Jack Tar

'Come, brave, honest Jack Tar, once more will you venture ?
Press warrants they are out; I would have you to enter.
Take some rich Spanish prize, as we've done before, O.'
'Yes, and be cheated of them all, as we were the last war, O.'

'No man that sails with me shall e'er be abused ;
So, Jack, come and enter ; you shall be well used.
You shall be boatswain's mate, Jack; so boldly come and enter
And not like a dog be haul'd on board of the tender.'

'Dear captain,' he said then, ' don't talk of your pressing;
It's not long ago since I gave six of them a dressing.'
'I know that very well, Jack: the truth I must grant you;
You are a brave, hearty fellow, and that makes me want you.

'Dear captain,' he said then, ' if the truth I do tell you,
I got so much the last war that it quite fill'd my belly;
For your damn'd rogues of officers they use men so cruel
That a man-of-war is worse than hell or the devil.

'There is the master a-swearing, the boatswain a-growling,
The midshipman a-howling out, " Take that fore-bowling " ;
If you speak but one word you're a mutinous rascal,
Both your legs laid in irons and try'd by a court-martial.'

Now, boys, we are pressed away from our habitation,
And we leave wife and children in grief and vexation ;
We venture our sweet lives in defence of our nation,
And we get nothing for it but toil and vexation.'