Hiba hiba hátán

A composite volume in the Hungarian National Library contains a signature by Csokonai Vitéz Mihály (1773–1805). However, instead of Csokonai V. Mihály, the signature uses an unusual form, “Cs. V.”, meaning that Vitéz (roughly meaning ‘virtue’) functions as aproper name. The handwritten note also contains a two-line Hungarian epigram, unanimously attributed to Csokonai as a book review in the milieu of the Reformed colleges in the Kingdom of Hungary. This paper presents arguments, based on Csokonai’s sentimental poetry, suggesting — without absolute certainty — that the signature is more likely than not to be that of Csokonai’s. The paper also examines the European context of the epigram, concluding that the verse is a translation, the original of which was written in Latin during a critical period of the European Protestantism (1570–1580).