THREE BALLADS /\,\S^1P\ ^V\v''^U^.ov Cornell University Library PR 4759.H381T5 Three balladsiThe clipper screw, Maximil 3 1924 013 480 110 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/cletails/cu31924013480110 THEEE BALLADS. THEEE BALLADS THE CLIPPER SCREW, MAXIMILIAN. TRAFALGAR. BY JOHlSr HARHISON. THE PHOTOGEAPH FEOM THE LIPE BY J. MOEGAN. LONDON: LONGMANS, GEBEN, EEADEE, AND DYEE. 18fi9. BRISTOL : I. E, CHILLCOTT, STEAM PRESS. DEDICATED TO HIS FEIEND MES. EEYNOLDS, J. HAEEISON. .THE CLIPPER SCREW. pp. i-^.- y-\ THE CLIPPEE SCREW, A seaman's story. IN" B'lVE PARTS. PAET I. Cast off — from Ship and Mates adrift A broken man behold; An Ocean waif upon the shore By stormy billows rolled, He bears a message from the Deep That else were never told. 10 thou dread. Flood, whose angry waves Thus roughly dealt with me, Ha'st thou no pity, no remorse. Thou smiling treacherous Sea? Where are my comrades ruthless Main, The men who trusted thee ? Sucked in thy salt voracious maw. They know nor calm nor gale, Poised fathoms down they grimly sway Beneath thy silvery veil, Till one by one, they rot, are gone^— Enough, and to my tale. 11 The Ship at single anchor rode As buoyant as a bird, The fires were lit, the steam was up, Her stalwart crew aboard, We manned the capstan bars and stood Awaiting for the word — ''All Hands up anchor; Heave away To the drums and fifes, Heave ho — Round at the capstan bars we tramp. Out to the Blue we go, Heave with a will my Hearties all To the drums and fifes, Heave ho," — " Oh who would kick his heels ashore To watch the grass agrowing. For us, the billow's joyous roar When stormy winds are blowing. If calm befall, 'tis just as well, We cheer the watch with song. While down keel deep the ponderous screw Heaves the good ship along;" 12 " Then round with the capstan bars, my lads, Heave to the fifes and drums. Heave with a will, my Hearties all, And home the anchor comes; Heave, Boys, Heave, — Yo Ho — Heave Ho — Heave, to the fifes and drums." " Talk not to us of flowery vales. Or love-sick maids at even. Be ours the ship with swelling sails Kissed by the breath of Heaven. Blow high, blow low, 'tis on we go, Yon bird is not more free, Away, away, by night and day, Over the stormy sea;" " Then round with the capstan bars, my lads, Heave to the fifes and drums. Heave with a wiU, my Hearties all. And home the anchor comes ; Heave, Boys, Heave, — Yo Ho — Heave Ho — Heave to the fifes and drums." 13 The stirring chorus ceased — the ship Swiing free upon the tide; A signal from the parting gun — A farewell cheer replied, And sweethearts, wives, with faltering steps, Crept down the laddered side. Some heavy hearts had we aboard, And tears were shed, no doubt, And hands were grasped in sudden heat. Rough hands of seamen stout; But let that be — the wind blew free, The flags streamed gaily out. The Captain spoke right cheerily. Though tearfiil many an eye; " Good bye — clear decks — we're under way, God bless ye all — Good bye. Helm hard a starboard — turn ahead, God bless ye all — Good bye." 14 Then ceased at once the sounding blast Of fierce escaping steam, — The engines moved ahead — the foam Sluiced up as white as cream, The Ship her starboard helm obeyed, Obeyed impelling steam. The woodlands on the sloping shore Were rich with Autumn gold, Though here and there the branches bare Of rough November told, When we upon the lofty yards Did sail on sail unfold; The shivering canvas caught the breeze; We cheered with three times three, The while our Clipper smoothly cut Her pathway to the sea: The brimming river, far and wide, Surged astern tumultuously ; 15 We passed the Fort, the Ship on guard, The Lighthouse, on the right; The kerchiefs fluttering from the pier They soon were lost to sight; The -waterfowl, with plaintive cries, Rose circling on our flight. The parting shore-boats cheered their last, Dropped down the foam, were gone ; And we, across the rippled bar, Stood out to sea alone; The course due south o'er half the world Beyond the torrid zone. The wind upon the harp-like shrouds A wild farewell did play, Brief sunshine lit the fitful sails. Then all was cold and grey; The sable smoke, the furrowed foam, We left them on the way. B 16 And now, across the widening waste We strained our eyes in vain, . The glimmering town, the well known cliffs, Soon blended with the main ; What months must pass, what leagues be run. Ere we come home again. With steam and sail and ebbing tide We dropped old England's shore. At noon the sky grew overcast, The rack drove scudding o'er. The sea-boy high upon the mast Beheld the land no more; The Ocean stretched unbroken round, Nor ship nor shore in sight, The whitening waves rolled up astern. And urged us on our flight ; Our lofty spars against the clouds Swayed, circling left and right. 