Bj'rnstjerne Martinius Bj'rnson

(See Note 71) ... O'er uplands fresh swift sped my sleigh ... A light snow fell; along the way

Evening sunshine never Solace to my window bears, Morning sunshine elsewhere fares; -

(See Note 9) A friend I possess, whose whispers just said, "God's peace!" to my night-watching mind.

Have you heard what says the Swede now, Young Norwegian man? Have you seen what forms proceed now,

(See Note 47) Give us, God, to Thee now turning, Fullness of joy, tears full and burning,

(See Note 58) Youthful friends here a circle form, Elder foes now surrender.

(See Note 62) You chosen men we welcome here From brothers near.

(See Note 60) God, we thank Thee for the dower Thou gavest Norway in his power,

(See Note 44) Ever he would roam Toward th' eternal home;

If you were born before yesterday, Surely you've heard about Tailor Nils, who flaunts him so gay. If it's more than a week that you've been here,

(See Note 19) As thou sittest there Skerry-bound and fair,

(See Note 11) (Harald Haardraade's saga, towards the end of Chapter 45, reads thus: When Einar Tambarskelve's wife Bergliot, who had remained behind in her lodgings in the town, learned of the death of her husband and of her sort, she went straight to the royal residence, where the armed force of peasants was, and eagerly urged them to fight. But in that very moment the King (Harald) rowed out along the river. Then said Bergliot: "Now miss we here my kinsman, Haakon Ivarson; never should Einar's murderer row out along the river, if Haakon stood here on the river-bank.") (In her lodgings)

(See Note 33) April for me I choose! In it the old things tumble,

(DIED OF OVER-EXERTION AS VOLUNTEER MILITARY-SURGEON, 1864) He gave heed to no Great Power But the one that God we call.

(See Note 28) My boyish heart in thee confided, For to the great by thee 't was guided.

Evening sun in beauty is shining, Lazy puss on the step's reclining. "Two small mice,

Some poor man in need To bless and to feed, I bring at its worth,

(See Note 51) A still procession goes Amid the battle's booming,

(See Note 37) "Forward! forward!" Rang our fathers' battle-cry.

(See Note 79) I DEDICATION

(See Note 18) Frida, I knew that thy life-years were counted. If but before thee a lifting thought mounted,

Evening is coming, the sun waxes red, Radiant colors from heaven are beaming Life's lustrous longings in infinite streaming; -

His day was the greatest the Northland has seen, It one was with the midnight-sun's wonders serene: The light wherein he sat was the light of God's true peace,

(See Note 49) So let these songs their story tell To all who in the Northland dwell,

Day's coming up now, joy's returned, Sorrow's dark cloud-castles captured and burned; Over the mountain-tops glowing

(See Note 35) Winter had sought his life's tree to o'erthrow, Youthful and strong. But his blood's vernal flow

(See Note 65) "Here your Hamar-made matches!" - Of them these verses I sang;

(See Note 70) Spring's herald, hail! You've rent the forest's quiet? Your hair is wet, and you are leaf-strewn, dusty ...

Round us rolls the heather's sheen, Heather's sheen, 'Neath the falcon of our queen,

Arm me, Lord, my strength redouble, Heaven open, heed my trouble! God, if my cause Thine shall be,

(See Note 40) I passed by the house one summer day, Morning sunshine upon it lay;

I dare never speak up to you, For you to look down would not do, But always you are there each day,

(See Note 13) Be glad when danger presses Each power your soul possesses!

List to the forest-voice murmuring low: All that it saw when alone with its laughter, All that it suffered in times that came after,

Ingerid Sletten of Sillejord Neither gold nor silver did own, But a little hood of gay wool alone,

(See Note 15) Wherefore have I longings, When to live them strength is lacking?

(See Note 7) To the grave they bore him sleeping, Him the aged, genial gardener;

(See Note 14) KAARE What wakens the billows, while sleeps the wind?

