Then Colan of the Sacred Tree Tossed his black mane on high,And cried, as rigidly he rose,"And if the sea and sky be foes We will tame the sea and sky."
Smiled Alfred, "Seek ye a fable More dizzy and more dreadThan all your mad barbarian tales, Where the sky stands on its head?
"A tale where a man looks down on the sky That has long looked down on him;A tale where a man can swallow a sea That might swallow the seraphim.
"Bring to the hut by Egbert's Stone All bills and bows ye have."And Alfred strode off rapidly,And Colan of the Sacred Tree Went slowly to his cave.
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