POETRY.
THE GREAT GALLEON.
["The operations in Tobermory Bay carried on so successfully for the past three weeks have now been temporarily discontinued until stronger suction plant, capable of dealing with the immense masses of shells which cover the Armada galleon, have been constructed and put on board a more powerful salvage vessel. The construction of the new machinery will entail a delay of fully six weeks, so that operations will not be resumed in all likelihood before Christmas."—Daily Paper, October 29th.] WE left the Tagus banks behind and shores of pleasant Spain, Our gallant great Armada, to sail across the main, And never a one among us reeked that we should lie to-day Down among the dead men in Tobermory Bay.
We saw the pennons flaunting, heard the loud bells ring To celebrate the mightiness of our Most Christian King ; Our fleet it was invincible. But now our bones we lay Down among the wreckage of Tobermory Bay.
Upon our silent culverins gross barnacles must feed : For chains upon our necks hang tangled skeins of waterweed : Through the sockets where our eyes once shone the cod and conger Play Down among the dead men in Tobermory Bay.
Above our heads the perilous Atlantic combers surge, But here we lie unheeding their full tempestuous dirga : We joy not in the sunset nor heed the break of day Down amid the twilight of Tobermory Bay.
The noble and the base, we sit together, and we keep All in the clammy ooze and slime a brotherhood of slecp,
Hidalgos of Valladolid and beggars of Biscay, Down among the dead men in Tobermory Bay.
We lie in powerless splendour, to lord it o'er our wrac's, And listen to the shuffling of the diver's feet on deck. Our swords are rust-devoured, our armour riven to decay, Down amid the shells and sand of Tobermory Bay.
We prized and hugged our honour that you hold to-day so cheap : You pick and pry and fumble and you wound that honour deep. Our everlasting curses shall the sacrilege repay, Down among the dead men in Tobermory Bay.
We shall hear the archangel's trumpet and the loud bells boom, When we rise before the Judgment-seat to meet the Day of D0031. But, till that day arises, let us slumber, let us stay
Down amid our comrades in Tobermory Bay. Oh vex us not, oh leave us here to our ashamed repose, And yield us not again unto the taunting of our foes.
Oh vex us not, but leave us in our solemn sea-array Down among the dead men in Tobermory Bay.
JOHN ASTON.
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