Ye Sons of true Freedom! let’s drink, and let’s sing;
Our Glasses charg’d high, to the Health of the King;
To each honest Tar, and all honest Souls,
Who love Fighting in Earnest, and full flowing Bowls.
To each worthy Captain, whate’er his Command;
Or publick, or private; by Sea, or by Land;
Who the Virtue of Drake, or a Howard inherit;
Those glorious Examples of old English Spirit.
Who ne’er reckon’d Odds when they were to engage,
And scorned to shackle the Lion’s just Rage;
For when hard beset they disdained to fly;
The only Word known, was—Boys, conquer or die.
As for those Poltroons, howe’er high their Station;
Who, as Cowards,—or Knaves,—embarrass the Nation;
Who Fighting avoid,—or when Fighting do run;
Let them swing in a Halter, or die by a Gun.
A Health to the Patriot, whoever he be,
From Taxes and Debts who his Country would free;
May so noble a Scheme ev’ry where meet Applause;
No Party, or Faction, t’obstruct the good Cause.
Like fam’d Antigallicans let us behave;
Keep our Motto in View,—For our Country—be brave;
Remember our Sires, who the Monsieurs did maul,
And shew the brave Spirit of a true Antigaul.
(Cornelius Arnold)
More Poetry from Cornelius Arnold:
Cornelius Arnold Poems based on Topics: Kings & Queens, Anger, Soul, Courage, Running, Vice & Virtue, Countries, Health, Lions, Liberty & Freedom, Parties- The Mirror (Cornelius Arnold Poems)
- The Wish (Cornelius Arnold Poems)
- A Riddle: A Tale (Cornelius Arnold Poems)
- The Butterfly And Ant: A Fable (Cornelius Arnold Poems)
- The Swan And Gander: A Fable (Cornelius Arnold Poems)
- Part of the Twelfth Chapter of the Second Book of Samuel (Cornelius Arnold Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Soul Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Anger Poems, Courage Poems, Running Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Countries Poems, Vice & Virtue Poems, Health Poems, Lions Poems, Parties PoemsBased on Keywords: shackle, halter, was-, obstruct, taxes, maul, charg, debts, embarrass, view-, poltroons