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Title: Peter Colbiornsen
Author: George Borrow [
More Titles by Borrow]
'Fore Fredereksteen King Carl he lay
With mighty host;
But Frederekshal from day to day,
Much trouble cost.
To seize the sword each citizen
His tools let fall,
And valiant Peter Colbiornsen
Was first of all.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
'Gainst Frederekshal so fierce and grim
Turned Carl his might,
The citizens encountered him
In numbers slight,
But ah, they fought like Northern men,
For much loved land,
And it was Peter Colbiornsen
That led the band.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
Such heavy blows the Norsemen deal
Amid the foe,
Like ripe corn 'fore the reaper's steel
The Swedes sink low.
But sturdiest reaper weary will,
So happ'd it here;
Though many the Norwegians kill,
More, more appear.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
Before superior force they flew,
As Norsemen fly,
They but retired, the fight anew
Unawed to ply.
Now o'er the bodies of his slain
His way Carl makes;
He thinks he has the city ta'en,
But he mistakes.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
A speedy death his soldiers found
Where'er they came;
For Norse were posted all around,
And greeted them;
Then Carl he sent, but sorely vext,
To Fredereksteen,
And begg'd that he might bury next
His slaughtered men.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
"No time, no time to squander e'er
Have Norsemen bold,
He came self-bidden 'mongst us here,"
Thus Carl was told;
"If we can drive him back agen,
We now must try!"
And it was Peter Colbiornsen
Made that reply.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
Lo! from the town the flames outburst,
High-minded men!
And he who fired his house the first
Was Colbiornsen.
Eager to quench the fire, the foes
Make quick resort,
But bullets fell as fast as snows
Down from the fort.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
Now rose the blazes toward the sky,
Red, terrible,
His heroes' death the King thereby
Could see right well.
Sir Peter's word he then made good,
His host retires;
But in his path the steen it stood,
And on him fires.
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
Magnificent 'midst corse and blood
Glowed Frederekshal;
Illum'd its own men's courage proud,
And Swedesmen's fall.
Whoe'er saw pile funereal flame
So bright as then?
Sure never shall expire thy name,
O Colbiornsen!
_Thus for Norroway fight the Norsemen_.
[The end]
George Borrow's poem: Peter Colbiornsen
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