In 1465 Janus Pannonius wrote an Hun garian grammar, which is lost. The 16th cm" tury was favorable to Hungarian literature, through the religious disputes in the country, the sacred, martial and popular songs, as well as by the histories written and published for the people, and the multiplied translations of the Bible. Among writers of ballads or metrical tales belonging to the 16th century may be mentioned Tim:14i, Kalconyi, Tsanicti, Valkai, Tserenyi, Szegedi, lllenfaIvi, Fazikas, Balassa, etc. A higher aim was manifested by the epic poems of Count Nadas Zrinyi (1652), Ladislaus Lissthi (1653), Christopher Pask6 (1663), Count Stephen Kohary (1699), and in particular the numerous and excellent productions of Stephen von GyOngyfisi (1664-1734), as well as the lyric poems of Rimai, Balassa, Benitzky, etc. In 1653 an encyclopaedia of all the sciences, and in 1656 a work on logic, were drawn up in the Hungarian language by John Tsere (Apatzai). A large number of grammars • and dictionaries were printed from the 16th century to the 18th. But the hopes of the further development of Hungarian literature were not realized; a Latin period again succeeded, from 1700 to 1780, dur ing which time numerous and finished works were composed in Latin by Hungarian writers. In 1721 a Latin newspaper was established, and the state calendar, which commenced in 1726, was regularly published in Latin. In 1781 the first Hungarian newspaper was printed in Pressburg.
After Joseph II died (1790) several laws were passed in favor of the Hungarian lan guage. Several periodicals were established, Hungarian theatres erected in Buda and Pesth, many works were written both in poetry and prose. The modern period of Hungarian liter ature may be said to date from the time of Joseph II. The epic poem of Arpad was writ ten by Andrew Horvath, and published at Pesth in 1830. The brothers Alexander and Charles Kisfaludy acquired a great and deserved reputa tion as poets and dramatists, and did much toward developing the national language and literature. The latter (who died in 1830) may be looked upon as the founder of the mod ern drama in Hungary. The most celebrated works of the former are his lyrical masterpiece, 'Himfy Szerelmei' (Himfy's Love, 1802), his 'Regek• a Magyar elOidob451' (Tales of the Early Hungarian Times), and his historical tragedies, which were partly modeled on those of Schiller. The development of the Hungarian literature owes much to the influence of the periodical press, which spread abroad a taste for literature at the same time as it intensified the sentiment of nationality among the people. In this department the name of Kossuth de serves honorable mention. Previous to the troubles of 1848-49, which checked for a time the national growth of the literature, almost every species of composition was successfully practised. Works on politics and narratives of travel were written by Efitvos, Szechenyi, Szalay Szemere, etc.; on history by Stephen and Michael Horvath, Szalay and Jaszay; on philology by Fogarassy and Bloch; works on the exact sciences, however, were confined to trans lations from the German, French and English.
Novels and romances were written by Baron Josika, Ea5tv6s, Kemeny, Kuthy, Nagy, Palffy, etc., which, though of no great originality, showed considerable artistic skill, and helped to diffuse a more correct style. The dramatic pieces of Efitvos, Obernyik, Vorfismarty, and the prolific Szigligeti — who for a long time had almost the exclusive possession of the national stage — have greater value and originality. It is in poetry, strictly so called, however, that modern Hungarian literature shines. Many of the poems (songs, ballads, etc.) of Czuczor, Vorosmarty, Bajza, Garay, Bachot, Szasz, Erdelyi, Kereny and others, are among the finest things that modern literature has pro duced. In this field the palm must be awarded to Alexander Petiifi, who completely freed Hun garian poetry from its dependence on foreign models and subjects, and inspired it with a life drawn fresh from nature and national feeling; and who, in artistic skill and masterly handling of his mother tongue, ranks as a model. Tom pa, Hiador, Lisznyai and others, have copied him with more or less success. The collection of ancient Hungarian national poetry, compiled and edited by John Erdelyi, at the instance of the Kisfaludy Society (three vols., Pesth 1845-47), contributed greatly toward bringing back the modern poetry to nature and origin ality, and to impress upon it the stamp of nationality. The ill success of the revolution ary struggle seemed for a time to have dealt a heavy blow to the progress of Hungarian literature, the mostgifted writers having either fallen in battle (as lPetlifi), or been imprisoned or banished. Time, however, opened the pris ons and brought back the exiles; to the writers already mentioned others were added, and an active literary life again bean. The greatest J recent Hungarian poet is John Arany, who surpasses even Petiifi in artistic feeling, and whose national epic, 'Toldi,' is looked upon as a masterpiece. Baron J6sika holds the first place among The novelists; Jokai, Kuthy, lBerczy, Palffy, Miksrath and Dobzsa are also favonte fiction writers. Narratives of travel have been written by Count Andrassy, Ladislaus Magyar, Vambery, etc.; on politics by Esen gery, Szalay, Pakh and Efitvos. National his tory has attracted much attention; and besides the works of Szalay and Horvath, we should mention Teleki's 'Age of Hunyad,> jaszay's 'Hungary after the Battle of Mohacs,' Salo mon's 'The Rule of the Turks in Hungary,' etc. Many excellent translations of modern foreign works have been made, some of which, such as Esengery's translation of Macaulay's 'History of England,' and Somssich's transla tion of Guizot's