17 Before the gale we bowled along Four steersmen at the wheel, With swelling sails and straining shrouds, And swift dividing keel. Tossing aside the seething spray With swift dividing keeh At eve, the spurt of wind died out. The Ship rolled to and fro ; But where the red Sun touched the Sea, A squall showed white as snow; The Captain from the bridge sung out " Turn up the watch below, "Hands, shorten sail" — for backing round, The wind came strong from South, And when the Sun ,was down, the night Grew black as devil's mouth — We lit our lamps, and, under steam. Steered right down to the Soutli. 18 In two's and three's we paced the deck And peered into the night — On either bow the leaping waves Grleamed in each signal light, Now red, now green, now on the left, Now dancing on the right ; While out the funnel's iron jaws The swiftly issuing smoke. Bronzed by the fiery furnace glare Aloft night's shadow broke — Below, we heard the hissing steam And the thud of the engine stroke. Top-gallants struck, we made all snug ; The sea broke wild and strange, The billows howled, low thunder growled, With rain and hail in change; From South to East, and back again The veering wind did range, 19 Blustering squalls, and then a lull — The night, a shrouding pall. Beyond the glimmering lights aboard Closed round us like a wall; The Ship though under easy steam, Took seas in over all. At midnight, when the watch was changed, We tumbled in bqlow ; There, in narrow hammocks ranged. Swinging to and fro. Though loud the rigging whirred aloft When piping squalls did blow, Though loud the angry waves roared past Keel-cloven through and through. We, rocked asleep upon the Deep, Nor sound nor motion knew. Nor dreamed that night to be our last Aboard the Clipper Screw. 20 PAET II. Dawn crept along the ocean's rim Close veiled in mist and spray. The Sun arose — we saw him not, A stormdrift far away Wound about his golden face A shroud of livid grey. From North to South, from East to West, No break was in the cloud That linking laggard Day with Night O'er-arched the lurid flood : The sails were furled — with steam alone Our onward course we ploughed. 21 'Twas calm — our smoke for miles astern Lay coiled without a blast ; The sluggish waves like molten lead, Slow heaving, tumbled past ; The storm-forboding glass was low. And still was falling fast. In restless groups we paced the deck, — l^he shadow undefined Of coming evil fell on us Oppressing every mind — The solemn cloud — the twilight strange — And never a breath of wind. The Captain stood upon the Bridge, His spyglass at his eye ; He swept the sea from East to West And silently did spy — At last he turned, and softly said *'God help us, by and by." 22 As day wore on a deeper gloom Obscured the quivering East, The sea grew black as ink and still The monstrous gloom increased, A fitful, gusty wind arose. Veered to the north, and ceased. Far south, a ruck of snowy foam Lashed from the inky main. Drove down the dark horizon's line, Scarce seen ere lost again In a shrouding veil, of rain and hailj Of scourging hail, and rain. We heard no sound save the creak of spars And the swirl of the screw alone, Till a restless breeze 'gan stir the shrouds With strange unearthly moan. And the rush of the coming storm swelled up. And the thunder's hollow groan ; 23 A herald blast yelled by — and straight The tempest burst aboard. The Captain shouted — in the roar We could not hear a word ; He, through his speaking trumpet bawled, But never a word we heard. As one, who struck by sudden blow Reels headlong to the plain. The Ship heeled over, till we thought She ne'er could rise again ; Her ponderous yardarms swept the foam That strewed the seething main, Her huge black hull, down to the keel. Bared to the eye of day. We, scrambling up the slippery deck, Seized bulwark, shroud, and stay. While prone as storm-uprooted oak Our noble Clipper lay. 24 At last she righted — with a lurch That wrenched her iron frame Surging from her foamy bed On even keel she came, With helm hard down and labouring steam, Up to the wind she came. The Boatswain shook his head, yet he Had roughed through many a gale ; He cast a troubled look aloft As he clung to the weather rail, But the spars were hid in flying drift. Rain, and whitening hail. The sea-birds, driving on the storm. Came tumbling fast aboard. Blue lightning glared, but in the din No thunderclap was heard. As one huge giant voice, the wind And raging billows roared. 