But of this by the bye; for now we drew nigh To each other--quite close--nay, ’tis true; Six times two of the line, large, grand, bright and fine; Five frigates! but look’d rather blue. ‘Fair honour,’ quoth I, ‘in thy arms let me die, And my glory burn clear in the socket’; Not an ounce more of powder, or a gun a note louder, So the d[irections] I put in my pocket. Brave West led the van, I follow’d amain; Such closing, and raking, and work, With foresails and braces all flutt’ring in pieces, ’Twould have melted the heart of a Turk. But the devil, in spite, to blast our delight, Got aboard the _Intrepid_, his daughter; Made her jump, fly, and jumble, reel, elbow, and tumble, And drove us quite out of the water. And now, being tea-time, we thought it was the time To talk over what we had done; So we put on the kettle our tempers to settle;-- And presently set the fair sun. Our council next day, in seemly array, Met, sat, and debated the story: We found that our fleet at last might be beat, And then, you know, where is the glory? Moreover, ’twas plain, three ships in the van Had their glasses and china all broke; And this gave the balance, in spite of great talents, Against us--a damnable stroke! Without fear of reproaches, as sound as your roaches, Of glory we’ve sav’d our whole stock; ’Twere pity, indeed, to lose it, or bleed, For a toothless old man and a rock. _A RUEFUL STORY, ADMIRAL B----G’S GLORY, OR WHO RUN AWAY FIRST._ A New Ballad to the tune of _John, Duke of Marlborough_. Give ear, ye sons of glory, Of greater deeds I sing Than e’er were recorded in story, All done by great Admiral Byng. _Sing, sing, O rare Admiral Byng._ It was in the very same sea, sir, His father’s fleet did swim: His father fought well, we agree, sir, But his father was nothing like him. _Sing, sing, O great Admiral Byng._ At first he came to Gibraltar, Where he was [for] succours to call; But wisely his orders did alter, And took no succours at all. _Sing, sing, O wise Admiral Byng._ While Portmahon was invaded, And Blakeney defended the fort, In the sea for a while he paraded, And then took a peep at the port. _Sing, sing, O bold Admiral Byng._ At length he descried the foe, sir, Whom he bravely determined to beat, If he cou’d without striking a blow, sir, Or hurting his Majesty’s fleet. _Sing, sing, O brave Admiral Byng._ And when the engagement began, sir, The admiral stuck to his plan; For he fought without firing a gun, sir, Or loosing a single man. _Sing, sing, O rare Admiral Byng._