Theatre
Ágis tragédiája
Not translated into English
György Bessenyei · 1936
Synopsis
In Sparta, the opponents of King Leonidas reproach him for no longer following the ancient law of Lycurgus, founded on equality, and for leading the country to ruin. Ágézilaus, the king's adviser, deep in debt, urges the young Ágis to rouse the people, and Ágis allies himself with Kleombrotes, the king's son-in-law. Ámfares, Leonidas's confidant, accuses Ágis of aiming at tyranny. On Demókares's advice, the king decides to abolish debts in order to remove the cause of the revolt, while Ágézilaus admits to Ámfares that he only wanted to see his own promissory notes burn.
Context
The play appeared in Vienna in December 1772, from the presses of Leopold Kaliwoda, in five acts and in twelve-syllable verse with rhyming couplets. The author dedicates it to Maria Theresa: in the epistle, he compares the sovereign's difficulties with those of Leonidas, for the truth passes through the mouths of many servants, where it may take on the colours of falsehood. It was not until 1936 that it was performed: the National Theatre of Budapest then staged it in a production by László Márkus, with Tivadar Uray in the role of Ágis.
Who it is for
Five acts in alexandrines rhymed in couplets, in an eighteenth-century Hungarian; no French or English translation has been located.
Prizes and reception
The Petőfi Literary Museum, like Hungarian literary history, dates the beginning of the Enlightenment in the country from its publication.
Sources for this page 9
The pages consulted to check this page.