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300 TRAVELS.
CHAPTER XXIII.
The national Poetry of Finland—Runic Verfes—Turn of the Fin-
landers for Poetry—Manner in which they recite their poetical
Compofitions—Specimens of Finnifh Poetry—A funeral Elegy oir
the Death of a Brother—An odd Tale, called the Paldamo-Pafiy—
The Females particularly addicted to the Amufement of Poetry—
The Jauho Runot, or Mill Songs—A beautiful Ode, or Elegy, by
a country Girl, on the Abfence of her Lover—Lullaby of the Fin-
nifh Nurfes—Songs intended for magical Purpofes, and, among
other Virtues, fuppofed alfo to poffefs that of healing Wounds, and
curing Difeafes—This Superfiition prompts the Clergy to: difcourage
the Runic Poetry in which it is clad—Probability arifing fron
that Circumftance, and others, of the Runic Poetry falling quite
into Difufe.
HE fun of literature caft a feeble ray upon the mountains
of Finland, long after it had enlightened the reft of Europe :
this ray has been, however, preferved in the fingle univerfity of
Abo.
It has been frequently obferved, that letters can only be culti-
vated in times of peace, and that the tumult and confufion of war
are inimical to the fciences, which demand the retirement of aca-
demic
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