25 The lightnings quivering on the deck Did sulphurous fumes exhale, Then darting to the bowsprit end Were quenched in melting hail; Shorn by the wind, the waves like dust Flew, blending with the gale. The close-farled sails split out in rags; All Hands held hard aweather ; The blast our weighty funnel hiu-led To leeward like a feather, Then chopped to north, and overboard Went masts, spars, boats, together. Top-hamper crashing from aloft. Spread ruin far and wide; The mainmast sm^ging up end on Stove in the starboard side. And through the naked ribs in rushed The fierce resistless tide; 26 Then sudden fear smote every man, Hearts quailed, however stout, As the hissing waters whirled and swirled And the engine fires went out. As the Ship fell oflf, in the hollow trough, And all her fires were out. A mastless hidk, nor sail, nor steam, A carcase without soul. She gave a heavy weather lurch And then a starhoard roll — At every lurch her brazen bell Rang out a single toll. Half strangled by the driving spray We fought with waves and wind, We cleared the wreck, we manned the pumps In companies combined. Yet all the while we kuew right well Our doom was sealed and signed. 27 Each moment deeper in the sea The wallowing vessel rolled, Deep water in the engine room, Deep water in the hold. The air 'tween decks rushed screaming up And speedy doom foretold. 'Twas strange that in this desperate strife For life, and life alone. When time had narrowed to an hour. And Death familiar grown Had stamped his seal on every brow. Our minds still held their own. In duty steadfast, at the pumps Like men we laboured on; Our breath grew shorter, yet we strove Till all our strength was gone, One at my side dropped down and died- His last day's work was done. 28 We searched tte drear horizon round But never a sail could see; The Captain shut his telescope And not a word said he; The waves leapt up like ravening wolves And mocked our agony. In gangs about the rolling hulk We clustered here and there; Scared Hope had fled, and Death unmasked Now dogged us everywhere. Worn out, — at last we stood at bay And faced him in despair. Grreen seas swept surging fore and aft, The Ship was settling fast; A few brief words we wrote in haste,— When every chance had passed The bottle with the last farewell Into the sea was cast. 29 In that dread hour, adrift, undone, The sport of wind and wave. We turned to Grod, to Him alone Our hearts and souls we gave; Then patiently we waited Death, Each gazing on his grave. The end was nigh, e'en restless Fear Had ceased to agitate. Huddled in silence, — on our brows A strange dull quiet sate, Death's Harbinger, that kindly blunts The sense of instant fate. Apart from all, his gold laced cap Pressed down upon his brow. The Captain stood upon the poop And watched the scene below — Decks lashed by waves, and here and there A corse washed to and fro. 30 He made no sign, gave no command, His sway was ended then, — The Chief, who scarce an hour ago Had ruled three hundred men. Had reined five hundred horses power, Had ruled three hundred men. We gathered round him — one and all, A ghastly company. His features sharp and pinched, were white As foam flecks drifting by. His lips in prayer moved, his eyes Then wandered to the sky. We prayed as he — we all looked up To Heaven with faces pale. The clouds grew lighter — the dread blast Had steadied to a gale — The thunder growled afar — the squalls Had ceased of rain and hail — 31 The Sun shone out — in rainbow mist The dark storm rolled away — The Sea still heaved in lofty waves, Still broke in sheeted spray, When the Ship her mighty bows upreared Toward the azure day. Then dipped the poop — the hungry flood Yawned wide and tumbled o'er; In frantic haste we strove to climb The steep deck's sliding floor, The tumult wild, the wilder shriek Were hushed for evermore As by the stern the Ship went down And clove her own dark grave; The whirlpool spinning on the top Broke in a foaming wave, And still the hull slid down and down Into its ocean grave. 