 | Songs of the sea, with other poems |  |
83
WOODHULL.
General Nathaniel Woodhull was born at Mastic, Long Island, in 1722, and was engaged in several gallant actions, during the war of the American revolution. At the time of the invasion of Long Island by the royal forces, in 1776, he was overtaken at Jamaica, with two or three companions, by a detachment of the seventeenth regiment of British dragoons, and the seventy-first regiment of infantry. He gave up his sword in token of surrender; but the subordinate officer, who first approached, ordered him to say, “God save the king.” This Woodhull refused to do; for which the officer struck him severely over the head with his sword; and of the effects of the wound Woodhull eventually died.
General Nathaniel Woodhull was born at Mastic, Long Island, in 1722, and was engaged in several gallant actions, during the war of the American revolution. At the time of the invasion of Long Island by the royal forces, in 1776, he was overtaken at Jamaica, with two or three companions, by a detachment of the seventeenth regiment of British dragoons, and the seventy-first regiment of infantry. He gave up his sword in token of surrender; but the subordinate officer, who first approached, ordered him to say, “God save the king.” This Woodhull refused to do; for which the officer struck him severely over the head with his sword; and of the effects of the wound Woodhull eventually died.
'Twas when Long Island's heights beheld
The king's invading horde,
That, by outnumbering foes compelled,
Our chief gave up his sword.
The king's invading horde,
That, by outnumbering foes compelled,
Our chief gave up his sword.
Then spoke the victor: “Now from me
No mercy shall you wring,
Unless, base rebel, on your knee,
You cry, ‘God save the king!’”
No mercy shall you wring,
Unless, base rebel, on your knee,
You cry, ‘God save the king!’”
With reverent but undaunted tone,
Then Woodhull made reply,—
“No king I own, save one alone,
The Lord of earth and sky!
Then Woodhull made reply,—
“No king I own, save one alone,
The Lord of earth and sky!
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“But far from me the wish that ill
Your monarch should befall;
So, freely, and with right good will,
I'll say, God save us all!”
Your monarch should befall;
So, freely, and with right good will,
I'll say, God save us all!”
Shouted the foeman, “Paltering slave!
Repeat, without delay,
‘God save the king,’ nor longer brave
The fury that can slay!”
Repeat, without delay,
‘God save the king,’ nor longer brave
The fury that can slay!”
But Woodhull said, “Unarmed, I hear;
Yet threats cannot appal;
Ne'er passed these lips the breath of fear,
And so, God save us all!”
Yet threats cannot appal;
Ne'er passed these lips the breath of fear,
And so, God save us all!”
“Then, rebel, rue thy stubborn will,”
The ruffian victor cried;
“This weapon shall my threat fulfil;
So perish in thy pride!”
The ruffian victor cried;
“This weapon shall my threat fulfil;
So perish in thy pride!”
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Rapid as thought, the murderous blow
Fell on the prisoner's head;
With warrior rage he scanned his foe,
Then, staggering, sank and bled.
Fell on the prisoner's head;
With warrior rage he scanned his foe,
Then, staggering, sank and bled.
But anger vanished with his fall;
His heart the wrong forgave:
Dying, he sighed, “God save you all,
And me, a sinner, save!”
His heart the wrong forgave:
Dying, he sighed, “God save you all,
And me, a sinner, save!”
| Songs of the sea, with other poems | |