The Szózat (in English: "The Appeal") is a Hungarian patriotic song. De facto, it is regarded as "the second national anthem" of Hungary, beside the Himnusz, which is a constitutionally defined state symbol. The lyrics were written in 1836 by Mihály Vörösmarty and set to music in 1840 by Béni Egressy for the award of András Bartay, head of the National Theatre. It was first performed in the National Theatre on 10th May 1843. There was a fierce debate in the era whether the Szózat or the Himnusz was supposed to be the anthem of the country.

Comparison to Himnusz

The title of Vörösmarty's work defines the situation: it is a speech, oration of a raconteur (the poet) to the Hungarian people. Although the Szózat of Vörösmarty touches similar thoughts as the poems of Ferenc Kölcsey, even as continuing his train of thought, its intonation is entirely different. Himnusz (Hymn) is a prayer, but Szózat acts rather like a speech, addressing the listener/reader by the narrator in the role of an orator. Furthermore, as a prayer, Himnusz becomes almost a begging for the last verse, while Szózat is much more uplifting, unfaltering, inspiring for patriotism and loyalty. However, it also reckons with the concerns of Himnusz, sees the death of the nation as a possibility: 'Or it will come, if it must come, The glorious death'. At the same time it finds possible the coming of a better era: 'There yet shall come … that better, fairer day'. The poem deals with the past in three, with the future in six verses.

Lyrics

It was translated to English by Watson Kirkconnell, a Canadian writer and academic.