THE BOER NATIONAL ANTHEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2389, 14 December 1899, Page 45

THE BOER NATIONAL ANTHEM.

A correspondent of The Field of Indit writes ta that journal as follows: — . Sir, — In the columns of a contemporary appeared, a few days ago, the Boer National Anthem, together with a free translation ol the same. As others acquainted with tho language of the Boers must also have observed, the lines, as there given, are full of mistakes. I send j-ou a correct copy of the Anthem, which" runs: — Kent gij dat yolk vol heldenmoed? Fn toch zoo lang geslecht, Het heeft geofferd goed on bloed Voor vsijheid en voor Techt.Komt, burghers! laat de vlaggen wap'ren. Ons lijden is voorbij. Rijst in den zegen- onzer dap'ren, Dat vrije yolk zijn wij! Dat vrije yolk, Dat vrije yolk, Dat vrijo yolk zijn wij! This may -be literally translated as follows: — Ken yo that folk full of heroism ? And though so long slighted," It has offered goods and blood For : freedonv and for right. Come! burghers, let the flags -wave, Our suffering is gone by, Rising'in the triumph of our brave, That free folk are we! That free folk, That free folk, That free folk are we! I venture to give a poetical rendering of tho Anthem, keeping as closely as possible to the original in use of words as well as i» metre : t— Ken ye that folk of fine heroic mood, So long the victim of unfeeling slight? It has offer' d all, — c'en goods and blood, .For noble freedom and for right. Wave ye your flags, ye burghers, wave, No longer suffring folk aTe we, Borne up in triumph of our brave, We've won at last, we are tho free! That free folk, That froe folk, That free folk are we!