The Hare and the Fox by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson

The Hare and the Fox is from SYNNOVE SOLBAKKEN, translated from Norwegian in the original meters by Arthur Hubbell Palmer, in Poems and Songs by Bjornstjerne Bjornson.

The fox lay still by the birch-tree’s root
In the heather.
The hare was running with nimble foot
O’er the heather.
Was ever brighter a sunshine-day,
Before, behind me, and every way,
O’er the heather!
The fox laughed low by the birch-tree’s root
In the heather.
The hare was running with daring foot
O’er the heather.
I am so happy for everything!
Hallo! Why go you with mighty spring
O’er the heather?
The fox lay hid by the birch-tree’s root
In the heather.
The hare dashed to him with reckless foot
O’er the heather.
May God have mercy, but this is queer! —
Good gracious, how dare you dance so here
O’er the heather?