Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems A New Edition With several Additional Pieces: By Rennell Rodd |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| [IV]. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. | IX THE SINGEING OF THE BEARD
|
| X. |
| XI. |
 | Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems |  |
100
IX THE SINGEING OF THE BEARD
The Queen's ships and the London ships were mustered in the Sound,
For Drake had streamed his pennant there an Admiral outward bound;
For Drake had streamed his pennant there an Admiral outward bound;
No more a lawless rover now he signalled “Follow me!”
With the Queen's good leave and warranty to watch the Southern sea.
With the Queen's good leave and warranty to watch the Southern sea.
For Parma held the northern ports and all the Spanish coasts
Were live with gathering armaments and marshalling of hosts.
Were live with gathering armaments and marshalling of hosts.
At last the word was open war since Drake had swept the main,
The champion of his Queen avowed against the might of Spain:
The champion of his Queen avowed against the might of Spain:
He had sailed to Cartagena, had stormed the fort and town,
And held to pawn the fairest gem of Philip's western crown:
And held to pawn the fairest gem of Philip's western crown:
And the merchant guilds of Venice were scared and ill at ease,
While ruined Seville closed her bank and mourned her argosies.
While ruined Seville closed her bank and mourned her argosies.
101
The hand to check,” the Queen had said, “the bridle and curb for me!
This folk be too high-mettled to run with a rein too free.
This folk be too high-mettled to run with a rein too free.
“But now I have given this realm of mine good space to breathe and grow,
And the time is ripe for action; I will let my sea-dogs go.”
And the time is ripe for action; I will let my sea-dogs go.”
So twenty bold adventurers beat out beneath the Rame,
And the Queen's ship Bonaventure, with a fortune in her name;
And the Queen's ship Bonaventure, with a fortune in her name;
Light winds this side the Lizard, without a north-west gale,
On board the stoutest companies that ever handled sail;
On board the stoutest companies that ever handled sail;
They rounded Cape St. Vincent—it dropped to a merry breeze—
And ten days out from the Lizard light they had mustered off Cadiz.
And ten days out from the Lizard light they had mustered off Cadiz.
The city on its headland bluff that eve of April-tide
On tower and fane and gable roof took all the sunset pride:
On tower and fane and gable roof took all the sunset pride:
The batteries on the bastion heights frowned grimly o'er the bay,
But none may choose but follow where Drake shall lead the way.
But none may choose but follow where Drake shall lead the way.
He stood right in for Maryport—the tide was at the flow—
As, twinkling through the orange-groves, the lights began to show.
As, twinkling through the orange-groves, the lights began to show.
The batteries dared not open fire, for round the crowded ports
The victualling ships by hundreds rode beneath the sheltering forts;
The victualling ships by hundreds rode beneath the sheltering forts;
But, shadowlike, with measured pulse unchecked by bar or shoal,
The dreadful galleys oared with life across the twilight stole:
The dreadful galleys oared with life across the twilight stole:
102
His broadsides flashed, the galleys turned, like wounded living things,
With bleeding decks and splintered ribs and trailing broken wings.
With bleeding decks and splintered ribs and trailing broken wings.
That night in shuddering Cadiz no weary eye might close,
But round her dim-lit altar shrines wild litanies arose:
But round her dim-lit altar shrines wild litanies arose:
Far inland through the vineyard hills ran tidings of despair,
The scourge of God had led the foe where none but Drake would dare:
The scourge of God had led the foe where none but Drake would dare:
No monk might preach the panic down, no saint stood by to save,
As the ruddy glare of burning ships lit up the moonless wave.
As the ruddy glare of burning ships lit up the moonless wave.
The galleons lay a helpless prey, their ordnance all in store,
The sails unbent, the anchors down, and the crews at work on shore.
The sails unbent, the anchors down, and the crews at work on shore.
Adrift on night with cables cut he fired them as they fled,
From road to haven, wharf to dock, the flame of vengeance spread;
From road to haven, wharf to dock, the flame of vengeance spread;
And, reddening in the dreadful glow, flashed spar and sail and mast,
Where, lit by floating torches, the Bonaventure passed.
Where, lit by floating torches, the Bonaventure passed.
So there they looted, fired and fought, till none were left to fight,
While Cadiz watched the devil's work that long disastrous night;
While Cadiz watched the devil's work that long disastrous night;
And when on shores made desolate another day began
He led the fleet in triumph out and had not lost a man.
He led the fleet in triumph out and had not lost a man.
So plucking at the giant's heart he dared his strength deride,
And Spain, who loves a gallant deed, applauded while she sighed.
And Spain, who loves a gallant deed, applauded while she sighed.
103
Then west by Seville's river-gates and on to Lagos Bay,
They raided every creek and cove where mustered shipping lay.
They raided every creek and cove where mustered shipping lay.
This year the Algarve coast shall see no fishing fleets put forth
When the great schools of tunny go scatheless shoaling north.
When the great schools of tunny go scatheless shoaling north.
The brine-tubs in the sun may crack along deserted quays,
This year shall no man gather in the harvest of the seas.
This year shall no man gather in the harvest of the seas.
But far in quiet English homes shall summer wane in peace,
While good folk tend their harvesting and store the year's increase.
While good folk tend their harvesting and store the year's increase.
Unscared along her white chalk cliffs shall child and mother sleep;
Unscared the coaster ply his trade while Drake patrols the deep.
Unscared the coaster ply his trade while Drake patrols the deep.
He had set his course for Florès isle, for now the home wind blew,
And sailing with the Northern Trade the treasure fleets were due;
And sailing with the Northern Trade the treasure fleets were due;
But as the ocean broadened out beyond St. Vincent's lee,
Once more the wild north-west raced down across a maddened sea.
Once more the wild north-west raced down across a maddened sea.
Three days and nights his scattered ships drove on before the blast,
Then maimed and torn, in evil case, beat up for home at last.
Then maimed and torn, in evil case, beat up for home at last.
But Drake held on his stubborn course until the storm went by,
And saw no sign of all his fleet beneath the clearing sky.
And saw no sign of all his fleet beneath the clearing sky.
Now it chanced that as he railed at fate and sailed his sullen way,
King Philip's great East Indiaman came up from far Cathay.
King Philip's great East Indiaman came up from far Cathay.
104
She saw the flag of ill-renown, she crowded on more sail,
And then a desperate race began before the dying gale.
And then a desperate race began before the dying gale.
Alas! for Spain's unlucky star, a league off Cadiz town,
In sight of help, in sight of home, her proud flag fluttered down!
In sight of help, in sight of home, her proud flag fluttered down!
And so a month behind the rest, belying not her name,
With such a prize to Saltash creek the Bonaventure came.
With such a prize to Saltash creek the Bonaventure came.
But Drake rode post to London town to don a courtier's dress
And kneel before the Queen and crave her pardon for success.
And kneel before the Queen and crave her pardon for success.
“Now, come you as a privateer from troubling all the sea?
Or come you as my Admiral?”—“So please my liege,” said he,
Or come you as my Admiral?”—“So please my liege,” said he,
“Your Grace's fleet in April gales went forth at high behest,
And found a giant's head thrust out that watched your highway west.
And found a giant's head thrust out that watched your highway west.
“For Vigo is the eye of Spain and Lisbon rock the nose,
And round the chin St. Vincent the trade of Turkey goes;
And round the chin St. Vincent the trade of Turkey goes;
“My liege's ships rode out the gale, the wind of fortune veered,
And in his throat at Cadiz Bay I singed King Philip's beard.”
And in his throat at Cadiz Bay I singed King Philip's beard.”
| Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems | |