Page:The Works of Lord Byron (ed. Coleridge, Prothero) - Volume 7.djvu/32

4

LINES TO MR. HODGSON.

WRITTEN ON BOARD THE LISBON PACKET.

1.

! Hodgson, we are going,

Our embargo 's off at last;

Favourable breezes blowing

Bend the canvas o'er the mast.

From aloft the signal 's streaming,

Hark! the farewell gun is fired;

Women screeching, tars blaspheming,

Tell us that our time 's expired.

Here 's a rascal

Come to task all,

Prying from the Custom-house;

Trunks unpacking

Cases cracking,

Not a corner for a mouse

'Scapes unsearched amid the racket,

Ere we sail on board the Packet.

2.

Now our boatmen quit their mooring,

And all hands must ply the oar;

Baggage from the quay is lowering,

We're impatient, push from shore.

"Have a care! that case holds liquor—

Stop the boat—I'm sick—oh Lord!"