Drake; or, the Transfer of the Trident: A National DramaMacOubrey, William
General
Drake; or, the Transfer of the Trident: A National Drama
MacOubrey, William
Drake, Francis, approximately 1540-1596 -- Drama; Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603 -- Drama; English drama -- 19th century
JOHN DRAKE. Avast there! Serve out the wine now. I’m sure we are all
ready for it. Where’s Bill Saunders? He’s the man for that. (_Laughter
and cheers_).
ALL. Hurrah for the wine! Hurrah for Drake! Hurrah for the Queen!
OXENHAM (_looking out_). Oh! I see MOON coming with a crowd of horses,
mules and people. In the meantime, Saunders, you may as well enliven us
with a stave—One of your moralities you know, just to let these Spaniards
see how little we care for them.
ALL. Hurrah for the song. Now Bill! (SAUNDERS _hesitates_).
OXENHAM. He’s backward. It’s his modesty, (_laughter_), lend a hand
there, heave him ahead!
_They gather round_ SAUNDERS _laughing and push him forward to the
front_. _Hitching up his breeches sailor fashion_, _he prepares himself
to sing_.
SAUNDERS (_looking round at them_). Come on then, boys, and chime in all
hands, keeping time with the stroke oar, like jolly tars.
I.
The Greeks in dreams of Paradise
Did golden apples try
To make thy trees Hesperides
Their immortality,
But wine’s the stuff
Just drink enough,
The Nectar of the sky.
II.
Our father Noe knew the way,
He planted us the vine,
And Poets sing, and Prophets say,
His knowledge was divine.
For wine’s the stuff,
Then drink enough,
You’ll Never! Never die!
III.
When fevers, plagues, or blows are near.
Or surging seas run high,
We fearless Britons drink and cheer. (_They cheer_).
And face our destiny!
Oh Wine’s the stuff,
Just drink enough,
And never fear to die.
IV.
Be sure you don’t the Doctor call
Pill draught, and Bolus fly,
For if you take them, one or all!
Just bid your friends good bye!
Good wine’s the stuff,
Then drink enough,
And never say you’ll die! (_Laughter and cheers_).
ALL. NEVER SAY DIE! Hurrah! Hurrah!
(_Scene changes_).
SCENE III.—CREEK IN THE RIVER CHAGRES.
_The deep forest around_. _Distant mountains_. _Deck of the_ “_Pacha_.”
DRAKE _and_ CHIRUCA.
DRAKE. This seems a hiding-place retired enough. Yet! should the
Spaniards come here, and so many of us absent?
CHIRUCA. There is no danger. They know nothing of this region. Five
nations of warriors are in arms against them. Our homes will be your
homes; our food will be your food; the beautiful daughters of the land
will be your wives; we will love you like brothers; we will join with
your great nation; your great Queen shall be our Queen. This affair of
Nombre de Dios will fly through our people; now we know you can give us
vengeance and drive these robbers away. England shall have all the gold.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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