EVALD, JOHANNES, the most distinguished Danish poet of the I8th century, was born at Copenhagen, November 18th, 1743. Ilk father, who was a clergyman in that city, possessed considerable theological attainments, but was prevented by ill-health from acting as preceptor to his sons. Johannes therefore, the second and most gifted of the three, was shortly before his father's death (1754) sent to Sleswig, where his tutor left him entirely to his own choice of books for his leisure reading. Among these were translations of ' Robinson Cruses' and ' Tom Jones,' tho former of which so captivated his imagination that ho proposed its hero as a practical model to himself, and, at the age of thirteen, eloped with the view of making his way to Holland, and there get on board ship for Batavia; but he was over taken, and his project frustrated. lie was still however left an before ' to Inflame his fancy with romantic reading and with legendary lore, including that of saints and martyrs, as well as of northern fable and mythology. in reading the classics it was the adventurous past that chiefly engaged his attention. Notwithstanding he was of exceedingly weak frame of body, lie longed to devote himself to a military career, and the war then carried on between Prussia and Austria afforded an opportunity; but his thoughts were for a while diverted from such r views by a very different object. He suddenly became violently enamoured with a young lady, a relation of his stepfather's, for his ; mother was now married again, whom he has celebrated under the name of Arenas, and his passion for whom he has described in the most I glowing colours. This passion, although the source of heartfelt bitter . ness to him—sinee Areuse bestowed her hand upon another—while it cast a shade of melancholy over his whole life, had a favourable in ; fluence on his poetical talent, producing In him that depth of feeliug s and pathos which discovers itself in his 'Belden Dod' (Death of Balder). At this period however poetry, at least authorship, formed I no part of his plans. lie joined with his elder brother in the scheme • of entering the Prussian service as hussars, hut his brother returned after reaching Hamburg. Johannes however proceeded to Magdeburg, . where ho enlisted, but was received only as a foot-soldier. In cense.
quence of this disappointment he deserted to the Austrians ; served in Bohemia; and was at Dresden when that capital was besieged by the Prussians. On his return to Denmark he applied himself to the study of theology, with the view of settling iu that profession and marrying, but his hopes of the latter were frustrated, as already noticed. He now regarded with indifference all schemes of earthly
felicity ; and it was in this frame of mind that he took up his pen and produced his Lykken's Temple' (The Temple of Fortune, a vision), which at once stamped his reputation. This was succeeded by his 'Adam and Eve,' a dramatic composition replete with poetical energy, though in many respects defective and anomalous. Conscious of its imperfections, he devoted two years entirely to the study of poetry, in order to prepare himself for some more finished under taking. Having made himself master of the English language, he carefully perused Shakspere and Ossian ; and when he again took up his pen, he composed his 'Rolf Krage,' a tragedy strongly tinctured with Ossianic taste. It was first given to the public in 1770 ; about which time be was attacked with a painful disorder in his limbs, that continued to afflict him with little intermission during the rest of his life. Notwithstanding his severe sufferings and distressed cir cumstances, he not only pursued his literary occupations, but wrote his comedy of 'Harlequin Patriot,' a masterpiece of its kind, abound ing with pleasantry and satire chiefly directed against pseudo-reformers. In the f llowing year, 1773, ho executed his literary chef•d'ceuvre, Balders Doti,' a drama of much poetical beauty, and greatly superior to anything of the kind that had then appeared in the Danish language. Yet although well received, its merits were not so well appreciated by its author's contemporaries as they have been since. It is on this and his other poetical works that his reputation chiefly rests, but Evald produced also several things in prose, some of which, as his 'ForsIg om Pebersvendo' (Project respecting Old Bachelors), are replete with shrewd satire and strong comic humour. Their liveliness forms a strong contrast to the seriousness and even melancholy that pervade his other writings : in which respect be presents a parallel to the author of ' John Gilpin.' There is likewise another point of resem blance between Evald and Cowper; each in his affliction met with generous sympathy and succour from a female friend. What Mary Unwin was to the one, Madame Skou was to the other; and it was beneath the hospitable roof of the latter that the Danish poet breathed his last, on the 17th March 1781, after being confined during two years to his bed or arm-chair, and almost deprived of the use of his limbs. The two poets may further be likened to each other for the high moral tone of their writings, vividness of conception, and happiness of expression.