80 M. Beudant's Travels in Hungary. 



waved on its walls for a long time; at present, it is so encum- 

 bered with ruins that it is impossible to form a correct opinion 

 of its strength and construction ; from the space which it oc- 

 cupied it must have been very large. 



The town of Erlau (Eger, or Jager, Hung. Agria, Lat.) is si- 

 tuated nearly on the confines of the Great Plain that forms, 

 in some measure, the centre of Hungary. It was built by king 

 Stephen, who made it the see of a bishop, since raised to that 

 of an archbishop. It is one of the richest benefices in Hun- 

 gary ; .the revenues were so considerable, that the ancient 

 kings ordered the see to be reserved for their fourth son. The 

 town is pretty well built ; there are several very good houses, 

 but, in general, it looks dull, which is common to all the small 

 towns in Hungary. The most remarkable buildings are those 

 of the university, constructed at the charge of more than two 

 millions of florins, by the bishop, count Charles Esterhazy. 

 Convenience, neatness, and beauty, are alike consulted j the 

 professors are well lodged and accommodated; the classes, 

 the apartments, are handsome and correctly arranged ; the 

 chapel, the library, the hall of conferences, are extremely ele- 

 gant, and furnished with paintings of uncommon beauty. The 

 buildings are surmounted with a very lofty tower, intended for 

 an observatory, but, unfortunately, it was ill provided with 

 instruments. The cathedral, and several other churches, the 

 episcopal palace, and the house of the comitat, are structures 

 which would not disparage other towns more populous, and 

 from the heights, they give to this an aspect truly imposing. 



Behind the town we discern the site of the ancient castle, 

 now scarcely distinguishable by some remains of rubbish. 

 Count Esterhazy, the bishop, was allowed to demolish it, and 

 the materials were made use of in the construction of the 

 University and other buildings. The battlements no longer 

 exist to attest the valour of its ancient inhabitants, but the 

 pages of history retain the remembrance. The town was com- 

 pletely destroyed, in the reign of Bela IV. by the invasion of 

 the Mongols, who carried fire and sword into the heart of 

 Hungary, and turned the most populous countries into vast 

 deserts. But raised again from its ashes, defended by some 

 fortifications, and yet more by Hungarian intrepidity, it sus- 

 tained, with incredible energy, the most dreadful assaults and 

 sieges. We cannot survey, without admiration, the sanguinary 

 details commemorating the vigorous resistance of its inhabi- 

 tants against the Austrians and against the Turks. 



I shall quote here a passage from a French writer, concur- 

 ring, with other testimonies, in favour of that patriot zeal 

 which transforms the feeblest into heroes. Erlau was besieged 



