(_For the Mirror_.)
Tordenskiold is a name frequently met with in the annals of Denmark.
A singular anecdote is connected with one of the bravest individuals
who ever bore the name--the renowned Admiral Tordenskiold, of the days
of Frederick IV. While he was yet a young and undistinguished naval
officer, he chanced to be in the hall of the royal palace at the time
that the king, wearied with the flatteries of some courtiers, who were
congratulating him on the success of his war with Sweden, exclaimed,
"Ay, I know what you will say, but I should like to know the opinion of
the Swedes themselves." Tordenskiold slipped unobserved from the royal
palace, hurried to his ship, set sail, and was in an hour on the coast
of Sweden. The first sight that caught his eye on landing was a bridal
procession. Hastily seizing bride, bridegroom, minister, peasants, and
all, he hurried them aboard, and returned to Denmark. Two hours had
scarcely elapsed from the moment of the king's expressing his wish,
when Tordenskiold, stepping from the crowd of courtiers who surrounded
his majesty, informed him that he had now an excellent opportunity of
gratifying his wishes, as Swedes of every class of society were in
waiting. The astonished monarch, who had not yet missed the young
captain from the hall, demanded his meaning; and on being informed of
the adventure, summoned the captives to his presence. After gratifying
his curiosity, he dismissed them with a handsome present, and ordered
them to be conveyed back to Sweden. The promptness of young Tordenskiold
was not forgotten, and he speedily rose to the high admiralship of
Denmark, a post which he filled with more glory than any other of his
countrymen, either before or since.
* * * * *
The memoirs of Lewis Holberg, which have lately appeared in English, are
remarkably curious and interesting. It is not generally known, that this
celebrated writer, the Moliere of Denmark, was educated at Oxford,
whither he repaired penniless, to secure a good education.
* * * * *
Holberg, Samsoe, and Oehlenschlager are the three dramatic luminaries of
Denmark. The best production of Samsoe is the play of _Dyveke_,
produced a few days after his death. Such was the enthusiasm it excited,
that the following epitaph was proposed to be inscribed on his tomb, in
the public cemetery of Copenhagen:--
"Here lies Samsoe;
He wrote _Dyveke_ and died."
* * * * *
The best poet that Sweden has ever produced is Esaias Tegner, the bishop
of Wexio, now living. His first production was _Axel_, a short poem
on the adventures of one of those pages of Charles XII. who were sworn
to a single life, to be entirely devoted to the fortunes of war. He has
struck out great interest by plunging this hero in love, and painting
the conflicts between his passion and his reverence for his oath. The
words have been translated into Danish, German, and English. The latter
translation appeared in _Blackwood's Magazine._ Although the Danish
language is so akin to the Swedish, that translation is the worst of
the three. It is said that this poem procured Tegner the bishoprick of
Wexio. A singular circumstance is connected with it. A German literary
gentleman was so delighted with the version of it in his own language,
that he actually studied Swedish for the sole purpose of reading it in
the original.
A compliment like this has rarely been paid, as the poem does not
contain more than about a thousand lines. Since then, Tegner has written
a poem, entitled _Frethioff's Sage_ founded on one of the wild and
singular traditions of the North. It has been more popular than even
_Axel_, and the announcement of a third poem from the same hand,
said to outdo all former efforts, excites the greatest interest in
Stockholm.
* * * * *
Novels have only been introduced within these few years in Denmark.
Ingemann is their most successful manufacturer. His last production is
entitled _Valdemar Seier_, or Waldemar the victorious. The Danes
have translations of Sir Walter Scott and Cooper.
* * * * *
It is supposed there are not above three persons in Copenhagen who
cannot speak German. Oehlenschlager, the best modern author of Denmark,
writes equally well in German and Danish.