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Doc. 10.] 99
BISHOP JESPER SWEDBERG .
1
In 1669, his father allowed him to remove to the new High
School of Lund, where he had a relative, Magister P. Holm ,
Professor of Oriental Languages. The professor was a just
and conscientious man, and from his instruction and the daily
enjoyment of his company, Swedberg made much greater
progress.
Holm, who was, if we may trust Swedberg’s judgment, an
accomplished logician and metaphysician, encouraged his pupil
to train himself in dialectic exercises. Scheibler’s “Opus
logicum et metaphysicum ,” together with Beckmann’s “ Logic,"
he had fairly to grind into his head ; but he insisted that they
were not of as much use to him as a “ paper of pins.” On
one occasion, when there was to be a disputation for degrees,
Prof. Papke in the chair, Swedberg compiled from the dis
putation, what he called, “ a merry paper,” filled with empty
metaphysical terms, read it aloud, and with the words “ Risum
tencatis sodales ” (Restrain your laughter, my friends), he broke
up the disputation, and moved towards the door. Samuel Puffen
dorf, who was present, is said to have praised him for this
youthful exploit. Possibly, he ventured upon it, because he
was sure of approval from this quarter ; for Swedberg was
intimate with Puffendorf, and, as is well-known, this learned
man was opposed to anything that would lead to mere pedan
try. This much is certain, that Puffendorf exercised an im
portant influence not only on Swedberg’s scientific education,
but also on the whole of his after life.
Swedberg describes in the following words the freer views
of life, which he acquired on his removal to Lund : “When
I went to Upsal I was dressed in blue stockings, Swedish
leather shoes, and a simple blue mantle. I never ventured to
go forward in Church, but always remained near the benches
of the common people. But in Lund I became as worldly
minded as the rest. I procured for myself a long, black
wig (I too was dark and tall), to this I added a large, long
over-coat, and above all a scarf over my shoulders, such as
worldly-minded people wore. In my own opinion, there was
no one equal to me : I thought all should make room for me,
and take off their hats very humbly in my presence.” There
is both jest and seriousness contained in this self-description;
7 *
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