Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 6.djvu/33

 THE DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.

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��But ever chased in vain. And hard the Spaniards plied their guns.

And tired thick and fast ; But high above th<>. hostile decks

Their shot and bullets passed. The livelong day they fought amain.

As tight alone the brave, And many a gay and gallant youth

Lay dead upon the wave.

��At night, new dangers threatened

The fleet in foreign seas 5 — A rocky coast to leeward.

Windward, a freshening breeze.

Vet onward up the Channel.

Despite the stormy wind. The galleons tossed, and cried to leave

Their wily foes behind. Sidonia, Spain's high admiral.

With care and danger spent. To gain the friendly shores of France.

His anxious journey bent. For six long days he rode the deep.

To English ships a prey. That darted in among his fleet,

And sped unhurt away. But Howard saw his armament

Grow daily more and more; For lords and youths of noble blood

Came from the English shore. From Portland. Weymouth, Poole, and Lyme,

The sons of England streamed ; With sloops and smacks and pinnaces

The Channel waters teemed. And ever shots were flying thick

The hostile fleets between. In troth, it was a gallant tight !

The like was seldom seen!

��And now. at last, in Calais Roads

The Spanish anchors fell. And safe the lofty galleons rocked

Upon the passing swell. But dark as winter was the night,

And swiftly flowed the tide, And hoarse and long, through spars and shrouds.

The western breezes sighed. And. save the night-watch, all were still

And wrapt in slumbers deep. Perchance they dreamed of sunny Spain,

And smiled within their sleep. Ah! Empty dream's! Ah! Boding smiles !

No more ye 11 see that land ! For e'en while slumber 's on your brow,

The foe is at your hand!

��The bells were striking mid-night's hour.

When through the startled air. Right where the great Armada lay.

There shot a sudden glare.

��And forked flames were glancing

Amid the depths of night, And shed upon the Spanish ships

A wild and awful light.

Then men awakened from their sleep

In terror and dismay, And strove the cable-lines to cut.

And sail from danger's way. And ever shouts of anguish

And wild confusion rang Amidst the sounds of groaning masts.

And chains ami anchors' clang. Sidonia shot the signal-gun,

The tire-ships to flee, And bade his stricken host set sail

To gain the open sea. No need of order; all obeyed;

For fear was in the wind. Yet some were wrecked; some fell a prey

To English ships behind.

��At morn, the German ocean's surge

Against the galleons beat; And onward sailed before the breeze

The dreaded English fleet. There flew the privateers of Drake;

There gallant Hawkins came; There Frobisher and Seymour sped,

And many a noble name. Then rose the din of battle,

With cannon's mighty roar. And masts anil spars were falling;

And streamed the decks with gore. And helpless on the bloody waves

The Spanish vessels lay, With leaking hulls, and shattered sides,

And cordage shot away. In vain the Spaniards struggled

Against a hapless fate; In vain they hurled against their foes

The fury of their hate; In vain tney prayed the holy saints

To help them in distress; — For God above had willed, not theirs,

But England's arms, to bless.

��And many sank beneath the wave;

Few saw their distant home. So fell the haughty hopes of Spain ;

So fell the dreams of Rome. Throughout the laud was wailing

And lamentation sore For those that sailed away in pride,

And came again no more. But every English heart rejoiced,

In cottage-, tower, and hall. And blessings heaped they on the men,

Who wrought the Spaniards' fall. So perish all. who would invade

The country of the free! So perish all, who would uphold

The Roman tyranny !

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