deity within my soul, and that deity was Freedom," he said of himself, and rightly. But his exaggerated ideas were certain to awaken a reaction. His poem To Kings, with the refrain, "There is now no king who should be beloved," met with great disapproval.
"A few weeks after the 15th of March," wrote Petőfi in an article, "and lo, I am one of the most hated of men. Here I stand, in the abyss, my wreath tom from me, but at least I stand erect." It was partly due to this reaction, that when, at the elections, he stood as a parliamentary candidate, he was not returned. It is true that his speech to the constituents was proud and imperious, reminding us of the manner of Coriolanus in soliciting votes.
"The time of speeches is over," said Petőfi, "and the hour for deeds has arrived," and the event proved that he was right. The decisive struggle carne. Petőfi could not remain quietly at his desk while such events were stirring. There are noble natures in whom there dwells a certain self-sacrificing restlessness. They yearn to per form greater deeds than those of the common round. Such was Petőfi. He felt that revolution, war, and death were approaching, and longed to go to meet them. ln 1845 he had wished to die where the trumpets of battle were sounding. "God did not create me for solitude. I am called to the battlefield," he said. "Oh that I might hear the brazen trumpets resounding, calling to war. My restless saul can scarcely wait for the signal."
He obeyed the inward promptings of his soul, and also the call of duty, when he joined the "Honvéd" army. In October 1848 he was promoted to the rank of captain, and in 1849 he asked permission to join General Bem's division.[1]
- ↑ When Bem and Petöfi met, the latter said: "I offer you my
