Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XV.djvu/536

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512 SWEDEN (LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE) Messenius, who attempted to exhibit the whole of Swedish history in a series of dramas, S. P. Brask (1613-'68), and A. J. Prytz (1590-1655). More classically dramatic in form, but scarcely better in style, are the Rebecca of J. Beronius and the Rosimunda of U. Hjtirne, while but little more praise can be bestowed upon the dramatic allegories of J. P. Chronander. The lyric writers may be divided into the Italian and the German school. To the former be- longed G. Dahlstjerna (1658-1709), author of the Kungaslcald, a half heroic, half elegiac poem in ottave rime on Charles XL, and of an unsuccessful translation of Guarini's Pastor Mo; and G. Eosenhane (1619-'84), whose longest metrical attempt, Venerid, is a collec- tion of 100 sonnets. The chief representatives of the German school were S. Columbus (1642- '79), whose lyrics and pastorals are now nearly forgotten; L. Johansson (died 1674), whose Helicons Blomster, "Flowers from Helicon," published under the pseudonyme of Lucidor, is a collection of epithalamiums, elegies, and erotic songs, which are less remarkable than his hymns, and P. Lagerlof (1648-'99), au- thor of a love song of great popularity in its day. The many-sided Spegel, some of whose hymns are worthy of mention, wrote two heavy and monotonous poems, borrowing his titles from the two epics of Milton. C. Arosell is known as the author of a volume of Ofverskrifter, or epigrams, a few of which are of merit. IV. 1718 to 1772. These years em- brace a time of great literary activity. The natural sciences, under the influence of the world-famous Linn6 or Linnesus, occupy the first place. (See LINNAEUS.) That great natu- ralist was surrounded by a crowd of pupils, a large number of whom became celebrated ; among them P. Forskal (l736-'63), who under- took a scientific journey to Egypt and Arabia, and whose researches were published by Nie- buhr ; and 0. Bjerkander and J. G. Wahlbom, who illustrated the flora of northern Europe. P. Artedi (l705-'35) wrote a treatise on ich- thyology, which Linnaeus edited in 1738. To physiology belong the (Economia Regni Ani- malis and Regnum Animate of Swedenborg (1688-1772). The entomological works of C. F. de Geer (1720-'78), in French, are still es- teemed. Eminent in chemistry were Torbern Olof Bergman (l735-'84), who laid the foun- dation for the science of crystallography ; A. F. Cronstedt (!722-'65), the discoverer of nickel ; and J. G. Wallerius (l709-'85). Much attention was paid to mining by M. von Bromel (1679-1731), Swedenborg, and others. Olof Rudbeck the younger (died 1740) distin- guished himself in several sciences; he pub- lished among others a work on ornithology in three volumes. N. Ros6n von Rosenstein (died 1773) was the reformer of medical sci- ence in Sweden. Astronomy was illustrated by such names as A. Celsius (l701-'44), S. Klin- genstjerna (1689-1785), and P. W. Wargentin (1717-'S3); mechanics by C. Polhem (1661- 1751) and Swedenborg; and mathematics by J. Faggot, C. Falkengren, E. O. Runeberg, and others. Jurisprudence was represented by D. Nehrman (died 1769) and O. Rabenius (1730- '72). S. Alnander, J. Benzelius, P. Munch, L. P. Halenius, P. Muhrbech, and J. Serenius were the chief writers in the various depart- ments of theology; but the science produced no very eminent man except Swedenborg. (See SWEDENBORG.) The best known metaphysician was the Cartesian A. Rydelius (1671-1738); the system of Wolf was supported by P. Hog- strom, N. Wallerius, and C. Mesterton ; that of Locke by A. Schonberg (1737-1811), F. Kryger (1707-'77), and Runeberg. Johan Ihre (1707-'80) won fame by his Glossarium Sveo- Gothicum, a Swedish dialect lexicon, and by his researches concerning Ulfilas and the Moaso- Gothic language. The Icelandic scholars of the preceding generation were followed in the earlier portion of this period by J. F. Pe- ringskjold (1688-1725), E. J. Bjorner, Count G. Bonde (1682-1764), J. Goransson, and N. R. Brocman; but before the middle of the 18th century the taste for Icelandic studies had greatly declined. In geography and travels, E. Tuneld's description of Sweden and J. J. Bjornstahl's travels through Europe deserve mention. In history, as in polite literature, Olof Dalin (!708-'63) stands at the head of this period. His journal Den Svenska Argus, " The Swedish Argus" (1732-'4), an imitation of the English " Spectator," exerted a weighty influ- ence upon the prose style of the language and the literary taste of the nation ; and his Svea Hikes Historia, " History of the Swedish Realm," though wanting in critical ability, is eloquent and pleasing. A more rigorous ex- amination of evidence characterizes the Swe- dish histories of A. af Botin (1724-' 90) and P. Schonstrom. The history of Charles XII. by G. Norberg (1677-1744), and the "Memoirs of Christina " by J. Arckenholtz, written in French, have been of great assistance to suc- ceeding writers. O. Celsius the younger (1716- '94) wrote histories of the reigns of Gustavus Vasa and Eric XIV., and rendered a great ser- vice to Swedish letters by establishing the Tid- ningar om de Lardes Arbeten, "Journal of the Works of the Learned," the first critical peri- odical in the language. A. A. von St jernman, C. G. Warmholtz (1710-'S4), E. Benzelius (1675-1743), B. Bergius (1723-'84), G. Wallin (1686-1760), and S. Loenbom (died 1776) were laborious critics, editors, and collectors, and brought to light or illustrated a great number of early Swedish monuments. Dalin's alle- gorical epic, Den Stenska Friheten (" Swedish Freedom "), his tragedy Brynhilda, and his comedy Den Afundsjuke ar quick (" The Jealous Man is sharp-witted "), are generally pleasing, though without much depth or vigor. II. C. Nordenflycht (1718-'63), a lady, left a high name as a writer of lyrics. Count G. P. Creutz (died 1785) was the author of a tolerably felici- tous pastoral, Atis och Camilla, and Count G.