To Sculptor Borch (On His Fiftieth Birthday)

(See Note 32)     With friends you stalwart stand and fair,     To-day of fifty years the heir;     The past your works rejoicing praise,     But forward goes your gaze.     Your childlike faith, your spirit true,     Your hand that never weary grew,     A home's sweet music, love of wife,     Make ever young your life.     You dared believe with heart alive     That here in Norway art can thrive.     You forced the hardness of our stones     To harmony of tones.     You laid our wild world's secrets bare     And caught "The Hunter" near the lair.     Our nation's moods, of beauty born,     Your "Girl with Eggs" adorn.     As o'er a slope's snow-covered brow     A youth came swiftly flying now,     You saw him, raised your hand, and lo!     He stood there, chiseled snow.     But your "Ski-runner's" courage good,     It was your own, when forth you stood     Art's champion by the world unawed,     And with your faith in God.     You won your victory supreme     Through rock-like faith and will's full stream     While with unnumbered hours of rest     Your love has others blessed.     Were all now here from west and east     Whose hearts you own, oh, what a feast!     From Akershus the convicts e'en     Would bear a freeman's mien.     Now we whose lives with good you filled     For you to-day a palace build,     On heights of heart's-ease lifting square     Its golden tower of prayer.     In peace you oft shall dwell in it,     Whene'er you need to rest a bit,     And feel through them who hold you dear     Yourself to heaven near.     Long since our country to you gave     The meed of thanks that most you crave;     It gave a maid with golden hair,     Its springtime's image fair.     She came from where the fairies dwell,     With nixie's charm and wood-nymph's spell,     With peace all holy, sweet, and calm,     To sing of life the psalm.     So may your life yet long endure     To light our gland, your home secure!     May all that from your heart you gave,     Still blossom on your grave!     May God's protecting mercy hold     Your spirit ever fresh and bold, -     May He to genius oft impart     Just such a mind and heart!