Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark Part 8

The sun is rising in the east, It gilds the heavens wide, And scatters light on mountain crest, On sh.o.r.e and countryside.

It rises from the valley bright, Where Paradise once lay, And bringeth life, and joy and light To all upon its way.

It greets us from the land afar Where man with grace was crowned, And from that wondrous Morning Star, Which Eastern sages found.

The starry host bow down before The sun that pa.s.ses them; It seems so like that star of yore Which shone on Bethlehem.

Thou Sun of Suns, from heaven come, In Thee our praises rise For every message from Thy home And from Thy Paradise.

The most beloved of all Ingemann's hymns is his splendid "Pilgrim Song."

Dejlig er Jorden, Praegtig er Guds Himmel, Skon er Sjaelenes Pilgrimsgang. Gennem de f.a.gre Riger paa Jorden Gaa vi til Paradis med Sang.

This hymn is written to the tune of "Beautiful Savior" which Ingemann, in common with many others, accepted as a marching tune from the period of the crusades. Although this historic origin has now been disproved, the tune united with Ingemann's text undoubtedly will remain the most beloved pilgrim song among the Danish and Norwegian peoples. Though fully aware of the impossibility of translating this tenderly beautiful song so that it is acceptable to those who know the original, the author presents the following translation in the hope that it may interest those who cannot read the original.

Fair is creation,[12] Fairer G.o.d's heaven, Blest is the marching pilgrim throng. Onward through lovely Regions of beauty Go we to Paradise with song.

Ages are coming, Ages are pa.s.sing Nations arise and disappear. Never the joyful Message from heaven Wanes through the soul's brief sojourn here.

Angels proclaimed it Once to the shepherds, Henceforth from soul to soul it pa.s.sed: Unto all people Peace and rejoicing, Us is a Savior born at last.

Of other hymns by Ingemann, which are now available in English, we may mention "Jesus, My Savior, My Shepherd Blest," "The Country Lies in Deep Repose" and "I Live and I Know the Span of My Years."