(See Note 21) Our King is bereft of a trusty friend! And in dismay

Kille, kille, lambkin mine, Though it often be hard to climb Over the rocks upswinging,

(See Note 52) And that was Olaf Trygvason, Going o'er the North Sea grim,

(See Note 27) I read once of a flower that lonely grew, Apart, with trembling stem and pale of hue;

Have you love for me, Yours my love shall be, While the days of life are flowing.

Love thy neighbor, to Christ be leal! Crush him never with iron-heel, Though in the dust he's lying!

(See Note 16) "Oh, let me look once again and see Starlight the heavens o'ersweeping!"

"Dance!" called the fiddle, Its strings loudly giggled, The bailiff's man wriggled

Lo, this land that lifts around it Threatening peaks, while stern seas bound it, With cold winters, summers bleak,

(See Note 78) Wergeland's statue on May seventeenth Saw the procession. And as its rear-guard,

When you will the mountains roam And your pack are making, Put therein not much from home,

(JANUARY 30, 1866) (See Note 30) CHORUS

I will fight for my land, I will work for my land, Will it foster with love, in my faith, in my child.

(See Note 39) We wander and sing with glee Of glorious Norway, fair to see.

(See Note 76) Norway, Norway, Rising in blue from the sea's gray and green,

(See Note 34) Norwegian seamen are A folk grown strong 'neath sail and spar;

TO PROFESSOR WELHAVEN (See Note 36) Hear us, O age-laden singer!

(See Note 59) Oh, when will you stand forth, who with strength can bring aid, To strike down the injustice and lies

(See Note 10) Broad the sails o'er the North Sea go; High on deck in the morning glow

(See Note 50) I went to a school that was little and proper, Both for church and for state a conventional hopper,

(See Note 46) Of long toil 't is a matter Through many a silent age,

(See Note 55) With death's dark eye acquainted she had been made ere this, When to her son, her first-born, she gave the farewell kiss,

(See Note 57) E'en as the Sibyl in Northland-dawn drew Forth from the myth-billows gliding,

Open water, open water! All the weary winter's yearning Bursts in restless passion burning.

(See Note) A land there is, lying near far-northern snow, Where only the fissures life's springtime may know.

(See Note 23) High memories with power Shine through the wintry North

(See Note 23) High memories with power Shine through the wintry North

(See Note 80) Thou, who sailest Norse mountain-air, And Denmark's songs by the cradle singest,

(See Note) Wonder I must, what I once may see Over the lofty mountains!

Lift thy head, thou undaunted youth! Though some hope may now break, forsooth, Brighter a new one and higher

(See Note 20) Many forms belong to greatness. He who now has left us bore it

Once I knew a noble peasant From a line of men large-hearted. Light and strength were in his mind,

(See Note 68) A man in coat of ice arrayed Stood up once by the Arctic Ocean;

I I seem to be Sundered from Thee,

THE CHILD Father! Within the forest's bound No bird I found,

(Tirol, 1874) (See Note 61) Dishonored by the higher, but loved by all the low, -

(See Note 69) Come up on deck! The morning is clear, - Memory wakes, as the landmarks appear.

He gloomily sat by the wall, As gaily she danced with them all. Her laughter's light spell

He gloomily sat by the wall, As gaily she danced with them all. Her laughter's light spell

(See Note 17) Sin and Death, those sisters two, Two, two,

Song brings us light with the power of lending Glory to brighten the work that we find; Song brings us warmth with the power of rending

Now, brothers, sing out our song, Whose train of light shall follow long! With love are its measures beating

(See Note 63) Freedom's father - power strong, Freedom's mother - wrath and song.

(See Note 73) Fly the banner, fly the banner! For our freedom fight!

