Tuesday 5 November 2024

Hans Christian Andersen: 'Min Undskyldning'


 

Min Undskyldning

 

»Liebe kann einen Satan bekehren.«

(Hoffmann)

 

Om mine Digte

Man sige vil,

At her det neppe

Gik rigtigt til.

 

Ja til slig Tale

Man er parat,

At de fra Heine

Er’ Plagiat.

 

Hvad end de sige,

Er jeg dog fri,

Gud Amor ene

Er Skyld deri!

 

 

My Excuse

 

‘Love can convert a devil.’

(Hoffmann)

 

About my poems

It will be said

They seem quite suspect

When they are read.

 

Well, for such comments

One’s well prepared –

Just cribbed from Heine

Not even shared.

 

From accusations

As such I’m free,

It’s only Cupid’s

Sheer treachery!

 

Monday 4 November 2024

Hans Christian Andersen: 'Ungersvenden' (fra Aarets Tolv Maaneder, August) 1833


 

Ungersvenden.

Snart sover Alt, ja Stort og Smaat,

Paa Græs og grønne Grene,

Men jeg - ak! det er ikke godt,

At Mennesket er ene!

 

O, gid jeg var af Jern og Staal!

Mit Hjerte let kan faae det!

Det er mig ligesom en Aal,

Jeg kan ei holde paa det!

 

- - -

 

Hver en Luftning sover paa det grønne Blad,

Stille drømmer Blomsten midt i Duggens Bad.

Seer Du, Maanen kommer hist, hvor Krattet groer?

Lavt paa Horizonten staaer den rund og stor.

Ved den sorte Granskov Søen gjør en Bugt,

Klart i Vandet speiler Krattet sig saa smukt.

Tys! sig noget rører! mon en Fugl der fløi?

Nei, det er to Piger, stille! gjør ei Støi.

Barnligt, uskyldsglade, gaae de Arm i Arm.

Ha! de kaste Klædet fra den hvide Barm;

Høit de løfte Armen! see det smækre Liv! -

- O, nu blev' de borte bag det høie Siv!

Jeg kan ikke see dem, det var dog saa smukt!

Men der har vi Maanen over Søens Bugt.

Den kan staae og see dem, høit fra Skyens Vold,

Den kan see dem begge, og er dog saa kold! -

Hør, med Eet det pladsked', see en Ring saa bred!

Hele Søen bæver jo af Salighed.

Hver en Blomst ved Bredden lukker Øiet op,

Og de stolte Graner bøie deres Top!

Alt er Duft og Længsel, Natten er saa tys,

Søen dem omfavner, giver Kys paa Kys,

Trykker sig saa salig op til Bryst og Arm,

Aldrig dog den svulme kan som deres Barm.

Aldrig nogen Morgen den i Solens Skjær

Rødmet har saa deiligt frisk, som Kinden her!

Ingen Tid den viiste Himlen os saa klar,

Som den Uskylds-Himmel, den i disse har. -

Nu med Vandet, Pigen paa den anden slaaer,

Om de runde Skuldre falder deres Haar;

Maaneskinnet viser det saa tykt og stort -

- Men der gik jo Maanen! - det var grusomt gjort! -

 

Fiskeren.

Aakanden har sit Bæger lukt,

Den under Fladen svømmer;

I Vandet Maanen staaer saa smukt,

Det er det Blomsten drømmer:

At begge to

Dernede boe;

Hvad kan man ei i Drømme troe?

Jo,jo!

 

Jægeren.

Blomsten dufter, for at brydes,

Frugten modnes, for at nydes,

Ender Livet, var det da

Dog et jublende: "Trara!"

Echo svarer, hør! "ja, ja!

Lev og nyd, trara, trara!"




The Youth

Soon all’s asleep, both great and small,

In grass and trees all mingle,

But as for me – ah, how it palls

For one to be so single!

 

Oh, were I but of iron and steel!

My heart just nowhere lingers!

It is with me as with an eel

That slips between one’s fingers!

 

- - -

 

Every breeze is sleeping on the leaves so green,

Every flower dreams quietly in the dew’s moist sheen.

Can you see the moon come where the scrub is found?

Low on the horizon it hangs large and round.