33 PAET III. Sucked in the vortex, fathoms deep I sank beneath the mainj Green lights were whirling in mine eyes, Strange phantoms in my brain. Then came a calm ineffable. And then I rose again; I rose again — grim Death with Life Did battle in my frame; A twitching gasp — a sobbing breath- And Life, Death overcame; I floated up a corse, and yet Strong Life, Death overcame; 33 I lived — convulsively I caught A hencoop, and held on; A fluttering bird was caged therein, A fowl, and only one; He thrust his head from out the bars While I was holding on. No other living thing I saw, I heard nor shriek nor sigh; The Ship was gone, and in her stead The shrouding waves rolled by; There was no other living thing Save that lone fowl and I. Pale fitful sunshine lit the waste That stretched the horizon round, An ever restless, foaming space. By storm-cloud darkly bound, The deadly Sea, in whose embrace Three hundred men were drowned. 34 The wliirling surges, from my gTasp Oft "wrenched the coop away, But swimming strong I caught again My frail supporting stay, Wherein the bird but feebly stirred Half drowned with drenching spray. The gale was broken, and the waves Rolled past in bated power ; Dark heaving now, wide vales between, Now white in rainbow shower: How hard for life 'mid the watery strife, I fought in that dread hour : Now battling with the lofty surge, Xow in the troughy bed, Now diving through the breaking seas That roared above my head. Now breathless on my back, as one In mortal combat sped. 35 While thus I fought for very life The mainmast drifted past, Like a huge pine tree to the waves From some far headland cast. I clomb the shrouds that hung adown And strode across the mast; But I did not leave my comrade Fowl To die — I noosed a rope, With practised hand I cast and caught His cage within the loop, The while the bird with glittering eye Did watch me from the coop; His prison door I opened wide, I set the captive free ; With outstretched neck and fluttering wings He joined me from the sea. In sooth that bird's companionship Was everything to me. 36 PAET IV. Through, mists that hugged the parting storm, The Sun rolled down the West, And in the Eastern board the Moon Uprose from Ocean's breast. 'Twas calm — the spent, remorseful winds Had sobbed themselves to rest. The drowsy sound of waters round Like opiate after pain, Lulled to vacant quietude The whirl within my brain, While on my head the salt sea spray Fell soft as summer rain ; 37 And if I raised a lid, the Stars Seemed moving in the sky — The rising Moon moved to and fro Her soft magnetic eye — My senses wandered, and I thought How good it was to die. Like Child upon a Mother's breast I lay upon the mast. And gently swaying with the waves I fell asleep at last, A sleep so blank, it had no dream Of present, or of past; How long I slept 'tis vain to say, When all things were forgot ; The hideous phantoms in my brain Died out, I saw them not ; The ghastly crew, the sinking Ship, Became an empty blot. 38 I slept, how long I know not I — A waking tremor swept Across the slackened shrouds of life And stirred them as I slept ; I dreamed I heard a Child's glad voice And wistfully I wept — Half conscious that my dream was vain- That no such thing could be. A second cry — it shook my sleep, It sounded from the Sea, I started, — in my dream I thought The voice was calling me. With sudden heat my pulses beat, I woke in glad surprise, I glanced around in eager haste. Benumbed, I strove to rise. But nothing save the hopeless Sea Was present to mine eyes. 39 Stretched on the lonely mast was I, Beside me was the Bird, He clapped his wings and loudly crew, 'Twas his clear voice I heard. The voice, that long ago warned him Who thrice denied his Lord. That cry of warning to the night. That sharp upbraiding tone. Now touched me in my desert plight When hope a'most was gone ; It told of Him, by man denied. Who died for man alone. My soul was roused — though all untaught I tried my best to pray; I gazed aloft, and half forgot The bed whereon I lay; I saw the Stars — I felt no fear. So hushed, so calm were they ; 40 1 saw the Moon, and on the Sea Her soft reflected light, A silver-frosted path to Heaven For me too pure and bright : The shining Moon plunged deep in mist And left me to the night. Then creeping Shadows, dismal Fears, About my prison stole. Again I heard the wrangling waves Unceasing in their roll, And circling Ocean's hopeless chain Seemed coiled around my soul ; Nor Moon, nor Star, looked down on me, The Sea rolled dark as doom ; My mates beneath the ponderous mast Lay weltering in their tomb; At that dread thought I shut mine eyes, I dared not face the gloom. 