 | The Collected Poems of T. E. Brown |  |
100
ON THE SINKING OF THE VICTORIA
“Has Nelson heard?”
“Has Nelson heard?”
Death's angel spake what time the sea was rent
With that big plunge. Far hand-clap, and the word—
“Content.”
Death's angel spake what time the sea was rent
With that big plunge. Far hand-clap, and the word—
“Content.”
Content; even so,
Great sailor, let the immortal signal fly—
Enough! we know our duty, and we know
To die.
Great sailor, let the immortal signal fly—
Enough! we know our duty, and we know
To die.
To die. No loud
Thunder of battle shakes the furious scene;
And, if we die in silence, are you proud,
O Queen?
Thunder of battle shakes the furious scene;
And, if we die in silence, are you proud,
O Queen?
O Queen, 'tis thus
For you we die, no matter where or when
Or how we die, the while you say of us—
“O, nobly died! O glorious Englishmen!”
For you we die, no matter where or when
Or how we die, the while you say of us—
“O, nobly died! O glorious Englishmen!”
| The Collected Poems of T. E. Brown | |