Fritofs Saga | Page 3

French, Latin and Greek classics. He worked
prodigiously and this, coupled with a remarkably retentive memory,
enabled him to make remarkably rapid progress in his studies. He
would have remained in the library all the time poring over his dear
classic authors but for the fortunate intervention of the young members
of the Myhrman family, seven in all, who frequently would storm into
his room and carry him off by sheer force to their boisterous frolics. To
one of these playmates, Anna Myhrman, the youngest daughter of the
family, he soon became attached by the tender ties of love.
In 1799 Tegnér was enabled, through the generosity of Branting and
Myhrman, to repair to Lund and enter the university of that place. Here
he made a brilliant record as a student, particularly in the classics, and
after three years he was awarded the master's degree. In recognition of
his remarkable scholarship he was soon after made instructor in
aesthetics, secretary to the faculty of philosophy and assistant librarian.
In 1806 he claimed Anna Myhrman as his bride.

We have the testimony of Tegnér himself that already as a child he
began to write poetry, in fact these efforts began so early in his life that
he could not remember when he for the first time exercised the power
that later was to win him an abiding fame. As early as his clerkship
days in the office of Branting he wrote a poem in Alexandrine verse
with the subject taken from the Old Norse sagas. His numerous
productions before 1808 attracted little attention and failed to get any
prize for the young author. But in the above mentioned year he sprang
into immediate popularity by the stirring "War Song of the Scanian
Reserves" (Krigssång för skånska lantvärnet), the Marseillaise of the
Swedish nation. Sweden had just suffered great reverses in war, her
very existence as an independent power seemed to hang in the balance,
and confusion and discouragement were evident on every hand. Then
came Tegnér's patriotic bugle blast, stirring the nation to renewed hope
and courage. Speaking of this poem Professor Boyesen says: "As long
as we have wars we must have martial bards and with the exception of
the German Theodore Körner I know none who can bear comparison
with Tegnér. English literature can certainly boast no war poem which
would not be drowned in the mighty music of Tegnér's 'Svea', 'The
Scanian Reserves', and that magnificent dithyrambic declamation,
'King Charles, the Young Hero'. Tennyson's 'Charge of the Light
Brigade' is technically a finer poem than anything Tegnér has written,
but it lacks the deep, virile bass, the tremendous volume of breath and
voice, and the captivating martial lilt which makes the heart beat willy
nilly to the rhythm of the verse" (Essays on Scandinavian Literature,
233).
The ability evinced by Tegnér as an instructor, but principally the
enthusiasm aroused by his "Song to the Scanian Reserves", gave him in
1810 a call to the Greek professorship at Lund. He did not, however,
enter into this position until 1812.
In the meantime Tegnér had given to his native land the solemn
didactic poem "Svea". In stately Alexandrine verse he scathingly
rebukes his countrymen for their foolish aping after foreign manners
and depending on foreign goods to satisfy their desires. The people,
says the poet, can become strong again only by a return to the simple

life and homely virtues of the great past. Not on the arena of war but
through faithful endeavor in industry, science and art may the Swedish
people restore to their fatherland its former power and glory. As though
transported by this noble thought into a state of ecstasy, the bard then,
in the concluding portion of the poem, pictures in magnificent
dithyrambic song the titanic struggle that ensues and enthrones Peace
as the beneficent ruler of the land. "Svea" won the prize of the Swedish
Academy and firmly established Tegnér in the affection of his
countrymen.
The most productive and brilliant period of Tegnér's literary activity is
contemporaneous with his incumbency of the Greek professorship at
Lund (1812-1824). In this period he enriches Swedish literature with a
series of lyrics which still rank among the best both in point of lucidity
of thought and brilliance of diction. Only a few that stand out most
prominently in a list of about one hundred poems from this period can
receive mention here.
The intolerance and bitterness of the reaction that followed close upon
the downfall of Napoleon and found its cruel instrument of oppression
in the Holy Alliance aroused the bitter opposition of Tegnér. His vision
was not obscured, a fate that befell so many in that day, but he saw
clearly the nobility and necessity of tolerance, freedom and democracy.
It is to the great glory of