Page:A history of Hungarian literature.djvu/253

 JOHN ARANY 239 selves, and thus the poem is iovested with a draroatic interest. A dim, mystic light pervades everything, and the action is strongly tragic. In each of Arany's ballads some great crime is portrayed, with an equally great punishment resulting from the working of the offender's own mind or conscience. Th is led Aran y to the frequent description of madness. His ballads show many examples of insanity, ali aceu rately drawn in their physiological a nd psychol ogical aspects. Arany's ballads answer to the definition of a ballad as a tragedy told in song. Here is an example : BOR THE HERO. Shadows of the dying day On the quiet valley fell, Bor the Hero rode away- " Sweet and fair one, fare thee weil." Shadows on the valley fell, Wind-swept branches stir and strain, ' Sweet and fair one, fare thee weil," Bor the Hero rides amain. Wind-swept branches stir and strain, Lo l a lark is singing near, Bor the Hero rides amain, Silent fal ls the maiden's tear. Lo! a lark is singing near, Whither wends its soaring {light 1 Falls the maiden's silent tear, Eidden now her troth to plight. Whither wends that soaring {light 1 Darktuss mingles earth and sky, " Daughter, haste, thy troth to plight l T/Jere is Mne to make reply.