41 I called upon His holy name, ''0 Lord, deliver me, I know, the darkness and the light Are both alike to Thee, Thou who trod'st the stormy waves, Christ, deliver me ; " The shadow lifted — o'er the main A moony radiance swept; And round about, like living things The grey waves foamed and leapt; The mast gleamed white, — in the blessed light I bowed my head and slept; Calm was my sleep, not dull, nor deep. Nor stirred by sudden fears. But tranquil as a child's sweet sleep Whose eyes had closed in tears. — I woke with strengthened heart to pray. To pray to Him who hears. 42 PAET V. As o'er a billow's slope I rose I saw a light afar That on the dim and distant waves Was dancing like a Star; Then fell a sudden shower of rain Betwixt me and the Star. No blustering squall, no angry gloom Did vex that shower serene, A filmy fold all white and cold The sky and the sea between ; The red Star shone, grew dim, was gone. Lost in the silvery sheen. 43 The moonbeams o'er the falling rain A quivering lustre spread, Then 'settling in a lunar bow O'erarched the uncertain shade; On the waves below, with fainter glow, An answering Iris played ; While the low wind that brought the rain Did seem to whisper me With other voice than the dreary voice Of Winds that haunt the Sea, Whispering soft of mead and croft, Of Home beyond the Sea. My heart made answer to the Winds — They mocked me and went by. The Bird kept watch ; my listless eyes Were fixed upon the sky. As on the weary mast I lay No other watch had I. 44 I saw the clouds, like Alpine slopes They soared above the rain ; And sudden stars, that trembled, shone. Went out, and shone again Through ghostly Mists, whose unseen feet Were on the shadowy main. The slanting shower waxed faint and thin, And the silvery veil more rare, Till, wondrous strange, it took the shape Of sails in the gleamy air: I gazed until mine eyes grew dim For I saw that a Ship was there. Uncertain, through the shifting mists. Like some lone wandering Star That mocks the gaze with fitful rays When clouds and vapours are. The Vessel loomed — an Ark of Hope How nigh — and yet how far. 45 Then Hope and Fear came fluttering near That else had done with me ; Hope, pointing to the distant sail And soft illumined sea. And Fear, unto the shrouded space Betwixt the Ship and me. I saw her signal lights aboard The sea-fog glimmering through, And slowly gliding from the haze Distinct her outline grew; Then shadow fell — a driving mist — And all was lost to view. A sudden rift in the vapory drift. And her tapering spars appeared; As if from blessed Pleaven she came By pitying Angel steered, The Ship sailed out into the light. The doubting mists were cleared. 46 I held my breath 'twixt Life and Death, And watched her from afar. Her pennant from the lofty main Streamed like a Comet Star ; And I knew by the set of the masts and sails That the Ship was a Man-of-War. With stately motion ever nearing On the Frigate came : Beneath her rushing bows boiled up A pale phosphoric flame, And far astern, till lost in gloom. Her broad wake shone the same. Her lights were dancing on the waves In long reflected streams, Her masts and taper spars stood out Streaked with the white moonbeams, Her sails, like Angel's wings, made bright The Deep with their shifting gleams ; 4T My hands outstretched, I strove to call, But my voice fell faint and low, Like to the voice of wailing winds That through the rigging blow ; My hope was sliding from my grasp When the Cock did suddenly crow. Loud and clear his clarion note Flew straight across the main. And from the Ship's broad echoing side Came softly back again — Again the Bird, with swelling crest Crowed shrill his clarion strain. Then voices fell upon the waves ; The Ship's fair course was stayed. "The cry," said they, "seemed there away In yonder rain-cloud's shade, 'Twas as the cry of a crowing cock Or owl in forest glade." 