

26 Jollies Christian Liiidbcrg 



Adorned with fir, my heart began to swell ; 



A tender longing" seized me ; suddenly 



There came to mind, a ballad, strange and long 



I-'orgotten, from m_\- childhood days. The tears 



Of memory burned my cheeks. The sail, which bore 



The ship away, relaxed ; the pennants each 



Unfolded, eagle-like, their purple wings, 



As if they strove to rend their cords and reach 



The shore. 'T was quite against my heart for me 



To hasten by. Where li\es the son who when 



His mother beckons him, with loving eyes 



And outstretched arms, could coldly turn aside ? 



To silence all mistrust. I landed here 



Upon an island, here ^\'here no one lives. 



Where only now and then the herdsman plants 



His hut behind the cliffs. lUit now. before 



I journey farther, — who can know if yet 



Again my eye shall see this blessed land. — 



Pray tell me Thorer, how our Xorway stands ? 



Thorcr. Our Norway stands on solid rock, a firm 

 Foundation, sir, that is not lightly moved. 



Olof. 'T is true; T know it ! E'en white-bearded Odin 

 With all his cosmic power cannot compel 

 Your hills to quake, although for centuries 

 He 's tlireatened it. 



TJiorcr. Then know, my lord, the state 



Stands firm ; luxuriantly the timid birch 

 And haughty fir, lift up their heads ; the sun 

 Hurls down his golden shafts and ripens all 

 Our fields. With fruitless rage, as in all the past 

 The scornful waves besiege our coast. But still 

 My lord ! while thus in calm composure hills 

 And valleys thrive, a deadly poison gnaws. 

 Consumes our nation's heart. 

 . OJaf. How so, I pray ? 



Does not your Hakon calmly occupy 

 The throne ? 



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