Hi, Johnny - that goes to show you that maybe even Roy Palmer can be wrong. I'll agree that it doesn't make much sense.

The DT version has

They long defied that bitter night, And battled with the swell.

The Bok, Muir, & Trickett version has

They long did fight, that bitter night, their battle with the swell.

I like both of those better than the Palmer/Oxford version.
-Joe Offer-