Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/315

Rh foundation has in this manner been laid, the necessary materials for a literature would surely not be wanting, for they are found in abundance, both in the antiquities and in the popular life of Norway. This poem made the greatest possible sensation. The "Intelligence" party very naturally found in it a clear incontrovertible expression of the principles which in their opinion ought to be the basis of a worthy intellectual development. But Wergeland's party were highly incensed and could scarcely find sufficiently strong terms in which to denounce this "document of treason." There broke out a violent literary feud in which Welhaven, however, took no part. But his forcible words, welling forth from a deep inner conviction, continued to have a decided influence on the intellectual progress of the young Norway, and they contributed much to the revival of the people's self-consciousness and to impelling the Norwegians to employ their intellectual powers instead of being satisfied with empty phrases.

The contest with Welhaven was not the only one in which Wergeland had to engage, though his other conflicts were not of equal importance to the people of Norway and to literature. His excitable, reckless character involved him in a number of lawsuits which finally cost him the loss of house and home. Nor were scandalous scenes in public places wanting. Thus at the representation of Wergeland's drama, "The Campbells," there took place in the theatre a regular tussle (the famous Campbell fight) between the friends and adversaries of Wergeland in his own presence. His whole personality was of a kind that makes it easy to understand why even many intelligent men (in spite of his noble character, always intent on the ideal) misunderstood and hated him. Such was the case in the Jewish question, in which he applied the general principles of freedom in favor of an oppressed, persecuted race that was prohibited from settling in Norway. Wergeland espoused their cause with voice and pen, especially in his two interesting compositions, "Jöden" and "Jödinden." He