawler, that hundred-times-shorn father- and mother-killer, incites everyone. He is always mouthing off about the sinful peasant eighths, which must bear all the burdens themselves."

„Vyjmúc tie,“ dodal dobre podgurážený Kožuch, „ktoré prídu do rúk panských. Pri rozvrhovaní rozmanitých bremien na tie hriešne osminy panské sa vždy vynímajú. Od pána nežiadaj ničoho. No nie, richtár? Povedz; či ti dali dakedy na dačo pán veľkomožný grajciara? A my vždy skladáme na tie hriešne osminy.“

"Except those," added the well-tipsy Kožuch, "that come into the estate's hands. When distributing the various burdens, those sinful estate eighths are always exempted. Ask nothing of the gentleman. Right, mayor? Tell me; did the right honourable gentleman ever give you a kreuzer for anything? And we always contribute to those sinful eighths."

Potom sa obrátil k sedliakom:

Then he turned to the peasants:

„Povedal som, že pánov a židov nedopúšťať do osmín.“

"I said not to let the lords and Jews into the eighths."

„Múdro si radil,“ mávol richtár paličkou, „lenže i tvoje prejdú dnes-zajtra k tomu, kto ich kúpi. Znáš dobre radiť každému, okrem samého seba.“

"You advised wisely," the mayor waved his little stick, "but your own too will pass today or tomorrow to whoever buys them. You know well how to advise everyone except yourself."

„Počuješ, Kožuch? Zachovaj si to dobre,“ ozval sa i farár, láskajúc loveckého psa po hlave.

"Do you hear, Kožuch? Keep that well in mind," the priest also spoke up, stroking the hunting dog on the head.

„Nikdy ti ešte nikto väčšiu a potrebnejšiu pravdu nepovedal ako teraz richtár.“

"Never has anyone told you a greater and more needed truth than the mayor just now."

Pán s veľkým nosom vystrel pánovite proti nemu ruku:

The gentleman with the big nose thrust his hand imperiously toward him:

„Tohto gazembera, richtár, odošleš hneď poviazaného na stoličný dom!“

"This scoundrel, mayor, you will send bound to the county house at once!"

To povediac, lapil sa za fafák, bo práve do neho pukla lopta, ktorú všetečný chlapec Árpád hodil.

Having said that, he grabbed at his pipe, for just then a ball thrown by the mischievous boy Árpád hit him.

Kožuch mrdol spurne plecami:

Kožuch shrugged his shoulders defiantly:

„Nech ma vešajú, keď som zaslúžil. Nebudem ja prvý visieť za pravdu.“

"Let them hang me, if I deserve it. I will not be the first to hang for the truth."

Ale žena jeho počala výskať a vykladať s náramným plačom:

But his wife began to wail and lament with tremendous weeping:

„Ach, ja nešťastná žena! Ach, čo si počnem teraz zase sama s deťmi, keď ťa vlečú do tej temnice?“

"Oh, I wretched woman! Oh, what will I do now again alone with the children, when they drag you into that dungeon?"

„Nič to, žena,“ potešil ju Kožuch, „dnes aspoň budem trpieť nevinne.“

"Never mind, wife," Kožuch comforted her, "today at least I will suffer innocently."

Ale ona tým viac nôtila plačlivým akýmsi spevom:

But she forced it all the more with a certain mournful singing:

„Ach, načo sa sám hryzieš s pánmi za týchto nemých podliakov? Ach, či vidíš, ako mlčia a nikto z nich ústa za teba neotvorí? Ach, dobre im bude smiať sa, keď teba povlečú pandúri ako lotra!“

"Oh, why do you bite and fight with the lords by yourself for these mute scoundrels? Oh, do you see how they stay silent and not one of them opens his mouth for you? Oh, they will laugh well when the pandurs drag you off like a villain!"

Jej nárek dojal Kožucha.

Her lament moved Kožuch.

Bez všetkého rozkazu zvalil sa na holú zem:

Without any order he threw himself down on the bare ground:

„Nech dokončia, pán veľkomožný, nakrátko. No, nech bijú, prosím ponížene, pán hajdúch.“

"Let them finish, right honourable gentleman, briefly. Well, let them beat me, I humbly beg, Mr. hajduk."

Pri tom ošklivom výjave odišiel zapýrený Rozumovský.

At that ugly scene Rozumovský left, flushed.

Kto by ho bol bedlive pozoroval, bol by videl, ako pri týchto výjavoch hneď sa zapýril, hneď zbledol.

Anyone who had watched him carefully would have seen how at these scenes he now flushed, now turned pale.

Cítil spolu so sedliakmi nehodnosti s nimi páchané, ale mlčal, bo musel.

He felt together with the peasants the indignities committed against them, but he kept silent, for he had to.

Pán s veľkým nosom kýval hajdúchovi:

The gentleman with the big nose nodded to the hajduk:

„Dvanásť, ale dobrých!“

"Twelve, but good ones!"

Uznal i sám, že lepšie bude vypalicovať pyskúňa, než robiť krik na stolici.

He himself acknowledged that it would be better to give the loudmouth a thrashing than to make a fuss at the county house.

Lebo cítil, že dnes i najlepšieho pašu prevýšil.

For he felt that today he had surpassed even the best pasha.

Farár Čulík, ktorý mal zub na Kožucha, učinil svätú tvár a vzal podobu prosiaceho:

The priest Čulík, who had a grudge against Kožuch, made a saintly face and assumed the appearance of a supplicant:

„Pán veľkomožný, prosím ponížene, nech mu pričítajú ešte aspoň raz toľko!“

"Right honourable gentleman, I humbly beg, let them add at least as many more for him!"

Sedliaci sa klmali:

The peasants were deceived:

„Dobrý to predsa človek! Vidíš, ako prosí za neho?“

"He is a good man after all! Do you see how he pleads for him?"

Kožuch len zuby zaťal, keď silné údery zdĺhavo mu dopadali na stehná.

Kožuch only clenched his teeth as the strong blows fell lingeringly on his thighs.

Vstanúc z prachu, riekol:

Rising from the dust, he said:

„Kristus Pán trpel viac.“

"The Lord Christ suffered more."

Pán s veľkým nosom napomenul pri tejto príležitosti sedliakov k podlžnej úcte a poslušnosti proti veľkomožnému panstvu práve tak, ako čo by ešte vždy ťahali jarmo poddanstva.

On this occasion the gentleman with the big nose admonished the peasants to due respect and obedience toward the right honourable estate, just as if they were still pulling the yoke of serfdom.

Ale malý Arpádik tak sa zaľúbil do tohto palicového výjavu, že ho chcel opätovať na sestre.

But little Árpád became so enamoured of this caning scene that he wanted to repeat it on his sister.

Dokonca chcel Irmáčku stiahnuť a vypalicovať.

He even wanted to pull down little Irma and give her a caning.

Musela aspoň bábku dať, aby mladý pán svoju chúťku palicovania vyplnil.

She at least had to give him a doll so that the young master could fulfil his appetite for caning.

VII

Tento lieskový koniec kočujúcej spravodlivosti účinkoval potom rýchle jedno za druhým.

This hazel end of wandering justice then acted quickly, one after another.

Pán Kobzay dal stiahnuť baču, že sa lapil do gazdu, a daktorých chalupníkov, že si nechcú zarobiť u neho pekný groš.

Mr. Kobzay had the shepherd flogged for meddling with the farmer, and some cottars for not wanting to earn a fine penny with him.

Parobci dostali palice, jedni, že sa bili ako barany a pokrvavili v krčme, druhí, že uviazali nadutý mechúr s hrachom židovmu bujakovi na mošnu.

The farmhands got the stick, some for fighting like rams and drawing blood in the tavern, others for tying a blown-up bladder with peas onto the Jew's bull's scrip.

Takéto výjavy boli vtedy pri ozornej surovosti ľudu každodenné a mali miesto všade, kamkoľvek sa hnul slúžny alebo jeho pomocník.

Such scenes were then, given the cautious brutality of the people, everyday occurrences and had their place everywhere the district official or his assistant moved.

Preto i hajdúch musel byť s nimi všade.

That is why the hajduk too had to be with them everywhere.

Kočujúcu spravodlivosť obhŕklo ešte potom množstvo všelijakých žalobníkov.

Afterwards a multitude of all sorts of complainants swarmed around wandering justice.

Jeden mal to na srdci, druhý iné a každý chcel predniesť svoju sťažnosť.

One had this on his heart, another something else, and each wanted to present his complaint.

Ale pán s veľkým nosom odbavil všetkých, lebo už bolo po poludní a nadišla i stydlivá Zuzanka.

But the gentleman with the big nose dismissed them all, for it was already past noon and the bashful Zuzanka had arrived too.

Tento len ruku stisol domovému pánovi, potom sedel ako nemý.

This one only squeezed the host's hand, then sat as if mute.

Nezamiešal sa ani do panského zhovoru o budúcom snemovom vyslancovi.

He did not even join in the gentlemen's conversation about the future parliamentary deputy.

Pán s veľkým nosom zvestoval, ktorí mienia v tomto volebnom okrese vystúpiť, a oznamoval, že župné úradníctvo je za Hegedüs Jánoša. „To sme i my,“ osvedčili sa Kobzay a farár, “ale sedľač, ktovie? Pansláv Fujera poslal vraj do obce mnoho výtlačkov poburujúceho programu.“

The gentleman with the big nose announced who intended to stand in this electoral district, and declared that the county officialdom was for Hegedüs Jánoš. "So are we," Kobzay and the priest declared, "but the peasantry, who knows? Panslav Fujera has supposedly sent many copies of an inflammatory programme to the village."

„Či tak?“

"Is that so?"

riekol ťahavo pán s veľkým nosom a pokročil na kraj predodveria.

said the gentleman with the big nose drawlingly, and stepped to the edge of the antechamber.

„Ešte jedno, nebože! Viete, že nastáva voľba, izé, országgyülési követa.“

"One more thing, for heaven's sake! You know that the election is coming up, you see, for the parliamentary deputy."

„To jest ablegáta na diétu,“ skočil do toho farár a vysvetlil jednu cudzinu druhou.

"That is an ablegata to the diet," the priest jumped in and explained one foreign word with another.

„Počujem,“ pokračoval pán s veľkým nosom, „že Fujera poslal do dediny akési písma, aby ste vyvolili jeho. Chráň vás boh, to je pansláv.“

"I hear," continued the gentleman with the big nose, "that Fujera has sent some writings to the village so that you would elect him. God protect you, he is a Panslav."

„A čo je to ten pansláv?“

"And what is that Panslav?"

pokýval hlavou Lipnický.

