Howard and Drake—a stately band—
Sir Walter, Anson, Hawkins bold:
By all the martial blazonry
Of Blake's great battles, and the roar
Of Jervis, thundering through the sea:
With Rodney, Hood, and fifty more:
To him, the bravest, gentlest, best,
Duty's dear Hero, Britain's star—
The chieftain of the dauntless breast,
Nelson, our Thunderbolt of War!
We saw him gathering sword by sword
On conquered decks from Don and Dane,
We saw him, Victory's laurelled Lord,
Rend the French battle-line a-twain:
We saw the coat, the vest, he wore
In thick of dread Trafalgar's day:
The blood-stains, and the ball which tore
Shoulder-gold, lace, and life away.
