Hans Christian Andersen: 'Snorlige Gader, Palai ved Palai' (1831)

Centre of Berlin in 1831 map

 

Snorlige Gader, Palai ved Palai

1831

 

Snorlige Gader, Palai ved Palai,

Man bliver træt af at gaae og at see.

Pæne Soldater, – den første jeg saae,

Følte jeg gjennem mit Hjerte gaae,

Og jeg brød ud: ”Hvilken Krop! Hvilke Been!

Gud, hvor det dog er en nydelig En!”

”Unter den Linden ” Alverden gik.

(Det er dog smukkest i Kobberstik!)

Gaderne støve og Ungdommen med,

Ak, det gjør Øinene stor Fortræd!

Ægte Berliner Witz finder man her,

Og den er kostbar - tro mig - især

Hvis den med ”Schnellposten” skulde herfra,

Blev den for dyr ved sin Tyngde, ak ja!

”R” bliver snurret, man siger ”mein Jot”

Ellers er Folket meget godt;

Byen – ja vendt paa kryds eller tvers,

Bliver for stor til at sætte i Vers.

 

 

Moral

 

Mærk Dig: Moralen er saare fiin,

Som man faaer ud af det store Berliin!

 

 

Arrow-straight streets and fine mansions galore

1831

 

Arrow-straight streets and fine mansions galore,

Walking and gazing makes one tired and sore.

Handsome young soldiers – the first one I saw

I felt pierce my poor heart right to the core,

I exclaimed: ‘What a body! What fine legs!’

Dear God, that one leaves me quite perplexed!’

‘Unter den Linden’ all come and go.

(Though as an etching it’s finest, I know.)

The streets are all dusty, and young folk are too,

Oh, it is hard on one’s eyes, so vast a view!

Berlin-style humour is everywhere here,

And it is not cheap – believe me – quite dear

If it by ‘Schnellpost’ were meant to be sent

Its weight would cost you your very last cent.

They roll all their Rs and exclaim ‘mein Jot’

Apart from this though they seem a fine lot;

The city – if taken from A to Z –

Won’t fit my verse – there’s no more to be said.

 

 

Moral

 

Take note: The moral seems very clear,

To describe Berlin you must stand right here!