Far higher are
mountains in other lands found
Far higher are
mountains in other lands found
than here where a
hill is thought striking.
But Danes of the
North find that grass-covered mounds,
and lowlands are
more to their liking.
The lofty and
wind-swept may suit all the rest,
to stay down to
earth is what serves us Danes best.
Far lovelier, we
are prepared to believe,
are foreign climes
which we know barely.
But Danes are at
home where beech comes into leaf
by shores strewn
with fair blue-eyed Mary,
from cradle to
grave our most beautiful sight
is fields in full
bloom in the waves’ glittering light.
Far greater may
deeds be for money or fame
by foreigners
done, or their scions.
Though never in
vain were shields borne by us Danes
with hearts and
with three passant lions.
Let eagles for
worldly power sharp talons wield!
we’ll not change
our banner, we’ll not trade our shield.
Far cleverer folk
may be found anywhere
than where every
sound and strait’s glinting.
For household use
though we have good sense to spare,
we won’t make us
godlike by thinking.
As long as the
heart burns for truth and what’s right,
time surely will
show that our minds were quite bright.
Far higher, and
nobler, and finer the words
that foreigners’
lips may be spouting.
Of what’s high and
lovely can Danes though be heard
to speak and to
sing without shouting.
Our native tongue
may not strike home to a hair,
but melts the
heart more than their tongues cleave the air.
Far more of that
ore that’s so white or so red
did others extract
or were selling.
But every Dane
eats of his own daily bread
no matter how
humble his dwelling.
And as for great
riches, we’re on the right track
when few have too
much, fewer still suffer lack.
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