Fraternity-Testvériség, 1955 (33. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1955-11-01 / 11. szám

TESTVÉEISÉG

15

THREE HUNGARIAN POETS

MIKLÓS ZRÍNYI

(1620—1664)

By

JOSEPH REMÉNYI Professor of Comparative Literature Western Reserve University

(Continuation)

In spirit the hero of Zrinyi’s epic is a “medieval knight”14 motivated by religious and national feelings. He is killed defending the fortress of Szigetvár against the army of Suliman, the Ottoman emperor. It was his belief that through sacrifice a merciful God will redeem the Hungarian nation from her sins. One senses that the Zrinyiász is the product of a Catholic poet, but it must be said that Zrínyi was liberal in his religious attitude; for instances, in 1655 he openly took side with those who favored the rights of the Protestants. The epic consists of fifteen cantos, written in what is called Hungarian alexandrines. Each stanza is a rhyming quatrain. Sometimes the poet rhymes clumsily or employs slant rhymes. The story is based mainly on a historical book by Miklós Istvánffy; there is also borrowed material from the works of János Zsámboki, János Boyssar- dus, Sámuel Budina, Ferenc Forgách and other Hungarian and Croatian writers.

In the epic the Lord, aware of the sins of the Hungarian people, decides to chastise them. The Archangel Michael, following the Lord’s instruction, delegates Alekto, the fury, to visit Suliman in the disguise of Selim, his dead father, and advises him to launch an attack against the Magyars. The first canto describes war-preparations. Several principal characters are introduced including Al- deran, the magician, and combatants representing various nationalities. Suliman, though encountering setbacks, believes he can defeat the Hungarian forces of Szigetvár, which are led by Count Miklós Zrínyi. In the second canto the Hungarian leader is kneeling before the Cross, offering his life to God for his nation. The third canto relates minor victories over the Turks; the fourth canto gives a graphic account of the hero and his lieutenants who pledge him loyalty. The fifth, sixth, and seventh cantos reveal the cunning of the Turkish emperor, the slyness of his emissaries and the resourcefulness of the Hungarian defenders. In the eighth canto Zrinyi’s anxieties are apparent; he sends a letter to the King of Hungary and implores his aid, but the letter never reaches him. One of Zrinyi’s emissaries, Radivoj, who had been captured by the Turks, appears in the dream of

14 Marcell Benedek, op. cit., p. 1219.

Deli Yid, Zrinyi’s most dependable and daring lieutenant, and foretells his death and that of the leader. The ninth and tenth cantos relate the siege of Szigetvár, the consequences of betrayal, Zrinyi’s ability to overcome obstacles and a temporary Hungarian victory. The setting of the events in the eleventh canto is the Turkish camp; its predominating theme is love. In the twelfth canto we are told that Deli Vid, who is a prisoner of the enemy, meets his wife, Borbála; they both are able to return to Szigetvár. There is shortage of food among the Hungarian warriors. Suliman is informed about this when a carrier pigeon is caught with a letter containing the information. Although first planning a retreat, the Turkish leader changes his mind and prepares for an all-out attack. In the thirteenth and fourteenth cantos Alderan induces the damned souls of Hell to assist the Turks. In a bloody battle some of Zrinyi’s most valiant men are killed. In the last canto Zrínyi, facing annihilation, decides to strike with all his force. He slays Deliman, the cruellest of the Turkish emperor’s soldiers, and Suliman, but he himself is mortally wounded. The Archangel Gabriel with his heavenly army defeats the damned souls. The epic ends with the angels descending to the dead Hungarian heroes, and lifting their souls to Paradise. Zrinyi’s final thoughts are given in the epilogue:15 *

My work is done, a monument whose grace No spiteful stream of time can wash away,

No fire’s rage can harm nor steel deface,

Nor gnawing Envy cause its slow decay.

And when with lapsing years my ebbing strength Deserts my body, let its currents die,

That which is mortal must depart at length,

My deathless fame shall mount into the sky.

From that far Scythia from whence we came, From that wide world that knows the Magyar’s

deeds,

All eyes shall gaze on my exalted name,

Each mind shall be enchanted as it reads.

Yet would I not be prais’d for pen alone,

But as a man who could his sword employ:

For while I live, I fight the Osman throne,

And immolate my house with valiant joy.

The translator uses alternate rhymes, but in spirit and verbal connotations he is faithful to the original. There is a certain self-glorification in these verses, the emphasis upon the personal pronoun “I” which is noticeable in similar works by other authors. When one knows the isolation of Zrínyi as a poet, the self-concern is comprehensible.

15 Watson Kirkconnell, THE MAGYAR MUSE (Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1933), p. 38.