And so now to sea I shall venture no more,
For, you know, being rich, I've no call;

So I'll bring up young tars, do my duty ashore,
And live and die constant to Poll.

THE SAILOR'S MAXIM.

F us tars 'tis reported, again and again, That we sail round the world, yet know nothing of men ;

And if this assertion is made with a view To prove sailors know nought of men's follies, 'tis

true:

How should Jack practise treachery, disguise, or

foul art,

In whose honest face you may read his fair heart?
Of that maxim still ready example to give,
Better death earn'd with honour, than ignobly to
live.

How can he wholesome truth's admonitions defy,
On whose manly brow never sat a foul lie?
Of the fair born protector how virtue offend?
To a foe how be cruel? how ruin a friend?
If danger he risk in professional strife,

There his honour is safe, though he venture his life; Of that maxim still ready, &c.

But to put it at worst, from fair truth could he

swerve,

And betray the kind friend he pretended to serve,

While snares laid with craft his fair honour trepan, May betray him to error-himself but a man;

Should repentance and shame to his aid come too late,

Wonder not if in battle he rush on his fate:
Of that maxim still ready, &c.

ALL'S ONE TO JACK.

HOUGH mountains high the billows roll,
And angry ocean's in a foam,
The sailor gaily slings the bowl,

And thinks on her he left at home.

Kind love his guardian spirit still,

His mind's made up, come what come will;
Tempests may masts to splinters tear,
Sails and rigging go to rack,
So she loves him he loves so dear,
"Tis all one to Jack.

His friend in limbo should he find,
His wife and children brought to shame,
To everything but kindness blind,

Jack signs his ruin with his name;
Friendship the worthy motive still,

His mind's made up, come what come will;
The time comes round, by hell-hounds press'd,
Goods, clothes, and person go to rack;
But, since he succour'd the distress'd,
"Tis all one to Jack.

Once more at sea, prepared to fight,

(A friendly pledge) round goes the can;
And though large odds appear in sight,
He meets the danger like a man;
Honour his guardian spirit still,

His mind's made up, come what come will;
Like some fierce lion see him go

Where horror grim marks the attack,
So he can save a drowning foe,
"Tis all one to Jack.

And when at last (for tars and kings
Must find in death a peaceful home)
The shot its sure commission brings,
And of poor Jack the time is come:
Cheerful his duty to fulfil,

His mind's made up, come what come will;
The cannon's poised, from its fell jaws

A fatal shot takes him aback;
But since he died in honour's cause,
"Twas all one to Jack.

THE NANCY.

AYHAP you have heard, that as dear as their lives

All true-hearted tars love their ships and their wives;

To their duty like pitch sticking close till they die, And whoe'er wants to know it, I'll tell 'em for why :

One through dangers and storms brings me safely

ashore,

T'other welcomes me home when my danger is o'er; Both smoothing the ups and the downs of this life, For my ship's call'd the Nancy, and Nancy's my wife.

When Nancy my wife o'er the lawn scuds so neat And so light, the proud grass scarcely yields to her feet,

So rigg'd out and so lovely, 'tain't easy to trace Which is reddest-her top-knot, her shoes, or her face;

While the neighbours, to see her, forget all their

cares,

And are pleased that she's mine, though they wish she was theirs.

Marvel not, then, to think of this joy of my life— I my ship calls the Nancy, for Nancy's my wife.

As for Nancy my vessel, but see her in trim,
She seems through the ocean to fly and not swim :
'Fore the wind like a dolphin she merrily plays,
She goes anyhow well but she looks best in stays.
Scudding, trying, or tacking, 'tis all one to she,
Mountain high, or sunk low in the trough of the sea;
She has saved me from many hard squeaks for my life,
So I call'd her the Nancy, 'cause Nancy's my wife.

When so sweet in the dance careless glides my heart's

queen,

She sets out and sets in, far the best on the green; So, of all the grand fleet, my gay vessel's the flower, She outsails the whole tote by a knot in an hour.

Then they both sail so cheerful through life's varying

breeze,

All hearts with such pilots must be at their ease; Thus I've two good protectors to watch me through

life,

My good ship the Nancy, and Nancy my wife.

Then these hands from protecting them who shall debar?

Ne'er ingratitude lurk'd in the heart of a tar;
Why, everything female from peril to save

Is the noblest distinction that honours the brave.
While a rag, or a timber, or compass I boast,
I'll protect the dear creatures against a whole host;
Still grateful to both to the end of my life—
My good ship the Nancy, and Nancy my wife.

JACK'S CLAIM TO POLL.

OULDST know, my lad, why every tar
Finds with his lass such cheer?
"Tis all because he nobly goes

And braves each boisterous gale that blows,

To fetch, from climates near and far,

Her messes and her gear.

For this around the world sails Jack,

While love his bosom warms,

For this, when safe and sound come back,
Poll takes him to her arms.

Ere Poll can make the kettle boil

For breakfast, out at sea