Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/649

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
  • <poem>

If he had pleased, he might have spent His days at home in safe content; But nursing valour in his breast He would adventure with the best:

 Willing to shed his dearest blood,
 To do his Prince and Country good.

Thus bent, he, adding wings to feet, Departed with the English fleet. There was no rub, no stay at all, The ships sailed with a pleasant gale;

 In setting forth they by their hap,
 Seemed lulled in AMPHITRITE'S lap.

At length they did arrive at Cales; Where restless PEEKE against the walls Made fourscore shot towards the shore, Making the welkin wide to roar:

 He kept his standing in this strife,
 Setting a straw by loss of life.

Into a vineyard afterward He marched, and stood upon his guard; There he an horseman did dismount, By outward port of good account:

 But did on him compassion take,
 And spared his life, for pity's sake.

The next assault uneven he felt, For with twelve Spaniards he dealt At once, and held them lusty play; Until through odds, theirs was the day:

 From ear to ear, they pierced his head,
 And to the town him captive led.
  • <poem>