Lipnický nodded his head.

„To meno sme ešte nikdy nepočuli.“

"We have never heard that name before."

„Pansláv,“ vysvetlil im vec farár Čulík, „je zradca, ktorý chce krajinu trhať a Rusom predať.“

"A Panslav," the priest Čulík explained the matter to them, "is a traitor who wants to tear the country apart and sell it to the Russians."

„Áno,“ prisvedčil pán s veľkým nosom, „každý pansláv huncút a kto s panslávom drží, je rebelant. Pán főispán, pán főszolgabíró a celá slávna stolica je za Hegedüsa. I vy musíte za neho szavazovať.“

"Yes," assented the gentleman with the big nose, "every Panslav is a rascal, and whoever sides with a Panslav is a rebel. The főispán, the főszolgabíró and the whole glorious county are for Hegedüs. You too must szavazovat for him."

„My držíme,“ osvedčil sa richtár, „so slávnou stolicou. Čo nám nakážu, to zrobíme.“

"We stand," the mayor declared, "with the glorious county. What they command us, we will do."

„Dobre a statočne hovoríš,“ pochválil ho pán s veľkým nosom.

"You speak well and bravely," praised him the gentleman with the big nose.

„Pozbieraš všetky tie písma, ktoré vám poslal ten pansláv, a prinesieš mne. To vám povedám, že beda tomu, kto by szavazoval za Fujeru. Nech nám potom taký rebelant príde, dáme my jemu!“

"You will collect all those writings that the Panslav sent you and bring them to me. I tell you, woe to him who would szavazovat for Fujera. Let such a rebel then come to us, we will give him what for!"

Bola by kázeň vypadla dlhšou, ale prišušťala domová pani s milým pozvaním na obed.

The sermon would have turned out longer, but the lady of the house came bustling in with a kind invitation to dinner.

Učinil teda koniec.

So he made an end.

Len ešte raz sedliakom povedal, čo všetko majú urobiť a platiť.

Only once more he told the peasants all they had to do and pay.

Richtárovi naložil, aby mu hneď priniesol tie panslavistické programy a jeho päť esteraichských zlatých.

He charged the mayor to bring him those Panslavist programmes at once, and his five esterhazy gulden.

Dvor sa vyprázdnil.

The courtyard emptied.

Panstvo vyzoblo po poháriku červeného likéru a pošli do priestrannej obedárne.

The gentry downed a little glass of red liqueur each and went to the spacious dining hall.

VIII

Tu rušili nepríjemné návštevy pokojnú službu žalúdka.

Here unpleasant visitors disturbed the peaceful service of the stomach.

Nestihli sa pohodlne rozhostiť pre nastávajúci veľký zápas, keď sa vťarbal františkánsky fráter s kuklou na chrbte.

They had not managed to settle comfortably for the coming great struggle when a Franciscan friar came shuffling in with his cowl on his back.

„Ponížené služby,“ hovorí s pokornými úklonkami, pozerajúc dychtive na prikrytý stôl, „od pána gvardiána. Dá porúčať seba i chudobný sbor otcov svätého Františka do panskej lásky.“

"Humble services," he says with meek bows, looking eagerly at the covered table, "from the father guardian. He commends himself and the poor choir of the fathers of Saint Francis to the gentlemen's love."

„Otcovia svätého Františka,“ pozrel Kobzay mrzute na frátra, „nech netučia svoje bruchá cudzími mozoľmi. Onehdy som stretol dva vínom nahrúžené vozy pre kláštor. Inakší ľudia nevidia cez celé mesiace vína, a františkánovi musí pri každom obede a pri každej večeri stáť pred nosom holbička. Na to musí sa skladať obecenstvo.“

"The fathers of Saint Francis," Kobzay looked sourly at the friar, "should not fatten their bellies on other people's toil. The other day I met two carts loaded with wine for the monastery. Other people do not see wine for whole months, and a Franciscan must have a little jug before his nose at every dinner and every supper. The public must contribute for that."

„Za to nech sa neráčia hnevať,“ odvetil pokojne fráter, navyknutý na také výjavy.

"For that, please do not be angry," replied the friar calmly, accustomed to such scenes.

„Dar prijímame s vďačnosťou výčitky bez hnevu.“

"We accept the gift with gratitude, the reproaches without anger."

Stál ešte pri dverách a vynímal zo širokého rukáva tabačnicu, aby dal smrknúť pánom, keď vkročil evanjelický študent a odporúčal do panskej lásky stravovňu, kde chudobní žiaci dostávajú obed zadarmo, alebo za lacnú cenu.

He was still standing by the door and taking a snuffbox out of his wide sleeve to let the gentlemen take a pinch, when a Protestant student walked in and commended to the gentlemen's love the dining hall where poor pupils get dinner for free or at a cheap price.

„Na vašu panslavistickú školu nedám ani babky,“ okríkol ho Kobzay.

"I will not give a farthing to your Panslavist school," Kobzay shouted at him.

„V našej škole,“ opravil ho študent, „prednáša sa všetko po maďarsky.“

"At our school," the student corrected him, "everything is lectured in Hungarian."

„Ale zato ste všetci panslávi,“ dupol Kobzay.

"But all the same you are all Panslavs," Kobzay stamped his foot.

„Odkiaľže vychádzajú,“ primastil mu farár Čulík, „panslávi, keď nie z luteránskych škôl? Mládež ho pestuje sama medzi sebou. Leží to v povahe samej luteránčiny. Ako každý kalvín je už povahou svojou Maďar a vlastenec, tak každý luterán pansláv a zradca. Luteránsky som farár, ale pravdu vyznať musím. Každého luterána bez okolkov obesiť alebo podľa zákona spáliť. Luteráni comburantur. Vo viere sme vrtkaví ani von ani dnu, v národnosti panslávi.“

"Where else do they come from," the priest Čulík added to him, "Panslavs, if not from Lutheran schools? The youth cultivate it among themselves. It lies in the very nature of Lutheranism. As every Calvinist is by his very nature a Hungarian and a patriot, so every Lutheran is a Panslav and a traitor. I am a Lutheran priest, but I must confess the truth. Every Lutheran should be hanged without ado or burned according to the law. Lutherani comburantur. In faith we are wavering, neither out nor in; in nationality, Panslavs."

„Páni,“ vetí zarazený študent, „ja som rodený Maďar a slova slovenského neznám. Vy ma obviňujete z panslavizmu, inde mi zasa hádžu do očú, že sa v našej škole mládež slovenská národu svojmu úplne odcudzuje.“

"Gentlemen," says the taken-aback student, "I am a born Hungarian and I do not know a word of Slovak. You accuse me of Panslavism, while elsewhere they throw in my face that at our school Slovak youth become completely alienated from their nation."

„Nedám, nedám haliera na váš panslavistický ústav,“ triasol Kobzay rukou.

"I will not give, I will not give a heller to your Panslavist institute," Kobzay shook his hand.

Vtom vstúpil muž tmavej pleti, podobný Cigánovi.

Just then a dark-skinned man entered, resembling a Gypsy.

Širočizné čierne nohavice mal v čižmách, na bedrách červený pás, na prsiach otvorený lajblík, na pleciach plášť z belavého súkna, na hlave červenú čiapočku, aké nosia Srbi.

He had wide black trousers tucked into boots, a red sash on his hips, an open waistcoat on his chest, a cloak of whitish cloth on his shoulders, and a red cap on his head, such as the Serbs wear.

Hovoril po maďarsky veľmi plynne, ale nebolo mu možno rozumieť.

He spoke Hungarian very fluently, but it was impossible to understand him.

Len toľko sa dalo poznať, že turecký derviš a že zbiera v Uhrách milodary na mohamedánsku mešitu.

Only this much could be made out, that he was a Turkish dervish and that he was collecting alms in Hungary for a Mohammedan mosque.

Čitateľ bude snáď myslieť, že tohto zbeha z Bosny vyctil Kobzay najväčšmi, ale stalo sa naopak.

The reader will perhaps think that Kobzay honoured this runaway from Bosnia the most, but the opposite happened.

Práve tento surový paholčisko divého pohľadu odniesol zlatovku, študenta fráter pošli s dlhými nosmi.

It was precisely this crude lout with the wild look who carried off the gold coin; the student and the friar were sent away with long faces.

IX

Až po ich odplašení ponúkla mladá domová pani hosťovi, aby zaujali miesto pri stole.

Only after they had been chased off did the young lady of the house invite the guest to take his place at the table.

Oba pozerali s úľubou na jej vnadné, vyduté prsia, ale ona len tak zboku škúlila i na veľké nosisko i na zmrštenú tvár stydlivej Zuzanky.

Both looked with pleasure at her voluptuous, protuberant breasts, but she only squinted sideways now at the big nose, now at the wizened face of the bashful Zuzanka.

Ináč bývala veľká koketa, keď hosť bol švárny mladý šuhaj, najmä keď mal hustú čiernu bradu.

Otherwise she used to be a great coquette when the guest was a handsome young fellow, especially when he had a thick black beard.

Ryšavé brady menej milovala, lež ani tie nezavrhla vcele.

She loved red beards less, but she did not reject even those entirely.

Z jej detí každé malo iný výzor.

Each of her children had a different appearance.

Nebola ani tak ľúbezná, ako bývala, keď mala príjemnejších hosťov.

She was not as charming as she used to be when she had more pleasant guests.

Preto i rozhovor bol nudný, spojený s nemilými prestávkami.

Therefore the conversation too was boring, accompanied by unpleasant pauses.

Menovite stydlivá Zuzanka s malou tvárou zostal verný svojej povahe.

In particular the bashful Zuzanka with the small face remained true to her nature.

Nepreriekol sám od seba slovíčka cez celý obed, i na otázky odvetil slovom.

He did not utter a single word of his own accord throughout the dinner, and even to questions he answered with a word.

Ako sa má pani manželka?

How is your wife?

Dobre.

Okay.

Punktum.

Full stop.

Pán s veľkým nosom hovoril najviac s Kobzaym o veciach prísnych.

The gentleman with the big nose spoke mostly with Kobzay about stern matters.

Žaloval sa medziiným na drahotu dreva a Kobzay mu sľúbil, že mu dá priviezť päť siah.

Among other things he complained about the high price of wood, and Kobzay promised to have five fathoms brought to him.

Čo bolo čerstvej veselosti pri stole, to pochádzalo od všetečného Árpáda, ktorý vždy dačo hovoril, pýtal, so sestrami sa vadil, vidličkou po tanieri škrabal, nožom na poháre zvonil, nohami šibrinkoval, na stolec vstával, chlebom do sestier a matky hádzal.

