The First Book Printed in Swedish. 7 ■ 



neologisms, the langnage in a stage of fusion and crumbling and slur, 

 with distinct provincialisms, some of them old and verj^ valuable. It 

 is a little older than the year-imprint, for the Preface is dated Feb. 

 15, 1493. 



In the following pages I have confined myself to general peculi- 

 arities, sufficient for the student to grasp its prevailing character. But, 

 in illustration, I have thought it useful to prefix some few similar hints 

 as to the language, from a couple other old Swedish printed books, 

 passing over such well-known things as Gustaf I's Swedish Bible '). 

 We shall then see where we stand. 



A. DEN SVENSKA TIDEBOKEN, Upsala 1525. (Reprinted by 

 Eiks-librarian Klemming, 8'". Stockholm 1854). As a specimen I give 

 the last pages, a remarkable olden religious poem: 



»Heel Jesu myn härre käre. 



Heel ihesu alla wärldina äre 



bligliga gaar iak tik saa näär, 



For thy thw weth wäl hnilkin iak äär, 



O söthe herre ihesu crist 



Alla mina synder weth tw vvisth, 



O söthe herre forlaat thet mik, 



Ath iak saa näär ganger tik. 



Tw weeth wäl hwar iak eft'ter traar, 



ty kom iak hith ath skoda tyn saar. 



Jak weeth at the haffwa tolka makt, 



ath hwar tom önkar mdh gwdeliga akt. 



Han faar nåder ok werder fry, 



afif allom tom syndom han är wty. 



O söthe herre iesu myn, 



ömliken är nw skapnadhin tyu. 



Thyn wäna skapnader är nw omwender, 



tw äst forpynter ok aller wttänder. 



Aller forpinter ok wdnödder, 



fortröter wnder korsith ok formöddher, 



Aller fortander ok vthdragen, 



aller forstöther ok förslagen. 



') The Swedish Bible-Society should reprint this in one handy vol. small 4'", 

 and without the woodcuts etc., as a mark of thanks and homage to the great king 

 who gave Sweden its first Bible, and that students all the world over may master its 

 linguistic character. The price should be fixt very low. A Glossary should be added. 



