Classic Poem

As some heroes bold, I will unfold, together were conversing,
It was in the praise of Nelson, as you shall quickly hear;
Said one unto the other, if we could behold another
In old England like Nelson, we proudly would him cheer.
From Norfolk it is known he came, he was a man of noted fame,
He struggled hard for liberty, as every Briton knows,
In battle he would loudly cry, " I'll gain the victory or die."
This grand conversation on brave Nelson arose.

Now at Copenhagen and the Nile, he gave command with a smile,
He said, " Stand firm, British tars, the enemy to meet;
Prepare each gun — all terror shun, but never do surrender!"
The champion of the briny waves was Nelson and his fleet;
When Captain Hardy, you may see, who always done his duty free,
Brave Collingwood the enemy undaunted would oppose,
He caused some thousands to be slain while fighting on the raging main.
This grand conversation on brave Nelson arose.

Many a youth, I'll tell the truth, in action have been wounded,
Some left their friends and lovers in despair upon their native shore.
Others never returned again, but died upon the raging main,
Causing many a one to cry " My son", and widows to deplore.
When war was raging, it is said, men for their labours were paid,
Commerce and trade flourishing, but now it ebbs and flows,
And poverty it does increase, though Britons say we live in peace.
This grand conversation on brave Nelson arose.

Some hardy tars they did survive, in Greenwich College now alive,
Will tell the deeds of Nelson and the battles that he won.
He never feared a cannon ball, till at Trafalgar he did fall,
No flinching from the enemy — no action did he shun.
He many powers did defeat, and never was that hero beat,
Neither would he surrender till he had thrashed his daring foes,
Although he lost an eye and wing, he was loyal and true to his king.
This grand conversation on brave Nelson arose.

Trafalgar I will mention, if you will give attention,
It long has been recorded where brave Nelson fell and bled,
The officers around him, all human aid was found,
But were affected to the heart to find that he was dead.
The gallant tars were grieved sore to find Lord Nelson was no more,
All was in confusion in the midst of dying woes.
In rum they put him, it is said, and then to England him conveyed.
This grand conversation on brave Nelson arose.

Now in memory of that hero's loss, we understand at Charing Cross,
A monument of Nelson has been erected there.
An ancient building was pulled down, and an open space of ground
To commemorate the battle, it is called Trafalgar Square.
You British tars as do pass by, look up aloft and you will spy
The visage of that hero respected as it shows,
Though his remains are in decay, grim Death in action won the day.
This grand conversation on brave Nelson arose.