One who threaten'd your life, dash'd below by a wave, Your own hand I saw snatch from a watery grave; And you said 'twas well done, for that still with the brave The noblest of glory's to spare. When yard-arm and yard-arm 'longside of a foe, When the blood from the scuppers rain'd on us below, When crippled enough to be taken in tow THE ANCHOR'S WEIGHED. HE tear fell gently from her eye, To think I ne'er might see her more. "Dear youth," she cried, "and canst thou haste away? My heart will break-a little moment stay, Alas! I cannot, cannot part from thee!" "The anchor's weighed-farewell! remember me." "Weep not, my love," I trembling said; "Doubt not a constant heart like mine; I ne'er can meet another maid Whose charms can fix this heart like thine." "Go, then," she cried, "and let thy constant mind Oft think on her you leave in tears behind." "Dear maid, this last embrace my pledge shall be— The anchor's weighed-farewell! remember me." THE BRITISH FLAG FLIES AT THE MAIN. OUR slack-jaw belay, if you ask Jack's opinion, Our flag 'tis to hoist to the breeze, We proudly possess of the seas. Our rule to dispute, urged by envy and rancour, But promptitude ever hath proved our sheet-anchor, Indignant defiance our guns hurl in thunder, Their threats we return with disdain; In vain ships and commerce Gaul's tyrants may try for, For nautical aid all implore; Our maritime rights to invade long may sigh for, And pant to invade Britain's shore: But true to ourselves 'mid the world's wide commotion, We bravely those rights will maintain; THE SHANNON AND CHESAPEAKE. HE comes, she comes, in glorious style- Exclaim'd the gallant Captain Broke. "Three cheers, my brave boys, let your ardour bespeak, And give them a round from your cannon, Lawrence, Columbia's pride and boast, And give them a taste of your cannon; And soon they shall know that the proud Chesapeake Silent as death each foe drew nigh; He exclaim'd, while his looks did his ardour bespeak, "Brave boys, they all flinch from their cannon; Board, board, my brave messmates, the proud Chesapeake Shall soon be a prize for the Shannon." Swift flew the word, Britannia's sons And called aloud on Mercy's name. Brave Broke led the way, but fell, wounded and weak, The day was won, but Lawrence fell; Of hopes all blighted in that fight. But brave Captain Broke, though wounded and weak, Survived to again play his cannon; And his name from the shores of the wide Chesapeake Shall resound to the banks of the Shannon. WILL WATCH. WAS one morn when the wind from the northward blew keenly, And sullenly roar'd the big waves of the main, A famed smuggler, Will Watch, kiss'd his Sue, then serenely Took helm, and to sea boldly steer'd out again. Will had promised his Sue that this trip, if well ended, Should coil up his hopes and he'd anchor ashore; When his pockets were lined, why his life should be mended; The laws he had broken he'd never break more. His sea-boat was trim, made her port, took her lading, Then Will stood for home, reach'd the offing, and cried, This night, if I've luck, furls the sails of my trading, In dock I can lay, serve a friend, too, beside. Will lay to till the night came on, darksome and dreary, To crowd every sail, then, he piped up each hand, But a signal soon spied ('twas a prospect uncheery), A signal that warn'd him to bear from the land. "The Philistines are out," cried Will, "we'll take no heed on't; Attack'd, who's the man that will flinch from his gun? Should my head be blown off, I shall ne'er feel the need on't, We'll fight while we can; when we can't, boys, we'll run." Through the haze of the night a bright flash now appearing, "Oh! oh!" cries Will Watch, "the Philistines bear down; Bear a hand, my tight lads, ere we think about sheering, One broadside pour in, should we swim, boys, or drown! |