Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - X
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
150
COPENHAGEN.
Chap. X.
but so tradition declares.* In the roof of the church
is contained the Library of the University, rich in
Icelandic Sagas and treasures of inestimable value. At
the bombardment of 1807 a cannon-ball struck and
passed through the roof of the library, knocking to
shivers an ancient treatise of Hugo Grotius—‘ De Pace
et Bello.’ Adjoining stands the’ Regenz, the residence
of some hundred Danish students. In the centre of the
quadrangle rises a splendid lime-tree, and from its court
you gain a better view of the round tower, and Christian’s
celebrated “ rebus ” inscribed thereon, carved on stone,
the joint clumsy work of that monarch and sundry
learned professors of his favoured
University:—“DOC-TRINAM ET (written in long letters without a stop),
JUSTITIAM (represented by a long sword) ; DIRI GE
—JEHOVAH (in Hebrew characters); a heart Q;
CHRISTIAN IV. In plain English—“ May God direct
justice and learning in the heart of Christian IV.”
Continuing our course we arrive at the University :
a hideous, monstrous building, whose ugliness is only
surpassed by that of the adjoining church of Our Lady
(the Frue Kirke), a building unworthy to contain those
exquisite productions of Thorvaldsen, his Christ, the
Apostles, and the Kneeling Angel, — chefs-d’oeuvre I
will not insult, by describing within their prison. To this
merited abuse the Danes will reply, “ Why did you
bombard the old church ?” I admit there is some logic in this;
but the kindest act we could now perform to their capital
would be to return and knock over the new one and
the University into the bargain. It is incredible how
* “ In summer time after supper people delight in running up and
down the Round Tower as hard as they can.”—Monkish Chronicle.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
