TO ULLA, AT THE WINDOW OF FISHER COTTAGE...

TO ULLA, AT THE WINDOW OF FISHER COTTAGE

ON A MIDDAY IN SUMMERTIME

Epistle 71

Carl Michael Bellman

Translated by Sandra Dermark at the University of Valencia

in Floréal/Prairial MMXVIII

Ulla, my Ulla, say may I now offer

the reddest berries in wine and cream?

Or from the fountain a pitcher of water,

or from the lake trap a freshly-fished bream?

With the cool breeze, the doors gently part open,

flowers and pinewood give off fresh scent;

Drizzling, the skies' clouds at last now give way to the

sun's descent... 

Isn't this place godlike, Fisher Cottage, right?

So godlike to behold it is...

Those proud linden treetrunks along the promenade

with leaves and shade,

with leaves and shade...

And the tranquil inlet of the lake? For sure...

And the ditches and fields not that far 

beyond that shore?

Isn't this place godlike, this Elysian lea?

A place for gods,

a place for gods!

Skål and good afternoon, dear, at the window...!

Hear all those clocktower bells from town,

and see how the dust there will e'er stifle greenery

amidst calèches' great wheels crushing down...

Reach from the window to your weary lover,

who's stopped before you, for auld lang syne,

primo a biscuit, secundo a tankard of

Hogland wine...     

Isn't this place godlike, Fisher Cottage, right?

So godlike to behold it is...

Those proud linden treetrunks along the promenade

with leaves and shade,

with leaves and shade...

And the tranquil inlet of the lake? For sure...

And the ditches and fields not that far 

beyond the shore?

Isn't this place godlike, this Elysian lea?

A place for gods,

a place for gods!

Now is the stallion led into the stables,

hear him, my Ulla, gallop and neigh!

Still from the stable-door his clever eyes look

up at the window, right to you, straight away.

You set this lake and this woodland on fire

with one warm look from those shining eyes...

Skål at the gateway, in thirst and desire,

in paradise!

Isn't this place godlike, Fisher Cottage, right?

So godlike to behold it is...

Those proud linden treetrunks along the promenade

with leaves and shade,

with leaves and shade...

And the tranquil inlet of the lake? For sure...

And the ditches and fields not that far 

beyond the shore?

Isn't this place godlike, this Elysian lea?

A place for gods,

a place for gods!