Whatever fresh merriment there was at the table came from the mischievous Árpád, who was always saying something, asking, quarrelling with his sisters, scraping with his fork on his plate, ringing with his knife on the glasses, kicking his legs, standing up on his chair, throwing bread at his sisters and his mother.

Najväčší smiech vzbudil tento neposeda, keď riekol materi, poukážuc na nos zhrbeného adjunkta:

This fidget raised the greatest laughter when he said to his mother, pointing at the hunched adjutant's nose:

„Mama! Keby sme mali také uhorky.“

"Mama! If only we had cucumbers like that."

„Ej, Árpád, Árpád!“

"Oh, Árpád, Árpád!"

pohrozila mu matka, „ty si mi prirozpustilý.“

his mother threatened him, "you have grown too wild for me."

Ale pán s veľkým nosom sa rehotal:

But the gentleman with the big nose guffawed:

„Do toho môjho fafáka každý zabŕdnuť musí.“

"Everyone simply must have a dig at my pipe."

I večný mlčúch otvoril ústa na chlapcovu pochvalu:

Even the eternally silent one opened his mouth to praise the boy:

„Neobyčajný talent.“

"An extraordinary talent."

Jednako prišlo vhod, že sa ozvala v pitvore harfa.

All the same, it came in handy that a harp sounded in the hall.

„Muzika, muzika!“

"Music, music!"

tlieskali rozpustilé deti.

the unruly children clapped.

Árpád vyskočil na stolec a kázal mládencovi vpustiť muzikanta.

Árpád jumped up on his chair and ordered the servant to let the musician in.

„Už ho len vpusť,“ riekla i pani, „keď tento nezbedník tak pánovite to žiada.“

"Well, let him in," said the lady too, "since this rascal demands it so imperiously."

Vstúpil asi štrnásťročný mladík s harfou a jedno deväťročné dievča, deti tej ženskej, ktorá prosila v hostinci pri hradskej o dovolenie hrať večer komédiu.

A lad of about fourteen with a harp came in, and a nine-year-old girl, the children of that woman who had begged at the inn by the highway for permission to play a comedy in the evening.

Bola to vdova.

She was a widow.

Jej muž sa zabil, spadnúc ako komediant z napätého povrazu.

Her husband had been killed, falling like a comedian from a taut rope.

Biednica Češka potĺkala sa teraz s troma deťmi na vozíku o jednom koni.

The poor Czech woman now wandered about with three children on a one-horse cart.

Vodne chodili deti po domoch s harfou, po večeroch hrali komédiu sčasti s pumprlíkmi, sčasti s fyzikálnymi tajomstvami.

By day the children went from house to house with the harp, in the evenings they performed a comedy partly with puppets, partly with physical wonders.

A to je pritom divné, že i pieseň, ktorú pri harfe spievali, i komédiu, ktorú hrali na divadle s pumprlíkmi, zložil podľa svojej skúsenosti vtipný mladík.

And it is strange besides that both the song they sang to the harp and the comedy they performed in the puppet theatre were composed, according to his own experience, by a witty young man.

Pieseň, ktorú so sestrou pri dverách spieval, táto, hľa, bola:

The song he sang with his sister at the door, behold, was this:

Dobre ľuďom vo šťastnom tom uhorskom kraju; všetkého dosť, čo môže žiadať duša, majú.

People are well off in that happy Hungarian land; they have enough of everything a soul could wish for.

Aká hojnosť tu zrna, vína i dohánu, koní, volov, svíň, oviec v tomto Kanánu!

What abundance of grain, wine and tobacco, horses, oxen, pigs, sheep in this Canaan!

Všetko to sa mi ľúbi, čo majú tí páni; len ich spravodlivosti nech ma pán boh chráni.

All that the gentlemen have pleases me; only may the Lord God protect me from their justice.

V posledných slovách ukryté žihadlo zbavilo deti o dar i obed, Kobzay zateremtetoval, pán s veľkým nosom ukázal prstom:

The sting hidden in the last words deprived the children of both gift and dinner; Kobzay rattled on, the gentleman with the big nose pointed his finger:

„Von ich!“

"Out with them!"

Museli sa okamžite pratať, ba čeľaď dostala rozkaz nahuckať psov do nich.

They had to clear out at once; indeed, the servants were ordered to set the dogs on them.

A škoda tak krásnych detí, ako to boli.

And a pity for such beautiful children as they were.

Samý život a oheň ducha žiaril z ich útlych obličajov.

Sheer life and the fire of the spirit shone from their delicate faces.

Uvidíme ich ešte večer pri komédii.

We shall see them again in the evening at the comedy.

Panstvo sa potom zabávalo do konca obeda zas len medzi, sebou.

The gentry then amused themselves until the end of dinner again only among themselves.

X

Po obede doniesol richtár Hučko všetky Fujerove programy, ktoré len mohol zozbierať po obci, a tých päť zlatých, ktoré pán s veľkým nosom tak nástojčivo žiadal.

After dinner the mayor Hučko brought all of Fujera's programmes that he could gather about the village, and the five gulden that the gentleman with the big nose had demanded so insistently.

Na nešťastie vyznal, že to utrhol z tých päťdesiatich zlatých, ktoré akosi po biede vydrel na stavanie novej školy.

Unfortunately he confessed that he had broken it off from those fifty gulden which he had somehow, in poverty, scraped together for building the new school.

Lebo stará klesala už pod bremenom liet na hromadu.

For the old one was already collapsing under the burden of years into a heap.

Učiteľ nevedel nikdy, keď kročil do nej, či ešte z nej dakedy vyjde.

The teacher never knew, when he stepped into it, whether he would ever come out of it again.

Myslí snáď čitateľ, že potom pán s veľkým nosom peniaze nevzal?

Does the reader perhaps think that the gentleman with the big nose then did not take the money?

Nielen vzal, lež i naložil ostro richtárovi, aby mu hneď a hneď priniesol i pokutu za chybné kôpky, tridsať zlatých, a potom si to vybral od obce.

Not only did he take it, but he also sternly charged the mayor to bring him at once the fine for the faulty stacks as well, thirty gulden, and then to collect it from the village.

A poslušný richtár učinil i to.

And the obedient mayor did that too.

Zostalo mu už len pätnásť zlatých a tieto tiež našli cestu z mešca ešte toho dňa.

Only fifteen gulden were left to him, and these too found their way out of the purse that very day.

Doma už našiel dozorcu z daňového úradu, ktorý prišiel ohliadať zápisnicu, a újezdného lekára, ktorý sa dostavil obzrieť deťom štepené sypanice.

At home he already found the inspector from the tax office, who had come to inspect the record, and the district doctor, who had arrived to look at the children's vaccinated rashes.

Obidvom dal po pár zlatých.

He gave each of them a few gulden.

Hneď za nimi vrazil drzo do domu ten derviš, ktorého sme už v dome Kobzayovskom videli, vytiahol veľký zväzok písem, drkotal plynne po slovensky, ale i tu tak, že mu nič nerozumeli.

Right after them that dervish whom we already saw in Kobzay's house burst impudently into the house, pulled out a large bundle of papers, jabbered fluently in Slovak, but here too in such a way that they understood nothing.

Len toľko sa dovtípili z jeho posunkov, že zbiera na chrám jeruzalemský.

They only gathered this much from his gestures, that he was collecting for the Jerusalem temple.

Dal teda i jemu zlatku a vypravil s oklamcom i boženíka, aby ho vodil z domu do domu a pýtal na tak svätý cieľ všade po desiatniku.

So he gave him a gulden too, and sent a beadle along with the deceiver to lead him from house to house and ask a tenth everywhere for such a holy cause.

Dostavil sa, aby celkom naprázdno z obce nevyšiel, i študent, zbierajúci na žiacku stravovňu milodary.

The student collecting alms for the pupils' dining hall also turned up, so as not to leave the village completely empty-handed.

Vyhodil i tomuto zlatku.

He tossed a gulden to this one too.

Tak sa stalo spravodlivosti na všetky strany zadosť, ale nová škola zostala v lese.

Thus justice was done on all sides, but the new school remained in the forest.

Z päťdesiatich horko-ťažko zozbieraných zlatých zvýšili už len tri a znovu sa skladať sedliaci nechceli, lež písali márne inštancie, na ktoré nikdy nedostali odpoveď.

Of the fifty gulden so hardly collected, only three remained, and the peasants did not want to contribute again, but wrote vain petitions, to which they never received an answer.

To predvidel richtár a bol veľmi namrzený, že tak vygazdoval.

The mayor had foreseen this and was very upset that he had squandered it so.

Preto, keď videl oknom františkánskeho frátra, hodil klobúk o stôl:

Therefore, when he saw the Franciscan friar through the window, he threw his hat on the table:

„Ešte i tohto čert nesie!“

"The devil is carrying this one off too!"

Na jeho pozdrav:

To his greeting:

„Pochválen buď Ježiš Kristus,“ odvetil len cez zuby:

"Praised be Jesus Christ," he answered only through his teeth:

„Až na veky.“

"Forever and ever."

Poškrabal sa pritom za uchom a nechcel ani tabačku, keď fráter vyňal z rukáva svoju drevenú tabačnicu.

He scratched himself behind the ear as he did so and did not even want a pinch of snuff when the friar took his wooden snuffbox out of his sleeve.

„Ste akýsi nevrlý, richtárko,“ pozrel mu fráter v oči.

"You are somewhat grumpy, dear mayor," the friar looked him in the eyes.

„Som, lebo toľko musím dnes na všetky strany dávať, že sa mi až hlava krúti.“

"I am, for today I must give so much in all directions that my head is spinning."

„I pre mňa ešte nájdete dačo,“ klepol fráter prstom na svoju tabačnicu, „čo pán boh požehnal, dajednu mladú húsku.“

"You will find something for me too," the friar tapped his finger on his snuffbox, "what the Lord God has blessed, a young goose perhaps."

„Vydochli nám,“ ozvala sa richtárka.

"Ours have died off," the mayor's wife spoke up.

„Boh požehná druhý raz,“ potešil ju fráter.

"God will bless again another time," the friar comforted her.

„Dajte mi aspoň ďalej odviezť, richtárko, čo som inde nakveštoval.“

"At least have me driven on, dear mayor, with what I have collected elsewhere."

„Niet koní doma,“ zmŕštil tvár richtár, „všetky sú na paši.“

"There are no horses at home," the mayor frowned, "they are all out at pasture."

„Ale to už musí byť,“ postavil sa fráter.

