Page:The New Monthly Magazine - Volume 095.djvu/59

52 Minerva was a schoolfellow of Samsöe, and travelled with him afterwards over a portion of Europe. He was also the editor of Samsöe's works after his death. Tragedies had almost disappeared from the Danish stage since the days of Ewald, having given place to comic dramas and musical entertainments; but they were revived by Samsöe, whose charming tragedy of "Dyveke" became extremely popular, and re-awakened the taste for the serious drama. He wrote besides this some poems, and "Frithiof," and other "Northern Tales." The tragedy of "Dyveke" carries the reader back to the days of Christian II. of Denmark, early in the sixteenth century, and is founded on what may be called a romance in history.

While King Hans reigned in Denmark, his son Christian, then crown-prince, to whom much power was assigned by his father, evinced an extremely stern and harsh disposition. Like Pedro of Spain, he was by some called the cruel, by others the just. His ideas, being in some respects anti-feudal, and inclining towards extending the liberty of the common people, and restraining that of the nobility and higher class clergy, did not suit the latter; therefore an attempt was made to divert his thoughts from politics, and soften the fierceness of his temper, supplying him with some domestic attraction. On the occasion of some riots at Bergen, Bishop Erik Walkendorff was sent there to inquire Into, and put a stop to them. On his return, according to Sneedorff, he not only reported that the insurrection was quelled, but also that there resided in that commercial town a most beautiful Dutch girl, whose name was Dyveke. Christian’s curiosity to see this beauty was excited; he went to Bergen, and gave a grand ball, to which all the inhabitants of the town, above the very lowest ranks, were invited. Among the guests came the beautiful Dyveke, and her mother Sigbrit, who had been a shopkeeper in Amsterdam, and at that time kept a tavern at Bergen. The prince saw Dyveke, danced with her, and became completely fascinated. "That dance," says the old historian Hvitfelt, "danced Christian II. out of three kingdoms." Dyveke, who was extremely young, became his chère amie, and her mother, an artful, ambitious woman, his confidential adviser. Dyveke exercised her influence over her royal admirer both for his own good and that of his country. She was the friend of the poor and the oppressed, the advocate of all who fell into disgrace, and the supplicant, in every case, for mercy. Her good offices extended to all classes, and her constant aim was to soften the asperities of Christian’s disposition, and to win him the love of his future subjects. She was consequently a general favourite; but her mother, the designing Sigbrit, was more inclined to foment discord, and was especially inveterate against the highest orders of the nobility.

About six years after the ball at Bergen, King Hans died; Christian II. ascended the throne, and, in accordance with the urgent wish of the nation, he married a sister of the Emperor Charles V. For some time tile king managed to conceal from her his connexion with Dyveke; at length, however, it came to her ears; but Elisabeth was a very mild, easy-tempered person, and she was more taken up with establishing a colony Dutch gardeners in the little island of Amager, than in giving way to jealousy or resentment. She took no part against Dyveke; but the Bishop Walkendorff, who, for his own purposes, had been the means of placing Dyveke in the situation she was so unfortunate as to hold,