I would not be surprised if some of the readers of this posting would, at first, think that I am

a “sour grape,” which I am not. I am, however, of the “old school,” where social manners

were important. I still hold that opinion, even in these days of “political correctness.”

I have spent several years, toiling as a translator for the Federal Government of Canada.

Perhaps my acquired translation skills prompted me to include my translation of the

Hungarian National Anthem in my first book: PEACE, WAR AND THE AFTERMATH.

Having compared my translation with an “archaic,” earlier translation of the Anthem,

one of my critics suggested that it should be forwarded to the Hungarian Academy of

Sciences (MTA) for their consideration to make it the official English-language version

of the Anthem. That was back in 2005. As one of the proverbial old school graduates,

naively perhaps, I expected at least a “one-liner” acknowledgement from MTA. As I write,

it is the New Year of 2008 – yet, still no acknowledgement!

By now, I do not even expect a response from MTA. With my outmost respect to the

many fine academicians at MTA, there must also be a cadre there, which is the

“home-grown” new intellectuals, so carefully planned in the Rákosi-era, when the university

admission criteria was based on family background and not necessarily on academic

achievements!

Without further delay, here are some of the English-language translations of Ferenc

Kölcsey’s Himnusz - Hungary's national Anthem.

The National Anthem of Hungary

Isten, áldd meg a Magyart, Written by: Ferenc Kölcsey                                                                                                         

Jó kedvvel, bőséggel,                                                                                              

Nyújts feléje védő kart,                                                                                                      

Ha kűzd ellenséggel,                                                                                                                         

Balsors akit régen tép,                                                                                      

Hozz reá víg esztendőt,                                                                                  

Megbűnhődte már e nép                                                                                             

A múltat, s jövendőt.

Lord, bless the Hungarians          Translated by: Sándor A. Erdélyi                 

with your joy and your plenty,
Lend them a protective hand
when fighting their enemy;                      
Ill-fate torn them far too long,
bless them with a bright new year,
These people have long paid for
their future ’n yesteryears.

O my God, the Magyar bless         Translated by: William N. Loew
With Thy plenty and good cheer!
With Thine aid his just cause press,
Where his foes to fight appear.
Fate, who for so long didst frown,
Bring him happy times and ways;
Atoning sorrow hath weighed down
Sins of past and future days    

I confess; such words as Thy, Thine, didst and hath 

are missing from my vocabulary.

Then again, my name is not Shakespeare or Loew...