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

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labour-guider,
work-provider,
Skill’s best advocate.
We shall daily
follow gaily
Steenstrup all the way.
A mere taste, our greeting
at this birthday meeting,
as our singing
leads a ringing
Cheer for him — hooray!
Peter Steenstrup, born 1807, a naval marine engineer, was instrumental in founding one of
the first modern shipyards for the construction of iron-clad steam ships, thus initiating the
industrial revolution in Norway. He had captained the first such vessel. Saga: history
personified.
17 th MAY 1862
Mel: Højest løfter jeg da Guldpokalen
Dark the land lay; — mountains grimly glowered,
shadowing the dale;
fierce against the shore the fjord’s foam showered;
loudly sang the gale.
Cruel the hardship in the humble dwelling,
tilth withheld its bread;
seas were barred, across them boomed the dread
din of weaponry; for it was swelling.
Be it noted — during this privation
Liberty moved here;
hence you must now pledge your dedication
to a course that’s clear.
Let those prove, on whom your choice may settle,
that in word and deed
they are of sound stock, their sires’ true seed,
men in whom run veins of mountain metal!
Norsemen, from the wealth of golden treasure
willed by Eidsvoll’s Thing,
you shall beat new pieces out, past measure,
like a Draupner ring!
Cordon round your dearest acquisition,
stand watch o’er the land!
Freedom needs a guard alertly manned;
half the triumph stems from disposition.
Freedom’s crown shall blossom forth unstinting,
warded by such might,
spread the barrens with a rosy tinting,