The Expedition to Birting's Land, and Other Ballads

Transcribed from the 1914 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org
by GEORGE BORROW
London: printed for private circulation
1914
Copyright in the United States of America by Houghton , Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter .
The King he o’er the castle rules, He rules o’er all the land; O’er many a hardy hero too, With naked sword in hand.
Let the courtier govern his steed, The boor his thatchèd cot, But Denmark’s King o’er castles rules, For nobler is his lot.
King Diderik sits on Brattingsborg, And round he looks with pride: “No one I know of in the world Would me in fight abide.”
Then answered Brand Sir Viferlin, Had been in many a land: “Methinks I know a warrior stout Would thee in fight withstand.
“He’s Ifald call’d, a king is he, In Birting’s land afar; And he has fellows following him With savage wolves who war.
“O he has fellows following him ’Gainst teeth of bears who fight; The food in which he most delights Is flesh of Christian wight.