[A GLANCE AT THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF SCANDINAVIA.]
V.—THE ROMANCE OF AXEL.
Translated by L. A. SHERMAN, Ph.D.
We promised ourselves at the beginning of these papers a little entertainment betweenwhiles, and we have had rather dry reading lately. The political history of Scandinavia is not very fascinating, except here and there a period or a reign. Let us then declare a breathing space, and spend half an hour with Tegnér [Teng-nar´], the most brilliant and popular poet of the Swedes; besides, it will not be out of order, for it is of the glorious Carolinska Tid, or age of Charles XII., that we shall hear. Of Tegnér we shall learn hereafter, and I hope when we have read his poem we shall want to know a great deal about him. The story is called “Axel” [Ahk-sel], from the name of the hero, and explains itself. We make no pretentions to reproducing the poetry, but only something of the directness and force, of the original.
The ancient days are dear to me,
The days of Charles the Twelfth of Sweden,
For they were blithe as peace of Eden,