A Century of Parody and Imitation

by Unknown

IV.

(LONGFELLOW)

Back in the years when Phlagstaff, the Dane, was monarch

Over the sea-ribb'd land of the fleet-footed Norsemen,

Once there went forth young Ursa to gaze at the heavens—

Ursa, the noblest of all the Vikings and horsemen.

Musing, he sat in his stirrups and viewed the horizon,

Where the Aurora lapt stars in a North-polar manner,

Wildly he started—for there in the heavens before him