Page:Tradesman's' farewell.pdf/5

5 Though sorely vex’d our army was, to see their courage fail'd,

Again we did pursue them, and many days we toil'd;

Till coming to Grenada, we there did understand

The welcome news, that near Toulouse, they were to make a stand.

Twas on the morning of the 6th we cross'd the fam'd Garonne,

Upon whose limpid streams our arms in radiant splendour shone;

And burning with impatience, we waited many a day,

Expecting there to meet our foes, and shew them British play.

Now, on the following morning the sun resplendent rose,

As if to be a witness of the downfal of our foes;

Scarce pass'd an hour, when up we came, began the bloody fight;

We fought all, and made not end, till Phoebus set at night.

Assist me now, ye Muses, apoligize my lay,

For wcak'sweak's [sic] the power of human tongue, to sing that glorious day!

Such great achievements were perform'd, such noble deeds of fame,

It will our country's annals grace, while Britain bears a name.

The third division manfully begun the bloody work,

And drove them up to their redoubts, like cowards there to lurk;

The Spaniards most furiously attacked them again,

Until the verdant plains were drench'd with blood of hundreds slain.

The battle rag'd most dreadfully, and many a lies!

The fire and smoke obscur'd the sun, and thunder reach'd the skies!

Their being so strong, they thought we there should yield,

Which cost us many a gallant hcatheat [sic] to drive them from the field.

sixth division next came up, within the range of shot;

shot and shells mow'd down our ranks, they play'd so dreadful hot;

still we march'd undauntedly, although our men did fall,

when came up to them to pay them once for all.

Portuguese and Spaniards, both fought with courage bold,

our artillery proclaim’d their worth by weight in gold;

when the Rocket boys came up, and they their skill did try,

English devils whiz'd so thick, the French began to fly

Rockets hot among them flew, and dreadful havock made,

men and horses tumbled down, and heaps on heaps were laid;