Old Year Leaves Being Old Verses Revised: By H. T. Mackenzie Bell ... New Edition |
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DUTY STRONGER THAN PAIN.
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 | Old Year Leaves |  |
285
DUTY STRONGER THAN PAIN.
1795.
The good ship Rose with thirteen men and but eight guns is steering
Along the gay Italian coast, in quest of privateering,
When at the breaking of the day before upon the lee
What gallantly her crew have sought at last they gladly see.
Three armed feluccas are in view, and soon begins the fight,
And the ruthless Rose her broadside fires with overwhelming might,
For valiantly her noble crew with vigour ply each gun,
When suddenly a shot lays low of their small number, one;
His foot is crushed, and eager hands would bear him from the deck,
But with a voice which falters not he seeks their care to check—
“I shall not leave you, comrades bold,” heroically he cries,
“For I can use a musket still, although I cannot rise;
Then to your posts, nor think of me, our numbers are too few
To spare even one, and readily my duty I can do.”
Along the gay Italian coast, in quest of privateering,
When at the breaking of the day before upon the lee
What gallantly her crew have sought at last they gladly see.
Three armed feluccas are in view, and soon begins the fight,
And the ruthless Rose her broadside fires with overwhelming might,
For valiantly her noble crew with vigour ply each gun,
When suddenly a shot lays low of their small number, one;
293
But with a voice which falters not he seeks their care to check—
“I shall not leave you, comrades bold,” heroically he cries,
“For I can use a musket still, although I cannot rise;
Then to your posts, nor think of me, our numbers are too few
To spare even one, and readily my duty I can do.”
The battle rages bravely on, and soon 'tis clear to see
That gallantly our doughty men have gained the victory—
And was it aught of wonder that so it should be when
Such fearless hearts impelled the hands of our staunch sailors then?
God grant that if once more our tars should fight upon the wave,
They may be then as free from fear, as generous, and as brave.
That gallantly our doughty men have gained the victory—
And was it aught of wonder that so it should be when
Such fearless hearts impelled the hands of our staunch sailors then?
God grant that if once more our tars should fight upon the wave,
They may be then as free from fear, as generous, and as brave.
| Old Year Leaves | |