The chiefs of Dalecarlia’s mountain-land,
    With all their following train, a countless band. 
    To that vast crowd let some bold youth proclaim }
    Eternal war on Denmark’s hated name, }
    And say, “From Mora’s chiefs this martial challenge came.” }
    Their valiant clans will gather at the sound,
    And squadrons people all the dales around. 
    Oh! did one fearless heart, of those who died
    When reeking Stockholm pour’d a crimson tide,
    Did one, but one, remain, his country’s shield,
    To lead our warriors to the deathful field;
    Then might the angry king his legions tire,
    Waste on these rocks his ineffectual ire,
    Scowl at his freeborn foes, and vainly try
    To plant his silken standards in our sky!”

      Struck with the welcome thought, from man to man
    Mingled with praise, assenting murmurs ran
    Unequal—­So in night’s tempestuous roar
    The waves successive lash the stony shore. 
    The bold advice, by inexperience moved,
    All seem’d applauding, yet not all approved;
    And old Adalfi thus:  “Tho’ hopes remain; }
    Tho’ dauntless rashness may oft-times attain }
    What wisdom’s wiliest arts had sought in vain; }
    He, whose wild counsels risk a nation’s fate,
    For public fame, may meet with public hate. 
    Perhaps, ev’n now, to the victorious Dane
    Dalarne has yielded half her rich domain: 
    Shall we to Denmark’s slaves our hopes disclose,
    And court with frantic haste Oppression’s rushing woes?—­
    Oft have our sires the work of war delay’d,
    ’Till signs aerial promised heavenly aid;
    Oft pitch’d their idle lances in the plain,
    While south-winds held their unpropitious reign. 
    Remember too the word disclosed from high,
    The sacred word of ancient prophecy,—­
    “When gather’d mists from Denmark’s sky shall crowd,
    And blot the North with one continued cloud,
    Then shall a second sun to Sweden rise,
    And with unchanging glory gild her skies.” 
    Reflect on this, and let my words have way,
    Nor spurn the needful counsels of delay. 
    Should all our province with united strength
    Assail the foe, the foe may yield at length,
    And backward shrink, while in the favouring hour
    All Sweden aids us with collective power. 
    The hope that yet remains our care should guard,
    Nor blast by rashness, nor by fears retard. 
    Ere yet the assembled chiefs our fate decide,
    Let chosen spies among the council glide,
    To every speech a listening ear incline,
    And sound each heart, and fathom each design. 
    Let the skill’d augur Heaven’s high will explore,
    And all with suppliant fear Heaven’s Lord adore: 
    So may success our fearless efforts guide,
    And Heaven auspicious fight