become strong again only by a return to the simple life and homely
virtues of the great past. Not on the arena of war but through faithful
endeavor in industry, science and art may the Swedish people restore to
their fatherland its former power and glory. As though transported by
this noble thought into a state of ecstasy, the bard then, in the
concluding portion of the poem, pictures in magnificent dithyrambic song
the titanic struggle that ensues and enthrones Peace as the beneficent
ruler of the land. "Svea" won the prize of the Swedish Academy and firmly
established Tegnér in the affection of his countrymen.

The most productive and brilliant period of Tegnér's literary activity is
contemporaneous with his incumbency of the Greek professorship at Lund
(1812-1824). In this period he enriches Swedish literature with a series
of lyrics which still rank among the best both in point of lucidity of
thought and brilliance of diction. Only a few that stand out most
prominently in a list of about one hundred poems from this period can
receive mention here.

The intolerance and bitterness of the reaction that followed close upon
the downfall of Napoleon and found its cruel instrument of oppression in
the Holy Alliance aroused the bitter opposition of Tegnér. His vision was
not obscured, a fate that befell so many in that day, but he saw clearly
the nobility and necessity of tolerance, freedom and democracy. It is to
the great glory of Tegnér that he consistently used his brilliant powers
in battling against the advancing forces of obscurantism and tyranny. His
enlightened and humanitarian ideas find a beautiful utterance in the
poem "Tolerance" (Fördragsamhet) which dates from 1808, but later was
rewritten and appeared under the title "Voices of Peace" (Fridsröster).
In "The Awakened Eagle" (Den vaknade örnen), 1815, he celebrates the
return of Napoleon from Elba, The Union of Norway and Sweden stirs