Poems and Songs Part 13

TAYLOR'S SONG (FROM MARIA STUART)

For joys the hours of earth bestow With sorrow thou must pay.

Though many follow close, yet know, They're loaned but for a day.

With sighing in thy laughter's stead Shall come a time of grief, The load of usury bow thy head, With loss of thy belief.

Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Hadst thou not smiled upon me, thou, I were not weeping now.

May G.o.d help him who never can Give only half his soul; The time comes surely for that man To take the sorrow whole.

May G.o.d help him who was so glad, That he cannot forget, Help him who lost the all he had, But not his reason yet.

Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne, Mary Anne, The flowers that my life had grown, Died out when thou went gone.

LECTOR THAASEN (See Note 27)

I read once of a flower that lonely grew, Apart, with trembling stem and pale of hue; The mountain-world of cold and strife Gave little life And less of color.

A botanist the flower chanced to see And glad exclaimed: Oh, this must sheltered be, Must seed produce, renewing birth, In sun-warmed earth Become a thousand.

But as he dug and drew it from the ground, Strange glitterings upon his hands he found; For to its roots clung dust of golden hue; The flower grew On golden treasure!

And from the region wide came all the youth To see the wonder; they divined the truth: Here lay their country's future might; A ray of light From G.o.d that flower!--

This I recall now even while I mourn; The Lord of life has lifted him and borne From mountain-cold and wintry air To fruitage fair In warmth eternal.

For where the roots were of that life replete, What gleams and glitters! See, they ran to meet The shafts of wisdom's goodly mines, The gold that s.h.i.+nes In veins of G.o.d's thought.

Now he is lifted up, to light are brought The riches he to guard so faithful sought.

The treasures of our past are there, And glintings rare Of future riches.

Come, Norway's youth! Unearth to use the h.o.a.rd That round this heaven-borne flower's roots was stored!

To you his message! Hear and heed!

Achieve in deed His dream and longing!

DURING A JOURNEY IN SWEDEN (See Note 28)

My boyish heart in thee confided, For to the great by thee 't was guided.

As man, my waiting is for thee,-- _The Northern cause with thee, with thee!_

Rich lands and talents are thy dower, But fallow lie thy wealth and power.

_Thou must the North in concord bind, Or never shalt thy true self find._

There's longing in thy folk arisen, Poetic hope--but yet in prison.

Though forces great within thee dwell, Thou art not wholly sound and well.

Too many things are undertaken, Too oft the task is soon forsaken.

Though rich in promptings of the heart, In faith and duty faint thou art.

In danger only hast thou thriven, When something great to guard was given.

When every breast with warmth shall glow At Sweden's name, thy strength thou'lt know.

What's thine alone lifts not thy feeling, Till honor's cause the skies are pealing, Thou hast no joy but daring deed In fortune's favor or in need.

For thy fair memories inspiring Are far too great, much more requiring: _The Northern cause! Lead thou the way!

'T will double glory thee repay!_

Of all thou canst, this is the greatest, Thy duty earliest and latest.

Thy future rests in its embrace With cure for ills that now abase.

Thou land of heart-born fancies thronging, Thou land of poetry and longing, Fill now thy heart, thy spirit free!

_The Northern banner waits for thee!_

THE TRYST

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

My fancies roaming List in the gloaming:-- Will she the trysting now keep?

Winter is dreaming, Bright stars are beaming, Smiling their light through its cloud-veil they pour, Summer foretelling Sweet love compelling;-- Dare she not meet me here more?

'Neath the ice lying, Longing and sighing, Ocean would wander and warmer lands woo.

Anch.o.r.ed s.h.i.+ps swinging, Sail-thoughts outflinging;-- Come we together, we two!

Whirling and fallings Pictures enthralling, Fairy-light made in the forest the snow; Wood-folk are straying, Shadows are playing;-- Was it your footstep? Oh, no!

Courage is failing, h.o.a.r frost a.s.sailing Boughs of your longing surrounds with its spell.

But I dare enter, Break to the center, Where in dream-fetters you dwell.

SONG FOR THE STUDENTS' GLEE CLUB (See Note 29)

Now, brothers, sing out our song, Whose train of light shall follow long!

With love are its measures beating And victory's joyous greeting, While round about it flower-seeds In will of youth shall grow to deeds!

Our song has gone far and. wide, Bright mem'ries on our way abide, In flags flying, friends that love us, In wreaths from fair hands above us, In feasts where youth's full spirits stream, Our nation's past, our nation's dream.

At _Hald_ on a sunny day That shot-torn flag of many a fray Was waving above our singing, Soul-fire to our music bringing, The ardor of that glorious band, Who died as heroes for our land.

To _Arendal_ our summer-way "For might and fame!"--remember aye!

The fleet on the bay was riding, Our singer-s.h.i.+p through it gliding.

Our merchant-s.h.i.+ps shall rule the wave!

This joyous hoisting-song we gave.