Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - The Children of the Lord’s Supper - Foreword
<< 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.
FOREWORD ii
THE Children of the Lord’s Supper, from the Swedish
of Bishop Tegner, enjoys no inconsiderable
reputation in the North of Europe, and for its beauty and
simplicity merits the attention of English readers. It is an Idyl,
descriptive of scenes in a Swedish village; and belongs to
the same class of poems, as the Luise of Voss and the
Hermann und Dorothea of Gdthe. But the Swedish poet has
been guided by a surer taste, than his German
predecessors. His tone is pure and elevated; and he rarely, if ever,
mistakes what is trivial for what is simple.
There is something patriarchal still lingering about rural
life in Sweden, which renders it a fit theme for song.
Almost primeval simplicity reigns over that Northern land,
—almost primeval solitude and stillness. You pass out from
the gate of the city, and, as if by magic, the scene changes
to a wild, woodland landscape. Around you are forests of
fir. Over head hang the long, fan-like branches, trailing
with moss, and heavy with red and blue cones. Under foot
is a carpet of yellow leaves; and the air is warm and balmy.
On a wooden bridge you cross a little silver stream; and
anon come forth into a pleasant and sunny land of farms.
Wooden fences divide the adjoining fields. Across the road
are gates, which are opened by troops of children. The
peasants take off their hats as you pass; you sneeze, and
they cry," God bless you." The houses in the villages and
smaller towns are all built of hewn timber, and for the most
part painted red. The floors of the taverns are strewn with
the fragrant tips of fir boughs. In many villages there are
no taverns, and the peasants take turns in receiving
travellers. The thrifty housewife shows you into the best cham-
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
