THE COLLECTED POEMS OF HENRIK IBSEN Translated by John ...

111
SONG
preluding
SHIP’S MASTER JAN ANDERSEN’S
and
MISS M.B. CAMPBELL’S
Wedding Celebration
25 th September 1856
(Mel: Vift Stolt paa Codans Bølger)
When gales and billows chiding
Seethe on the vessel’s prow,
When storm-cloud murk is hiding
The haven, distant now —
The shipman bold will tower
Undaunted at the helm:
He has on board a power
That nought can overwhelm!
It is the needle showing
Where North is to be found, —
The magic steel for showing
His way home, safe and sound!
And that is why he’s ready
To mock the angry sea, —
He knows his course is steady
For landfall and for lee!
But in man’s heart profoundly, —
And woman’s, in like ways, —
The God-lit torch as roundly
Deserves an equal praise; —
When life’s wild waves would seize you
And crush you in their rage, —
It brings you through and sees you
To Joy’s safe harbourage!
It’s like a star that’s shining,
Assumes a compass role,
Points far ahead defining
The passage to your goal —
Good luck to all those wedded
Who’ve that on board to show —
You’ll find Joy’s home, you’re headed,
It’s steady as you go!
And so we’ll drink together
To this young couple here
Who through Life’s tides and weather
One common course will steer!
A health, then, we importune!