THE NATIONAL SONG OF DENMARK

Southland Times, Volume 2, Issue 2, 10 July 1863, Page 3

THE NATIONAL SONG OF DENMARK

|_The splendid Danish national lyric, the singing of which accompanied the Princess on her route through her native country, and of which the following- is a translation, was written by Johan Evald, one of the most vigorous dramatic and lyrical poets of Denmark. It was struck off by him in a happy moment, amidst great illness and poverty, and was immediately adopted as the National Anthem of his country. The incident lo which it refers look place in the great sea fight between the Danes and Swedes on the coast of Denmark on July 11, 164.4, when King Christian IV. commanded the fleet as his •wn admiral. Although twelve men fell dead or disabled around him,, struck by the splinters of a piece of timber shattered by a cannon ball, and the king himself was severely wounded, he never moved from his post until the battle had been won. Niels Juel mentioned in the lyric, was a celebrated Danish admiral ; and " Tordenshield " was the norn de guerre of another famous seaman, Vice-Admiral Pe- | derwessel.l J King Christian stood by the lofty mast, In smoke and night ; Fis sword dealt blows so fell and fast, Through Swedish helms and skulls it passed Mid smoke anil night. "Fly!" cried they; "fly! fly, all who can — Who dare face Denmark's Christian In fight?" Niels Juel, he heard the tempest blow ; Now lor your life ! Aloft he bade the red flag go ; Stroke upon stroke he dealt the blow ; They cried aloud with tempest blow, Now for your life ! " Fly ! " cried they all, "to shelter fly ! For who can Denmark's Juel defy In strife ? " 0 sea! the fires of Wessel clave The death-smoke dread ; Here to thy bosom fled the brave ; Round him flashed terror and the grave ; The ramparts heard the roar which dravo Through death-smoke dread ; From Denmark thundered Tordenshield, To heaven for aid they all appealed, And fled. Though Danish path of fame and might, O gloomy sea ! Eeceive thy friend, who for the right Dare's danger lace, in death's despite, Proudly as though the tempest's might, 0 gloomy sea ! And lead me on, though storms may raye r Through strife and victory to my grave, With thee ! . _

Fatil Effects of Intemperance. — On Saturday, at the Springs, JBungiree, Dr. Clendinning held an inquest on the body of William Upton, whose dt-ath, according to the evidence and the verdict of thejury, took place on the llth or 12th instant, in his own hut at the Springs, and arose from natural causes, being cansed by serous apoplexy of the brain, believed to have been brought on by intemperate habits. William Kitchie, publican at the Springs. deposed that he had known the deceased for the last six or seven years. He resided close to witness's hotel and had a forge alongside his hut. lie was a blacksmith by trade, about forty-five years of age, and a native of Tiverton in Devonshire. He had a sister, (Nrs. Yarrnan) living in Geelong, and a brother in Sydney, a publican and baker. The deceased supported himself by his trade, L ut was a very ailing man —complaining frequently of gout. He was laid up very off en for a week or a fortnight at a time, especially if he got cold or was !on the spree. He was an habitual drunkard or tippler, drinking generally five or six nobbiers a day, and much more when ever he had the opportunity. Witness seldom saw him drunk; he could drink a bottle of gin without being drunk. He was very much in witness's house every day — they were very intimate. Deceased was confined to his bed some days in the former week, but he was working during the past week at Sight work. He was in witness's house almost all Thursday. He had but a glass of ale and a nobbier of gin on that day. He had generally a very good appetite, and witness believed he eat a tolerable share on Thursday. Witness saw him last alive about sun-down on that rfay. He came in and paid witness a shilling for some iron which had been brought by witness from Ballarat. Immediately afterwards, deceased went into witness's shop and bought some bacon of witness's wife, ©n On Friday morning a Chinese calling himself Ah Ming, came up witness's yard and asked witness when " black m n die," meaning the deceased. Witness said he was not dead, but in his house. The Chinese said, "No him dead." Witness then went immediately with the Chinese and three other men to the hut. They opened the door and found the deceased h ing nearly on his back on his bunk, with his arms crossed over his chest. He was quite dead. There was a book open upon the floor with a candle alongside. The deceased had had very little to drink since he got up lately from his bed. The medical testimony revealed the usual indications of the cause of death — congestion of the brain, the heart loaded with fat and rery flabby. — Star, 15th June. Good Ltjck. — An old resident of Castlemaine has recently returned from New Zealand, and had the good fortune to bring with him no less than thirty-six pound weight of gold. The most of it was obtained under great deprivation and suffering at Cardrona Creek. In journeying towards the Shotover, gold was seen sticking in the earth of the above creek. Of course the tin dish was immediate|y in requisition, and the result so gratifying that ouv townsman and his mate determined to remain. At one time they were reduced to four biscuits, but fortunately they fell in with a wild sheep, and succeeded in killing it with stones. While travelling they scratched away the snow, and built up walls of stone on which they pitched their tent to cover them doring the night. The severity of their sufferings have left traces that will require great care and time to obliterate. Another party, recently returned from the Shotover, brought with them many thousand pounds worth of gold. They averaged for some time 150 ozs. of gold per day — a pleasant sequel to eighteen months of doubt and hard work.— M. A. Mail, June 25.