________________________________________________
Title: Hvidfeld
Author: George Borrow [
More Titles by Borrow]
From the Danish.
Our native land has ever teem'd
With warriors gallant-hearted,
Who bravery as their duty deem'd,
And ne'er from danger started;
Such Tordenskiold, and Adeler,
And Juul, and many others were.
Our native land has ever teem'd
With warriors gallant-hearted.
But who had e'er of bravery
The gallant Hvidfeld's measure?
Who e'er saw Death so plain as he,
And enter'd it with pleasure?
Ne'er shall his name oblivion meet,
For with his death he sav'd our fleet.
Our native land has ever teem'd
With warriors gallant-hearted.
'Gainst numerous foes we fought one day
A fight so fierce and gory,
And next the foe Sir Hvidfeld lay,
To danger close and glory;
And there was no man fought so stout
As Hvidfeld fought, that bloody bout.
Our native land has ever teem'd
With warriors gallant-hearted.
But as Sir Hvidfeld broadsides loud
Lay taking and returning,
His own fire set his vessel proud,
His Dannebrog, a burning.
"Slip anchor, Sir," his sailors cry,
"To land for safety let us fly!"
Our native land has ever teem'd
With warriors gallant-hearted.
"No!" answer'd he, "for danger then
'Midst Denmark's fleet we carry;
Shall it be risk'd by Danish men,
That they alive may tarry?
We'll die, but we'll avenge our death;
We'll fight until our latest breath."
Our native land has ever teem'd
With warriors gallant hearted.
"Yes, to the latest breath we'll fight!"
His seamen answer'd, cheering;
Around was death in horrors dight,
But still they fought unfearing,
Till the fire reach'd the powder-store,
And all died heroes midst its roar.
Our native land has ever teem'd
With warriors gallant-hearted.
And Hvidfeld's fame shall ne'er decay,
His gallant seamens' never;
A worthy countryman shall they
In every Dane find ever;
When Denmark dear to us shall cry,
Like them will we grim death defy.
Our native ground shall still abound
With warriors gallant-hearted.
[The end]
George Borrow's poem: Hvidfeld
________________________________________________
GO TO TOP OF SCREEN