"But that simply must be," the friar stood his ground.

„Tak hovoríte?“

"So you say?"

postavil sa i richtár.

the mayor stood his ground too.

„Danie i nedanie je len dobrá vôľa. A ja ani nevidím, čo tu hľadáte. My sme tu evanjelici; len dakoľko sluhov máte tu katolíkov.“

"Giving and not giving is only good will. And I do not even see what you are looking for here. We are Evangelicals here; only a few servants of yours here are Catholics."

„Danie,“ fráter na to, „je povinnosť kresťanská, ale dobrovoľná; odvezenie však nutná povinnosť richtárska. Vy ju plniť nechcete. Dobre! Zanechám vám tu všetku kveštu a idem povedať pánu gvardiánovi. Uvidíte, richtárko, čo z toho bude.“

"Giving," the friar replied, "is a Christian duty, but voluntary; the carting, however, is a necessary duty of the mayor. You do not want to fulfil it. Fine! I will leave all the collection here with you and go tell the father guardian. You will see, dear mayor, what will come of it."

S tým sa poberal k dverám.

With that he made for the door.

Richtárka mihala na richtára a klmala ho úsilne s hrozebnými posunkami.

The mayor's wife flashed looks at the mayor and vigorously deceived him with threatening gestures.

Riekol teda richtár:

So the mayor said:

„Už len zostaňte, pošlem po svoje kone.“

"Well, stay, I will send for my horses."

„A ja vám zrobím trochu praženice,“ dodala richtárka.

"And I will make you a little scrambled eggs," added the mayor's wife.

„No to je dobre a po kresťansky,“ pochválil ich fráter.

"Well, that is good and Christian," praised them the friar.

„Za ten čas idem ešte do daktorých úhľadnejších domov, keby sa svätá almužnička rozmnožila.“

"In the meantime I will go to some of the tidier houses, in case the holy alms should multiply."

XI

Len toľko, že odišiel fráter, tu vbehne prestrašená suseda.

No sooner had the friar left than a frightened neighbour woman rushed in.

„Ach, richtárko, čiňte dačo, bráňte ma, chudobnú vdovu. Tu chodí akýsi obšitoš po dedine práve tak ako s exekúciou. Vybil mi okno, že som mu nedala slaninu; a boh môj vidí, že sama nemám ani kúštička. A tu vám ide sám,“ strhla sa, uvidiac ho oknom.

"Oh, dear mayor, do something, protect me, a poor widow. Some vagabond is going about the village just like an execution. He smashed my window because I did not give him bacon; and my God sees that I have not even a tiny morsel myself. And here he comes himself," she started, seeing him through the window.

„Je spitý ako hovädo a zlorečí ako zlý duch.“

"He is drunk as a beast and curses like an evil spirit."

„Hm, hm! Čakaj!“

"Hm, hm! Wait!"

krútil richtár hlavou.

the mayor shook his head.

„Pozrieme si v oči.“

"We will look each other in the eye."

„Nenadrapuj sa s ním,“ krotila ho žena.

"Do not get into a scrap with him," his wife restrained him.

„Taký zbeh bez očú je všetkého schopný. Podpáli nám dedinu. Dám mu groš, nech ide v čerty.“

"Such a runaway with no eyes is capable of anything. He will set the village on fire. I will give him a penny, let him go to the devils."

„Daj,“ slovil richtár.

"Give it," said the mayor.

Vtom vstúpil bez pozdravenia do chyže mladý a zdravý, vypasený muž s vojenskou čapicou na hlave, v otrhanom vojenskom kabáte.

Just then a young and healthy, fattened man entered the room without a greeting, with a military cap on his head, in a ragged military coat.

V ľavej ruke držal pár kurčiat, v pravej ohromné kyjačisko.

In his left hand he held a pair of chickens, in his right an enormous cudgel.

„Richtár,“ počne hrozivo, „ja tejto dedine jej boha a toho krvavého Krista. Vaši sprostáci nevedia, čo treba žobrákovi, ktorý slúžil cez dve kapitulácie cisárovi. Ja vás naučím móresu, ja váš krst a vaše spasenie!“

"Mayor," he begins menacingly, "by the God of this village and that bloody Christ. Your blockheads do not know what is due to a beggar who served the emperor through two capitulations. I will teach you manners, I will teach your baptism and your salvation!"

Richtárka sa triasla, keď videla hrozivú tvár a zaťatú päsť mužovu.

The mayor's wife trembled when she saw the man's menacing face and clenched fist.

Núkala žobrákovi dva grajciare:

She offered the beggar two kreuzers:

„Nate, nate, iďte zbohom.“

"Here, here, go with God."

Žobrák hodil peniaze o zem s takým novým zlorečením, ktoré už i maďarské hrozné kliatby ďaleko prevyšuje.

The beggar threw the money on the ground with such a new curse that it far surpasses even the terrible Hungarian oaths.

„A čože teda chceš?“

"And so what do you want?"

pristúpi richtár bližšie.

the mayor steps closer.

„Nocľah a mladú nevestu, ja tvojho richtárskeho popa,“ povrhol kurčatá.

"Lodging and a young bride, by your mayor's priest," he tossed down the chickens.

„Toto mi richtárka upraží. Potom všetci z chyže von. Vyženiem celú dedinu, ešte i toho starého boha z neba.“

"The mayor's wife will roast this for me. Then everyone out of the room. I will drive out the whole village, even that old God from heaven."

Tu richtára prešla trpezlivosť.

At this the mayor's patience ran out.

Napred vychytil lotrovi kyjak, potom ho chopil ľavou rukou za prsia, pravou vyfliaskal po papuli, hodil o zem a tam jeho vlastným kyjakom omlátil.

First he snatched the cudgel from the villain, then he seized him by the chest with his left hand, slapped him across the mug with his right, threw him to the ground and thrashed him there with his own cudgel.

Žena, keď už natoľko prišlo, podala mu povraz.

The woman, when it had come to that, handed him a rope.

Tým poviazal oplana a tak vovliekol so sluhom do svinského chlieva a zaprel do rána.

With it he bound the lout and so, with the servant, dragged him into the pigsty and shut him in until morning.

Bránil sa šelma slabo, lebo bol opitý a slabý je vždy, kto zle činí.

The beast defended himself weakly, for he was drunk, and he who does evil is always weak.

Richtárka zalamovala rukami, čo z toho bude.

The mayor's wife wrung her hands over what would come of it.

Ale nič nebolo.

But nothing came of it.

Keď ráno vypustil vytriezveného tuláka, bol krotký ako baránok, ba ďakoval za naučenie.

When in the morning he released the sobered-up vagabond, he was meek as a lamb, and even thanked him for the lesson.

„Bodaj by som,“ riekol, „dávno bol natrafil na muža, nuž by drzosť moja nebola vzrástla na zázraky.“

"If only I had," he said, "long ago come across a man, then my insolence would not have grown to marvels."

Tak bolo ráno, ale večer a cez noc div z rozumu nezišla zo strachu.

So it was in the morning, but in the evening and through the night she nearly went out of her mind from fear.

XII

Keď bedákala a nahovárala muža, aby sa vzdal toho nešťastného richtárstva, tu panský mládenec s rozkazom, aby sa richtár hneď a hneď dostavil do kaštieľa.

When she was lamenting and persuading her husband to give up that unfortunate mayoralty, in came the estate's servant with an order that the mayor present himself at the manor at once.

„Čo je zase?“

"What is it now?"

hodil richtár klobúk.

the mayor threw down his hat.

„V tom panskom dome pre mňa nikdy nič radostného. Vždy dávaj alebo slúž. Odišiel už ten pán s veľkým nosom?“

"In that manor house there is never anything joyful for me. Always give or serve. Has that gentleman with the big nose left yet?"

„Odjachal,“ smial sa mládenec, „a hneď po jeho odchode zas pobil a povláčil gazdu ten bača, ktorý dostal palice.“

"He has left," laughed the servant, "and right after his departure that shepherd who got the stick beat and dragged the farmer about again."

„Čo ma do toho?“

"What is that to me?"

škrabal sa richtár za uchom.

the mayor scratched behind his ear.

„to ma do panských bačov? Keď bola reč o richtárskej pláci, Kobzay sa osvedčil, že jemu nepotrebno richtára; a teraz mi rozkazuje ako svojmu paholkovi. Viac slúž im panstvu, ktoré nič nedáva, než celej obci spolu, ktorá ma platí.“

"What have I to do with the estate's shepherds? When there was talk of the mayor's pay, Kobzay declared that he had no need of a mayor; and now he orders me about like his own farmhand. I serve that estate, which gives nothing, more than the whole village together, which pays me."

„Panstvo vám dalo dve hromádky prútia,“ usmial sa šelmovsky mládenec.

"The estate gave you two little heaps of twigs," the servant smiled slyly.

„Toho stračieho hniezda v cene pár grajciarov?“

"That magpie's nest worth a few kreuzers?"

mrštil richtár rukou.

the mayor flung his hand.

„Za to mám sa nadrapovať s oželeným oplanom, odkiaľ noha odkiaľ ruka, aby ma podpálil? Nemám dosť patálie so žobrákmi? I teraz som zmlátil jedného a zatvoril do svinského chlieva. Ktovie, čo i tá šelma vyvarí?“

"For that I am to get into a scrap with a wretched lout, God knows from where, so that he might set me on fire? Do I not have enough trouble with beggars? Just now I thrashed one and shut him in the pigsty. Who knows what that beast will cook up too?"

„A bačovia,“ ozvala sa žena, „sú ešte nebezpečnejší, bo takí ľudia vedia všeličo, mávajú obcovanie so zlým. Mohol by nášmu statku porobiť alebo nás o zdravie pripraviť, dáke vredy, hostec na nás dopustiť. Nechoď, starý!“

"And the shepherds," the wife spoke up, "are even more dangerous, for such people know all sorts of things, they have dealings with the evil one. He could harm our livestock or deprive us of health, send some boils or gout upon us. Do not go, old man!"

Mládencovi dočitovala:

She read the servant a lecture:

„Čo richtárovi do panskej čeľade? Nech si tam robí pán so svojím bačom, čo chce. Povedzte, že richtár nepríde.“

"What business has the mayor with the estate's servants? Let the gentleman do what he wants there with his shepherd. Tell him the mayor is not coming."

Richtár však po dlhom váhaní, pri všetkom ženinom plači, predsa len pošiel a poslal poviazaného baču s jedným chalupníkom do mesta.

However, after long hesitation, despite all his wife's weeping, the mayor went after all and sent the bound shepherd with one cottar to the town.

