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THE BATTLE OF THE NILE. 



Fought August 1, ITM. 



Wriltcn by ALFRED S. POWELL, while a Shepherd' s-Boy among l/ie Alcndip llUlt .' 



At noon the Zealous signal made, 

 ' The foe in battle-line array'd.' 



Gaily the signal flew, 

 And proudly floated on the wind. 



As swelling breezes blew ; 

 While stronger in each ardent mind, 



The thirst of glory grew : 

 It seem'd, while waving in the sky, 

 To flash on ev'ry British eye, 

 Hail ! Nelson, Nile, and Victory ! 

 While high cmploy'd upon the mast, 

 Around my eager eyes I cast j 

 And, charm'd with naval pomp, I viewed 

 A scene, I ne'er shall see renewed. 



So splendid and so grand ! 

 Ahead of Albion's gallant fleet 

 Four vessels plied, brace, tack and sheet. 



For Alexandria's Bay, 

 Eager to search the lurking foe, 

 And proud to give the onset blow, 



Stood on in fair array.* 

 But think, then, how our pride must gall, ♦ 



To see our slii|)s to windward haul. 

 And signal flying for recall. 



With hostile fleet in view ! 

 Thus leeward thrown, far in the rear. 



While they their course pursue. 

 Eager to gain deep Aboukir, 

 While we, to shun the shoals and shore. 

 Against the adverse breezes bore, , 



To weather starboard land.f 

 Sweeping along before the galo. 

 Beneath a swelling press of sail, 

 ' In battle pride, and trim array. 

 Towards the entrance of the bay 



Stood Albion's squadron right ; 

 Whose silver sails in crescents gay. 



Gave back in lustre bright. 

 The sunbeams of declining day. 



From off their bosoms white : 

 The red-cross floating o'er the wave. 

 Emblem of Him who came to save 

 Sad sinners from an endless grave. 



And Satan's realm defaced, 

 That cross which Cceur-de-Lion bore 

 In triumph to the Holy Shore, 

 Amid the warlike bands of yore, 

 • Each gallant vessel graced : 

 It proudly seem'd on high to flow. 

 Above the vassal waves below ; 

 And augur'd to the couchant foe, 



His vaunting was misplaced. 



Leander, Swiftsurc, Alexander, and CuUodeu. f Referring to the advanced squadron. 

 M. M. Nexv Series. Vol. I.— No. 4. 2 Y 



