In early youth to fear a stranger

In early youth to fear a stranger, Contemning indolence and ease, In Paria's cause I courted danger, And vent'rous plough'd the stormy seas. I dreaded not the cannon's thunder, Let bullets rage their wonted scope, Or tempest split our bark asunder, The tar's sheet-anchor still was hope.

In hammock lull'd to sleep or waking, The mid-watch come, or slung the bowl, Or signal guns, distress bespeaking, Implore for aid, while tempest howl, Or when the battle's heat is raging, With force superior oft we cope, The mind to placid ease assuaging, The tar's sheet-anchor still is hope.