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 fooling 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.