Potrebných na to boženíkov musel vyhľadať v krčme.

He had to seek out the beadles needed for this in the tavern.

Bo celá Chujava teraz pila.

For all of Chujava was drinking now.

Staré, mladé, mužovia, ženy boli v štyroch krčmách.

Old and young, men and women were in the four taverns.

Každá mala dosť hostí.

Each had enough guests.

Vo všetkých robili pijani lomoz, nedbajúc nič, že im zajtra budú vláčiť periny za dlžoby.

In all of them the drunkards made a racket, caring nothing that tomorrow their featherbeds would be dragged off for debts.

Podivná je ľahkomyseľnosť slovenského ľudu.

Strange is the frivolity of the Slovak people.

Na kraji priepasti spieva, huláka, výska, ako kto sa rozumu pozbavil.

On the edge of the abyss it sings, shouts, whoops, as if it had lost its reason.

Ktorí dostali palice, tí sa tým vystatovali ako hrdinstvom.

Those who had got the stick boasted of it as of heroism.

Chlubili sa, vysmievali jeden druhého, vtipkovali.

They boasted, mocked one another, joked.

Ľud uhorský stratil, bezprávnym s ním nakladaním, všetku ctižiadosť, všetku možnosť, tak ako všetok cit pre spravodlivosť.

The Hungarian people lost, through the lawless treatment of them, all ambition, all possibility, as well as all feeling for justice.

Na česť nič nedrží, na žiadnu spravodlivosť neverí.

It holds nothing for honour, believes in no justice.

Najviac pijanov bolo u Šofelesa pri kostole a u Čmuľa pri hradskej, bo u nich mali veľmi mnohí úver.

There were the most drunkards at Šofeles's by the church and at Čmuľ's by the highway, for very many had credit with them.

Vstúpime do týchto chujavských kaviarní.

Let us enter these Chujava cafés.

XIII

Krčma u Šofelesa bola budovisko napoly rozvalené.

Šofeles's tavern was a half-ruined building.

Jedna polovica spadla vcele, druhá bola podopieraná zvonka, zdnuka.

One half had collapsed entirely, the other was propped up from outside and inside.

Na kraji a zo stien trčali hnilé brvná.

Rotten beams stuck out at the edge and from the walls.

Slamená strecha bola pozalamovaná, deravá, okná malinké, nejednaké, papierom pozalepované.

The straw roof was patched, full of holes, the windows tiny, uneven, pasted over with paper.

Do pitvora a chyže viedli dvere vetché, nakrivené, cez vysočizné dorúbané prahy.

Worm-eaten, crooked doors led into the hall and the room, over very high hacked thresholds.

Na hlinenej podlahe plno dolín, ako čo by tam svine boli ležali.

On the clay floor there were full of hollows, as if pigs had been lying there.

Náradia poriedko a všetko vetché, porúchané, dlhý stôl a lavice nadmieru špinavé.

The furniture was sparse and all worm-eaten, cracked, the long table and benches excessively dirty.

Strach bolo vkročiť do tohto smradľavého brloha a predsa to bolo plné, ako nabité.

It was frightening to step into this stinking hovel, and yet it was full as if packed.

Mužovia a ženy cítili sa tam veľmi dobre.

Men and women felt very well there.

Mnohé pijanice si tu hoveli, keď mužovia ich pili v iných krčmách.

Many a tippling woman made herself comfortable here while her husband drank in other taverns.

Šofeles mal čo robiť za mrežami, odkiaľ i do pivnice viedli schody.

Šofeles had his work cut out behind the grating, from where stairs also led to the cellar.

S peniazmi sa, pravda, mnoho netrudil; narábal najviac len kriedou.

With money, of course, he did not trouble himself much; he dealt mostly only with chalk.

Úver mal u neho každý, len trasúci sa na celom tele Lipnický darmo modlikal o holbičku.

Everyone had credit with him; only the trembling Lipnický prayed in vain for a little jug.

Šofeles mu vyčítal, že sa nedrží verne jeho, ale pije i po iných krčmách, a hovoril, že mu už nemá na čo dať.

Šofeles reproached him for not keeping faithfully to him but drinking in other taverns too, and said he had nothing left to give him on credit.

„Počkaj, žide,“ vychytil sa smädný pijan a odišiel.

"Wait, Jew," the thirsty drunkard snatched himself up and left.

Po chvíli sa strhol veľký rehot v krčme.

After a while a great roar of laughter broke out in the tavern.

Lipnický voviedol do chyže asi jednoročné vychudnuté, strapaté žriebä.

Lipnický led into the room a roughly year-old, gaunt, shaggy foal.

„No, dáš teraz pálenku, žide?“

"Well, will you give me brandy now, Jew?"

zakričal víťazne do stredu chyže.

he shouted victoriously into the middle of the room.

„Tu ostatná srsť z môjho domu. Ber, čerte, čo tvoje. Čo mi dáš za žriebä?“

"Here is the last hide from my house. Take, devil, what is yours. What will you give me for the foal?"

„To nezaslúži hrsť sena,“ smial sa Šofeles.

"That does not deserve a handful of hay," laughed Šofeles.

„Nikdy z toho kôň nebude, bo je už zakrpatené.“

"It will never be a horse, for it is already stunted."

Naposledok ale predsa kúpil žriebä za päť zlatých.

In the end, however, he did buy the foal for five gulden.

Lipnický sadol si za špinavý stôl a pil.

Lipnický sat down at the dirty table and drank.

Prvé poháre vylial napoly, pokiaľ ich k ústam priniesol; pri ďalších prestala sa mu triasť ruka.

He spilled the first glasses half, before he brought them to his mouth; with the next ones his hand stopped trembling.

Rozprával pritom, aký on bol pod panštinou gazda, aké mál kone, voly, kravy a klial tej slobode, ktorú vraj čert vymyslel.

As he did so he told what a farmer he had been under the manorial system, what horses, oxen, cows he had had, and he cursed that freedom which the devil had supposedly invented.

„Šťastlivý si ty teraz človek,“ prekáral ho sused, „nepotrebuješ už ani psa ani mačku.“

"You are a lucky man now," his neighbour teased him, "you no longer need even a dog or a cat."

„Ba, na mačku,“ smial sa Lipnický, „ešte mám potrebu. Žito vo dvoch korcoch mi ešte vždy leží v záčine nevymlátené. Treba myši od neho odháňať.“

"Oh, as for a cat," laughed Lipnický, "I still have need of one. Two measures of rye are still lying unthreshed in my barn. The mice need to be driven off it."

„A prečo ho nevymlátiš?“

"And why do you not thresh it?"

„Nemám čas, bo ma ustavične zaneprázdňuje tento prekliaty Šofeles. Keď ma nezroní jeho pálenka, musím mu drevo rúbať a iné služby konať. On teraz môj pán.“

"I have no time, for this cursed Šofeles keeps me constantly busy. If his brandy does not bring me down, I have to chop wood for him and perform other services. He is my master now."

Šofeles medzitým odčachroval žriebä.

Meanwhile Šofeles had spirited the foal away.

Náhle prešlo do jeho rúk, vychvaľoval ho, aký z toho bude kôň.

Suddenly it had passed into his hands, and he praised it, what a horse would come of it.

Sedliak očankaný jeho rečami dal mu desať zlatých a žriebä odviedol domov.

The peasant, dazzled by his talk, gave him ten gulden and led the foal home.

Ako sa o tom doznala Lipnického žena, letela bez. meškania nie ochrániť posledný kus statočku, lež pomáhať ho prepiť.

When Lipnický's wife learned of it, she flew without delay, not to save the last piece of their property, but to help drink it away.

„A bodaj by teba, ty korheľ, ty márnotratník!“

"And may the devil take you, you drunkard, you squanderer!"

postavila sa mužovi voči v letnici tak vetchej, že len pásy z nej viseli a všade presvitala košeľa.

she stood face to face with her husband in a summer dress so worn that only strips hung from it and her shift showed through everywhere.

„Dievka ti na vydaj, deti nahé plačú od hladu a tys' ostatnú srsť vyviedol z chlieva, ty pijan. Ale neprepiješ, neprepiješ žriebä sám,“ tĺkla si pravou päsťou na ľavú dlaň.

"You have a daughter of marriageable age, the children are naked and crying from hunger, and you have led the last hide out of the stable, you drunkard. But you will not drink it away, you will not drink the foal away by yourself," she struck her right fist into her left palm.

„Keď ty piješ, i ja budem. Krčmár, holbu!“

"Since you drink, I will too. Tavern keeper, a jug!"

„Tak dobre, moja drahá ženička,“ privinul ju k sebe Lipnický.

"All right then, my dear little wife," Lipnický drew her to him.

„Nač' nám to? Žriebä potrebuje žrať. Dogazdujeme. Vezmeme potom torbu na plece.“

"What do we need it for? The foal needs to eat. We will farm it out. Then we will take a sack on our shoulder."

XIV

Čoskoro zatriasol pijanmi úžasný výjav.

Soon an astonishing scene shook the drunkards.

Panský kováč, mladý muž, práve ako sa vyhol s pohárom, vyvrátil sa horeznačky a spadol z lavice na temeno.

The estate blacksmith, a young man, just as he raised his glass, toppled over backwards and fell from the bench onto the crown of his head.

Z úst sa mu kydali biele peny a šľahal v kotúčoch belavý plameň.

White foam poured from his mouth and a whitish flame shot out in coils.

Obskočili ho s trepotom a krikom:

They surrounded him with fluttering and shouting:

„Pomáhajte, robte dačo, ľudia! Vody, vody!“

"Help, do something, people! Water, water!"

vrešťali jedni.

some screeched.

„Sladkého mlieka!“

"Sweet milk!"

kričali druhí.

others shouted.

Všetkého sa nešťastnému dostalo, ale to ešte viac napomohlo nezliečnosť.

The unfortunate man got everything, but that only made the incurability worse.

Darmo ho mykali, šklbali, za nos ťahali, prevaľovali - umrel.

In vain they jerked him, tweaked him, pulled him by the nose, rolled him over - he died.

Keď sa presvedčili o jeho smrti, naložili ho chlapi na dva drúky a niesli na takýchto nosidlách ako poraneného vojaka z bojišťa domov.

When they had made sure of his death, the men laid him on two poles and carried him on such a stretcher, like a wounded soldier from the battlefield, home.

Na jeden bok mu visela hlava, na druhý nohy.

His head hung on one side, his legs on the other.

Tá i tieto sa kolembali.

Both the one and the other swayed.

Pijani vyšli všetci z krčmy za ním, bo pred krčmou sa strhol dojímavý vresk.

