to find that it was in this circle that the demand for a separate Norwegian university was first authoritatively presented.  Again, a little group of periodicals sprang up in which were discussed, learnedly and pedantically, to be sure, but with keen intelligence, the questions that were interesting the great world outside.  It is dreary business ploughing through these solemn, badly printed octavos and quartos.  Of a sudden, however, one comes upon the first, and for thirty-six years the only Norwegian translation of Shakespeare.

We find it in Trondhjems Allehaande for October 23, 1782—­the third and last volume.  The translator has hit upon Antony’s funeral oration and introduces it with a short note:[1] “The following is taken from the famous English play Julius Caesar and may be regarded as a masterpiece.  When Julius Caesar was killed, Antonius secured permission from Brutus and the other conspirators to speak at his funeral.  The people, whose minds were full of the prosperity to come, were satisfied with Caesar’s murder and regarded the murderers as benefactors.  Antonius spoke so as to turn their minds from rejoicing to regret at a great man’s untimely death and so as to justify himself and win the hearts of the populace.  And in what a masterly way Antonius won them!  We shall render, along with the oration, the interjected remarks of the crowd, inasmuch as they too are evidences of Shakespeare’s understanding of the human soul and his realization of the manner in which the oration gradually brought about the purpose toward which he aimed:” 

    [1.  It has been thought best to give such citations for the most
    part in translation.]

Antonius:  Venner, Medborgere, giver mig Gehor, jeg kommer for at jorde Caesars Legeme, ikke for at rose ham.  Det Onde man gjor lever endnu efter os; det Gode begraves ofte tilligemed vore Been.  Saa Vaere det ogsaa med Caesar.  Den aedle Brutus har sagt Eder, Caesar var herskesyg.  Var han det saa var det en svaer Forseelse:  og Caesar har ogsaa dyrt maattet bode derfor.  Efter Brutus og de Ovriges Tilladelse—­og Brutus er en hederlig Mand, og det er de alle, lutter hederlige Maend, kommer jeg hid for at holde Caesars Ligtale.  Han var min Ven, trofast og oprigtig mod mig! dog, Brutus siger, han var herskesyg, og Brutus er en hederlig Mand.  Han har bragt mange Fanger med til Rom, hvis Losepenge formerede de offentlige Skatter; synes Eder det herskesygt af Caesar—­naar de Arme skreeg, saa graed Caesar—­Herskesyge maate dog vel vaeves af staerkere Stof.—­Dog Brutus siger han var herskesyg; og Brutus er en hederlig Mand.  I have alle seet at jeg paa Pans Fest tre Gange tilbod ham en kongelig Krone, og at han tre Gange afslog den.  Var det herskesygt?—­Dog Brutus siger han var herskesyg, og i Sandhed, han er en hederlig Mand.  Jeg taler ikke for at gjendrive det, som Brutus har sagt; men jeg staar her, for at sige hvad jeg veed.  I alle elskede ham