Page:A history of Hungarian literature.djvu/71

57 The wife of Prince George Rákóczy, the highly cultured and studious Susan Lorántfi, invited thither the famous professor, Amos Commenius, one of the founders of modern pedagogy. Gabriel Bethlen wished to secure for this school the services of (1574-1634), the enthusiastic champion of Protestantism. Molnár did not accept the invitation, however, preferring to wander restlessly through Europe.

Molnár was a truly representative figure of the times. He was all enthusiasm, all fervent and untiring study, all restlessness, and his career was all adversity. He was born in Hungary, and died there, but the greater part of his life was spent abroad. Of the Hungarian philologist, writer, theologian and poet, Bisterfeld, a contemporary, said: "He was a favourite of the Muses but not of Fortune. Germany became his home and shelter, and to his native and he was a stranger." He passed some years in Switzerland and in Italy, but lived chieflyin Germany, where he worked assiduously in the field of Hungarian literature. In Germany he endured much misfortune. A sketch representing an atrocious incident in his life forms the frontispiece of one of his books, a translation of Calvin's Institutes. At Heidelberg, when the inhuman army of Tilly destroyed the town, Molnár was reduced to beggary, and then tortured. The sketch shows him raised aloft on a high post, while a Spanish soldier scorches him with a torch.

Molnár was one of the most important Protestant writers. His best work is a Translation of the Psalms, from the versions of Clément Marot and Théodore Béza. The Hungarian Calvinists still use that translation, which is remarkable for its perfection of technique. The verses are very melodious, rich in euphonious rhymes, and