The drunkards all came out of the tavern after him, for a moving shriek arose in front of the tavern.

Pribehla kováčova manželka a vrešťala prenikavým hlasom na celú dedinu, trhajúc si vlasy a zalamujúc rukami:

The blacksmith's wife came running and screeched in a piercing voice loud enough for the whole village, tearing her hair and wringing her hands:

„Ach, ja nešťastná! Čo si teraz počnem s tými drobnými deťmi? Ach, vy korheli, bezbožní loptoši, vy ste mi ho zabili. Bol muž triezvy, keď sme prišli do tejto vašej Sodomy. Vy ste ho pokazili, bo nič bez tej ohyzdnej pijavy. Čo len jednu podkovu koňovi pribil, už ste ho vliekli na oldomáš. Tak sa stal pomaly korheľom, prepil i moje i svoje, nevytriezvieval. Strestal by vás boh za vaše ohavné oldomáše. Prepadli by ste sa tu so všetkým činom!“

"Oh, I am so wretched! What will I do now with these tiny children? Oh, you drunkards, you godless scoundrels, you have killed him for me. He was a sober man when we came to this Sodom of yours. You ruined him, for nothing could be done without that hideous boozing. Hardly had he nailed one horseshoe on a horse than you dragged him off to a drinking bout. So he slowly became a drunkard, drank away both mine and his own, never sobered up. May God punish you for your abominable drinking bouts. May you all sink through the ground here with all your doings!"

S takýmto nárekom a Vykladaním sprevádzala kováčka mŕtveho muža domov.

With such lament and talk the blacksmith's wife accompanied her dead husband home.

Myslíte, že to dojalo pijanov, ktorí vyšli za ním z krčmy, že vstúpili do seba, pošli domov?

Do you think that moved the drunkards who had come out of the tavern after him, that they came to their senses and went home?

Smiali sa, híkali, kliali, bo práve šiel bubnujúci komediant, ten mladík, čo tak nemilú pesničku zaspieval, pánom v dome Kobzaych.

They laughed, hiccupped, cursed, for just then the drumming comedian was passing, that lad who had sung such an unpleasant little song to the gentlemen in Kobzay's house.

Kráčal na tak vysokých chodidlách, že ešte o hlavu prevyšoval slamené strechy chalúp.

He walked on such high stilts that he towered a head above the straw roofs of the cottages.

Na hlave mal vysokú končistú čiapku, červený lajblík, nohavice dvojakej farby, v rukách bubon.

On his head he had a tall pointed cap, a red waistcoat, trousers of two colours, and a drum in his hands.

Oznamoval, že predvečerom bude v hostinci pri hradskej ceste pekná komédia; kto ju chce vidieť, dá vstupného päť grajciarov.

He announced that toward evening there would be a fine comedy at the inn by the highway; whoever wanted to see it would pay an entrance fee of five kreuzers.

„Boh by ťa strestal, tulák,“ ozvali sa hlasy medzi pijanmi, „za päť grajciarov mám rumpeľ pálenky.“

"May God punish you, vagabond," voices rose among the drunkards, "for five kreuzers I can have a glass of brandy."

Okrem detí a parobčiakov pošli všetci naspäť do krčmy.

Except for the children and the farmhands, everyone went back to the tavern.

XV

Ešte viac pijanov bolo v tom takrečenom hostinci prihradskej.

There were even more drunkards in that so-called inn by the highway.

Táto krčma bola aspoň celá, mala priestrannú chyžu pre pijanov.

This tavern was at least whole, it had a spacious room for the drunkards.

Títo ju zaujali celú, komedianti len jeden kút mali zastrený plachtami.

These occupied the whole of it, the comedians had only one corner screened off with sheets.

Medzi pijanmi viedol veľké slovo palicovaný Kožuch.

Among the drunkards the caned Kožuch had the big say.

Hromžil na richtára, nadával mu do podliakov, zbabelcov, panských psov, ulíhavých pochlebníkov.

He railed at the mayor, called him a scoundrel, a coward, a lord's dog, a shirking flatterer.

Breše vraj len pánom, za sedliakov ústa neotvorí.

He supposedly only barks for the gentlemen, never opens his mouth for the peasants.

Sedliaci mu prisvedčovali a ošklbaný Humenský sa ozval:

The peasants nodded in agreement, and the shabbily dressed Humenský spoke up:

„Tak vám treba! Bo len toho chlapčiska ste chceli mať za richtára, akoby v celej dedine onakvejšieho človeka nebolo.“

"Serves you right! For you wanted to have that mere boy as mayor, as if there were no different kind of man in the whole village."

Rozumel tým sám seba.

He meant himself by that.

Lebo mnoho si zakladal na svoje latinky, hoci sa ničím iným od sedliakov nedeli!

For he set great store by his bit of Latin, though he differed from the peasants in nothing else!

Nenaučil sa zhola nič vecného a bol pritom nespoľahlivý galgan a hrdláč bez cti.

He had learned nothing of substance at all and was besides a good-for-nothing scoundrel and a swaggerer without honour.

Preto sa sedliaci len usmievali, keď narážal na svoje richtárstvo, hoci na Hučku reptali.

That is why the peasants only smiled when he alluded to his mayoralty, though they grumbled at Hučko.

Dostavil sa i tento, sčiastky aby sa žajdlíčkom vína občerstvil po toľkých nepríjemnostiach, sčiastky pre tú nastávajúcu komédiu.

This one turned up too, partly to refresh himself with a little glass of wine after so many unpleasantnesses, partly for that coming comedy.

Náhle vkročil, oboril sa na neho surový Kožuch:

He had no sooner entered than the crude Kožuch fell upon him:

„Ty nie náš, ty panský richtár. My ťa platíme, pánom slúžiš. S pánmi držíš, nás v ničom nezastávaš.“

"You are not ours, you are the lords' mayor. We pay you, you serve the lords. You side with the lords, you stand up for us in nothing."

Richtárova odpoveď bola taká facka po rumennej, špiritusom blčiacej papuli, že klebetníka krv zaliala.

The mayor's answer was such a slap across the ruddy mug blazing with spirits that blood flooded the gossip's face.

A keď sa mu chcel nanosiť do vlasov, lapil ho richtár za pačesy, hodil o zem a hodne, hodne opalicoval.

And when he wanted to go for his hair, the mayor seized him by the locks, threw him to the ground and gave him a good, good caning.

Neborák ochranca spravodlivosti mal teraz nielen hnáty poznačené, lež i ramená a chrbát.

The poor protector of justice now had not only his limbs marked, but his shoulders and back as well.

Nikto potom sa viac neopovážil trieť richtárovi chren pod nos.

After that no one dared to rub horseradish under the mayor's nose any more.

Pijani reptali len na panskú spravodlivosť.

The drunkards grumbled only at the lords' justice.

Prišla reč i na pravotu s panstvom o lesy.

The conversation turned also to the lawsuit with the estate over the forests.

Bučak si vykrútil fúzy:

Bučak twirled his moustache:

„Čo to za prekliatu robotu? Všade dostávajú obce koľko-toľko toho lesa, len my nič.“

"What kind of cursed business is this? Everywhere the villages get some of that forest, only we get nothing."

„Ani ho nedostaneme,“ ozval sa učený Humenský, „pokiaľkoľvek nevystrojíme vyslanstvo k samému cisárovi do Viedne. Od pánov nemožno nadiať sa spravodlivosti, bo vrana vrane oko nevykole.“

"We will not get it either," the learned Humenský spoke up, "unless we send a delegation to the emperor himself in Vienna. From the lords no justice can be hoped for, for a crow does not peck out a crow's eye."

„A kto pôjde s vyslanstvom?“

"And who will go with the delegation?"

spytovali sa sedliaci, ktorým sa návrh ľúbil.

the peasants asked, who liked the proposal.

„Nuž ja,“ ponúkol sa fúzatý Bučak.

"Well, I will," the moustached Bučak offered himself.

„Ja viem, kde je Viedeň i kde cisár pán bývajú. Stál som neraz šilboch v zámku ako granatier i videl som pána cisára.“

"I know where Vienna is and where the emperor, our lord, resides. I have often stood guard in the palace as a grenadier and I have seen the emperor, our lord."

„I môj kôň bol vo Viedni a videl pána cisára,“ protirečil s úškľabkom Humenský.

"My horse was in Vienna too and saw the emperor, our lord," retorted Humenský with a smirk.

„Ty vieš len: ,Hapták!'“

"All you know is: 'Attention!'"

„Čo? Teda ja kôň?“

"What? So I am a horse?"

skríkol zúrivo Bučak, a do Humenského.

Bučak shouted furiously, and at Humenský.

Boli by sa lapili, keby nebol skočil medzi nich učiteľ, ktorý tiež prišiel vypiť oldomáš na vyhratú pravotu.

They would have gone at each other if the teacher had not jumped between them, who had also come to drink a toast to the won lawsuit.

„Oba ste mi kmotrovia,“ čitkal ich, „dajte si pokoj. Počujte ma, ja vám dačo poviem, som starý človek. Škoda vám hrdlovať sa pre nič. Vo Viedni nikdy nikomu nič nenasúdili, ani nenasúdia. Skúsil som to už. Odoberú ti tam Nemci, smejúci sa z teba, tú prosbu, a tá bude skorej doma než vyslanstvo, a to v rukách tých pánov, na ktorých žaluješ. Títo potom odpíšu hore, že prosebníci sú nepokojní mätežníci, nemajú pravdu, že ich len. daktorí popudzovatelia poburujú. Radšej to dať advokátovi, čo by sa tam daromne strovilo. Všetko behanie do Viedne bolo vždy a zostane márnym. To vám povedám ja, starý muž.“

"You are both my godfathers," he read them a lecture, "give yourselves peace. Hear me, I will tell you something, I am an old man. It is a pity for you to quarrel over nothing. In Vienna they have never awarded anyone anything, nor will they. I have tried it already. The Germans there, laughing at you, will take that petition, and it will be home sooner than the delegation, and that in the hands of those lords you are complaining against. These will then write up that the petitioners are restless troublemakers, that they are not in the right, that only some agitators stir them up. Better to give it to a lawyer than to waste it there in vain. All the running to Vienna has always been and will remain vain. That is what I, an old man, tell you."

„Dobre hovoril učiteľ,“ riekol richtár.

"The teacher spoke well," said the mayor.

„Rozumne,“ prisvedčili i mnohí iní a za dobrú poradu prisúdili hneď rechtorovi dve hromádky prútia z lesa, ktorý dostanú.

