Amid the loud ebriety of War, With shouts of ‘La République’ and ‘La Gloire,’ The _Vengeur’s_ crew, ’twas said, with flying flag And broadside blazing level with the wave Went down erect, defiant, to their grave Beneath the sea! ’Twas but a Frenchman’s brag, Yet Europe rang with it for many a year. Now we recount no fable; Europe, hear! And when they tell thee ‘England is a fen ‘Corrupt, a kingdom tottering to decay, ‘Her nerveless burghers lying an easy prey ‘For the first comer,’ tell how the other day A crew of half a thousand Englishmen Went down into the deep in Simon’s Bay! Not with the cheer of battle in the throat, Or cannon-glare and din to stir their blood, But, roused from dreams of home to find their boat Fast sinking, mustered on the deck they stood, Biding God’s pleasure and their chief’s command. Calm was the sea, but not less calm that band Close ranged upon the poop, with bated breath But flinching not though eye to eye with Death! Heroes! Who were those heroes? Veterans steeled To face the King of Terrors ’mid the scaith Of many a hurricane and trenchèd field? Far other: weavers from the stocking-frame; Boys from the plough; cornets with beardless chin, But steeped in honour and in discipline! Weep, Britain, for the Cape whose ill-starred name, Long since divorced from Hope suggests but shame, Disaster, and thy captains held at bay By naked hordes; but as thou weepest, thank Heaven for those undegenerate sons who sank Aboard the _Birkenhead_ in Simon’s Bay! _Sir Henry Yule._ CORY LXXVII SCHOOL FENCIBLES