C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
To Ulla
By Carl Michael Bellman (1740–1795)
U
Reddest of strawberries in milk or wine?
Or from the pond a lively fish? Command me!
Or, from the well, a bowl of water fine?
Doors are blown open, the wind gets the blaming.
Perfumes exhale from flower and tree.
Clouds fleck the sky and the sun rises flaming,
As you see!
Isn’t it heavenly—the fish market? So?
“Heavenly, oh heavenly!”
“See the stately trees there, standing row on row,—
Fresh, green leaves show!
And that pretty bay
Sparkling there?” “Ah yes!”
“And, seen where sunbeams play,
The meadows’ loveliness?
Are they not heavenly—those bright fields?—Confess!”—
Heavenly!
Heavenly!
Hark how the city bells their peals prolong!
See how the dust the verdant turf is screening,
Where the calashes and the wagons throng!
Hand from the window—he’s drowsy, the speaker,
In my saddle I nod, cousin mine—
Primo a crust, and secundo a beaker,
Hochländer wine!
Isn’t it heavenly—the fish-market? So?
“Heavenly, oh heavenly!”
“See the stately trees there, standing row on row,—
Fresh, green leaves show!
And that pretty bay
Sparkling there?” “Ah yes!”
“And, seen where sunbeams play,
The meadows’ loveliness?
Are they not heavenly—those bright fields?—Confess!”—
Heavenly!
Heavenly!
Whinnying, prancing, my good steed, I see.
Still in his stall-door he lifts his head, making
Efforts to look up to thee: just to thee!
Nature itself into flames will be bursting;
Keep those bright eyes in control!
Klang! at your casement my heart, too, is thirsting.
Klang! Your Skål!
Isn’t it heavenly—the fish-market? So?
“Heavenly, oh heavenly!”
“See the stately trees there, standing row on row,—
Fresh, green leaves show!
And that pretty bay
Sparkling there?” “Ah yes!”
“And, seen where sunbeams play,
The meadows’ loveliness?
Are they not heavenly—those bright fields?—Confess!”—
Heavenly!
Heavenly!