Classic Poem

There was a ship, and a ship of fame,
Launch'd off the stocks, bound to the main,
With a hundred and fifty brisk young men,
Was picked and chosen every one.

William Glen was their captain's name,
He was a brisk and a tall young man,
As bold a sailor as went to sea,
And he was bound for New Barbary.

The first of April we did set sail,
Blest with a pleasant prosperous gale;
And we were bound to New Barbary,
With all our whole ship's company.

We had not sailed a league or two,
Till all our whole ship's jovial crew,
They all fell sick but sixty-three,
As we went to New Barbary.

One night the captain he did dream,
There came a voice which said to him,
" Prepare, you and your company,
To-morrow night you must lodge with me. "

This waked the captain in a fright,
It being the third watch of the night,
Then for his boatswain he did call,
And told to him his secrets all.

When I in England did remain,
The Holy Sabbath I did profane,
In drunkenness I took delight,
Which does my trembling soul affright.

There's one thing more I do rehearse,
Which I shall mention in this verse,
A squire I slew in Staffordshire,
All for the love of a lady fair.

" Now 'tis the ghost, I am afraid,
That hath in me such terror bred;
Although the King hath pardoned me,
He's daily in my company. "

" O, worthy captain, since 'tis so,
No mortal of it e'er shall know;
So keep this secret in your breast,
And pray to God to give you rest. "

We had not sailed a league but three,
Till raging grew the roaring sea:
There rose a tempest in the skies,
Which filled our hearts with sad surmise.

Our mainmast sprung by break of day,
Which made our rigging all give way,
And did our seamen sore affright,
The terrors of that fatal night.

Up then spoke our foremast man,
As he did by the foreyard stand;
He cried, " The Lord receive my soul, "
So to the bottom he did fall.

The sea did wash both fore and aft,
Till scarce one sail was left aloft;
Our yards were sprung, our rigging tore,
The like you never saw before.

The boatswain straitly did declare
The captain was a murderer.
Which so enraged the whole ship's crew,
The captain overboard they threw.

Our treacherous captain being gone,
Immediately there was a calm;
The winds did calm, and the raging sea,
As we went to New Barbary.

Now, when we came to the Spanish shore,
Our goodly ship for to repair,
The people all were amazed to see
Our dismal case and misery.

So when our ship was in repair,
To England then our ship did steer;
And when we came to London town,
Our dismal case we then made known.

For many wives their husbands lost,
Whom they lamented to their cost;
Which caused them to mourn bitterly,
These tidings from New Barbary.

A hundred and fifty brisk young men,
Did to our goodly ship belong;
Of all our whole ship's company
There now remained but sixty-three.

Now, seamen all, where'er you be,
I pray a warning take by me,
As you love your life, still have a care
You never sail with a murderer.

O, never more do I intend
For to cross o'er the raging main,
But live in peace in my own country,
And so I end my tragedy.