The Loss of the Edgar

IST WOMAN.
Hark ! hark ! alas ! what fatal news is come !
It strikes a terror great thro' Christendom.

2ND WOMAN.

What is it, neighbour ? Pray, to me unfold.

IST WOMAN.

The sadest news that ever mortal told.

2ND WOMAN.

Hold me not in suspence, good neighbour, pray,
But tell me quickly what you have to say :
I hope our ship and all in her is well;
I long to hear you. Pray, come quickly tell.

IST WOMAN
Here is a letter O prepare your ears !
From Gosport Hospital. Let floods of tears
Flow from your eyes : the gallant Edgar's gone.
Ah ! neighbour, neighbour, well may we make moan.
Your husband dear and mine, and many more,
Are blown up in the air, near thirty score,
By fatal chance of powder; by one blast
Our tender husbands now have breath'd their last.

Here comes a messenger can tell the rest;
I cannot speak, I am so much opprest.
Come, gentle messenger, relate their woe,
And tell, in brief, the truth of all you saw.

MESSENGER.

I was at Spithead that time, and saw the sight.
I was amaz'd ; my soul it did affright:
Five hundred persons blown up in the air;
Their shrieks and cries no mortal cou'd declare.
Some short-allowance mony was to be paid
That fatal day, for which on board they stay'd.
They merry were, and little did they dread
That the next moment they should all be dead.
Removing gun-powder some hours they was ;
That powder wrough[t] their dismal woes, alas !
Thro' some neglect fire to th' powder got,
And all these people kill'd upon the spot.
Blown in an instant up, at once indeed;
That dreadful blow makes hearts of stone to bleed.
Like roaring thunder gave a dreadful crack;
Both ship and people quickly went to wrack.
Legs, arms, heads, hands, feet, hips, bones, back and thighs
By fire and powder flew up to the skies.
Shattered at once in shivers up they flew,
And in an instant fled from mortal view.
Their sudden shrieks, gone just before they went,
Did eccho shrilly, and tho' all was bent
To help them in distress, yet it was vain,
Their ship in thousand pieces rent in twain.

2ND WOMAN.

O wretched sight! O fatal was the day !
O my dear husband, art thou fled away ?
Was this thy fatal exit from this world ?
No grave! but peace-meal was thy carcass hurl'd.
O heavy message ! the sad tidings spread :
O my dear husband, are you from me fled ?
My soul sinks deep with grief for this my loss,
In deep despair my parting soul is toss'd.

IST WOMAN.

Ah, neighbour, neighbour, you are not alone
Here's hundreds of us to lament and moan

Our poor unhappy husbands' fatal fall.
Sweet Jesus Christ take pity on us all.
Children and widows send up doleful cries;
Their lamentations pierce quite thro' the skies :
Bereft of earthly joys, with grief opprest,
Tis God alone can ease each troubled breast.
Their earthly stay and staff from them is gone,
Wherefore they must depend on God alone.
And our good Queen will pity of them take;
Then grant them help for blessed Jesus' sake.
One man of all that number is alive,
But is so weak he cannot long survive.
Then let us all prepared be for death,
Since none knows when we must resign our breath.
By providence the captain just before,
With's lady too, did chance to go ashore.
Some other officers and sailors too
Are sav'd, and did that danger quite eschew.
Then let us all our sinful lives amend,
Since God such punishments to mortal send.
Let's bear in mind this tragedy just past,
And strive to live as each day was our last.