Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems A New Edition With several Additional Pieces: By Rennell Rodd |
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| XI. | XI THE BURIAL OF DRAKE
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 | Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems |  |
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XI THE BURIAL OF DRAKE
Hove to off Puerto Bello the Queen's Defiance lay,
The sun went down on Darien and crimsoned all the bay.
The sun went down on Darien and crimsoned all the bay.
Yet once more Dame Adventure, the witch that knows no ruth,
Had smiled from out the sunset world, the siren smile of youth.
Had smiled from out the sunset world, the siren smile of youth.
But the merry main was silent now, no more in careless ease
The treasure transports plied unscared through those enchanted seas,
The treasure transports plied unscared through those enchanted seas,
And fleets of war sailed to and fro between the island ports,
The peaceful cities of the west were grim with battled forts;
The peaceful cities of the west were grim with battled forts;
For many a year had come and gone since Drake's unconquered hand,
The magic of his name had changed the face of all that land.
The magic of his name had changed the face of all that land.
Of five that sailed from Plymouth shall one see home again,
For storm and death and sickness have fought the fight for Spain.
For storm and death and sickness have fought the fight for Spain.
The dauntless eyes had lost their mirth, the stricken ranks grew less,
But till the end he hugged his dream and scoffed at ill-success.
But till the end he hugged his dream and scoffed at ill-success.
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Defeat nor failure had not taught that stubborn will to break,
But life-long toil and fever breath wore out the heart of Drake.
But life-long toil and fever breath wore out the heart of Drake.
So, grave and heavy-hearted, they watched the setting sun,
His crews that leave untenanted the isles that he had won.
His crews that leave untenanted the isles that he had won.
The skies were red and angry, the heaving waves were red,
And in his leaden coffin lay the great sea-captain dead.
And in his leaden coffin lay the great sea-captain dead.
Old friends stood ringed about him and every head was bowed,
St. George's red-cross banner lay over him for shroud.
St. George's red-cross banner lay over him for shroud.
The cradle of his childhood's dream rocked on an English wave,
Here billows no more alien shall guard an English grave.
Here billows no more alien shall guard an English grave.
He ploughed the longest furrow that ever split the foam,
From sunset round to sunrise he brought the good ship home.
From sunset round to sunrise he brought the good ship home.
His soul was wide as ocean, unfettered as the breeze,
He left us for inheritance the freedom of the seas.
He left us for inheritance the freedom of the seas.
The death-guns echoed landward, the last brief prayer was said,
“'Neath some great wave” they left him there, till the sea gives up her dead.
“'Neath some great wave” they left him there, till the sea gives up her dead.
| Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems | |