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By each gun the lighted brand,
In a bold determined hand;
And the prince of all the land
Led them on.

Like leviathans afloat

Lay their bulwarks on the brine,
While the sign of battle flew
On the lofty British line:

It was ten of April morn by the chime,
As they drifted on their path;
There was silence deep as death,
And the boldest held his breath
For a time.

But the might of England flush'd
To anticipate the scene,

And her van the fleeter rush'd
O'er the deadly space between.

"Hearts of oak!" our captains cried; when each gun

From its adamantine lips

Spread a death-shade round the ships,
Like the hurricane eclipse

Of the sun.

Again! Again! Again!

And the havoc did not slack,

Till a feebler cheer the Dane

To our cheering sent us back;

Their shots along the deep slowly boom:

Then ceased, and all is wail,

As they strike the shatter'd sail
Or, in conflagration pale,

Light the gloom.

Out spoke the victor then,
As he hail'd them o'er the wave:
"Ye are brothers! ye are men!
And we conquer but to save!

So peace instead of death let us bring;
But yield, proud foe, thy fleet,
With the crews, at England's feet,
And make submission meet
To our king."

Then Denmark bless'd our chief,
That he gave her wounds repose,
And the sounds of joy and grief
From her people wildly rose,

As death withdrew his shades from the day; While the sun look'd smiling bright

O'er a wide and woeful sight,

Where the fires of funeral light

Died away.

Now joy, Old England, raise,
For the tidings of thy might,
By the festal cities' blaze,

Whilst the wine-cup shines in light;
And yet amidst that joy and uproar
Let us think of them that sleep,
Full many a fathom deep,
By thy wild and stormy steep,
Elsinore.

Brave hearts! to Britain's pride
Once so faithful and so true,
On the deck of fame that died,
With the gallant good Riou;

Soft sigh the winds of heaven o'er their grave;
While the billow mournful rolls,

And the mermaid's song condoles,
Singing glory to the souls

Of the brave.

THE MARINER'S SONG.

From the "Comedy of Common Conditions," 1576. JUSTILY, lustily, lustily let us sail forth, The wind trim doth serve us, it blows from the north.

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All things we have ready and nothing we want
To furnish our ship that rideth hereby;
Victuals and weapons they be nothing scant,
Like worthy mariners ourselves we will try.
Lustily, lustily, &c.

Her flags be now trimmed, set flaunting aloft,
Our ship for swift swimming, oh! she doth excel;
We fear no enemies, we have 'scaped them oft;
Of all ships that swimmeth she beareth the bell.

Lustily, lustily, &c.

And here is a master excelleth in skill,
And our master's mate he is not to seek;
And here is a boatswain will do his good will,
And here is a ship, boy, we never had leak.

Lustily, lustily, &c.

If fortune then fail not, and our next voyage prove,
We will return merrily, and make good cheer,
And hold altogether as friends link'd in love,
The cans shall be fill'd with wine, ale, and beer.

Lustily, lustily, &c.

THE MARINER'S GLEE.

From "Deuteromelia; or, the Second Part of Musick's Melodie," &c. 1609.

E be three poor mariners
Newly come from the seas;
We spend our lives in jeopardy,
While others live at ease.

Shall we go dance the round, around,

Shall we go dance the round?

And he that is a bully boy,

Come pledge me on the ground.

We care not for those martial men
That do our states disdain;

But we care for those merchant men
That do our states maintain.

To them we dance this round, around,
To them we dance this round;
And he that is a bully boy,
Come pledge me on the ground.

BLACK-EYED SUSAN.

JOHN GAY, born 1688, died 1732. The music arranged by LEVERIDGE, but adapted by him from an older melody.

LL in the Downs the fleet was moor'd,
The streamers waving in the wind,
When black-eyed Susan came on board,
"Oh, where shall I my true love find,

Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true,
Does my sweet William sail among your crew?"

William, who high upon the yard
Rock'd by the billows to and fro,
Soon as the well-known voice he heard,

He sigh'd and cast his eyes below;

The cord flies swiftly through his glowing hands,
And quick as lightning on the deck he stands.

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"O Susan, Susan, lovely dear,

My vows shall always true remain,
Let me kiss off that falling tear,

We only part to meet again;

Change as ye list, ye winds, my heart shall be
The faithful compass that still points to thee.

"Believe not what the landsmen say,
Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind;
They tell thee, sailors, when away,

In every port a mistress find;

Yes, yes, believe them when they tell you so,
For thou art present wheresoe'er I go."

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