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diff --git a/20135.txt b/20135.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b480676 --- /dev/null +++ b/20135.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1166 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Angel of Death, by Johan Olof Wallin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Angel of Death + +Author: Johan Olof Wallin + +Release Date: December 20, 2006 [EBook #20135] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANGEL OF DEATH *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced +from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + + + + + + + + + +THE ANGEL OF DEATH. + + +TRANSLATED FROM THE SWEDISH + +BY + +A. W. ALMQVIST. + + +SECOND EDITION. + + +BLOOMFIELD, N. J. + +A. W. ALMQVIST, 165 FRANKLIN STREET. +1892. + + +COPYRIGHT 1884. + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1882, +By A. W. Almqvist, New York, +In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +The original, of which this is a translation, is universally considered +one of the very best among many beautiful poems written by the same +illustrious author. The sublime didactic thoughts therein expressed, in +language majestic and yet so simple, have won for it a constantly +increasing popularity; and, during half a century, in a language so rich +in literary beauties as the Swedish, have maintained it among the +foremost of poetical productions of its kind. + +A correct English translation, therefore, is fraught with difficulties +which but few persons can appreciate. It has been my aim to reproduce +the poem in the original meter, with the rhymes in their proper places. +Of course, care has been taken to preserve the sense, and even the +_idioms_ of the original. How far I have been successful it is hardly +for me to say. As it is, I give it to the reading public. + +The poem has undoubted merits in the original. If the merits are +concealed in the translation, the fault is mine. + +A. W. ALMQVIST. + + + + +BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR. + +Gathered from the files in the Royal Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, +Sweden. + + +Johan Olof Wallin, (pronounced Valleen), the author of the "ANGEL OF +DEATH," was a native of Sweden, and was born in the parish of Stora +Tuna, in the province of Dalarne (Dalecarlia), October 15, 1779. His +father was a military man, and some time after Johan's birth became +captain of the Dalecarlia regiment. The future poet and preacher was one +of a large family, much larger than accorded well with the somewhat +restricted means of the captain of a regiment. + +At a very early age, young Johan evinced a taste for books, and for +study generally; but the circumstances of his family were not such as to +encourage the hope of an academic career. As has often happened in such +circumstances, the talents of the boy commanded attention; and he was +not left without a good primary education. At the early age of thirteen +he began to help himself; and, by taking part in the education of +others, he contrived to prolong his own studies, and acquired great +proficiency in the classics, especially in Latin. When only seventeen +years of age, he made his first public appearance at the Gymnasium of +Westeras, and by the delivery of a poetical speech in Latin--a speech +which is still preserved and which is remarkable for its literary +merits--he astonished all his seniors. Henceforth Johan Olof Wallin was +a marked man among his contemporaries. + +It was not long after this triumph at the Gymnasium, that young Wallin +felt discouraged for the want of funds. It was now desirable that he +should give himself to the higher department of study under competent +teachers; but money was needed, and he knew not where to find it. In his +difficulty he felt strongly tempted to give up his studies, and to give +himself to his father's profession. His delicate health, however, stood +in the way; and, happily, a serviceable situation as teacher having +offered itself, he was saved to literature. In the fall of 1799, after a +most creditable examination, he was entered as student at the Upsala +Academy. His career as a student was marked by great success, especially +in literature and philosophy; and, in 1803, he took his Doctor's degree. +In the same year, he obtained a prize from the Swedish Academy,[A] for +poetical translations of four of the Odes of Horace. Wallin was now in +his twenty-fourth year. + +Encouraged by success, Johan tried the Academy again, and was successful +in carrying off, in one session, three prizes, the largest number ever +before awarded to one person, at one anniversary. One of them was the +"Grand Prize," and was awarded to a poem, called "The Educator." Some of +the lines give promise of the temple-orator that was to be: + + "Thou sentinel on high! Will night not vanish soon? + We doubt the sheen of stars and quiet path of moon; + We placed our trust in Thee. Enlight the races striving! + Will night yet long endure? Is morning's watch arriving."