Tuesday, 4 February 2025

Adam Oehlenschläger: 'Der er et yndigt land'

 


There lies a pleasant land

with beech trees wide outspreading

//: near Baltic’s salty strand, ://

it winds and curves in hill and dell,

its name of old is Denmark,

//: and here does Freya dwell. ://

 

There sat in days of yore

the warriors clad in armour,

//: revived from times of war; ://

they rose again to smite the foe,

now here their bones lie resting

//:’neath wreaths of standing stones ://

 

Still beauteous is this land;

rich-veined with deep-blue waters 

//: and in full leaf it stands, ://

and noble women, maidens fair

and men and youths so eager

//: its isles as homeland share. ://

 

Hail king and fatherland!

Hail every heart that’s Danish

//: and serves as best it can! ://

Our ancient Denmark shall stand true,

as long as beech trees mirror

//: their crowns in waves of blue. ://

 

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