Have thanks for all from our childhood's day, Our play together in woodland roaming. I thought that play would go on for aye,

For joys the hours of earth bestow With sorrow thou must pay. Though many follow close, yet know,

Asleep the child fell When night cast its spell; The angels came near

Asleep the child fell When night cast its spell; The angels came near

(See Note 56) With smiles his soft eyes ever gleamed, When God and country thinking;

Though she depart, a vision flitting, If I these thoughts in words exhale: I love you, you blonde maiden, sitting

Come calf now to mother, Come lamb that I choose, Come cats, one and t' other,

Toward God in heaven spacious With artless faith a boy looks free, As toward his mother gracious,

It was such a lovely sunshine-day, The house and the yard couldn't hold me; I roved to the woods, on my back I lay,

I saw a dove fear-daunted, By howling storm-blast driven; Where waves their power vaunted,

The first fond meeting holy Is like the woodbirds' trilling, Is like a sea-song thrilling,

The fox lay still by the birch-tree's root In the heather. The hare was running with nimble foot

(DEDICATED TO HERMAN ANKER AND M. ANKER ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR SILVER-WEDDING, SEPTEMBER 15, 1888) (See Note 75) Land that shall be

She wandered so young on the shore around, Her thoughts were by naught on earth now bound. Soon came there a painter, his art he plied

She wandered so young on the shore around, Her thoughts were by naught on earth now bound. Soon came there a painter, his art he plied

Good-morning, sun, 'mid the leaves so green - Mind of youth in the dales' deep reaches, Smile that brightens their somber speeches,

(See Note 38) Thoughts toward one another coursing To their pole must run,

The youth in the woods spent the whole day long, The whole day long; For there he had heard such a wonderful song,

Lord! Oh, hold in Thy hand my child, Guard by the river its playing! Send Thou Thy Spirit as comrade mild,

(NOVEMBER 4, 1864) Norr'na-race's longing, It was the sea's free wave,

(See Note 8) ... Oceanward I am ever yearning, Where far it rolls in its calm and grandeur,

(See Note 72) The poet does the prophet's deeds; In times of need with new life pregnant,

The princess looked down from her bower high, The youth blew his horn as he lingered thereby. "Be quiet, O youth, will forever you blow?

(Note: That is, without the mark of union with Sweden.) (See Note 66) I

Oh, what was it he meant By his question as he went? "I am making a loom,

Ready with leaves and with buds stood the tree. "Shall I take them?" the frost said, now puffing with glee. "Oh my, no, let them stand,

Silent I'm biding, While softly gliding Sink the still hours to eternity's sleep.

The white rose and the red rose, So sisters two were named, yes, named. The white one was so quiet,

Mute they wander, Meeting yonder, In the wondrous Spring new-born,

(See Note 41) As on I drive, in my heart joy dwells Of Sabbath silence with sound of bells.

(With an album containing portraits of all those who at the time of his birth were leaders in the intellectual and political world.) Here hast thou before thee that constellation Whereunder was born thy light;

(SUNG AT HIS WIFE'S GRAVE) (See Note 48) Your house to guests has shelter lent,

(See Note 43) When Norse nature's dower Tones will paint with power,

(See Note 53) We welcome you this wondrous summer-day, When childhood's dreams on earth are streaming,

(See Note 31) Our glasses we lift now and drink to our host! "Hurrah!"

(See Note 45) When now my song selects and praises Your forceful name, think not it raises

(See Note 67) I honor you, who, though refused, affronted, Have heard the voice, and victory have won;

(See Note 64) Molde, Molde, True as a song,

(See Note 42) In all the land our race was once excelling. In richer regions it e'en now possesses

(See Note 12) Pray, take these pearls! - and my thanks for them You lavished, the home of my youth to gem!

(See Note 32) With friends you stalwart stand and fair, To-day of fifty years the heir;

(See Note 54) May Seventeenth in Eidsvold's church united, To hallow after fifty years the day

(See Note 22) Lift thou thine ancient yellow-blue! Aloft the front must show it.

(WHEN DYBB'L WAS CAPTURED) (See Note 25) Dannebrog of old was seeming

(MAY 17, 1864) (See Note 26) 'Twas then this land of ours we drew

(See Note) Fair Venevil hastened with tripping feet Her lover to meet.

(See Note 24) When Kattegat now or the Belt you sail, No more will you sight

(See Note 74) Left foot! Right foot! Lines unbroken! Keeping time is power's token.

Young men and women, strong and sound, Adorn with beautiful excess Of play and song and flower-dress

Mood of youth, Mood of youth, Eagle-like must seek the blue,