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NOTES 261
Page 200.
A MeetTinNc. Hans Thorvald Brecke was born December 1, 1847, and
died June 9, 1875. As student from 1864 to 1870 he wrote several witty
student comedies, and is described as a remarkably charming person-
ality. In 1871 he became judge’s clerk in Molde, and here had one
bright and happy year. Against the disease which showed itself in the
fall of 1872 he contended in vain. This poem was probably written in
the latter part of 1875.
Page 201.
TuE Poet. This poem, the following Psalms, and Question and Ans-wer
conclude the second edition of Poems and Songs, which was published
April 29, 1880. They were probably written late in 1879 or very early
in 1880. In a crisis of renewed literary and political attacks upon
him, the poet Bjérnson, under the inspiration of his motto “Be in the
truth!” (see page 259), proclaims the mission to which he is called : To
be in religion and life, political and social, the liberator of his people
from falsehood and ignorance, and the comforting helper of all who
suffer.
Page 210.
SonG For Norway’s RIFLEMEN. In 1881 the constitutional conflict
between the Left and the Right over the nature of the King’s veto had
become acute. The question was whether the veto-power was suspensive
or absolute as to amendments of the Constitution. The Left maintained
that it was only suspensive, and the conflict was ended in favor of this
view by the Supreme Court in 1884; an amendment enacted by three
independently elected Stortings is valid without the King’s sanction.
This poem shows that the people were preparing to defend their right
by force in the spirit of Bjérnson’s often quoted words in his electoral
campaign speech about the same time at Stiklestad: “If any one says
that the monarchy [the King] declares it [he] cannot give up the abso-
lute veto, you must answer openly: ‘Then the Norwegian people must
give up the monarchy [the King].’”
Page 211.
WorkMeEn’s Marcu. Published in the third edition of 1890, and
written not long before for the Workmen’s Union in Christiania. It is
a plea for the universal franchise and party organization.
Vardo = northernmost, Viken and Vinger = southernmost Norway.
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