King Christian stood by the lofty mast <br />In mist and smoke; <br />His sword was hammering so fast, <br />Through Gothic helm and brain it passed; <br />Then sank each hostile hulk and mast, <br />In mist and smoke. <br />'Fly!' shouted they, 'fly, he who can! <br />Who braves of Denmark's Christian <br />The stroke?' <br /> <br />Nils Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar, <br />Now is the hour! <br />He hoisted his blood-red flag once more, <br />And smote upon the foe full sore, <br />And shouted loud, through the tempest's roar, <br />'Now is the hour!' <br />'Fly!' shouted they, 'for shelter fly! <br />Of Denmark's Juel who can defy <br />The power?' <br /> <br />North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel rent <br />Thy murky sky! <br />Then champions to thine arms were sent; <br />Terror and Death glared where he went; <br />From the waves was heard a wail, that rent <br />Thy murky sky! <br />From Denmark, thunders Tordenskiol', <br />Let each to Heaven commend his soul, <br />And fly! <br /> <br />Path of the Dane to fame and might! <br />Dark-rolling wave! <br />Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight, <br />Goes to meet danger with despite, <br />Proudly as thou the tempest's might, <br />Dark-rolling wave! <br />And amid pleasures and alarms, <br />And war and victory, be thine arms <br />My grave!<br /><br />Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/king-christian-a-national-song-of-denmark-from-the-danish-of-johannes-evald/
