Drake, Nelson and Napoleon Part 11

A NEW SONG ON LORD NELSON'S VICTORY AT COPENHAGEN

Draw near, ye gallant seamen, while I the truth unfold, Of as gallant a naval victory as ever yet was told, The second day of April last, upon the Baltic Main, Parker, Nelson, and their brave tars, fresh laurels there did gain.

With their thundering and roaring, rattling and roaring, Thundering and roaring bombs.

Gallant Nelson volunteered himself, with twelve sail form'd a line, And in the Road of Copenhagen he began his grand design; His tars with usual courage, their valour did display, And destroyed the Danish navy upon that glorious day.

With their, etc.

With strong floating batteries in van and rear we find, The enemy in centre had six s.h.i.+ps of the line; At ten that glorious morning, the fight begun, 'tis true, We Copenhagen set on fire, my boys, before the clock struck two.

With their, etc.

When this armament we had destroyed, we anchor'd near the town, And with our bombs were fully bent to burn their city down; Revenge for poor Matilda's wrongs, our seamen swore they'd have, But they sent a flag of truce aboard, their city for to save.

With their, etc.

For the loss of his eye and arm, bold Nelson does declare, The foes of his country, not an inch of them he'll spare; The Danes he's made to rue the day that they ever Paul did join, Eight s.h.i.+ps he burnt, four he sunk, and took six of the line.

With their, etc.

Now drink a health to gallant Nelson, the wonder of the world, Who, in defence of his country his thunder loud has hurled; And to his bold and valiant tars, who plough the raging sea, And who never were afraid to face the daring enemy.

With their thundering and roaring, rattling and roaring, Thundering and roaring bombs.

III

THE BATTLE OF BOULOGNE

On the second day of August, eighteen hundred and one, We sailed with Lord Nelson to the port of Boulogne, For to cut out their s.h.i.+pping, which was all in vain, For to our misfortune, they were all moored and chained.

Our boats being well mann'd, at eleven at night, For to cut out their s.h.i.+pping, except they would fight, But the grape from their batteries so smartly did play, Nine hundred brave seamen killed and wounded there lay.

We hoisted our colours, and so boldly them did spread, With a British flag flying at our royal mast head, For the honour of England, we will always maintain, While bold British seamen plough the watery main.

Exposed to the fire of the enemy she lay, While ninety bright pieces of cannon did play, Where many a brave seaman then lay in his gore, And the shot from their batteries so smartly did pour.

Our n.o.ble commander, with heart full of grief, Used every endeavour to afford us relief, No s.h.i.+p could a.s.sist us, as well you may know, In this wounded condition, we were tossed to and fro.

And you who relieve us, the Lord will you bless, For relieving poor sailors in time of distress, May the Lord put an end to all cruel wars, And send peace and contentment to all British tars.

IV

THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR

Arise, ye sons of Britain, in chorus join and sing, Great and joyful news is come unto our Royal King, An engagement we have had by sea, With France and Spain, our enemy, And we've gain'd a glorious victory, Again, my brave boys.

On the 21st of October, at the rising of the sun, We form'd the line for action, every man to his gun, Brave Nelson to his men did say, The Lord will prosper us this day, Give them a broadside, fire away, My true British boys.

Broadside after broadside our cannon b.a.l.l.s did fly, The small shot, like hailstones, upon the deck did lie, Their masts and rigging we shot away, Besides some thousands on that day, Were killed and wounded in the fray, On both sides, brave boys.

The Lord reward brave Nelson, and protect his soul, Nineteen sail the combin'd fleets lost in the whole; Which made the French for mercy call; Nelson was slain by a musket ball.

Mourn, Britons, mourn.

Each brave commander, in tears did shake his head, Their grief was no relief, when Nelson he was dead; It was by a fatal musket ball, Which caus'd our hero for to fall.

He cried, Fight on, G.o.d bless you all, My brave British tars.

Huzza my valiant seamen, huzza, we've gain'd the day, But lost a brave Commander, bleeding on that day, With joy we've gain'd the victory, Before his death he did plainly see I die in peace, bless G.o.d, said he, The victory is won.

I hope this glorious victory will bring a speedy peace, That all trade in England may flourish and increase, And our s.h.i.+ps from port to port go free, As before, let us with them agree, May this turn the heart of our enemy.

Huzza, my brave boys.

V

NELSON AND COLLINGWOOD

Come all you gallant heroes, and listen unto me, While I relate a battle was lately fought at sea.

So fierce and hot on every side, as plainly it appears, There has not been such a battle fought, no not for many years.

Brave Nelson and brave Collingwood, off Cadiz harbour lay, Watching the French and Spaniards, to show them English play, The nineteenth of October from the Bay they set sail, Brave Nelson got intelligence, and soon was at their tail.

It was on the twenty-first my boys, we had them clear in sight, And on that very day, at noon, began the b.l.o.o.d.y fight.

