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

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round North Cape’s wall, east over Glommen’s stream.
I witness its red trunk, its verdant bunching,
I see its twigs that gleam as white as snow; —
but there’s a scattered nation dwells below,
men sick with envy, self-engrossed, sit hunching
on every headland, fjord and corrie-side.
One only stands undaunted mid the welter.
He casts his dice of fate, all caution spurning,
for he has faith and hope, is justified,
his call, to feed a universal yearning, —
the canopy his mighty dream’s green shelter.
Things fall apart! The young with elders grumble;
the novel vision challenges old ways.
Round Trondhjem I behold eight kingdoms crumble;
eight battles set eight kings beneath the harrow,
great Rollaug, from his throne of mightier days,
must occupy an earl-stool, beaten, humble; —
in Naumdal Herlaug, downing sword and arrow,
descends with all his heroes to the barrow.
Then they united, those who sought division;
they join who once for separation vied;
they found a use then for King Harald’s vision:
the warrior’s strongest who fights side by side.
They flock from Agder, Telemark, each quarter;
the spread sails gleam alongside Lister’s strand;
flags flying, ships’ prows foam the water,
and as they speed round Jeder’s reef to slaughter,
hoarse battle-cries are borne back to the land.
They seek King Harald’s host. Time now to see
if any dare hack down the hallowed tree.
Two concepts clad in steel are now debating,
two ages will exchange harsh words in wrath;
upon his poop-deck Roald Rygg stares north,
King Kjøtve whets his sword, his shield-rim grating.
The time is short. The man’s at Hafsjford, waiting.
________________
See you the hundreds of warships riding
anchored, tarred longships drawn up in their ranking?
See you where Harald’s armed warriors are biding,
swarming and striding
over the benches, the gunwale’s stout planking?
Hear you not Hafsfjord, the din they’re maintaining?
Hornklove’s threnody lasts to this day.
Fighters for twilight and dawn are campaigning,
fighters for waxing meet fighters for waning; —
longships, tall carriers
swirl in the haven,