Who spy on our business and are not content To take a smooth answer, Except with a handspike And they say they are murdered by poor honest men! To be drowned or be shot Is our natural lot, Why should we, moreover, be hanged in the end After all our great pains For to dangle in chains As though we were smugglers, not poor honest men? "WHEN THE GREAT ARK” When the Great Ark, in Vigo Bay, Rode stately through the half-manned fleet, From every ship about her way She heard the mariners entreat "Before we take the seas again Let down your boats and send us men! "We have no lack of victual here With work God knows! - enough for all, To hand and reef and watch and steer, Because our present strength is small. While your three decks are crowded so Your crews can scarcely stand or go. "In war, your numbers do but raise In storm, the mindless deep obeys In calm, your numbers, closely pressed, "We, even on unchallenged seas, Dare not adventure where we would, But forfeit brave advantages For lack of men to make 'em good; Whereby, to England's double cost, Honour and profit both are lost!" PROPHETS AT HOME Prophets have honour all over the Earth, Except in the village where they were born; Where such as knew them boys from birth, Nature-ally hold 'em in scorn. When Prophets are naughty and young and vain, They make a won'erful grievance of it. (You can see by their writings how they complain), But O, 'tis won'erful good for the Prophet! There's nothing Nineveh Town can give (Nor being swallowed by whales between), Makes up for the place where a man's folk live, Which don't care nothing what he has been. He might ha' been that, or he might ha' been this, But they love and they hate him for what he is. JUBAL AND TUBAL CAIN Jubal sang of the Wrath of God Jubal sang of the new-found sea, Bitter and cold is the hate they hold Jubal sang of the golden years When wars and wounds shall ceaseBut Tubal fashioned the hand-flung spears And showed his neighbours peace. |