Wednesday 22 April 2015

Kingo was half Scottish - here's what he wrote on his father's gravestone

HANS KINGO,
Barnfød i Schotland i Kril, efter et ærligt Levnet her paa
Jorden i 85 Aar og sit Ægteskab med sin Hustrue
KAREN SØRENS-DAATTER,
47 Aar, salig hensoved 1671 og med 3 sine Børn her begravet.

her huiler jeg i livsens haab
og paa dend over-engels raab
blant orme-sælskab lenter
min himmel-givne siæl i fred
foor op at see guds herlighed
og kroppens samling venter
med æren tiente jeg mit brød
dend kruned baade liv og død
og vaar mit dyre smykke
jeg aatte ikke verdens guld
nv eyer jeg saa megen muld
som denne steen kand trykke
min rigdom vaar et ærligt naun
et ævigt liv i himmel-staun
det har jeg alt i eye
søg læser at du det kand naa
og tænk at døden dig og saa
vil engang slæt udfeye.


Mine Dage ere lættere henfløyne end en Væve-Skytte.
Job. 7. v. 6.


HANS KINGO,
Born in Scotland in Crail, after an honest life here on the
earth for  85 years and his marriage with his wife
KAREN SØRENS-DAATTER,
47 years, blessedly departed in 1671 and buried here
with three of his children.

in hope of life i here now rest
and bide the archangel’s last behest
while worms my flesh still harry
at peace my heaven-given soul
rose to god’s glory once more whole,
for flesh reborn must tarry
with honour did i earn my bread
it crowned me both alive and dead
and was my jewel most treasured
i nothing knew of worldly gold
now all the earth i own all told
this gravestone’s weight has measured
my wealth was in an honest name
a life in heaven’s home the aim
to which i am aspiring
seek reader this to gain alway
recall: to wipe you out one day
death’s constantly conspiring.


My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.
Job Ch. VII, v. 6.




1 comment:

John Irons said...

For a detailed account of the history of the Kingo family I would refer you to Poul Erik Nikolajsen:


http://www.akacia.dk/kingo/kingo.pdf