Love Songs (1825-1826)/'Twas post meridian

'TWAS POST MERIDIAN:

'Twas post meridian half past four;
by signal I from Nancy parted,
At six she linger'd on the shore,
with uplift hands and broken-hearted,
At seven, while taunting the fore-stay,
I saw her faint, or else 'twas fancy,
At eight we all got under weigh,
and bid a long adieu to Nancy.

Night came, and now eight bells had rung,
where careless sailors ever weary,
On the mid-watch, so jovial sung,
with tempers labour cannot weary;
I little to their mirth inclin'd.
while tender thoughts rush’d on my fancy,
And my warm sighs increas'd the wind,
look'd on the moon, and thought on Nancy.

And now arrived that jovial night,
when every true-bred tar carouses.
When o'er the grog all hands delight,
to toast their sweethearts and their spouses;
Round went the cup, the jest, the glee,
while tender wishes fill'd each fancy,
And when in turn it came to me,
I heav'd a sigh, and toasted Nancy.

Next morn a storm came on at four,
at six the elements in motion
Plung'd me, and three poor sailors more,
headlong into the foaming ocean,
Poor wretches they soon found their graves,
for me it may be only fancy,
But love seem'd to forbid the waves,
to snatch me from the arms of Nancy,

Scarce the foul huricane was clear'd,
scarce winds and waves had ceased to rattle
When a bold enemy appeared,
and dauntless we prepared for battle;
And now, while some lov'd friend or wife,
like lightning rush'd on every fancy,
To Providence I trusted life,
put up a prayer, and thought on Nancy.

At last, 'twas in the month of May,
the crew, it being lovely weather.
At three A. M. discovered day.
And England's chalky cliffs together.
At seven up channel how we bore,
while hopes and fears rush'd on my fancy,
At twelve, I gaily jump'd on shore,
and to my throbbing heart press'd Nancy.

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