Hans Christian Andersen: 'Alverden reiser nu, det er jo Moden'

 

Alverden reiser nu, det er jo Moden

 

Geheimeraad J.Collin

Den 6te Januar 1848

 

 

Alverden reiser nu, det er jo Moden

I fire Dage naaer man til Triest,

Man flyver i Visit omkring paa Kloden,

Og Dampen er vor Nutids Tryllehest;

Kun Du, for hvem i Dag vi Fest-Flag heise,

Er ikke nogen rigtig Reise-Mand,

Og Grunden? — Det, hvorefter Andre reise,

Det har Du hjemme i dit Fædreland!

 

Det travle Liv, hvorved det Gode fremmes,

Det er din Hverdagsdont, dit Reise-Digt!

Dig Lande rulle op, de hos os gjemmes,

Du har dem alle, det er tydeligt!

Bag Knippelsbro, den Smule over Vandet

Du bare gaaer, saa er Du udenlands,

Bag Christianshavn sig strækker Nederlandet,

Og til en Skov groer der din Borgerkrands.

 

Og nu Paris, man er som omkalfatret

Ved Storhed, Sqvalder og dets Palliet;

Paris Du finder ovre i Theatret

Med alt sit evig Juli-dage-Spræt.

Den skotske Lyng Du seer paa Jyllands Hede.

Ja Tidslen seer Du, som til Blomstren kom;

Til Roser Tidslen blev fra Armods Rede,

De frelste Børn fortælle kan derom!

 

Italien Du søger i Musæet,

Og Marmoret har Oldtids Stemme der;

Orangetræet — ? Du har Juletræet,

Med Börn og Börnebörn, Guldæbler hver!

Og kom Du ei til Norge, Du det kjender, 

Du veed om Hjertelag, hvor Fyrren groer. 

Det Bedste Norge har, det stundom sender,

Som lille Jette, norske Theodor!

 

Men Floden saae Du ei! — Jo Elben, kjære!

Og paa dens Bred i Dag just huskes Du.

I Sang og Hjerte her de med os være,

Som Du i deres Hjerte nævnes nu!

De Kjære, Gud beskjærmede bag Planken,

Og Skærme vil igjen paa aabne Hav!

Til Elben reise vi med Dig paa Tanken,

Din Fest i Dag os denne Reise gav!

 

Vil nu Du see det röveriske Fæle,

Til Fængsels-Selskab fri Entré Du fik,

Og vil Du ind til Hjertes Maal og Mæle,

Saa hör Taknemlighed et Öieblik.

I denne og i Venskabs store Rige,

Din Vei er riig, velsignende dit Maal.

“Bliv længe hos os,” tusind Hjerter sige,

Og nu et Hurra! det er Faders Skaal!

 

 

 

The whole world travels now – it’s quite the fashion

 

Privy Councillor J.Collin

6 January 1848

 

The whole world travels now – it’s quite the fashion,

In four days you can even reach Trieste,

Folk flit around the globe – that is their passion,

And steam’s the present’s magic horse, I guess;

You only, whom we now are celebrating

Don’t travel, as do others, out of hand.

The reason? – Others have go migrating,

For what you have in your own fatherland!

 

A busy life, where for what’s good is striven,

That is your daily task, your travel-verse!

To you lands are revealed, for us they’re hidden,

You have them all, they are your universe!

Past Knippelsbro feels almost like migrating,

You are abroad in countryside so rare,

Past Christianshavn, The Low Countries lie waiting

Your civic wreath swells to a forest there.

 

And Paris, that transfiguring trend-setter,

With all its prattle, glitter and sheer size?

You find your Paris over in the theatre,

With never-ending drama and surprise.

The Scottish heather Jutland presupposes,

Yes, you see thistles coming into flower;

Yes, the humble thistle grew to roses

Saved children tell you of such stubborn power!

 

And Italy museums can supply you,

There marble offers you Antiquity;

The orange tree –– our Christmas tree provides you

With apples for your offspring off the tree.

You may not get to Norway, but you know it,

You know the kindness found where firs grow tall.

The best that Norway has, it sometimes sends you,

Like little Jette, and like Theodor!

 

The river you ne’er saw! – the Elbe, dear one!

And on its banks today you are recalled.

In song and in our hearts they now are near one,

As you by name in their hearts are installed!

For our dear ones in need God was the helper,

And will once more be on the open sea!

With you in mind, we travel to the Elbe,

This special day gave us the journey free!

 

If you would see what’s foul and predatory

Free prison company might be your style,

But since heart’s words and deeds comprise your story,

Then listen to our gratitude a while.

In this and friendship’s realm your path’s fulfilling,

Though your set aims to us are what means most.

‘Long may he live’ a thousand hearts are willing,

And now ‘Hurrah for father!’ is our toast.

 

 

The poem is obscure at times, full of hidden references. It is clear that Andersen regarded Jonas Collin as a father figure and the use of the ‘Du’ form of address underlines this. The reference to the river Elbe and the date 1848 are important. The river marked the then southern border between Denmark and the countries outside it. And there was considerable tension between Germany and Denmark at this time in the Schleswig-Holstein region. War broke out here in March-April of that year.