Page:The poems of Edmund Clarence Stedman, 1908.djvu/378

THE CARIB SEA Off to capture Porto Bello

Sailed with Morgan the Buccaneer!

Out they voyaged from Port Royal

(Fathoms deep its ruins be,

Pier and convent, fortress loyal,

Sunk beneath the gaping sea);

On the Spaniard's beach they landed,

Dead to pity, void of fear,—

Round their blood-red flag embanded,

Led by Morgan the Buccaneer.

Dawn till dusk they stormed the castle,

Beat the gates and gratings down;

Then, with ruthless rout and wassail,

Night and day they sacked the town,

Staved the bins its cellars boasted,

Port and Lisbon, tier on tier,

Quaffed to heart's content, and toasted

Harry Morgan the Buccaneer:

Stripped the church and monastery,

Racked the prior for his gold,

With the traders' wives made merry,

Lipped the young and mocked the old,

Diced for hapless señoritas

(Sire and brother bound anear),—

Juanas, Lolas, Manuelitas,

Cursing Morgan the Buccaneer.

Lust and rapine, flame and slaughter,

Forayed with the Welshman grim:

"Ha! ha!" roared that devil's limb,

She with us shall find good cheer." 348