"I know nothing, my dear, except the soldier's prayer."[66]
[66] i. e., Blasphemy.
"Very well. I shall learn that."
"I can recite it to you."
"Well, tell it to me."
Czipra acted as she had seen Melanie do: she kneeled down before the table: clasping her hands devotedly and resting against the edge of the table.
Topándy turned his head curiously: she was taking the matter seriously.
Then he stood before her, put his two hands behind him, and began to recite to her the soldier's prayer.
"Adjon Isten három 'B'-ét,
Három 'F'-ét, három 'P'-ét.
Bort, búzát, békességet,
Fát, füvet, feleséget,
Pipát, puskát, patrontást,
Es egy butykos pálinkát!
Ikétum, pikétum, holt! berdo! vivát!"[67]
[67] "God grant three 'B-s,' three 'F-s,' and three 'P-s.' Wine, wheat, peace, wood, grass, wife, pipe, rifle, cartridge-case, and a little cask of brandy.... Hurrah! hurrar!" It is quite impossible to render the verse into English in any manner that would reproduce the original, so I have given the original Magyar with a literal translation.