THE CAPTAIN of the Shannon came sailing up the bay, | |
| A reeling wind flung out behind his pennons bright and gay; | |
| His cannon crashed a challenge; the smoke that hid the sea | |
| Was driven hard to windward and drifted back to lee. | |
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| The captain of the Shannon sent word into the town: | 5 |
| Was Lawrence there, and would he dare to sail his frigate down | |
| And meet him at the harbor’s mouth and fight him, gun to gun, | |
| For honor’s sake, with pride at stake, until the fight was won? | |
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| Now, long the gallant Lawrence had scoured the bitter main; | |
| With many a scar and wound of war his ship was home again; | 10 |
| His crew, relieved from service, were scattered far and wide, | |
| And scarcely one, his duty done, had lingered by his side. | |
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| But to refuse the challenge? Could he outlive the shame? | |
| Brave men and true, but deadly few, he gathered to his fame. | |
| Once more the great ship Chesapeake prepared her for the fight,— | 15 |
| “I’ll bring the foe to town in tow,” he said, “before to-night!” | |
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| High on the hills of Hingham that overlook the shore, | |
| To watch the fray and hope and pray, for they could do no more, | |
| The children of the country watched the children of the sea | |
| When the smoke drove hard to windward and drifted back to lee. | 20 |
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| “How can he fight,” they whispered, “with only half a crew, | |
| Though they be rare to do and dare, yet what can brave men do?” | |
| But when the Chesapeake came down, the Stars and Stripes on high, | |
| Stilled was each fear, and cheer on cheer resounded to the sky. | |
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| The captain of the Shannon, he swore both long and loud: | 25 |
| “This victory, where’er it be, shall make two nations proud! | |
| Now onward to this victory or downward to defeat! | |
| A sailor’s life is sweet with strife, a sailor’s death as sweet.” | |
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| And as when lightnings rend the sky and gloomy thunders roar, | |
| And crashing surge plays devil’s dirge upon the stricken shore, | 30 |
| With thunder and with sheets of flame the two ships rang with shot, | |
| And every gun burst forth a sun of iron crimson-hot. | |
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| And twice they lashed together and twice they tore apart, | |
| And iron balls burst wooden walls and pierced each oaken heart. | |
| Still from the hills of Hingham men watched with hopes and fears, | 35 |
| While all the bay was torn that day with shot that rained like tears. | |
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| The tall masts of the Chesapeake went groaning by the board; | |
| The Shannon’s spars were weak with scars when Broke cast down his sword; | |
| “Now woe,” he cried, “to England, and shame and woe to me!” | |
| The smoke drove hard to windward and drifted back to lee. | 40 |
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| “Give them one breaking broadside more,” he cried, “before we strike!” | |
| But one grim ball that ruined all for hope and home alike | |
| Laid Lawrence low in glory, yet from his pallid lip | |
| Rang to the land his last command: “Boys, don’t give up the ship!” * * * * * | |
| The wounded wept like women when they hauled her ensign down. | 45 |
| Men’s cheeks were pale as with the tale from Hingham to the town | |
| They hurried in swift silence, while toward the eastern night | |
| The victor bore away from shore and vanished out of sight. | |
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| Hail to the great ship Chesapeake! Hail to the hero brave | |
| Who fought her fast, and loved her last, and shared her sudden grave! | 50 |
| And glory be to those that died for all eternity; | |
| They lie apart at the mother-heart of God’s eternal sea. | |
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