 | The New Brunswick Poems of Jonathan Odell |  |
10
TO THE MEMORY OF LORD NELSON
Tho' envied and hated by Tyrants and Slaves,
Britannia fair Queen of the Ocean remains.
Repell'd by her Ramparts, that float on the Waves,
War flies from her Borders and Want from her plains.
For Ages renown'd,
By Victory crown'd,
Her Tars have display'd an invincible train.
Surpass'd by no other,
Each rivals his brother,
And all prove their title as Lords of the Main.
Lords of the Main! Aye, Lords of the Main,
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
Britannia fair Queen of the Ocean remains.
Repell'd by her Ramparts, that float on the Waves,
War flies from her Borders and Want from her plains.
For Ages renown'd,
By Victory crown'd,
Her Tars have display'd an invincible train.
Surpass'd by no other,
Each rivals his brother,
And all prove their title as Lords of the Main.
Lords of the Main! Aye, Lords of the Main,
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
This Charter, descending from Heroes of old,
Expands in Succession as Ages roll on,
A Climax of Glory! But oh, can it hold?
Who shall rival the past, now that Nelson is gone!
Yet hark, from on High,
The angelic reply:
“Your Nelson shall conquer and triumph again.
Each Tar shall inherit
A Share of his Spirit,
And all prove incincible Lords of the Main.
Lords of the Main! Aye, Lords of the Main,
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
Expands in Succession as Ages roll on,
A Climax of Glory! But oh, can it hold?
Who shall rival the past, now that Nelson is gone!
Yet hark, from on High,
The angelic reply:
“Your Nelson shall conquer and triumph again.
Each Tar shall inherit
A Share of his Spirit,
And all prove incincible Lords of the Main.
Lords of the Main! Aye, Lords of the Main,
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
Wherever your far-dreaded Sails are unfurl'd,
The Genius of Nelson shall fight by your Side,
And teach you again to astonish the World,
By deeds unexampled, achievements untried.
Then Britons strike home!
For Ages to come
Your Nelson shall conquer and triumph again,
Each Tar shall inherit
A Share of his Spirit,
And all prove invincible Lords of the Main.”
Lords of the Main! Aye, Lords of the Main,
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
The Genius of Nelson shall fight by your Side,
And teach you again to astonish the World,
By deeds unexampled, achievements untried.
Then Britons strike home!
For Ages to come
Your Nelson shall conquer and triumph again,
Each Tar shall inherit
A Share of his Spirit,
And all prove invincible Lords of the Main.”
Lords of the Main! Aye, Lords of the Main,
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
11
Nor are we alone in the noble career;
The Soldier partakes of the generous flame.
To Glory he marches, to Glory we steer;
Between us we share the rich harvest of fame.
Recorded on High,
Their names never die,
Whose deeds the renown of their Country sustain.
The King! then, God bless him!
The World shall confess him,
The Lord of those Men who are Lords of the Main.
Lords of the Main, Aye Lords of the Main;
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
The Soldier partakes of the generous flame.
To Glory he marches, to Glory we steer;
Between us we share the rich harvest of fame.
Recorded on High,
Their names never die,
Whose deeds the renown of their Country sustain.
The King! then, God bless him!
The World shall confess him,
The Lord of those Men who are Lords of the Main.
Lords of the Main, Aye Lords of the Main;
The Tars of Old England are Lords of the Main.
1806
| The New Brunswick Poems of Jonathan Odell | |