Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems A New Edition With several Additional Pieces: By Rennell Rodd |
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THE FIRST OF JUNE
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 | Ballads of the Fleet and Other Poems |  |
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THE FIRST OF JUNE
That fight shall be remembered while sea-tides ebb and flow,
That fight that fell on the first of June a hundred years ago;
That fight that fell on the first of June a hundred years ago;
What time in the mid-Atlantic, far out of the ken of shore,
The flag of the double crosses was matched with the tricolor.
The flag of the double crosses was matched with the tricolor.
The fleets were even ship for ship, and man for man the crews,
And braver seaman never sailed than Villaret-Joyeuse.
And braver seaman never sailed than Villaret-Joyeuse.
When Howe broke through his battle line, the first to join the fray,
The Vengeur shook her top-sails out and raced to bar the way;
The Vengeur shook her top-sails out and raced to bar the way;
The Brunswick steering for the gap was next to gallant Howe,
And driving on before the wind she struck her on the bow;—
And driving on before the wind she struck her on the bow;—
The forechains held her anchor fast, she swung and could not free,
So tethered in a deadly grip those two dropped off to lee.
So tethered in a deadly grip those two dropped off to lee.
Our English blew their ports away, the shock had jammed them to,
They rammed their guns with shot and chain and raked the Vengeur through.
They rammed their guns with shot and chain and raked the Vengeur through.
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While hand to hand on the upper deck the Frenchmen swarmed to board,
Redressed the balance of the fight with grape and pike and sword:
Redressed the balance of the fight with grape and pike and sword:
That long forenoon the battle raged they scarce knew how or where,
Who, shrouded in a sulphur mist, fought out their duel there.
Who, shrouded in a sulphur mist, fought out their duel there.
Our figure-head was Brunswick's Duke, who died at Auerstadt:
Now it chanced a round shot carried off the Duke's three-cornered hat.
Now it chanced a round shot carried off the Duke's three-cornered hat.
Brave Captain Harvey lay below with the wound of which he died,
But as the word passed round the decks he raised him on his side,
But as the word passed round the decks he raised him on his side,
And, “God forbid King George's fleet or Admiral Howe should see
The gallant Duke uncover to Villaret,” says he.
The gallant Duke uncover to Villaret,” says he.
His strength was ebbing as he spoke, but smiling through the pain,
“I shall not need,” he whispered, “to wear my own again,”
“I shall not need,” he whispered, “to wear my own again,”
“Take my cocked hat and brush away the powder from the lace,
And send for Jack the carpenter to nail it in its place.”
And send for Jack the carpenter to nail it in its place.”
The bullets snarled and spattered thick where'er a face might show,
But Jack just said, “Aye, aye, sir,” and touched his hat to go.
But Jack just said, “Aye, aye, sir,” and touched his hat to go.
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They watched him crawl out on the boom, they lost him in the smoke,
And through a pause of battle roar they caught his hammer's stroke.
And through a pause of battle roar they caught his hammer's stroke.
But when the breeze a moment's space blew all the forecastle clear
There rose from half a thousand throats a ringing English cheer:
There rose from half a thousand throats a ringing English cheer:
For Jack was back at quarters, begrimed and black and torn,—
“And the Duke does not uncover, lads, to any Frenchman born!”
“And the Duke does not uncover, lads, to any Frenchman born!”
You know the rest,—the long swell grew, the vessels strained and heeled
Till the grapple parted, and away the stricken Vengeur reeled;
Till the grapple parted, and away the stricken Vengeur reeled;
Her spars still swung, but rudderless she drifted o'er the seas,
And lost the mastless Brunswick to close with the Ramillies.
And lost the mastless Brunswick to close with the Ramillies.
An hour more and waterlogged she rolled a helpless wreck,
But still she bore the tricolor above her bloody deck.
But still she bore the tricolor above her bloody deck.
When seven ships had struck their flags and that great fight was done,
When the shrouding smoke drew up and off towards the setting sun,
When the shrouding smoke drew up and off towards the setting sun,
They saw her sinking slowly down with all her dying brave,
And boats put out in eager haste to succour and to save.
And boats put out in eager haste to succour and to save.
Too late, alas, to rescue all—the sea winds took their cry,
The cool waves washed their fevered wounds and they died as heroes die.
The cool waves washed their fevered wounds and they died as heroes die.
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All honour to the men who wore the tricolor cockade,
All honour to the Vengeur for the splendid fight she made!
All honour to the Vengeur for the splendid fight she made!
And to our own brave sailor lads all honour then as now,
But when the first of June comes round and you drink to gallant Howe,
But when the first of June comes round and you drink to gallant Howe,
Remember Jack the carpenter who held his life in scorn,
If Brunswick should uncover to any Frenchman born.
If Brunswick should uncover to any Frenchman born.
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