"Sensibly," many others assented too, and for good advice they immediately awarded the schoolmaster two little heaps of twigs from the forest they would get.

Ale farárovi, tomu panskému potrimiskovi, nedajú nič.

But to the priest, that lord's lick-spittle, they would give nothing.

„Vy činíte tak,“ ozval sa richtár, „ako ten šuster v kalendári. Zazrúc oknom na ulici tučného brava, mlsol: ,Ech, žena, čiže by sme jedli jaternice, keby sme takéto hovädo zaklali!' ,Ale veru tento kujon by ti ich nejedol,' ukázala majstrová na učňa. ,Čo?' priskočil majster k chlapcovi, ,teda ty nechceš jaternice? Budeš dobrý? Budeš dobrý, ty výberník? Budeš jaternice jesť?' vyobšíval ho remeňom. Tak práve i vy robíte teraz.“

"You are acting," the mayor spoke up, "like that cobbler in the calendar. Seeing a fat pig through the window in the street, he licked his lips: 'Eh, wife, so we would eat sausages if we slaughtered such a beast!' 'But this rascal here would not eat them,' the master's wife pointed at the apprentice. 'What?' the master sprang at the boy, 'so you do not want sausages? Will you be good? Will you be good, you picky one? Will you eat sausages?' and he belted him with a strap. That is just what you are doing now."

XVI

Pri smiechu, ktorý z toho povstal, vstúpil neogabaný Zajac, obyčajný bajazzo v dedine.

Amid the laughter that arose from this, the unkempt Zajac entered, the village's usual buffoon.

Mládež ho hneď obhŕkla a Zajac im rozprával, ako obyčajne, o svojich podivných skúsenostiach a hrdinských činoch v Bombardii.

The youth immediately surrounded him, and Zajac told them, as usual, about his strange experiences and heroic deeds in Lombardy.

Včely tam, vraj, ako u nás ovce.

Bees there, he said, were like sheep with us.

„A úle?“

"And beehives?"

spýtal sa Pelechavý, ktorý mal síce sklenku pred sebou, ale nepil, len sa usmieval pod nosom.

asked Pelechavý, who had a glass before him but was not drinking, only smiling under his moustache.

„Len také ako u nás.“

"Only such as with us."

„Akože teda vojdú?“

"How then do they get in?"

„To je ich vec,“ zarehotal sa husár, „ja tvojho boha! Prečo nepiješ ako druhý poctivý človek? Ja tvojho Krista! Keby som ja mali čo ty, nechodil by som v takých poplátaných plundrách, ani v takom ošumelom klobúku. Kúpil si ho kdesi od žobráka, ty skupáň. Nerobil by som nič, len by som si ľahol v pivnici horeznačky pod sud a tak by mi musel točiť krčmár do gamby tokajčinu. Ale ty si skrbec, ty by si obehol nahý za grajciar dedinu, ja tvoj huncútsky kríž!“

"That is their business," the hussar guffawed, "by your God! Why do you not drink like another honest man? By your Christ! If I had what you have, I would not go about in such patched rags, nor in such a shabby hat. You bought it somewhere from a beggar, you miser. I would do nothing but lie in the cellar on my back under a barrel, and the tavern keeper would have to pour tokay into my gob. But you are a miser, you would run around the village naked for a kreuzer, by your rascally cross!"

„Drž ten svoj rozpustilý pysk, neplecha!“

"Hold that unruly muzzle of yours, you mischief!"

odvrkol Pelechavý.

Pelechavý retorted.

„Drž ty!“

"You hold yours!"

rúbal ďalej do neho Zajac.

Zajac kept hacking at him.

„Ty, čo, si roj zo stromu ukradol a panskú sypáreň ozbíjal. Ty, boháč, chodíš po nociach vypásať so statkom úrody chudobných ľudí. Na, tu máš! Pi z môjho, pluhák, keď svoj grajciar tak ľutuješ.“

"You, what, you stole a swarm from a tree and robbed the estate's granary. You, rich man, go about at night grazing your livestock on poor people's crops. Here, take this! Drink from mine, you plowman, since you begrudge your own kreuzer so."

„Daj mu pokoj,“ zamiešal sa Kožuch.

"Leave him alone," Kožuch intervened.

„On. zbiera, aby odkúpil od Kobzayho sedliacke osminy.“

"He is collecting to buy up the peasant eighths from Kobzay."

Smiech bol všeobecný, sklenky sa prázdnili, žid ich naplňoval, husár luhal ďalej.

The laughter was general, the glasses emptied, the Jew filled them, the hussar went on lying.

Pri spomienke makarónov rozprával, že sú to hlísty na sedemdesiat siah dlhé.

At the mention of macaroni he told that they were worms seventy fathoms long.

Kupujú sa na lakte.

They are bought by the ell.

Jediaci len rozčeperí nohy, otvorí ústa a hlísta mu sama beží dolu hrdlom.

The eater only spreads his legs, opens his mouth, and the worm runs down his throat by itself.

Kofa meria lakťom a keď je dosť, hlístu nožnicami prestrihne.

The waiter measures by the ell, and when it is enough, he cuts the worm through with scissors.

Zamilovala sa do neho jedna talianska grófka.

An Italian countess fell in love with him.

„Hneď, ako som pricválal do dvora, počala mihať. ,Ej, bisťubohu,' mlsla, ,to je parobok. Niet mu páru vo svete!' Ako som skočil z koňa a oddal ho sluhovi, ,nechže sa páči', podala mi ruku a viedla ma popod pazuchu. Po dobrej večeri dala mužovi písanú podušku a novú sivú gubu pod pec na lavicu. ,Tu,' pohladkala ho, ,spi a buď ticho, aby sa pán husár neprebudili.' Mne hodila na stred chyže otep slamy. V noci slyšal gróf šepot. ,Erža!' zakašlal, ,ten husár šepce s tebou.' ,No veď šepce.' ,Prečo mu nepovieš?' 'Povedz mu ty, ak vieš po uhorsky:' Ráno pohádzal všetkých svätých do čiapky a pošliapal nohami, vyjmúc len svätého Antona, aby aspoň jeden zostal na plemä.“

"As soon as I galloped into the courtyard, she began to flutter. 'Eh, by God,' she licked her lips, 'that is a fine fellow. There is no match for him in the world!' As I jumped off my horse and handed it to the servant, 'if you please', she gave me her hand and led me by the arm. After a good supper she gave her husband a written pillow and a new grey blanket under the stove on the bench. 'Here,' she stroked him, 'sleep and be quiet, so that the hussar, our lord, does not wake.' She threw a bundle of straw for me in the middle of the room. At night the count heard whispering. 'Erža!' he coughed, 'that hussar is whispering with you.' 'Well, he is whispering.' 'Why do you not tell him?' 'You tell him, if you know Hungarian.' In the morning he threw all the saints into his cap and trampled them underfoot, except only Saint Anthony, so that at least one would remain for the tribe."

„A ako to bolo s tým Napoleonom?“

"And how was it with that Napoleon?"

zavrátil ho parobok s takým perom za klobúkom ako metla.

a farmhand with a feather in his hat like a broom turned him back to it.

„Nuž ľa! Keď už nás toľko nápastovali ti Francúzi, radili sa pán cisár s deneráľmi, koho by poslať k tomu Napoleonovi s klobúkom udereným za ucho. Tu všetci, že veru len Zajaca, bo on je prvý hrdina. Sadnem teda na koňa a hajde do Parízu! Koňa si priviažem o plot. Hneď pribehne cisárovná a prinesie mi v zápone ovsa. Potom beží do kuchyne a navarí mi takých pirohov so sekanými hruškami, že ste jakživ takých nevideli. Boli vám ako hodné krpce. Ledva som vpratal z nich pol druha. A boli, prisahám bohu, také mastné, že sa mi loj tak lial dolu bradou ako Aronovi. Roztopila na to sedem funtov lojových sviec, aby to už len dobré bolo. Nahotovila mi i hriateho s husou masťou a na cestu napiekla pagáčov so škvarkami.“

"Well, look! When those French had plagued us so much, the emperor, our lord, took counsel with his generals about whom to send to that Napoleon with his hat knocked over his ear. Then everyone said, of course only Zajac, for he is the foremost hero. So I mount my horse and off to Paris! I tie my horse to the fence. At once the empress comes running and brings me oats in her apron. Then she runs to the kitchen and cooks me such dumplings with chopped pears as you have never seen in your life. They were like fine little cakes. I barely managed to put away a dozen and a half of them. And they were, I swear to God, so greasy that the fat ran down my chin like Aaron's. She melted seven pounds of tallow candles for it, so that it would be good indeed. She also prepared me a hot drink with goose fat and baked me cakes with cracklings for the journey."

„A Napoleon čože?“

"And what about Napoleon?"

„Hja! Potľapkal ma po pleci: ,Drusa môj vďačný! Takýchto husárov mi jeden regiment a zaujmem hračkou celý svet, pokorím všetky národy.' A tak ma, nech som dobrý, vystískal a vybozkával ako dáku paničku.“

"Ha! He slapped me on the shoulder: 'My grateful comrade! Give me one regiment of such hussars and I will take the whole world for a toy, I will subdue all nations.' And so, may I be good, he squeezed me and kissed me like some little lady."

„Ale pokoj či dal?“

"But did he give peace?"

„Ako by nie na moje slovo? Dal mi i desať groší na pálenku, aby som len nahováral pána cisára a deneráľov, aby ticho boli a mlčali, až si vezme, čo mu úhodno. Lebo ostril si zuby na tú našu Bombardiu, z ktorej nás potom vybombardoval, strela v jeho za ucho uderený klobúk. Dosť sme sa ohliadali, či sa nezjaví dakde dajeden kozák, ale svet je nevďačný. My sme pomáhali na Kryme Francúzom biť Moskáľov a nevďační Moskáli neprišli nás teraz brániť. Nech im taká bude poctivosť. Keď sme nemali čo vopchať do papule, tu zase všetci len na Zajaca. Vezmem si teda jednu škadrónu a idem rekvirovať, ako sa vojenským menom nazýva brať, čo zapatríš a nezaplatíš. Ale ja som to nepotreboval. Francúzi práve viezli na mnohých vozoch celé imanie olúpenej dediny, akoby tu našej Chujavy, lenže by sa tu veľmi neobrali. To, reku, dobre, tí rekvirovali pre nás. ,Utekajte!' zarevem na nich, ,lebo keď nie, my zutekáme.' A mojim chlapom rozkážem: ,A tak!' a hybaj na Francúzov. Títo, náhle vyrozumeli, že ja tam, tak pádili ozlomkrky do svojho tábora naspäť, že tieň až o pol hodiny dobehol za nimi. Všetku lúpež zanechali nám. Pri tom všetkom vojdeme do olúpenej dediny. Tam ti nájdem jedného chlapa v červenej košeli. Spal na slnci ako prasatá cez poludnie. ,Kto to?' pýtam sa sedliakov, stojacich tam so zloženými, klobúkmi. Garibaldi,' odvetia. ,Čit, reku, znám toho kujona, čo buky a jedle preskakuje ako Jánošík.' Vytiahnem remeň z nohavíc a pristúpim k nemu: ,Ivan, ty spíš a ja sa trudím, viažem ťa.'

