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 kings and horsemen.
Musing, he sat in his stirrups and viewed the horizon,
Where the Aurora lapt stars in a North-polar manner,
Wildly he stared,—for there in the heavens before him
Fluttered and flam’d the original Star Spangled Banner.