Hear, Albion,
hear peoples all,
an old man’s words
hear peoples all,
an old man’s words
Hear fateful words:—
By brutal force
ne’er shall be won
ne’er shall be won
the highest good.
That folk alone
shall vaunt of victory
That folk alone
shall vaunt of victory
who knoweth best
her best of men;
over-weening
is ill-fated;
right and truth
shall rule the world!
Hear thou, hear,
the skalds’ archange :—
is ill-fated;
right and truth
shall rule the world!
Hear thou, hear,
the skalds’ archange :—
See’st not all-witless
this war of the world?
this war of the world?
Take thou thy trump,
let it blare forth
let it blare forth
menacing words
o’er the madness of men!
Blow hence accurs’d
o’er the madness of men!
Blow hence accurs’d
machines of death,
deeper than hell,
than the homes of Death!
deeper than hell,
than the homes of Death!
Blow hence afar
this deluge of blood,
this deluge of tears,
ere the world be drown’d!
this deluge of blood,
this deluge of tears,
ere the world be drown’d!
Blow hence, blow hence,
the burning hate
of blinded men,
afar from Earth!
Blow thou, blow,
great reconciler,
wake from their spells
of blinded men,
afar from Earth!
Blow thou, blow,
great reconciler,
wake from their spells
the witless world!
Speak, Britain’s bard,
Speak, Britain’s bard,
of better times!
Through ages three,
tho’ thou art gone,
hast sung of kinship,
the goodwill of men,
better than any,
living or dead.
No mighty force,
No mighty force,
no fleets of war,
can as thy spirit
England guard!
Blow thou, blow!
Come better times.
Thou and Albion
shall live for aye!
Matthías Jochumsson (1835–1920) Iceland
Translated by Israel Gollanz
Translated by Israel Gollanz
Source: 1616—1916 On the Tercentenary Commemoration of Shakespeare. Ultima Thule
Sendeth Greeting. An Icelandic poem by Matthías Jochumsson with translation into English by Israel Gollanz, Humphrey Milford, 1916
Sendeth Greeting. An Icelandic poem by Matthías Jochumsson with translation into English by Israel Gollanz, Humphrey Milford, 1916
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