Poem by Samuel James Arnold

The Death of Nelson

’Twas in Trafalgar’s bay 	
We saw the Frenchmen lay;	
	Each heart was bounding then: 	
We scorn’d the foreign yoke, 	
For our ships were British oak,	
	And hearts of oak our men! 	
Our Nelson mark’d them on the wave, 	
Three cheers our gallant seamen gave,	
	Nor thought of home or beauty;  (twice) 	
Along the line this signal ran: –	
“England expects that every man 	
	This day will do his duty?”  (twice)	
 	
And now the cannons roar 	
Along th’ affrighted shore, –	
	Our Nelson led the way; 	
His ship the Vict’ry named, 	
Long be that Vict’ry fam’d,	
	For Vict’ry crown’d the day! 	
But dearly was that conquest bought, 	
Too well the gallant Hero fought	
	For England, home, and beauty;  (twice) 	
He cried, as ’midst the fire he ran,	
	“England shall find that every man 	
	This day will do his duty!”  (twice)

At last the fatal wound, 	
Which spread dismay around,	
	The Hero’s breast receiv’d; 	
“Heav’n fights upon our side; 	
The day’s our own,” he cried!	
	“Now long enough I’ve lived!	
In honour’s cause my life was passed, 	
In honour’s cause I fall at last,	
	For England, home, and beauty!”  (twice)	
Thus ending life as he began,	
England confessed that every man 	
	That day had done his duty!  (twice)	

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