Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/240

222 history; but he did far better work in his hymns and in his charming patriotic songs, such as "Boer jeg paa det höie Fjeld" (Dwell I on the lofty mount), and "For Norge, Kjæmpers Födeland" (To Norway, mother of the brave), etc. By his grand and commanding individuality Johan Nordal Brun played an important part in the intellectual life of his time. In a national sense he was one of the most fearless advocates of independence and emancipation from the foreign influences that monopolized everything, and in his religious work he was an ardent and powerful champion of Christianity against rationalism. His "Hellige Taler" (sermons) are characterized not only by freshness and vigor, but also by a sublime and perfectly entrancing eloquence. To the day of his death the people came in vast numbers to listen to him. In 1803 he was appointed bishop in Bergen, and few men have left behind them a more fondly cherished name. The brothers (1746-1829) and  (1752-1839) became very popular by their national songs, full of graphic descriptions of the natural scenery of Norway. The former also distinguished himself as a popular poet, and the poetical collections "Almuens Sanger" (the people's bard), published in 1790, and "Den syngende Sömand" (the singing sailor), published in 1793, became great favorites. The latter made in his romance, "Axel Thordsön og skjön Valborg," published in 1775, an attempt at reproducing a theme from the old heroic lays; but he failed for the reason that he substituted for the charming style of the ballad a broad rhetorical declamation; but still his works show that the author was the first to discover the true sources of Scandinavian poetry. (1746-91) became distinguished by his epigrams, and (1748-82) by his songs. The elegiac poet, (1760-1821), and the merry bard of joy,  (1761-1821), enjoyed much celebrity, though their productions have no longer any special value.