The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1957, Blaðsíða 19

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
17
To hut and kingly dwelling
Thou, Christ, dost come alone.
For all Thy tears are welling,
Wilt for their sins atone.
Thou hear’st each weak soul praying
For friend its guide to be.
Thou lovest every being
Though none be true to Thee.
AS kofa og konungshollum
pu kemui einn a ferS.
l>ii graetur yfir ollum
og allra syndir berS.
M veizt, er veikir kalla
;i vin aS leiSa sig.
l>ii sdrft og elskar alia,
p6 allir sviki pig.
I fall at Thy feet, dearly
The tree of life enfold.
With inner vision clearly
Great marvels I behold.
Life’s endless stream obeys Thee,
The weak protects Thy might.
From Thy love-flame most freely
All worlds receive their light.
Eg fell aS fotum pinum
og faSma Iifsins tre.
MeS innri augum minum
eg undur rnikil se.
Pii styrir vorsins veldi
og verndar hverja r6s.
Fra pinum Astareldi
fd allir heimar lj6s.
THE COVER VERSE
The translation is by the writer so
no comments will ibe made.
The selection was made to disclose
how deeply DaviS Stefansson can feel
and how beautifully he can express that
depth of feeling. Memories can be a
repository of limitless riches for those
I FEEL A FRAGRANCE
by DAVIE) STEFANSSON
translated by W. J. LINDAL
I feel the fragrance of a withered flower,
At sunset gleams the distant ruined tower,
The lays of ancient minstrels fill the hour,
Warmth and comfort from your bosom stream.
Forget I never shall—the memories seem
A world enchanted opening in a dream.
So may your name be blessed in earth and
heaven,
Your smiles an urge to starry heights have
given,
Your love is comfort in life’s restless hour,
You were my fort, my torch, my harp, my
flower.
Who keep them ever fresh by pausing
once in a while and letting their minds
feast upon them. They become the
richer and more deeply comforting
as the scene ahead begins to fade and
the shadows lower. The original
follows. —W. J. L.
Nil FINN EG ANGAN
eftir DAVID STEFANSSON fra FAGRASKOGI
Nu firm eg angan longu bleikra bldma,
borgina hrundu se viS himin I jonia,
og heyri aftur fagra, forna hljftma,
finst um mig hlyja hr brjftsti pinu streyma.
Eg man pig enn og mun pdr aldrei gleyma,
Minning pin opnar gamla tofraheima.
BlessaS sd nafn pitt baeffi d himni og jorSu.
Brosin pin mig aft' betri manni gjorSu.
Brj6st pitt mer hlyju og hvildar enn pd veldur,
pii varst mitt bl6m, min borg, min harpa
og eldur.