[B] + +Other poems followed. By this time, Johan, who had, from an early +period, shown a liking for the clerical profession, had passed all his +preliminary examinations with honors, and been ordained to the pastoral +office. He commanded attention, at once, as a preacher. But he clung to +the muses, or the muses clung to him; and his lyre, having been tuned in +harmony with his sacred calling, he soon began to distinguish himself as +a writer of hymns. Some of the finest hymns of which the Swedish +language can boast, are from the pen of Johan Olof Wallin. Nor were +secular themes wholly neglected. On January 20, 1808, on the occasion of +the unveiling of the statue of King Gustavus Third, he produced the +famous Dithyramb, a song which has taken a permanent and honored place +in Swedish literature. The same year he presented a similar poem to the +Swedish Academy, and was rewarded with a prize of two hundred ducats, +the highest prize ever given by the Academy. + +In all great questions of a national or international character, Wallin +took a deep and lively interest; and the powerful influence, which he +exerted with tongue and pen, was always wielded in favor of the right. +How well he knew how to seize upon and turn to account existing +circumstances and passing events, is strikingly illustrated by his poem +on George Washington; his Dithyramb celebrating the union of Sweden and +Norway, and his splendid ode on the victories of the allies at Leipzig, +Dennewitz and Grossbeeren. The last named composition had an immense +success; and it was circulated by thousands among the soldiers of the +Swedish army abroad. + +Wallin was at home in the region of sublime and lofty thought; but his +muse was not one-sided, or in any sense monotonous. Poems of a calm, +reflective character flowed gracefully from his pen; and, when occasion +called for the one or the other, he revealed rich veins of satire and +humor. One great secret of his literary success, both as a poet and +preacher, lay in the simplicity of his style. With him there was never +any striving after effect. His thoughts, whether of a lofty or +commonplace character, whether hortatory or didactic, whether satirical +or humorous, always found natural and easy expression in language which +was as direct as it was graceful and easily understood. + +At the comparatively early age of thirty years, Wallin had taken his +place in the front rank of the scholars and public men of his day; and +whatever honors were in the gift of his admiring countrymen, were freely +showered upon him. Of these honors we mention only a few. + +In 1810, he was elected a member of the Swedish Academy; and on several +occasions he was raised by acclamation to the proud position of chairman +and orator of that learned body. In 1815, he was made Knight of the +Royal Order of the North Star; and in the same year he became Dom-prost, +an office next in order to the Bishop's, and was honored with a seat in +Parliament. In 1818, he was made Pastor Primarius, and President of the +Consistory of Stockholm; and about this time he became an active and +useful member of the Royal Musical Academy. In 1824, he was raised to +the dignity of Bishop of the Church, and became commander of the Royal +Order of the North Star and honorary member of the Royal Academy of +Literature, History and Antiquities. Of this high body he was four times +elected Chairman. In 1828, he was elected member of the Royal Academy of +Sciences; ten years later he was made Praeses. In 1830, he was elected +Court Preacher, and Praeses or President of the Royal Consistory. In +1837, his honors culminated. He was elected a member of the Upsala +association for the promotion of Science; also member of the Serafimer +Order, a distinction rarely conferred except on royal persons and +princes of the blood, when he adopted as his motto, "In Omnipotenti +Vinces." In the same year, he became archbishop of Sweden and +pro-chancellor of the University of Upsala. + +The "ANGEL OF DEATH," singularly characteristic of the author, +immediately after its publication took its place in the front rank of +the poetic productions of the language. The poem has never ceased to be +popular. It is issued each successive year in thousands, and in all +sorts of editions,--some of the recent _editions de luxe_ are marvels of +costly taste and typographic skill. His poetic productions are numerous, +and they are all of a high order of merit. The "ANGEL OF DEATH," +however, partly on account of the undying interest of the subject, and +partly, also, because of its bold and daring thought and vigorous +expression, is that by which he is best known, and with which his name +is destined to be indissolubly linked. + +Wallin is remembered as a great churchman, as well as scholar and poet. +As a preacher, he had few if any equals. Of dignified aspect, gifted +with a rich sonorous voice, and visibly impressed at all times with the +solemn character of his mission, he presented the very ideal of the +pulpiteer; and, whenever and wherever he appeared, he was attended by +admiring crowds composed of all ranks and classes of the people.