H.C. Andersen: 'Oppe fra Vinduet i Banehotellet'

 

Oppe fra Vinduet i Banehotellet

1869

 

Oppe fra Vinduet i Banehotellet

Hilser vor Sang dig, du gamle Korsør,

Baggesens Fødeby, Barnehjem, Legeplads;

Du blev i ’Børtens’ og Post-Kærrens Dage

Omtalt som ynkelig, kjedelig, komisk;

Jernbane-, Dampskibstid synger din Lov.

Baggesens Fødeby, Byen ved Bæltet.

 

Herlige store Bælt! Blinkende, vinkende

Ser vi dit Sølvskæl i Maanens Belysning.

Som Silhuet staar Slotstaarn og Volde,

Der, hvor Baggesen fødtes og leged’,

Hvor han saae Maanen glide bag Øen,

Synke i Søen, ønsked´ sig Vinger, drømte sin Flugt.

 

Oppe fra Vinduet i Banehotellet

Hilser os Bæltet og Byen og Skoven.

Dampskib ved Dampskib ligger i Havnen;

Nu kommer eet, nu eet, hvilken Landning!

Rejsende myldre der frem over Pladsen;

Hilsen og Afsked, en Færdsel, en Tummel,

Jernbaneklokken giver Signal-Slag,

Locomotivet stønner og puster,

Flyver med Toget –mens ovre i Byen

Lyder Musik og Lysene blinke;

Stjernerne Blinke over Korsør.

 

Up from my window at the station hotel

1869

 

Up from my window at the station hotel

Comes our song of greeting, old town of Korsør,

Baggesen’s native town, childhood home, playground;

Back in the days of small ferries and mail boats,

You once were thought boring, pathetic and comical;

But the railway and steamship age sings your praises.

Baggesen’s native town, by the Great Belt.

 

Magnificent Great Belt! Sparking and twinking

We see your silver-shell lit by the moon.

Silhouetted stand castle tower and the high ramparts,

There where Baggesen was born and played,

Where he saw the moon slide down behind the island,

Sink into the sea, wished for wings, dreamt of flight.

 

Up from my window at the station hotel

We too are greeted by the belt, town and wood.

Steamship by steamship lie in the harbour;

First one, then another – new land arrivals!

Travellers all swarm out over the square;

Greetings and farewells, hustle and bustle,

The railways bell signals it’s time to depart,

The locomotive starts puffing and groaning,

Fly with the train – while from the town

Comes the sound of music and twinkling of lights;

The stars are twinking high over Korsør.