Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Thomas Campbell. 17741844581. The Battle of the Baltic
OF Nelson and the North | |
Sing the glorious day’s renown, | |
When to battle fierce came forth | |
All the might of Denmark’s crown, | |
And her arms along the deep proudly shone; | 5 |
By each gun the lighted brand | |
In a bold determined hand, | |
And the Prince of all the land | |
Led them on. | |
Like leviathans afloat | 10 |
Lay their bulwarks on the brine, | |
While the sign of battle flew | |
On the lofty British line: | |
It was ten of April morn by the chime: | |
As they drifted on their path | 15 |
There was silence deep as death, | |
And the boldest held his breath | |
For a time. | |
But the might of England flush’d | |
To anticipate the scene; | 20 |
And her van the fleeter rush’d | |
O’er the deadly space between: | |
‘Hearts of oak!’ our captains cried, when each gun | |
From its adamantine lips | |
Spread a death-shade round the ships, | 25 |
Like the hurricane eclipse | |
Of the sun. | |
Again! again! again! | |
And the havoc did not slack, | |
Till a feeble cheer the Dane | 30 |
To our cheering sent us back;— | |
Their shots along the deep slowly boom:— | |
Then ceased—and all is wail, | |
As they strike the shatter’d sail, | |
Or in conflagration pale | 35 |
Light the gloom. | |
Out spoke the victor then | |
As he hail’d them o’er the wave: | |
‘Ye are brothers! ye are men! | |
And we conquer but to save:— | 40 |
So peace instead of death let us bring: | |
But yield, proud foe, thy fleet, | |
With the crews, at England’s feet, | |
And make submission meet | |
To our King.’… | 45 |
Now joy, old England, raise! | |
For the tidings of thy might, | |
By the festal cities’ blaze, | |
Whilst the wine-cup shines in light! | |
And yet amidst that joy and uproar, | 50 |
Let us think of them that sleep | |
Full many a fathom deep, | |
By thy wild and stormy steep, | |
Elsinore! |