48 I saw dark figures crowd the poop, I heard the sharp command, The quarter-boat ran swiftly down And help was close at hand. Then came the welcome dash of oars, My heart was nigh unmanned. They slung me o'er the Ship's dark side, They laid me in a cot ; As one amazed, my brain all dazed I raved, I knew not what, Of dismal wrecks, of crowing cocks. Of dead men left to rot. Oh who can teU save he whom Fate Hath hurried to the brink Of that dark Stream whose bitter cup All men are bom to drink, Who face to face hath stood with Death And never a nerve did shrink, 49 The sharp revulse from Death to Life, The passion of the heart, When, in His mercy from the grave Reprieved we backward start — " God, unto my shattered soul Thy saving health impart." After a while my sense returned. The mind resumed its sway, And then my yearning spirit burned Alone with God to pray, So for a space I turned my face From the watchful crew away. Calm came at last, great calm and peace, And thanks to ,God I gave. I prayed in silence — a rough man Just rescued from the grave, I well may leave the thanks untold That unto God I gave. 50 As when before the glorious Sun The storm clouds break away, And from the giddy deck we mark The instant noon of day, All doubts are o'er, the course we fix- And steam and sails obey; So from my Soul by Death o'ercast, Perplexing shadows flew; E'en as I prayed, His guiding ray Brought time and reckoning true; I rose, and told to those around The tale I tell to you. Ship, Crew, are gone — my comrades brave Death gave them to the Deep; There, in a Seaman's quiet grave The lost Three Hundred sleep; Until all hands are called aloft The lost Three Hundred sleep. 51 And if forlorn I roam the World And in no port abide, My faithftd Bird lie follows me O'er Earth and Ocean wide; I have no other friend but he, Almighty God beside. THE! DEATH OF MAXIMILIAN. (JUNE 19th, 1867.) 55; MAXIMILIAN. The tropic stars still brightly shone Though night was passing by, When we heard the clank and. measured tread Of Horse and Infantry; Armed shadows thronged the Convent ground Ere dawn was in the sky. 56 With sabre, lance, and bayonet. The Juarist men were they Who formed around the cloistered Pile Where Maximilian lay ; With traitor hearts, and hands, they came, To take our Chief away. How fared it with his Majesty In that old Convent hall. The Emperor that France set up. And left alone to fall? — France drooped her flag, she sheathed her sword. At the Yankee's braggart call; But he, of Austria's noble house, And every inch a King, He scorned to wear the feather white Plucked from the Eagle's wing; 'Twas Honour, versus prudent France And Yankee blustering. 57 But say, how fared his Majesty, This King that France had made? — Oh shame ! — for forty thousand crowns Unto the Foe betrayed, The felon Lopez sold to Death The Monarch, France had made. Entrapped and caged, in that dark hall A captive Prince behold ; The Warrior Chief, for whom but now A Host in arms enrolled; The Emperor of Mexico, Thus basely bought and sold. In truth, it was a moving sight. The King awaiting doom; Tears dimmed our eyes, but his keen gaze Did pierce the vaulted room, As if he saw, what we saw not — The Light, beyond the gloom. 58 Death-doomed as he, brave Mejia Stood there with Miramon ; " King," he said, " 'tis good for us To die, our duty done; The volley, and the soldier's grave. And thou to lead us on." We raised in haste a simple Shriue Whereat the Three adored; No solemn miserere their's From choral voices poured; The chamber doors were guarded close With carbine and with sword. We heard the muffled drums without, The murmured prayer within. The Penitents on bended knees Their last short shrift begin. The mortal Priest, with broken voice, Absolviog each his sin. 59 The Monarch rose — the taper's light Died out in dawning day; "Good Priest," he said, "this farewell note Unto my Wife convey, She knelt before the Frenchman's throne In vain — ^now come away." They sought to bind his steadfast eyes, But sternly he forbade; " Too often have I looked on Death To fear his face," he said, "No further bondage — Vamonos A la Libertad — Now open wide the Convent gates And let your King go through." The Convent gates they opened wide. Out paced the Brave, the True, Around him closed the Horse and Foot, The Priests walked two and two. 60 Up the lonely road they marched, The City on the right — The houses whitening in the dawn Stood sharp against the night, Each loftier spire, a fretted fire, Glowed with the reddening light; On they inarched with muffled drums Up to the fatal mound.