Hans Christian Andersen: 'Mosrosen er nok værd at se' (1862)

Port of Sète, 1857

 Mosrosen er nok værd at se

 

Mosrosen er nok værd at se

Og Nelliken tilvisse,

Men Pigerne i Cette,

de Er mer smukk’ end disse;

I Øjnene bor Sjæl og Glød,

Figuren er Antikkens.

Ja, jeg tør bande Pinedød,

Dem skildrer selv ej Dickens.

 

 

Moss roses are a lovely sight

 

Moss roses are a lovely sight

Carnations we adore,

But Cette girls are sheer delight

And prettier, what’s more;

Their eyes have soul as well as fire

Their classic figure quickens

One’s pulse – I’m damned if I’m not sure

They’d tongue-tie even Dickens.

 

 

(The name of the town Cette in southwest France was officially changed to Sète in 1929)