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Heidenstam, Verner von: Låt oss dö unga

Portre of Heidenstam, Verner von

Låt oss dö unga (Swedish)

Skänk oss den lycka, som vår tunga

begär till dryck, men får i droppar blott.

Skänk lust, skänk kval i överfulla mått

och låt oss dö unga.

 

Ej hittar människan en ört bland gräsen,

som vind och väder snabbare slå ner,

och aldrig formar hon av markens ler

så skört ett käril som sitt eget väsen.

Väl bygger hon sig själv med sten på sten

av det hon vet och tror och vill och önskar,

men länge redan innan gräset grönskar

på gravlagd man, det templet vittrar hän

med spiran bruten som en torkad gren.

 

Än varar dagen. Templets jungfrur sjunga

och yr går leken under ängens björk.

Låt oss gå hem, när ängen ligger mörk,

och låt oss dö unga.



Uploaded byP. T.
Source of the quotationhttp://www.archive.org/stream

Grant that we die young (English)

Give the full happiness our tongue

Would quaff, but only sips in stinted measure;

Pour us a brimming draught of pain, of pleasure,

And grant that we die young!

 

Man doth not ever find amid the grasses

A plant that wind and frost more quickly slay,

Nor doth he form a vessel out of clay

More brittle than himself – so soon he passes.

What though he build the structure stone by stone

Of all his knowledge, thought, and will, and yearning?

Ere on his grave the grass to green is turning

His crumbling temple unto dust is blown,

And like a withered branch the spire is overthrown.

 

'Tis day as yet, and joyful songs are sung

By temple maidens dancing on the mead.

When it is dark, then let us homeward speed; –

Oh, grant that we die young! 



Uploaded byP. T.
Source of the quotationhttp://archive.org/stream

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