Wednesday 28 July 2021

Hans Vilhelm Kaalund (1818-85): 'Maagen' (from Fables for Children)


 

Maagen

 

Maagen skreg over Havets Speil:

Skipper tag ind dit hvide Seil.

Skipperen gabed og strakte sig doven:

Maage hold din Mund med dit Skrig foroven. —

Skipper, Skipper, tag Seilet ind!

Jeg spaar dig, der kommer en Hvirvelvind.

 

Snak, du Tosse, det kjender du ei;

Hvo er vel Skipper, du eller jeg?

Hui! da foer over Havet Blæsten,

Skibet forgik i Bølgerne næsten,

Maagen rundt omkring Skibet fløi:

Naa, kan du se, at jeg ikke løi!

Gode Raad bør man altid høre! —

Da kløede sig Skipperen bag sit Øre.

 

 

The Gull

 

O’er the sea’s mirror the gull did wail:

Skipper, take in your full white sail.

The skipper he yawned and stretched at ease:

Stop moaning aloft now, if you please.–

Skipper, oh skipper your sail take in!

A whirlwind I sense will soon begin.

 

Rubbish, you fool, you don’t have a clue;

Who is the skipper – me or you?

Whoosh! the sea by the wind was tossed,

The boat in the waves was almost lost,

The gull around the boat did fly:

Well, now you know I told no lie!

Good advice you should always hear! –

At which the skipper scratched his ear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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