TO the court of old Neptune, the god of the sea, | |
The sons of Columbia sent a petition, | |
That he their protector and patron would be, | |
When this answer arrived, free from terms or condition: | |
Repair to the sea, | 5 |
You conquerors shall be, | |
And proclaim to the world that Columbia is free: | |
Besides, my proud trident Decatur shall bear, | |
And the laurels of victory triumphantly wear. | |
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The Tritons arose from their watery bed, | 10 |
And sounded their trumpets, Æolus attended, | |
Who summond his Zephyrs, and to them he said, | |
Old Neptune Columbias cause has befriended | |
As the world you explore, | |
And revisit each shore, | 15 |
To all nations proclaim the glad sound evermore, | |
That Decatur old Neptunes proud trident shall bear, | |
And the laurels of victory triumphantly wear. | |
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The Naiads, in chariot of coral so bright, | |
Skimmd swiftly the wide liquid plain quite enchanted, | 20 |
Soon the proud Macedonian gladdend their sight, | |
And Decatur advancing, with courage undaunted: | |
They saw, with a smile, | |
The fast-anchord isle | |
Resigning the laurels obtaind at the Nile: | 25 |
And when victory crownd brave Columbias cause, | |
The trumpet of Fame shook the world with applause. | |
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Dame Amphitrite flew to the archives above, | |
To see the great mandate of Neptune recorded, | |
When, tracing the records of Lybian Jove, | 30 |
To find where renown to brave deeds was awarded; | |
There Washingtons name, | |
Recorded by Fame, | |
Resplendent as light, to her view quickly came; | |
In rapture she cries, Here Decatur Ill place, | 35 |
On the page which the deeds of brave Washington grace. | |
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Now charge all your glasses with sparkling wine, | |
And toast our brave tars, who so bravely defend us; | |
While our naval commanders so nobly combine, | |
We defy all the ills haughty foes eer can send us: | 40 |
While our goblets do flow, | |
The praises we owe | |
To valour and skill we will gladly bestow, | |
And may grateful the sons of Columbia be | |
To Decatur, whom Neptune crowns lord of the sea. | 45 |
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