NATIONAL SONG.
Reading edition
From the Danish of Evald.
Written to commemorate three great naval victories achieved by the three great Danish heroes, Christian, Juul, and Tordenskiold.
King Christian stood beside the mast In smoke and mist. His weapons, hammering hard and fast, Through helms and brains of Gothmen pass’d, Then sank each hostile sail and mast In smoke and mist. “Fly,” said the foe, “fly all that can, For who can Denmark’s Christian Resist?”
Niels Juul he mark’d the tempest’s roar: “Now, now’s the tide!” He hoists his banner, red as gore, And plied his foemen aft and fore, Loud crying ’midst the tempest’s roar: “Now, now’s the tide!” “Fly each, who knows a refuge path, For who can Juul, when hot with wrath, Abide!”
O North sea, Weasel’s {50} flashes rent Thy vapours dun. Down to thy bosom heroes went, For with those flashes death was blent; From the fight rose a yell which rent Thy vapours dun. From Denmark lighteneth Tordenskiold,— “Yield, yield to heaven’s favourite bold, And run.”
Thou Danish path to fame and might, Dark-rolling main! Receive thy friend, who holds as light The perils of the stormy fight, Who braves like thee the tempest’s might, Dark-rolling main! Bear me through battle, song and sport, Until the grave, my final port, I gain!