* WhUe the unceasing funeral bell Swung out in warning sound The silent City woke, and crowds In haste came gathering round ; And faces white, in hate and fright, Peered through the shadow grey. As forward to the gleamy height To mock God's blessed day, With pennoned lance and bayonet The death-march rolled away. * Cerro de la Campana, a rocty hill about one mile jErom Queretaro. 61 The Stars slunk down behind the hills — The Sun rushed up the sky — His living rays inflamed with gold Death's bristling pageantry, That men might see in Day's broad light Our Maximilian die. On they marched to the muffled drum And ever wailing fife; Behind him, in the shadow lay, A Throne, and earthly strife ; From night, he marched through sunshine. On to Eternal Life. A sharp command — a sudden "Halt" — But never a word said he, The Coffin, and the Squad, were near, And ready musketry; He saw them not, his thoughts were far With Her beyond the sea; 62 He took her portrait from his breast, " One kiss before I die." His back toward the faithless "West, He watched the Eastern sky; He sighed, and mummred, "Happy rest"- We knew the reason why. O Lady, from the Fatherland, True Wife of Prince as true. Proud Northern, with the lustrous eyes And hair of raven hue. Princess — Queen — God pitied thee And dulled thy mortal view. Thou knowest not, and may'st not know, The toil, the strife, the pain. The friendships false, the obloquy, Of that brief troubled reign ; Beyond the happy rest, Queen, Thou'lt find thy Love again. .63 The sudden click of the rifle locks Recalled his -wandering thought — He proudly raised himself erect To die as Monarch ought; But still one other word had he For those who pardon sought; "0 Friends," he said, "and you my Foes, How freely I forgive The gracious God above me knows, Who doth my sins forgive; I fought for Order, Peace, and Law — I lost — nor care to live." A pause — a sudden sharp report- The smoke obscured the sky, A murky veil that shrouded all From every staring eye — The shadow lifted, and we saw A deeper Shadow lie. 64 The bullets pierced his manly breast As he stood facing Death — Forgiveness was his dying word, Carlotta on his breath. Be world-wide shame on Mexico, Who shot her King to death. TRAFALGAR. WRITTEN IN 1865, IN COMMEMORATION OP THE CENTENARY, or THE PLAG-SHIP "VICTOEY." 67 TRAFALGAR. Oh, listen to my story, boys. Of sixty years agone, Of England's naval glory, boys, A battle fougbt and won; How Nelson died off Trafalgar, October twenty-one, 68 'Twas in the flag-sHp, Victory, We sailed from Portsmoutli Dock, To chase the Fleets of France and Spain, And bring them to the block; So we cruised about for a week or two Off Gibraltar Rock. On Sunday, sighting Trafalgar, We shortened sail at night, Till, in the grey, where a Frigate lay. We saw, by the dawning Kght, Her signal flying, — ''East by South, The Enemy in sight." Lord Nelson he stood on the quarterdeck. In the old fighting coat was he. His stockings were silk, and as white as milk, His breeches to the knee. As he stood looking out with eight hundred men From aboard of the Victory. 69 His Lordship he spied with his glass to port, And he spied o'er the starboard bow, And he saw the Foe, in the flush of the morn, A-sailing all of a row; Says he, as he shut his spying-glass, "My Lads we have got 'em now"! " Up helm — square yards — set every rag Of canvas that can draw, Stunsails alow and aloft!" said he. As soon as the Foe he saw; And the fleet bore up at break of day, Off the shoals of Trafalgar. Lord Nelson led the weather line, Lord Collingwood the lee; The sun, red shining on the sails, 'T would do you good to see, As down we steered iil a double row To meet the Enemy. 70 The rolling drums from ship to ship The beat to quarters gave, Then all was hushed, not a sound was heard Except the splash of the wave. As we slipped through the water, to blood and slaughter. And to die the death of the brave. Lord Nelson he stood on the lofty poop Of his flag-ship Victory ; He stood looking out, as if he saw A sail none else could see; "Run up aloft one signal more, A message from Home," said he, "England expects that eveey man will do his duty." Then roUed adown the well manned Fleet, Our English battle cry, A Cheer, the startled Foe could hear As he lay waiting by. An answering cheer, that spoke out clear, We conquer or we die; 71 It ceased — At noon with sudden roar The slumbering cannon woke, Quick jets of flame leaped nimbly forth From the ribs of the bellowing oak, And heaving through with blazing sides The Enemy's line we broke. Our guns laid low four hundred men As we raked the Bucentaure; Redoubtable, she lay ahead, And the Neptune 84, But we rolled along, and we took their shot, And the shot of as many more. And soon came ranging up astern The fighting Temeraire, And many a fine old ship whose name The rolls of History bear. With English hearts and hands they came. And cheers that shook the air. 72 Our hull was wrapped in sulplmroTis clouds, Though aloft the sky was bright, And the fluttering flags streamed proudly forth. And the sails gleamed snowy white. While the work of death went on beneath. In the noisome smoke of the fight. Tier on tier of low laid guns Incessant broadsides poured. O'er the red waves the glancing shot Dashed through the foam, aboard. And far and wide, as one huge voice. Continuous thunder roared. The flag for closer battle flying We nailed it to the mast — As 'twixt the Enemy's blazing lines The vengeful Victory passed, With broadsides right and left replying "We brought them to at last. 73 Yard to yard, muzzle to muzzle, The grappling Squadrons- close; Blinding dust, hot stifling smoke From the fiery shambles rose; We scarce could tell, in that seething hell. Our Comrades, from our Foes. At 1.15, Lord Nelson fell, And forty men around him ; A ball from the Eedoubtable Most grievously did wound him; At half-past four o'clock he died. And Glory came and crowned him. The setting sun through angry gloom Reddened our sails again ; The fight was done, the victory won, And the Fleets of France and Spain Their flags hauled down, like worthless logs Lay strown about the main. 74 We swabbed up the decks, we straightened the dead, We numbered that ghastly crowd, We sunk them with shot in their deep sea bed WhUe winds were piping loud ; With a seaman's prayer, we left them there. Each man in his hammock shroud. Nelson, we kept for an English grave, We hove not his corse to the sea; We held it in trust for mother Earth Till the day of his burial be. In the coffin brave, Ben Hallowell gave, From the Orient's mainmast tree.* We plugged up the Victory's shattered sides ' Riddled with cannon balls — We weathered the shoals off Trafalgar, Nor cared for the blustering squalls — We dashed through the foam to our Island Home, And we gave the Great Dead to St. Paul's. 75 A hundred years old is the Victory, And with all our hearts we love her ; The glory of her Nelson's death Is ever around and above her, As she lies on her guard, off Portsmouth Hard, Though her fighting days are over. Then cheer, boys, cheer for the Victory, The brave Flag-ship of yore. Of Her, the memory shall not die Till Time itself be o'er; To Nelson — he is gone aloft — ■ Silence — and nothing more. 77 NOTE. * "After the battle of the Nile, 1798, part of the mainmast of the French Admiral's Ship I'Orient was picked up by the Swift- sure. Captain Hallowell ordered his carpenter to make a coffin of it ; the iron as weU aa wood was taken from the wreck of the same ship : it was finished as weU and handsomely as the work- man's skill and materials would permit ; and HalloweU then sent it to the Admiral with the following letter : — ' Sir, I have taken the liberty of presenting you a coffin made from the mainmast of I'Orient, that when you have finished your military career in this world you may be buried in one of your trophies. But that that period may be far distant, is the earnest wish of your sincere friend Benjamin HalloweU.' An offering so strange, and yet so suited to the occasion, was received by Nelson in the spirit with which it was sent. As if he felt it good for him, now that he was at the summit of his wishes, to have death before his eyes, he ordered the coffin to be placed upright in his cabin. Such a piece of furniture, however, was more suitable to his own feelings than to those of his guests and attendants; and an old favorite servant entreated him so earnestly to let it be removed, that at length he consented to have the coffin carried below: but he gave strict orders that it should be safely stowed, and reserved for the pur- pose for which its brave and worthy donor had designed it." — Soothey's Life of Nelson. I. !E. CuiLLCui'T, Steam Freas, Claie Btteot & St. Stephen's Avenue, Bristolj