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282 SONGS AND BALLADS
An admiral he calls himself, takes a commander's station, On board the Sandwich doth insult, and braves the English nation ; Gives law, dispenses life and death or punishment disgraceful, And by his arbitrary deeds hath made himself most hateful. Then Britons all, etc.
A terror to each merchant ship, detains and doth them plunder, And if they offer to sail by, his guns at them do thunder ; Whate'er he likes he from them takes, and should they dare
refuse, sir, The captain's ordered to be flogged, thus doth he them ill use, sir. Then Britons all, etc.
Five hundred pounds is the reward, the traitor to bring in, sir, Who thus the bloody flag hath reared 'gainst country and 'gainst
king, sir; Let's hope the villain quickly will to punishment be brought, sir, Who like a daring traitor bold his country's ruin sought, sir.
Then Britons all, with one accord, fight for your ConÂstitution, And let surrounding foes behold we want no revolution. |
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THE DEATH OF PARKER
Ye gods above, protect a widow ! and with pity look on me. Help, O help me out of trouble, out of sad calamity ! It was by the death of Parker fortune prov'd to me unkind; And though hung for mutiny, worse than he were left behind.
Parker was my lawful husband, my bosom friend, whom I loved
dear; Yet at the time he was to suffer, alas ! I could not him get near ! Again I ask'd, again I tried them—three times o'er and o'er, in vain; They still that one request denied me, and ordered me on shore
again.
The yellow flag I thought was flying, a signal for my love to die ;
The gun they fired, as was required, to hang him on the yard-arm high.
The boatswain did his best endeavour, and I on shore was sent straightway,
Where I stood watching, like a mermaid, to take my husband's corpse away. |
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