Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Scotland: Vols. VI–VIII. 1876–79.

Introductory to Norway

A Norwegian Popular Song

By Johan Nordahl Brun (1745–1816)

Translated by William Sidney Walker

TO Norway, mother of the brave,

We crown the cup of pleasure,

And dream our freedom come again,

And grasp the vanished treasure.

When once the mighty task ’s begun,

The glorious race is swift to run.

Drink to the children of the rocks,

To Norway’s honest bosoms!

For him alone who breaks our chains

Our wreath of glory blossoms;

And when did mountain-youth deny

For Norway’s cause to live and die?

One glass to faith and friendship flows,

One to Norwegia’s daughters;

Drink each the girl his heart adores,

And shame on him who palters!

Shame on the wretch who welcomes chains,

And woman, wine, and song disdains.

Drink to Norway’s hills sublime,

Rocks, snows, and glens profound;

“Success!” her thousand echoes cry,

And thank us with the sound.

Old Dofra mingles with our glee,

And joins our shouts with three times three.