Page:A history of Hungarian literature.djvu/129

 CHARLES KISFALU DY us get into line with the réfined babits of good society. The humorous element in Kisfaludy's comedies amuses without sinning against good taste, and their healthy moral tone is unaccompanied by pedantry. Although in some respects the plays are primitive, their attractive way of depicting middle-class society gives them a value even at the prese nt day. Th e humour lies rather in the situations than in the characters. The play of The Rebels is based on a misunderstanding of.the intentions of an amateur dramatic society which desi.res to perform Schiller's Kabale und Liebe. The members intend it as a surprise for some one, and they accordi ngly come and go and correspond in a very mysterious fash ion. That air of mystery draws upon them the attention of the country magistrate, and as in their letters referri ng to the play they speak of death and murder and poison, he intervenes, bringing on a suc­ cession of lively scenes. In The Suitors, again, everything turns upon an imper­ sonation, th e seJfish suitors of a rich girl being received by another girl whom they suppose to be the heiress. The chief character in Disappointments is a seJfish and cunning man who wishes his ch ildre n, a son and a daughter, to marry for money against their inclinations, but whose plans ali miscarry. Though comedy was more congenial to Kisfaludy's temperament, he tried his hand at tragedy. His best known tragedy is [rene. The first suggestion of the plot was given to Kisfaludy by an incident of the Turkish conquest of Constantinople, told in a letter of Mikes. "When the town was taken, among other prisoners they brought a remarkably lovely maiden to the Pash, who gave her to the Sultan. The Suitan was so captivated