Poems (David)/Lines on seeing Her Majesty's Ship "Victoria" at Anchor off Spithead
LINES ON SEEING HER MAJESTY'S SHIP 'VICTORIA' AT ANCHOR OFF SPITHEAD.
IF thou couldst search the wide world round,
A fairer sight can ne'er be found
At which my heart beats more in glee,
Than an English ship on a moonlit sea.
A fairer sight can ne'er be found
At which my heart beats more in glee,
Than an English ship on a moonlit sea.
While the wild night breeze whispers past
Thro' the cordage which binds the mast;
And on the cradle of the deep
The stately vessel seems to sleep.
Thro' the cordage which binds the mast;
And on the cradle of the deep
The stately vessel seems to sleep.
The lone voice of the busy wave
That her broadsides so gently lave,
Firm and true is her cable rope
That helps her with the tide to cope.
That her broadsides so gently lave,
Firm and true is her cable rope
That helps her with the tide to cope.
Silent the waves come stealing by,
And softly too the breeze does sigh;
Slowly and stately does she swing
Round upon her stout anchoring.
And softly too the breeze does sigh;
Slowly and stately does she swing
Round upon her stout anchoring.
How proud and swan-like does she rest
On the blue water's tranquil breast!—
Ah! there's no fairer sight to me
Than an English ship on a moonlit sea.
On the blue water's tranquil breast!—
Ah! there's no fairer sight to me
Than an English ship on a moonlit sea.