Page:Four Scottish songs.pdf/6

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

6

Night drew on we formed a plan,
To set fire to one hundred and twenty guns,
We selected them with skill, and into them drill,
We secured all our shipping, and laughed at the fun,
About ten o'clock at night it was a broiling sight,
Which caused us to muzzle our bull-dogs for a while,
The L'Orient blew up, and round went the cup,
To the glorious memorandum at the mouth of the Nile.

Kind Providence protected us each minute of the night,
It's more than tongue can tell, or yet a pen to write,
For 'mongst the jolly tars, brave Nelson got a scar,
But Providence protected him through that cruel fight.
The French may repine, we took nine sail of the line,
Burnt and sunk all but two, which escaped for a while;
Brave Nelson gave command, although he'd but one hand,
British sailors fought like lions at the mouth of the Nile.

But now the battle's o'er, and Toulon fleet's no more,
Great news we shall send unto George our King,
All the kingdoms in Europe will join us in chorus,