 | Songs for Sailors |  |
20
AFTER CAMPERDOWN.
THE FOUNDERING OF THE DELFT.
God bless him! he could face his God, unfearing, when he died;
A hero's heart had he who sank his wounded men to save;
We English won, but those we beat may match us with the pride
They well may feel in his brave fate who found an ocean grave.
A hero's heart had he who sank his wounded men to save;
We English won, but those we beat may match us with the pride
They well may feel in his brave fate who found an ocean grave.
'Twas after Camperdown. The Delft, the Veteran had in tow;
Riddled the Dutchman was. We knew that if the gale should last,
She'd not see Yarmouth Roads; so, when great guns it came to blow,
We chalked a board and showed it. ‘The ship is sinking fast.’
Riddled the Dutchman was. We knew that if the gale should last,
She'd not see Yarmouth Roads; so, when great guns it came to blow,
We chalked a board and showed it. ‘The ship is sinking fast.’
The prize crew I commanded; at the pumps we'd had stiff work,
When we gave her up as hopeless, and Heilberg and his Dutch
To fight the gaining leak with us their labour didn't shirk;
But all we did, at last, we found it wouldn't matter much.
When we gave her up as hopeless, and Heilberg and his Dutch
To fight the gaining leak with us their labour didn't shirk;
But all we did, at last, we found it wouldn't matter much.
Ten feet of water in her hold, her doom no one could doubt;
'Twas a guess, we knew, of minutes how long the Delft would float;
'Twas risky work, so to his Dutch and Heilberg I sung out,
‘When I signal, look alive all! then in with you to the boat!’
'Twas a guess, we knew, of minutes how long the Delft would float;
'Twas risky work, so to his Dutch and Heilberg I sung out,
‘When I signal, look alive all! then in with you to the boat!’
21
Then, his brave face set and white, how I see it turned to me!
The wounded Dutchmen from below we'd brought up on the deck;
‘I leave these, my poor fellows? no—I stay with them,’ said he;
Then I said, ‘God bless you! I'm with you. We'll have them from the wreck.’
The wounded Dutchmen from below we'd brought up on the deck;
‘I leave these, my poor fellows? no—I stay with them,’ said he;
Then I said, ‘God bless you! I'm with you. We'll have them from the wreck.’
We stayed, and twice the Russell's boats, deep loaded, left our side;
How he worked to crowd them off! how that sinking deck he trod
As if 'twere solid land! I swear a noble hero died,
When I was dragged from out the swirl and he went down to God.
How he worked to crowd them off! how that sinking deck he trod
As if 'twere solid land! I swear a noble hero died,
When I was dragged from out the swirl and he went down to God.
| Songs for Sailors | |