Peter Colbiornsen - Knud Lyne Rahbek

’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 happed 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 vexed,

To Fredereksteen,

And begged 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 again,

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 flames 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;

Illumed its own men’s courage proud,

And Swedesmen 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.

---

Knud Lyne Rahbek (1760–1830) Denmark

Translator not known

Source: Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes, ed. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Boston: James R. Osgood & Co., 1876–79