[C] As +a hymn-writer he had also great success; and to his taste and skill, the +Swedish Church is indebted for its finest collection of sacred songs.[D] +How gracefully Tegner refers to him in his poem, "The Children of the +Lord's Supper," every reader of Longfellow is well aware: + + "Hark! then roll forth at once the mighty tones of the organ, + Hover like voices from God, aloft like invisible spirits; + Like as Elias in heaven, when he cast from off him his mantle, + So cast off the soul its garment of earth, and with one voice, + Chimed in the congregation, and sang _an anthem immortal + Of the sublime Wallin, of David's Harp in the North-land_." + +For thirty-one years, Wallin occupied a place, prouder, in many +respects, than the Swedish throne itself,--recognized and honored by his +countrymen as their greatest scholar, their greatest preacher, and one +of their greatest poets. In June, 1839, in his sixtieth year, the angel +of death, of whom he had written so well, approached him with his sad +summons; and, amid the regrets and sorrows of a whole nation, his lofty +spirit took its flight to those purer regions, in which, in imagination, +it already long had dwelt. He was buried in the new cemetery in +Stockholm, which he himself had consecrated; and his grave is adorned +with a large and appropriate monument. + +At the first anniversary meeting of the Swedish Academy, after his +death, Bishop Tegner read a memorial poem highly eulogistic of the +deceased, and which ended as follows: + + "And, tire, as it speeds along, + The lightly flying Swedish song; + Then let its weary wings be rested, + Against thy grave--and soar anew + To starry realms again, to you, + With prestige by the Learned Circle vested, + Thou bard like few! Prime speaker uncontested!"[E] + +[Footnote A: The Swedish Academy is composed of eighteen men, selected +from among the most learned and literary men of the country, and is the +highest tribunal to pass upon the merits of poetical essays and works of +literature in general; and the very fact, that a person has been awarded +a prize by this Academy, is alone sufficient to insure for him an +imperishable name in the annals of Swedish literature.] + +[Footnote B: + + "Du vaektare i skyn! Aer natten aennu lang? + Vi tro ej stjernans ljus, ej manans stilla gang + Vi trodde uppa dig. Sa upplys jordens slaegten! + Aer natten aennu lang? Och kommer morgonvaekten?" +] + +[Footnote C: His great popularity with the masses naturally caused them +to apply to him for all sorts of information and advice, with full +confidence that he knew how to assist and advise in all matters. As an +example of his oft peculiar way of treating queer questions, and yet +satisfying the questioner, the following may be related: For about +twenty years a number of writs and fore-tellings had frightened +credulous people with the prediction that the world would perish on a +certain given date. As the time drew near that date Wallin was besieged +for information as to the validity of the said prediction. To the +constantly repeated question, "Is it true, Bishop, that the world shall +perish on Thursday?" Wallin had always the same answer: "Please call +again on Friday, and I will let you know." The questioner withdrew +consoled.] + +[Footnote D: Wallin not only revised completely the old hymn-book of the +church, but composed a very large number of the divinely beautiful and +universally celebrated songs, of which the present Swedish hymn-book is +composed.] + +[Footnote E: The literal translation of the last two lines (impossible +to retain while maintaining the original meter) is: + + Thou first voice in the Literary Circle! + Thou poet as few! Thou orator as none! +] + + + + +ANGEL OF DEATH. + + +[Illustration] + + + Ye children, Adam's, of earth begotten, + Who unto earth shall again return! + You are my own: Be it not forgotten, + I am the penalty sin did earn!... + O man, time's guest! + With my grasp, I reach thee, + From east to west, + And by voices, teach thee + With scripture's word in the Master's name, + From air and water and earth and flame. + + You build and dwell like the sparrows, building, + In sunny summer, their fragile nest: + Securely feeling, in shady shielding, + They sing so joyful in happy rest; + But sudden gust + Of the tempest shatters + The tiny crust + Of their nest in tatters-- + The merry song, heard so short before, + With grief is silenced forevermore. + + Like pigeons, cooing in anxious calling, + You sigh for morn, with to-day not through, + When, unbethought, like a trap-door falling, + The earth unlocketh itself for you-- + You disappear + Where no light is nearing-- + Soon mem'ry dear + Is no more endearing-- + And new-lit moon, from its silvered sky, + Again, sees others arrive and fly. + + In circling dances so lightly swinging + You follow wildly amusement's thread, + With myrtle blooming and music ringing ... + But solemn I on the threshold tread:-- + The dance is checked + And the clang is wailing, + The wreath is wrecked + And the bride is paling: + The end of splendor and joy and might + Is only sorrow and tears and blight. + + I am the mighty, who has the power, + Till yet a mightier shall appear. + In deepest pit, on the highest tower, + My chilling spirit is ever near: + Those plagues of night + And of desolation, + Whose breath of blight + May annul a nation, + They slay the victims, which I select, + Whom shield and armor can not protect. + + I wrap the wing round the polar tempest + And calm the waves ere they reach the strand. + I crush the schemes of dynastic conquest, + And wrench the club from the tyrant's hand. + I eras chase, + Like the hour just passing; + And race on race, + With their works amassing, + Like heaving waves, in my footsteps flow, + Till, last, no ripples their murmur show. + + 'Gainst me in vain are your wit and letters, + 'Gainst me nor weapons nor arts prevail. + I freedom give to the slave in fetters,-- + His ruler's will I in irons nail. + I lead the battle-- + And armies tumble, + Like slaughtered cattle, + While cannons rumble, + And never rise from their sudden fall + Until alarmed by the judgment-call. + + I wave my hand--and, with whirlwinds' sweeping + All life on earth to that place doth fly, + Where not a sound to the ear is creeping, + Where not a tongue moves to make reply. + My foot meanders-- + And kings and heroes, + And Alexanders, + And wicked Neros, + And princes, lofty in might and lust, + Are all transformed to--a handful dust. + + In lowly earth, upon which they bother + And beg and wrangle for rank and gift, + I mix the races among each other, + I lay the centuries, drift on drift. + Forlorn and friendless + Exists no pleasure; + In shadows endless + No pomp, or treasure. + Their owners left them when on came night-- + Now others claim them, with lawful right. + + There is no stronghold on earth erected, + No guarded fort, that can save you, known. + Though by recorded transfer protected, + Your gained possession is not your own: + The purple hems + Of your silk-robed neighbor, + The crape, the gems, + And the yoke of labor, + Lo, other mortals their folds adorn, + On other shoulders their loads are borne! + + You have arrived, you shall part in pity; + You have not here either house or home. + You soon shall dwell in that narrow city, + Where sun and moon never lit the dome; + Where crest and foil + At the gate shall crumble-- + And, from his toil, + Be released the humble; + Where captives' fetters, and love's sweet band, + Shall, fragile, break by the same strong hand. + + Where is your wife, and where is your mother?-- + Then they have wandered away that road, + Whence none returneth to greet another, + The foot-path, soon, to _your_ last abode.... + Take tender care of + The charge God left thee, + Ere, unaware of, + It be bereft thee, + Before your eyes nevermore to mount, + Till for its keeping you shall account! + + "Where is your brother? Where is your equal?" + Will _then_ be questions too late to heed. + You _then_ find brethren--such is the sequel-- + You spiteful rich, in the worms you feed! + And when they fattened, + Like you, expire, + A reptile battened + Shall growth acquire, + Whose stings and gnawing shall never cease. + Upon your conscience, devoid of peace. + + For you it waits, you, whose greed is preying + On mishap's victims, on joy forlorn; + Who, faith and country alike betraying, + The good deride and the sacred scorn; + Who, laws repressing + And hearts decoying, + Are virtue's blessing, + For fun, destroying-- + And woe is fun's and derision's prize, + When, pale, the phantoms of vengeance rise. + + For you it waits, all ye lying spirits, + When, stiff, the tongue to the palate sticks. + Your tongue would poison all honest merits, + Defiling honor by artful tricks;-- + But, at my bar, + There is no demurrer: + The tomb I spar, + And I gag the slurrer,-- + Who next thereafter, when speech is past, + To _Him_ shall answer, who judges last! + + Then search, with rigor, your minds' desire, + Then probe, in tremor, your souls' intent; + With hands and hearts clean and pure, aspire + To _Him_ who knows what, within, you meant. + Yet, thither, mortals, + Your way is wending, + Where, on the portals, + Till time be ending, + There stands this sentence, without reprieve: + Here all shall enter--and none shall leave! + + The earth devours you, with your achievements, + And locks together its jaws again, + If by beneficence, or bereavements, + You cheered, or injured, your fellow men-- + But of this earth + Do not ask your measure; + For, if in dearth, + Or if blest with treasure, + Your past, your present, what hence befall + _He_ only knoweth, Who knoweth all. + + What God requires of man, He told thee; + He meted out, for your life's career, + What griefs should bend, and what cheers uphold thee + And what you had to accomplish here. + His power wrought you + What you transacted, + And wisdom taught you + That right you acted, + If but you heard, from submissive choice, + The great celestial spirit's voice. + + Attend the voice of the spirit sounder, + With