The Elopement

What it is

This is an English translation, made in 1921 by Edna Worthley Underwood, of a poem by the Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi. The poem tells the story of an elopement involving a woman named Anna, her husband Andrew von Csornay, and his nephew Carl.

The text is hosted on Wikisource among Petőfi's works, with a short biographical introduction describing him as the great lyric poet of the Magyar people, who died young after a brief but eventful life as a writer, editor and soldier.

Why it matters

Petőfi is remembered mainly for his fiery patriotic verse, but he also wrote lighter narrative poems like this one, showing the range of his talents beyond revolutionary poetry. Translations like this one helped spread his reputation outside Hungary, long after his death.

Look closer

• What does the dialogue-style opening tell you about the mood of the poem?
• Why might a translator in 1921 have chosen to bring this particular poem to English readers?
• How does this poem differ in tone from Petőfi's political poetry?