Kong Kristian
Kong Kristian (King Christian) is the
royal anthem of
Denmark. Adopted in
1780, it is one of the oldest in the world. It was composed by Ditlev Ludvig Rogert. The lyrics first appeared in Johannes Ewald's historical drama "The Fishermen" in
1828.
Der er et Yndigt Land is used as the
national anthem. Kong Kristian is usually played only in the presence of a member of the royal family. Only the first verse is commonly used.
Danish Lyrics
- Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast
- i røg og damp;
- hans værge hamrede så fast,
- at gotens hjelm og hjerte brast.
- Da sank hvert fjendtligt spejl og mast
- i røg og damp.
- Fly, skreg de, fly, hvad flygte kan!
- hvo står for Danmarks Kristian
- hvo står for Danmarks Kristian
- i kamp?
- Niels Juel gav agt på stormens brag.
- Nu er det tid.
- Han hejsede det røde flag
- og slog på fjenden slag i slag.
- Da skreg de højt blandt stormens brag:
- Nu er det tid!
- Fly, skreg de, hver, som véd et skjul!
- hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel
- hvo kan bestå mod Danmarks Juel
- i strid?
- O, Nordhav! Glimt af Wessel brød
- din mørke sky.
- Da ty'de kæmper til dit skød;
- thi med ham lynte skræk og død.
- Fra vallen hørtes vrål, som brød
- den tykke sky.
- Fra Danmark lyner Tordenskjold;
- hver give sig i himlens vold
- hver give sig i himlens vold
- og fly!
- Du danskes vej til ros og magt,
- sortladne hav!
- Modtag din ven, som uforsagt
- tør møde faren med foragt
- så stolt som du mod stormens magt,
- sortladne hav!
- Og rask igennem larm og spil
- og kamp og sejer før mig til
- og kamp og sejer før mig til
- min grav!
English Translation
- King Christian stood by the lofty mast
- In mist and smoke;
- His sword was hammering so fast,
- Through Gothic helm and brain it passed;
- Then sank each hostile hulk and mast,
- In mist and smoke.
- "Fly!" shouted they, "fly, he who can!
- Who braves of Denmark's Christian,
- Who braves of Denmark's Christian,
- The stroke?"
- Nils Juel gave heed to the tempest's roar,
- Now is the hour!
- He hoisted his blood-red flag once more,
- And smote upon the foe full sore,
- And shouted loud, through the tempest's roar,
- "Now is the hour!"
- "Fly!" shouted they, "for shelter fly!
- Of Denmark's Juel who can defy,
- Of Denmark's Juel who can defy,
- The power?"
- North Sea! a glimpse of Wessel rent
- Thy murky sky!
- Then champions to thine arms were sent;
- Terror and Death glared where he went;
- From the waves was heard a wail, that rent
- Thy murky sky!
- From Denmark thunders Tordenskiol',
- Let each to Heaven commend his soul,
- Let each to Heaven commend his soul,
- And fly!
- Path of the Dane to fame and might!
- Dark-rolling wave!
- Receive thy friend, who, scorning flight,
- Goes to meet danger with despite,
- Proudly as thou the tempest's might,
- Dark-rolling wave!
- And amid pleasures and alarms,
- And war and victory, be thine arms,
- And war and victory, be thine arms,
- My grave!
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