Hans Christian Andersen: 'Nu Vintrens gamle Gubbe forlader sit Logi'

Nu Vintrens gamle Gubbe forlader sit Logi

1830

 

Nu Vintrens gamle Gubbe forlader sit Logi,

Thi mellem ham og Vaaren er daarlig Harmoni.

— I Kjælder og i Stue, ja selv høit under Tag

Man faaer Begreb om Chaos, thi det er Flyttedag;

Hist staae to gamle Tanter i Gadens Snavs og Snee

Samt andre gamle Møbler der ei er værd at see. —

— Nu kommer der en Liigvogn, see Følget er saa stort,

Det er en fornem Herre der Ingenting har gjort,

Han flytter — og hvis rigtigt man tør Avisen tro,

Da er han meget salig og skal i Himlen b

Nu staaer han alt deroppe og bukker med et Smiil,

Dog jeg er grumme bange, han løber der April.

 

 

Now winter’s age-old geezer his lodgings seeks to quit

1830

 

Now winter’s age-old geezer his lodgings seeks to quit,

For he and spring don’t get on and feel it’s time to split.

– In basement, on the ground floor, and in the attic too,

All seems to be chaotic, now moving day is due;

There two old aunts are standing in all street’s dirt and snow,

Along with some old furniture no one wants to know. –

– And now a hearse is passing, the cortège is quite big,

It’s probably a fine gent who never did a fig,

He’s moving – and if one can trust what the papers say,

He is amongst the blessed and heaven’s where he’ll stay.

He’s now already up there, he smiles and gives a bow,

I’m very much afraid though, he’s April fooled right now.

 

 

There used to be set days for moving, giving notice or changing work.

Servants had set dates when their contracts could terminate: the first of May and the first of November.

Tenant farmers and people renting lodgings in towns had different dates: the third Tuesday in April and October.