Dupont's Round Fight (November, 1861)
Dupont's Round Fight (November, 1861)
Original Text
Collected Poems of Herman Melville, ed. Howard P. Vincent (Chicago: Packard, 1947): 15. PS 2382 V5 Robarts Library
2 All Art whose aim is sure;
3Evolving rhyme and stars divine
4 Have rules, and they endure.
5Nor less the Fleet that warred for Right,
6 And, warring so, prevailed,
7In geometric beauty curved,
8 And in an orbit sailed.
9The rebel at Port Royal felt
10 The Unity overawe,
11And rued the spell. A type was here,
12 And victory of LAW.
Notes
1] Commander S. F. Dupont led a naval fleet that captured Port Royal, South Carolina (off Hilton Head), on November 7, 1861. Dupont's South Atlantic Blockading Squadron first assaulted the stronger Fort Walker on the south and then, circling back from the sea, attacked Fort Beauregard. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2003
Rhyme