SAILING OF THE GLORY

Merrily shouted all the sailors

As they left the town behind;

Merrily shouted they and gladdened

At the slip-slap of the wind.

But envious were those faint home-keepers,

Faint land-lovers, as they saw

How the Glory dipped and staggered —

Envying saw

Pass the ship while all her sailors

Merrily shouted.

Far and far on eastern waters

Sailed the ship and yet sailed on,

While the townsmen, faint land-lovers,

Thought, “How long is't now she's gone?

Now, maybe, Bombay she touches,

Now strange craft about her throng”;

Till she grew but half-remembered,

Gone so long:

Quite forgot how all her sailors

Merrily shouted.

Far in unfamiliar waters

Ship and shipmen harbourage found,

Where the rocks creep out like robbers

After travellers tempest-bound.

Then those faint land-lovers murmured

Doleful thanks not dead were they:—

Ah, yet envious, though the Glory

Sunken lay,

Hearing again those farewell voices

Merrily shouting.