Near black woods of firs lake’s waters form a bay,

And the scrub is mirrored there in shades of grey.

Quiet! There’s something moving! Did a bird take flight?

No, it’s two young girls, stand still, keep lips sealed tight.

Arm in arm they walk in happy innocence.

Ah! Now bare white bosoms with indifference,

Lift their arms up high! Just see their slender waists! –

Oh! Tall reeds have hidden them, there’s not a trace!

It was lovely, they though now seem whisked away!

Even so, we have the moon above the bay.

It can see them clearly, from its banks of cloud,

Though so cold it sees them through their wispy shroud! –

Suddenly come splashes, see rings spread out wide!

All the lake’s a-quiver with a bliss devout.

Every shore-wide flower opens wide its eye,

And the fir trees bow their high crowns with a sigh!

All is scent and longing, and the night’s so still,

Now the lake showers kisses on them both at will,

Presses close and sheaths both breast and arm,

Never though can swell to match their bosoms’ charm.

Never either has a dawn, bathed in sun’s rays

Blushed as red and fresh as cheeks here in their glaze!

Never was the sky revealed to us so clear

As the sky of innocence in these two here. –

Now the two girls splash each other free from care,

And around their curving shoulders falls their hair;

In the moonlight all seems wonderful and great –

– Now the moon has vanished! – oh, how cruel is fate! –

 

The Angler

The lily’s calyx is shut tight,

Beneath the surface swimming;

The mirrored moon’s a floating light

This now the flower is dreaming:

That side by side

They both reside;

All’s possible in dreams, I guess?

Oh yes!

 

The Hunter

Flowers have scent, are made for plucking,

Fruit grows ripe, is made for sucking,

Though life ends, it was by far

One triumphant, loud ‘Terrah!’

Hear the echo from afar

‘Live, enjoy: Terrah, terrah!’



 

 

Sunday 3 November 2024

Hans Christian Andersen: 'Gid jeg var riig!'



Gid jeg var riig

 

»Gid jeg var riig!« det bad jeg mangen Gang,

Da jeg endnu var knap en Alen lang.

Gid jeg var riig! saa blev jeg Officeer,

Fik mig en Sabel, Uniform og Fjer.

Den Tid dog kom, at jeg blev Officeer,

Men ingensinde var jeg riig, desværre!

Mig hjalp vor Herre!

 

Livsglad og ung, jeg sad en Aftenstund,

En syvaars Pige kyssede min Mund,

Thi jeg var riig paa Sagn og Eventyr,

I Penge derimod en fattig Fyr,

Men Barnet brød sig kun om Eventyr,

Da var jeg riig, men ei paa Guld desværre,

Det veed vor Herre!

 

»Gid jeg var riig!« er end min Bøn til Gud,

Nu er den syvaars Pige voxet ud,

Hun er saa smuk, saa klog, saa eiegod.

Hvis hun mit Hjertes Eventyr forstod,

Hvis hun, som før – jeg mener, var mig god,

Dog jeg er fattig, derfor taus desværre,

Saa vil vor Herre!

 

Gid jeg var riig paa Trøst og Rolighed,

Da kom min Sorg ei paa Papiret ned!

Du, som jeg elsker, hvis Du mig forstaaer,

Læs dette, som et Digt fra Ungdoms Aar!

Det er dog bedst, hvis Du det ei forstaaer,

Jeg fattig er, min Fremtid mørk desværre,

Dig signe vil vor Herre!


(Findes i eventyret 'Lykkens Kalosker')

 

 

Were I but rich

 

 ‘Were I but rich!’ I often used to call,

When I was scarcely two foot tall.

Were I but rich! an officer I’d be,

With sword and uniform and plume for me!

Was later such a one for all to see,

But riches did evade me,

Though God did aid me!

 

One evening as I sat there young and gay,

A girl of seven kissed me straight away,

For rich I was in legends and in tales,

Though money I did seek to no avail,

The child though only thought of tales,

So I was rich, though not in gold,

God knows of old.

 

‘Were I but rich!’ is still to God my prayer,

The girl of seven’s grown, is tall and fair,

She is so lovely, so kind-hearted, wise.

If she my heart’s tale did surmise,

If she – as once before – for me had eyes!