upright steps, in His errand walk; + And, then, not question if you shall founder, + Nor care for grateful, or thankless, talk! + Fulfill your calling + With courage peerless! + If even falling, + Look upward fearless! + Then there shall clasp thee an angel's hand + And gently lead to thy promised land. + + Stand firm, with conscience of pure intention, + Through times of trial, of toil and pain! + Then may your happiness meet prevention, + But mind and virtue can peace retain; + Then, in the sod + Though your corpse be buried, + These words of God + On the soul are veried: + "Thou true hast labored till payments' day, + Now, faithful servant, receive thy pay!" + + To all do justice, and help the needy, + And comfort sorrow, where e'er you can! + For truth's defence unto death be speedy, + And win, as christian, and fall, as man! + No worldly samples + Of honors jading + Shall wreath your temples + With laurels fading; + But bright, eternal, shall thee entrance + The blessed holies' inheritance. + + What worth had faith, if it lay not resting, + A bright-eyed pearl, in the heart enclosed, + In heav'nward gazes its sparkle vesting, + When crumbling shell leaves the core exposed? + Sweet slumber follows + When pain expires.... + And creak the gallows, + And flame the fires, + Lo, martyr! heaven shall open thence, + And your Redeemer shall recompense! + + What worth had virtue, if life were reckoned, + With matter's glimmering spark as checked? + Thou _first Gustavus_! Thou _Great_, the _second_! + Thou free and valiant Engelbrekt! + And all ye sage, + And ye tender hearted, + Extolled an age-- + Or forgot departed! + What worth had wisdom and heart and fame, + If but the graveyard had been your aim? + + What worth had honor, whose voice imposes: + For love of duty your life to spend,-- + If on the favors, foul mob disposes + By fouler leaders, she did depend? + Now beam her features + With peace depicted, + Though time's mere creatures + A sigh inflicted; + For dust of time cannot soil that street + Of starry splendor, where move her feet. + + What worth had happiness, joy and gladness, + Those links of love in its purest scope, + If, when they sever, in gloomy sadness, + You could not join them by rays of hope? + What then were life? + But a mental stigma, + An empty strife, + An unsolved enigma! + A heartless, cruel, Uriah note, + Which God, in anger, for mankind wrote. + + A hoary Jacob his Joseph loses, + And Jonathan from his David parts, + And woe-filled bosom a grief discloses, + To which no solace the world imparts! + And Rachel, weeping, + Her children mourneth; + Her sorrow keeping + She comfort scorneth! + For, gone forever is all she prized + Which mother's heart could have idolized. + + But, God is love--so, with hope, look thither, + Ye hearts despondent, and take relief! + The grain, you laid in the ground to wither, + Shall rise to harvests of golden sheaf. + O! what was born + For your hearts to cherish-- + And left forlorn + In the grave to perish, + It is not gone; though it is not there-- + The One Eternal of it takes care. + + In Him there liveth all life; He proveth + All force, and kindleth so clear all light. + His love embraceth, too, what He moveth + To other homes in His house, so bright. + Let fogs not blind thee, + Thou spirit childly! + Once shall find thee + That hour, when mildly + The Father calls thee. But, in the mean, + Endure and labor, with faith serene! + + Like Mary, linger, with holy feeling, + And pray and listen, at Jesu feet! + Like Magdalene, at the cross appealing, + See looks of mercy repentance meet! + Like John, so cling thee + To friend ne'er failing! + His love shall bring thee, + From stress and ailing, + To bliss and freedom, forever nigh, + Within His heavenly realm on high. + + Well those, who, noble in will, prevailing, + Have sought the right, and the kindly felt, + Who much have loved, spite of all their failing! + Them much forgiveness shall too be dealt. + They were not rated + The _best_ desired; + But angels stated, + With love untired, + What, in the smallest degree, through them, + Had cheered that world from which they came. + + They did adhere to their foremost duty, + To fear the Lord, with a fervent heart; + They cleansed their garments, to stainless beauty, + In blood, that innocence doth impart. + All grief is banished, + All sin remitted, + All anguish vanished, + All weeping quitted-- + Their names are kept in their Father's grace, + And weary sink they in His embrace. + + They go so peaceful in God to slumber, + They greet so joyful the final day: + No tribulations their rest encumber, + No visitations of fortune's sway. + No longer thwarted, + As earth compels us, + They have departed, + The spirit tells us, + Exchanging thralldom for freedom's gem, + And their achievements shall follow them. + + A noble feeling each step impelling, + They gained the home of their Father soon. + That ample city shall be their dwelling, + Whose light depends not on sun and moon: + For greater light, + Than the sun containeth, + Has He, whose might + From the throne