Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/218

200 (1698-1773) rendered important services by his researches in the field of Danish language. Although he was not familiar with the Old Norse, still through his fine faculty of observation and unerring linguistic sense, he attained a marvelous insight into the laws of the language. He wrote the first complete Danish syntax, and contributed important articles on phonology, but his works failed to be properly appreciated by his contemporaries. Not before the present century were they finally rescued from oblivion by the distinguished linguist, Rasmus Rask.

(1698-1764) was a fertile and versatile writer, who published both historical and statistical, and scientific and theological works in Danish, German, and Latin. "Den danske Atlas," a large statistical, topographical work, and his explanation of Luther's catechism, the latter of which has long been used as a text-book in parochial schools, are among his best known works. His history of the Danish church, written in German, is still of importance on account of the extensive study of original materials on which it is based. Worthy of mention is also "Menoza," a theological novel with a purpose, which appeared in three volumes in 1742-43. Its hero is an Asiatic prince, who roamed about in the world in search of Christians, but who found but few worthy of that name. The book is dull and heavy, but still it is not without value to the historian of civilization and culture.

While Holberg, through his historical writings, and through his literary activity in general, was chiefly intent on promoting popular enlightenment, much was done during this period in the field of critical and historical research. Particularly was the beginning made in the laying of a solid foundation for a systematic study of history by