Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/241

Rh Among the Norwegian poets who did not belong to the Norwegian society, (1749-94) was the greatest. His songs, "Hr Zinklar" and "Thorvald Vidförle" deserve attention on account of their perfect imitation of the style of the heroic ballads. His fables and his songs composed in a Norwegian peasant dialect are very fine.

Of Danish poets, in addition to those already named, the following deserve mention: The brothers (1743-96) and  (1754-84) distinguished themselves as composers of satires. (1736-1806) was born in Germany, came to Denmark in 1757 and acquired a thorough knowledge of Danish, in which tongue he afterward became a prolific writer, especially of medical works and poems. He was most successful in merry songs and in farces. The physician (1767-1814) also wrote hymns and songs that were received with much favor. , mentioned above, was also a fertile poet, and his poetical productions stood in high repute among his contemporaries. His epic poem, "Stærkodder," was universally admired, though it is now of interest solely because it was the first production of its kind in Denmark. Nor can much present value be attributed to the poetical productions of, though his sentimental tales and domestic works were highly appreciated in their day. On the other hand, his drinking songs, a kind of poetry that was much in vogue in the clubs and social circles of the period, have not lost their peculiar freshness and charm.

In the field of the drama there were in addition to those already described and to, of whose bitter farces we have already spoken, the following: (1749-1821), especially known as the author of the little dramatic idyls "Höstgildet" (the harvest feast) and "Peders Bryllup" (Peter's wedding), which found many readers on account of their simple homely style and their sympathetic and sweet songs. The latter especially was very popular.