Song by Captain Stretcher.
“ Ben Brace the British Sailor.”
Air— “ Nora Creina.”
Did you never hear of me ?1
I’m Ben Brace the British Sailor ;2
I was up the Euxine Sea3
To quell the Czar, that blustering railer.4
With Sir Edmund Lyons bold5
I sarved on board the Agamemnon ;6
When against the Rusky’s hold7
Mid shot and shell she closest stemm’d on.8
Here’s my hand ! By sea, or land,9
Cannonade, or boarding-party,10
Battle-line, in storm or shine,11
I will stand by you, my hearty.12
Next with gallant Captain Peel13
We boated up the Ganges waters :14
And made the rebel Sepoys feel15
England’s vengeance for their slaughters.16
By Lucknow and fell Cawnpore17
We made the hopes of Pandies founder ;18
Foremost mid the battle’s roar19
We worked the four-and-twenty pounder.20
Here’s my hand ! By sea, or land,21
Cannonade, or boarding-party,22
Battle-line, in storm or shine,23
I will stand by you, my hearty.24
I’ve been iced in polar seas,25
I’ve slavers chased athwart the tropic ;26
I’ve bombarded the Chinese,27
In spite of lubbers philanthropic.28
Steam-clad rams may turn out shams :29
Monitors may usher failures ;30
But still the brave shall rule the wave :31
And who so brave as British sailors ?32
Here’s my hand ! By sea, or land,33
Cannonade, or boarding-party,34
Battle-line, in storm or shine,35
I will stand by you, my hearty.36