Oh Mountains Of Albania

Oh mountains of Albania and you, oh trees so lofty, Broad plains with all your flowers, day and night I contemplate you, You highlands so exquisite, and you streams and rivers sparkling, Oh peaks and promontories, and you slopes, cliffs, verdant forests, Of the herds and flocks I'll sing out which you hold and which you nourish. Oh you blessed, sacred places, you inspire and delight me! You, Albania, give me honour, and you name me as Albanian, And my heart you have replenished both with ardour and desire. Albania! Oh my mother! Though in exile I am longing, My heart has ne'er forgotten all the love you've given to me. When a lambkin from its flock strays and does hear its mother's bleating, Once or twice it will give answer and will flee in her direction, Were others, twenty-thirty fold, to block its path and scare it, Despite its fright it would return, pass through them like an arrow, Thus my wretched heart in exile, here in foreign land awaiting, Hastens back unto that country, swift advancing and in longing. Where cold spring water bubbles and cool breezes blow in summer, Where the foliage grows so fairly, where the flowers have such fragrance, Where the shepherd plays his reed pipe to the grazing of the cattle, Where the goats, their bells resounding, rest, yes 'tis the land I long for.