The memoirs of Lewis Holberg, which have lately appeared in English, are
remarkably curious and interesting. It is not generally known, that this
celebrated writer, the Moliere of Denmark, was educated at Oxford,
whither he repaired penniless, to secure a good education.

* * * * *


Holberg, Samsoe, and Oehlenschlager are the three dramatic luminaries of
Denmark. The best production of Samsoe is the play of _Dyveke_,
produced a few days after his death. Such was the enthusiasm it excited,
that the following epitaph was proposed to be inscribed on his tomb, in
the public cemetery of Copenhagen:--

"Here lies Samsoe;
He wrote _Dyveke_ and died."


* * * * *

The best poet that Sweden has ever produced is Esaias Tegner, the bishop
of Wexio, now living. His first production was _Axel_, a short poem
on the adventures of one of those pages of Charles XII. who were sworn
to a single life, to be entirely devoted to the fortunes of war. He has
struck out great interest by plunging this hero in love, and painting
the conflicts between his passion and his reverence for his oath. The
words have been translated into Danish, German, and English. The latter
translation appeared in _Blackwood's Magazine._ Although the Danish
language is so akin to the Swedish, that translation is the worst of
the three. It is said that this poem procured Tegner the bishoprick of