Hans Christian Andersen: 'Iisbjerget' (1831)

 

Iisfjeldet (1831)

 

I Menneske-Form staaer Fjeldet hist,

Skjøndt uden Øine og Hjerte;

Dog var det engang en Yngling forvist,

Der deelte hver Skabnings Smerte.

Som Sneen hans Tanke var reen og puur,

Han elskede Gud og den hele Natur,

Saa høit som et Hjerte kan elske.

 

Han gav af sin Folelse, Tillid og Tro,

Til hver, som kom ham imøde,

Ja laante dem selv sine Øine to,

At skue Guds Morgenrøde.

Men medens Lyset for ham var slukt,

Til Legetøi bleve hans Skatte brugt’,

Den blinde, godhjertige Daare!

 

Da saae han engang, som bedst han gik,

Et Barn - nei! en fuldvoxen Pige;

Det var det barnlige, aabne Blik,

Og dog den ældres tillige!

Her Tanke saa klart i Øiet stod -

For hende han gav sit Ungdoms Blod,

Og hver en flammende Tanke.

 

Han gav hende Hjertet i sit Bryst,

Det var et kosteligt Smykke,

Sin dybe Længsel, sin høie Lyst,

Sin Tillid og jordiske Lykke.

Han gav hende glad sine Øine to, -

Hun grad - og svoer ham ubrødelig Tro,

Og – hopped’ saa bort som de Andre.

 

Nu staaer han ene - et iiskoldt Fjeld,

Der føler ei Glæde, ei Smerte;

Thi tomt er Tankens og Følelsens Væld,

Han har ei Øine, ei Hjerte;

Og Sollyset aldrig hans Indre naaer,

Vildt Stormen over hans Hoved gaaer;

- Gud styrke hvert sorrigfuldt Hjerte!

 

 

The Ice Mountain (1831)

 

The mountain stands yonder in human form,

Its eyes and heart though are lacking;

Once fully in youth it to life did conform,

Knew pain all live creatures feel wracking.

As snow were his thoughts both serene and pure,

For God and all Nature his love as sure

And strong as a heart’s love is able.

 

He gave of his feelings, his faith and trust,

To all he chanced to encounter,

Yes, lent them both eyes since he felt he must

Let them gaze at God’s dawn in wonder.

Yet while light for him was extinguished quite,

Were his treasures misused  – an awful plight

For this blind and good-hearted madman!

 

But then he caught sight of, while on his ways,

A child – no! a fully grown maiden;

There was this childlike and open gaze,

Though with greater age also laden!

Her thought so clear in her bright look stood –

For her he proffered his youth’s red blood

And every thought that inflamed him.

 

He gave her the heart within his breast,

And this was a precious treasure,

His deep-felt longing, his unbound zest,

His trust, his great joy and pleasure.

He gladly gave to her both his eyes, –

She wept – and pledged to be true likewise,

And – off she then tripped like the others.

 

He stands alone now, a mountain ice-cold,

No joy, and no pain he feels wracking;

For thought and feeling have lost their firm hold,

Since eyes and heart are both lacking;

And sunlight can never within him reach,

Wild storms above his head rage and screech;

– God strengthen all hearts filled with sorrow!