It was as though the still distant
future were acclaiming the young ones now advancing to the assault, and
promising them sympathy and conquest.
The second was when the four new flags embroidered by Danish ladies for
the students were consecrated and handed over. Clausen's speech was full
of grandeur, and addressed, not to the recipients, but to the flags as
living beings: "Thou wilt cross the Baltic to the sanctuary at Upsala.
Thou wilt cross the Cattegat to the land of rocks...." and the address
to each of the flags concluded: "Fortune and Honour attend thee!" The
evening after the consecration of the flags, there was a special
performance at the Royal Theatre for the members of the Meeting, at
which Heiberg, radiant as she always was, and saluted with well-merited
enthusiasm, played _Sophie_ in the vaudeville "_No_," with a
rosette of the Scandinavian colours at her waist. Then it was that
Paludan-Mueller's prologue, recited by our idolised actor, Michael Wiehe,
caused me the third thrilling moment. Listening to the words of the poet
from a bad place in the gallery, I was hardly the only one who felt
strangely stirred, as Wiehe, letting his eyes roam round the theatre,
said:
Oh! that the young of the North might one day worthily play
Their part! Oh that each one might do his best
For the party he has chosen! That never there be lack
Of industry, fidelity, strength and talents!
And may he firm step forth, the mighty genius
(_Mayhap, known only to the secret power within him,
Seated amongst us now_), the mighty genius,
Who, as Fate hath willed it, is to play
The mighty part and do the mighty things.
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