The British Melodist; Or, National Song Book (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1822 Excerpt: ... Greenland's icy shore, Or burning neur the line; Bold Jack, &c If to engage tjicy give the word, To quarters all repair; While splinter'd masts go by the board, Arid shot sing thro' the air: Bold Jack, &c. LIFE'S WEATHER GAGE. I'm for Tom Tiller's golden maxim, Who studies life in ev'ry stage, Hell tell you plainly if you ax him, Content's this life's best weather-gage I own, Tom hrs but little learning, Such as your flats pick up at school; Yet he is cunning and discerning, And tho' no conjuror, Tom's no fool, A tar, cried Tom's to peace a stranger, For fortune's tempest cuts and drives, No single moment free from danger, And so does ev'ry man that lives. In toil and peril, he his part takes Stands fire, and hurricane, and shot, He has his qualms, his head-aches, heart-Andwhere'sthelubberwhohasnot? aches The gold he gets does good to others, Tho' he at random lets it fly: For as mankind are all his brothers, He keeps it in the family: Hair-breadth escapes each hour he weathers, 1 No moment he can call his own; And thus are men put to their tethers, Up from the cottage to the throne. The thing is this, in ev'ry station, We're born for pleasure or for trouble; anl success to its champions. And, if you strike to each vexation, Good Hope's true Cape you'll never double; But take the good and evil cheerly, And sum up creditor and debtor, If in this world they use you queerly, Be honest and you'll find a better. THE HEART OF A SAILOR, Tisn't the jacket or trowsers blue, The song, or the grog, so cheerly, That shew the heart of a seaman true, Or tells us his manners sincerely. Tis the hour of strife, When venturing life, Where the spirits of Prudence fail her. In battle he'll si-g For Britannia and King, And this shews the heart of a sailor. ...