Of Nelson's lions stand,
Stripped to the waist at stations: every man
Alight with the great signal-words which ran
Joyous, and good, and grand—
"England expects
That every man this day"—"Ay! ay!" we hear!
Our duty we shall do: have ye no fear"
The very cannons' necks
Lean hungry o'er the swell,
Craving for battle-food: and, leading all,
Nelson's Three-decker goes, majestical!
Beautiful! terrible!
Oh, Wings of Victory!
Flew ye indeed that forenoon, white and great,
Wafting our hero to his glorious fate
Over the dancing sea?
Marked ye, indeed,
The haughty foemen's challenge-flags unfold
From ship to ship, along the rippled gold?
And, ever true at need
