William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Naval Song: ‘High fill the bowl, and round it twine’Edwin Clifford Holland (1794–1824)
H
The laurel-wreath of fame,
The wreath that blooms through latest time,
To deck the hero’s name.
To Perry and his gallant host
The sparkling wine shall flow;
They tamed the pride of Britain’s boast,
And brought her glory low.
That heaves its sullen swell,
O’er many a hero bold and brave,
Who in that combat fell.
The shouting host of freemen rose,
Unfurl’d the flag of fight,
And bade defiance to their foes,
To Britain and her might.
The thundering cannons roar,
The lightning’s flash from side to side,
And Slaughter wades in gore:
Fierce Horror now patrols the deck,
To swell the rage of fight,
And Tumult flies with hurried step,
And wild, averted sight.
More fiercely seem’d to glow;
Destruction, like a baleful star,
Rain’d terror on the foe:
From soul to soul the pride of fame,
The love of country flies,
And every heart received the flame
That lighten’d in his eyes.
On Erie’s stormy tides,
But o’er its wild and ruffled deep,
Victorious! Perry rides;
Rise! freemen of Columbia, rise!
Exalt the hero’s name;
Through distant lands and foreign skies,
Sound! sound the trump of fame!