Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/255

Rh did manner, warned Oehlenschläger in regard to the dangerous course on which he had entered, and he particularly complained “that all religious earnest seemed more and more to have been banished from his poems, and that he seemed to be playing fast and loose with all things spiritual.” Oehlenschläger himself scarcely took any part in the controversy. From time to time he would vent his displeasure in prose and verse, but he very rarely published anything of the sort. On the other hand he never ceased, during the whole feud, to publish one work after the other. Among these there were poems which abundantly show that although he might occasionally write "invita Minerva," still he remained in his happy moods the poet of "Hakon Jarl" and of "Aladdin." During this time he published his cycle of romances, "Helge," one of his most exquisite works; also "Hroars Saga;" the tragedy, "Hagbarth og Signe," and several others. In 1818 appeared his charming dramatic idyl, "Den lille Hyrdedreng" (the little shepherd boy), which made so favorable an impression on Baggesen that he thought "the old Adam Ohelenschläger" had returned, and he forthwith ceased to trouble him. But the young friends of the poet were not appeased; they continued to persecute Baggesen until the latter left the country in 1820.

Baggesen's polemics were full of bitterness and littleness; a fact greatly to be deplored, for in many leading points he was unquestionably right. After his return home Oehlenschläger—his literary position being secured—occasionally produced works altogether unworthy of his poetical genius. There was, therefore, real danger that Oehlenschläger might go entirely astray; the more so since his poor productions continued to be received with the same tumultuous joy as his good ones. Against this Baggesen wished to enter his protest, and although the bitter feelings engendered by his losing the first place on the Danish Parnassos may have influenced his manner of attack, still it cannot be gainsaid that his opposition to Oehlenschläger was made chiefly in the name of