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 MICHAEL VÖRÖ SMARTY 135 measure the sense for national subjects and vigour o f expression in the national tongue. His third great achievement was to become the poet of a really lofty style. No other Hungarian author ever soared so high. His voice is the nohlest in the great symphony of Hungarian poetry. He was exactly what the ancients thought a poet should be, a vates, whose eyes turned from earth towards beave n in holy rapture. With this elevation of thought was combined a wonderful imagin ation. Vörösmarty's first great work, which he finished at the age of twenty-five, was a gran d national epic : Zalán's Flight ( 1825). I t was inspired by patriotic enthusiasm an d patri ot ic grief, the outcome of thepolitical events of theday. In the second decade of the century, and at the heginning of the third, the Austrian Government silently and cun­ ningly airned a deadly blow at the liberty of the Hun­ garian State. Metternich and his party endeavoured to lull the H ungarian statesmen into such a condition of torpor that the very exist_m ce of the Constitution should be gradually forgotten. Accdrding to their Constitution , to which Hungarians ding as to their very life, Hungary possesses a nati onal Parliament, which controls taxation and fixes the number of soldiers to be enli sted. The Austrian Govern ment, aiming at absolute power, saw an obstacle in this Parliame nt, and the Emperor Fra ncis neglected to summon it. H ungary was regarded as an Austrian provin ce, having no elaírn to indep e nden ce. The provinces in vain demanded the opening of Parliament and conformity to the exi sting laws. The Austrian Government did not stir a finger. Anxiety grew apa ce. 11 What will become of the country ? Is it finis Hungaria! 1" At last some of the provinces, the only