Another Aarestrup sonnet

ER DU EN CHRISTEN? -
SPURGTE DU MIG NYLIG

Er Du en Christen? - spurgte du mig nylig -
Hvadeller en fortvivlet Hedning?
Snart til at troe det ene, snart det andet
Gav mine Ord dig, Glut, Anledning.

Jeg tilstaaer dig, at det er længe siden,
Jeg tænker paa en Sag saa vigtig,
Og det er vanskeligt for Øieblikket
At fatte distinktionen rigtig.

Dog eet: paa mine mange Synder troer jeg,
Og paa en Himmel - fast i Blinde!
Men jeg er sandselig, og kan min Lykke
Ei i Protestantismen finde.

Het Hellige maa mine Hænder røre,
Maa med det Jordiske sig blande,
Maa sig forvandle, under mine Bønner,
Til Guddomslegemet, det sande.


ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? -
WAS YOUR RECENT QUERY

Are you a Christian? - was your recent query -
Or are you a despairing heathen?
My answers, lass, went one way then the other
And offered little rhyme or reason.

I must admit that many years have passed now
Since I considered such a weighty matter,
And it is somewhat difficult at present
To know the former from the latter.

Except: my many sins I can believe in,
As in a heaven - although blindly!
And, sensual, I find no joy in taking
The Protestant persuasion kindly.

That which is holy must needs touch my fingers,
Must with the earthly go in harness,
Must, in my prayers, become transsubstantiated
Into what is true God incarnate.