TOLLENS, HENDRLx, the most popular Dutch poet of modern times, was born at Rot terdam, Sept. 24, 1780. At the early age of 14, his father, a merchant in dyestuffs, placed him in his counting-house, and first looked favorably upon, but afterward discouraged the boy's poetical efforts. The sympathies of young Tollens were at that time with what was called the patriotic party, who thought that the entrance of the French, in 1795, would be the cure for all political evils, and he made many verses in the spirit of the times. In his 17th year, he began to study English, German, and Latin; but French literature was his favorite study, and translations of French tragedies his chief work. At 19, he published translations from the French poets, under the title of A Nosegay of Fragrant. Flowers culled on French Ground. Three years later, appeared his New Songs and Idyls, in which he first came out as an original poet Shortly after, followed another collec tion of miscellaneous poems, which showed more marked progress; in 1805, his tragedy of Lucretia; and in 1806, that of the Hoelachen and Kabeljaauwschen, or the contest between the nobility and the towns in Holland, in the olden time—both original pieces of great merit. In 1804 Loots carried off first prize, and Tollens the second, for a poem on Hugo de Groot; and in 1806, the order was reversed, when both again sung the deaths of counts Egmont and Hoorn. There flowed from his pen an uninterrupted series of songs and poems, in which the warmest feelings were expressed in the most natural and chaste language. Of these may be mentioned, as a few gems, " William the " Victory at Nieuwpoort," the " Four Days' Naval Fight," the " Cry to Arms in 1815," the " Wintering of the Dutch in Nova Zembla," and the " National Song of the Netherlands," which is an echo of the calm but patriotic spirit of the people. His deep
fellow-feeling with his countrymen is seen in the poems which he wrote during the Belgian revolution in 1830-31, as in the heart-stirring poems, " The Evening Prayer," and "The General Prayer-day." The popularity which Tollens attained, his poems reach ing the fifth edition in 1831, arose chiefly from his singing of subjects always dear to the heart of the nation—of family-life, country,- religion, and love—and that in simple, unartistic language, and pure Dutch style. The people loved the poet because they understood him, and his words touched their hearts. Tollens published Romances, Bal lads, and Legends, (1818); New Poems Songs of Claudius (1832); Poetical Flowers gathered from Neighboring Nations (1829); Scattered Poems (1840); two volumes (1850), in_ which, though advanced iu life, the tone of his lyre was more beautiful, powerful, and rich than ever. Tollens died at Rijswijk, Oct. 21, 1856.
Of modern Dutch poets, Tollens stands in the first rank. The wintering in Nova. Zembla is the most wonderful piece of descriptive poetry in the Dutch language.- Tol lens was an excellent man, distinguished for his sincere piety and benevolence. His compassion for the poor comes out in his Bedelbrief, or begging-letter, which he published for the benefit of the distressed in the severe winter of 1844 45. While the people's poet, he was also God's priest for spreading Christian love among men. In early life, Tollens belonged to the Roman Catholic church, and in 1827 joined the Protestant. Remonstrants; but both before and after the change, he was essentially a religious man.