Youthful friends here a circle form, <br />Elder foes now surrender. <br />Feel among us in safety, warm, <br />Toward you our hearts are tender. <br />Once again on a hard-fought day <br />Hero-like you have led the way, <br />Smiting all that before you stood;- <br />But now be good! <br /> <br />With no hubbub, without champagne, <br />Dress-suit, and party-collar, <br />We would honor o'er viands plain <br />Grateful our 'grand old scholar'! <br />When all quiet are wind and wave, <br />Seldom we see this pilot brave;- <br />When storm-surges our ship might whelm, <br />He takes the helm! <br /> <br />-Takes the helm and through thick and thin <br />(Clear are his old eyes burning), <br />Steers the course with his trusty 'grin,' <br />Straight, where the others are turning! <br />Thanks gave to him I know not who, <br />For he scolded the skipper, too!- <br />Back he went to his home right soon: <br />We had the boon. <br /> <br />He has felt what it is to go <br />Hated, till truth gains the battle; <br />He has felt what it is to know <br />Blows that from both sides rattle. <br />He has felt what the cost is, so <br />Forward the present its path to show: <br />He, whose strength had such heights attained, <br />Stood all disdained. <br /> <br />Would that Norway soon grew so great <br />That it with justice rewarded <br />Heroes who its true weal create, <br />Who are no laggards sordid. <br />Shall we always so slowly crawl, <br />Split forever in factions small, <br />Idly counting each ill that ails?- <br />No! Set the sails! <br /> <br />Set the sails for the larger life, <br />Whereto our nation has power! <br />Daily life is with death but rife, <br />If there's not growth every hour. <br />Rally to war for the cause of right, <br />Sing 'neath the standard of honor bright, <br />Sail with faith in our God secure, <br />And strong endure<br /><br />Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-a-banquet-for-professor-ludv-kr-daa/