But I am poor and so my lips are still,

It is God’s will!

 

Were I but rich in solace, mind and friend,

On paper I’d my sorrows not have penned!

You, whom I love, if me you understand,

This poem take as one that youth’s flame fanned,

Though it is better that you do not understand

That I am poor, my future dark, alas.

May God you bless! 

(Found in the tale 'The Galoshes of Fortune')


Hans Christian Andersen: 'Fyen' (I & II)

 


Fyen

 

I.

 

Ja, Fyen er ret et herligt Land!

Det kan dog ingen negte.

Der vexle Skov og Mark og Strand,

Og Hjertet der er ægte!

 

Selv Navnet Fyen betyder fiin,

Og vil saa meget sige,

At Fyen det er en Have fiin,

For hele Danmarks Rige! –

 

II.

 

Ved Tanken om min Føde-Ø,

Forsvinder hver en Smerte! 

Den favnes af den stolte Sø,

Og kaldes „Danmarks Hjerte.” 

 

Her havde Freia fordum Bo,

Nu flyer hun disse Kyster,

Thi ellers havde Øen to,

— Nys saae jeg hendes Søster. 

 

 

Funen

 

I.

 

Yes, Funen is a splendid land!

This fact there’s no denying.

A blend of wood and field and strand,

A heart of truth undying!

 

The Funen name itself means fine,

Which well describes its hallmark,

Since Funen is a garden fine

For every part of Denmark.

 

II.

 

When thinking of my native isle,

All pain flies as though fable!

Its shores the proud sea waves beguile

And Denmark’s Heart’s its label. 

 

Here goddess Freya did reside,

These coasts though now must miss her,

Else two such would the isle divide,

– I just have glimpsed her sister. 


Hans Christian Andersen: 'The Fiddler' (1831)



 Spillemanden

 

I Landsbyen gaaer det saa lystigt til,

Der holdes et Bryllup med Dands og Spil;

Der drikkes Skaaler i Viin og Mjød,

Men Bruden ligner en pyntet Død.

 

Ja død hun er for sin Hjertenskjær,

Thi han er ikke som Brudgom her,

I Krogen han staaer med Sorgen sin,

Og spiller saa lystig paa Violin.

 

Han spiller til Lokkerne blive ham graae,

Han spiller saa Strængene briste maae,

Til Violinen, med Sorg og Gru,

Han trykker mod Hjertet reent itu.

 

Det er saa tungt, saa knusende tungt,

At døe mens Hjertet endnu er ungt!

Jeg mægter ei længer at see derpaa!

Jeg føler det gjennem mit Hoved gaae.

 

See, Mændene holde ham fast i Favn —

— Men hvorfor nævne I mig ved Navn?

Vor Herre bevare Enhvers Forstand!

Jeg selv er en fattig Spillemand.

 

 

The fiddler

 

So merry the village, around folk prance

They’re holding a wedding with play and dance.

On wine and mead those invited sup;

The bride though looks more like death dressed up.

 

Well, dead she is for her groom to be,

For he’s not here midst this revelry,

To drown his sorrows he’s at the inn,

And merrily playing his violin.

 

He plays away till his locks turn grey,

He plays so the strings must all give way,

Until the fiddle, from pains and aches

Against his heart’s pressed until it breaks.

 

It’s hard to bear, feels heavy as lead

With a heart still young to soon be dead!

I can’t bear to watch it anymore!

It torments my head like an open sore.

 

The men hold him tightly though caringly –

But why are all of you naming me?

The Good Lord preserve us, it can’t be true!

A helpless poor fiddler I am too.

 

Hans Christian Andersen: 'The Student' (1830)


 

Studenten

 

Høit under Taget, hvor Svalen boer,

Har ogsaa Studenten sit Kammer,

Der sidder han nærmere Englenes Chor,

Trods Stuens og Salens Madammer;

Paa Væggen hænger hans hele Stads,

I Lommen er Skillinger fire,

Paa Bordet ligger Homer og Horats

Samt mange beskrevne Papire.

