DRAKE'S DRUM Drake he's in his hammock an' a thousand mile away, Slung atween the round shot in Nombre Dios Bay, An' the shore-lights flashin', an' the night-tide dashin', Drake he was a Devon man, an' ruled the Devon seas, Rovin' tho' his death fell, he went wi' heart at ease, If the Dons sight Devon, I'll quit the port o' Heaven, An' drum them up the Channel as we drummed them long ago." Drake he's in his hammock till the great Armadas come, (Capten, art tha sleepin' there below?) Slung atween the round shot, listenin' for the drum, Where the old trade's plyin' an' the old flag's flyin', They shall find him ware an' wakin', as they found him long ago! Henry Newbolt MESSMATES He gave us all a good-by cheerily At the first dawn of day; We dropped him down the side full drearily It's a dead dark watch that he's a-keeping there, He's there alone with green seas rocking him He's there alone with dumb things mocking him, It's a long, lone watch that he's a-keeping there, I wonder if the tramps come near enough, And the battleships' bells ring clear enough To be heard down below; If through all the lone watch that he's a-keeping there, And the long, cold night that lags a-creeping there, The voices of the sailor-men shall comfort him When the great ships go by. Henry Newbolt THE SONG OF THE BOW What of the bow? The bow was made in England: Of true wood, of yew-wood, The wood of English bows; So men who are free Love the old yew-tree And the land where the yew-tree grows. What of the cord? The cord was made in England: A rough cord, a tough cord, A cord that bowmen love; And so we will sing Of the hempen string And the land where the cord was wove. What of the shaft? The shaft was cut in England: A long shaft, a strong shaft, So we'll drink all together To the gray goose-feather And the land where the gray goose flew. What of the mark? Ah, seek it not in England: A bold mark, our old mark, Is waiting over-sea. When the strings harp in chorus, It is there that our mark will be. What of the men? The men were bred in England: The bowmen- the yeomen, The lads of dale and fell. To the hearts that are true And the land where the true hearts dwell. - Arthur Conan Doyle ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlaw, That lived in Nottinghamshire. As Robin Hood in the forest stood, There he was aware of a brave young man, The youngster was cloathed in scarlet red, In scarlet fine and gay; And he did frisk it over the plain, As Robin Hood next morning stood, There did he espy the same young man The scarlet he wore the day before, And at every step he fetcht a sigh, Then stepped forth brave Little John, And Midge, the miller's son, Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he see them come. "Stand off! stand off!" the young man said, "What is your will with me?" "You must come before our master straight, Under yon greenwood tree.' And when he came bold Robin before, "O hast thou any money to spare "I have no money," the young man said, And that I have kept this seven long years, "Yesterday I should have married a maid, And chosen to be an old knight's delight, "What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood, "Come tell me, without any fail:" "By the faith of my body," then said the young man, "My name it is Allin a Dale." "What wilt thou give me," said Robin Hood, "In ready gold or fee, To help thee to thy true love again, And deliver her unto thee?" |