Part 23

Then, peace instead of death Let us bring! If you'll yield your conquered fleet, With the crews, at England's feet, And make submission meet To our King.

The Dane returned, a truce Glad to bring: He would yield his conquered fleet, With the crews, at England's feet, And make submission meet To our King.

Then death withdrew his pall From the day; And the sun looked smiling bright On a wide and woeful sight Where the fires of funeral light Died away.

Yet, all amidst her wrecks And her gore, Proud Denmark blest our chief That he gave her wounds relief, And the sounds of joy and grief Filled her shore.

All round, outlandish cries Loudly broke; But a nobler note was rung When the British, old and young, To their bands of music sung "Hearts of Oak."

Cheer! cheer! from park and tower, London town! When the King shall ride in state From St. James's royal gate, And to all his peers relate Our renown.

The bells shall ring! the day Shall not close, But a glaze of cities bright Shall illuminate the night, And the wine-cup shine in light As it flows.

Yes--yet amid the joy And uproar, Let us think of them that sleep Full many a fathom deep All beside thy rocky steep, Elsinore!

Brave hearts, to Britain's weal Once so true! Though death has quenched your flame, Yet immortal be your name! For ye died the death of fame With Riou.

Soft sigh the winds of Heaven O'er your grave! While the billow mournful rolls And the mermaid's song condoles, Singing--glory to the souls Of the brave.

THE DEATH OF NELSON

O'er Nelson's tomb, with silent grief oppressed, Britannia mourns her hero now at rest; But those bright laurels will not fade with years, Whose leaves are watered by a nation's tears.

'Twas in Trafalgar's bay We saw the Frenchmen lay, Each heart was bounding then, We scorn'd the foreign yoke, For our ships were British oak, And hearts of oak our men! Our Nelson mark'd them on the wave, Three cheers our gallant seamen gave, Nor thought of home and beauty. Along the line this signal ran, England expects that ev'ry man This day will do his duty.

And now the cannons roar Along th' affrighted shore, Our Nelson led the way, His ship the Victory nam'd! Long be that Victory fam'd, For vict'ry crown'd the day! But dearly was that conquest bought, Too well the gallant hero fought,

For England, home, and beauty. He cried as 'midst the fire he ran, "England shall find that ev'ry man, This day will do his duty!"

At last the fatal wound, Which spread dismay around, The hero's breast received; "Heaven fights upon our side! The day's our own!" he cried; "Now long enough I've lived! In honour's cause my life was passed, In honour's cause I fall at last, For England, home, and beauty." Thus ending life as he began, England confessed that every man That day had done his duty.

APPENDIX

SOME INCIDENTS OF NELSON'S LIFE

(Chronologically arranged)

1758. On 29th September he was born.

1767. On 26th December his mother died.

1771. On 1st January a Midshipman aboard the Raisonable.

1771. On 22nd May sent a voyage in merchant ship to West Indies, possibly as cabin-boy.

1772. On 19th July was Midshipman on Triumph.

1773. On 7th May was Midshipman on Carcass.

1773. On 15th October was Midshipman on Triumph.

1773. On 27th October was Midshipman on Seahorse.

1774. On 5th April becomes Able Seaman on Seahorse.