Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/295

Rh series of effective scenes he has here given us a graphic picture of the struggle between Christianity and the heathen faith. The drama is largely lyric in its character, and this fact makes it less adapted for the stage. Since the above mentioned volume of poems he has from time to time published single poems, which are in every way equal to the former ones.

(born 1822) is a very peculiar genius who has acquired a remarkable command of the chit-chat style in "feuilletons," in lectures, and in light stories. His numerous poems, of which some are very popular, always contain something racy, though they are usually very ordinary as to contents. He is also master in the art of localizing foreign vaudevilles, which under his hand receive an entirely new stamp. Of the plays which he has himself written, "Fastelavnsgildet," a most exquisite comedy, is the best.

(born 1821) has collected his youthful, poetic compositions into two volumes, which, in addition to a number of lyric poems and romances, (among them "Billeder af Jesu Liv"), also contain a few dramatic compositions and among them "Dante." All these works show great mastership of form, but do not betray any rare poetical gifts. The more surprising it is that Molbech has recently produced the drama, "Ambrosius," which is a most charming work both on account of its characters, which are drawn with a steady hand, and on account of the beautiful and poetic style in which it is written. The main figure in the play is the poet Ambrosius Stub. By this drama Molbech's genius seems to have broken entirely new ground. His faithful and elegant translation of Dante's Divina Comedia is an excellent work, and together with the translations