You chosen men we welcome here <br />From brothers near. <br />We welcome you to Olaf's town <br />That Norway's greatest mem'ries crown, <br />Where ancient prowess looking down <br />With searching gaze, <br />The question puts to sea and strand: <br />Are men now in the Northern land <br />Like yesterday's? <br /> <br />'T is well, if on the battlefield <br />Our 'Yes' is sealed! <br />'T is well, if now our strength is steeled <br />To grasp our fathers' sword and shield <br />And in life's warfare lift and wield <br />For God and home! <br />For us they fought; 't is now our call <br />To raise for them a temple-hall, <br />Fair freedom's dome. <br /> <br />List to the Northern spirit o'er <br />Our sea and shore! <br />Here once high thoughts in word were freed, <br />In homely song, in homely deed; <br />And ever shall the selfsame need <br />That spirit sing: <br />Heed not things trivial, foreign, new; <br />Alone th' eternal, Northern, true <br />Can harvest bring. <br /> <br />O brother-band, this faith so dear <br />Has brought us here? <br />The spirit of the North to free, <br />Our common toil and prayer shall be, <br />Those greater days again to see,- <br />As once before, <br />Of home and trust a message strong <br />To send the warring world we long <br />Forevermore.<br /><br />Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/at-a-banquet-given-to-the-deputation-of-the-swedish-riksdag-to-the-coronation-in-trondhjem-july-17/
