“Veni creator”
(En sand Tildragelse under den franske Revolution)
I Dalen staaer et Kloster hist i den fri Natur;
Med modne Druer slynger sig Ranken om dets Muur,
For Billedet i Nichen hver Vandrer bøier Knæ,
Mens Fuglen synger Hymner høit i det grønne Træ.
Bag Hyttens Dør staaer Bonden, han har den halv paa Klem.
Hvidklædt de blege Nonner fra Klosteret skride frem;
Den spæde Haand er bunden, hvor Friheds-Træet groer,
“Veni creator!” synge de Alle høit i Chor.
Paa Torvet bølger Vrimlen, en vild, en kulsort Sø.
— For hos sin Gud at leve, maa man paa Jorden døe!
Det er den glade Tanke, som giver Hjertet Mod,
Skjønt bøddel-Øxen damper alt med det røde Blod.
“Veni creator!” synge de Nonner. Rædselsdag!
Én Stemme høres mindre ved hvert et Øxeslag.
Det dæmpes meer og meer — hør end den Sidstes Sang! —
Med Eet der bliver stille — man hører Øxsens Klang.
‘Veni creator’
(A true occurrence during the French Revolution*)
Deep in the distant valley an abbey rises tall;
With ripe grapes laden, vines there twine up around its wall,
Before the niche’s statue each traveller bends the knee,
While birds sing tuneful anthems up in the green-leafed tree.
His cottage door half-open, the peasant sees them go.
The pale nuns in their habits advance in one long row;
Where grows the Tree of Liberty, youthful hands are bound,
‘Veni creator, all sing in chorus – one great sound.
The market square is crowded, a coal-black sea awry.
– To live with God in heaven, on earth one has to die!
That is the thought which cheers them, gives courage, staves off dread,
Although the executioner’s axe is steaming red.
‘Veni creator!’ sing the nuns. A day of frightfulness!
At every single axe-blow there now is one voice less.
The chant gets ever fainter – till but one voice is found! –
Then suddenly there’s silence – one hears the axe’s sound.
* The reference is to the massacre of 16 Carmelite nuns in Compiègne on 17 July 1794.
No comments:
Post a Comment