"History of King Erik Plogpenning;" "Tales and Sketches from Danish History," published between 1837 and 1840; "Lyrical Dramas;" "Poetical Anthology;" "Lives of Danish Authors," &c. Captain W. Graah, of the Danish navy, has written a book interesting to Danes, on the "Naval History of Denmark," and a "Narrative of an Expedition[1] to the East Coast of Greenland," which had for its object a search after traces of the ancient colonies. It is scarcely necessary to add, that none were found. Professor Rask, born 1787, at Fyen, and who died in 1832, was an eminent philologist, antiquarian, and Anglo-Saxon scholar. He translated "Snorre's Edda," and has written, among other esteemed works, an Icelandic Grammar and an Anglo-Saxon Grammar, the latter translated into English by Mr. Thorp, one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon scholars living. Finn Magnusen, a learned Icelander of very ancient family, has published on similar subjects. His "Lexicon Mythologicum," and "Eddalæren," are excellent guides to ancient Scandinavian lore, though perhaps his theories may be rather fanciful.
Among the philosophical authors of the same period may be named Niels Troschow, a Norwegian by birth, who died in 1833, at the advanced age of eighty-two. He was a professor, and afterwards councillor of state. His principal works are, "Elements of the Philosophy of History,"
"Universal Logic," "Moral Philosophy for the People and the State." He wrote also on the favourite theme, Scandinavian literature, which one wonders should have engaged so many able pens. The name of Sören Kierkegaard also stands high, and that of Henrik Steffens, who was born in 1774, and died in 1843. His works on natural history and philosophy are, however, principally in German. He was for a longtime a professor at Berlin, and was at another period of his life a professor at Kiel. Henrik Steffens has not confined himself to scientific works, but has also published on political matters, which he has introduced into a book purporting to be the biography of four individuals, from their childhood upwards. This work has made a great sensation in Germany. He has also condescended to novel-writing; and a tale of his, founded on a Zealand legend, is said to be very striking. The same legend affords H. C. Andersen the subject of one of his best poems, "Bruden i Rorwig Kirke," the "Bride of Rorwig Church." The poor bride, though married to a very handsome young man, apparently a nobleman, was soon made the bride of death, for she was murdered immediately after the ceremony had been performed. The story tells, that late one moonlight night, the officiating priest or minister of a lonely little church, in an obscure corner of the Island of Zealand, close by the sea-shore, was aroused from his quiet slumbers by the intrusion of a band of armed men, who commanded him to accompany them to the church, offering him gold if he went readily, and threatening to stab him if he demurred. The old priest took his Bible under his arm as his talisman, and went with them. On the way, which was by the sands, he observed a vessel at anchor in the solitary little bay; and on entering the church, he found it full of ferocious-looking men, whose long swords clattered on the stone floor; standing amidst men, he saw a beautiful young girl, who looked very pale and unhappy, but was dressed in the most gorgeous costume. She was led
- ↑ Translated into English by the late G. Gordon Macdougall, Esq.
