Page:History of the Literature of the Scandinavian North.djvu/400

382 a deep philosophical world-grief, and a feeling of relief is but rarely found, though his gloomy disposition was somewhat softened in his last years by a religious resignation to the will of heaven. His poems are rich in deep thought, though he does not always clothe them in the fittest words. His collected poems make but a small volume, as he had sufficient strength to destroy before his death many things which could not stand the test of his own severe criticism. Among what remains there is much that is beautiful and valuable. The best ones of his poems are certain melancholy songs that were inspired by hopeless love.

The school, the rise of which was connected with the awakened national sentiment, desired a regeneration on the basis of the memories of the past and thus took substantially the same course as Oehlenschläger, by whom it was greatly influenced. Its chief standard-bearer was 1, one of the most eminent men in the history of Sweden's literature and culture, and a man who has in many ways left his impress thereon. He was born in Wermland the 12th of January, 1783. The majestic natural scenery of this province gave his spirit that earnest manly mould which characterized his whole life. In his seventeenth year he entered the university. When three years later the Academy offered a prize for the best work in memory of Sten Sture, he resolved to become one of the competitors. In order to clear himself from the reputation for fickleness, he finished his work in great secrecy. He gained the prize, and was at the same time admitted to the literary circles of that age. Still it took a long time before he could decide to what branch of intellectual work he should devote his powers. Through his comprehensive studies he gained the most varied impressions, especially of a philosophical and poetical nature, so that his profound and receptive soul became most violently agitated and all creative power within him was extinguished. He went to England for one year, and on his return in 1810, he