WHERE under the pine-clothed mountain-side
The maidenly fjord lies dreaming, —
Where the sunlight plays with the moody tide,
From the distant glaciers beaming,—
Where the midnight sun pours its flaming gold
O’er the Yokul’s airy steeple,
There lingers an echo from Saga old
In the hearts of the Northern people.
At the wedding-feast when the home-brewed ale
Has made its round of the table,
And the healthful mirth of a merry tale
Shakes the house from cellar to gable,
Then waketh again, what hath slumbered so long,
That fire of the ancient Saga,
And the Norseman’s heart flows over in song,
As of old the goblet of Braga.
Full oft then a youth leaps forth from the crowd
’Mid the dance and the music and laughter —
Leaps forth with a shout so free and loud
That it rings from rafter to rafter, —
And calleth a maiden out of the throng,
And round them the revellers and dancers
Are hushed, while his heart pours out its song
And the heart of the maiden answers.

THE STAVE.

HE. There standeth a birch in the lightsome lea —
SHE. In the lightsome lea ;
HE. So fair she stands in the sunlight free —
SHE. In the sunlight free ;
BOTH. So fair she stands in the sunlight free.
SHE. High up on the mountain there standeth a pine —
HE. There standeth a pine;
SHE. So stanchly grown and so tall and fine —
HE. So tall and fine ;
BOTH. So stanchly grown and so tall and fine.
HE. A maiden I know as fair as the day —
SHE. As fair as the day ;
HE. She shines like the birch in the sunlight’s play —
SHE. In the sunlight’s play ;
BOTH. She shines like the birch in the sunlight’s play.
SHE. I know a lad, in the spring’s glad light —
HE. In the spring’s glad light —
SHE. Far-seen as the pine on the mountain-height —
HE. On the mountain-height ;
BOTH. Far-seen as the pine on the mountain-height.
HE. So bright and blue are the starry skies —
SHE. The starry skies ;
HE. But brighter and bluer that maiden’s eyes —
SHE. That maiden’s eyes ;
BOTH. But brighter and bluer that maiden’s eyes.
SHE. And his have a depth like the fjord I know —
HE. The fjord I know ;
SHE. Wherein all the heavens their beauty show —
HE. Their beauty show ;
BOTH. Wherein all the heavens their beauty show.
HE. The birds each morn seek the forest-glade—
SHE. The forest-glade;
HE. So flock my thoughts to that lily maid —
SHE. That lily maid ;
BOTH. So dock my thoughts to that lily maid.
SHE. The moss, it clingeth so fast to the stone —
HE. So fast to the stone;
SHE. So clingeth my soul to him alone —
HE. To him alone ;
BOTH. So clingeth my soul to him alone.
HE. Each brook sings its song, but forever the same —
SHE. Forever the same ;
HE. Forever my heart beats that maiden’s name —
SHE. That maiden’s name ;
BOTH. Forever my heart beats that maiden’s name.
SHE. The plover hath but an only tone —
HE. An only tone ;
SHE. My life hath its love, and its love alone —
HE. Its love alone ;
BOTH. My life hath its love, and its love alone.
HE, The rivers all to the fjord they go —
SHE. To the fjord they go ;
HE. So may our lives then together flow —
SHE. Together flow ;
BOTH. O may our lives then together flow !
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen.