 | Idyls of Norway and other poems |  |
107
NORSE STAVES.
109
INTRODUCTION.
Where under the pine-clothed mountain-side
The glittering fiord lies dreaming,—
Where the sunlight plays with the sparkling tide,
From the distant glaciers beaming,—
The glittering fiord lies dreaming,—
Where the sunlight plays with the sparkling tide,
From the distant glaciers beaming,—
Where the midnight sun pours its flaming gold
O'er the Yokul's airy steeple,
There lingers an echo from Saga old
In the hearts of the Norseland people.
O'er the Yokul's airy steeple,
There lingers an echo from Saga old
In the hearts of the Norseland people.
At the wedding-feast, when the home-brewed ale
Has made its round of the table,
And the healthful mirth of a jocund tale
Shakes the house from cellar to gable,
Has made its round of the table,
And the healthful mirth of a jocund tale
Shakes the house from cellar to gable,
Then waketh again what hath slumbered so long,—
The fire of the ancient Saga;
And the Norseman's heart flows over in song,
As of old, at the goblet of Braga.
The fire of the ancient Saga;
And the Norseman's heart flows over in song,
As of old, at the goblet of Braga.
110
Full oft then a youth leaps forth from the crowd
'Mid the dance and the music and laughter,—
Leaps forth with a shout so free and loud
That it rings from rafter to rafter,—
'Mid the dance and the music and laughter,—
Leaps forth with a shout so free and loud
That it rings from rafter to rafter,—
And calleth a maiden out of the throng,
And round them the revellers and dancers
Are hushed, while his heart pours forth its song,
And the heart of the maiden answers.
And round them the revellers and dancers
Are hushed, while his heart pours forth its song,
And the heart of the maiden answers.
111
STAVE IN “GUNNAR.”
He.There standeth a birch in the lightsome lea—
She.
In the lightsome lea;
He.
So fair she stands in the sunlight free—
She.
In the sunlight free.
Both.
So fair she stands in the sunlight free.
She.
High up on the mountain there standeth a pine—
He.
There standeth a pine;
She.
So stanchly grown and so tall and fine—
He.
So tall and fine.
Both.
So stanchly grown and so tall and fine.
He.
A maiden I know as fair as the day—
She.
As fair as the day;
He.
She shines like the birch in the sunlight's play—
She.
In the sunlight's play.
Both.
She shines like the birch in the sunlight's play.
112
I know a lad in the spring's glad light—
He.
In the spring's glad light;
She.
Far-seen as the pine on the mountain-height—
He.
On the mountain-height.
Both.
Far-seen as the pine on the mountain-height.
He.
So bright and blue are the starry skies—
She.
The starry skies;
He.
But brighter and bluer that maiden's eyes—
She.
That maiden's eyes.
Both.
But brighter and bluer that maiden's eyes.
She.
And his have a depth like the fiord I know—
He.
The fiord I know;
She.
Wherein the heavens their beauty show—
He.
Their beauty show.
Both.
Wherein the heavens their beauty show.
He.
The birds each morn seek the forest glade—
She.
The forest glade;
He.
So flock my thoughts to that lovely maid—
She.
That lovely maid.
Both.
So flock my thoughts to that lovely maid.
113
The moss, it clingeth so fast to the stone—
He.
So fast to the stone;
She.
So clingeth my soul to him alone—
He.
To him alone.
Both.
So clingeth my soul to him alone.
He.
Each brook sings its song, but forever the same—
She.
Forever the same;
He.
Forever my heart sings that maiden's name—
She.
That maiden's name.
Both.
Forever my heart sings that maiden's name.
She.
The plover hath but an only tone—
He.
An only tone;
She.
My life hath its love, and its love alone—
He.
Its love alone.
Both.
My life hath its love, and its love alone.
He.
The rivers all to the fiord they go—
She.
To the fiord they go;
He.
So may our lives then together flow—
She.
Together flow.
Both.
So may our lives then together flow.
114
COME, FAIREST MAID.
He.“Come, fairest maid, tread the dance with me;
O heigh ho!”
She.
“So gladly tread I the dance with thee;
O heigh ho!”
He.
Like brier-roses thy red cheeks blush;
She.
And thine are rough like the thorny bush.
Both.
An' a heigh ho!
He.
So fresh and green is the sunny lea;
O heigh ho!
She.
The fiddle twangeth so merrily;
O heigh ho!
He.
So lightly goeth the lusty reel,
She.
And round we whirl like a spinning-wheel.
Both.
An' a heigh ho!
115
Thine eyes are bright like the sunny fiord;
O heigh ho!
She.
And thine do flash like a viking's sword;
O heigh ho!
He.
So lightly trippeth thy foot along;
She.
The air is teeming with joyful song.
Both.
An' a heigh ho!
He.
Then, fairest maid, while the woods are green,
O heigh ho!
She.
And thrushes sing the fresh leaves between,
O heigh ho!
He.
Come, let us dance in the gladsome day,
She.
Dance hate, and sorrow, and care away.
Both.
An' a heigh ho!
116
TELL ME, ILKA.
He.Tell me, Ilka on the hill-top,
While the Alpine breezes blow,
Are thy golden locks as golden
As they were a year ago?
(Yodle)
Hohli-ohli-ohli-ho!
Hohli-ohli-ohli-ho! Hohlio-oh!
She.
Hohli-ohli-ohli-ho! Hohlio-oh!
Tell me, Hänsel in the valley,
While the merry cuckoos crow,
Is thy bristly beard as bristly
As it was a year ago?
Hohli-ohli-ohli-ho!
Hohli-ohli-ohli-ho! Hohlio-ho!
He.
Hohli-ohli-ohli-ho! Hohlio-ho!
Tell me, Ilka on the hill-top,
While the crimson glaciers glow,
Are thine eyes as blue and beaming
As they were a year ago?
Both.
Hohli-ohli, etc.
117
Hänsel, Hänsel in the valley,
I will tell you, tell you true;
If mine eyes are blue and beaming,
What is that, I pray, to you?
Both.
Hohli-ohli, etc.
He.
Tell me, Ilka on the hill-top,
While the blushing roses blow,
Are thy lips as sweet for kissing
As they were a year ago?
Both.
Hohli-ohli, etc.
She.
Foolish Hänsel in the valley,
Foolish Hänsel, tell me true,
If my lips are sweet for kissing,
What is that, I pray, to you?
Both.
Hohli-ohli, etc.
He.
Tell me, Ilka on the hill-top,
While the rivers seaward flow,
Is thy heart as true and loving
As it was a year ago?
Both.
Hohli-ohli, etc.
118
Dearest Hänsel in the valley,
I will tell you, tell you true:
Yes, my heart is ever loving,
True and loving unto you!
Both.
Hohli-ohli-ohli-ho!
Hohli-ohli-ohli-lo! Hohlio-oh!
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