Text & Translation
Med en Vandlilje, 'With a Waterlily'
Norwegian source:
Henrik Ibsen
blomsten med de hvide vinger.
På de stille strømme båren
svam den drømmetung i våren.
Vil du den til hjemmet vie, fæst den på dit bryst Marie;
bag dens blade da sig dølge
vil en dyb og stille bølge.
Vogt dig, barn for tjernets strømme,
Farligt, farligt der at drømme!
Nökken lader som han sover;
liljer leger ovenover.
Barn, din barm er tjernets strømme.
Farligt, farligt der at drømme,
liljer leger ovenover;
nøkken lader som han sover.
With a Waterlily
English translation ©
William Jewson, © BIS Records AB, adapted by Claire Booth
At the flower with its white wings.
Floating in the gentle current
Dreamily it swam in springtime.
Will you take it home
And pin it to your breast, Marie?
Behind its petals then would hide
A deep and calm wave.
Child, be wary of the current in the pond,
It’s dangerous to dream there!
The watersprite only pretends he is sleeping;
Lilies play above.
Child, your breast is the current of the pond,
It’s dangerous to dream there!
Lilies play above;
The watersprite only pretends he is sleeping.
Med en Vandlilje, 'With a Waterlily'
Norwegian source:
Henrik Ibsen
With a Waterlily
English source:
William Jewson, © BIS Records AB, adapted by Claire Booth
Se, Marie, hvad jeg bringer;
Look, Marie, at what I bring;
blomsten med de hvide vinger.
At the flower with its white wings.
På de stille strømme båren
Floating in the gentle current
svam den drømmetung i våren.
Dreamily it swam in springtime.
Vil du den til hjemmet vie, fæst den på dit bryst Marie;
Will you take it home
bag dens blade da sig dølge
And pin it to your breast, Marie?
vil en dyb og stille bølge.
Behind its petals then would hide
Vogt dig, barn for tjernets strømme,
Child, be wary of the current in the pond,
Farligt, farligt der at drømme!
It’s dangerous to dream there!
Nökken lader som han sover;
The watersprite only pretends he is sleeping;
liljer leger ovenover.
Lilies play above.
Barn, din barm er tjernets strømme.
Child, your breast is the current of the pond,
Farligt, farligt der at drømme,
It’s dangerous to dream there!
liljer leger ovenover;
Lilies play above;
nøkken lader som han sover.
The watersprite only pretends he is sleeping.
Composer
Poet
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Johan Ibsen (20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential…