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Thread #122233 Message #2679863
Posted By: Charley Noble
14-Jul-09 - 08:35 AM
Thread Name: Admiral Hopwood Sea Poems (1868-1949)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE BOATSWAIN'S CALL (Adm. R. A. Hopwood)
THE BOATSWAIN'S CALL (25TH APRIL, 1513)
LORD EDWARD HOWARD walked his quarter-deck.
His badge, of Henry's Royal hand bestowed,
The golden ball and chain, about his neck,
High Admiral of England.
Up from the South and who shall say him nay?-
Came the Chevalier Pregent de Bidoux,
His fleet of galleys formed in brave array
Off Brest, across the Channel.
"But six ships we, your lordship, few and small."
"The better then my whistle ye shall hear,
And rally to the watchword in its call,
High Admiral of England."
So forth they fared, by oar and wind and tide,
Faithful to follow where my Lord should lead;
His galley's laid along the foeman's side,
Off Brest, across the Channel.
He called his boarders. Swift they made reply,
"St. George for England!" leaping from the decks,
And ever in the van his battle-cry,
"High Admiral of England!"
While yet they swarm across nor count the cost,
The galleys drave asunder, leaving there
Him and sixteen to face de Bidoux's host,
Off Brest, across the Channel.
To fight and die unyielding in their pride,
A hundred swords and pikemen thrust them down,
And last was he, borne fighting over side,
High Admiral of England
Who, scorning death, so that his honour be
All pure, unclasped his chain and flung it far
Into the keeping of the Narrow Sea,
Off Brest, across the Channel.
And smiling as it flashed and sank from sight,
"None else," he cried," shall wear, and mocking say
This was his badge, token of England's might,
High Admiral of England."
So passed to rest. Yet, while the great ships steer
Outward or home, in safety, as ye go
Is it the night wind only that ye hear
Off Brest, across the Channel?
Then, be the daily task or great or small,
What time the old shrill note awakes the decks,
So each receives the message in its call –
"High Admiral of England."
"Such as pass on the seas" shall never cease,
In lawful cause, secure, to come and go,
And, in their passing, he shall rest at peace,
Off Brest, across the Channel.
Notes:
From THE OLD WAYS AND OTHER POEMS, by Admiral Ronald A. Hopwood, published by John Murray, London, UK, © 1916. p. 57.
Dedicated to "The Commander in Chief."
Charley Noble