Seite:Marsh Wolfe of the knoll.djvu/304

Detdiar sidj as efterluket wurden.

 

SONG OF THE LAPLAND LOVER.
FROM THE SWEDISH OF FRANZEN.

  Francis Michael Franzen was born at Uleåborg in Finland, in
1772, but retired to Sweden, when that province was ceded to Russia,
and became Bishop of Hörnöesand, in which position he remained
until his death in 1847. He was among the most conspicuous and
active members of the Swedish Academy, and his poems, the best of
which are of a simple, natural, idyllic character, are deservedly popu-
lar in Sweden. The following song has been especially admired.


    Spring, my reindeer swift !
    Over field and fell !
    Where my girl doth dwell
    Thou shalt paw the drift !
    There the mosses grow
    Thick beneath the snow !

    Ah, how short the day !
    And the way so long !