The Valiant

The "Valiant" was a noble bark
        As ever ploughed the sea,
A noble crew she also had
        As ever there might be.

When once at night upon the deep
        The Valiant did sail,
Her captain saw a pirate ship
        By the moonlight dim and pale.

Then up he called his goodly crew
        And unto them thus spake:
“A musket and a cutlass sharp
        Each must directly take.

“For yonder see a pirate ship,
        Behold her flag so dark;
See now the gloomy vessel
        Makes straight for this our bark.”

Scarce had the Captain spoke those words
        Than a shot o’er his head did fly
From the deck of the pirate ship which now
        To the Valiant was hard by.

Approaching near, twelve desperate men
        On the Valiant’s deck did leap,
But some there were less brave and strong
        Who to their ship did keep.

And then a moment afterwards
        Did a bloody fray ensue,
And as the time sped onward
        Fiercer the fray it grew.

“Come on!” the Valiant’s captain cried,
        “Come on, my comrades brave,
And if we die we shall not sink
        Inglorious ’neath the wave.”

When the morning came, and the men arose,
        The pirates, where were they?
The ship had sunk and all its crew;
        Dead ’neath the sea they lay.