Mátyás, who lived from 1443 to 1490, was and is the most beloved of Hungary's kings. Many stories are told about him, including this one.
The Squash and the Colt
King Mátyás awakens early one morning in a village where he has spent the night and when he gets up, takes a walk through the streets. On this walk, he observes a man whistling cheerfully and greets him. |
Next door to the poor man lived a well-to-do peasant. When he saw the thousand forints his neighbor got for the squash, he almost had a stroke. But then the well-off peasant had an idea. He had a beautiful three-year-old colt, finer than any he had seen in a really long time. What would he get for it from King Mátyás, if he paid a thousand forints for a squash! |
Translated from the Hungarian by Eva M. Thury, copyright 1999. All rights reserved.
Other Hungarian Items:
Fascinating Fasteners.
For the Lovelorn: Hints from Heloise