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118
ROESKILDE.
Chap. VIII.
still; and that of Frederic IV. and his queen is by a
sculptor named Gerken. This monument, as well as
that of Christian V., are florid specimens of the allegoric
taste of the last century,—effective as a whole, but as
a composition ludicrous. Our own Queen Louisa has a
monument executed by Stanley ; and from that time
the coffins stand - ranged in the chapels, covered with
mouldering black velvet, powdered over with the crowns
of Scandinavia. A statue by Thorvaldsen, cast in
bronze, has been lately erected to Christian IV. It is
a fine work of that illustrious sculptor’s chisel, but ill
adapted for a church. While the great Margaret lies
with closed eyes and meekly clasped hands, awaiting
the day of judgment, Christian stands looking
thunderbolts around, with one leg stuck out, as if about to
stamp from sheer impatience. It is characteristic of
the man, but better suited for a public Place or bridge.
Many are the Northmen who lie here interred,—Saxo
Grammaticus among the number, old monk of Sorø,
chronicler of the Valdemars.* When I visited Roeskilde
I found Professor VVorsaae and a knot of savants busily
engaged in grubbing for his tomb, but without success;
the coffin of the humble monk had, in earlier days,
given place to some later comer.
Before leaving the cathedral, the guide will lead
you down the steps into a vault below, and
display to your view the six coffins of the infant
children of King Frederic VI., and some bystander will
look mysterious, and declare how they all met an
untimely end through the intrigues of Juliana of Bruns-
* Saxo died 1204. He was secretary or chancellor to Archbishop
Absalon.
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