Our fleet forming two columns, then he broke the enemy's line, To spare the use of signals, was Nelson's pure design.

For now the voice of thunder is heard on every side, The briny waves like crimson, with human gore were dy'd; The French and Spanish heroes their courage well did show, But our brave British sailors soon brought their colours low.

Four hours and ten minutes, this battle it did hold, And on the briny ocean, men never fought more bold, But, on the point of victory brave Nelson, he was slain, And, on the minds of Britons, his death will long remain.

Nineteen sail of the enemy are taken and destroyed, You see the rage of Britons, our foes cannot avoid: And ages yet unborn will have this story for to tell, The twenty-first of October, our gallant Nelson fell.

I hope the wives and children will quickly find relief, For the loss of those brave heroes, their hearts are filled with grief, And may our warlike officers aspire to such a fame, And revenge the death of Nelson, with his undying name.

VI

GIVE IT TO HIM, CHARLEY

Arouse, you British sons, arouse!

And all who stand to Freedom's cause, While sing of the impending wars, And England's bluff old Charley.

I'll tell how British seamen brave, Of Russian foes will clear the wave, Old England's credit for to save, Led on by gallant Charley.

Our gallant tars led by Napier, May bid defiance to the Bear, While hearty shouts will rend the air, With, Mind, and give it to him, Charley.

Our jolly tars will have to tell, How they the Russian bears did quell, And each honest heart with pride will dwell, For our jackets blue, and Charley.

For they'll never leave a blot or stain, While our British flag flies at the main, But their foes they'll thrash again and again, While led on by gallant Charley.

Our gallant tars, etc.

Tyrant Nicky, you may fume and boast, And with threats disturb each peaceful coast, But you reckoned have without your host, For you're no good to our tars and Charley.

From our wooden walls warm pills will fly, Your boasted power for to try, While our seamen with loud shouts will cry, Let us give it to him, Charley.

Our gallant tars, etc.

For your cowardly tricks at Sinope Bay, Most dearly we will make you pay, For our tars will show you bonny play, While commanded by brave Charley.

For tho' brave Nelson, he is dead, Our tars will be to victory led.

By one brave heart we have instead, And that brave heart is Charley's.

Our gallant tars, etc.

England and France they will pull down The Eagle and Imperial Crown, And his Bear-like growls we soon will drown, With, Let us give it him, Charley.

For while England and France go hand in hand They conquer must by sea and land, For no Russian foe can e'er withstand, So brave a man as Charley.

Our gallant tars, etc.

Despotic Nick, you've been too fast, To get Turkey within your grasp, But a Tartar you have caught at last, In the shape of our tars and Charley.

Then here's success with three times three, To all true hearts by land or sea, And this the watchword it shall be, Mind, and give it to them, Charley.

Our gallant tars led by Napier, May bid defiance to the Bear.

While hearty shouts will rend the air, With, Mind, and give it to him, Charley.

VII

THE ARETHUSA

Come all ye jolly sailors bold, Whose hearts are cast in honour's mould, While England's glory I unfold, Huzza to the Arethusa.

She is a frigate tight and brave, As ever stemmed the das.h.i.+ng wave; Her men are staunch To their fav'rite launch, And when the foe shall meet our fire, Sooner than strike we'll all expire, On board of the Arethusa.

'Twas with the spring-fleet she went out, The English Channel to cruise about, When four French sail, in show so stout, Bore down on the Arethusa.

The fam'd Belle Poule straight ahead did lie, The Arethusa seem'd to fly, Not a sheet, or a tack, Or a brace did she slack, Tho' the Frenchman laugh'd, and thought it stuff, But they knew not the handful of men, so tough, On board of the Arethusa.

On deck five hundred men did dance, The stoutest they could find in France, We, with two hundred, did advance On board of the Arethusa.

Our captain hail'd the Frenchman, ho!

The Frenchman then cried out, hallo!

"Bear down, d'ye see To our Admiral's lee."

"No, no," said the Frenchman, "that can't be"; "Then I must lug you along with me,"

Says the saucy Arethusa.

The fight was off the Frenchman's land, We forc'd them back upon their strand; For we fought till not a stick would stand Of the gallant Arethusa.

And now we've driven the foe ash.o.r.e, Never to fight with Britons more, Let each fill a gla.s.s To his favourite la.s.s!

A health to our captain, and officers true, And all that belong to the jovial crew, On board of the Arethusa.

VIII

COPENHAGEN

Of Nelson and the North, Sing the day, When, their haughty powers to vex, He engaged the Danish decks; And with twenty floating wrecks Crowned the fray.

All bright, in April's sun, Shone the day, When a British fleet came down Through the island of the Crown, And by Copenhagen town Took their stay.

In arms the Danish sh.o.r.e Proudly shone; By each gun the lighted brand In a bold determined hand, And the Prince of all the land Led them on.