The Shipwreck

On board the Valliant we set fail, The streamers waving in the wird, The fails distended by the Gale, Seem'd to forget the shores behind; The sailor to the topmast flies, To wave his handkerchief in air, And on the tow'ring cliff descries His own true Polly weeping there, And hears her sigh adieu!

Now fresher blows the sou'west Gale, In peace no more the billows sleep; The storm that rent the swelling sail, Loud murmur'd o'er the sullen deep: No more the sailor sees the land, Yet waves his handkerchief in air, In vain he seeks the well known strand, To find his own true Polly there, And hear her sigh adieu!

The storm grown louder split the mast, The hurricane more fiercely blows; And as against the rocks we're cast, Our vessel to the bottom goes: The sailor to the topmast flies, To wave his handkerchief in air; And on the tow'ring cliff descries, His own true Polly weeping there, And sighs a last adieu!