Part 20 (1/2)
I'll sing you of a s.h.i.+pwreck That was here the other day, At a place that's called Widemouth, Near Bude, and in that bay.
_Chorus._
'So my British tars be steady, And maintain your glorious name; Till you're drowned, killed, or wounded, You must put to sea again.
'The twenty-third of November, That was the very time, A fine and lofty schooner brig, The _Happy Return_, of Lyme, The bold and n.o.ble Captain Escaped from the deep, And died with cold that very night Near to a flock of sheep.
_Chorus._
'So my British tars, etc.
'The mate, as fine a seaman As could stand on a deck, Had with his n.o.ble Captain Escaped from the wreck; No refuge could be found on sh.o.r.e.
No good could there be done; He returned on board the deck and died: The poor man lost his son.
_Chorus._
'So my British tars, etc.
'This poor man's son was not drown'd, But found dead the next day; Three only of this manly crew Escaped death and sea.
Have pity on poor seamen, Kind gentlemen, I beg; The one of them is wounded, The poor man broke his leg.
_Chorus._
'So my British tars, etc.
'I've twice myself been s.h.i.+pwreck'd, Twenty-two years at sea, But never saw a gang of thieves Before that very day; Had it not been for Captain Thomas, And his loyal Preventive crew, They'd have stolen the cargo and the deck, The mast and rigging too.
_Chorus._
'So my British tars, etc.
'This schooner came from Dublin, To London she was bound; I could not believe such daring thieves Stood on the British ground.
The Farmers of the country,[8]
That distress ought to relieve, Some of them were stealing b.u.t.ter, While others stole the beef.
_Chorus._
'So my British tars, etc.
'Seamen call this place West Barbary.
To me it does appear, More of the cargo would have sav'd, Were they wrecked on Algier: The people might as well come in, Rob the market or the fair; But to rob distressed seamen, No one had business there.
_Chorus._
'So my British tars, etc.
'Now to complete this s.h.i.+pwreck, And for to end this song, I've told you nothing but the truth, No mortal I have wrong'd.
Great praise is due to Pethick.[9]