Page:A history of Hungarian literature.djvu/133

 CHARLES KISFALUDY I15 get into line with the refined habits 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 present day. The 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 desires to perform Schiller's Kabale und Liebe. The members intend it as a surprise for some one, and they accordingly come and go and correspond in a very mysterious fashion. That air of mystery draws upon them the attention of the country magistrate, and as in their letters referring 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, the selfish suitors of a rich girl being received by another girl whom they suppose to be the heiress. The chief character in Disappointments is a selfish and cunning man who wishes his children, a son and a daughter, to marry for money against their inclinations, but whose plans all miscarry. Though comedy was more congenial to Kisfaludy's temperament, he tried his hand at tragedy. His best known tragedy is Irene. 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 Sultan was so captivated Digitized by Microsoft ®