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THE LOSS OF THE CENTAUR 265 |
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THE LOSS OF THE CENTAUR.
Ye landsmen all, I pray attend, who live at home at ease, To these lines that I've penn'd upon the dangers of the seas; Likewise the loss of the Centaur, a gallant man-of-war, Britons, weep, in the deep lies many a gallant tar.
This ship set sail from England, was to the Indies bound, But at her returning was wind and weather bound; Such dreadful storms arising, her rigging tore away, And, alas ! all her masts went overboard straightway.
In this dreadful situation she was drove up and down ; Full three weeks she floated; no assistance could be found; Her guns were all thrown over to lighten her the more : Night and day they did pray to have a sight of shore.
But, to add to their sorrow, another storm arose, And to the dreadful seas, poor souls, they were expos'd ; At last they found her sinking; the air was rent with cries, Dismal sound, she went down, never more to rise.
But as she was sinking two boats were hoisted out,
And some, who got on board them, were sadly tost about;
And one being overloaded, she sunk and went down.
Waves beat high, no ship nigh, so that all on board were drown'd.
The captain and twelve sailors were all who did survive, And out of several hundreds these few were left alive, Tho' they were almost perish'd with hunger and fatigues, No delay, for night and day they did row many leagues.
Only three days' provisions, which they made last for nine,
And in this low condition of land could see no sign;
Full sixteen days drove up and down before they reached the
land, Such a sight was a fright, so weak they could not stand.
Ye landsmen, take compassion on those that plough the main, For the honour of the nation, its rights for to maintain. How they're exposed to danger these lines do plainly show; We [im]plore that no more may such hardships ever know. |
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