Page:A history of Hungarian literature.djvu/182

 168 HUNGARIAN LITERATURE The third kind of novel, which became fashionable everywhere in Europe, incloding Hungary, was the novel of the Robinson Crusoe type. Readers in that age were fascinated by sea adventures and the marvels of tropical regions. General J OSEPH GVADÁNYI (1725- 1801) wrote a story in verse, called Ron tó Pál. His hero was the faithfui foIlower of the bold adven­ turer, Maurice Be nyovsky. The original of the story had lived a very adventura us life. He was a soldier in the Austrian army during the Seven Years War, but deserted, and joined the Prussians. The Austrians took him prisoner and resolved to execute him, but he obtained a pardon. Then he entered the service of Benyovsky, who afterwards became the king of Madagascar. Afte r passing through many adventures, Benyovsky was imprisoned by the Russians in 1770, and exiled to Kamchatka. He escaped, and after incredihle sufferings, and almost starving, he got on board a Freneh vessei which carried him to Macao. He soon left it, and went to France, where his wooderfui escapes created a great sensation, and Benyovsky became a íavourite at the Court of Louis XV. In 1773 Beuyovsky was sent to Madagascar to fou nd a Freneh colony. Some of the native races elected him their king. After some time, the king of Madagascar returned to Europe, and visited his native land, Hungary, wh ere he occupied hímself with great commercial plans. He was the first who urged that Hungary ought to aim at the possession of a sea-coast and to develop an overs ea trade vili Fiume. But he did not stay long at home ; his restiess disposition drove him to become agai n what he always had been, an adventurer. He left Hungary, spent some time in Englan d, and at length found his death in the same land where he had found a throne, Madagascar. He was killed by a