Page:The poems of Edmund Clarence Stedman, 1908.djvu/379

CAPTAIN FRANCISCA

Shouted Morgan the Buccaneer.

Out again through reef and breaker,

While the Spaniard moaned his fate,

Back they voyaged to Jamaica,

Flush with doubloons, coins of eight,

Crosses wrung from Popish varlets,

Jewels torn from arm and ear,—

Jesu! how the Jews and harlots

Welcomed Morgan the Buccaneer!

CAPTAIN FRANCISCA

Maracaibo's wall

The squadron lay:

The dykes are carried all

With storm and shout!

Le Basque and Lolonnois

On land their crews deploy,

Through all that ruthless day

The Spaniards rout.

They sack the captured town

Ere set of sun;

Their blood-red pennons crown

The convent tower:

Then Du Plessis, the bold,

Cries: "Take my share of gold!

For me this pretty one,

This cloister flower!"

Dice, drink, and song, the while

They seek anew

The filibusters' isle,

Tortuga's port. 349