The Literature and Romance of Northern Europe

THE

LITERATURE AND ROMANCE

NORTHERN EUROPE:

CONSTITUTING

A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE LITERATURE OF SWEDEN,
DENMARK, NORWAY AND ICELAND,

WITH COPIOUS SPECIMENS OF THE MOST CELEBRATED

HISTORIES, ROMANCES, POPULAR LEGENDS AND TALES, OLD CHIVALROUS
BALLADS, TRAGIC AND COMIC DRAMAS, NATIONAL AND FAVOURITE SONGS,
NOVELS, AND SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF THE PRESENT DAY.

WILLIAM AND MARY HOWITT.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. II.

LONDON:

COLBURN AND CO., PUBLISHERS,

GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.

1852.

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CONTENTS

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

BAGGESEN, CONTINUED.

Publishes his translation of Holberg's "Niels Klim's Subterranean Journey"

-Also an opera, 66
Holger Danske"-Burlesqued by P. A. Heiberg,

under the name of "Holger Tydske"-Baggesen receives a travelling

stipend-Liberality of Denmark in this respect to its men of talent-

Denmark pensioned Klopstock and assisted Schiller-Baggesen's charm-

ing narrative of his travels under the title of "The Labyrinth"-Extracts

from this-The passport-Visit to Voss-Outbreak of the French

Revolution-Visit to Klopstock-" The Lüneburg Heath, and Heath

Philosophy"-" The Devil's Stone-road"-" Choice Specimen of an

Englishman"-The son of Warren Hastings.

CHAPTER II.

BAGGESEN, CONTINUED.

Visit to Bürger-" Love Adventure in Switzerland"-Visit to Schiller-

Baggesen returns home with his wife-Different after journeys-Death

of his wife, Sophy Haller-He quits Denmark again-Marries Fanny

Raybaz-Produces his opera of "Erik Eiegod"-Made Vice-Provost of

Regents College-Lives much in Germany and Paris-Made Professor

at Kiel-Becomes very unpopular at home from his unpatriotic senti-

ments-Commences his onslaught upon Oehlenschläger-His criticisms

on Oehlenschläger's works-Fickleness of his opinions-Retires again

to Paris-Dies at Hamburg-Characteristics of his genius

CHAPTER III.

RAHBEK.

Character of his writings-A genuine specimen of the active literary man

-Estimate of his genius, by Molbech-Account of his life-His tutor

Adzer-Goes to Herlufsholm School-Thence to the University-

Curious visit to his old tutor Adzer at Jägersborg-Literary acquaint-

ances-Plays for money at Neergaard's Coffee-House to enable him to

visit the theatre-Translates and writes for the theatre-Goes unwil-

lingly abroad-Joins Pram in "The Minerva"-Amusing account of

the occupation of his bed-room by his friends-Celebrated associates at

Dreier's club-His own account of the industry of his life-His

poetical works-His "Erindringer"-Assists in the publication of the

Kiempe-Viser Marries-Account of his Bakkehuus-Of his

Camma-His poem on his Bakkehuus - Deaths of his wife and

himself-His account of "The great Fire of Copenhagen in 1795,"

quoted

CHAPTER IV.

OEHLENSCHLÄGER.

Comparison between the genius of Ochlenschläger and that of Tegnér—

Oehlenschläger, the representative of a new era-Observations on what

is called the Romantic in opposition to the Classical Schools-The

classical essentially romantic-The Modern School should be called

the Universal School-Oehlenschläger, like Scott, saw all the history

and tradition of his country unused in romance-Great discoveries

in art-Intellectual gold-findings-Hidden till the proper moment-Bio-

graphical account of Oehlenschläger—His Father, steward of Frederiks-

borg Castle-Oehlenschläger's account of his early school-master-

Of his life at Frederiksborg-Met by Storm, the poet, and introduced

by him to the School of the Posterity Society -Became an actor-

Life in Copenhagen-Acquaintance with Rahbek-Acquires the friend-

ship of the brothers Oersted, then students-Studies the German poets

and philosophers-His poetical Theories, revolutionized by Henrick

Steffens-Begins to publish-" Thor's journey to Jotunhem," etc-Es-

tablishes his fame by the drama of Aladdin-Splendour of this work-

"Aladdin's Prison Hymn," quoted-Receives a travelling stipend--

Visits Germany and France-Anecdote of Hegel-Oehlenschläger

enters Weimar on the day of the Battle of Jena

CHAPTER V.

OEHLENSCHLÄGER, CONTINUED.

Sends home from his tour "Hakon Jarl," "Palnatoké," and other
dramas-" Correggio," from Rome--His own account of these dramas
-Scenes from "Hakon Jarl"-Death of Little Erling-Night scene at
the house of Thora-Scene between Hakon and Thora-Beauty of the
tragedy of "Correggio"-Scene between Michael Angelo and Cor-
reggio--Scene between Julio Romano and Correggio-Oehlenschläger's

last interview with Goethe-His popularity on his return home-Made

Professor of Esthetics Marries- Oehlenschläger's numerous after

works-Attacks of Baggesen-His "Gods of the North," lately trans-

lated by Mr. Bowring-Publishes a German translation of Holberg's

plays-Still continued writing numerous works-What they are- Vain

attempt of Sir Walter Scott to get a translation of his "Island in the

South Sea," a romance, published in Englaud-Oehlenschläger's tri-

umphal visit to Sweden-Crowned with laurel by Tegnér-His remarks

on the public estimation of poets-Numerous works still written by

him-His mind full of power to the last-The honours conferred upon

him by many sovereigns-Scene from his drama of the "Fisherman's

Daughter"-Summary estimate of his genius.