On the Loss of the Royal George
On the Loss of the Royal George
Original Text
William Hayley, Life and Posthumous Writings of William Cowper (Chichester: J. Seagrave; for J. Johnson, London, 1803-04). E-10 3766 Fisher Rare Book Library (Toronto).
1 Toll for the brave--
2The brave! that are no more:
3 All sunk beneath the wave,
4Fast by their native shore.
5 Eight hundred of the brave,
6Whose courage well was tried,
7 Had made the vessel heel
8And laid her on her side;
9 A land-breeze shook the shrouds,
10And she was overset;
11 Down went the Royal George,
12With all her crew complete.
13 Toll for the brave--
14Brave Kempenfelt is gone,
15 His last sea-fight is fought,
16His work of glory done.
17 It was not in the battle,
18No tempest gave the shock,
19 She sprang no fatal leak,
20She ran upon no rock;
21 His sword was in the sheath,
22His fingers held the pen,
23 When Kempenfelt went down
24With twice four hundred men.
25 Weigh the vessel up,
26Once dreaded by our foes,
27 And mingle with your cup
28The tears that England owes;
29 Her timbers yet are sound,
30And she may float again,
31 Full charg'd with England's thunder,
32And plough the distant main;
33 But Kempenfelt is gone,
34His victories are o'er;
35 And he and his eight hundred
36Must plough the wave no more.
Publication Start Year
1803
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP 1.757.
Rhyme
Form