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ALF THE FREEBOOTER
LITTLE DANNEVED AND SWAYNE TROST
AND OTHER BALLADS
BY
GEORGE BORROW
LONDON: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION 1913 _Copyright in the United States of America_
_by Houghton_, _Mifflin & Co. for Clement Shorter_.
SIR ALF THE FREEBOOTER
_Song the First_
Sir Alf he is an Atheling,
Both at Stevn and at Ting. {5}
_Know ye little Alf_?
Alf he builds a vessel stout,
For he will rove and sail about.
Alf he builds a vessel high,
The trade of pirate he will try.
He draws on the sand a circle mark,
And with a bound he gained the bark.
Upon the prow Alf foremost stood,
And Copenhagen's koggers view'd.
O'er the wide sea he flung a look,
He knew the course the vessels took.
"There koggers nine salute mine eyes,
All, all they bear shall be my prize."
Alone into a boat he goes,
And briskly to the koggers rows.
"Well met, ye Courtmen, clad in mail
Unto what haven do ye sail?"
"Unto that haven we are bound,
Where Alf is likeliest to be found."
"What will ye on the man bestow
Who unto ye Sir Alf can show?"
"Silver and gold to him we'll give,
All he can wish for shall he receive.
Presents of worth he shall not miss,
The robber's vessel shall be his."
"And what shall be the pirates' lot,
If Alf the pirate escape you not?"
"His mariners we'll hew and slay,
Himself we w