SONG ON THE BATTLE OF ST VINCENT

 SONG ON THE BATTLE OF ST VINCENT 14TH FEBRUARY 1797 

Tune: HEARTS OF OAK ARE OUR SHIPS  

SAID Neptune one day, when conversing with Mars, 
"You boast of your landsmen, I boast of my tars:

"Lo! these ships of proud Spain, see how pompous they ride!

"Now mark how my Britons shall humble their pride.

          "My Jervis shall maul them, let Spain no more brag; 

          "His force is inferior, 

           "His courage superior,

"And Vict'ry shall perch upon Jervis's flag." 

He spoke-and, behold the, two fleets hove in sight, 

And Jervis, preparing with coolness to fight, 

His tars with true courage first strove to inspire, 

Then rush'd on the Spaniards, in thunder and fire. 

       The Britons now maul, them let Spain no more brag; 

       Our force was inferior, 

       Our courage superior,

And Victory soar'd over Jervis's flag. 

Our sailors struck home and well pointed their guns, 

Dread carnage ensu'd, and they pepper'd the dons; 

Each man was a hero, a true British tar, 

Whose ship is his home, whose amusement is war. 

        Brave Jervis has maul'd her, let Spain no more brag; 

        His force was inferior, 

        His courage superior, 

And Victory perch 'd upon Jervis's flag. 

Mars view'd this engagement; then said, "By the Styx, 

"My standard 'mongst Britons for ever I'll fix; 

"Like Romans they fight, and their souls are all fire.

 "And battles like this even gods must admire. 

           "These Britons shall conquer, no nation shall brag; 

           "With forces inferior, 

            "They've courage superior, 

"And Vict'ry shall perch on Britannia's flag.

"In my bosom, says Neptune, "this nation I keep;" 

"Her sons are my fav'rites, her walls are the deep; 

"Their king is my friend ,and great GEORGE, under me," 

"A trident shall wield,- my vicegerent at sea.

           "My Britons shall conquer, no nation shall brag; 

           "With forces inferior, 

           "They've courage superior, 

"And Vict'ry shall rest on Britannia's proud flag." 

The following deities, to judge from the few remains that relate to them, were sparingly invoked. There are altars to Neptune and Oceanus at Newcastle; to Diana at Bath. New stead, and Caerleon, where also a tablet records the rebuildng of a temple to her; to Aesculapius at Lanchester, and Maryport ,while at Binchester he is associated with his daughter Salus, and she alone is the subject of an altar at Caerleon; and to Bellona, goddess of war, at Old Carlisle, and according to Spartian, she had a temple at York. The Parcae or Fates have altars at Carlisle and Lincoln; and the god who brought undertakings to a suc- cessful issue, Bonus Eventus, is occasionally associated with Fortuna and other deities. 

References:

1. REMAINS HISTORICAL & LITERARY CONNECTED WITH THE PALATINE COUNTIES OF LANCASTER AND CHESTER PUBLISHED BY THE CHETHAM SOCIETY 1.5 VOL XLV PRINTED FOR THE CHETHAM SOCIETY M DCCC LVIII 

2.SIGHT SINGING FOR SCHOOLS Adapted to the Requirements of the New Code of 1883 LONDON NATIONAL SOCIETY'S PEPOSITORY BROAD SANCTUARY WESTMINSTER 1884-17420 f - 3 

3.THE ROMAN ERA IN BRITAIN BY JOHN WARD MA FSA AUTHOR OF "ROMANO-BRITISH BUILDINGS AND EARTHWORKS." WITH SEVENTY SEVEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE AUTHOR SECOND EDITION METHUEN & CO LTD 36 ESSEX STREET WC LONDON First Published Second Edition August 1911 1920