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

162
Corn began to grow; —
And as soon as pioneer-work was ended, —
Farm flanked farm by then, —
There sprang up a breed of mighty men, —
Single singers too the greenwood wended.
Noble pioneer in spirit’s regions!
You are of that band
To whose day-task murk must yield its legions
In our fatherland.
Sun-gold sifted down through wind-felled spruces
To your broad-axe blade; —
Hence we greet you with this serenade
That a heart-felt gratitude produces.
Wide-spread though it be, your life’s endeavour,
Saga does you right;
We, true sons of Reason’s church forever,
Honour you this night.
Far your visions shone, the uplands brightening
At their gleam’s behest; —
Legend has it, seedlings flourish best
When to westward there’s the flash of lightning.
A tribute to the professor in his twentieth year in office. He had been brilliant and influential,
both as an academic and as a political thinker of the reformist and Utilitarian tendency.
TO PARLIAMENT
(17 th May 1860)
Members, find you
Tales that bind you,
Saved from legend’s night?
Or have you forgotten
Egil’s king-begotten
Jæmte-mission,
Earl’s submission
To our king’s geld-right?
Egil’s tried men
Fain would hide when
Forth the greybeard strode.
One by one flee, shirking;
On the hill-side lurking
Jæmte glowers; —
Blood-red flowers
Rose-like bloom the road.
Anger burrows