"How could he not, at my word? He even gave me ten groschen for brandy, so that I would only persuade the emperor, our lord, and the generals to be quiet and keep silent until he takes what suits him. For he was sharpening his teeth for that Lombardy of ours, from which he afterwards bombarded us out, a bullet in his hat knocked over his ear. We looked around enough to see whether some Cossack might not appear somewhere, but the world is ungrateful. We helped the French beat the Muscovites in the Crimea, and the ungrateful Muscovites did not come to defend us now. May their honesty be like that. When we had nothing to stuff into our gobs, then again everyone turned only to Zajac. So I take a squadron and go requisitioning, as it is called by its military name, to take what you see and not pay. But I did not need it. The French were just hauling on many carts the whole property of a plundered village, as if it were our Chujava here, only they would not have taken much here. That, I say, is good, those requisitioned for us. 'Run!' I roar at them, 'for if not, we will run.' And I order my men: 'And so!' and off at the French. These, suddenly understanding that I was there, dashed headlong back to their camp so that their shadow only caught up with them half an hour later. They left all the loot to us. With all that we enter the plundered village. There I find a fellow in a red shirt. He was sleeping in the sun like pigs at noon. 'Who is that?' I ask the peasants standing there with their hats off. 'Garibaldi,' they answer. 'Hush, I say, I know that rascal who leaps over beeches and firs like Jánošík.' I pull the strap out of my trousers and step up to him: 'Ivan, you sleep and I toil, I bind you.'"

Mal som pod sebou i jedného deneráľa.

I had one general under me too.

Tento vyňuchtal kdesi vajcia a nabral plné vrecká. ,Čo to máte?'

This one sniffed out eggs somewhere and filled his pockets full. 'What do you have there?'

tľapnem ho po vrecku. ,Okovaná strela, pán deneráľ!

I slap him on the pocket. 'A shod bullet, Mr. General!'

Vy ste museli mať veľký strach. Leje sa vám dolu plundrami.'“

You must have been very frightened. It is pouring down your rags.'"

„A že si nebol ranený v žiadnej bitke!“

"And that you were not wounded in any battle!"

„Lebo som mal rozum. Lapil som každú guľku do hrsti. Mával som ich plné vrecká. Jedna mi padla i do oka, ale mi ju po patá1ii vylízala stará Cigánka.“

"Because I had sense. I caught every bullet in my fist. I used to have my pockets full of them. One even fell into my eye, but after the battle an old Gypsy woman licked it out for me."

„Ty si veľký luhár,“ vytrel si Bučak fúzy.

"You are a great liar," Bučak wiped his moustache.

„Ba vy ste veľkí blázni,“ smial sa husár.

"Rather you are great fools," laughed the hussar.

„Tomu tak sa má rozumieť ako tomu nápisu na banknotách, že môžu byť každú hodinu vymenené za striebro, alebo prípovedi o rovnoprávnosti všetkých. Iďže, bo ťa kopnem! To je tá povestná rovnoprávnosť.“

"That is to be understood just like the inscription on banknotes that they can be exchanged for silver at any hour, or the tales about the equality of all. Go on, or I will kick you! That is that famous equality."

Tu vstúpila s veľkou pokorou tá obstarná, chudobne odetá Češka, ktorá bola ráno prosila richtára o dovolenie hrať predvečerom komédiu.

Then the elderly, poorly dressed Czech woman entered with great humility, who had that morning begged the mayor for permission to play a comedy in the evening.

„Prosím ponížene,“ hovorila, držiac v ruke tanier, „nech ráčia, vaše milosti, zaplatiť po päť grajciarov, lebo komédia sa započne. Komu sa neľúbi, nech ráči ísť von.“

"I humbly beg," she said, holding a plate in her hand, "let your graces be pleased to pay five kreuzers each, for the comedy is about to begin. Whoever does not like it, let him please go outside."

„Čo? Von?“

"What? Outside?"

ozval sa úškľabne na oba lakte podoprený Kožuch.

Kožuch spoke up with a grimace, propped on both elbows.

„Tu je krčma. Ja tu sedím. Kto mi rozkáže? Krčma je pre každého.“

"This is a tavern. I am sitting here. Who will order me? A tavern is for everyone."

„Ale nie divadlo,“ odvetila ženská.

"But not a theatre," the woman replied.

„Prosím o päť grajciarov, alebo von.“

"I ask for five kreuzers, or out."

„Čo s tým von?“

"What is this 'out'?"

osopil sa na ňu i divý Bučak.

the wild Bučak fell upon her too.

„Koho ty tu vyháňaš, ty kurva, beštia, fľandra? My tu doma, vy len takí tuláci.“

"Whom are you driving out here, you whore, you beast, you slut? We are at home here, you are just vagabonds."

„Ja som poctivá vdova, živím sa počestným umením, riekla pokojne žena. „Ale vy, páni, ste akísi surovci. Ta sa mi zdá, že som prišla medzi divých ľudožrútov. Keď slovo cti a ľudskosti nemá k vám prístup, obraciam sa na pána predstaveného obce. Prosila som o dovolenie hrať, a dali ste mi ho; učiňte teda teraz po práve, richtár.“

"I am an honest widow, I live by honourable art," the woman said calmly. "But you, gentlemen, are some kind of brutes. It seems to me that I have come among wild cannibals. When the word of honour and humanity finds no access to you, I turn to the master head of the village. I asked for permission to play, and you gave it to me; so now do justice, mayor."

„Ja nechcem byť divákom zadarmo,“ slovil richtár, „bo viem, že ani títo ľudia z povetria nežijú.“

"I do not want to be a spectator for free," said the mayor, "for I know that these people too do not live on air."

A aby zahanbil iných, vrhol prvý do taniera desaťgrajciarnik.

And to shame the others, he was the first to throw a ten-kreuzer coin into the plate.

Našli sa okrem neho ešte desiati, ktorí vystreli ruky a dali po päť grajciarov.

Besides him there were ten more who stretched out their hands and gave five kreuzers each.

Ostatní osvedčili sa divo, že nič nedajú.

The others declared wildly that they would give nothing.

„Tak teda von!“

"Then out!"

zdvihol richtár palicu a vyhnal surovcov.

the mayor raised his stick and drove the brutes out.

Hra sa započala pre jedenástich divákov.

The play began for eleven spectators.

Bola to komédia s mravným zameraním, zložená samým mladíkom, a potrebám ľudu vcele primeraná.

It was a comedy with a moral aim, composed by the young man himself, and entirely suited to the needs of the people.

Predstavovalo sa v nej nešťastie pijana a jeho rodiny.

It presented the misfortune of a drunkard and his family.

Naposledok ho unáša čert za živa.

In the end the devil carries him off alive.

Ale neborák básnik-herec nadarmo pracoval.

But the poor poet-actor worked in vain.

I tých desať jeho divákov len surovosti vyvádzalo, kričali, vrešťali, hovorili hlúpstva, keď sa zjavili figúry.

Even those ten spectators of his only carried on with brutishness, shouting, screeching, talking nonsense when the figures appeared.

Môžeme si predstaviť, s akou ochotou hral.

We can imagine with what willingness he played.

Ale hral predsa, až sa rozleteli dvere a vhrnula sa jedným nezastaveným prúdom surová háveď.

But he played on nonetheless, until the doors flew open and a savage rabble poured in in one unstoppable stream.

Vtedy herec dal konať jednej figúre posunky, ktoré uhádnuť musíme zanechať čitateľom, a potom spustil oponu.

Then the actor had one figure make gestures which we must leave to the reader to guess, and then he dropped the curtain.

Chachot bol veľký, ale komediantom nešlo do smiechu, keď sa doznali, čo sa povodilo vonka.

The guffawing was great, but the comedians were not laughing when they learned what had gone on outside.

Suroví pahoci prekotili, polámali vozík a koňa priviazali vo vozárni zadkom k žľabu.

The savage louts overturned and smashed the little cart and tied the horse in the coach house with its rear end to the trough.

To vzbudilo v komediantovi múdru myšlienku.

That awakened a clever idea in the comedian.

„Buď ticho,“ riekol materí, keď plakala, zalamovala rukami.

"Be quiet," he said to his mother when she wept and wrung her hands.

„To nič nespomôže.“

"That will not help at all."

Sám vojdúc do chyže, riekol:

Entering the room himself, he said:

„Počujte len, dobrí ľudia! Kto z vás videl koňa, ktorý má hlavu tam, kde má byť zadok, a zadok tam, kde má byť hlava?“

"Just listen, good people! Who among you has seen a horse that has its head where its rear end should be, and its rear end where its head should be?"

„A ty si videl?“

"And have you seen one?"

spytovali sa pijani.

the drunkards asked.

„Nielen že som videl, i ukážem vám takého, ak zaplatíte po desať grajciarov.“

"Not only have I seen one, I will even show you such a one, if you pay ten kreuzers each."

To už bolo dačo iného ako komédia s pumper1íkmi.

That was something different from a comedy with puppets.

Každý chcel vidieť tak divného koňa.

Everyone wanted to see such a strange horse.

Ktorí sami nemali, požičali si a predsa dali po desiatich grajciaroch.

Those who did not have it themselves borrowed it, and still gave ten kreuzers each.

„Už sme zaplatili všetci. Kde je kôň? Kde je kôň?“

"We have all paid already. Where is the horse? Where is the horse?"

„Poďte,“ odviedol ich komediant do vozárne, „pozrite na toho koňa. Ten má hlavu tam, kde má byť zadok, a zadok tam, kde má byť hlava. Či nie?“

"Come," the comedian led them to the coach house, "look at that horse. It has its head where its rear end should be, and its rear end where its head should be. Does it not?"

Pijani sa až váľali od smiechu a nezávideli komediantom desať grajciarov.

The drunkards rolled with laughter and did not begrudge the comedians the ten kreuzers.

To je len škaredý deň v Chujave. ---

That is just an ugly day in Chujava. ---

Two Days in Chujava: Deň škaredý