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THE DOLPHIN'S RETURN 243 |
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THE DOLPHIN'S RETURN.
Tune, The Lilies of France. (1768).
Ye bold British tars, who to glory are free,
Who dare venture your lives for your fortunes at sea,
Yourself for a while of your pleasures disrobe,
And attend to a tale of a voyage round the globe,
For the Dolphin's return'd, and such tidings does bring
As may welcome us home to our country and king.
The twenty'th of August, the year sixty-six,
By command of our captain the signal we fix;
In the Sound of old Plymouth our ship we unmoor'd
With our consort the Swallow, and transport well stor'd ;
But now we're return'd, and such tidings we bring
[As may welcome us home to our country and king].
The wind being far the next day we set sail, Blest at once with a fresh and prosperous gale; And straightway our course for Madeira we steer'd. No danger we saw, and no hardship we fear'd ; For we sail'd round the world such tidings to bring As might welcome us home to our country and king.
We touch'd at Madeira, St. Jago likewise, For the sake of fresh water and other supplies ; But at neither of these could we make any stay, For the course of our voyage would admit no delay. We were bound round the world such tidings to bring As might welcome us home to our country and king.
When Magellan's Straits we first enter'd we found Such giants of men that in all the world round None with them could compare or for size or for height, For the smallest of these were from six feet to eight. Yet these are but trifles of tidings to bring ; We've a present more worthy our country and king.
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