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

186
Hence will’s fiery lightning plays
In that interchange of gaze; —
Sverre’s, Haakon’s, Oscar’s holy
Shades by day build well, if slowly!
May the folk’s will, strong and free,
Watch and ward the folk’s endeavour, —
Shield its works, that liberty
May, though young, be shrined for ever!
Let the masonry decay,
Deeds are columns built to stay,
Elevate, sustain the nation,
Norway’s weal and reputation.
Henr. Ibsen
The prologue, to a performance of Bjørnson’s ‘King Sverre’, celebrated the laying of the
foundation stone of the new Parliament building, which faces the palace from the far end of
Karl Johan Street; Svolder, the site of King Olaf I of Norway’s defeat and death in AD 1000.
King Harald achieved his vision of a unified Norway by his victory over local kings and earls
at the sea battle of Havsfjord in 872.
ON THE OCCASION OF
ENGINEER CAPTAIN P. STEENSTRUP’S
54 th BIRTHDAY
29 th November 1861
Respectfully dedicated by the Engineering Plant’s Song Quartet
Birthright’s blessing,
silvered tressing,
decks the dauntless man.
Eye and spirit glowing,
— gifts of heaven’s bestowing; —
labour’s guider,
work-provider,
Steenstrup will and can!
Health and power
build a bower
where the boss may dwell.
Years may pass and vanish,
but his memory banish? —
Saga’s scrivings
carve great strivings —
his name she knows well.
We the choir
work for hire,
we who celebrate.
We stand awe-inspired
by the good, admired