"When this Saul's spirit comes over me I often feel an indescribable bitterness, which endures nothing, spares nothing, in heaven or on earth. It usually finds vent in misanthropic reflections, sarcasms, and ideas which I have no sooner written down than I repent of them." The activity which he unfolded, even in the midst of intolerable sufferings, was phenomenal. He possessed an energy of will and vigor of temperament which enabled him to rise superior to his physical condition, and lure strong music (though sometimes jarred into discords) from the broken lyre. It was in 1829, after his illness had fastened its hold upon him, that he pronounced the beautiful epilogue in hexameters at the graduating festivities at the University of Lund, and crowned the Dane, Adam Oehlenschlaeger, as the king of poets: "Now, before thou beginnest the distribution of laurels Grant me one for him in whom I shall honor them all. Lo, the Adam of poets is here, the Northern king among singers; Heir to the throne in poesy's world; for the throne yet is Goethe's. Oscar, the king, if he knew it, would give his grace to my action. Now I speak not for him, still less for myself, but the laurel Place on thy brow in poesy's name, the bright, the eternal. * * * * * Past is disunion's age (in the infinite realm of the spirit Never it ought to have reigned), and kindred tones o'er the water Ring, which enrapture us all, and they are especially thine. Therefore, Svea--I speak in her name--adorns thee with laurel: Take it from brotherly hand, of the day in festal remembrance."