there reigneth, + With grace to all in that city stay; + And life and bliss doth His glance convey! + + And room for all, who, in faith, are hoping, + For all is room in the Promised Land! + And, like, when fig-trees their buds are oping + You know that summer is near at hand; + Thus, when the chill + Of your evening broaches, + You feel, with thrill, + That the _friend_ approaches, + To lead you homeward, where joys excel, + United ever with Him to dwell. + + When day be cooling, and shadows cover, + With sombre curtains, your hills and dales, + Then, to release you, He near shall hover, + Whose power, great as his love, prevails. + The eye-lids, laded, + A while are closing, ... + The work-tools, jaded, + Benumbed reposing, ... + Another while--and a new career, + In splendor, shall to your view appear! + + And earth is new, as is heaven's portal; + The son of heaven and earth is new, + And misses not, since become immortal, + The narrow homestead, whence he withdrew. + It ceased existing, + It ceased attracting-- + But faith persisting, + But virtue acting! + You have, before you, the lot prepared, + By abject spirits not seen or shared. + + Then wiped away are all tears forever, + All wounds removed by the healing hand.... + Again, midst corpses and biers, I never, + With torch inverted and quenched shall stand + In darkness rife;-- + But, the torch upturning, + By flames of life + I restore its burning-- + And then, Seraphic, with you unite + In songs of praise at the Throne of Light. + + +[Illustration] + + + + +BRIEF EXPLANATORY NOTES. + + +PAGE 17, last line; _i. e._--AIR, WATER, EARTH, FIRE, _the four +elements_, in which, according to the ancient philosophers, all exists, +and of which the whole world is composed. + +PAGE 24, "ALEXANDERS" _i. e._--Such as Alexander III, "the Great," king +of Macedonia, etc., the greatest of Military Conquerors; born 356 B. C.; +died, 323 B. C. + +"NEROS" _i. e._--Such as Nero, Lucius Domitius, Roman Emperor; born 37; +died 68; probably the most prominent type known of wickedness and +cruelty, and, nevertheless, a coward. + +PAGE 27, "CREST AND FOIL;" emblematic of Knighthood or Nobility. + +PAGE 29, "BROTHER" "EQUAL," _i. e._--Neighbor, as exemplified by Christ +to the Lawyer; see Gospel, St. Luke, x. 25, _et. seq._ The emphasized +"_then_" on the second line refers to when "for its keeping you shall +account;" (see previous stanza, page 28) the sense of the two first +lines being: too late _then_ to mend evil deeds by charity. + +PAGE 39, lines 3 and 4; see Swedish and General History; Three champions +of political and religious liberty; prominent in removing excessive +taxation, extending the rights, guarantees and educational facilities of +the people and undermining and finally crushing the pernicious and +immense power, wealth and influence of a corrupt and arbitrary +hierarchy.-- + +ENGELBREKT, an influential private citizen, went, on his own +responsibility, to demand of the then king (Erik XIII) amelioration in +the condition of the utterly enslaved, tax-ridden and tyranized people. +This being refused, he induced the people, under his leadership, to rise +in arms (in the fall of 1433) and, during three years of successive +victories, drove out of the country all foreign oppressors and their +adherents, put other men in their places, and enforced changes in the +government, and a reduction everywhere of 33 per cent. in the taxes. He +was murdered April 27th, 1436. + +GUSTAVUS 1st, savior of the independence of Sweden, who gave it new +Constitution, new Laws, new Church-government, and was the first to +institute general education, by establishing public schools throughout +the country. He was born in 1496, and reigned from 1521 to his death, +1560. + +GUSTAVUS II, ADOLPHUS, born in 1592, Grandson of Gustavus 1st, was king +of Sweden from 1611 to his death 1632, when he fell in the famous battle +at Luetzen, Germany, in the "thirty years war," while fighting for the +grand cause of liberty of conscience. + +PAGE 41, "Uriah-note," see Bible, II Samuel, chapter XI. + +PAGE 42, 1st line; see Bible, Genesis, chapter XXXVII. + +PAGE 42, 2nd line; see Bible, II Samuel, chapter I. + +PAGE 42, 5th line; see Bible, Jeremiah XXXI, verse 15; also, Gospel of +St. Matthew, chapter II, verse 18. + +PAGE 45, 1st line; see Bible, Gospel of St. Luke, XX, 39. + +PAGE 45, 3rd line; see Bible, St. John, XIX, 25. + +PAGE 45, 5th line; see Bible, St. John, XIV, 13. + +PAGE 50, 3rd line, see Bible, St. Mark, XIII, 13. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Angel of Death, by Johan Olof Wallin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ANGEL OF DEATH *** + +***** This file should be named 20135.txt or 20135.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/1/3/20135/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Taavi Kalju and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced +from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print +project.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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