His _King Sverre_
of 1861 had been a disappointment, but _Sigurd Slembe_ of the
following year was new and great poetry, and fascinated young people's
minds. Bjoernson, socially, as in literature, was a strong figure, self-
confident, loud-voiced, outspoken, unique in all that he said, and in
the weight which he knew how to impart to all his utterances. His manner
jarred a little on the more subdued Copenhagen style; the impression he
produced was that of a great, broad-shouldered, and very much spoilt
child. In the press, all that he wrote and did was blazoned abroad by
the leading critics of the day, who had a peculiar, challenging way of
praising Bjoernson, although his ability was not seriously disputed by
anyone. The National Liberal Leaders, Alfred Hage, Carl Ploug, etc., had
opened their hearts and houses to him. It is said that at one time
Heiberg had held back; the well-bred old man, a little shocked by the
somewhat noisy ways of the young genius, is said to have expressed to
his friend Krieger some scruples at inviting him to his house. To
Krieger's jesting remark: "What does it matter! He is a young man; let
him rub off his corners!" Heiberg is credited with having replied: "Very
true! Let him! but not in my drawing-room! That is not a place where
people may rub anything off.
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