 

Et Tællelys brænder i Stagen smukt,

Selv skjærer han Aftensmaden;

Det er saa silde, hans Dør er lukt,

Kun Vægteren sværmer paa Gaden;

Lad ham kun sværme i blaa Talar,

Det rager Studenten jo ikke,

Han stirrer saa taus gjennem Rudens Glar,

Seer Stjernerne blinke og nikke.

 

Han tænker paa mangen en Barndoms Drøm,

Imedens han stopper sin Hose,

Da bliver om Hjertet han ganske øm,

Hans Kinder see ud som en Rose.

Han yndes af Mange, har dog ingen Ven,

End sige en lille Veninde,

Thi flagre hans Sukke i Natten hen,

Til Nar for de lystige Vinde.

 

Men sukke og græde er ingen Plaseer,

Undtagen for syge Poeter,

See! Maanen sidder paa Taget og leer

Ad ham og ad Povel og Peter.

Studenten damper sin Pibe ud,

Og vender saa Lyset i Stagen,

Saa beder han barnlig en Bøn til Gud,

Og trækker saa Dynen om Hagen.

 

 

The Student

 

High ’neath the eaves where the swallows dwell

The student too has his bedsitter,

He’s closer to angelic choirs, he can tell,

Though below in fine rooms ladies twitter;

The walls are decked with all that he owns,

His pocket’s four pennies as neighbours,

His desk features Homer’s and Horace’s tomes

Plus scribbled sheets – fruit of his labours.

 

A thin tallow candle burns on, still bright,

His supper himself he gets ready;

It’s very late now, his door’s shut tight,

The street watchman’s pacing is steady;

Let him pace on in his blue cloak down there,

The student’s completely uncaring,

Through darkened panes silently out he stares

At stars up there twinkling and flaring.

 

He thinks of the dreams he had as a child,

While darning a hole in his stocking,

His heart seems to melt, turn tender and mild,

His cheeks blush like roses, so shocking!

He’s quite liked by many, yet still has no friend,

A girlfriend’s quite out of the question,

That’s why all his sighs fade into the night,

Made fun of by winds in succession.

 

But sighing and crying no pleasure provide

Except for poor poets’ frustration,

Look! Perched on the roof, the moon him derides

As well as the rest of creation.

The student puts out his pipe with great care,

And up-ends the candle to damp it,

Then childlike he says a last nighttime prayer,

And up to his chin pulls the blanket.


Saturday 2 November 2024

Hans Christian Andersen: 'Luft-Egn' (1849)

 


Luft-Egn

 

Mel. Carnevalet i Venedig.

 

Vi flyve over Skyen,

See ned paa Land og Stad;

Rødtaget ligger Byen,

Som kogte Krebs paa Fad!

 

Jeg har en deilig Kikkert,

Jeg øiner Alt hvad skeer!

Og man seer Alting sikkert,

Naar ovenfra man seer.

 

Europa som en Jomfru,

Passere vi forbi,

See Spanien er Hoved,

Hun er catholsk deri.

 

I Frankrig sidder Hjertet,

Det har man mig fortalt.

Og Tydskland det er Maven,

Men der – der er det galt!

 

Nu seer man kun af Jorden

En lille sølet Egn,

Det er vist Kongens Nytorv,

Hvor der er faldet Regn.

 

Men siig mig, hvad er dette,

Der flyver som Vind forbi,

O, det er Mængdens Mening,

Der er ingenting deri.

 

(Fra Skuespillet ’Meer end Perler og Guld’, 1849)

 

 

Aerial domain

 

Mel. The Carnival in Venice

 

Above the clouds we’re flying,

Town, country alternate;

Red-roofed there lies the city

Like boiled crabs on a plate!

 

My telescope is handy,

Reveals all that takes place!

And things are seen more clearly

When one looks down through space.

 

Europe’s just like a maiden

That we’re now passing by –

Look, Spain’s her head, all muzzy

And Catholic inside.

 

And France is where her heart is,

So people all profess.

And Germany her stomach,

But what an awful mess!

 

Now all one sees of earth is

A mucky small domain,

It must be Kongens Nytorv

That’s had a lot of rain.

 

But tell me, what is this then

That shoots off far and wide,

Oh, popular opinion,

With just nothing there inside.

 

(From the play ‘More than Pearls and Gold’, 1849)