The Dolphin's Return

Ye bold British tars, who to glory are free,
Who dare venture your lives for your fortunes at sea,
Yourself for a while of your pleasures disrobe,
And attend to a tale of a voyage round the globe,
For the Dolphin's returned, and such tidings does bring
As may welcome us home to our country and king.

The twenty'th of August, the year sixty-six,
By command of our captain the signal we fix ;
In the Sound of old Plymouth our ship we unmoor'd
With, our consort the Swallow, and transport well stor'd
But now we're return'd, and such tidings we bring
[As may welcome us home to our country and king].

The wind being far the next day we set sail,
Blest at once with a fresh and prosperous gale ;
And straightway our course for Madeira we steer'd.
No danger we saw, and no hardship we fear'd ;
For we sail'd round the world such tidings to bring
As might welcome us home to our country and king.

We touch'd at Madeira, St. Jago likewise,
For the sake of fresh water and other supplies ;
But at neither of these could we make any stay,
For the course of our voyage would admit no delay.
We were bound round the world such tidings to bring
As might welcome us home to our country and king.

When Magellan's Straits we first enter'd we found
Such giants of men that in all the world round
None with them could compare or for size or for height,
For the smallest of these were from six feet to eight.
Yet these are but trifles of tidings to bring ;
We've a present more worthy our country and king.

In Port Famine we anchor'd, and took in our store
Of both water and wood, for it yielded no more.
Discharging our store ship, our anchors we weigh'd,
And we work'd through the Straits; no time we delay'd ;
But now are return'd, and such tidings we bring
As may welcome us home to our country and king.

A tedious long passage it was for to go,
With our consort so dull that we took her in tow,
But on April the rath we got clear of the Straits ;
Tho' the Swallow, we fear, a [much] longer time waits,
Yet we are return'd, and such tidings we bring
As may welcome us home to our country and king.

Then we plow'd the South Ocean, such [land] to discover
As amongst other nations has made such a pother.
We found it, my boys, and with joy be it told,
For beauty such islands you ne'er did behold.
We've the pleasure ourselves the tidings to bring
As may welcome us home to our country and king.

For wood, water, fruit, and provision well stor'd
Such an isle as King George's the world can't afford,
For to each of these islands great Wallis gave name,
Which will e'er be recorded in annals of fame.
We'd the fortune to find them, and homeward to bring
The tidings a tribute to country and king.