Poem by William Schwenck Gilbert

The British Tar

A British tar is a soaring soul,
As free as a mountain bird,
His energetic fist should be ready to resist
A dictatorial word.
His nose should pant and his lip should curl,
His cheeks should flame and his brow should furl,
His bosom should heave and his heart should glow,
And his fist be ever ready for a knock-down blow.

His eyes should flash with an inborn fire,
His brow with scorn be rung;
He never should bow down to a domineering frown,
Or the tang of a tyrant tongue.
His foot should stamp and his throat should growl,
His hair should twirl and his face should scowl;
His eyes should flash and his breast protrude,
And this should be his customary attitude!

1. The Bab Ballads. Sir Macklin
2. The Bab Ballads. To the Terrestrial Globe
3. The Bab Ballads. Peter the Wag
4. The Bab Ballads. General John
5. The Bab Ballads. Haunted

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