William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
The Dey of AlgiersT
Sent to Jonathan once for some tribute;
“Ho! ho!” says the dey, “if the rascal don’t pay,
A caper or two I’ll exhibit.
I’m a Mussulman, too, and of course very strong:
For this is my maxim, dispute it who can,
That a man of stout muscle’s a stout Mussulman.
“I may bully him now without reckoning to pay;
There’s a kick-up just coming with him and John Bull,
And John will give Jonathan both his hands full.”
Went out through the Straits and came back safe again;
And thought that his cruisers in triumph might ply
Wherever they pleased—but he thought a d—d lie.
He prepared him to settle accounts with the dey;
Says he, “I will send him an able debater:”
So he sent him a message by Stephen Decatur.
But he met the dey’s admiral just in his way;
And by way of a tribute just captured his ship;
But the soul of the admiral gave him the slip.
To pay his respects to his highness the dey,
And sent him a message, decided yet civil,
But the dey wish’d both him and his note to the d—l.
And the admiral, too, had both given him the slip,
The news gave his highness a good deal of pain,
And the dey thought he’d never see daylight again.
This Jonathan reckons his tribute to pay,
Who takes it will tickle his fingers with thorns;”
So the dey and the crescent both haul’d in their horns.
And promised he’d never ask tribute again;
Says his highness, the dey, “Here’s the d—l to pay
Instead of a tribute; heigho, well-a-day!”
A tribute to potentate, pirate, or dey;
Nor any, but that which forever is given—
The tribute to valour, and virtue, and Heaven.
Or hereafter his claim to this tribute resume,
We’ll send him Decatur once more to defy him,
And his motto shall be, if you please—Carpe Diem.