To the _Sov'ren's_ lads he told Like some hero chief of old, As he bade 'em from the quarter-deck 'Good luck'; 'To no foe upon the sea. You may take it, men, from me, Is the ensign of the _Sov'ren_ to be struck!' Billy Blue, etc. 'Let the odds be what they will, We must go on fighting still, For the honour of the _Sov'ren's_ old renown; And when, men, all is done, As we fire our last gun, With our colours flying still, we'll go down!'[74] Billy Blue, etc. Soon we heard the _Branle-bas_ What cheers up the Frenchy tar, And their 'Vives' for 'La Nation!' and 'La Patrie!' 'Tis the way, as you should know, With the maritime Crappo, When he's got to do his fightin' on the sea. Billy Blue, etc. Then they came on, looking slaughter, Like to blow us from the water, As they near'd to port and starboard and astarn; But we put in double shot, And we paid 'em back so hot, That they looked at one another with consarn. Billy Blue, etc. 'Just a broadside or two--_Certainement_, For the honour of their flag--_cela s'entend_, But it's more than very fine, seven ships to twenty-nine!-- Most decidedly 'no go,' Not at all _comme il faut_, And a bit of British insolence for punishment condign!' Billy Blue, etc. 'Just a broadside, if they like, Then forthwith their colours strike Having rendered to their flag the homage due: It's sheer madness to pretend, They can fight us to the end-- There's no other course the _Rosbifs_ can pursue!' Billy Blue, etc. Next the _Triumph_ they attacked, And the _Mars_ got badly whacked, 'Twas the _Sov'ren_ with her broadsides beat 'em back: Her three tiers all aflame, Sweeping round the flagship came, Leaving death and Frenchmen's wreckage in her track. Billy Blue, etc. And they didn't let us rest, For they did their level best, Fighting on and off from eight till after five; Till at length they seemed to see, That it wasn't going to be, That they shouldn't take us dead, nor yet alive. Billy Blue, etc. How it ended, is a story, Not at all to France's glory, Of a little game the _Phaeton's_ men did play; Making Mossoo go in fear, That the Channel Fleet was near, And think perhaps he'd better run away. Billy Blue, etc.