Poems (Southey)/Volume 2/The Victory
For other versions of this work, see The Victory (Southey).
THE VICTORY.
Hark—how the church-bells thundering harmonyStuns the glad ear! tidings of joy have come,Good tidings of great joy! two gallant shipsMet on the element,—they met, they foughtA desperate fight!—good tidings of great joy!Old England triumphed! yet another dayOf glory for the ruler of the waves!For those who fell, 'twas in their country's cause,They have their passing paragraphs of praiseAnd are forgotten.There was one who diedIn that day's glory, whose obscurer nameNo proud historian's page will chronicle.Peace to his honest soul! I read his name,'Twas in the list of slaughter, and blest God The sound was not familiar to mine ear.But it was told me after that this manWas one whom lawful violence[1] had forcedFrom his own home and wife and little ones,Who by his labour lived; that he was oneWhose uncorrupted heart could keenly feelA husband's love, a father's anxiousness,That from the wages of his toil he fedThe distant dear ones, and would talk of themAt midnight when he trod the silent deckWith him he valued, talk of them, of joysThat he had known—oh God! and of the hourWhen they should meet again, till his full heartHis manly heart at last would overflowEven like a child's with very tenderness.Peace to his honest spirit! suddenlyIt came, and merciful the ball of death, For it came suddenly and shattered him,And left no moment's agonizing thoughtOn those he loved so well.He ocean deepNow lies at rest. Be Thou her comforterWho art the widow's friend! Man does not knowWhat a cold sickness made her blood run backWhen first she heard the tidings of the fight;Man does not know with what a dreadful hopeShe listened to the names of those who died,Man does not know, or knowing will not heed,With what an agony of tendernessShe gazed upon her children, and beheldHis image who was gone. Oh God! be thouHer comforter who art the widow's friend!
- ↑ The person alluded to was pressed into the service.