Colonial Genealogy 



Men of Devon once fought on 

 Till a day and night were gone. 

 "What is one day less or more 

 On the sea or on the shore?" 



The Revenge was but a wreck, 

 Broken, blood-washed was her deck: 

 "Sink her, split her sharp in twain, 

 Fall in God's hands, master gunner, 

 Never into clutch of Spain!" 



But at last the Dragon ^ came 

 Stinging, scorching far and near. 

 Blasting with his tongue of flame 

 The fair homes of Devonshire, 

 And hot feelings unsuppressed 

 Surged in every Devon breast 

 Till the signal in His name 

 "To the watching Pilgrims came." 

 Then for home and conscience' sake, 

 With the rest fled Goodman Drake, 

 That, God helping, o'er the sea 

 Build they a new England, free. 



Grim, austere, and stern were they, 

 Errant sons of Courteney, 

 But free born, of hardy stock; 

 Never in the Pilgrim's grave 

 Lay the weakling or the slave, — • 

 Dust to dust, but rock to rock. 



Whatsoever their rank or fame, 

 Lady Alice all must claim; 

 Lady, wouldst thy children scan, 

 Thou shalt see the Common Man. 

 As the centuries come and go, 

 Through their veins thy blood shall flow; 

 For the fairest Time has molded 

 Or in softest garments folded, 



' An allusion to the Dragon Persecution of Dissenters about the year 1600. 



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