Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/353

335 may mention his "Venerid," a poem in one hundred sonnets. In his other poems he also made somewhat successful efforts to force the stiff Swedish tongue into the more artistic forms of foreign languages, especially in "Thet svenska språketz klagemål att thet, som sigh borde, ikke ähret blifver" (The complaint of the Swedish language that it does not receive the honor it deserves), which is remarkable for its warm appreciation of the native vernacular. But his poems do not, upon the whole, show much poetical genius.

(1661—1709) was on the other hand a genuine poet, who, doubtless, would have achieved something of success, had not the Italian Marinists and the second Silesian school exercised a noxious influence on him, and seduced him into an affected, bombastic style, from which his natural feeling in its warmth and simplicity only now and then is able to emancipate itself. His chief work is his poem, "Kungaskald," written in octave rhymes with Alexandrines, a metre used for the first time in Sweden by Dahlstjerna. The poem is pervaded by a warm patriotic sentiment and a proud enthusiasm over the greatness to which Sweden had risen, and abounds in beautiful passages. This composition is, however, upon the whole surpassed by his "Götha Kämpevisa om Konungen och Hr. Peder" (The Swedish heroic song about the king, Charles XII, and Sir Peter, the Czar), which long lived on the lips of the people, and faithfully reproduced the spirit and style of the popular ballad. (about 1650-1710), the author of several erotic and elegiac poems, is said to have died from grief on account of the defeat at Pultowa. His most important work is the "Correspondence between Harbor and Signill." (died 1694) became known by his erotic songs and dirges, and (1661-1729) is celebrated for his songs breathing joy and happiness.

These poets were partly imitators of Stjernhjelm, and