Classic Poem

Allies of ours for a hundred years — 'tis written on parchment old —
Allies of ours for three hundred years, and their word is as good as gold.
Pirates like us in the days gone by, when we sailed the Southern Seas
With one eye out for the coral reefs and one for the Portuguese.

Pirates like us in the days of " peace " , in a different sense of the word;
Though it had been long on the Southern Sea since the Portuguese oath was heard,
Pirates like us in the days that be; and the Prussian's eyes rolled wide
With rage and surprise when the Portugee came nimbly over the side.

The Dutch were bluffed and the Turks were bought in spite of the Bygone Years;
Mahomet growled — but the Hindu fought by the turbans from Algiers.
The " lying Greek " , he would live enslaved, while the Serb died to be free,
And the Bulgar snapped at the hand that saved — but not so the Portugee!

Ships were scarce on the Southern Sea, and the Foe seemed far away —
And it well may be that the Portugee had dreams of another " Day " .
And he gazed long down on the German ships that were left to rust and rot —
It was too much for the Portugee. " We have need, " he said, " of the lot. "

Allies of ours in the days of old (and the Spaniard loots at ease) —
Wellington knew, in his hour of need, the worth of the Portuguese!
They sailed of old by the Cape of Storms, and our ships sailed in their wake —
They are sailing now by a stormier cape, and they sail for England's sake!