The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #81115   Message #4206397
Posted By: Jim Dixon
01-Aug-24 - 04:28 PM
Thread Name: Songs about Nelson or Wellington
Subject: Lyr Add: NELSON AND VICTORY
From Nelson's Wreath: Or, British Glory (London: T. Evans, 1812), page 5:


NELSON AND VICTORY.

NELSON the Great he is the man,
When his country call’d to action ran;
Fam’d Nelson here he led the van,
Like a noble tar of Britain;
The haughty Danes lay anchor’d here
Before Copenhagen formed they were.
If smoke and fire is your desire,
You dogs we’ll set you all on fire,
And sink you in the ocean.

The 2d of April was the day,
We here commenc’d this bloody fray;
This hostile fleet at anchor lay,
Protected by their batteries:
For action now we did prepare;
A ship we sent up in the air,
Which made the Danes all quake for fear;
Thro’ smoke and fire we then did steer,
And commenc’d this noble action.

Fam’d Nelson here great courage had,
On board the Elephant rais’d his flag,
Determined to blow them all in rags,
When honour calls to action.
Six sail we brought up in a line,
To execute our grand design,
Before their city that very day,
Our balls so hot aloud did play,
And set them all on fire.

Twelve sail we had to form our line,
Nelson with six came just in time;
Our red-hot shot we play’d so hot,
And made our cannons rattle;
Our bombs and shells aloud did play,
The inhabitants were all dismay’d,
Denmark’s Prince he ran away,
And left his city burning.

Of three and twenty sail, that day,
Seventeen were destroy’d without delay,
Sunk, burnt and ta’en, some ran away,
In action full four hours.
Brave Captain Mosse, that very day,
And Riou too, as I’ve heard say,
In the action they both were slain,
In conquering of those hostile Danes;
A theme for British glory.

Nelson the Great he form’d a plan,
To snatch from death each hostile Dane,
The boats was mann’d without delay,
To save each Danish seaman.
Come fill up this mighty bowl,
And drink to every loyal soul
That scorns by Danes to be controul’d;
Drink Graves, drink Mosse, drink Riou bold,
An Nelson that rules the ocean.

- - -
The same publication can be seen in the Bodleian Ballad Collection: Curzon b.24(99).