''Axel and Valborg'' ( da, Axel og Valborg) is a tragedy in five acts by

Adam Oehlenschläger Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger (14 November 177920 January 1850) was a Danish poet and playwright. He introduced romanticism into Danish literature. He wrote the lyrics to the song ''Der er et yndigt land'', which is one of the national anthems ...

. It was written in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. ...

in 1808 and printed in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

in 1810. There is an English translation by F. S. Kolle.

Origin of story

The story is taken from a

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

romantic ballad, the last verse of which Oehlenschläger used as a motto: The ballad was well known throughout the Scandinavian countries long before Oehlenschläger's time. In

Ludvig Holberg Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg (3 December 1684 – 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian dual monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, ...

's poem “Peder Paars,” the bailiff's wife was almost drowned in a flood of tears because parts of it had been read to her.

Plot

The whole action of the drama takes place in the famous

Trondhjem Trondheim ( , , ; sma, Tråante), historically Kaupangen, Nidaros and Trondhjem (), is a city and municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. As of 2020, it had a population of 205,332, was the third most populous municipality in Norway, and ...

Cathedral, in

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

, during the reign of Haakon Herdebred. Axel and Valborg are cousins who love each other. In spite of the pope's dispensation removing the legal impediment, a scheming monk prevents their marriage. In this tragedy of a Northern woman's true and constant devotion, the beauty of the ballad is brought to its full fruition. In its simplicity, its pathos and tragic ending, it makes an almost overwhelming impression on the spectator. (Compare it with

Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson ( , ; 8 December 1832 – 26 April 1910) was a Norwegian writer who received the 1903 Nobel Prize in Literature "as a tribute to his noble, magnificent and versatile poetry, which has always been distinguished ...

's ''The Fisher Maiden''.)

Reception

In his own generation, Oehlenschläger's ''Axel and Valborg'' was the most favored and admired of all his writings. Through it, the romantic-sentimental style of poetry gained general favor. When Baggesen, beginning his review in a critical and hostile spirit, reached the famous lines spoken by the pure and innocent Valborg, as she crowns her lover's initials with flowers: “I bid thee, my love, good morning,” he was absolutely carried away and praised the work in the highest terms.

Selected productions

Dagmar Theatre, 1907

A production of the play directed by Martinius Nielsen premiered at the Dagmar Theatre in Copenhagen on 22 November 1906. The cast consisted of : * Adam Poulsen as Axel Thordsøn *

Alfred Møller Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...

as Biørn Gamle *

Anna Larssen Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 1221) ...

as Valborg *

Axel Strøm Axel Strøm (11 May 1901 – 18 June 1985) was a Norwegian physician. He was born in Kristiania. He was appointed Professor of Public Health at the University of Oslo from 1940. Among his works were studies on health issues among concentration ...

as Erland, Erkebiskop * Egill Rostrup as Hakon Herdebred, Norges konge * Einar Rosenbaum as Gotfred, Vilhelms svend * Johan Knüttel-Petersen as Fjendtlig kæmpe *

Johannes Poulsen Johannes Poulsen (17 November 1881 – 14 October 1938) was a Danish actor and director. He debuted with the Dagmar Theatre in 1901. In 1909 he joined the Royal Theatre as an actor, and from 1917 was also a stage director. Memorable roles ...

as Vilhelm * Knud Levinsen as Kolbein * Martinius Nielsen as Sortebroder *

Viggo Wiehe Viggo Hjalmar Wiehe (23 December 1874 - 30 November 1956) was a Danish stage and film actor whose career spanned over five decades. Career Born in Copenhagen, Denmark, he was the son of actor and opera singer Johan Henrik Wiehe and Fanny Wiehe ...

as Sigurd af Reire *

Aage Hertel Aage Hertel (17 October 1873 – 3 January 1944) was a Danish stage, radio and film actor whose career began in the 1890s working as a stagehand and set painter. Hertel appeared in approximately ninety films during the silent film area. Early li ...

as Endrid hiin Unge

References

*{{Americana, wstitle=Axel and Valborg, author=Gisle Bothne Plays by Adam Oehlenschläger 19th-century Danish plays 1808 plays Plays set in Norway Plays set in the 12th century Literary duos Fictional Norwegian people