Hans Christian Andersen: 'Kunstens Tempel seer jeg i det Fjerne' (October 1820)

Commemorative tablet in Odense Cathedral

 

Til Hr. Nic. Fred. Sev. Grundtvig

Kronprinsessegaden no. 402

Kjøbenhavn

 

Min Herre

 

Stolende paa Deres Godhed skriver jeg Dem til. - Hr. Professor Guldberg glæder mig med at sikkert enhver vil bidrage lidet til min Lykke, da jeg skal besidde Talent. - Jeg sender Dem derfor et lille Digt, som jeg har vovet at forfatte. De vil undskylde mig da jeg ikkun er ca 15½ Aar.

 

Hans Christian Andersen.

 

 

Kunstens Tempel seer jeg i det Fjerne

mellem Klipper midt i Bølgens Skjød

did er det jeg iler, o! saa gjerne

at jeg glemmer Skibbrud og hver Nød.

Ei mig skrækker disse Vrag jeg skuer

dem den vilde Bølge leger med

thi alt længe i mit Hjærte luer

Haabet om at naae hin kjære Bred.

Lad og Mangen strande paa dens Klipper

Andre synke skuffede af Haab

i mit Hjærte denne Trøst ei glipper

at og Mangen bønhørt saa sit Raab.

Naar jeg Breden, fast ved Klippen tager

ud igjen mig aldrig Bølgen slaaer

heller ei dens hvide Skum bedrager

saa jeg troer, jeg fast paa Landet staaer. -

Jeg de bratte Klipper vil bestige,

ser jeg da Thalias Tempel nær

Ingen er da, selv blant lykkelige

Lykkelig som jeg, Nei! Ingen meer,

Hvis i Helligdommen dybt at trænge

Naadeligt Gudinden under mig

har thi Saligt jeg jo levet længe

om end snart mit Livslys slukker sig.

Oktober 1820

To Nic. Fred. Sev. Grundtvig, Esq.

Kronprinsessegaden no. 402

Copenhagen

 

       Dear Sir,

            Trusting in your kindness, I write to you. – Professor Guldberg encourages me by assuring me anyone would willingly contribute slightly to my happiness, since he says that I possess talent. – I am therefore sending you a little poem that I have dared to compose. I hope you will excuse me, for I am only 15½ years old.

 

Hans Christian Andersen

 

 

I can see art’s temple in the distance

midst the rocks in wave’s profound embrace

I set out there, such is my insistence

harm and shipwreck I forget to face.

I fear not the wrecks that I am sighting

those the foaming waves have as their prey

for long since my heart’s burns with delight in

hope of reaching that dear shore one day.

So let many on its cruel rocks founder

others sink from hopes that broke in twain,

in my heart this comfort grows yet sounder:

Many others’ cries were not in vain.

When close by the rock the sands receive me,

there’s no wave can turn my feet around

neither does its white-topped foam deceive me

so I think I’m standing on firm ground. –

When the steep rocks I have climbed up fully

Thalia’s temple close at hand I see,

No one, even those most happy, could be

Happier than I. No! None but me;

Should the gracious goddess gratify me,

grant me access to her inner shrine,

I’d have lived a long time blessed entirely

though few days of life’s light were still mine.

 

October 1820