Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/187

Rh did not fairly begin to be realized before the eighteenth century. Until then only the clergy and the nobility took any interest in intellectual work. The nobility did earnest, praiseworthy work in the pursuit of culture, and assisted with marked liberality the students of science. There were many noblemen of fine culture, and among them were to be found men of profound learning. Thus in addition to Tyge Brahe, (1574-1642) deserves to be mentioned as an excellent theologian, well versed in Greek and Hebrew. After acquiring a vast amount of knowledge at the most celebrated German universities, he, belonging to one of the most distinguished families of the country, was naturally called into practical life, but his love of science was so strong that he finally resigned his place in the council of the realm and devoted himself exclusively to study. His religious views did not wholly accord with the orthodoxy then prevalent, and to avoid the censure of the theologians he published the most of his works abroad. Both his books and his extensive correspondence with scholars in Denmark and in foreign lands gave him the highest reputation for learning. Meanwhile he did not completely avoid a conflict with the strict Lutheran theologians, and he was at onetime in imminent danger. He continued to carry on a violent controversy with his adversaries until his death, and the fact that he was not prosecuted, was chiefly owing to the regard entertained for his noble rank. Noble ladies also occupied themselves successfully with literature and science, and (1610-1662), produced a translation of Seneca, which was very excellent for the time. The most remarkable authoress of that time was the unfortunate wife of Korfitz Ulfeldt, (1621-1698), a daughter of Christian IV, whose book "Jammersminde" is a simple and touching description of her long and severe sufferings in prison. It is one of the most charming and striking books in the whole field of Danish literature, and bears throughout the stamp of