the psalms and satires is of slight importance, when we of course except the linguistic and historical interest which attaches to all old productions. Worthy of special mention is however the translation from the Low German, the animal fable, Reineke Fuchs, by the Copenhagen counsellor, Herman Vejgere. This "elegant and amusing book about the fox" appeared in 1555, and is a very successful adaptation of the original. It long remained a favorite and had to be republished several times.[1]
The allegory of the "Dance of Death," so popular in Europe during the middle ages, also came to Denmark, and from the manner in which the Catholics are represented in it, its introduction there must have occurred after the beginning of the Reformation, but before its complete establishment, in other words about 1530.
The first efforts in Denmark in the field of dramatic composition also belong to the reformation period. All of them belong to the so-called school-comedies, which maintained their position until after the beginning of the eighteenth century, and which during this long epoch constituted the only dramatic productions in Denmark. We therefore think it best to say at once all that we have to say on this topic, though in so doing we go far beyond the limits of this chapter.
The school-comedies derive their names from the fact that they were particularly connected with the schools and partly also with the university. There they were produced, that is to say in most cases translated from Latin or German or adapted from foreign originals. The most of these pieces went by the name of "moralities," by which term the people of this age understood spiritual plays, which were intended by dramatic representation to illustrate some moral principle and to appeal to the feelings of the listener. Then there were mysteries or representations of scenes from sacred history. On the other hand "Fasnachtspiele " (carnival plays),
- ↑ Herman Vejgere. En Ræfuebog, Copenhagen, 1555, and many times since.
