Page:Poetry of the Magyars.djvu/69

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MAGYAR BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
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this he insists on the peculiar adaptation of the Magyar to the ancient metrical standard, and gives his own verses as evidence. He also translated Virgil. A bitter controversy grew up between him and Bacsányi, which led to his Apuléjus tǘköre, Apuleius's Mirror. It is a very erudite work, but he desisted from any farther attack on his adversary when he learned that Bacsányi had been visited by misfortune. He wrote a free translation from Plautus, Az Ikerek (The Twins), in iambics, and died in 1812. His talents were considerable — his learning more so; but the scorn, bitterness, and self-esteem, which characterize his literary polemics, leave no favorable impression of his moral qualities.

Far more amiable is the portraiture of Révai— one of the best poets of his day. He was born in 1749, and in the 16th year of his age obtained considerable notice by some admirable Latin translations. In 1778 he published a volume of Elegiac Poems.[1] In 1780, his oration on Maria Theresa's death obtained great popularity; and in 1784, he established his Magazine, Hirmondó (News-giver) at Poson. He endeavored, in 1784,

to obtain the concurrence of Joseph the Second, in

  1. A' Magyar alagyáknak elsö́ könyvök.