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THE REVENGE

A BALLAD OF THE FLEET

I

At Flores in the Azores Sir Richard Grenville lay,

And a pinnace, like a fluttered bird, came

flying from far away:

"Spanish ships of war at sea! we have sighted fifty-three!"

Then sware Lord Thomas Howard: ""Fore

God, I am no coward;

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V

upon

30 Don or

But I cannot meet them here, for my ships Sir Richard spoke and he laughed, and we

are out of gear,

5

And the half my men are sick. I must

fly, but follow quick.

roared a hurrah, and so

The little Revenge ran on sheer into the heart of the foe,

We are six ships of the line; can we fight With her hundred fighters on deck, and

with fifty-three?"

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her ninety sick below;

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And the rest they came aboard us, and they fought us hand to hand, For a dozen times they came with their pikes and musqueteers,

And a dozen times we shook 'em off as a dog that shakes his ears 54 When he leaps from the water to the land.

IX

And the sun went down, and the stars came out far over the summer sea, But never a moment ceased the fight of

the one and the fifty-three. Ship after ship, the whole night long, their high-built galleons came, Ship after ship, the whole night long, with her battle-thunder and flame: Ship after ship, the whole night long, drew

back with her dead and her shame. 60 For some were sunk and many were shattered, and so could fight no moreGod of battles, was ever a battle like this in the world before?

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And had holden the power and glory of Spain so cheap

That he dared her with one little ship and his English few;

Was he devil or man? He was devil for aught they knew,

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